i am finally back from chicago. we visited so many top companies and it was awesome. but getting only 4 hours of sleep per night and wearing a suit for over 18 hours was not fun. it looks like i either tried to hang myself or someone strangled me with a rope because i have this red ring going around my neck and it's sore.

in any case, it was a great time, i learned a lot and got a ton of free stuff (altoids or gum anyone?). i learned the following:


1. people treat you really different when you go to a bar in a nice suit. even bouncers open the door for you and call you 'sir.' i guess my friend and i just looked 'important.' also, it doesn't hurt when you are in a group of hispanics who look like they can bench at least 300lbs each (not kidding). it's also much easier to talk to women and buy them drinks, again, when 4 huge hispanic and 1 white guy in a suit are with you.

2. 1970 cadillac convertibles are really cool. but not so cool with the back window punched out and it's raining. and you are sitting in the back. in your suit.

3. in 'training day' when ethan hawke was hanging out with the drug dealer playing cards... that was not a good scene to have in my head that night. especially when one of them was a drug dealer.

4. kraft makes altoids.

5. having dinner on the 80th floor of the AON building in their corporate boardroom overlooking the lake, AND getting wined and dined... is awesome.

6. it's really convenient when you or your friend knows a bartender... also when you or your friend OWN a bar. sure comes in handy.