Since I didn’t go to bed until WELL after my bedtime the night before last because of the Cubs game, let’s just say I slept in until the last possible second before having to catch the train. I had my lunch packed, but only an apple for my breakfast and decided I would wing it once I got downtown. Now I have to keep reminding myself that the extra $3 here and there will add up and it’s my intention to bring my breakfast and lunch at least four days a week. There are only a handful of restaurants open at the food court in the train station in the morning. For some reason 50 people were in line at McDonald’s and no one – not one single person – was standing in the Taco Bell line. I thought it was because no one felt like tacos for breakfast (um, how can you go wrong with that?!) but then looked and on their $1 menu, they had an egg and bacon soft taco for breakfast. $1.26 out the door thank you very much.
I have to admit, it was quite tasty, especially with my beloved fire Taco bell sauce. If I were to do this again, I’d bring a handful of baby spinach in my lunch bag to bulk it up a bit. It came in at 8 smart points.
Of course everyone in their brother had Cubs paraphernalia on. This guy was selling World Series Champ shirts, and was yelling “it wasn’t a dream – the Cubs won the World Series!”
I met my new boss. He just has a few things that are a bit . . . different. He doesn’t like staples, he doesn’t want anyone in his office when he’s in there and well, he only communicates with me through email. And we are kind of tucked into one corner of the floor and I don’t have anyone that sits around me, so I am kind of like an island, but as I was telling my sister this, she said “at least he’s not going to eat your food!” True! It will just take a bit of getting used to since I am such a social person. I had some training to do and ate my lunch in the lunch room in about 15 minutes and then got my walking shoes on.
Shelley and Kym – the next series of photos are for you! When I want to leave my floor, I hit the 1 button:
Then this screen pops up and tells me which elevator bank to go to:
And then once I get in the elevator, it will only go to the first floor – it won’t stop on any other floor. Still weird not to see all the floor numbers IN the elevator though!
It was a glorious day outside – doesn’t feel like November at all – it was probably 60 degrees? By the time I made it back to my desk I was at nearly 7k steps for the day. It’s my goal to do #10ktilturkeyday – even on the weekends! My office isn’t too far from the Sears Tower, sorry – it will always be the Sears Tower to me no matter who owns it.
Crossed over the bridge a few times too and listened to the architectural tour guide:
The afternoon went by really fast, and as I was heading into the train station, they were selling The Chicago Tribune and the Sun-Times because of the Chicago Cubs headlines – people were buying up to 10 papers!
When I got home from work Hannah was still at work and Jacob wasn’t hungry, so it was each man for themselves. I had ground beef that needed to be used up and it turned out to be Taco Thursday for me. I sautéed 3/4 cup of zucchini with 2 ounces of ground beef to stretch out the beef, and used 3 corn tortillas that I fried in a teaspoon of olive oil, stuffed with romaine lettuce and an ounce of shredded 50% reduced fat Cabot cheese. I seriously bought that 2 pound block of cheese a month ago at Sam’s Club and I still have 1/4 of it left! This plate comes in at 11 smart points.
I didn’t check the mail until after dinner and saw that my friend Carrie sent me a book! She’s an avid reader and after reading this book, thought that I would like it too. Now that I am a train commuter – it was one of my goals to start reading more books than blogs on my train ride – thanks Carrie!
And Kym and Jan – I am planning on making the chocolate cupcakes you saw in the photo with the sweet potato cupcakes – they are actually gluten free and I am going to try the recipe out at home on this weekend in advance of my next cooking club since one of our members is gluten free. I’ll be posting the recipe most likely on Monday – the chocolate frosting is to die for!
Alright, time to make the donuts and get my shit together – make it a great day!
If the elevator only lets you go to a specific floor can you only get out of the stairwell at a specific floor too?
The book looks interesting! I’ll have to add it to my list.
I worked for someone who did allow staples but they had to be in the paper at a 45 degree angle. Anything else was not acceptable!
Love our blog. I have been out of the loopmfor a while nice to be back. Congrats on our new job. I will pm u when our on. Enjoy our weekend.
Different is just that. Just may take some getting used to. You make me miss Chicago. It is such a great city! And I like your bro’s idea! Write a book-maybe even a cookbook!
Thanks for the pictures and explaination, although I am a dumb and am still confused. It seems like they are single-serve elevators? I’m still wondering about the lobby thing, when there’s a group waiting to board…do they funnel all who have swiped their cards for the 18th floor, say, to the same elevator, while those who swiped for the 15th floor, say, are funnelled to a different elevator? Obviously I have too much time on my hands to be thinking about this, but I’m a hick living in podunkville, LOL.
BTW, I think I might like only being in touch with a boss via email. That way there’s no issue on whether or not he asked you to do something, right?
I’m right there with you Shelley, the elevator thing is so odd. I can’t seem to get a handle on it either. :0)
Thanks for the elevator explanation. I’m still not comfortable with it. I would probably have some great calf muscles from using the stairs and hopefully I wouldn’t work on a floor any higher than the tenth. Whew, I’m exhausted just thinking of it.
Can’t wait for the chocolate cupcake recipe. Lucky for me and Jan you have a person in need of gluten free desserts in your cooking club. 🙂
Let me know what you think of the book. I am a book reading junkie! I average a book every two/three days. I try to make them last but sometimes just can’t seem to put them down. I know I should use some of that time for exercise or my blog I have posted once to but I do LOVE my books!
Thanks for the quick reply on Instagram about the fried shells. I’m going to give it a try with the thin Mission shells.
I really enjoy your city photos. I can’t wait for some holiday city photos. Have a great weekend!
Girl….am I the only one that doesn’t know what type of job you have now? Text me! It looks like your office isn’t too far away from the train, which is going to be a huge plus in the sideways Chicago winters….burrrrr I will never forget those!! Bone Chilling! But I do sort of miss the energy of the Loop….kind of 🙂
Hope you are settling in nicely to the new job!!
As I was reading your blog, I realized you were talking to me (Jan) cuz I requested the chocolate frosting with the sweet potato cupcake. Yum! I usually don’t like frosting, but that one was calling my name! Lol. The marshmallow frosting I want to make also. Thanks for making my day and you have a great day also!
So is that two hours on the train every day? What are you going to do! I would write so many books!!!
Yep! One hour each way – I’ve been watching Greys Anatomy on Netflix though ???
Hey Biz!
I love your recount on your experience of the streets of Chicago the morning after the Cubs’ Win! I have never watched the World Series in total before, but you better believe that I was watching that game, stayed up for the whole thing and was rooting for the Cubs.
I know you will enjoy that book. It is the best book I read all year! I actually listened to it as an audiobook now that I have a commute. I loved that version. But I wasn’t sure if new cars have CD players… or if you’d like that, so I went with the book. I am glad it’s perfect for the commute.
I could go on and on about how much I love this book, the way it was written, the relatable Midwest things that made me laugh… I can hardly believe this is his first novel!
Anyway, enjoy!
I realized a few posts ago that you changed jobs but don’t know what you are doing. How exciting to be working in the city. My Muse book group read that book last year. It is different from what we usually read but we all liked it.
Good wishes in your new job!!
Best,
Bonnie
Well that IS different. So, if he actually needs you to come into his office is he going to email you? Hahahaha! Oh well, at least you won’t have him micromanaging your work, or eating your food like Jenn said.
I’ve always brought my food to work and I probably only buy out once every 3-4 months. But there are people here who buy breakfast and lunch – they have to be spending $20-$30 a day on that. No thank you, I work too hard for my money!
You are right, your new boss has a few strange things. Maybe it gets better after he gets to know you better. My boss is very social. He sometimes calls me “cookie” (koekje in Dutch) if he wants to ask me something. I’m very lucky with him.
How long is your train ride to work? I am at work by car in 10 minutes but I wouldn’t mind commute by train (which isn’t possible from home to work) so I could read more in the train. Great idea to read more books.
Last day of the week, make it a good one and have a great weekend.