... let's just say, driving in san francisco is a CAKE WALK compared to driving in chicago!
different from our walking day yesterday, we used the car as the main mode of transportation today...
and boy we missed the foot-walk traffic some kinda bad!
we had an eventful morning at the hotel which included:
1. may hits of the snooze button (dude, traveling is tiring... but i feel like it's wrong to complain about something like that when you're on vacation... right?)
2. a delish 'continental' breakfast... it was legit... it's the little things, people.
3. paul and i are now packing and re-packing machines... we have the morning pack-up down to an art... today was prime in the packing efficiency category, i must say.
4. in ONE TRIP (seriously, nothing short of a miracle), we got all of our stuff (including the livster) downstairs to the hotel lobby.
5. ... and then paul got lost driving from the parking garage NEXT DOOR to the hotel entrance. poor guy, he didn't get enough of his coffee this morning... and it was all downhill from there. when he finally showed up to the hotel entrance (about 20 minutes later... ok, not that long of a wait, but i was starting to get worried about him), he looked frazzled beyond belief. finding himself lost on the streets of chicago, he said it was so very stressful trying to find his way back to the hotel in rush-hour traffic. yes, traveling is starting to take its toll on us.
after we left the hotel, we thought it would be nice to treat livi dog to a day of fun at the local doggy daycare while we toured around town. poor paul's confusion continued as he quickly determined he was unable to fill out her drop-off forms (due to lack of coffee)... he threw them my way with a discouraged look. we just giggled as the support staff, i'm sure, thought we were crazy. livi didn't even look back as she skipped off to meet new friends... oh, kids.
while livi had the time of her life (and we struggled to remember our names... coffee, where were you?!), paul and i headed off to the museum of science + industry. this museum had been recommended by many and it did not disappoint! i am quite sure we could have spent days in that museum if it wasn't for pure fatigue and hunger.
here are some of the highlights:
we saw an exhibit that made us think of paul's dad... he is one of those who has helped to 'scrub the air'!
the museum even had a real boeing 727 inside! as you may know, flying and airplanes freak me out... and continue to... so i spent the least amount of time on this plane... but it was really cool! they even had a retired pilot on the plane answering any questions. paul was particularly impressed with the jet turbofan that was exposed... my man is so smart.
as if you weren't already convinced that this museum was right up paul's alley...
there was a massive model train replica of chicago (and seattle... oddly enough)...
paul was in love.
we thought of paul's mom when we entered my favorite exhibit (the biology section)... a knee replacement in all of its glory! but i feel like they need an addendum telling the audience about the rehab process that usually follows knee replacement... it's tough work! but it's amazing how science has progressed so much to develop interventions such as these to improve quality of life among so many! the whole exhibit was super awesome... it showed all aspects of the human anatomy using real human cadavers that have been donated to science (some donated as far back as the 1940s... crazy!). what's even more amazing is that paul didn't even get woozy until the end... ultimate trooper!
we thought of our dear friends ashley and polina when we saw this presentation...
another great invention by abbott!
can you tell how much paul loved this place?...
paul with train.
paul with model train.
paul inside train.
we saw the most recent replica of the wright brothers' plane... it was actually flown in 2003!
we wish we could have stayed in the museum for forever, but we knew that we had to brave chicago traffic and be on our way. for all of you who live/drive in chicago... our thoughts and prayers are with you... it takes a strong person to handle those streets.
here is a photo of paul in the midst of the traffic...
before we picked up livs from her fun day, we took a trip to the goose island brewing company and ate one of the best burgers we've ever had (yes, paschals... on y'all's move back to the east coast one day, you will have to stop by this place and cast your vote... the journey for the world's best burger continues with 'the stilton burger' as a contender!).
sidenote: when we were close to picking up the liv-meister, we saw a gentleman dashing back and forth across the street/highway (in oncoming traffic) while holding onto his gun that was partially tucked into his pants. he and i made eye contact as he strolled in front of the subaru. i was certain my end was near. luckily i lived to tell my story. needless to say, we saw all sides of chicago on this brief trip.
in addition to a day of play, livi was also treated to a mani/pedi and a spa bath... i'm sure that was not her favorite part of the day... but being in such close quarters with this furry one, it was necessary. she was smiling ear to ear when we picked her up, received a good report card for her behavior from the doggy daycare, and has been pooped-out ever since. score!
as we drove our of chicago, we spotted the white sox stadium!...
we had several errands to run as we drove out of town... one included finding a local post office in the town of gary, indiana. it was in gary where i spotted my first real life pimp on the street corner where the post office was located. i gasped in shock as paul immediately cracked up at my reaction.
we found a different post office to use.
here is an example of our view for much of the afternoon...
'corn, corn, corn, corn, corn... look! a tree!... corn, corn corn...'
as we decided to make it to just outside of louisville, kentucky by nightfall, we quickly stopped at a taco bell (again, we make such healthy choices when we travel) on our way, and livi sprawled out on the 'lawn' to nap while we ate...
livi dog photo of the day:
welp, we plan to briefly tour through louisville and lexington before heading to the great smoky mountains tomorrow! by late evening, we hope to be in asheville, nc for a few days of quality time with paul's godparents, aunt louie and uncle mike!! we love them so and can't wait to see them soon (and we will have officially made to to nc at that point... whoo hoo!)!!
safe travels and much love!
the mobleys
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