Fairfield Inn By Marriott Joliet South

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!

... show went really well, and I was proud of my cast and crew! Clearly a new leaf has turned.

On the way out of town, we drove right by the old prison. I made the guys slow the van down so I could get a picture. I don't really know the full history of Joliet Prison, mostly just that it house some seriously bad guys. I think it's more interesting for it's ...

... 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.

... It's also perfect because it doesn't leave at the crack of dawn on Monday! We leave about noon, which is easy since we've got reservations at a hotel right near the airport. Maybe we'll get to see some of Dublin on Sunday and Monday??? I do get confused on their "family" hotel rates. It says it's the rate for 2 adults and 2 children, but technically, Breezy might be the only one the right age to count for the children rate. Don't know if we'll need to pay extra for ...

I’ll be the first to come out and say I have a vice. Maybe two, three, or more? The frailty exists between some realization of my past actions and the ambiguity of future intentions. Somewhere in-between is a scared piece flesh that drifts its way through time, un-cunning of any spiritual awareness.

Where’s the point? The fix? A pivot?We all have this problem.

We all have a vice or two, or three. But in our minds how do we PERCIEVE them? I ...

... history and story telling my Dad brings along to the experience of every great moment in sports that he witnessed in every seat in the park (he practically grew up at Wrigley Field). I have seen the twins a bunch and they are a ball of fun and talking so much now. Visited with extended family and childhood friends as well. Always good to be here!

... smile on my face, thanked her and left. On one occasion, I was given a 2 hr on-line personality test, another 2 hrs of filling out paper work, and...this is the best...a test on my MS-Office skills. Now, I wouldn't have minded the test, hey, I would like to know how well I know these programs....but come on...they sat me down in front of the most archaic machine and told me to do the exercises. The programs had to be well over 10 ...

... just after 7pm and was fast asleep when I got back to the hostel. Today was far more productive - once we'd spent half an hour looking for a breakfast place and ended up two minutes from the hostel. We hopped on an open top bus tour, which we are fast realising is an excellent way to get your bearings in a new city and work out where you want to go. The guide was not as good or amusing as the one in Boston, but it was a really good two-hour trip. Chicago has a totally different feel to ...

... could divert my exhaustion from its remedy. My faith in the "meeting people is easy" premise on which my entire trip is based was receding darkly. Finnally off the train, i checked into my hostel to an empty but evidently occupied room. Then in walks a bright eyed holding three GAP bags and munching a apple. When she smiled and introduced herself i had to fold my arms to stop myself from hugging her. She explained ...

... dollar bills, upon leaving the Bank each person is given $300 of shredded money! Also in Chicago is the worlds 1st high rise prison with 5 inch windows and the worlds 1st sky scraper built in 1884 comprising of jsut 9 stories, AON building (2nd highest in Chicago) and the John Hancock centre (black glass building whose distinctive shape gets narrower from the base to the top, 3rd highest in Chicago). 5. The city boasts an excellent ...