I awoke well rested this morning, feeling restored and ready for the day. The weather was unseasonably warm for February—bright sunshine filled the afternoon, though rain clouds gathered later in the evening.
As usual, I began my morning by preparing my work lunch. I boiled fresh spinach in chicken stock and added a few pieces of chicken I had saved from Bernadette’s birthday party on Saturday. I tossed in mushrooms as well. The simple soup turned out wonderfully—warm, savory, and satisfying.
After driving to work and setting up my station, Sumana, Viktor, Marina, and Akash gathered around my desk. We began chatting about our coworker Cat, who couldn’t make it in because she was having trouble with her car brakes. Naturally, the conversation drifted to our own vehicles and the various issues we’ve had over the years. Sumana and I both drive older models, while Akash and Viktor enjoy the reliability of newer cars. From there, we talked about our children driving our cars and how expensive it is to raise them. I learned that Sumana’s daughter is currently in medical school. I proudly shared that my daughter has just finished medical school and is now a practicing physician. It was a pleasant exchange before we all returned to our tasks.
The morning passed quickly—I was busy, and before I knew it, it was lunchtime. I enjoyed my spinach and chicken soup, then walked over to the outlet mall to stretch my legs before heading back to finish the day. I left work at 5 p.m., looking forward to the evening ahead.
Tonight, Luisa and I attended a Chicago Bulls game at the United Center, located on Madison Street. The Bulls, founded in 1966, are one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises, especially known for their championship dynasty in the 1990s led by Michael Jordan. They were playing against the Toronto Raptors, the Canadian NBA team based in Toronto and 2019 league champions.
The game began at 7 p.m., so we left home at 6 p.m. Traffic into downtown Chicago was heavy. On the way, we picked up Bob and Bernadette from their condo on Green Street. Luisa had received complimentary tickets from work, and since we had two extra, we invited them to join us.
We were fortunate to find street parking on Washington Street, just a few blocks from the arena. We entered through Gate 3 along Madison and went through security. The building was lively and crowded with Bulls fans proudly wearing red and black team gear. Our seats were on the third level—high and far from the court—but I appreciated the panoramic view.
The game was already underway when we settled in. The Bulls appeared to be struggling against the Raptors. Bob mentioned that the Bulls had recently drafted new players who were still learning to gel as a team, and that seemed evident. The Raptors, on the other hand, played cohesively and confidently, steadily building a lead the Bulls couldn’t overcome.
At halftime, an Asian dance company performed in celebration of the Lunar New Year, themed around the Year of the Horse. The Year of the Horse symbolizes energy, strength, and perseverance—qualities beautifully reflected in their vibrant, synchronized choreography.
Luisa and Bernadette visited a cashier-less concession stand and returned with hot dogs, pretzels, beer, and seltzer. I wasn’t particularly hungry and had only a beer. Afterward, Bob and I decided to explore the arena. We wandered around the third floor; the second level was restricted to VIP guests. We then descended to the main atrium on the first floor, where we took photos in front of the famous Michael Jordan Statue. The statue, titled “The Spirit,” honors Michael Jordan’s extraordinary legacy with the Bulls and stands as a centerpiece tribute inside the arena.
We returned to our seats for the remainder of the game. Before the fourth quarter, Luisa’s coworker Candace stopped by to say hello. We chatted briefly before she returned to her seat. By then, the Bulls were trailing badly. With about ten minutes left, we decided to leave early to avoid the post-game rush.
On our way out, we stopped once more in the atrium for additional photos of the Jordan statue and browsed the Madhouse Team Store. The merchandise was impressive but quite pricey. Eventually, we made our way back to the car and drove everyone home.
It was a full and pleasant day—productive at work, warm weather overhead, and a lively evening shared with friends and family. Despite the Bulls’ loss, the experience itself made the day memorable.
