Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 1

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 1:

Exclaiming "we live in Chicago" every time we drive over the Skyway.

It's a rite of passage for a passage right of way ... catching the first glimpse of the Chicago skyline from atop the giant bridge (just beyond the giant Walmart that popped up overnight a few years ago) ... (when traveling in from the east [and most trips out of town tend to include a return from that direction]) ... and then stating the quote above out loud, because it's been categorically true since Sep 2001 ...until today.

COUNTER:  For fifty days now, in the run up to this big move, I've stated something in this blog series that I'll miss about Chicago ... and for forty-nine of them, I've offered a counter that keeps me looking forward to what's ahead as a Floridian.  But dare I say it ... I'm not sure that anything can replace this experience.  And with that ... goodbye Chicago!

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 2

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 2:

Spending quality time with this crew, my Indiana family.

With the majority of these people (seen here in black and white to look all old-timey, even though the photo is just a year or two old) once living in the South Bend area (a few of the young uns have scattered as they aged) ... visiting with them was the perfect getaway from the big city ... with the perfect people for the perfect activities (board games, Michigan rummy, feasting on the holidays, the occasional classy croquet contest and drinking ... drinking ... and a bit more drinking).  Plus ... most of them came into the big city multiple times in the past dozen years.  It goes without saying that being farther from them is the hardest part about the move ...

COUNTER:  You'll come see us, right?  We'll come see you, right?  Until then ... we've always got the Facebook to make it seem like we never left (I've been known to post a bit on there, in case you haven't noticed ...)

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 3

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 3:

Gazing at, driving around, boating on or getting in Lake Michigan.

I may not know how to swim (insert gasp here), but that doesn't mean I don't love the water (double negative alert -- I do love the water).  From the "crick" out behind my mom's third husband's house in Schuylkill Haven to the Quittie by which I grew up (even through college) to the mighty Susquehanna when I was in law school (loved by Demon as well) ... my living near water hit its peak with my time in Chicago enjoying Lake Michigan.  *This* view is the one I saw from the favorite spot on the beach, and is one I'll miss (but certainly keep with me in my mind's eye).

COUNTER:  Does the powerful Atlantic Ocean trump Lake Michigan?  Only time will tell ...

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 4

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 4:

Transporting myself publicly via Metra, PACE, CTA bus or el.

Now I get why they sell these el maps as wall art ... public transportation is baked in to be a part of Chicago living.  Thanks to the job I had in Schaumburg back in the mid-aughts, I really got to figure things out by spending up to two hours each day back and forth on a combination of all four (and I learned how to sleep with my hand wrapped around my bag so I could catch some z's [and hopefully not miss my stop]).  But it's the el that has taken me many places and been an ever present part of my life (the two apartments near Wrigley ... in the same building ... were literally NEXT to the tracks ... such that I'm not going to know how to live with silent sounds [if you permit that oxymoron] in a new place), so it's the el I'll miss the most.

COUNTER:  According to Mr. Wiki:  "Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach ... [a] 70.9 mile long system [with] 18 stations along the Southeast Florida coast."  But the real question is:  "Is there a people-of-the-tri-rail website" mocking its passengers?

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 5

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 5:

Walking home after hopping around the local bars.

I have been spoiled during the last half of my dozen years in Chitown to be able to end a night of social bar crawling ... I mean bar hopping (... as bar crawling in this context sounds like I have a drinking problem when I honestly have no problem drinking ...).  Of course, even walking is not without risk (I know someone who has a scar on his forehead from trying to do this [but hey, it was "slippy out" {as my people back home say}])  Having traveled and socially drank frequently in the last few years, I can state that it is a luxury that few cities offer, and I will most certainly miss it (in five days, I'll be putting extra copper pennies in the car [so as to fool breathalyzers]).

COUNTER:  Since the exact domicile hasn't been secured as of yet, I guess it might be too early to rule out that it won't be a bar-friendly location ... but I fear I'll be much less free to imbibe down south if it's going to involve a car ride home.  (KIDS -- don't drink and drive!)

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 6

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 6:

Ordering from all the favorite take out places.

Is there a sadder sight to see than the whole menu file in the trash? (Yep, there's more packing going on here this weekend ...)  Although I may try to squeeze in another order or two in the remaining 6 days in town (!?!) ... that means no more "Bacon Cheese Mushroom Chicken in a pita, lettuce mayo only with Bacon Cheese Fries" from eat-a-pita ... or "Cheese Thicks" from Leona's ... or "Bibs Bacon Burger/Fried Chicken Dinner/Chicken Cordon Blue Bites with Cream of Chicken Soup" from Panino's ... or the "Cheese Steak Salad with no black olives, add bacon and extra ranch dressing" from Philly's Best.  Oh my ... I'm getting verklempt.

COUNTER:  This too shall pass.  New menus will be slipped under the Florida apartment door.  And those menus are bound to include items that have some combination of chicken and bacon and cheese on them.  Or at least that's what I tell myself to get through this painful break-up with these fine Chitown establishments.

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 7

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 7:

Getting my buzz on whilst playing a few rounds of Golden Tee.

I'm *kind of* a social drinker ... and definitely a binge drinker ... which means, on those once or twice a month social evenings, I start my night Golden Tee-ing at the local bar before beginning the bar crawl.  Mind you, I'm not the best player ever (partly because I refuse to use the backspin and bite features [I play au naturale ... well, except I'm wearing clothes that show off my tattoos], much to the chagrin of the pro-player that occasionally joins in at Mahoney's) ... but it is most definitely tradition, and occasionally I finish with a respectable score (as documented by this photo on my phone from Dec 7 2012).

COUNTER:  You would *think* this would be a national game found anywhere, but apparently people play REAL golf in sunny Florida, so the option is not as prevalent.  What *is* at multiple establishments, however, is made by the same company ... Silver Strike Bowling (I guess because all the old folks in Florida bowl?) ... Time to practice my virtual follow-through!

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 8

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 8:

Seeing snow!

Have I said this yet?  I don't want my street cred to be damaged ... the move was planned many months ago ... before the worst winter in some time (certainly the worst since I've been here) occurred ... I don't want people saying I wussed out!  But I will miss snow ... and so I made a quick and unprofessional photo montage of three of my favorite Chi-snow pics ... the back yard at Logan Square, the street and the bus stuck on it during the Snowmageddon that closed down LakeShoreDrive a few years back, and the view "out my window" just this season.  Goodbye forever, snow.

COUNTER:  Well, I guess there is a chance I'll be coming back to visit during winter months ... and "Mother" has made Cold Miser and Heat Miser compromise at least once before ... so I guess it may not be completely true that I'll *never* see snow again ...

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 9

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 9:

Weathering *any* meteorological situation with Tom Mother F'in Skilling.

Oops ... sorry .. didn't mean to almost swear there.  It's just hard not to get excited ... about a guy who, in turn, gets so darn excited about all things weather related.  Derechos, polar vortexes, murderous heat waves, flooding ... or even just nice and normal days ... all are presented with vim and vigor such that he literally has to be rushed off the sound stage every time he presents on the newscast because he has so much to share (and much of it stats driven).  He has me so trained that I'd rather turn on the TV to see what's going on in my weather world instead of looking out the window ... which, I think, is the ultimate compliment you can pay someone in that business.

COUNTER:  John Morales?  Steve Weagle?  Some other "chief of meteorology"?  One of you ready to step up?  Or in Florida, is the weather simply sun all the time (except between 2 and 3 in the afternoon ... and except when hurricane winds are a-blowin')?  Can you tell I might have visited a time or two?

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 10

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 10:

Sampling the goods as if I were on a reality TV show at all the foodie events.

Like the Taste (before it got too thuggy and stabby and dangerous-y) ... or the Weber Grill fest (which had lots of bite size bits of deliciousness) ... or the various food-truck-in-parking-lot gatherings (the mayor won't let them actually drive on the streets and sell) ... all special afternoons that let me live up to my statement that, although I didn't quite qualify as a foodie by literal definition, I was, without a doubt, an "eatie"

COUNTER:  There's literally a website called www.foodtrucksfortlauderdale.com.  I betcha John P Jack Seiler lets 'em drive around, too!  Oh ... and there are events throughout February already scheduled.  Things may be looking up on this front.

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 11

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago:

Thing 11:

Diversifying my life experience.

Despite the fact that Chitown remains one of the most hella-segregated cities in America, I can say that I've gladly been exposed to so many different races, religions, political parties, backgrounds, orientations and creeds since arriving a dozen years ago (which, of course, makes for an interesting Facebook feed).  I sincerely appreciate the well-rounded feeling it gives me, from the soul food potluck dinners we used to have when we worked the holiday at TCF, to my learning first hand about Diwali from co-workers at Kaplan, to explaining daylight savings time and Groundhog Day and Halloween to individuals born internationally ... those are just some of the things I might never have done had I stayed back home in central PA.

COUNTER:  I've walked Ocean Drive in South Beach before, so I know that I can find me some international exposure if I seek it out ... plus, I have a feeling I'm about to get to know every type of Latin that exists under that ethnic umbrella before too long (which I'm counting on ... I like Latins and Latins like me!) ...

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 12

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 12:

Making the rounds of all of the Walker Bros Original Pancake Houses.

I'm not exactly sure how all six current houses of pancakes can each be called original, but I've managed to take family to eat at three of them (all relatively recently ... even though I've been here a dozen years, it took some time to stumble across this gastronomic gem).  I'm a little sad that I'll be leaving town NOT having eaten at the other three (Arlington Heights, Highland Park and Lincolnshire) ... but any sadness I feel is turned to happiness as soon as I recall their special bacon-infused waffles that have made many a visit the highlight of my day.

COUNTER:  IHop ... are you listening?  Bacon-infused waffles!  Can someone in your Florida stores get on that right away please!  I'll be there in about two weeks ...

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 13

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 13:

Spending my money at all the tourist attractions.

There's something to be said about Chicago having so many places to go and so many things to see and do (... and good times to be had ... wait, that's Hersheypark's ad from the eighties ...) that, after a dozen years as my adopted hometown, I've only now started to think that maybe I've run out of options.  And there are so many favorites, that there's not room to list them all ... but the show space at the Aquarium with its view of the Lake, and the miniature-rooms and shadow-boxes installations at the Art Museum, and the annual Christmas Trees of the World exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry .. and *this* view (it's me ... that's my Adidas sneaker ... and don't zoom in or you can see up my shorts!) stepping out over Chicago on the 103rd floor near the top of the Sears Tower (look, people, you can rename it as Willis, but when I arrived in town, it was the Sears Tower, so that's what it will always be in my mind) ... they are all for sure on that list!

COUNTER:  Ummm ... the international swimming hall of fame will be in the same town as me in 13 days ... so there's that ...

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 14

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 14:

Listening to all of the apartment noises.

Hey ... it's an old building of nine units (almost like that google image was commissioned for this bonus series of posts, no?) ... so there's bound to be some ambient noise that's shared with all tenants.  I'm not just talking about the occasional copulation concert (truth be told, the upstairs girls and the downstairs boy do not appear to have much game ... or else I've shamed them into abstinence by posting about it on Facebook) ... but instead, how almost every dog howls when the fire engine goes by (and, with a station at the end of the block, that's pretty often), or the sound of bathroom ceilings collapsing (once every two years, like clockwork, because of the upstairs neighbors [just like in the picture!]), or the pitter patter of the tiny feet running above (not babies ... the 'hood's too young for all that ... but the upstairs puppies like to play fetch ... for that I can vouch).

COUNTER:  Unless my dream comes true and a house can be found that is the nexus of cheaper price and more square footage down in FL, chances are I'll hear neighborly noise down there too ... and Floridians appear to be crazy ... so that which I over hear is bound to only get MORE exciting!

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 15

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 15:

Walking through the 'hood on my lunch hour.

This one is a relatively new development, although it does hearken back to early Chicago living (2001-2008) when my "exercise" was taking Demon out on his walks, but I'll miss turning my lunch hour into a walk through the 'hood, as I've been doing since fall.  I have a southern path down to my old center and back ... and a western path over to Ashland and back ... and a northern path up to the uptown Target and back ... (I never could get an eastern path up and running because there was a lake in my way).  I know for sure I'll miss them because I haven't been able to go out on one for a while (polar vortex first, now I'm doing moving tasks on lunch break instead), and the weight I shed these past few months is slowly creeping back on.

COUNTER:  Well, there might be an ocean in my way down there, but here's hoping I can upgrade from a daily walk to a daily bike ride on my lunch break  ('cause my cardio is severely lacking, yo).  But if I can't, at least I'll get a tan while I'm out and about!

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 16

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 16:

Hanging out on college campuses.

Disclaimer ... it's not so much that I was creepin' (mostly I wasn't ... mostly) ... it's that my work required it of me -- and I didn't mind ... which, in and of itself, can't really be any surprise, since I was so comfortable in that space that I extended my college/campus life from 1989 all the way to 2001 (if you count LVC, and California University of PA, and then LVC again, and then Widener, and then back to LVC, and then back to Widener).  When it was all said and done, most of my Chi-time was spent on the beautiful location in the accompanying picture ... Loyola Lakeshore.  I searched for a Damen Hall lobby photo (the *most* time I spent was sitting there at a table next to the escalators), but settled for this instead, because it captures how pretty this place is.

COUNTER:  Maybe I'll be called on by the work locals to visit Broward College or Nova Southeastern University?  Or maybe it's that a 40+ year old man shouldn't be hanging out on college campuses at that age ...

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 17

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago:

Thing 17:

Leaving town via Midway or O'Hare.

I like driving (and I cannot lie), but there are certain trips where one must fly (look at me being all mix-a-lot-esque).  And whether doing the poor man's flight and taking Southwest out of Midway OR the work sponsored trip or two out of O'Hare, I'm afraid to add up the number of hours I've spent in line at the ticketing counter, or at the checkpoint, or wasting time at a restaurant, or camped out in the gate, or next to my appropriate pillar before boarding, or fighting impolite crowds at the luggage area, unsure if my baggage would actually arrive on the carousel I was told.  But you know what ... all that goes out the window (metaphorically) when I catch a glimpse out the window (literally) of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan from many many thousand feet up.

COUNTER:  What's this?  Not one?  Not two?  But *three* airports service what will be my new hometown (Palm Beach, Hollywood AND Miami)!  So many choices (and let's face it, I can always come back to my adopted hometown to visit to get that skyline view again).

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 18

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 18:

Zooing it up for free at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

I'll admit that zoos sometimes make me sad what with animals that pace back and forth or seem holed up in a small space ... so it takes a special one to have exhibits, where the animals actually look content to be there and where I start to buy into the thought that we are the people being observed by them instead of the other way around ... but LP Zoo goes a long way to alleviate those concerns of mine.  And this picture (from 2009) is my favorite that I took when I was learning how the fancy new camera worked back then.  I'll miss spending the afternoon there any time of year (because they also put on an outstanding holiday light show).

COUNTER:  I'm not sure that *anything* could replace the LP Zoo down in southern Florida (I got to see gators out in the glades in their natural habitat on a previous vacation, but , that same attraction also had a piss poor version of a "zoo" out back that almost ruined the memory of the trip) ... but I do have a Butterfly World, a Monkey Jungle and a Parrot Jungle all close by to check out shortly after the big move!

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 19

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 19:

Working out of the physical Chicago offices of my employer.

I was a student for so long (longer than most people tend to be students ... but hey, I'm a late bloomer), that once I was done (the government just wouldn't loan me any more money!), the move to Chicago happened and, shortly thereafter, I found my career at Kaplan (I celebrate 10 years there in just a few weeks).  This photo is what I saw out of my office at the (now-closed) Schaumburg location where I started ... and I have many memories from that spot and from the one in which I spent so much more time, nearby in Lincoln Park.

COUNTER:  My company transformed a few years back, and so my office is now my home office ... which means I work from anywhere there is an internet connection (maybe even poolside?), but, across divisions, it's known that there's some real estate I'll have to check out in what will be my new neck of the woods (I mean ... neck of the glades).

Bonus Post (Gbye Chicago): Thing 20

50 Things I'll Miss About Chicago -->

Thing 20:

Learning so much about the Polish.

I learned quickly that this was a place where one daresn't tell certain jokes that I learned on certain playgrounds of my youth ... as the Poles in Chicago are well organized (evidenced each year by the proliferation of flags attached to cars that were driven around 'hoods adjacent to Logan Square, where I first lived).  My father's people (way back) are Prussian ... so I guess I kind of feel connected ancestrally anyway.  Although I had already learned about Pirogies and Halupkis and Haluskis from Bev G during my Cherry Tree cafe waiter days in Uniontown ... Chicago taught me about Pulaski Day and "mowimy po polsku" and how to get comfortable at my job with spelling students' names that only consisted of consonants!

COUNTER:  I have a distinct feeling I'm going to be learning much about those who have a ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickle and mustard sandwich named after them, so as much as things change ... they sure do have a way of staying the same.