Red Roof Inn 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!

... all that impressive, but tucked away in the heart of downtown is one of the most beautiful theatres I've ever seen. The Rialto Square Theatre is simply gorgeous. (More info on the Rialto) We had a wonderful crew, who brought us baked goods and beverages, and it was the first show that I finally got to call from a booth. I've included a picture of my view ...

... have to take lots of pictures for her to share with us vicariously!

I need to add to my "Want to do/see" list, Bunratty Castle. I did list castles, but now I know which one! I think I've read everything I can on Ireland. Bought a detailed map, too, to take with us. Not very many main roads in Ireland. Have no idea how to get from Dublin to Blarney for our first day. Hoping Google maps will work for that before we leave!!! Gotta go teach. More fun to dream.

... against the things I'm telling you all about them, but since they haven't even signed up for my blog yet (tsk tsk) I guess they'll just have to deal with public humiliation!
I'm excited about all this though... I'm not sure what I'll do for the big day. My parents were keen on the idea of having a midnight fiesta to snip up the old fake and bring in the new ID, much like my "so called" best friend from ...

... big pots of hot coal in the table and you cook your own raw meat. I saw trains (public Transit) in the middle of a highway, oh and about the bust, Ana just said...look at the hot cops and wanted to drive by again to check them out!...lol The bust didn't phase her...lol It's all been awesome! I love culture ad learning. My next stop is Durand MI so if you know folks who might want a visit, let them know! Thanks for your support! (((hugs)))

... also has that effect on the heart. This trip has made Kelly and I a much better team and I appreciate her more now than I could have imagined eighteen months ago. Anyway, we spent a very long and cold day walking around looking at apartments. It was long and discouraging work. The process was compounded by the fact that we have a dog, and that neither one of us was currently employed. Not exactly a landlords wet dream. Our spirts were bueyed by the fact that while exiting ...

... and sound, showered, and pajama'd and ready to plop in front of the television and just be a vegetable for the evening. Thank you for journeying with me to exotic Romania. I hope you got a sense of how wonderful the country is from these notes. I have absolutely nothing but wonderful memories of an exceptional tour experience! I look forward to traveling with you through my blog in October, when we'll visit Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand! Until then . . . Big hugs, Dan

... is already there and waiting for him. I return to the room to shower and pack and post one more blog page to the internet. I share a ride to the airport at 6am with my deaf client (flying Air France to Paris), and another client who is on my flight to Munich. I help the Air France passenger find his way and get in the check-in line, and then I search out the Lufthansa check-in station. The Istanbul airport is sprawling with a million different check-in lines for a million ...

... them together with some vague semblance of continuity. Why New Zealand? you may ask... Read about it..... seriously, take a couple of minutes, Google it, look at some pictures, and tell me you wouldn't want to see this amazing little chunk of Gondwanaland. My succinct answer to this question: It is a place I want to explore, a culture I want to observe, and an opportunity to sort out my thoughts. My not so succinct answer: There ...

... the cheapest pool we could find was $20 a swim, a bit to much for a shower! Although the receptionist did point out though that if we were earlier we could have showered with the homeless for free. Cheers for that! Dejected and dirty we boarded our 4th train in 3 days. We were now about to take part in our biggest journey so far from Chicago to Las Vegas! 2,000 miles and 40 hours on the same train! The ...