Chicago

A few weeks back I flew out to Baltimore for work in support of the 2007 on highway diesel launch. Not something that I am directly involved with, but I was in a position to be able to help out. In 2007 there is a new tier of diesel emissions for on-highway vehicles, class 8 and passenger vehicle alike, and that means new tools, new parts, more training, etc. So, I got a free trip out to Baltimore to check out a tool that we sourced, its performance, etc. Nothing to exciting, but it beats sitting in the office. While there I got to catch up with Sam Belt from NMSU, who now works for the patent office, working with turbochargers. Hot.

On the way back, I had a 2 day layover (creative ticket booking and a cool boss) in Chicago, conveniently the same time my parents and brother were there. My brother was excepted to the University of Chicago to get his masters in forensic psychology, and wanted to check out the school first hand, look for apartments, etc. I got there, took a cab to the wrong hotel (there are 2 best westerns on the same street, who knew), walked to the right hotel to meet my parents, and then went out on the town. Downtown Chicago is really sweet, lots to do, everything within walking distance, even the lake. If you need to go anywhere, the public transportation is nice. And seeing as of how parking will cost you $150 to $300+, depending if you want it secured (guard will call the police if he sees someone breaking in) or not (guard calls his buddies and tells them to help themselves to whatever is in/on your car because you were too cheap to pay for his services).

Apartments were expensive, but Jeff was able to get a place right across the street from his school, right downtown. Very nice. I believe its a studio, and its somewhere around $700 a month. Here are some pics.

"convertable" apartment. bedroom with no door. somwhere around $1000/month.
















View out the apartment of the city and the L Train.

















I caught a pic of Jeffs school (above, right) with the bridge up letting a bunch of sailboats pass.

Heres another one. the school is really pretty, the campus is limited to the one building you see there, and not all of it even school, but when you have downtown Chicago all around you, it really doesnt matter. As long as you dont want to go sit in or walk through grass, that is.

We also went to something called The Bean. its in the downtown park and is essentially a giant chromed bean. It looks a bit obscure, but I got some decent pics with it.







awesome pics from the under the bean. See if you can find me.


Car shopping included an Austin Martin DB7. $140,000.

Skyline shot from the John Hancock Building Dan, this foon is for you.