Comfort Inn North Joliet

Last winter, while Rob and I were freezing our butts off, we decided to go somewhere warm for next winter. We didn't know where we wanted to go, we just knew we wanted to go. We started saving money to cover our house expenses while we were gone. We started saving money in a water jug and I called it "Change for Chile". We saved over $400 in this change jar!

... br>
The one thing th*t struck me *s odd w*s th*t in the h*llw*y *t the hotel, there w*s * tiny sign th*t s*id "Refuge". It looked like *n exit sign, but led to the vending m*chines, *nd s*id refuge... I just don't get it!

The show went re*lly well, *nd we h*d * wonderful crew, 2 of whom were *lumni from our next venue *t Illinois St*te University in Norm*l, IL.

... usage in The Blue Brothers and "Prison Break." The first season of "Prison Break" really was amazing. It was so smart and gripping. After they left Joliet, it all went down hill... except Wentworth Miller... he's still the most attractive man to ever play a prisoner :)

Anyways... I am also feeling a lot better! Just in time to go and explore Chicago.

... lucky in that we encountered minimal barge traffic as well. We'll see what cards are dealt as we head along today. We probably won't set off until 1pm. It's nice not to feel rushed. We'll only be going 20 miles or so (but with two locks) and we'll be anchoring behind an island called Sugar Island near the town of Morris. Fifteen miles from our current location, the Des Plains River joins the Kankakee River, forming the Illinois.

I am SO excited! Airline tickets have been reserved, thanks to Kevin and Cherie. We're flying Aer Lingus out of Ohare on Friday evening, Mar. 26, and coming back about 4 in the afternoon on Mon., Apr. 5. Perfect flight, too, because the seating configuration allows the kids to sit together and the adults to sit together. I look forward to having some time to just sit and talk with Cherie. Kevin and Mike can keep one another company for part of the time while we do ...

... Once I am on the plane I relax and my brain is finally able to tell me that my stomach is long over due for some attention. I am already dreaming up a hot cup of coffee (hope it's decent) and a cookie. After that little pick me up I should be ready for a real meal. Hey, it's not everyday you just fly over to London to meet a ship. I'm celebrating :) Still juggling my hat. I stuffed it with unmentionable ...

... to Baltimore to visit Joe for his birthday and head to a horse race, Preakness. I will try make another entry later...when I am back in Philly to detail more about the mini-trip down to Baltimore...of which Uri and Josh will be joining me. The second reason that I am heading back is that my good friends Pete and Steve, the brothers Zielinski, will be graduating from college. Kinda Amazing. The party is on Sunday the 20th. I also plan on ...

ROB - And so we finally made it to Chicago and the hostel - and boy has it hit the heights. Driving in, something we had both been a bit worried about, was remarkably straightforward - a road straight from the interstate to the hostel, with valet parking for $50 for three days. Can't be bad. Unfortunately, we had left ourselves much longer to get there and so could not check in for a couple of hours. So, after a quick walk around the neighbourhood, we settled into a local bar to watch ...

Meeting People is easy! Sorry to leave the Ellis' i began my cross country epic train ride leaving a blizzard behind in Boston. In snow even a mundane landscape becomes spectacular. I rushed past bald backs of cites and bleached towns in peaceful paralysis. It was all pine wood and mail boxes. Then we pulled into Albany and four hours later (argh!) i watched it withdraw into black and light. The classic romanticsm i ...

... a lot of interesting facts about Chicago, such as; 1. Hollywood films/shows filmed in Chicago includes; Ferris Bulers day off, The Fugitive, Oprah, Jerry Springer, "Risky Business" with Tom Cruise, "The Untouchables" with Robert De Niro. 2. Famous stars from Chicago include; Charlie Chaplin, Bill Murray, David Schwimmer, Robin Williams, Oprah, The Blues Brothers (John Belushi and Dan Arkroyd)and Walt Disney. 3. The Chicago fire on Oct 8 ...