Speak Loudly, I Am In Suwanee Today

It's a full day of training for me today. I am currently in a far away land known as Suwanee. Yikes!

Chicago On $200 A Day?
When I first decided to go to Chicago a few months ago I considered to be an inexpensive alternative to going "across the pond" for the first time. It's Chicago, midwest living, how expensive could it be? The answer is "very expensive."

While I was able to convert SkyMiles for my flight, I don't have the same luxury for a hotel room. If you've been reading my blog since my trip to Manhattan last year you know that I usually travel solo (and don't like to, which is why I travel infrequently) and don't require a stay in the Four Seasons to have a pleasant stay. Let me re-introduce you to the Shoilet that was in the Hotel Thirty Thirty that I stayed at last year.


(click through to get a better look -- if you dare)

For the last two weeks I've been searching for a Chicago hotel that is

• in Chicago
• not a complete shithole
• costs less than $150/night before taxes, fees, etc

It's been very hard to find such a room. Even at $150/night my four-night stay will wind up costing my $800 (once you add in all the taxes, etc) for the hotel room alone! Tack on food, beer, and other entertainment expenses I'm looking at a Chicago trip which costs nearly the same as a new computer.

I am really having a hard time rationalizing this and am thinking about bagging the trip completely.

Any BellSouth DSL Customers Out There?
I'm considering switching DSL providers. My connection is okay, but not stellar especially for what I am paying. I admit to not being a big fan of BellSouth because I think that I am paying a lot for minimal land-line phone services (which I cannot drop), but I am willing to consider them as an option if I get enough rave reviews.

Back On The Live Music Circuit
Tonight I'll be back at The EARL, this time to see Pretty Girls Make Graves. I don't know much about the band, but since I am only working a partial day tomorrow I am willing to investigate on a School Night.

What A Bunch Of Flags!
SKIP NOW if you didn't watch last night.

While I was somewhat unimpressed with the grand finale of The Amazing Race I was pleased to see the Hippies win it all. There was just something about the Frat Boys that bugged the shit out of me.

And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal...
Current Mood - in pain, I have a pinched nerve in my neck
Current Music - nothing today
Website Of The Day - Seek inner peace by checking out the origami art of Richard Sweeney.

If you ever want a quick glance of the sites I've picked for my Websites Of The Day, you can check them out on del.icio.us, my user name is InsideThePerimeter (go figure), and they are all tagged as "blogged."

Exercise (b)Log - nothing (a-gain)

Cheers!
Paulie [eatl/ga]