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

[Andrew Breecher]

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.

Actually, the local panhandlers around here all know me by sight. When I walk by they shout out, "Hey, Scotland!" to me. I wave back. They're all friendly drunks, anyway, and I've never given them any money. They know I won't, but still say hi when I walk by.

Andrew.

[Graham]

Well...I'VE been to an Apple store in Copenhagen kilted, so there!!!
I rather felt that salesmen didn't really take me seriously, which was fine, because at danish prices, I wasn't serious.

In spite of my travel experience, I think I would find shopping in chicago really scary, I must admire you for coping with the event with such apparent ease.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

...In spite of my travel experience, I think I would find shopping in chicago really scary, I must admire you for coping with the event with such apparent ease.

Actually Graham, I have found, and Auld can chime in himself, that Chicago has such an broad mix of people, that there really is not a problem. Since starting to wear the kilt, I have been pretty much full time. My wife, daughters and I were at the mall yesterday and no problems. The only question came from one of the vendors in the food court who asked "Are you from England?", and I said "No, from New York". His question was very pleasant and my response was very cordial, not sarcastic. I then proceeded to buy my lunch from that vendor. A great day kilted.

I also was in the Sears in downtown Chicago a while back, but that was the weekend of the Celtic festival and probably doesn't count. Chicago is like any place else, there are some areas of town I wouldn't frequent no matter what I was wearing, but for the majority of the city I feel fine.

My 2 cents.

[Graham]

...and yet, I have no problem in London, it's one big city i feel OK in.
It's just me, I hate big cities, both here and in the US (except London):neutral: