Easter Weekend Emily and I went to Chicago to visit Andy, her brother. It was my first time in Chicago, so I was pretty excited about it. I always enjoy spending time with Andy, we are a lot alike and only a year apart, but when he comes in town, it is tough to hang out too much. So, I was excited to spend some time with my brother-in-law and see the Windy City.
Our flight was scheduled for 7:00 on Thursday, so we get dropped off at 5:15 and eat dinner at the airport and head to our terminal only to find out we have a 2 hour delay. Our plane was coming from Oklahoma City and there was 55 mph wind there, so it was not able to take off. Me and Airports have not gotten along recently.
Now, I want to back this story up to Thursday afternoon before we got picked up. I was packing up my lap top to bring along, since every time I fly I always get delayed and always kick myself for not having something to do. So, I asked Emily to pick out a few movies so we can pass the time if we get delayed. Emily convinced me that it was only a 50 minute flight, we won’t get delayed: yadda, yadda, yadda. So, I listen to my wife and head off to the airport.
So, back to the story. We have a 2 hour delay, sitting in the uncomfortable airport chairs, only crappy cartoons are on the only TV in our waiting area and Emily says, man I wish we had brought the laptop. Not only that, there are a line of power strips to plug a laptop into plus a wireless station 20 feet away. The airport was saying, “Ha…should have brought your laptop, look how easy it would have been to watch a movie or surf the internet for 2 hours.”
Once we knew our plane had left OK City, we headed off to the bar for a few drinks with our new friend we had made: Brandon. He was also flying to Chicago. We started talking about football, as I tend to do, and I told him that I love the 49ers. Brandon says: “well, you’re going to shit: my buddy who is picking me up is the nephew of the owner of the 49ers!” I peed my pants right there!
Southwest was very cool about the delay, and even gave us free drinks on the 50 minute flight. So, Emily, Brandon and I made sure we got our free money’s worth of drinks!
I really enjoyed Chicago, although it was much colder than I had anticipated, I had to buy a long sleeve shirt on Michigan Avenue, which was a very cool street.
Andy lives in Lincoln Park, and there is something to be said to be able to walk to everything you want, and only 100 yards from the L (train system). Granted, you have no yard, and rent is through the roof, but I did enjoy it. It was a very young, trendy area, nothing like St. Charles.
Friday night we went to Second City,which was the absolute highlight of the trip! If you ever get the chance, go to the main stage. One of the funniest shows I have ever seen. These are the guys who are steps way from making it. Some big names came through there. John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, Steve Carell, John Belushi, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, just to name a few. One of the actors, Joe Canale, the waitress informed us that that was his last show and probably heading to SNL. Lots of fun there!
Saturday we lounged around a bit: had breakfast at the best bagel place I have ever had and then went back downtown. We went up in the Trump Tower, which was the nicest hotel I have ever been in. Granted, I tend to stay in middle of the line hotels, but this was amazing! We went up to the 16th floor which was all a bar, just to have a drink, which was $20 for 2 for beers; but hey, memories kids, memories!
Our flight Sunday was at 3:15, so at 1:30 we packed up and headed towards the airport. At 2:30 we were only ½ way there due to traffic, which was absolutely horrible, just horrible, and Andy makes the realization that he is taking us to the wrong airport, and Midway, the correct airport is in the complete opposite direction, which just about made Emily pass out. So, we turn around, and sit in traffic some more. We make it to correct airport at 3:07, and started running. Luckily Southwest you can check in with your phone, so we printed off our boarding pass, checked our bags and ran. People at the airport were real cool, they saw us running and let us go in front and moved out of our way, Thanks! Run through security, Emily takes off holding her shoes and makes it to the gate at 3:16, and yells for me to run faster. I make it onto the plane and the door shuts. The last two times I have flown home I had to all out sprint through the airport to make the flight. Of course, our luggage didn’t make it, which we couldn’t expect it to. Who says you have to be at the airport an hour early!
Next trip: Dallas, Texas in May.
In the mean time: Keep on Keeping on!! Mrr
