Another Chicago trip - Funeral, museums, friends, and food.

[Jesda]

Topping off...

20.11mpg in mixed local driving. On the highway I got no better than 23mpg thanks to having a 3-speed automatic.

My DIN Ford Taurus cupholder only accomodates small drinks and cans, and thats only if you remove the ash tray.

BLARGH

Visibility in central Illinois was poor, and it got even worse than this for about 50 miles.

Yay windmills yay

Met up with Gary and Nicki at a library near the Dupage River for lunch.

Nicki returned to work and Gary and I cruised around the suburbs.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... ...0.jpgWe visited the site of JD’s crash. It was horrifying to look at but the memorial was comforting. Gary and I wrote some messages in chalk. He left a note on the posterboard under the picture his Brougham. I left some flowers.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpgRolls. Looks a bit tall and awkward in person.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgh ... jpgStopped at a hobby shop.

Crullers FTW!

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgHad dinner at Omega with Larry, Todd, Jim, and Gary

Jimmy and Michelle, despite my history of ruining hotel rooms and clogging toilets, generously let me stay at their house. This is a picture of my workstation in the bedroom. The desk fit me perfectly.

Spacious bed right-sized for an Asian.

Woke up at 4:30am, dawdled around a bit, then finally got done getting ready by 6:30. Found a gray hair.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgDucky was part of the long funeral procession. Some idiot driving a Thomas Muffins truck was talking on his cell phone and tried to cut us off.

Bumblebee!!!

After lunch with JD’s family and friends we stood around and admired the awesomeness.

Parted ways with Jimmy, Nicki, and Gary. I intended to head up to Wisconsin and see a cheese factory or two and the Museum of Torture Devices (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... onsin.html). Unfortunately, they were only open on Saturday.

I pulled into a Starbucks to get online and decide what to do with the rest of my trip. I could go home, but it would be a waste of the boring drive up I-55 to leave without doing anything cool. A woman commented on Ducky as I pulled in, “NICE TOY! ITS SO CUTE!”

Headed downtown.

Booked a room at the Hyatt Regency on E Wacker Dr for $55. I paid $20 more for free wifi and a view of Lake Michigan, then another $50 for valet parking with unlimited in/out privileges.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgh ... .4.jpgThey tried to take the minimalist/modern approach to furnishings, but it ended up looking too plain. The beds were nice but Mariotts and Doubletrees are vastly superior with more padding, nicer pillows, and higher thread count sheets.

AWESOME VIEW out my window.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgThe skywalk between the east and west hotel buildings was being used as an unsightly luggage corral.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgh ... .3.jpgNavy Pier and downtown Chicago

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgh ... ..9.jpgThe best thing about the Hyatt was its location, just two blocks away from Millennium Park and the Chicago Institute of Art.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgh ... ..3.jpgBig shiny round thing.

Inside the big shiny round thing, looking up.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... ..4.jpgThe rest of the park, including two tall displays that showed people blinking and smiling. Up close you can see a light cluster.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgArt Institute of Chicago

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgEuropeans love violence. Most of the European displays creeped me out. I was eager to keep walking.

Admission tonight was free thanks to Target’s sponsorship.

I’m biased, but I found the Asian exhibits to be soothing. I sat here to rest my feet for a while.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgh ... 9.jpgLoved the architecture and modern design exhibits.

Its interesting how modern devices are looking more and more like the toys I played with as a child, with bright pastel colors and rounded edges.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgInteractive exhibit where you could manipulate a spider web.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgLamps

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgFurniture and lighting designs.

In my new black suit, black shirt, and black shoes, I looked like a cliche artsy guy. A cute girl walked up to me and started asking questions and talking to me about modern design. I faked my way through, pretending to understand the creative process and talked about how elements of creative exercises eventually end up in commercial goods, but I ran out of BS and walked away. She’s in the light brown sweater on the right.

Modern American art. This was powerful.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpg

??

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpg??

Wallpaper with depictions of lynching, cat litter, and a white dress. The description said it was supposed to represent the contrast/conflict between white female purity and the race riots and lynch mobs that happened in an attempt to protect that purity. Can’t remember why the cat litter is there.

This is a painting of the date that the painting of the date was painted.

Neon display

A video of a man doing repetitive movements around the four sides of a square.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgh ... .9.jpgView outside.http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgChess pieces

Can’t remember the artist’s name, but I want this in my living room.

Millennium Park at night

View from my room

Exhausted after the funeral and several miles of walking downtown.

Looked up food. Decided on Portillos.

Valet service at the Hyatt was slow, but I was able to wait in my room and watch for when my car arrived. Seen here under the word “Hyatt”

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpgPut the top down and went for an AMAZING cruise downtown. Traffic was light. It was a bit unnerving when the el train passed above me. I was worried that dirt, debris, and other junk would fall on my head. The open top made it easy to watch for pedestrians, cab drivers, bikes, and busses. Chicago was subjected to my music selection.

Tribune building.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpgh ... .2.jpgLong line at the Portillos drive through window. I purchased an orgy of food and ordered every major item on the menu. I ate about a third of it and had to discard the rest.

While showering, my eyeglass lens popped out. Yes, I shower with my glasses. It makes it easier to see (I’m VERY nearsighted) and my lenses get cleaned in the process. I walked around downtown looking for a drug store that was open, but all were sadly closed. I looked completely out of place in my salmon colored polo, like a naive tourist. A homeless guy tried to offer directions but I ignored him. Didn’t have cash on me anyway. Eventually, I found a 7-11 and used glue to reattach the lens.

Beautiful scene to wake up to. Not so awesome was the hotel BANGING ON MY DOOR AT 10:45AM. Checkout wasn’t until noon! I was trying to savor every morsel of sleep, and when I’m awoken I can’t go back to sleep.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgThey took a while to get my car. When I got down there they couldn’t find my keys, so I stood there with all of my luggage waiting. Then, I sat there forever waiting for the other cars to move so I could leave the hotel.NO TIP.

Didn’t realize the Museum of Science and Industry had its own parking garage, but this public space was reasonably close.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgh ... s/...5.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgh ... ...0.jpgAn early 1900s main street had shops and a working theater. I dont think they painted curbs back then. There was also a replica of the first Walgreens drug store in Chicago.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgYou could buy a toy and watch it being manufactured.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgh ... /...1.jpgI spent a lot of time at this display, showing the accomplishments of American entrepreneurs and business leaders. This was one of the exhibits I enjoyed the most, partly because there weren’t any annoying children.

Steam engines! Working examples.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgWeather instruments.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgIndoor tornado

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgSand used to show how an avalanche works and how grains interact.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpgh ... .jpgBoeing 727 donated by United Airlines.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgGlass window showing landing gear, which was converted from hydraulics to pneumatics for museum functionality.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgPassenger Cabin

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgElectronics below

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpgBackground story

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpgh ... jpgCockpit

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgSome wiring

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgInside of a catalytic converter.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpgThis was supposed to show how the greenhouse effect raised temperatures, but the temp on both sides was the same.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpgh ... 4.jpgSteam train, the famous 999

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgh ... s/...5.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgh ... ..2.jpgThe model railroad setup was INCREDIBLE. They put together lifelike replicas of Chicago, Seattle’s waterfront, and the mountains and towns in between. They even included Chicago’s Metra and the Amtrak Empire Builder that I took to Washington a few times. Will post videos of this a bit later.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...3.jpgh ... 9.jpgSteam train designed to articulate over uneven tracks. Used for logging.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpg

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... .jpgWright Brothers aircraft replica that actually flew.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgh ... /...9.jpgI loved the chick hatchery.

Live satellite image of the earth, projected on to a globe.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpgh ... .6.jpgRace cars

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgh ... 5.jpgShips

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...6.jpgh ... .jpgCreepy circus exhibits

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpgh ... s/...6.jpg -- Submarine kitchenhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpg -- Kitchenhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpg -- Food supply for 100 dayshttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpg -- Beds for crewhttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...0.jpg -- Underwater entertainmenthttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...2.jpghttp://w ... s/...6.jpg -- Torpedohttp://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpghttp://w ... s/...0.jpg -- AnchorU-505 submarine exhibit. HUGE.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...1.jpgh ... .7.jpgLeft the museum out the back door after they closed, then realized I forgot my jacket at the coat check in front. I ended up walking around the entire building and pond and got there just in time.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgh ... pgCruising through south Chicago.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...5.jpgChinatown

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...7.jpgh ... Drawbridge

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...8.jpgMexicantown

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...9.jpgh ... ..7.jpgThe beach was filthy, full of garbage. Some idiots were sitting around, blasting Nickelback from their car.

Only in the ghetto. There was no accident, just some guy with a broken wheel.

http://www.q45.org/cpg/albums/...4.jpgh ... ..6.jpgMet up with Gary H in the suburbs. Went for a ride in his gorgeous 335i coupe.

OM NOM NOM

Gary pointed out this girl, and being the creeper that I am I snuck a photo.

Drove home with the top down. There’s the moon.

My eyeglass lens popped out AGAIN. A road trip is the worst possible time for this to happen. Thankfully, a CVS was open in Springfield. The guy was really nice and held my lens in place while I screwed the frame.

Really enjoyed the drive home. Nice weekend overall.
Modified by Jesda at 5:51 PM 3/20/2010

[troskinatior]

That really sucks about you friend

I loved the picture of the accord and the creepy stalker picture.

[bundy26]

Sorry to hear about your friend.That 900 looks great , nice pics too.

[93coupe]

Chicago looks awesome. I would love to go there some day.

Hot chick is hot.

How do you wash your hair and behind your ears with glasses on? What size and how many memory cards do you have? You always have a zillion photos.

Soggy bread grosses me out.

[Jesda]

Soggy bread grosses me out.

Think of a pre-dipped french dip, but the bread is dense enough to maintain its form.

[AppleBonker]

First, I'm sorry that your trip was for such a sad reason.

Portillos is fantastic. Easily one of the best italian beefs in the Chicago-land area.

[Dattebayo]

Cool story bro.

Well the funeral is not so cool, but yeah...

BTW, the midwest sucks for subs. That looked like the most soggy ugly food I have ever laid eyes on.
Modified by Dattebayo at 8:32 PM 3/20/2010

[tiger-SE-R]

sorry for your loss

I think he would have been pleased to see that you (like always) made a real event out your trip

[Jesda]

BTW, the midwest sucks for subs. That looked like the most soggy ugly food I have ever laid eyes on.

THAT'S NOT A "SUB"

BUT YOU ARE CLEARLY SUBHUMAN

[Dattebayo]

haha

Then educate me, what was that mess called?

[Jesda]

haha

Then educate me, what was that mess called?

Italian Beefhttp://en.wakopedia.org/wiki/Italian_beef

I'LL FIGHT YOU

[br4dysays]

nice pics!!

chicago is awesome imo

can't wait to go back

i would take a road trip there someday but the parking is rapeeee, cheaper to fly in and use the transit

[DrifterXRPS13]

another chicago trip by jesda and no notice to me about "hey, i'm in town, let's get meat up" oh and the big beef is where it's at if you go to portillos...i can't wait till it warms up here then chicago is nice.

come out anytime ry ry...i'll put you up.

[Dattebayo]

I'LL FIGHT YOU

YOU MAKE ME LaUGH LITTLE MAN!



Bring it on.

[tigersharkdude]

Chicago FTMFW. I am going to have go back up there in the next few years

[Mr1der]

Think of a pre-dipped french dip, but the bread is dense enough to maintain its form.

it looks awesome.

I need to learn your technique for scoring cheap hotel rooms.

[bobotech]

Great pics!

What happened to JD? I missed the thread about him.

Also, what is it about Gary that likes homely looking woman with huge bushy unibrows?

[ABNRML4U]

Enjoyed the Pictures +1 It makes me miss Chicago so much now. Should of went by Wrigley Field or Wrigleyville.

[Jesda]

Great pics!

What happened to JD? I missed the thread about him.

Also, what is it about Gary that likes homely looking woman with huge bushy unibrows?

See thread with the title: "Friend killed himself"

[PoorManQ45]

Jesda, I have to ask, with every thread you create you always have food shots.

From what I can tell it is usually greasy foods. Do you ever poop solid!

[HashiriyaS14]

HELLAFLUSH!!

Only in the ghetto. There was no accident, just some guy with a broken wheel.

Anyway, very sorry to hear about your loss.

This thread made me really miss my Asus. Now I have a clunky laptop that I have to carry for work, but the EEE was so nice.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I paid $20 more for free wifi

Wait a minute...

[Jesda]

Wait a minute...

Without the lake view upgrade they charge $13.99. The wireless was actually quite terrible, but there was fortunately and ethernet cable.

[THawks]

Sorry the trip was for sad purposes but great way to make the most of it. Loved the train garden pictures