chicago

Okay so Chicago.  Don't get mad, but we should've known we wouldn't be crazy about it.  I used to think I would like to live in the city for a couple years after college, but I know deep down that I'm just not a city girl.  The small spaces, the traffic, the murderers.

Anyway, just me and Jeffy went for a little vacay sans baby.  We haven't vacationed together since our honeymoon, so it was overdue.  Obviously it was put off because of Patrick (whom we missed dearly and talked about most of the time).  We were all Can't you just see Pat's reaction seeing that flamingo?   

Since Jeff and I are certified historians (him) and scientists (me), we were most excited about the Field Museum. 

We got to see Sue, a T-Rex with an almost-complete set of bones!

If I think back to what I got most excited about, it would be this six-foot tall replica of DNA.  I literally almost collapsed it was so freaking awesome.  There was an entire lab behind glass where you could watch scientists analyzing DNA of all types of organisms.  Unfortunately, scientists don't work 24 hours a day and sleep on a cot in the lab, so we weren't able to see any working at the time.

A triceratops that took me back to The Land Before Time immediately.  "No Sarah, two horns never play with long necks."

We spent three hours at the museum until I could no longer stand on my own two feet.. I was exhausted!  Jeff was so mad that we couldn't go to the bottom level and see the UNDERGROUND ADVENTURES and the MAN-EATING LION.   Sorry honey, I've done enough learning.

On our last day we visited Navy Pier and froze to death got lunch at Margaritaville.  Yum!


Other thoughts:

• Driving through Indiana was like driving through District 12 in The Hunger Games.  It was straight-up creepy.  It really made me appreciate Ohio's updated, clean infrastructure.

• Instead of staying in a hotel, we opted for a free stay at a friend-of-a-friend's apartment.  It happened to be on the 38th floor. 

• I'm glad I had my riding boots to wear around the city to ensure that I fit in with every other female (and some males).

• I was adamant about going to Mass, but everytime I mentioned it Jeff would say "Oh darn I think we just missed it!"

• The cab drivers were not talkative nor friendly.  I kept thinking of all these questions like How long are your hours?  Or Does your mom have to drop you off at work?  Or What ethnicity are you?  Or Do you realize you have the worst effing job in the world?  All of which I held in so I didn't get socked in the face. 

• We're glad we visited, but we will never see you again Chicago.  It's been real!