Clinton, IL

I think the most ironic part of this week is until Tuesday when we did a quick drive of the area, I had no idea I had worked here before, and done sampling for Red Burrito. Once I saw said Red Burrito/Hardees I realized I had worked a day here a few years back sampling chips and salsa with Amy and did some antique shopping where I bought Jenna a very old camera for her graduation.

Anyway, I'm back again, this time for a week. Second Clinton on the road so far. This one in Illinois, last time in Iowa. The town is small, but has a good variety of things in it for a small town. I love that it has a town square and it's so easy to imagine how it used to look 100 years ago. I'm staying at the Sunset Inn and Suites, which is probably most known for it's fantasy suites. I am staying a normal, king sized, non-smoking room, and it's pretty nice. I wasn't expecting much from a hotel with fantasy suites and physical keys for the doors, but the room and lobby is very clean, comfortable bed, flat screen tv, microwave/fridge, free breakfast and internet, and nice pool/hot tub/sauna. My only negatives are no key cards, but it has a dead bolt so I feel safe enough, and the towels don't smell the freshest. The regular rate is more expensive than I can afford, but they have a cheaper rate if they don't fully clean your room and only change the towels and garbage. I recommend the cheaper way, since the only real difference is making the bed and it saves $15 a night.

I was able to spend two nights in Champaign this week, one overnight in my old townhouse complex I just left and one short night in my old apartment building I lived in for two years. It was very strange being in both places I've left behind with new tenants, old friends, living there. It brought back a lot of memories from Champaign life that I've forgotten a bit now that I'm up in Chicago, but it was a good way to spend some time this week. I think Champaign will always be familiar and a second home to me. Or at least for the next few years. I'm sure once I know no one there anymore Champaign will be that town I lived in a long time ago.

As a sidenote, I hear a lot of people looking to do my job/are interviewing/are on the road read my blog. Leave me a comment and say hi. No offense to Rachael, but the only comments I get are from her, sometimes Mackin or Beth, and various companies who I happen to mention. Another new town in Illinois next week! Let's see how cool Western is...

How do you measure a year?

How do you measure a year? In miles? In hotel rooms? In states or cities visited? In airports? In gas stops? In emails sent? Or blog posts?

One year into my first real job. Officially the 25th marks the date, but I started on a Monday, so close enough. I hope everyone else has enjoyed, or at least appreciated their last year as well.

One year ago, I was finishing up my studying for a sandwich test that would begin my training. The summer ended with classes about to begin on campus, I had a new townhouse, a new roommate, a car that had over 150,000 miles on it, thought a two hour drive was long, had only eaten Jimmy John's three times before, and had no idea about Priceline.

Here I am, one year later with an apartment in Chicago, the same roommate, a new car with 16,000 well earned miles on it, 22 states visited in the past year, and only order a #4, no sprouts, easy mayo, cut in half. I've seen professional sports teams play live that were not Chicago teams, feel fine with a seven hour drive, know the parking situation at Midway like the back of my hand, have a deeply developed love/hate relationship with Priceline, and have more tiny shampoos/conditioners/lotions than I know what to do with. I have plenty of new shotglasses and a pile of keycards in a bowl. Sync, GPS, and Sirius Radio are my new best friends in the car. Tons of blog posts to go back and appreciate. The weekends mean so much more than they used to.

Things that have surprised me over the past year: I'm still not allergic to cats, $65 a night will get you an awesome hotel, and while the scenery may change across the country, the people are pretty much the same. I can walk into any JJ's in the country and jump on the line without any transition at all. If you need something in a strange city, strangers will help you out. Illinois is not so bad. Of all I've seen and done the past year, I'm always glad to come home.

Let's see what happens in year two post-college life.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

All week has been a constant state of, "Am I really in South Dakota? Have I really spent a week in North Dakota AND a week in South Dakota?" Yes, I am in South Dakota, Sioux Falls to be exact, the largest city in the state.

When we asked locals what there is to do here, every single one replied "party" or "drink". Most of our after work time has been spent at a bar called Shenanigans in the Empire Mall. We partook in a gallon of beer on Sunday, $2 bottles on Wednesday, and tonight is buy one, get one shots and all you can drink for $9. They also have kareoke. Other than Shenanigan's, we hit up Bracco's which is a more island themed restaurant/bar which had a a nice outside patio.

On Monday night we hit up the Royal River casino on a reservation about 40 minutes away. They only had blackjack and poker as table games, no craps, but $3 minimum was nice. Lost money, as I usually do at casinos, but had fun and played blackjack for awhile.

Staying at the Residence Inn by the Empire Mall, which as all Residence Inn's are, is awesome. Free dinners Tuesday-Thursday nights (beer and wine included), friendly staff, full kitchen with an attached one bedroom, huge comfy bed, free internet, free breakfast, cookies at the front desk, alright exercise room, and business center that wasn't working the first few nights.
Sidenote- why do the business centers/printers at hotels never work? Residence Inn's remain my favorite hotel because they feel the least like a hotel I think. Plus everything is free!

So hello and good bye South Dakota, it's been alright, but not the most exciting state in the world. Does make this 22nd state in the past year! And...4 more days till I've been with JJ's for a year!

8 Mile...Livonia, MI

Working on 8 Mile in Livonia, Michigan (by Detroit). Have also visited the lovely suburbs of Troy, Royal Oaks, Novi, and soon to be Farmington Hills and Taylor. The whole team is up here, so there's been a lot more going out than normal. We went bowling at Lucky Strike on Monday night and out to the bars in Royal Oaks on Tuesday.

Staying at the Radisson in Livonia. It's pretty nice, very sheek lobby and bar, although the bar has been closed. The business center computer was actually normal speed and the printer worked, free internet (that didn't work for awhile last night, but otherwise fine), fun Sleep Number beds, good workout room, nice pool and hot tub, and right by some stores and restaurants.

If you're around Detroit, come by a JJ's tomorrow for $1 subs!

Darien, IL/Finland

Worked in Darien, IL this week, a west suburb. I stayed at this hotel before, the Marriott in Burr Ridge, which was very nice. I got to hang in Tinley a bit this week too and even got to spend the night at my own apartment on Thursday. It was awesome to spend the night in my own bed then go to work in the morning. Oh, the little things in life. Although the commute that far was pretty sucky, more in the afternoon than the morning. I also have a new partner, Christian, who wanted to be mentioned in my blog. Hi Christian.

On a none travel-related note (at least not me traveling), my friend Satu from Finland was in town. It was awesome hanging out with her again. It's been about three years since the last time I saw her. We took her out in Wrigleyville and hopefully showed her a good time with the Chicago nightlife. Thanks for visiting Satu!

Seeing Spring Awakening tonight with Jenna and some of her friends. Should be good!