Wingate By Wyndham - 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 ...

... 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.

... 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.

... I'm forgoing the crowded streets filled with hot charcoal grills, sweaty tourists and flash fried food. And that's all on a normal summer day. But TODAY will be different. As some know, Chicago celebrates July 4th on the 3rd. That is to say, we set off all of our big showy fireoworks one day before our country's actual independence.
I wonder why it is that we decided to do that. Perhaps many ...

(To see all the photos for this post, visit my Flickr page) Yesterday, Kate and I got to spend four hours at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. Besides all the typical exhibits, we saw Body Worlds 2, which is a collection of anatomical displays and human bodies preserved by plastination. It was a really amazing display, and I've never felt so aware of the human body as ...

... of cramming as much in to as tighter space as possible. When you're in the Loop (city centre-ish) and you look up, the building you see will have at least 20 floors. Some will have 50 and the Sears Tower has 110. Now, as many of you will now know, not only am I not exactly Dan Dare when it comes to flying but I'm not the late, great Fred Dibner when it comes to heights. Still, when in Chicago... It was well worth it as I hope the pictures show. As the Who once famoulsy sang, You ...

... Denny style and our broken vacuum cleaner wasn't up to the beat down that it got either. All in all, it was a complete **** show. Fun times.... Until the next day when Kelly and I realized that our apartment looked like Gulf Shores Mississippi and that FEMA wasn't going to help us clean this mess up. But thanks to Murphy and his oil soap, the apartment was bank to normal in short order. Next stop Ecuador... We'll behave ourselves.

... development that hosts sporting events, concerts (recently Eminem), banquets, corporate meetings etc. Ford Field was opened in 2002 at a cost of $500 million dollars, it accommadates 65,000 spectators including 8,500 club seats. The cost of a season suite (ie approx 30 people) is $280,000. One of the major attractions on the Ford Field calender in the future is it will host the 2006 Super Bowl in ...

... love more than you will ever know. I want my friends to know that they have shaped me, and helped me become the man I am today. I want my adopted family to realize that out of the ashes of our tragedy rose a beautiful relationship, and I am eternally grateful for your generosity and understanding. I want all of you to know that even though I will be far away, you are all with me. Now Go! And never darken my towels again! -Groucho Marx