Last year, Melissa and I met Michele and Courtney in New York City for a weekend getaway and it was cold and rainy. This year I met Michele in Chicago to visit Courtney and it was cold and snowy.
After arriving in Chicago, Michele and I headed by way of the 'L' to meet Courtney for lunch in the heart of downtown Chicago. Now I'm more of a taxi girl but Michele is mass transit all the way. It's easier for me to watch the meter in a taxi cab and pay the driver than to try and navigate how to buy a ticket from a machine for the train. By the way I missed the sign that said "No Change Given" so it cost me $3.00 instead of the $2.25 regular fare. When we got off the train the snow was lightly falling. After lunch we proceeded down State Street to do a little holiday shopping for ourselves. State Street runs parallel to Michigan Avenue - better known as the "Miracle Mile." Michele's favorite mode of transportation next to mass transit is walking. Walking in 80 degree weather is okay. But walking in blowing snow with the blistery winds of Chicago is shear torture. Did I forget to mention that the lightly falling snow was now heavy snowflakes that were sticking to my eyelashes?
But I kept up with her and kept walking from store to store to store to store. Michele thought I was going into the dressing rooms to try on clothes. Little did she know I was taking short naps.
Around 3:00 p.m. we were tired of shopping so Michele suggested we walk to my hotel. I suggested a cab but Michele insisted it was a short walk. So we made our way over to Michigan Avenue. The first address I saw was 200 North Michigan Avenue. My hotel was at 800 SOUTH Michigan Avenue. By this time we were not only avoiding the heavy snow and blowing winds but trying to avoid slipping on the slick sidewalks. Once we got to the hotel it was time to turn around and go to Courtney's. Now Courtney lives about 6 miles north of downtown Chicago. The 'L' stop was only two blocks from the hotel - yeah! But Michele's train pass wouldn't work so back on the street we went. I actually thought she was going to make me walk all the way to Courtney's. But the next stop was only two blocks away. This one had an attendant who passed us through and we were safely on the 'L' headed to Courtney's.
On this train ride I was treated to a panhandler asking for dollars, quarters, nickels, dimes, anything he could get to buy a McDonald's cheeseburger. Besides thinking he was going to pull a gun at any moment and mug me, I was wondering how he got the $2.25 to ride the train. Why didn't he use that money to buy a cheeseburger? Only in Chicago. I did get to see Wrigley Field and several condos with bleachers on the roof to watch ballgames. We got off the train at Courtney's stop and walked another couple of blocks to Courtney's condo.
Michele was explaining to me how Courtney lived in what was once a "gangster" neighborhood - very old and interesting. If it wasn't so cold I would have enjoyed exploring that part of town. The best way I can describe Courtney's condo is IKEA heaven.
It reminds me of Sandra Bullock's condo in Two Week's Notice where Hugh Grant keeps remarking how amazing it is how few steps he can take to travel the entire length of the apartment. After dining on Chicago style pizza I was so relieved when Michele suggested Courtney take me back to my hotel - in her car I might add. This time I saw Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, the Sears Tower and the ferris wheel at the Navy Pier.
The next morning I headed the two blocks to the train station with Michele's instructions in my head to get off at the "Chicago" stop. But when I got to the platform both trains were there and I couldn't remember which one to board. So after they both left the station, I stopped a couple pushing a baby stroller and asked which train to take. I was hoping they didn't think I was some crazy lady looking for money for a McDonald's cheeseburger. But they were very helpful and another train arrived within five minutes. Michele and I planned to meet at the McDonald's (how ironic) at the "Chicago" stop. I was so glad to see the golden arches when I climbed the steps from the train. After a quick bite we once again proceeded down that glorious Miracle Mile. Besides shopping, our goal was to meet Courtney at the German Festival.
Christkindlmarket is Chicago's largest open-air Christmas festival full of unique shopping booths and German flavored food.
By this time Michele had nearly walked the soles off my new Skecher's GoWalks so I pleaded for her to lead me to the train station so I could go to the airport. As I passed through the 'L' gate Michele instructed me to stay on the train until I got to Midway Airport. In fact she told me they would make everyone get off the train at the airport. What she failed to tell me was to get on the "orange line" train. I distinctly remember Courtney saying she heard a train coming. So the train stopped, I got on, then heard Michele and the CTA attendant screaming for me to get off. I jumped off the train just as the door was closing. There was Michele on the platform telling me I got on the wrong train. I was on the "pink line" instead of the "orange." No telling where the pink line went. For all I know I could still be in Chicago riding that damn train waiting for the conductor to tell me to get off because we were at the airport. Michele was wondering how she was going to have to call Melissa and tell her she lost her mother.
Winter in New York and now Chicago. I'm a little hesitant to commit to meeting Michele next year. I'm afraid I may end up in Alaska...probably one of those Alaskan cruises - yikes!
I thought one of the benefits of knowing how to crochet was having a granddaughter to model my creations and designs. With winter coming on, Melissa asked me to crochet a hat for Violet. My first attempt was a little small. So I made a few adjustments and made a second hat. But Violet won't leave the hat on her head long enough for me to get a picture.
So I have one picture of Violet in the smaller hat (a little fuzzy). This was just before she yanked it off.
And Mickey and Minnie volunteered to be my models to show off both hats. Violet has been wearing hair bands since she's been born so people know she's a baby girl. But she won't have anything to do with these crocheted hats.
Melissa and Jamie are working with their builder trying to redesign their house so it fits building requirements in the subdivision where they are going to build their new home. They are also looking at buying new appliances and furnishings. If Mama Melissa continues to make too many upgrade changes...
Baby Violet is going to have to get a job to help pay all the extra costs. I don't think Steak 'n Shake would be her first choice unless it came with an unlimited napkin bar. This girl can eat paper faster than Lola can steal toys. Notice the piece of napkin on her upper lip. Gotta love that face!
Violet had a play date with her boyfriend Miles.
Miles is 3 months older than Violet but they're about the same height and weight although Violet may have him beat by a bit. By the looks of this picture it looks as though Violet will be the dominant person in this relationship. Miles just adores her which is the way it should be.
Bring out the Etsy sticker - baby Violet is 8 months old.
I can't believe another month has gone by. Violet claps, dances, says Mama, and now...
she stands all by herself. She's only done this a couple of times. Most of the time she holds your fingers and cruises around the house. She's beginning to walk around the furniture by herself. So when she found herself standing alone, it scared her a bit. Next month Melissa may not be able to get a picture of her with her 9 month sticker. Violet could be running away from the camera.
The Chiefs are having a rather rough game tonight defending their undefeated record against the Denver Broncos. But thanks to Aunt Karen, Violet has a new Chiefs sweatshirt for her TOUCHDOWN KANSAS CITY dance. The only problem is the Chiefs game didn't start until 7:30 tonight...Violet's bedtime.
But Violet put her sweatshirt on early and posed for a few pictures before she went to bed. It's already after 9:00, my bedtime, so I'll have to find out if Kansas City was able to beat Denver when I get up in the morning. At half-time they are behind 10-17.
For only being 8 months old, Violet has been to more birthday parties than I ever went to.
Melissa stresses out so much trying to think of a gift for a 1 year old. The last party they went to was for a little boy and she bought him a plastic dump truck. When she asked me what to get for the little one year old girl today I told her "a dump truck?" I really think she'd save a lot of money if she just raided my ribbon and bow plastic tote and wrapped up an empty box. That's what Violet seems to enjoy to most!
If you haven't seen Last Vegas you need to schedule a couple of hours and go see it especially if you're in that "older" age bracket. I thought it was very typical of men over the age of 60 who think younger women really want them. I giggled through most of the movie.
Michael and Jamie just returned from Vegas. Michele made this picture taken from the Last Vegas trailer and used Photoshop to add the faces of Dad, Jamie, Michael and Uncle Ed. I stole this from her blog but I had to have a post of my own.
Although Michael says he's not participating in "No Shave November", he showed up for Thursday night dinner sporting a moustache and beard.
I've never seen this look on him before so you can imagine my surprise when I saw him. At first I didn't like it, but it's so faint that it really doesn't look that bad. He says this is a week's worth of growth. I think I'll buy him a razor for Christmas.
I cleaned out one of my cabinets and filled it with plastic containers so Violet could have a new form of entertainment.
I know this idea has been used forever but this has a surprising twist. The bottom shelf pulls out like a drawer. Violet loves this. I don't know who has more fun - me or her. I'm afraid I might run out of containers. While Violet plays, the puppies usually take a couple and chew them up. We need to eat faster to keep up with the empty containers.
Michael left for Vegas yesterday to meet up with Jamie. You can image how surprised I was when I got a text from him this morning at 8:15 a.m. Kansas City time which made it 6:15 a.m. in Vegas.
He sent this picture taken on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas and he stitched it together with the same picture taken of Dad, Mom and Uncle Ed. I'm not completely sure but I believe it was taken at least 30 years ago. Leave it to Michael to be so creative.
Michael always makes the most of his time when he's on vacation. No resting for him. Add to the fact he's with Jamie and I'd be surprised if either one of them gets more than 20 hours of sleep in the next 5 days.
I haven't heard much from Melissa since they left for Phoenix but I always figure "no news is good news". I have to beg her to send pictures of things they are doing.
Sunday morning they spent time at the soccer field watching the kids play soccer. Look at her in shorts and I'm bundled up in the mornings taking the puppies out for a walk.
Then Sunday afternoon Violet met her first giraffe at the zoo. Melissa says Violet didn't seem too impressed with any of the animals.
Except maybe the stuffed kind.
But I think this family vacation is better than the trip to Dauphin Island, AL last June. At least Melissa isn't frantically calling the airlines for an early flight home.
Meanwhile, I'm back at home twiddling my thumbs and taking care of Khloe and Lola. It's not too bad except at bedtime. They think my bed is theirs. They left just enough room for me to squeeze in between them. I'm sure they scurried away once I started snoring.
Today Michael heads out to Vegas - Dad is taking him to the airport - that ought to be a trip. I thought of hopping on a plane and joining him on Wednesday but with last minute flights I'd be in the air and stranded at airports longer than I would be in Vegas.
Violet's off on her second vacation in the 7 short months of her life. This time she's headed to Phoenix, AZ and taking her first ride in an airplane.
I dropped Melissa, Jamie and Violet at the airport this morning. I wish I could have gone inside to see how you get a baby and stroller through airport security.
Melissa reports Violet loved the ride and didn't fuss one time. I was worried that Southwest would be the first airline to blacklist Violet from future travel.
