small town girl in the big city: day one - planes, trains, and automobiles

Ok so there weren't any planes yesterday, but there were trains and cab rides. These were two firsts for me. I experienced them and learned some new things. I guess as a teacher, I like to look at all things in life as learning experiences. :)

I started out the day with an early train ride from Carbondale to Chicago. I had hopes that the ride would be just fine and fears that I would ride for a while and feel sick or uncomfortable. My first flying experience made me a bit ill last year, so I was a little nervous yesterday. I liked the train. I had plenty of leg room. (one thing I think the movie theatres need to work on) With my bad knee this is a must for me when I am going to be in one spot for an extended period of time. I did, however learn that the train is like a movie theatre in the fact that I needed my extra jacket. They kept it cold in there! I also learned that the tiny pillow the lady seated next to us brought, would have been a plus if I planned on napping. Trains are also like movie theatres in the fact that once they get you on, they will over charge you for a drink. Lol! And if you are planning to ride the train I hope this sound doesn't bother you too much...WOO-WOO! You will be hearing that constantly throughout your trip. I think Rach was mumbling that sound in her sleep last night. LoL! But all in all, I enjoyed my train ride. I sat and read quite a bit with no stress of driving, or being the front seat navigator. It was relaxing.

My next new experince was a cab ride. Here are a few things I now know about cab drivers: They are very brave people. I feel that cab drivers must be wanna- be nascar drivers. I was waiting for that checkered flag many times so they would just calm down. I don't know that I have riden at such high speeds on a street in any town. I also don't ever recall being in a car with someone who bobbed and weaved so much at these high speeds. Most of my cab rides yesterday I was looking around and trying to see the sites. The last ride home yesterday evening I found the only way to keep calm and not getting sick, was to look straight ahead. Never will I be able to drive this way, or will I need to. Which leads me to my next learned fact about cab drivers, they are knowledgeable. I don't know that I could take someone where they wanted to go in Harrisburg just by them telling me the address. These people get a sentence told to them about where to go, and Bam, you're off. They are taking you on and off streets here and there all over and then all of a sudden, you're at your destination. Wow. And my last thing I realized about cabs...$$$! I had head people talk about the price, but once you take a few you realize, holy crap, my money is all gone. ;)

Oh, and a random but funny thing I learned on the streets is, birds aren't scared of anything here! Birds will walk right up to you. You can run right up to a bird and they just stare at you. I imagined one of them thinking, What? You don't scare me pedestrian. I guess living in Southern Illinois I am used to the birds being scared of us since you know, we shoot them and all. Lol!

We went to Shedd Aquarium yesterday after we got in. It was really nice. There were two things keeping us from seeing all we wanted: time, and the HUGE amount of people there. I did get to see what I was dying to see though...the dolphin show. Oh, and I also got my magnet. (I started collecting magnets from all the places I travel to about two years ago.)

We also went to Second City Comedy Club last night. Now that was just great! It was like being at Saturday Night Live. And for good reason. Many of the past stars from SNL once stood on the very stage that I saw last night. I laughed and laughed and really enjoyed myself. After they did one skit, they told us it's history as being done once by Steve Carrell, and I could just see him on that stage performing that skit.

I still don't know if I would make it living in a city. I want to drive my own car whereever I need to go. And let me make this point as well, I want to know how to get whereever I need to go when driving my own car. :) It is all still a bit overwhelming, but I am enjoying it! Tonight's adventure is Howl At The Moon. Rach has been wanting to take me here for years. I am excited! I'll let you know how it turns out and if there are any other things I learn today.