A little trip to the computer shop...

[auld argonian]

So...I've been wearing my only (so far) kilt, the Stillwater Nightstalker, around locally for the past few weeks...wore it out to watch the Sox, over to my buddy's house, etc. But now it was time to run downtown and pick up a couple of Mac laptops for my kids (had to spend some of that money in the bank accounts that are dedicated solely to educational expenses).

If there was ever an excuse to toss on the kilt and take a quick run downtown...so I got out a grey shirt, skinny black tie from the sixties, a black vest and the Nightstalker...and away we go!

First: got to be a little more cautious hopping on and off commuter trains when you're wearing a kilt...that first step is a doozy.

Got downtown and got my first question from an innocent bystander:

"Is it a Scottish holiday?"

"Every day is a Scottish holiday!" That seemed to satisfy him.

Went in and got a much needed haircut...and walked up to the Apple Store on North Michigan Avenue (a healthy walk from the train station but I walk fast). Went past a pickup truck full of young people who were passing out samples of one of those canned caffeine mainlining beverages...young African American dude passing out the cans yells, "Nice kilt...nice kilt, man...got one just like that at home!" Give the dude the "you da man" sign and walk on.
Ran in the Cultural Center to try to get an Ozzie Guillen Mask (the City is giving them away)...they didn't have any. Held the door for two older ladies as I was leaving...one says, "Oh, thank you...a gentleman...in a nice skirt." The other says, "I think it's supposed to be a kilt." Oy!

Now comes an interesting and unanticipated "obstacle": The Michigan Avenue Bridge! If you have ever seen the movie "The Untouchables", this is the bridge where Kevin Costner encounters Sean Connery for the first time..."...here endeth the lesson." It is windy on that bridge...this never bothered me before...even with a pewter kilt pin of considerable size I was hoping that the folks on the Wendela Tour Boat going by weren't going to get more of a tour than they had signed up for...and, of course, I wasn't going to cheese out by reaching down and holding the kilt down...and, thanks to the weight of that Nightstalker fabric, I was spared any problems.

On to the Apple Store and, after getting the order in the works, I had to use the loo...which is on the second floor...which is reached by...a stairway made of glass...

Now I know that it's a fact that people are usually paying less attention to you than you think they are...but one feels a bit conspicuous being the only kilted guy in the place...and there's a lot of traffic under the glass stairs...oh well, a quick trot up to the second floor, take care of business and back down.

Got the stuff...got back to the train...getting off at my stop and a guy (seemed like he was drunk...at 2 in the afternoon) asks, "Ya out kiltin' today?" "Well, if you've got a kilt, you've got to wear it." says I. "Yeah...I guess so." says he. "But watch it on the Michigan Avenue Bridge the next time you're wearing yours." says I.

Went over to pick my daughter up from school and created quite a bit of merriment amongst her classmates. Wife got home and we went out to our favorite Chinese Restaurant.

I will note one other thing: when you are wearing a kilt it seems like panhandlers don't know what to think and avoid you. I don't know what to think about that.

I am really enjoying this!

best

auld argonian

[AckZel]

You get used to it. When you enter a room you take the total control of the place when wearing a kilt. It could be frightening at first but... God! I love that now!

[Alan H]

Sounds like an excellent day, all around.

[bubba]

As for the panhandlers, they don't see any pockets so I guess they look for somebody more promising. ;)

[GMan]

Methinks he is getting the hang of the kilt!

I just love going to the Apple Store kilted. They all no me as the "neat kilted guy."

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Auld,

Congrats on a good day! The next time you are heading out and going to the city (or not and it is reasonably close!), let me know and we can meet up. If they don't like the kilt, at least there will be 2 of us!

Actually sounds like a good day, which has been my experience in the windy city. We are an international city, even if some ask questions!

RJI

[Archangel]

Be interesting, confusing, to Apple to have done a demographic audit this week. I was kilted too, when I bought an iMac last Saturday. Question #6: Purchasing customer wore _____?

[Riverkilt]

Ain't it a joy!!?? :grin:

Ron

[GMan]

Be interesting, confusing, to Apple to have done a demographic audit this week. I was kilted too, when I bought an iMac last Saturday. Question #6: Purchasing customer wore _____?

I could see all the manager's getting together, "You have a kilted customer? OK let's all raise our hands and see how many kilted customers we have? The hands raise up, a see of hands waving up high and no one can sop talking about the kilted customers. Maybe they should get an Apple Tartan.

[Rigged]

When you're wearing the kilt, it's your world. Everyone else is just living in it.