Sunday 25 October 2009

OMG I cant believe how much I ate!

Well were back home now, but I cannot believe how much I ATE!

For the first two days I wasnt even getting hungry but was merely topping myself up with each meal. Finally on Thursday I told James (between mouthfuls of cornflake coated crunchy french toast), that if I was having the "all you can eat buffet breakfast" then I wouldnt be eating any lunch.

I wont be boring you all stupid with all the food I ate (like I did last year), besides I have taken loads of photos (which I am still uploading btw). Instead I will just tell you about the highlights ;o).

What surprised me the most was the tolerance that Americans have for people wandering in and out of the queue they are standing in. For instance Sowsha (yes this was her name - which I have spelt phonetically for you), was wandering in and out of the queue in the USPS she was looking at the packaging for sale and I was really surprised that the person behind her was keeping her place in the queue!

So consequently when I was queueing in the Starbucks near our hotel (Im not quite sure what drew me to this hotel ;o)), and the mad woman in front of me (she gave me a really dirty look when I dared to join the queue behind her), was wandering in and out of the queue (at one point she was complaining about the music volume) I kept her place for her (as was the done thing). Do you know when they asked her what she wanted to order she said that she wasnt ordering anything yet!

Back to the post office...

...I was in the post office as I had to buy stamps for the postcards and a package I was sending, the lady in front of me (her name was Cathy I think) asked one of the women workers if they had any boxes (and showed her one in her hand) and she went and got a load to replenish the stock. Anyhow the lady came back and Cathy put a load of the boxes in her bag! I was quite astonished by the balls this woman must have as there was one of Chicagos finest standing two people behind me (the one behind Sowsha if you like) I know he was on duty as he had his radio on! So I asked her if the boxes were free and she said that the Priority Mail boxes were, and you just had to pay for the shipping (how cool is that?), looking up at the poster you can send up to 70 lbs to any state for $14.99. If you were wondering what Cathy was sending - it was invites for her Halloween party - yes she was on the phone to her mates asking for their zip codes as she was sending her invites out.

Now onto Sowsha...

...she was sending a money order, and is taking a teaching course! And behind Sowsha was the cop who was complaining about how long the queue was.

Having hearing my accent Sowsha and the cop were chatting to me asking about the differences between Chicago and the UK, I then said about how brilliant the Priority Mail boxes were and that it would cost loads to send an 70 lb package in the UK ;o).

Incidentally State Street has a parade on Halloween (I will have to make sure that one year we holiday around Halloween in the US).

Our hotel was bang in the middle of The Magnificent Mile, and we had a myriad of restaurants to chose from ;o). We found a good hotdog place Portillos we knew it was good in there as on our first visit we found two lots of Chicago Cops eating there ;o).

James was well pleased as we found a food by the pound place Whole Foods Market where we could have our lunch.

When we were choosing where to eat our dinners my only preference was that they did nice desserts ;o).

I even got to try Red Velvet Cake I had seen it mentioned on Bridezillas and wanted to try it ;o)

Needless to say I havent dared weigh myself, as I just know I put on tons :o(

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well you're allowed to go nuts on holiday, it's an unwritten rule.

I don't think I could live with that queue thing though. As far as I am concerned if you step out of a queue without a damn good reason you lose your place! Harsh but fair I think.

James (UK) said...

You worry too much... you still look just fine and dandy to me. ;-)

chocolat lover said...

Al I feel the same way as you about queues...

thanks James ;o)

Man said...

Thanks for the heads up. Now I know never to step out the queue when visiting the UK. I've been at the USPS stepped outside bought a coffee and come back in to my place. The only complaint was that I didn't offer to buy anyone else something.

chocolat lover said...

Man I can well believe it...

...when you consider how long the queue was and how quick you can get a "non fat no whip pumpkin spice latte" ;o)

Whilst were used to queueing here we dont like people who step out!

Kelly said...

oh my goodness, you and james make me SICK already!!!!

;)

actually, that was really sweet of him.

the thing about the boxes made me laugh. i felt a little uneasy walking out of there with my box....i can just imagine you watching the woman taking all the boxes. i mean, what if you just planned on using them to house xmas presents under the tree? what then? they are out their $14.99, i suppose.

you have a nice accent, i am not surprised that you were making friends while in line....er, i mean, queue ;)

it sounds like you had a great time. i've seen that james has some pics up, but none of yours have made it to flickr. still waiting patiently, though. havent even commented much on james, or taken a proper dive onto his blog because i am underwater with my school work and i can only procrastinate so much....

speaking of which....


glad you had fun! i love cake :)

chocolat lover said...

thanks Kelly, Im still working my way through the pictures...