error and trial.: Chicago (Aug 19-21)

Oh, the Windy City. Not to be confused with Chicago actually being windy... instead, it got it's nickname due to their jabber mouth politicians that had a reputation of never shutting up. (Or so we learned on our architectural boat ride). We had a great weekend, with only a few hangover speed bumps to slow us down!

The first night we made it out to some tourist hot spot called Buddy Guy's. The food was so-so (crayfish in IL?!), but I thought the music was amazing! Chicago blues are by far my favorite, and the band that night was terrific. An old black man singer who played a mean harmonica, a young preppy white college lad on the lead guitar, a fat truck driver from TN on base and we never did see the drummer... but we can only imagine. It was like playing that game from Sesame Street "One of these things is not like the other, one of these things is not the same..." :)

I forgot why I loved Chicago so much until I realized that it was the fact that it is so clean. I mean, really really clean. There is no trash on the side of the roads, the flower beds actually have flowers in them in beautiful arrangements and the grass is perfectly manicured. Now, I now that Chicago boasts some dangerous neighborhoods, but it's easy to forget that when you are strolling through Millennium Park and taking in the large sculptures and the beautiful outdoor theater. Our when you are on the 90th floor of the Sears Tower taking in the amazing shore line and views of the city for as far as the eye can see. Yes, I love Chicago, and their deep dish pizzas and outstanding architecture and their blues.

Dave makes a comback! Brass band right behind us!

Wrigley Field!

Our third day we made it (miraculously) to a Cubs vs. Angels game in the wonderful Wrigley field! Our seats were in perfect view of the field and even had an old man brass band that would continuously play behind us. It was not much different than Fenway in the way that everyone got absurdly drunk and would hoot and holler when nothing was going on in the game. It was comforting in a home away from home kind of way. The cubs won, the score I can't remember, but I do recall everyone being very verbose at the ending, which could have meant anything. Either way we followed the crowds through the streets and found ourselves at a local sports bar that featured booze and arcade games. Whoever came up with this idea was a pure genius; Skee Ball and Coors Light and tickets to buy cheap arcade souvenirs! The only dangerous part was the high speed batting cages where drunk grown men made fools of themselves swinging at air. All in all, it was very amusing afternoon.

We also made some touristy stops at the Sears tower - where Dave made me wash some windows...