Home Again

We got back from Chicago late Monday night. It was so much fun. We went to Chinatown on Saturday as well as the John Hancock Observatory and the Cheesecake Factory. We also went to the Second City, which was hilarious. I can't wait to catch another show. Once we left the theater we quickly realized that the busses don't run at three in the morning and we had no idea of how to get back to the hotel. We ended up taking a cab, which cost us eight dollars. Sunday we tried to make it to the Museum of Science and Industry, but the CTA system was all messed up because of some run that had grant park and the surrounding location shut down. Instead we took a cruise on a boat that toured the river and the lake. It was a very cold tour with some amazing views. We dined at Heaven on Seven and Howie's on Sunday. Monday, after visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo, we grabbed some pizza at Pizzeria Ora. Then we walked along the magnificent mile. Waiting until Monday to do the majority of our walking wasn't the wisest decision we ever made, but we had a good time. Before boarding the train home we made sure we had some Garrett's popcorn to munch and some reading material. Once we got home we went straight to bed. It was a wonderful weekend and I look forward to our next getaway.... whenever it may be

Girl Scouts

I was never in girl scouts, but my eight year old sister is. This weekend they had their annual retreat to Camp Pendalouan. I was looking forward to going because I have memories of going to the same camp with my brother during the time he had leukemia. I guess I didn't think about the fact that there would be a ton of eight year old girls. While it was fun, it was also stressful. I forgot how important having the top bunk, sleeping by the right person, being the first to do whatever it is they all want to do, and having the best story are at that age. I also forgot how fun it is to giggle for what seems like hours when it is bedtime. No matter how many times your leader lets you know that it is time to be quiet. And how scary spiders and ants are, especially if they are in your cabin. And how being away from home is fun and exciting, but when it is time for bed it quickly becomes a time that you miss your mom and all the comforts of home. One little girl said "I miss my mom whenever I go to bed and whenever I leave. Maybe I should let her know."

I also got to see my sister interact with her peers and see how she is in different situations. The way she handled herself was very shocking. She was afraid of being on a lake in a canoe, which surprised me. She has grown up on a lake and her dad has a boat that they go out on all of the time. The rock wall, however didn't phase her. She climbed half way up, which was fifty feet. I was just happy that she wanted to try it. I thought she would be like most of the other girls and get on the wall and within thirty seconds get scared and come down. But she loved it. She told me the scary part wasn't climbing up, but the part where she had to dangle and trust the person with the rope to let her down safely. All things considered, I would do it again in a heartbeat.