In the City

So here I am writing a blog, sitting in my new office on the 2nd floor of 2240 N. Elston, in Chicago. Quite a surreal experience, considering I really don't work here... at least not yet (I wasn't due to arrive until next week, but they were accommodating). I am subleasing office space from a friend and colleague until I get things moving - which I have learned is quite a daunting task. I have spent the better part of today asking around for attorneys and accountants who are "good at this kind of thing" (incorporating a business) and writing cover letters to potential new clients. Of course I can't send them out until I get Incorporated, just trying to stay one step ahead... but enough about that.

Jake and I drove in from St. Louis yesterday, arriving around 1:30pm to Kristen's clinic to pick up the keys to our apartment. The drive was most interesting this time. I can't recall if it was more interesting than any other time - maybe I just paid more attention this time... A few things stuck out as worthy of writing about in this little "journal". First, right as I get into Illinois on I-55, right around Troy, I see a big beige bus pulled off onto the shoulder... turns out it's a Dept. of Corrections bus. How did I know this? No, I did not see those words emblazoned on the side of the bus... the real giveaway was the armed guard standing in front of the bus on the side of the road, right on the painted stripe defining the shoulder from the driving lane. And when I say "armed" I am not kidding. He had some sort of shotgun that looked like an assault weapon set to destroy anything it was aimed at within 300 yards. I'm not really a gun guy so I'm afraid that's the best description I can give. The bus was pulled over from an apparent flat tire... what a way to stall out a bus full of criminals! It looked like they had the situation under control, however.

The next incredible thing that happened was when I noticed the same tan Escalade following me for.. oh... about 220 miles! This guy was very meticulous in his moves. He would never try to advance in front of me even if he had the chance. If I got over, he got over. If I slowed down, he slowed down. And I don't think he followed me for any other reason than my uncanny ability to evade the police radar (knock on wood) - see next paragraph for the rest of that story. Anyway, I don't think he had much of an agenda, other than to just coast all the way to Chicago and have a pace car so if anyone got pulled over, it wasn't him. I noticed him behind me right into Illinois, I'd say at about the same time as the state penitentiary bus, and I didn't shake him until I was about 10 miles from the Chicago city limits - and that's only because traffic was starting to get congested and he couldn't keep up with my sweet driving moves. I did wonder the whole time if he was going all the way and if I stopped for gas or to urinate if he would too... never found out though.

I can't think if anything else incredible happened. I know that when I got into the city, just south of downtown, it started to drizzle and it was really damn chilly outside... I guess that comes with the territory though.

Anyway, I got in just fine and was able to move some stuff in the house - cooking items, cups, cleaning supplies, clothes, and a nice air mattress and clean sheets for us to sleep on until I go back and get our furniture. We had to go out and get a few extra supplies - food, shower curtain liner, but we should be good to go until we get the rest of our stuff.

That's the update... I'll be back soon.