Matt’s News / Blog

I really feel like a real Chicagolander now — I just got my brand new IPass in the mail.

Today, I finally did it… switched my drivers license from Indiana to Illinois. A couple of weeks ago I got new plates for my car but didn’t install them until today* (that’s another story). I also registered to vote here in Illinois. So, I guess this makes me an official resident of the state of Illinois. No more funny demonym. What is a Hoosier anyway?!? I still haven’t figured it out. With my official residence of Illinois, Brack Obama is officially my Senator. I think that’s pretty cool, but I suppose he is pretty busy with campaigning for another job. Being from Michigan and really only traveling to the Chicago area of Illinois, I don’t know a much about the state. Most of what I do know comes from Sufjan Stevens.

*Front License plate holder.
After 3 trips to Auto Zone, one Internet order (and return) and one trip to a car dealer I finally have installed my new Illinois license plates (mostly). Being from Michigan and Indiana were we don’t believe in have license plates on the front of our car my car was not prepared for one to be installed. It’s been quite a learning experience. First I went to Auto Zone and bought some license plate bolts. They were way too small for the bumper and clearly didn’t work. After some snooping and other old Civics and the internet I learned that you need a whole license plate holder. So, I went back to Auto Zone and bought the generic one. Nope. The screws for the bumper were too small. It wouldn’t work. I went back and bought the biggest license plate screws that had. Still, no dice. Giving up on Auto Zone, I turned to the internet. I found a holder that claimed to fit a 97 Civic, so I ordered it. When it came, I opened it up to find no bolts or screws. I took it down to my car to see how it might fit. Nothing lined up — I have know idea how it would have worked.

Giving up again, I returned it. After I got my new license this morning, I went over to the Honda dealer. I got the holder and the bottom bracket. When I got back to my apartment, I installed the plate with the new holder and bracket but the screws and bolts they gave me for the top two holes were too small. So, my license plate is held on by just the bottom bracket, which is attached to the car with one bolt.

I think the correct way to use the top two holes is to take the bumper off and use a nut and bolt. But taking cars apart is not my specialty :/ So I’m not sure what I’m going to do.

We left Michigan yesterday morning to get back in time for the Nike Human race. It’s a 10K race that took place in 20+ cities around the world. I ran in the Chicago race. I did pretty well, coming in 66,833th place (out of hundreds of thousands) with a time of 56′29″. My pace was just of 9 minute miles, which is better then my Shamrock Shuffle pace of just below 10 minute miles.

The race was fun and the second half of the course had a very nice view of the Chicago Skyline. There was a Fall Out Boy concert after the race but we didn’t stay.

This weekend was Alisse’s 2nd bridal shower hosted by my Mom and Aunts. Alisse, my sister Amanda and I headed off for Michigan around 6:00 Friday evening. On the way we picked up Alisse’s mom at the Detroit Airport at about 12:30-1:00am. On the way from the Airport we drove through Detroit (yay, we drove thru Detroit at 1 in the morning). As we were driving along, all of a sudden a car full of young kids pulled up next to us. They continued to speed up, slow down and switch lanes recklessly. They seemed to be trying to stay with us. We eventually called 911 to report the car. Soon after we called the police they got off the express way and a few minutes later we say a Detroit City Police car speeding by us. Too bad the crazy car got off.

After leaving the city we ran into another adversary: the fog. It was really hard to see and I had to drive about 40 mph. After we dropped Alisse and her mom off at the hotel and went home, it was 3 am. Yeah, I was kinda tired.

The shower was nice. Again, I was the only male there. Everyone seemed to have a good time and we got some nice presents including a quilt that my Aunt Kathy made.