It's like fighting gravity, or in the alternative, the herding instinct.

Downtown Chicago is why I love big cities: it invokes that childlike curiosity about everything. It also invokes fascinating human behavior that you really cannot find or simulate anywhere else. As with most things in life, if you have the right kind of confidence, everyone will follow you - even if this means into a busy road. The first round was purely accidental (I was staring wide-eyed at the Chicago Stock Exchange) but then I decided to test my hypothesis. The plan: walk right past the crowd waiting at the corner directly into the street, see if anyone follows. The result: they do. Then, of course, you have twenty people standing in the middle of the road looking at you with this glare of "well, you got us into this mess, now get us out" and drivers are kind of dumb-founded (I mean, are you going to honk and holler at twenty irritated looking people?). I started asking people why they followed me. The best response was that it was like fighting gravity - once someone started the momentum, it was natural just to follow. There was some kind of marathon today and a bunch of people whom I was questioning had numbers written on their arms and legs. After following me into the road, they looked strikingly like cattle. I asked to take their photo for my journal. They declined.

Lonely friday night adventure with cooking. For those of you counting, I had two while watching TV and two this morning for breakfast. (With some yogurt, ok, Ma?) 

Interesting, but they probably paid WAY too much money to have that installed. 

Just is case anyone has forgotten... 

The bottom third are parking spots and everything above is apartments. Very people of the pods modern. I have an appointment to see a place next week. 

Now to find the other sixteen church of christ, scientists... 

Creepy pigeons. You can just wade through them on the sidewalk but if you hold still, they all come at you like they are going to eat your hair. 

This TJ Maxx is awesome - its HUGE and has tons of good stuff. The Basement place is good too, but a bit more expensive (since I didn't recognize any of the brands, I assume its fancier). 

The track for the elevated train. Cool, but a bit scary. 

The Art Institute of Chicago. Lots of people and ugly chilldren, so I didn't go in today. Maybe next week when the brats are back in school. 

People are much more fashionable here. This guy walked three blocks with his jacket over his shoulder like that and his iPod sticking out of his back pocket (he was using the white headphones, so everyone knew it was an iPod). 

Junction for the train: the train looks like its coming straight for the street, but at the last minute it turns. Whew! 

I remember seeing this street filled with people for the protests prior to our military engagement in Iraq. Still cool looking without all the people.  

More images that I vaguely remember. 

Congress Hotel. Enough said. 

The Chicago Stock Exchange. I saw it, but no one else wanted a hug. 

So, the flags indicate to me that this is a functional, working Federal Building. But the ground floor, as well as a number of the upper floor windows were all boarded up. Maybe the feds have to look ghetto to fit in. 

The Target facility - bigger than the one in University Heights. It has its own parking garage that it doesn't even have to share with TJ Maxx. 

I have an appointment next week to see these condos. I will post pictures of them then. 

I think that is the Sears Tower. I couldn't get to it today but I will try next week. I think we have a reception there so I will be sure to bring my camera. 

All of the ledges were patios. How cool is that? 

Homesick! 

It appears that the front of this building is newer than the side. Almost like it's just a piece of scenery. (There-is-no-spoon-ish kind of thing, you know?) 

I was saved today, but the woman who helped declined to have her photo taken for my journal. She said her contribution would be recognized by Jesus and that's all that matters. What's with people not wanting to be featured in my journal? 

This city is all about the threatening gargoyles. And this is the library! 

I bought these for you, Ma. No, seriously, I did. (And a matching pair in gold for me.)