Today was a good day.  I feel a lot more relaxed, like a weight is off my shoulders.  I also feel like it’s been a productive day, even though I really haven’t accomplished a whole lot.

In the early afternoon, I took the bus downtown to see the hosting facilities of our hosting provider.  I’ll spare the boring tech details.  The really cool part, in my opinion, was getting to see some of downtown Chicago, which I really liked.  I’m coming to realize that I’m a real whore for architecture.  I loved the buildings, the flow of people on the sidewalks, even the rail lines going over Van Buren Street.  It reminded me of Batman Begins — in fact, I think they might have taken some inspiration for various parts of Gotham from a blend of both Chicago and New York City.  I should have taken pictures.

The public transit system was really easy to use.  In fact, Google Maps now includes Chicago public transit information, so you can say, “Tell me how to get from here to here, using the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) system.”  Indeed, the Google method only involved one transfer, whereas the CTA website involved two.

I had a few pleasant conversations with people on the buses.  I forget names, but an attractive girl I struck up a conversation with had apparently just moved here in January, and ironically was asking me about the bus system, since she was more used to using the rails.  It ended up that we were both getting off at the same stop, so we walked together for a while before parting ways.

Then on the way back, a middle-aged black guy with a cane sat down next to me at the bus stop.  I asked why the cane (it was the medical type, not the stylish sort), and he said he had a slipped disc in his back, which apparently screwed up his whole right side.  Having had back problems myself, I could relate.  He lamented over this a bit, then made some thrusting motions and said, “Even gets in the way of that.”  To which I responded, without even thinking, “Just have her get on top.  Reverse cowgirl style.”  I seriously have no filter.  Then I had to explain reverse cowgirl to him (link is NSFW), much to his entertainment.  Just after that, the bus came and I had to leave.  He patted me on the back as I was leaving and stated a couple of times variations of, “You’re cool man, you’re cool.  I like you.”

Had lunch at a nice Italian place called Leona’s which happened to serve a high-grav Belgian beer called Tripel Karmeliet.  Mmm, Belgian beer.  Of course I partook, and the world was even better.  And then, coming back to the co-op house, I talked to one of the guys that lives here, and discovered that he, too, is originally from Louisville.  Never know where you’ll find another Louisvillian.  Hmm, that is very close to Louisvillain.  I feel a mad cackle coming on.

Bet your bottom dollar you lose the blues in Chicago, Chicago.
The town that Billy Sunday couldn’t shut down.