I left Melbourne on 25 May and flew the long way round (through abu dhabi-it's on the Saudi peninsula look it up! ) Now, before you go judging me for going 'the long way', you should know that the planes were brand new, the food was better, AND I could charge my iphone from my seat! Oh yeah, and the flight was cheaper plus I arrived in Chicago sans jet lag. An all around score I'd say! In fact, I'm not above a little plug, as long as Etihad Airlines remains cheaper than the rest I'm happy to fly an extra 10 hours in comfort...did I mention I avoided customs at LAX?? Bonus Round for me!
Chicago was fantastic as always. Not only did I get to see my oldest and dearest friend, I got to meet her son, my nephew Grant =) I love him. I wish I could post pictures, but I didn't get my act in gear and upload before I left emerica...so we'll all have to wait on that. lociento
Chicago in summer has got to be one of the best cities around, as Liz (a childhood buddy I caught up with in chi-town) claims, the winters keep the real estate prices down which is why most people don't know how amazing it really is....I wouldn't really know about the winters as I avoid the north like the plague come snow season!
We enjoyed booze filled dinners on the deck. Booze filled dinners on the boat. Booze filled dinners....I think you get the point! My point is that for the first time ever I drank more than Cat-not Bill, never Bill :-p. You have to understand, Bill especially has relished in getting me drunk ever since I was a wee lass-something about him filling in my only child neglect or something....anyways, since they had a baby on board it was a one woman show and let me tell you, it was a good one!
In all seriousness though, all you out there should absolutely go to Chicago and take a boat on a lake! Hands down my favorite thing to do in Chicago summer as long as I'm with my favorite Chicagoans....is that what you're called?? For the first season ever I was present for the boat's first dip. Even more spectacularly I was witness to baby's first boat ride =) He loved it until the motion of the ocean knocked him out! tee-hehe
Cat's parents are my father's oldest friends, so catching up with them is always incredibly special. Her father especially has memories of my dad that no one else does, so dinner with Cat's parents was a major highlight.
As much as I love everything in chicago, baby Grant is my new chi-town love. My last day there we took him to baby music class-he was rapt! As was I-haha. There was singing and dancing and instruments and scarves....bubbles at the end whats not to love??
