Pictures from Chicago....

View of the Chicago from Shedd Aquarium

Dolphin at Shedd Aquarium

Pretty fish

View from the Hancock Building

View of Navy Pier

View of Chicago River (from Hotel)

Still in Chicago

We've been here since Sunday and having a good time. We've been able to do a few things, but not as much as we would have liked.

Sunday:
Drove up here, went to Shedd Aquarium and then to dinner at Houlihans after checking into the hotel. It was a long day and we were both tired, so we didn't get out to do anything after dinner. Hung out at the hotel bar for a couple beers (at $6.00 each) and then went to bed.

Monday:
Mike and a friend that lives in the area, went to Wrigley Field and then to a few local bars during the afternoon. Of course Mike didn't take the camera, so we have no pictures from Wrigley Field. Then in the evening we went to a little Italian resaurant called Coco Pazzo. This restaurant was not exactly our style...we thought it would be something like Olive Garden or something. Felt a little underdressed, couldn't tell what most of the things were on the menu, and just felt uncomfortable. Once we ate, we got out of there and walked to the John Hancock building. Went to the observation deck...the view was beautiful! Since it was night time, the whole city was lit up. Got some great pictures (will post when we get back). Then we went to the little cocktail lounge that was above the observation floor. Beer....$7.50 and we're talking just a regular bottle. So we decided that since we were going to have to pay too much for a beer we might as well pay too much for a mixed drink and enjoy it. They actually had both UV and Red Bull, so we each got a drink at $15.00 a piece. :o) Walked back to the hotel had a few drinks and turned in for the night.

Tuesday Night:
Hung out at the hotel bar for a drink. Walked to Rock Bottom Brewery, ate, had a few drinks and then walked back to the hotel. Hung out at the bar for a little bit and then went to bed. By this time the bartenders know us and know what we drink. They are great and very nice. The one is from Mexico, so it reminded me of being there (except for the fact we had to pay for each beer....)

Wednesday:
Moved on to Schaumburg....checked into the hotel while Mike was at class, drove around the city a bit to see where things were, took a nap. We met Mike's friend and his wife for dinner at Stonewood Ale House. Then after dinner we located a liquor store and picked up some UV and headed back to the hotel.

Thursday:
Took Mike to class, then met Jennifer & Landon for lunch at Chevy's. After lunch the 3 of us headed to the Ikea store. I had never heard of it before; the store was great! I can see why she loves that store so much. Found some stuff to buy (of course). Then we went on to a few other places in a strip mall close by. Had a great time with them, it was nice to have some one-on-one time with Jen. Landon is so cute and he was sooooo good through out our shopping trip. Jen & Landon head back home and I go pick up Mike from class. We met his classmates for dinner at Smokey Bones. Then moved on to TGI Friday's for a quick drink and head back to the hotel.

Today:
I'll head to the mall..... :o) Not sure what we'll do this evening, but then we'll head back home in the morning. See you all then!

Chicago, here we come!

Well, tomorrow we'll be leaving for Chicago for a week. Both Mike and I are going for business purposes. We're hoping to get up there early enough tomorrow to do some sight seeing during the day since we won't have a chance to do much during the day together the rest of the week. I really want to visit Shedd Aquarium, so that's 1st on our list. And for the hell of it, I am going to wear my St. Louis Cardinals shirt.... :o) (We were actually offered tickets to next Sunday's Cardinals game in Chicago, but we're coming back on Saturday....have other plans, plus need to save that spending money for MEXICO!!) Anyway, we'll check out some restaurants & bars at night. Later in the week when I am done with my business and Mike will still be busy, I am going to do some shopping! Can't wait.... Anyway, catch you all next week!!

(Happy 75th post, to me! I know it doesn't sound like much to people that blog regularly, but hey...we're talking about me here.) :o)

Family.....

First, I would like to thank you all for your kind words and sympathy.

Recently, Jen posted an entry about missing her family & living so far away, etc. Got me to thinking about my family. Anyway, it's actually the opposite relationships that I have with my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. In our family, my dad was an only child, but my grandpa had two brothers and my grandma had one sister. (Their siblings did not live in town, so we saw them rarely.) So, I had no cousins, aunts or uncles with the exception of great-aunts and uncles. Large family gatherings for that side of the family just didn't happen when I was growing up. Our family gathering was just us (mom, dad, sister & me) and my grandparents, which was fine; we were close and were able to spend a lot of time together. But, this week I saw my great-aunts & great-uncles, and some of their children (which are the same age as my parents) and realized I probably haven't seen most of them since my grandma passed away (Christmas Day 1995). Now that's sad.....

As for my mom's side, she is the youngest of 4. Each sibling had multiple children so I had lots of cousins, but we are not close at all. Because my mom was the youngest, many of my cousins were 10-20 years older than me. When that side of the family gets together, there's lots of us, but I don't feel that I know them. We all talk and try to catch up with each other's lives, but nothing too personal. I was close with a couple of them when I was younger, but everyone went their separate ways once out of school and married. That side of the family gets together 2 times a year with the exception of a special anniversary, wedding, baby shower, funeral, etc. We gather for Thanksgiving and Easter (which we celebrate on Palm Sunday and ended up not having a gathering anyway this year), however not everyone can always make it at the same time. We do not talk on the phone or email each other either. Many of my cousins, aunts & uncles came to the visitation (Grandpa was on my dad's side) and I realized that I had not seen most of them since Thanksgiving, some since the Easter before and some even since the previous Thanksgiving! The really sad part is that we all do live with-in 45 minutes of each other!! Our children are not really "growing up" together and don't know each other either. I would LOVE to have the really close relationships that the Johnson/Kirkpatrick clan has, no matter how crazy they may drive each other. That's why I LOVE being a part of their "extended family". I know them better than my own family (not counting my mom, dad, and sister). They may not seem "normal" all the time, but to me they are the PERFECT family. :o)

Guilt....

Awhile back Dr. Mike blogged about "facing your fears". One of my fears is nursing homes. I don't know what it is about them, but I am scared to death of them. I am not talking about that fact of me possibly being in one someday, I am talking about having to visit them. The old people in there just frighten me, I don't know why...it's just one of those things I couldn't come to terms with. My grandfather was in a nursing home and I didn't visit him very often and when I did, I couldn't go alone- I always went when my parents did. My grandfather was also to the point he didn't recognize anyone and he was in poor health, which was not the grandpa I knew...to me that scared me. On Saturday he passed away and I feel terribly guilty that I could never overcome my "fear" in order to visit with him regularly, knowing that this day would come. I just liked to think that he would live forever (which he almost did- he was 99). Why couldn't I just deal with it??

One of my earlier memories- they lived in house that was located just behind the church we attended. I would go to preschool in the morning at the church and then run down the hill to Grandma & Grandpa's house. Some days I didn't "feel well" and Grandma would put me up in bed and fix me chicken noodle soup. Within the hour, Grandpa would come home for lunch and I would be "all better" as soon as he walked through the door. He just made me that happy. :o)

What a coincidence.....

Well, Mikey, Dave & Nichole should feel right at home the next time they come over to our house! Went to Mikey's last night and saw that we bought the EXACT same couch & chair that he has (color & all). And then come to find out Dave owned the same set as well before "the fire". We really didn't mean to buy the same thing. I wanted one the same style as Mikey's couch but, I could have sworn that his was a different color! Oh well. However, it's good to know that the "firmness" will wear out over time. I was worried about that. The one in the store was much more comfy, I guess because it had been sat on plenty of times. Anyway....I promise not to paint the exact same colors that he's getting ready to paint his living room. ;o) Another funny thing is that we actually looked at the same kitchen table too, but decided to go with another one. :o) (Still no pics...sorry, however most of you now know what the living room furniture looks like...LOL!)