Chicago - days 2 and 3 and Saturday I spun!

I know, I know, I am behind, yet again.

Chicago was madness! After the last session at 4:45pm on Thursday, I did some power sightseeing on foot. The streets were crowded but it was a friendly crowd. The weather was absolutely beautiful and all of Chicago was out and about. There were street musicians everywhere, people wearing Cubs shirts getting high fives from complete strangers, and everyone was glued to a cell phone or an iPod. I enjoyed the walking and people watching. As a result, I covered way too much territory and wore myself right out. But I get ahead of myself.

First stop was Millium Park. There were cool statues and sculptures. My favorite was a silver reflective sphere. Depending on where you stood, you were really big or really small or you were reflected multiple times like a circus mirror sideshow. Then, I went "next door". Someone at the conference told me the Art Institute was open until 8pm and free admission. I was there! I didn't take any photos there for some reason. They had Monets, Manets, Renoirs, and Degas' and many more.

I was getting tired and still had to hike back PAST the hotel several blocks to the John Hancock Observatory. I don't recommend this to anyone! What a rip off. $15 to ride an elevator to the top and look out the windows! I paid $2 in Cincinnati to ride to the top and hang over the side of the roof! lol I was disapointed with the last stop. The sun was going down, I was tired and really sore, so I headed back toward the hotel. I still had not eaten dinner, but nothing looked good. I stopped at Macy's and a couple other stores to try and find the patant leather purse (or a cheaper knock off) that I kept seeing on women's shoulders. No luck, the cheapest was $89!

I finally got back to the hotel, changed, and went to the hotel restraunt for dinner. I had a wonderful flatbread with motz cheese, beef and peppers and other unknowns on it. Something labeled "Scottish" was on it too. I overheard the lady at the table next to me say she wanted to know what I was eating. I picked up my plate and did a Vanna impression and told her it was great (with my mouth full). :) After eating my fill I returned to my room (now about 9:30p) to change into my bathing suit and headed to the hot tub to soak for about an hour. It was a nice end to a wonderful day!

In the morning, I checked out early and took the porter's advice to take a cab to Shedd Aquarium. I was really looking forward to seeing the baluga whales and dolphins and sea horses that Brandi's family had told me all about when I dropped Sadie off. But first, I detoured to the 4-D theater. It is 4-D theater because in addition to the 3-D glasses, they add "extra" pokes in your back (did NOT like that one), vibrations, bubbles float in the air, wind blows, and when the whale on the screen surfaces, they spray you with water! There was a cord under my chair that whipped my ankles when rats ran at you on the screen too. The kids were screaming and having a great time and I enjoyed the whole experience.

Then I spent some time listening to the guide at the main tank. He was talking to the diver in the tank feeding the fish. That was way cool. There is a big turtle in the tank also. He swims funny because he was rescued and nursed back to health after getting hit by a boat prop. He could not be released back into the wild. My camera was not cooperating. All my pictures were blurred. You can not use a flash, so I was frustrated. Damn fish move too much! lol

After looking at all the exhibits, I tried to find the whales and dolphins. I finally decided to ASK where they were. Major disappointment. The exhibit with the whales, dolphins and penguins was closed for renovation. Crap! It was only 11:20am. I might as well go back to the hotel, eat the free lunch, and go to a session (ack! work?).

We left Chicago at 2pm and I got home, exhausted and sore, at 10:30pm. In the morning, I went to pick up Sadie, came home, and took a nap.

Saturday, I decided I would try to spin again. I had to try. But first, I watched a video on YouTube about spinning. I picked up two helpful tips, tried them, and was off and spinning without any more breaking yarn or frustrations! It is not perfect, but it is pure enjoyment! Here is a link to the video I watched. The lady is a hoot and I watched most of her videos!

More later, and I will also add some photos. Work got me a laptop of my own to use, and I am in the process of transferring all the data from one to the other. All my photos are on a jump drive!