Sticky Note Campaign

A few weeks ago Jim and I had taken the Metra train to downtown Chicago. We were waiting for our homebound train in the Olgilvie Transportation Center, and I needed to use the rest room one more time before boarding the train. (I KNOW they have bathrooms on the train, but I HATE using them unless it's an EMERGENCY, you know?) So I quickly ran to the bathroom and left my purse on the table with Jim.

I got in the stall, shut the door, and a flash of paper caught my eye.

There was a yellow sticky note stuck to the back of the door. It read:

"You will have another chance tomorrow."

I grinned to myself while I contemplated these words of encouragement from a stranger. And although  I didn't feel it applied to me, on that particular day, picture if someone had gone on an interview and felt like they really blew it. Or screwed up on the job. Those words would have made an impact. 

So I left the note there for someone else to enjoy. I only wish I had brought my purse with me so that I could have taken a picture of it since I always carry my camera with me.

I really liked the whole idea of leaving anonymous sticky notes that say nice things to strangers.

So this is my quest.

I am going to make this world a better place.....one sticky note at a time!

I went out and bought some supplies:

I tucked a pad into my purse, made sure I had a pen and my camera, and I was ready to go.

We were at the laundromat and I thought, "Aha! I'll stick one on the mirror!" So I wrote one out (discreetly) and walked into the one room man/woman restroom.

Uh-oh. No mirror.

I KNOW. What kind of bathroom doesn't have a mirror?

Now what.

Do I put it on the hand dryer or above the handle on the door going out?

Well, not everyone uses the hand dryer.

Heck, not everyone even WASHES their hands.

Okay. Settled. Above the door handle.

My heart was soaring as I stuck my first sticky.

I could hardly wipe the smile off of my face as I skipped back to the table where Jim was sitting. I tried to read my magazine AND keep an eye on the bathroom door without seeming too creepy. Finally a young woman wearing a funky stocking cap went into the washroom.

I waited.

And waited.

Finally she came out.

She looked normal. Or as normal as when she went in.

Hmmmm......

Then a man used the washroom.

Finally Jim had to go to the bathroom. I asked him to look for the note. He came back and said he didn't see it.

"Really?" I said. "It's right there above the handle."

"Nope. Didn't see it."

Well, that doesn't surprise me, because many times Jim can't see things that are right in front of his face.

So I marched into the bathroom to look myself.

The note was gone!

I peeked into the garbage.

The note was crushed up.....just like my heart.

NOTE TO SELF: When you stick it, you must leave the area! You don't want to witness the outcome!

I came out of the bathroom and approached Jim.

"Well?" He asked.

"It was crumbled up and thrown in the garbage!" I hissed.

He smirked.

I leaned into him, pointing my finger in his face and said, "Just you wait. I will change this world, ONE STICKY NOTE AT A TIME!"

We had to stop at Target for a couple of things. Right before leaving the store I told Jim that I had to use the bathroom.

"I"ll meet you at the truck."

I had an ulterior motive.

Well, okay, I DID have to pee, but you know, c'mon I'm on a mission now!

I went into the bathroom, sat down, did my duty (TMI, I know) and dug through my purse for the sticky notes.

Hmmm....what to write, what to write.

"You have pretty eyes."

No! They might think someone is watching them while they, uh, you know.

Scratch that.

Okay! Got one. I wrote it down. Then I had to throw everything in my purse so I could wipe, pull up my pants, etc.

Then I stuck the sticky.

It wouldn't stay.

What the?

And this is supposed to be the SUPER sticky stuff.

Yeah right.

NOTE TO SELF: Doesn't like to work on those aluminum/steel doors. (The door in the train station was painted.) Might need to have scotch tape, too!

FINALLY got it to stick.

Now for the photo.

Wait! People are coming in. Can't be having the flash go off and the people think I'm taking pictures of my naughty bits.

Okay. Coast is clear.

Done.

Whew! This Sticky Note covert action is hard work!

Hopefully this note won't fall off and stick to the bottom of someone's shoe.

Le sigh.

Feel free to join me in my Sticky Note Campaign. Heck, who knows? I might even start a meme for this!

Thursday's Things in a Row

This is part two of things in a row that I saw a Navy Pier in Chicago. Here we go!

I like to call this "Knobs on a Fence". I could have added to it by having ME in the photo, leaning on the fence, hee hee, (get it, knobs on a fence.) Oh, forget it!

Bicycles built for families of four

I DID feel compelled to straighten these benches, but I held myself back!

I tried hard to straighten this photo, but it's the perspective that's off. But then I decided that I LIKE how the buildings are on a slant in the background. Kind of proves that the earth is round, yes?

I love these hanging flower baskets on the fence dividing the road, and I wish I had a better perspective of this, but I literally risked my BE-hind taking this photo as a taxi whipped around the corner nearly missing me as I jumped up on the curb. Whew! All in a day's work in the life of an amateur photographer!

So.....did you risk life or limb taking any shots this week?

Signs - Shh!

We recently rode the Metra train to and from Chicago. On our ride home, the conductor walked into our train car announcing, "This is  a quiet car! Collecting tickets!" I thought he was just making a comment about how quiet it was on the train. Apparently he wasn't kidding. I saw this sign as we were getting off the train.

I guess when people put in a hard day at work (or shopping!) the last thing they want to hear is a crying baby or kids fighting or loud music. It's a good thing I didn't fall asleep or I'd have gotten kicked off with my loud snoring!

For more signs, visit Lesley here.

Incorrect Test Answers from Kids

I admit I totally swiped this from the website funnyordie.com The following are actually answers on tests that kids wrote down (or drew). Read them an weep!

That would hurt!

I am jealous of Cora's penis collection.

I can see it...you know, safety scissors?

I, personally, am kind of afraid of hores. My legs hurt when I try to ride one. One tried to throw me off. I don't think hores like me. Maybe if I had a hore of my own we could be friends.

Gosh, makes a parent proud, doesn't it?

Ride a dick - a noun AND a verb. Wow. I think this girl is going to grow up to be a hore with her legs straight up. (See sticker story above.)

Beware! Kung Fu midgets on the loose!

Just what we are looking for: a teacher who encourages good habits in our kids!

I saved the best for last. This kid must be a real class clown. I like how the teacher suggests to hang this on the student's refrigerator! Click to enlarge if you can't read it!

Exaggerating the size of one's penis begins in puberty.

Chicago - My Kind of Town - Final Installment

In my first post here I wrote about our ride on the Tall Ship Windy on Lake Michigan. My second post here is about Navy Pier.

The next three photos I like to call, "Views from a cab". While our driver was zipping through the city streets, I was trying to snap photos out the window. These are the results.

This is Marina Towers. You can read more about the interesting architecture here. I like how you can see the area blurred on the bottom of the photo - you KNOW I am moving!

This is the new Trump Towers. I couldn't get the whole building, but I got a good portion of it!

I saw this and thought, "What a cool name for a nightclub!"

Uh, no. Apparently it's an "environmental solutions" company. Oops. My bad.

We were taking a cab to see the newest sensation in Chicago. The Marilyn Monroe statue. It got mixed reviews. Some people thought it was tasteless and tacky. Me? It thought it was kind of cool.

I just had to get her, ahem, backside, too!

And, no, that is NOT Jim!

Right near the Monroe statue is a wonderful tribute to Jack Brickhouse, a sports announcer for many of the Chicago sports teams, but most notably the Chicago Cubs.

We had a wonderful time in Chicago, as we always do, but soon we were home again, home again, jiggity jig.

THE END

Chicago - My Kind of Town

I first wrote about our trip to the beautiful downtown Chicago here. It was such a gorgeous day and we just soaked up the sun as we walked up and down Navy Pier taking in the sights.

How about this helicopter on one of the cruise ships that takes tourists out on Lake Michigan? Now why the heck would you need a helicopter?

Isn't this a cute kiosk? But could you imagine answering the phone, "Completely Nuts, can I help you?"

We walked to the end of the pier and saw this HUGE anchor. It weighs 8 tons and is from the USS Chicago III.

There were many places to chose from for lunch, but we decided on Riva.

I had not heard of it before, but apparently it's quite popular with celebrities. I guess it's their "thing" to have celebrities sign a plate and then hang them on the wall, maybe proving they ate there? (I notice that they didn't ask ME to sign a plate!)

Here are famous plates from:

Priscilla Presley

Vince Vaughn and Ted Koppel

Michael Jordan

Those is a brass plates underneath with the celebrity's name, in case you can't read their handwriting! I saw Bill and Hillary Clinton, and even President Obama ate there (before he was president).

I guess this restaurant's specialty is seafood. I ordered shrimp and I can testify that it was pretty good!

Jim ordered the blue-cheeseburger on a hot cross bun. Both lunches were delish!

After lunch we headed back down the pier. On the way we passed these circus mirrors as part of an attraction. I snapped this photo of a young family looking at their changing shapes in the mirrors. I love taking photos of the people around me, especially if they are unaware.

We crossed the street and went to Gateway Park, a 19-acre park, with Navy Pier bordering on the East, and nestled against skyscrapers on the West. Gateway Park is known for its eclectic art display each summer. It didn't disappoint us! Here are some of the pieces.

NICE

SHOE

LOOK OUT

Included in the Gateway Park 2011 Artwalk, but located outside of the park, under the viaduct at Lake Shore Drive and Grand Avenue is this beautiful mural poster. It was painted by Shepard Fairey, the artist best known for his Barack Obama "Hope" poster in 2008. This "Obey" mural  looks like album covers and measures 130 feet long by 10 feet high. I saw it when the taxi whizzed by it and wanted to yell, "STOP"!, but, it wasn't to be. Sooo, thankfully, there's INTERNET!!

Two favorites that are always at the park are:

This wonderful fountain that kids (or adults!) can play in on a hot day. This particular day all kiddies were back in school! I was very tempted to put my hot, tired dogs in this cool water!

and the Bob Newhart statue. Here he is as his character Dr. Robert Hartley, psychologist. The Bob Newhart Show was filmed in Chicago.

Another one of those moments I captured.....a little girl trying to photograph a baby squirrel.

TO BE CONTINUED

Thursday's Things in a Row

I saw so many things in a row on our trip to downtown Chicago, that I have enough for two week's worth! Here we go!

While waiting for the bus, I saw all these cabs lined up.

Then we hopped on the bus and I saw these handle-grabber thingys. Yeah, so I got a couple of stares when I took the photo. Big deal.

Then we got to Navy Pier and there was just an explosion of things in a row!

These ropes where hanging from the ship that we sailed on Lake Michigan. I don't know what they were for; but I DID notice that there was no soap at the the end of the rope!

This is what I call a two-fer. Wait, no, a THREE-fer! The pots, the plants, AND the yellow umbrellas!

And finally, at the end of Navy Pier, waving proudly in the breeze, are numerous flags.

What have you found in a row this past week?