Ros and I both went into work at six in the morning on Monday 31 December, and were off at ten. By noon we were on the freeway to Chicago.

We arrived shortly before two, and promptly went shopping, got dinner, and caught the downtown train. With money ready to buy tickets from the conductor, he never came round (free trip!), and I found a dime on the ground, which I picked up and stuck in my pocket. Though it was snowing (lake effect snow -- big, thick, heavy snowflakes which should have just been rain) and was chilly downtown, the walk to Millennium Park to watch the ice skaters was well worth it. Ros had never seen the Chicago Bean before, and though she thought it was cool, I could tell she was baffled by it, just like me -- why a bean? But it was nice watching the skaters and all the ladies dressed in fine gowns and high shoes.

Deciding that we weren't going to walk back to the train station through the heavy snow and wind, we jumped on a bus, and because it was New Years Eve it cost only a penny per person to ride. I took the dime I found on the train and put it in the bucket (free trip!) and we were on our way to the station.

The conductor on the train home was busy flirting with some girls, so he never took our money (free trip!), and we found ourselves at Margaret's by around 11, just in time to watch Dick Clark (Jesus, he looks like shit). I never did like watching the New York ball drop; I've always viewed it as silly -- maybe if I was in Times Square it'd be a different story.

We were asleep, in bed, shortly after midnight, without much hoopla about the start of 2008.

New Year's Day was spent at IKEA, and I mean the entire day was -- six hours! Ros and I bought oodles of stuff, and thanks to gift cards, we only spent $13!

I'll be journeying back to Chicago on my vacation in a few weeks. Margaret's taking the same time off, so it'll be nice for her and I to go downtown and wander through the Art Institute, which I can't believe I still haven't been to. I've been going to Chicago for years, and have never been there.

I wish I had something real to report, but life just goes ...

Ros and I are starting our third year together. This is fucking crazy. I didn't even like her in college.