No one to blame but myself...

Uli (our CS host), Penny & Kay in Germany

This blogging think is harder than it looks - now it's been almost 2 years since my last post. Can honestly say that I have not stopped traveling with mom though.  Spent 2 weeks last summer in Europe couchsurfing with her and had a blast. Everyone we met was so impressed that she was doing it.  "No lady in Germany of your age would ever do this." "You look so young!" and more.  AND at the spa in Baden-Baden she put most of the other ladies to shame...

This summer will take us to Chicago, WI, MN and who knows where else.  Let's see if I get any better at this...

I think she knows something...

Megabus to Chicago was great! Left promptly at 9:30 a.m., a 20 minute stop outside of Indianapolis, and only 10 minutes late into Chicago. Sitting in the front seat of the double decker was a treat - Gary, Hammond and the entry into Chicago look a lot different when you aren't worrying about being side-swiped by a semi on a rusting bridge overlooking a dead steel mill.

Today is my sis's b'day so I called from my cell, basic chit chat then "I hear you're coming up." "Who told you that? Believe me I tried but the plane tickets were $700 then $588 then on Priceline they wouldn't let me go below $200 so forget it." More chit-chat then "I wish you could be here." "Me too." Mom called later and left a message then my brother left his well wishes a few hours later. Hopefully she doesn't think we will be there. I'm wondering who the mole is.

Love Chicago - my bro picked us up then the fun began, "Rust in the Dust" at the Chicago Photography Center, Merz Apothecary for our family favorites, Elgydium toothbrushes, falafel & gyros at Salam, apple strudel from Lutz Bakery and then home to Wrigleyville for cable TV and more planning for tomorrow. Can you say happy??

It's all in the timing...

Wahooo - road trip w/mom to Chicago/MN for my sis's 50th b'day (she doesn't know we're coming!). Taking Megabus to Chicago, meeting up with my brother, day in Chi-town before the 9+ hour drive to Nisswa - Up North as they say in Minnesota. This will be my first time on Megabus and we only made the reservations 2 days in advance so missed out on the $1 seats but $78 round trip is cheaper than gas money/parking. Amazing how many errands/to-dos I'm getting done around the house when there's a trip on the horizon!

This is hard work...

Hmmm.... seems like I gave up on this about a year ago about as they say "I'm baaaaacccckkkk...".

Mom's been here a year now and all is good - she's healthier than ever (and always making noises at us to use our gym membership more regularly since SHE goes 2-3 times a week for weight lifting and swimming), we are kept in cookies, Clyde has an ardent admirer and we are all enjoying exploring the city.

Since I started this to detail my adventures with her, I must get back on track. Yesterday was Iron Man 2 at our local cheapie movie house Danbarry Cinemas - can't beat $3.00 for a flick and the help is nice too!

Wisconsin

Who knew that traffic leaving Chicago at 5:30 a.m. on a weekday was so horrendous? Now, I do. First stop Taliesin, home of megalomaniac Frank Lloyd Wright. Very interesting - great architect, crummy contractor, everything leaks or is falling apart. Ideas and execution are very different beasts. The Atrium B&B in Eau Claire was our haven for the evening and it was fab - huge suite, plasma TV, reclining chairs, wine & cheese - aaahhhh. Too bad the owners have sold it and will be gone in a month :( The seatbelt in mom's Toyota was jammed but thanks to Markquart Toyota we now know how to pull off the door seal, pry back the seat belt mechanism and fix it ourselves next time! Next stop Chippewa Falls for the Leinenkugel Brewery Tour and Olson's kiwi/watermelon ice cream. Mom commented on how clean the air is up here and the friendliness of the natives - hope we can keep her in Cincinnati!

Chicago

Monday dawned bright as we boarded the bus on Lake Shore Drive heading south to upper Michigan Avenue - $2.25 for me one way and $1 for mom (but if she had a senior citizen bus pass - free!). The skies started to spit (gently and you dried off as you stuck your head in a store) as we strolled through and past Neiman Marcus, the Disney Store (not many of these around anymore), Crate & Barrel (my best job ever as assistant to the store designer for the Christmas season back in 1979 but I digress), Saks, etc. An early lunch at the Corner Bakery gave us a chance to get off our feet, peruse the local newspapers and split a Turkey Asiago sandwich - marinated artichokes, pesto, roasted sweet balsamic onions, spinach, mmmmmm. Mom is so healthy and active at 79 that I always try to behave around her. The skies cleared, the wind was blowing - Mom remarked that Kansas City & Chicago have lots of wind but Cincinnati doesn't so the air seems so different. Crossed Michigan to the Tribune Tower. For some unknown reason, mom didn't know that the Tower was adorned with stones from famous buildings and sites around the world. We figured that in all the years of us kids growing up in the Chicago area she must have sent us & dad in with whatever visitors we had while she had some time to herself at home! American Gothic as a 20 foot statue is now on display next door to the Tribune Tower - way cool!! Continued down Michigan Avenue with a stop in the Hard Rock Hotel in the former Carbide & Carbon building - nice bathrooms and grabbed a bit of time on their lobby computer. The Cultural Center housed in the old Chicago Public Library is a feast for the senses with the the largest Tiffany Dome, incredible mosaic work, a Chicago Information Center and changing displays. We sauntered across the street to complete one of our missions of the day - leaving dad at Millennium Park. Dad passed away in December but he is always near, accompanying us on our journeys and enjoying them with us. The bean, oh, I mean Cloud Gate, was wonderful as always and the shrieks of children splashing in the fountains helped us cool off. More to see as we popped in Posters Plus for a look at their incredible vintage poster selection. My fav has to be the Archicenter - we spent 45 minutes between their shop, exhibits, and a great, opinionated, intelligent docent whose name we can't remember (this old age stuff bites sometimes). Needed socks so a trip to Marshall Field's was in order - oh wait, I mean Macy's on State Street - whatever... lots of good retail on State Street - Filene's Basement, TJ Maxx, a huge Sears, H&M - just enough for window shopping before dinner at the Berghoff with Missy, Ted, Madeleine & Wally. Yes, it's still there after being shut by the owner's daughter in 2006 for purging/modernization. Sauerbraten, potato pancakes, and creamed spinach are still on the menu so I was a very happy camper. We slept well.

Life without internet is tough when you want to post...

Day 4 of the Chicago/WI/MN trip... I'll back up. Left Cincinnati at 9:17 a.m. on Sunday for a supposed 5 hour trip to Chicago. Roads were clear, traffic moving along, a lunch stop was quick & pleasant then %^*#. About 15 miles south of Crown Point, IN everything stopped. People took out cornhole games, others roller bladed between the cars, a skateboard whizzed past. Turns out a 6 car pile-up where the road condensed into one lane due to construction was the culprit. An hour later we were on our way. Breezed through Gary, soared across the Skyway then hit Lake Shore Drive. What were we thinking? A beautiful summer Sunday afternoon in Chicago and everyone from a 25 mile radius is flocking to Lake Michigan. FINALLY made it to my brother Wally's after 4:00 p.m. (subtract an hour for the change from EST to CST) and that's an 8+ hour trip. AAARRRGGHHHH