And I've Started to Get Behind

I have a list of things to talk about that I wrote out Saturday night, so I'll attempt to tell you most of it.

I suppose I should start back on Friday evening. Dinner was good, in downtown Champaign at a burger place. Met more of Andres's friends and smart PHD people and cool people. After that we went back to the place we had pizza the night before for a drink and some poorly played pool. Got back early for lots of talking and youtube video watching as well as the end of Rocky IV with the inspirational unintelligible speech at the end.

Saturday morning there was a tailgating cookout of sorts that one of Andres's roommates, Ben, was having. I believe it started at 8. Quite early if you ask me. So I packed up and had a brat before saying goodbye.

I was very tired on the drive, and eventually stopped for the most expensive gas yet (4.35) and a very large coffee. I didn't drink much of it, I think the size alone made me feel energized. It was nice for a bit, but got rainy after a while and by the time I was within sight of Chicago it was complete downpour. Traffic and all I still made it to Tom and Holly's by 2ish.

Tom and Holly went to SUIC where Tom knew my Aunt Sue and Uncle Peter. They're both artists who work together on these cool political statement pieces that have to do with commercialism and it's just awesome. When I got here they were in the garage painting one of those giant blow up Santa Clauses people put on their lawns at Christmas. They were getting it ready for an art fair show for the next weekend.

I went out around 3 and even though it was raining a lot it was really warm and I didn't mind at all. Chicago is really amazing. Definitely one of my favorites. The first place I stopped was the library, of course, it was basically just fantastic, architecturally and space/book wise. I then spent about half an hour in the Art Institute because it closed at 5. But I got to see the photography display, these miniature room things, and I got to try on a glove made of medieval mail for knights. I then wandered around Millennium park for an hour taking pictures. I can't wait for the sun to be out tomorrow(fingers crossed) so I can go back and take more pictures with the giant silver bean. I chatted with Mel, yay, and watched this funny fountain get people even more wet. Then I did some more walking around, got some soup, then some Garrett's popcorn, which was great, and took more pictures before heading back to Oak Park for dinner. Dinner was great, at this southern style restaurant where I had this veggie over hoe cakes thing which was delicious.

Back at Tom and Holly's we moved some very large pieces of ceiling into the house (they're doing a lot of work on it), and then had some Evan Williams bourbon and went to bed.

Today=Sunday, I slept a bit late since I was so tired. Eventually got myself to the subway after lots of emails and a phone call. And I just got a message back from the people in Boulder and they say I can stay with them! Yay! It was raining loads again so no luck going up the Sears tower, hopefully tomorrow. I got lunch at this cool place and then went to the Cultural Center, which is also a really awesome building. There was an exibition of art that was about/inspired by Marilyn Monroe, and another with artwork from Illinois State Prisoners. I hit the Contemporary Art museum next, which was interesting for sure, and then I actually saw lake Michigan! Yay! Still quite dreary though.

I went out to Wicker Park after. Tom and Holly had told me about two really cool independent bookstores, so of course I went to both. The second one, Myopics, I was in for quite a number of hours. I bought 9 books(woops?), and finished reading The Joy Luck Club, which was an amazing book. Met Tom and Holly again for dinner out there, and then we played some pool before getting a cab back. I got a mini tour in the cab and Holly pointed out the hospital that ER was based on. Now I'm pretty tired again. Have to make sure I'm going to make it to my meeting at Columbia College tomorrow. Then its goodbye Illinois and hello Wisconsin.

I'm having a fantastic time, but I'm starting to miss people. So please don't be shy, and call me. =)

" Take care of a candle
Shut a door by the handle"