We don’t get lost anymore

I think that’s going to be my response to people who are still asking me how I like living in “Chicago” or how the move is going. Because really, that’s a high point in any move to a new place. When you don’t really get lost or you can pretty much manage a detour without thinking you’re never going to find your way to where you’re going – or home again – you’re settled.

On Saturday when TW and I picked up Joy and headed for Le Peep to have brunch with Lara I was worried about the construction. I knew Emerson was closed and parts of Ridge and sure enough, there were detour signs so I thought I might not be able to make it all of the way up Church. I asked Joy (lifetime resident of the area) if we could go x, y to z and she said yes! We didn’t need to do x, y, z but I was glad I knew what to do if we had to. (Brunch was terrific and I am no longer a gooey bun virgin. Next brunch, I hope more Chicagoland bloggers can attend.)

Today, we went to our beloved Skokie farmer’s market (Cheese Curds!) and then found our way to the Half Price Books in Edgewater Park Niles. (edited to add: WTF is that Leaning Tower of Pisa YMCA??? What’s the story? Suzanne, do you know??) From there we went to the Northbrook Apple store where the Apple website SAID they would have iPhones. They did not.

We hit The Container Store because I’ve never been to one and I was heading down Skokie toward Old Orchard. That was interesting. Overwhelming also. (To sales people required to ask for phone number when making a sale, don’t be so surprised when someone provides you with a Florida area code. In the land of cell phones, we don’t always have to change our phone number to a local – no roaming plans are more common than not. Sheesh.)

From there, I kept going down Skokie and found myself somewhere that I’d never been. I really didn’t have a clue – ok I had a small clue and sure enough, I ended up on East Lake with only a tiny doubt that I wasn’t where I thought I was. I wasn’t lost, just a little tiny bit unsure.

And, we can mostly navigate the Old Orchard Mall now. That’s a huge accomplishment. That thing is a madhouse and it’s confusing as hell. Or maybe we just avoid malls and no longer inherently understand them? Whatever. Apple Store near Macy’s, next to the very bright Pink Vicky Secret and in the wing where the rabid children play in the funky dragon looking park. Though now that I have Chris’s iPhone in hand, I hope to not visit the Apple Store again until Christmas. Damn Apple for forcing you to go into a store for the 3g. I much preferred being able to order my original iPhone online and activate it in the comfort of my own damn home. Oh well, at least I know my way around two malls.