Hello. Welcome to my website. It started while I was in Europe for a semester, and I've kept it up since then. I'm now at the University of Chicago Law School, living in Hyde Park, and the story continues. If you want to say hi or visit me, email cfloyd at uchicago dot edu.
"Life is nothing if not the sum of your anecdotes." -Scotty The Body, on storytelling "But it ain't that bad, man. Just figure out the system before the system figures out you." -T. Matthew Smith, on the 1L year "The beer just doesn't taste as good when you're not drinking it with your buddies." -Anon., on being away from good friends "Somebody has to pay the rent around here. Why the hell not us?" -Cotton, on studying for exams
1/26/2004 Received this email. My responses are in italics:
Charlie, I came across this and want to know if there is any truth to it:
A Real World Guide to being A Chicagoan
1. First you must learn to pronounce the city name. It is Chi-caw-go, or Cha-ca-ga depending on if you live north or South of Roosevelt Rd.
Yes, but there are more like four or five different ways. I've been trying out different methods.
2. Next, if your road map is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and buy new one.
There is a fair bit of construction. And all the streets are one-way, so it takes forever to figure it out.
3. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Chicago has its own version of traffic rules... "Hold on and pray."
As the behavioral economics people say, we've got a real collective action problem here. Folks don't stop at stop signs, and 45mph means 70. Wait a beat at green, because red means slow down, not stop.
4. There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Chicago. We all drive like that.
See above. Jesus. And try taking a cab...
5. All directions start with, "I-94" ... which has no beginning and no end.
Now it's I-90/94, and it goes FOREVER. Also, Halstead. That street probably doesn't stop until somewhere in Indiana.
6. The morning rush hour is from 5 to 11. The evening rush hour is from 2 to 8. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.
True. And there's a lunch rush too.
7. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out and possibly shot.
See above.
8. Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators.
This is not true. They are simply indicators that someone else disagrees with your safe style of driving, and they are used liberally. The first week I was in town I was ready to put it in park and start swinging about 50 times, before I realized this. This is as opposed to Oklahoma, where a horn was only for imminent danger or to signal a willingness to engage in an extra-vehicular fistfight.
9. All old ladies with blue hair in Mercedes have the right of way. Period.
They do not stop. Crazy devil women.
10. If it's 100 degrees, It's Taste of Chicago.
I don't know what this means. Somebody leave a comment and enlighten me.
11. If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, It's opening day at Comisky Park.
Not to mention every damn day of winter.
12. If you go to the Wrigley Field, pay the $25.00 to park in "Cubs Lot." Parking elsewhere could cost up to $2500 for damages, towing fees, parking tickets, etc.
Yes, and parking is closer to $50.00 these days. 1/26/2004 08:58:00 PM
