The World Unfiltered

I’ll be in Chicago for four hours. I’m hungry since I didn’t get to eat dinner, but I just want healthy food right now.

I got a bug bite on my arm. Ugh

Someone behind me is playing relaxing guitar music. I love that!

I’m so hungry. I am trying to Yelp food, then sushi, but most places popping up say they’re closed today. Wtf. It’s not a holiday. I just realized I should add the open now filter hahaha I’m an idiot. Nope…that didn’t really help either. Sooo many things are closed today, does anyone know why?? It’s a Tuesday…or Wednesday…or a…I don’t actually know what day it is or even what days even are anymore. It’s very easy to lose track of these things.

It’s snowing and cold and windy as usual, but I wasn’t prepared for the snow. No one here even locals seems to be prepared for the snow though either haha. This is entertaining to watch, but then I realize that I too am fighting the wind and trying not to blow away in it.

I found a sushi place and walked around the building its in for a while because I couldn’t figure out how to get in. However, it turns out I can’t actually get in without an ID. Sigh, well there’s a person walking around with McDonald’s so at least that’s open, but I’m not really hungry for plastic right now. Sigh oh well, desperate times…I’m in line. Wait!!! There’s a Chipotle across the street, and someone just went in!!! Sure, they had an E. coli outbreak recently but at least it’s real food and not plastic. I got a burrito bowl without the tortilla. I also got chips and salsa on the side, oops. Back to the train station…if I don’t get blown away in this wind because of course it’s blowing against me. AUNT EM! Anyway, I’m here waiting. There is a bird in the gate again. It’s probably the same bird. I don’t get it. I have nothing for you so why you gotta follow me everywhere. I even went to the other side of the gate and knew I would only be safe for a minute or so. Like clockwork, I turn around a minute later and THERE IT IS! Three feet away standing there looking at me. You can’t have my soul demon I’m still using it right now! Go away.

Train 7
This trip may actually be much better than the last few, at least customer service wise. It seems to be similar to the first rides where they go up to you for reservations rather than you being screwed over, particularly like on the last train.
Greg the train attendant is nice and likes to joke a lot but his laugh is a little annoying.
Katrina, a 19 year old going to visit her boyfriend is nice. We’re having dinner at 7…sad day to have to wait so long but I’m getting the steak! And my mousse!!

I am glad to be doing this for the experience, (and I’m obviously still committed to more train time as I’m only in the middle of Illinois), however, I’m not sure I would knowingly agree this long of a sitting excursion again, or at least not in the near future by train. I am of course writing this knowing that I am taking a bus across South Africa, BUT I will be stopping along the way for longer gaps of time, and none of those rides are overnight. I do admit that there is so much of the country that can only be seen by train, and it is definitely worth it for the landscape.It’s hard to stay awake. But I’m so worn out and lethargic. More energy gets sucked out of me when doing nothing, so I’d much rather be out and about climbing ice walls (Iceland) or abseiling down a mountain (South Africa) than sitting on my butt while my body swells with water retention. I have abs I swear…they’re just hibernating right now.

Las Vegas, Nevada is different than Las Vegas, New Mexico. The Southwest Chief train goes to New Mexico NOT Nevada…apparently this mishap happens quite frequently haha.

There have been so many announcements on the speaker trying to get someone to come back and pay for their beer. Where does he think he’s going to hide? They know the room he’s sleeping in…and that being said, can’t they just go to his room and deal with it rather than embarrassing him? Perhaps they can’t hear the announcements?

Dinner with Katrina and some woman in her fifties. She did “life” backwards by raising kids and now getting second degree, then going to Japan in a month to teach English. She asked me about whether I’m ever worried about safety or someone grabbing me. It can happen anywhere, but also there are things I do like hiding my money and being vigilant

They sell comfort kits for ten bucks, which include a fleece blanket and inflatable neck pillow. It’s not a horrible deal but I don’t find it worth it to me right now.