Missed Opportunities

There were a few things I had wanted to do when I was in Chicago last week. No, I didn't want to see the Sears Tower or Wrigley Field. Not that I would have refused a visit, but I really just didn't have time.

[In hindsight, I could have stayed another day due to my connecting flight from Denver to Salt Lake being canceled, but oh well.]

Prior to my departure for the Windy City, I wanted to do only a few things - first and foremost was to pass the class I was there for. This was a business trip after all.

I also knew beforehand that Chicago was to be a book-signing-tour stop for Heather B. Armstrong, one of my favorite bloggers - her website dooce.com is a guilty pleasure. But she was to be in Chicago on Thursday and I was to leave that afternoon.

The only other thing I really wanted to do was make a pilgrimage to AS&S. For some time I've been reading their science and surplus print catalogs and website; when I found out they have a retail store, and was going to be in that neck of the woods, I'd try to get over there.

If I had a car, that is.

As it turned out, of course, the proximity of the airport, the hotel, and the class location made that impossible. I was SO tempted to get a rental car - but finances ruled that out. Hell, I even took Jill with me just in case.

With all the Chicago propaganda I brought back with me, another visit to Chicagoland may be in the cards. Marilee seemed a bit interested in the prospect. And I may go back that way for more training in the future, so who knows.

Maybe even make a mini-vacation out of it.