But not before we got a few last slobbery kisses from this friendly guy.
If you look closely at his cheek, you can see where he tried to sneak the red paintbrush. And look at those leaves! It was so exciting to see the fall colors seep deeper into the landscape the farther north we drove.
We lived in Indiana when I was a kid, and I don't remember it being this beautiful. Indiana, you sometimes surprise me.
My cousin lives right off the path to Chicago, which we didn't realize until after we started our trip, so we got to stop and meet her brand new baby. Both the baby and the mom are super adorable.
We are only a month or so apart in age, and she was my number one pen pal from childhood. Because we moved a lot, she was easily my most consistent friend. Plus, I always had a blast visiting her northern Indiana house during the summers of my most insecure middle school years.
Car trips require at least one stop at Hardee's for a thickburger.
Car trips also require compression socks. Sometimes I have to roll mine down. Do any of you have stumpy enough legs to require rolling down your compression socks?
Another cool spot: the windmill farms.
And after eight hours of driving, this was a welcomed site.
Once we made it to Chicago, I could barely contain my excitement, which translates into a million pictures. I love the energy of a big city. I would be happy standing and inhaling the exhaust fumes for hours. The fumes bring back memories of big city living. And I could roam block after block of crowded sidewalks with no destination in mind. There's something special about milling around with the people who appear to be headed somewhere to make something happen.
The bank is footing the bill for us to stay in the Trump Tower in a spa deluxe room. By deluxe, they mean that they offer the most expensive water in existence on a platter in your room. For $10-$20 a bottle, you could have (hopefully) the best water of your life.
Swanky to the max.
Enough of the smiling. When things get really fancy, it's best to perfect the look of not caring that you are spending a billion dollars on a room and/or water.
But I couldn't hold back my emotions when watching Dr. Phil in the bathroom mirror while washing my hands.
View from the room.
Thank goodness they included these in the room. Towel warmer -- because if a cold towel ever brushes my skin, I will flip heck out. Yoga mat -- I'll need to pull some downward dogs to relax from all of the serious, this-$20-bottle-of-water-means-nothing-to-me faces I have to make in the hotel. Swanking is tough work -- especially when your favorite store is the Salvation Army.
We ordered half sausage, spinach, mushroom and tomato (the waiter's recommendation) and half the Chicago special, which is pepperoni, onion, and green pepper. Both were delicious, but the waiter's recommendation edged out the Chicago special in overall cheesy deliciousness.
Yo Husband planned his presentation for the next day while we waited for our food. Nothing like anticipating a giant, greasy hunk of pizza to inspire your creativity.
I think this picture proves that Bean is really my long-lost running sister. Right?! Twins.
Both of our anti-social husbands thought it was weird that we wanted to meet people from the internet (huh?), but I think that once you start rogging (run-blogging), you realize that there are so many cool runners out there that you would love to meet. Bean is really funny and down to earth (just like I thought she would be), and fingers crossed that we get to run this race together.
Day one of Chicago = huge success.
Ahhh! Loving that bling water bottle! So fun!
ReplyDeleteBlown away by your hotel room and laughing a lot that you photographed the bath because I always do that too!!! And SO nice that you got to meet Bean...I met some run bloggers this weekend and it was great!! And yes...separated twins!!
ReplyDeleteReally looking forward to your Chicago posts..l really want to go there!!
You should! It's amazing!
DeleteThat hotel is sweet! And the tv in the bathroom mirror! Lol that is one cute dog too!! Glad you were able to meet a blogger friend in real life. :) have a great time and hope your hubby's presentation went well!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that they don't have Trumps water on that table! LMAO That's so cool that you get to stay in the swanky hotel for free! Puppy is cute (I thought the red was a leaf stuck in his fur at first) and baby is adorbs! Your trip looks like a fun time so far! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI have to roll done my compression socks too. Stumpy legs unite!
ReplyDeleteSomewhere I read that you are supposed to just adjust them down by scrunching instead of rolling, but I like rolling best.
DeleteI love Chicago!!! (And stuffed pizza!) Looks like a fun trip, good food, fun blogger meetup and a swanky place to stay helps, too!
ReplyDeleteOh man that is swanky!!!! I once looked up the price to book a night at Trump Tower. Holy cannoli! Glad you're enjoying Chicago!
ReplyDeleteLiving the high life..I love it. But does your bathroom floors have heaters in them? I don't think you can be a true diva until you scream from cold marble floors! ha ha!!! What a fun adventure you're on!! Bean is awesome. So cool you guys got to meet up. I don't think my husband would get it either but that's okay..he's not a runner.
ReplyDeleteNo floor heaters! I want my money back.:)
DeleteFun! Glad you are having a great time:) Seriously, I have never seen blinged out water. Does it taste any better than the cheapo Costco brand?:) I love heated towels, mmmm, cozy. Running bloggers are the best!!
ReplyDeletemmmm. That pizza looks spectacular. (please not, I've scrolled up 2x, during this comment to peek at it)
ReplyDeleteVery fun that you got to have a little meetup, too! I always think those types of things sound cool...for other people. Don't know that I could actually bring myself to talk to an imaginary internet friend, in real life.
That hotel looks amazing. I've never been to Chicago so I am just going to live vicariously through you and your pictures, k?
ReplyDeleteYou about 1.5 south of me..If you head up to Great America for any reason this week, let me know. I am just across the border in Wisconsin.
ReplyDeleteOh, and that race you want to run? It is on my possible list for next year. It WAS my Boston qualifier race this year. Fast and Flat..almost like me!
Have fun in Chi-town.
*1.5 hours*...my brain is fried tonight.
DeleteI knew what you meant.:) That's a great thing to know about that race. Flat is my friend.
DeleteMan you guys were not kidding about that hotel being swanky. That bling water is the best thing I have seen today. I feel I need a bottle just to put in the wine rack. 'I would open this but the bling hasn't quite aged enough. Put it back and open the Merlot'.
ReplyDeleteI was nervous just holding the bottle.
DeleteI have to roll down my ProCompression brand socks, but not my 2XUs. ProCompression really likes to remind me that I'm NOT a super model. Thanks, PC.
ReplyDelete