Two Rocks Walking Backwards

This isn't a commuting comment, but strange and funny nonetheless.

I left my office on Michigan Avenue the other day to chase down the bus after work. As I exit the revolving door, I am taken aback by the strangest sight I've witnessed in a few days, at least.

A guy was holding two huge boulders, I mean, HUGE, tied on ropes that were wrapped around each rock. One in each hand. The rocks had writing on them, but I was too astounded to see what it said.

Not only did he have one in each hand, at the end of a 3 foot rope that was laced around his fists, but he was walking BACKWARDS down Michigan Avenue.

No explanation, no pleas, no bucket for tips, no protesting signs, no facial acknowledgement of this random act.

Just cruising backwards down one of the busiest streets in Chicago, carrying two boulders on ropes.

Okay......?

Standoff in the Circle

Commuting can be challenging, and often before you've even left your property.

I hailed a cab, got one to pull in the circle driveway, and got in. He starts the meter, quite obviously. This is where the problems started.

There was a cab in front of us, and the driveway is only one car wide. We honk. The people behind us honk. My meter continues to tick...

The cab doesn't budge. There is someone in the back, and I presume they're paying by credit card which often takes an act of Congress to get the payment to go through. One minute passes, two minutes pass, now it has been about 4 minutes of no movement. This is a long time while sitting still.

The honking continues (I hate honking). The meter continues to roll.

My cabbie now tries to pull forward as far as he could, and for a second I think he's going to take out the fountain by trying to get by. The front cab, the offender, doesn't move. The doorwoman now comes out and is screaming at him to move. He doesn't.

Ultimately, my cab driver gets out and can't even get his door open wide enough (pressed up against said fountain) to get out. I was almost relieved, as I didn't know quite what would ensue.

The front cabbie (I hate him at this point) doesn't even flinch. The concerto of honks continues.

My meter is at about $4.50 by now. I haven't left my driveway. I ask the guy politely to turn it off. He does, but of course doesn't reset it to the entrance fee. It wasn't worth asking.

FINALLY, Congress must've heard our pleas and a young guy got out of the back. I was a tad shocked to see that it was the good looking guy that I think lives on the 9th floor (of course it would be, now I couldn't hate him), and the cab begins to roll forward.

I got to my destination in one piece, but $5 less rich and a whole lot more irritated.

Just another day commuting in this crazy city.