Birthday Day: Meeting Abby at Union Station

Big day today. Took work off, and I’m meeting a ton of friends who are coming in to town to help me celebrate my32nd birthday. First up – my friend Abby, who decided to take the Amtrak up to Chicago and spend her spring breakin the Windy City.

I first met Abby when I went down to visit (my other friend) Abbey in Carbondale. I gotinto some good conversatios with Abby, and the plans for this weekend sort of timed out well – she was looking to get away for a bit duringSpring Break, and I was looking to host a ton of friends.

The above photo is inside the station, as I was waiting for her train to arrive (it got delayed a bit, en route). I’ve been in here only a few times,and the last time I remember there being more benches.

After Abby arrives, the two of us head over to the Blue Line (after a long ride on a train, what better fun than… ANOTHER train?) and makeour way back to Wicker Park. The two of us stop in to Filter for some coffee and a bite to eat. Wetalk a bit about Carbondale, and all the good and bad that is the graduate school lifestyle.

Back home – I get one of my first birthday presents: season one of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. While I used to see a few episodes of this when I wasyounger, I have to confess I’m largely in the dark in terms of this show. I’m a big fan of Serling’s Twilight Zone, and I really enjoy the quick30 minute story/show format. Looking forward to digging into this.