Running Chick

Josh's apple tree is in full bloom. The bees are going crazy with the pollenating. If you stand at the trunk of the tree and look up, all you see is bees swarming everywhere. I tried to get a shot of one of them, but the little buggers are too quick. Pretty, right?

Josh and I spent a few days last week in Chicago.  I was there for a conference and Josh tagged along for the ride.  If I yap about all the stuff we did in this blog post, it'd be miles long, so I'll just stick to the highlights.

Chicago is awesome.  It was a bit intimidating at first - people! traffic! sirens! crime! - but after wandering around in the midst of all that for the first day or so, I came to the realization that Chicago is a friendly, welcoming city and that my initial apprehensions were really unjust.  I think it helped that our hotel was right downtown, just a few short blocks off of Michigan Avenue (aka tourist central) and that the majority of the people in that area were either the 9-5ers or camera-toting gawkers such as we were.

Our first stop was at Titletown Brewing Company in Green Bay for a tasty lunch and frothy adult beverage.

Next, Milwaukee.  Guess who was driving.

Chicago!  We never made it to the Sears Tower, but I got a picture as we whizzed by on the expressway.

We had some really cool food, like this platter of sushi at a Japanese fusion restaurant.  That’s salmon roe, sea urchin, tuna & salmon.  The next plate over are salmon rolls, which contained scallop, crab, cucumber, radish, lemon, avocado and lemon.

Of course, we had deep dish pizza from Gino’s East of Chicago.

Aside from all the good food and shopping (Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Tiffany’s – you name it, they have it), probably the coolest thing we did was spend five hours at the Museum of Science and Industry.

My favorite exhibit?  Body slices.  Disturbing, yet completely fascinating.  I was so enthralled by this exhibit, that I forgot to take any more pictures after this first one.

We ended our day at the Irish pub across the street from the hotel for a few well-earned beverages.

Finally and sadly, our trip was over. We bid adieu to Chicago with fond memories, a lighter wallet and a plan to go back soon.

p.s. tons more pictures in the gallery, if you are so inclined.

Dug up Josh's overgrown side garden on Sunday afternoon and planted four types of herbs.

 

Basil & oregano.

 

Thyme & sage. These guys are in temporarily (hence the pots).  They'll come out when Josh fixes his wall and then go back in permanently.

 

Phase II.  Vegetables, maybe.