Adventures in the Windy City

This past week both Josh and I were on business trips - He in North Carolina and myself in Chicago.  I am a very anxious flier.  I didn't used to be; One super scary flight 4 years ago was enough to cause me to question the safety of flying in a metal box 27,000 feet above the ground.  So traveling by myself nowadays causes a bit of stress.  Even so, I had a great time in Chicago.  The view from "my office" for the week was lovely.  It overlooked Michigan Avenue, the Wrigley Building and Trump Tower.

 

The last time I was in Chicago I tried Gino's East deep dish pizza and this time stopped by Giordano's for some famous Chicago style pizza.  I thought Chicago was famous for pizza, but several of my colleagues swore that I had to try a Chicago hot dog.  Unfortunately I prefer not to eat hot dogs unless they're covered in corn batter and fried on a stick.  My dad likes to be funny and say, "You know what hot dogs are made from don't you?  Chicken lips and a**holes!"  I hear his voice saying that every time I look at one.  No wonder I can't bring myself to eat them!  I had a couple of other delicious meals at Hub 51 and BiCE Ristorante.  BiCE is part of the Talbott Hotel and we were amused by the lady bug cow climbing up the front of the building.  The bellhop said that the owner of the hotel paid $60,000 for the cow in a charity auction and another $60,000 to get it mounted!

My meetings finished early on the last day there and with some time to kill I headed over the the Sears "Willis" Tower to conquer my fear of heights.  At 1,353 feet and 103 floors above the city below, the view was amazing.  

A few years back, "The Ledge" was added to the 103rd floor.  The Ledge is 4 glass boxes that extend 4.3 feet beyond the outer wall of the building.  As I walked around and admired the view I was still debating whether or not I was going to work up the nerve to stand in one of the boxes.  A nice man offered to take my picture for me and I felt like I had no choice but to suck it up and go for it.  Josh finds the picture below hilarious.  I'm sure the look on my face says it all, but while the man was taking this picture I'm literally pleading with him, "hurry, please, hurry...take the picture, did you take it yet!?"  

I tried to walk forward out on to the ledge but nearly passed out.  I had to slowly walk backwards onto the glass.  Walking forward felt like I was going to walk straight off the building and I almost passed out on the first try!  I may not have fully conquered my fear of heights but this was a small victory in itself.

Standing 103 floors above Chicago.