For Gina, Perry, Cort, LoRain, Steve et al.......

[weekycat]

This was on Joke-of-the-day today....and after visiting Chicago last Fall, I can attest to at least nos. 3 and 4, (especially if you're riding in a cab), right Sherrin?




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.

2. Next, if your road map is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and buy new one.

3. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Chicago has its own version of traffic rules... "Hold on and pray."

4. There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Chicago. We all drive like that.

5. All directions start with, "I-94" ... which has no beginning and no end.

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.

7. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out and possibly shot.

8. Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators.

9. All old ladies with blue hair in Mercedes have the right of way. Period.

10. If it's 100 degrees, It's Taste of Chicago.

11. If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, It's opening day at Comisky Park.

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.

13. If some guy with a flag tries to get you to park in his yard, run over him.

 

[EVELYN]

BOY ARE YOU RIGHT, JEAN!!!!

Here I am from Long Island.....(driven many times in NYC), driving one of my dogs out to Minnesota to be bred----and I had to go through the DREADED CHICAGO!! All of a sudden we're on a 3 or 4 lane highway that just STOPS.....YOU HEARD ME, STOPS and merges into one lane......I remember saying to my husband, by phone, of course, because he was in NY......"I WILL NEVER, EVER DRIVE THROUGH CHICAGO AGAIN.!!!!" Haven't to this day and don't ever plan to. It was a construction nightmare!!! Give me NYC, it's cabbies and potholes any day; it's a piece of cake by comparison!!!

Evelyn

 

[epstns]

Evelyn - Whatever would make you say that? (smirks, chuckles, falls over laughing) Sorry you had to see us in our traffic blahs.

Who would call the traffic bad when the afternoon rush traffic going to the south suburbs is backed all the way into the north suburbs? Our main expressway into the city is gridlock traffic for about 30 miles in the evenings -- from about 3 PM to 8 or 9 PM. I just stay off the expressway. (How's that for an optimistic name? Express = no stops. Expressway = 30 mile parking lot all stopped.)

 

[Guest]

LOL!

That, dear Jean, is ssssooo true.

'cept, it is now "US Cellular Field" (not Comisky Park). Non Chicago White Sox fans (and some White Sox fans I know), like to call it "The Cell", since it has no ambiance....

And, ya forgot another pronunciation.... "chic a go"

I love to drive, but I do avoid the expressways at all costs. Alho, since Dad bought me (and my sis) the I-Pass for Christmas, I might use I-294 a bit more now .

Cort S, pig valve & pacemaker-enhanced 30/swm
AIM=fc72mc...YIM=knightfan2691 / "The Uniter"..."Mr Road Trip"
member & newsletter editor, Faith COB = http://www.faithcob.org
"Mr MC's" Family...UPD, Kudos Ray! = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
RIP = '76, Parents' [my] MC ... '88 MC LS ... '00 "mc" LS
Spotting MCs = http://www.chevyasylum.com/mcspotter/main.html
MC's Future = http://www.projectmonte.com/petition/

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Traffic rules

Traffic rules

I am fortunate enough to plan my travel around the "rush hour". When you live in a large city.....been to NY and have seen it. Residents are not immune to the traffic jams, irrate cabbies and snow storms. A lot of that out there this year. Brrrrrrrrr. Been there, done that.

When using the "expressway" always leave my house after 9AM or before 4PM. Usually not an issue. Cort I love my I-Pass too.

Guess I am just a flexible person. Could live just about anywhere and be happy.

 

[Perrster]

Suburbs just as bad!

Suburbs just as bad!

I'm pretty much a "burbs" dweller and don't venture into the city except on special occasions. Seems, however that suburban growth has brought heavy traffic out here too. They actually do "reverse" commute (news and traffic) reports for city people forced to take jobs in the burbs.

Nevertheless, traffic sucks no matter where you encounter it. I'll take the back roads any day, as long as I have an inkling where I'm going. I'll never forget somehow getting off the freeway heading back from the Nashville Reunion. I was on some awesome backroads in the Tennessee hills, but I was totally lost, until I finally submitted to asking for help.

Cheers!

 

[Lorraine]

Oh Jean I just had to laugh when I read this! I commute by train 5 days a week to downtown Chi-caw-go! Sorry Cort, when I was growing up in the city, my side of the tracks said Chi-caw-go! It drives my boss who is from Ry, New Hampshire up a wall to here me pronounce it!

I Can see the EXPRESSWAY?(lol!) from the train about half of my ride downtown. Nothing is moving on the Kennedy! It is just one big parking lot. I would never drive to work! If there was a train strike, I'd probably be out of a job, because I won't drive on the expressway or downtown during rush hour. The cabs and buses have no mercy! They fly through those lights, manuever around other cars and so far since I've been commuting down there, they haven't had an causualties!

I feel no pity though for the hundreds of cell phone users, either in their car or on foot that are oblivious to the traffic around them ( I call them clueless or stuck on stupid) and just about get hit. A lot of times some do get hit. I mean your in Chi-caw-go! Again, traffic here has no mercy! Watch your step!

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Tennesse backroads!

Tennesse backroads!

As I was reading your post Perry...was hoping you would bring your trip up. Just love those "backroads" Especially when you can find the best biscuits and gravy you will ever have

Personally....my favorite time in TN was during cotton harvesting. Looks like a light dusting of snow on a warm breezy day. Beautiful countryside. We do miss it.

 

[Raverlaw]

I grew up in Southern California, freeway capital of the world, and thought I had seen the worst traffic you could see.

In '02, we took a month and drove cross-country and back to see the sights. I tried to stay out of the big cities and bypassed NYC completely. I got stuck in the big dig in Boston and thought I would never see anything so bad again, until we stopped in Chicago on the way home (so my daughter could go to American Girl Place). That was, without a doubt the worst traffic I have ever seen, and the worst drivers, too. Chicago beats out Boston, L.A., even Toronto (don't get me started about Canadian drivers) and the only places I have seen worse or ruder drivers were Tijuana and Florence.

 

[Karlynn]

The key word for suburbanites needing to venture into Chicago - TRAINS.

 

[epstns]

Any Electrical Engineers out there?

Any Electrical Engineers out there?

My life-long dream has been to design and build a remote-control device that is capable of turning a cell phone into a waffle iron -- maybe that way people would stop their two-timing ways.

It scares the *()(*&^ out of me when I see someone driving down the expressway, at the same time they are shaving or doing their makeup, drinking coffee, talking on the cell phone and reading the sports section of the Tribune. . .

 

[Guest]

Perry...I'm with you...back roads . I normally to go Indiana by way of IL 47 S to IL/IN 24 E..... But, for some reason, I don't mind Nashville roads....guess perhaps because I love that area .

Lorraine...I've heard Chicago pronounced so many ways...it's not even funny ....LOL!

And Steve, I agree..........

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Traffic Every where

Traffic Every where

Hi all, My daughter has been a Traveling nurse for 4 Yrs before sge settled in Boston. See she lived In L.A- Austin Tx- Denver-Boston. And compared to Louisville across the river from me Boston gets my vote for the worst traffic. I've done alot of traveling myself . When we went to Boston a couple weeks ago to move my daughter back home. We had an extende cab truck and a tralier that was a size that could hold two cars. If anyone has been to Boston you know the streets are rally narrow. So Mike was having a melt down trying to back this thing up to get to her brownstone. He told her if she ever moved into another third floor apt. she was on her own . That day we blocked the street we were cussed at and given a few finger jestures and howlered at . Needless to say my daughter was gratful to back home. There alot of places I like to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.

SHerrin Hutt

 

[Georgia]

Ah, yes, Navy Pier to Greektown via lower Wacker at 60 miles an hour while being charmed by the Ukrainian cabbie telling us how to fix rat for dinner. One of those little things that made the weekend so memorable. I'm surprised Betty survived being as how she had just had surgery!