Corporate Challenge

Well I did it once again. I completed the Corporate Challenge for my second year in a row. It wasn't too bad this year. I think the cold weather helped me out alot. Even though we seemed to find out about it later this year and I had less time to train, I'm pretty impressed with how well I did. As I was running on the treadmill these last couple of weeks, my goals was to get the 3 1/2 miles done anywhere between 45 minutes and an hour. Tonight I jogged/walked/ran it in 39 minutes. I probably could have done it even faster if I didn't exert so much energy walking around for 30 minutes before the race trying to find our company's tent. My parents even came to cheer me on. Its kind of funny because I always have some kind of family support there. Last year my brother came out and this year my parents. I guess they know I'll never do a marathon so they might as well come and see me do this. = )

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend!

21C Museum Hotel

I realize that my last couple of posts haven't really been positive, so I figured I would blog about something more positive today.

I've never really been a huge fan of Louisville, KY (probably because my old corporate headquarters used to be here). However, I just got into town and I'm staying at this awesome hotel. It's called 21C Museum Hotel. It is a cross between a contemporary art museum and a hotel. Not only are the rooms awesome (there is an iPOD and docking station in here), but the hallways, and everything are really cool.


I took some pictures on my blackberry and I'm in the process of posting them all on FlickR.

Just Getting Comical Now

Just when I thought my adventure was coming to an end ....

Well we finally landed in Chicago a little after 11pm. I took the L (Chicago's subway/elevated track system) and a bus to the airport since I left right around rush hour time. However, by the time I got my bag it was around midnight and I didn't think the bus ran that late so I decided to screw it and just take a cab. That is until I went outside to the cab line and it was about a block long and when I asked people said it wasn't really moving.

At that point, I thought screw it, I'll just take the blue line and if the bus isn't running, I can take a cab home from there. So I got on the blue line and after looking at the map and the fact that it was close to 1am at this point, I was trying to remember where I had to go when a nice guy got up and asked where I had to get to and explained to me that starting on Friday night, they start construction on the blue line so we actually only go 2 stops, then have to get off the train and a bus will take us to the next 2 blue line stops and at the second one, you can get back on the train to go home. I along with a couple of other people who thought the blue line would be better than waiting for a cab, were starting to see the error of our ways, but at this point it was too late.

At any rate, at least the bus was there waiting for us and although it seemed like forever, got us back to the blue line. During the bus ride, I decided to call a cab to pick me up at my stop. I told the cab company, I would be there in about 20 minutes, and asked if a cab could be there by then. He said they would call back with a confirmation. So a couple of minutes later they called back with my cab number. Then a couple of minutes after that, I get a call saying my cab is waiting for me, how long should they wait (at this point you can only have them wait 5 minutes) so I did. Knowing good and well that I was still on the bus and I asked the cab to be there in 20 minutes and only 5 or 6 minutes had past, but I thought screw it. If the cab got there that quickly, there are probably plenty in the area.

So we finally get back to the blue line and although the only way that you can get there is by walking or taking the bus, it still decided to wait there for a good 5 to 10 minutes. Keep in mind, I only had to go 2 more stops after this and the wait was starting to get on my nerves. Although there were two nice guys on my train and the one guy gave the other guy a beer and asked if I wanted one. Since I don't drink beer, I had to decline, but we started talking and it made the wait go by a little quicker.

I don't know how it happened, but as soon as I got off the train and got my barings on the street and started walking to the corner, a cab saw me and stopped. Here, I thought my luck had changed. I hopped in and he put my bag next to me so I decided to scoot over to the other side of the minivan seat. I sat there for a second and was like, something feels wet and/or cold. I wasn't sure if it was just my ass not used to the cold outside or if it was actually wet. So I moved over a little more and was like yeah that's wet. At this point I felt the seat and my pants (keep in mind it is almost 2am at this point and I'm a little slow) and confirmed it. So I moved over and asked the cab driver if someone spilled something. He reached over and felt the seat and then smelled it and was half annoyed and half laughing. He was like damn it, I just cleaned this cab. He then said that he just dropped off this older lady who was drunk and when she got out of the cab, he thought he noticed the back of her dress wet, but he didn't think she urinated in his cab. I was like ewww gross, I just sat in someone elses urine. I was hoping someone spilled a beer or something, but then I thoroughly disgusted. Not only was my ass wet, but I also touched the seat and now I didn't want to touch anything until I could get home and disinfect.

The cab driver was a nice guy, and I felt bad that he now had to clean it up. But as soon as I got home, I peeled off my clothes and hopped in the shower to disinfect. I guess I should only hop in cabs with those vinyl seats from now on. That way at least you can see the liquid on top of the seat if its wet.

Airline Update

I really appreciate it when said air traffic control (see earlier post) delays my flight just in time for the storm to go through Chicago so my flight can be delayed even more. Then I appreciate it even more when United waits until the we are cleared to check their equipment to find out the hydraulics aren't working properly. I appreciate it even more when another plane arrives, but when our 3 flight attendants and pilots are asked if they are willing to work overtime to get us all home and the pilots and only 1 flight attendant say yes so we can wait another hour and a half for a new crew.

Scheduled flight departure: 2:43pm
Estimated flight departure: 9:15pm

Priceless!

And they wonder why they lost their pensions.

You Suck Air Traffic Control

OK Well maybe not all air traffic control, but definitely those in charge of the Chicago OHare airport. This is the second time in about a month where my flight has been delayed a couple of hours because air traffic control has shut down the airport.

The first time was Sunday, March 30th. I was flying from Austin, Texas to Chicago and I was already going to land around 9pm and thought that might be a little late and then I ended up getting home after midnight. Not my idea of a fun time when I have to get up and go to work the next day. That time it was because there was alot of air traffic and they were staggering flights to ease traffic or something like that.

I'm not really sure what the deal is now, but I've already been at the New Orleans airport for about 2 hours and now I find ou that my 2:43pm flight isn't going to takeoff until around 5:45pm and I'm not a happy camper. If I would've known this, I would've spent another couple of hours on Bourbon Street. But no, now I'm stuck in the damn airport.

Now before I get a bunch of nasty comments, I know that air traffic control has a really hard, stressful job and I know they are responsible for landing all of the flights and do a damn good job of it, blah, blah, blah. But as I'm sure everybody knows, we don't realize how good of a job people do until something goes wrong. But that doesn't give me much solice right now.

Well now that I purged that out of my system, I think I'm going to go and find a bar. Happy Jazz Fest everyone!

2008 CORPORATE CHALLENGE

Well I went and did it again. Since I moved into my place about 9 months ago, I've vowed to check out our workout facilities and well ... actually workout. I just canceled my Bally's membership since they are charging me $16 a month to just sit at home and watch TV after work and not use their facilities either.

So yesterday we got the email at work that our company was joining the 2008 Corporate Challenge and I decided to signup for the second year in a row. I figured this would force me to go to the gym to prepare for the 5K or 3 1/2 mile run. And yes, I actually have to train to run 3 1/2 miles.

I just got back from the gym in my building. It took me almost an hour but I walk/jogged/ran 3 1/2 miles. I figured since I still have about a month, I should have plenty of time to improve that time.

Along with getting me in shape, it is also for a good cause. If anybody is going to be in the neighborhood, come on down to Grant Park to cheer us all on. It should be a fun event.

2008 Beneficiary:
Bears Care Organization

Bears Care is committed to improving the quality of life for people in the Chicagoland community, especially disadvantaged children and their families, through targeted programs supporting education, youth athletics, and medical research and health awareness programs focusing on breast and ovarian cancer.

DATE: MAY 22nd
TIME: 7:10 pm
@ GRANT PARK