Day 1
I started the day out frantic. I needed this, that and the other and couldn’t see any way of getting the last minute things done. Terry came home around noon to take me to get the rental car. That was a disaster all in its own. They had a Grand Prix for us, but because we were 5 minutes late they went ahead and sent it out. Huh? You couldn’t have waited 5 minutes? You couldn’t have sent that person out in this Sebring? Whatever. At this point I can feel my blood pressure just below simmer. Oh and did I mention I had no sleep the night before? And was beyond stressed with the kids the night before? So anyways I let Terry make the decision of whether or not to keep the car or go somewhere else. We kept the car. It wasn’t so bad, just a little beat up and I was way concerned about that, didn’t want that to fall on me. So, I get back home take a few pics of the car to document it’s shape before we took off, try to feed Ian, try to eat and make calls. Packed the car up, went and got all f the kids, fed them dropped them off at Mom’s house. I get a call about 5 to 6 and it’s the rental place, they have a Grand Prix and to call them back if I want it. Hell yeah I want it! That’s what I was promised anyways. So I call get this guy on the phone that says yeah it’s here but won’t be able to go out until morning. Stop. No, your girl there just called me and said you had the car and wanted to know if I want it for the trip I am in the process of leaving for RIGHT NOW! He puts me on hold and the girl comes on and says if you want it I’ll stay over 15 minutes so you can come get it. I am on my way!! I loved this car! I talked to her and babied her and drove about 100 mph all the way to Chicago. She was sweet! She made love to the road. I even took a picture of her to remember her when we had to take her back.
Isn’t she pretty? Some day I will have one all my own and I will pet her and stroke her and call her George… er, maybe not George. Anyhow the drive was great until we hit the outskirts of Chicago. I had to slow down to a meager 5-10 mph because the White Sox won and everyone was everywhere, so it was sit move 5 inches, sit move 5 more inches. At one point I threatened to stop, get out, blocking the one lane we had, and pee in the middle of the road. I would have too, I had to go that bad. So we call Eddie and Rita tell them where we are and we should be there anytime now. Finally an hour later and we’re moving at a decent speed, run through the wrong toll gate and couldn’t pay, and kept on moving. When we finally get there we’re all so excited we can’t let go of each other and I’m out in the parking lot doing the pee-pee dance. Rita tells me how happy she is to see me and I tell her I’m so happy to her too, but I have to pee. And she’s hugging me tight, so I tell her I’m gonna pee on us both, and she says, it’s okay, I have kids, been peed on, pooped on, won’t matter. LMAO! She’s a riot!
Then we go upstairs, say hey to everyone, sit around and shoot the breeze, make plans for breakfast. About an hour later we say bye and head off to check in and then find some food. After all, 4 hours on the road, no food and we’re starved. Eat and sleep is the only thing on my mind at this point.
Day 2
Rita has to work today, but we’re going to breakfast and then taking her to work. I know we sat in that little cafe for 2 hours just chatting, it was great. It felt good to just sit there and not be expected to be something I wasn’t. After Rita went to work we drove around a bit, went to see Daryl. I think we went to eat (can’t remember for whatever reason). Picked Rita up and went back to their place and sat around visiting. I wish we all lived closer, it was fun.
Day 3
The night before we made plans with Rita to ride the train into Chicago. That was fun, it was my first. I got my train riding cherry popped with people I love. I am now longer a train virgin.
Our contrary conductor
After we got into the city we grabbed a cab (boy are they crazy drivers) and went to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, the food was great! Rita stole me a menu… Okay so she didn’t actually steal it, she told our waiter (he was cool) we were taking it and he said he didn’t see anything. That as close to permission as you can get without getting an okay. After Lunch we went up in the John Hancock building, they claim the elevator goes 30 feet per second, and I would have to agree it’s very fast. The only things I could find on the elevator speeds were that and it takes 2 minutes to get up 94 floors. The view was fantastic, completely breathtaking.
Eventually we made our ways back to the train station to head home.
later on Terry and I went bowling with Daryl, got our butts whooped.
Day 4
Terry and I decided to spend the day in the city. We invited Alex, but he was busy and Eddie and Rita were getting MARRIED!! Congrats you 2!! SO anyways we went downtown and parked. Walked all over. Get some great pictures of the Buckingham Fountain, it is a sight to behold.
It was one of the things I had missed the year before because it had been so cold and windy. I hear at night they have a light show to go with it, but we had plans for later, and wouldn’t have missed them if our lives had depended on it. Anyways after checking out the fountain we went down to the harbor (I guess that’s what you would call it . You can see forever from here. The day was so clear you could actually see the curvature of the earth. After walking around for a while we loaded up and went to dinner. Dinner was great, we ate at the Weber Grill, another one of me “have to do’s”, the food was beyond amazing.
Well, it’s 5:30 and we need to head back to get ready for the Halloween party. See ya all later.
