Adventure Kids

---

Some people are ahead of the fashion curve. Other folks can set new trends in music. I am here to tell you that, decades ago, I was into the whaler, BK big-fish and filet-o-fish WAY before America decided to promote this new double filet sandwhich. Everywhere I turn, on every interstate, state road, highway, service road, business road, there looms a billboard promoting the sandwhich I made famous. Ofcourse, I'm willing to bet it's middle America's response to the Lent season. Hey, christian truck drivers gotta have friday options, right?

Speaking of restaurants, Sarah and I are beating any cravings we might've had at the beginning of the trip into the GROUND. Cracker Barrel: over it. Arby's: over it. Subway: over it. Food: over it! These days I'm more than happy to get the nutrition thing over and done with taking vitamins, and eating fruit, veggies, cliff bars topped off with a dollop of water flavored water. So much time in the car, one starts feeling like all they do is stop to pee, eat, and switch drivers. Buuuuuuut luckily for us we're adventure kids, and search for fun wherever we are, especially on days off.

This past weekend I visited Chicago for the first time in my life, and NO I didn't see Oprah. I got over it, though. On Saturday morning we left our van behind and bought all-day train passes and headed into the city...here I am. Turned out to be the day the VERY Irish city was celebrating St. Pattie's Day with a huge parade *caugh*thatwemissed*caugh*, turning the river green, wearing green and drinking green beer! Not to be out Irished, Sarah and I lunched at Bennigans and partook of the green beer. Power to the people. There was a mix-up in our order, and somehow we ended up with en extra beer at our table which our server promptly offered to hold in the fridge beCAUSE (interesting fact) it is illegal to have more than one beer to every person in a restaurant. Not sure if it's just a state law or national, but isn't that awful? :)

Anyway, here's a pic of me in front of a giant metalic blob in central park called "The Cloud Gate Monument". It looked exactly like a huge droplet of mercury. It is built of various plates that were sanded down over time, however the inside was still in progress and here are some gents at work. Casual day, I gather.

Aside from a lot of walking around, we had designs on seeing some quality Chicago theatre. Since most shows were sold out in the city and apparently Oprah takes weekends off (what's that about?), we ended up taking a train and walking a mile in the rain to a small production in the suburbs of a two character musical called "The Last 5 Years". HORRIBLE. I'll never get those two hours back. However, we decided to take something positive away from the experience, and we both agree that we're thankful we are not that bad. See? The glass is half full.

All in all, a wonderful experience in Chi-town. Oh yeah, it was plenty windy.

Next we took on the VERY humid St. Louis to stay (for free) with Sarah's older brother Mike. Despite tornado warnings and my head looking like a puffy, dirty Q-tip, it was swell. On Monday we went to the Gateway Arch, and went to the top, 630 feet in the air. It's so beautiful, and I can only hope that it doesn't become the unwitting half of an enormous McDonalds sign in a post-apocalyptic world. This is a picture of the wittle pod that took us all the way to the top...kinda gnarely!

Which brings me to today. We had our first show this morning in three days, and boy did we welcome work!

I must apologize to those of you who love me, for try as I might to cleanse myself I may return home with something of a Minesota accent. A tinge if you will. But that will sound real rich on a Mexican, won't it?

Love,

Markuz

---