http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Illinois en-us Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:43:28 +0000 Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:43:28 +0000 We had a real nice Christmas and New Year holiday season with Brett Megan coming up from St. Louis on Christmas Day staying until the 27th. Heather had to work on Christmas but she came in on 1230 and will be here until the 7th. It sure is great to be able to spend this time with both of them and all the family.We're having some real winter weather here in the midwest so far and the snow we http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Sycamore/blog-464606.html Well here I am blogging again. For someone from a generation that is on the cusp of the technology era I am just slow to say the least. I have challenged myself to be more open to technology and how it can enhance my life thus the new blog. I am getting married this year in October and I started a wedding blog a few months back. It has given me a decent start to the world of blogging but I f http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-464465.html The weather had finally cooperated so we could head out on a nice sunny Saturday morning September 12 2009. Since we would be seeing Abraham Lincolnrsquos birthplace and his childhood home during our Kentucky stopover we wanted to learn a little more about his prePresidency adult life. Again we got a slightly later start than planned so we made our way to southbound I39 westbound I44 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Springfield/blog-464422.html The trip is set. I leave in 4 days for my first visit to New Zealand. Why New Zealand For the wine of course I started planning this trip in September and almost chickened out a few times. Thankfully Brad the owner of the winery I work at kept me on track with my goal. Though I haven't had much time for planning I feel pretty confident about the trip at this point. I've somehow managed http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/blog-464376.html The sun remained elusive at best for the first nine days we were in Rockford. Actually the timing of the crummy weather was great because I had business to conduct and as my health improved with the antibiotics Kay came down with a pretty severe cold herself. Fortunately she didnrsquot get as sick as I had been but neither of us were physically ready to put on the dancing music during the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Rockford/blog-459660.html This weekend was supposed to be an overnight in downtown Chicago to celebrate my sisterinlaw Kim and my 60th birthdays. Unfortunately Jan's younger sister Dawn came down with abdominal pain which the doctor thinks could be her gall bladder. Here's hoping it's something very minor. So instead of a weekend of partying with Jan her 2 sisters and the guys I'm leaving a day earlier than my pl http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Orland-Park/blog-458356.html Saturday November 25 2009 PostscriptOverview of Blog 3 Months after the trip... Well itrsquos almost 3 months since my return from the summer 2009 Chicago Illinois to St. Lake City Utah roundtrip drive camping the entire month. Sophie my traveling companion drove a total of 6000 miles driving through 11 states and returning safely back home to Chicago with 3 weeks to unwi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-457610.html Are you sure I need to be there at 8amYes...you are supposed to be here at 759amYikes I don't like having to be at my parttime job at 8am. I normally start at 10 am and I was trying to not have to come in until 9am since I was the 3rd 8am person scheduled.Wasn't I in for a surprise when I called to tell them I was running 20 min late Can I talk to Rosie And the response I got...Rosi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-457572.html Woke up to rain and we happy we still had the car. Andrew did his first mistake and tried to turn left into the left lane but he did correct before we got into too much trouble Headed straight to the United Centre the home of the Chicago Bulls to see a tribute to Michael Jordon. Dodgiest suburb ever and he stadium was just a concrete building. We both expected a lot more. Only ran in and out a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-457086.html We started the day a bit sceptical but after about a 20 min walk from our hotel found civilisation ad Chicago is actually a beautiful city. Walked the streets looking at old buildings and crossing the Chicago River. Made it down to Lake Michigan... unbelievably huge shows how much Andrew knew he thought it froze over and he could ice skate on it I couldnrsquot stop laughing when he said tha http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-457083.html What though the radiance which was once so brightBe now for ever taken from my sightThough nothing can bring back the hourOf splendor in the grass of glory in the flowerWe will grieve not rather findStrength in what remains behindOde to Intimations of Immortality William WordsworthEverything is easy learning to read arithmetic riding a bike driving a car baking a souffl climbing a mo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/blog-454012.html The following day we slept in before heading into town in search of the Willis Tower which is Chicagorsquos tallest building. Great view and in the lobby they had a great display of history and facts surrounding Chicago and what it is known for. We then headed across town in search of Millennium Park to check out ldquothe beanrdquo which is a massive aluminium bean shaped sculpture. Pretty s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-453538.html The original plan was to get a bus to Chicago but after some extensive research of flights we decided it would be much more economical to just fly. At this point Kaz was still in hope of somehow obtaining Oprah audience tickets so we agreed to spend a couple of nights in a posh hotel firstly to get a bit of a break from hostels but also because she heard the concierge of particular hotels can som http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-453537.html Waiting for Vix to turn up and we're trying to work this blog out over skype. shesh. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-452558.html Well here I am back in the windy city again...that's right Chicago Now I happen to really like Chicago perhaps because I had such a great first visit here though alas I was not blogging then and perhaps just because it's a city that sits well with me for unknown reasons. Because generally when I'm here I don't get to see much of it. Like the last time when I came just for lunch. Bu http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-451292.html I have been thinking of traveling to Chicago again ever since summer. There are so many things to see and do and a lot of them are free. I think Chicago has more places with free admission than any other city in the Union. I have written an article for anyone who is interested in visiting Chicago on a Budget.There's Navy Pier Grant Park the museums have free days on Tuesdays almost once a m http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-450729.html August 16 2007Kristen and I are traveling to Chicago IL with my parents to attend the graduation ceremony of my brother Jamie. He has joined the Navy to become a Master of Arms and is ending his recruit training at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago where our hotel is. Unable to see him until after the graduation we decide to spend the afternoon driving around the area through a r http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-450609.html I'd like to welcome my new subscribers who are receiving their first travelblog. I promise in the future to have fewer words and a lot more photos.To all my friends in Latin America feliz dia del muerto. Yesterday was Halloween which meant only one thing Big bobrsquos annual Halloween party which is always a good time. Terry always does a great job of decorating the house and puts out a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/blog-450096.html Just when you think you're in like Flint ... NOT.Here I sit at Chicago O'Hare Airport waiting to see if I get on a plane out of here tonight to London. Yesterday up early said goodbye to Jackie went back to bed. It was early My dear sweet Lee took her to the airport and saw her at least through Security. I got to sleep a couple of hours more.Back to the airport by noon. I'm traveling on http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-450005.html Every little girl dreams of being a princess. Make your little girls dreams come true with Disney bedding in the Princess design. Your little girls can snuggle up and sleep tight under Disney Bedding featuring Princess Jasmine Cinderella or Princess Belle and feel like shes living a dream.The beauty of it is that youe not going to pay the earth to make them feel like that little princess. disney http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-445490.html