Blogs from Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America - page 60

Grandpa Tom died earlier this week, which brings us back home to Chicago. In spite of the negative circumstances, it is always so fun to come here, be with family and see the city. We're staying with Uncle Mike and Aunt Pam again in Palos Heights. They let us crash here whenever there's a funeral or any other event that brings us home with little notice. Dad took Andrew, Andy and me to the city today. We decided to go to the Field Museum. It took us a few tries to find the parking, so we took a nice detour around Grant Park. Seriously, Chicago is such a beautiful city. The Olympic committee is here as well, taking a tour of the final city choices for 2016. At O'Hare, they had blues bands playing as ... read more

In a way Chicago is my second city, or maybe it's Cleveland. I'm not sure yet. There is something about revisiting a the city where I grew up (figuratively) that makes me wonder. I'm not sure if it's just the water, or the fabulous food at brunch or the awareness of it's people. Chicago reminds me of me. In a way it's not reality. Everyone is pretty fabulous in Chicago. There are too many great restaurants, cool stores, beautiful and accepting people, ample public transportation, that doesn't happen everywhere, I know, I have been/lived many "where's" This is a combined blog effort of my last two visits to Chicago. Both pretty great, both too short. This last one felt like such a transition. Milissa is leaving GVA, our school where we taught with together for two ... read more

Wow! It has been a really long time since I updated this. Upon returning to the states from England I graduated from Purdue in May 2006. A lot has happened since then! I moved to Chicago and started a job at CDWG in June of 2006. I was at CDWG just over a year and moved back to West Lafayette to try my hand in grad school. I not only wanted to try grad school but I also felt a need to be closer to my family. My mother passed away in February of 2007 which left me with a need to be closer to my family, it was a very trying time for everyone but we have all perserved as well as we can. Realizing that I was going to have to take a lot ... read more

I have done all the technical things to have a way for people to contact me while I am abroad. Now, I just need to inform my friends and family about my phone plan. Here is my plan: 1. Leave Nokia 6682 with AT&T SIM card in Chicago, so I won't get charged international roaming. Yet, I can still be contacted and respond with automatic messages. In my voicemail, mention my abroad phone numbers. When I receive text messages, do "auto responding" which states that I could be contacted by e-mail. 2. Bring LG Incite (CT810) with OneRoam SIM card to Japan, because the cellphone will work in Japan and the SIM card will have cheaper world rates. OneRoam is NOT renting, it's owning the SIM card. And there's no expiration date, so when I travel ... read more

Hello everyone! We made it home safe and sound. We spent our last days in the Philippines shopping for pasalubong (gifts) and for ourselves and spending time with my family (which includes several Salon at home phone calls for foot massages after a long day of shopping - all for a mere $5). We shopped at my favorite place - 168 in Divisoria (the China town of the Philippines). I love it there! Clothes, Shoes, Purses galore! I didn't buy as many clothes as I did last time but did add quite a few items to my summer wardrobe. :) Jimmy, the driver, found a DVD/Kareoke machine that had 39,600 songs, song book and a mic for P1,700. Thats around $37. $37! hehe. That'll give you an idea of how far your dollar will go shopping ... read more