Crazy weather and the Navy Pier

Wow...have definitely experienced the windy part of this city today.  Good thing I put my hair up for the day or it would've been one tangled mess! The fog had set in a little ways up to where you couldn't see the tops of lot of the buildings. Good thing I went to the Willis Tower yesterday or today would've just been pics of fog!  I got some lunch/dinner at Tavern at the Park where I got a BBQ pulled rib sandwich and the sauce has Cherry Coke in it! It was sooo good!  I then ventured to the Navy Pier and as I was there the fog got lower
and lower! It's pretty much in the city streets now. It was also really cold and windy at the end of the pier, but I didn't care. It was quiet and in this pic you can just barely make out the lighthouse out on the water. It kept sounding the fog horn every few seconds which also helped with the calmness.

It's been a great 2 days of sightseeing and I'm back in the room for the night. The conference starts at 9 tomorrow morning and so does the 3 days of meeting after meeting.

Take care everyone! And remember, have a brazzle dazzle day!

Art Institute of Chicago

What a great place! Next time I want to go when it first opens and
take even more time looking around. It was packed in certain parts,
but in others it was nice and quiet. They have a complimentary
backage/coat check so I dropped my stuff off and it was nice to walk
around and not be hauling that stuff around. Even without my jacket
it was really warm which didn't help. Stairs everywhere and to get to
some of the section you have to keep going back to the first floor.

Anyways, I found some of the artwork featured in Ferris Bueller's Day
Off and the small collection of Monet paintings. Monet is my favorite
artist and this pic is one of his. I love it. It just looks so
peaceful and serene...like you can actually see the wind blowing
through the grass and water.

Go Cubs!

Made it to Wrigley Field after hopping on a bus and transfering onto
the El. I contemplated taking the $25 tour, but realized that if I
wanted to go to the art museum (and I did want to) I'd have to forfeit
the tour. Instead I walked around the entire stadium, took some pics
and then ventured into the store across the street and bought a
jacket, t-shirt and hat! Now I'll be ready for the Cubs vs Mariners
game in June!

A new day with new discoveries!

Day 2 of sightseeing began with me missing the Metra to the Museum of
Science and Industry. Guess I didn't do enough research as to train
times. Oh well...I hopped in a cap and got there about 20 minutes
before it opened. I figured quite a few of the people would check out
things on the main floor so I made my way to the top. Man, this place
is awesome! So much to see and very interactive! If I hadn't planned
on doing other things today this place could easily have been an all
day event! I went to one of the Omnimax shows: Ultimate Wave Tahiti.
It goes with surfer Kelly Slater as he surfs and how waves are
created. It was pretty awesome, but I of course got motion sick.
Everything was too close up and the camera was very unsteady which
made it worse. So I shut my eyes and just listened to the sounds for
part of it.

I had spent about an hour and a half at MSI and decided to leave. Of
course I hadn't seen about half the attractions, but I'm ok with
that. Oh, cute factor: I was trying to find my way out and somehow
ended up in farmville (exhibit, not FB application) and I overheard a
dad say to his little boy "look there's the tractor!" The little boy,
prolly about 2 or younger, immediately started running towards it with
a happy face yelling "YAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!" He was so adorable!

My next stop is Wrigley Field which is nowhere near MSI. So I hopped
on a bus and now on the El heading that direction. More later!

Another of my life's must do's is done!

I did it! I finally made it to the Sears Tower! Well, now it's called
Willis Tower, but I still made it! It's been a goal of mine to get to
the tallest buildings and now I can check this one off! It's super
crazy! 103 floors! And they have the glass boxes that you can step
out of the building onto...itwas awesome! I have more pics on my
camera that I'll post later. It's an overcast day in Chicago today,
but te view was great! I about cried cause I honestly didn't know if
I'd ever make it here.

One funny fact, when you enter the building te put you in an elevator
that takes you down! Then you go through security, purchase (or show
your ticket, as was my case) and then you can watch a short film about
the history of the tower ( it was very interesting) and then you get
in another elevator that takes you up, up, up and away! While you
ride the elevator a clip plays that shows the different buildings
around the world and how tall they are with what floor you are passing
as you continue up. Telescopes everywhere around the windows and it's
all so fascinating!

I'm so excited I got to experience this today. And now it's starting
to rain so I'm gonna go back to the hotel and relax!

And then...Adler Planetarium

Just a quick trip to the planetarium. Really cool how they have the
instruments and tools from the past that explorers used to see the
vastness surrounding Earth. This telescope was huge!

Having a great time exploring, but I am definitely getting tired!
Willis/Sears Tower is next!

Next stop ... Field Museum

Okay, so this place is just a huge 3 story maze of hundreds of stuffed
beasts, birds, and more. I am not going to reveal a tidbit about
me ... don't laugh! Ok, I know some of you will, but I am terrified of
these sorts of exhibits. Seriously! I was born in Anchorage, Alaska
and in most of the malls and some store they have these real, but
stuffed, animals and they have always scared me. Never quite sure why
cause I know they're dead ... I KNOW THIS! But if someone had been
paying attention to me in this place they would have thought I was the
weirdest person ever! I was literally "bobbing and weaving" through
the various areas...specially the ones where the walkway was very
narrow. And now let the teasing begin .. lol

This pic is of Sue. Named after the lady thy discovered her. The
Field Museum is a pretty big place, but I only spent about an hour
there andim okay with that!

First stop ... PENGUINS!!

If you know me at all, you know that I absolutely adore penguins! My
first museum/attraction today was the Shedd Aquarium. I made it just
a few minutes before the doors opened at 9 am and proceeded directly
to the penguin exhibit. I was the first one to that area and the only
one there for quite some time. I even got my own personal viewing of
one of the workers feeding te penguins. They were so adorable!

I later learned that the aquarium is expecting about 4000 students!
Field trip day...not fun for me. It got super crowded, but I was able
to have alone time with the penguins for about 20 minutes before
anyone showed up an to me that has been the best!

I then watched the 4-D Experience of Planet Earth. A 20 minute video
that provides 3-D movie and on occasion the feel of where the screen
is. I do not like 4-D experience. Specially when they show a shark
attack a seal and something pops out of the seat against your back.
The lady next to me screamed which caused me to jump. Oh and they
take the opportunity to spray you a few times with water. Nice.

Anyways, it's only 11 am and I'm off to the next stop!

Have a brazzle dazzle day!

Made it to Chicago!

Greetings from the Windy City!!! I left home late this morning and got to Chicago at about 5 pm Central time.  The flight was pretty good.  Some minor turbulance and one thing I discovered when we were close to landing, Chicago has a gazillion baseball fields!  lol ... they seemed to be everywhere! After landing I got my luggage and caught the shuttle and finally made it to the hotel at 7 pm.

After I got my stuff in my room and made a few calls, I ventured out to Millennium Park.  Very interesting sculptures in and around this city.  After somewhat getting lost and feeling the affects of traveling and not eating since 9 this morning, I made it back to the hotel, ordered some room service and am currently relaxing in bed and watching tv.

Prolly go to bed soon as I want to get up early and get to the Shedd Aquarium and see their penguin exhibit!! I'll also try and get to Willis/Sears Tower and Field Museum.

Have a Brazzle Dazzle day!!!!!

-Holly

Trying this again

After note: YAY! It worked! That's the Bubbs, saying "sup?".  So now I'll be able to keep this thing up to date with all my Chicago and Disneyland adventures!!!

Takin' this blog on the road!

wow!!! It's finally time for my vacation/work conference! In just over 48 hours I will be driving to the airport to get on a plane and fly to Chicago! I'm so excited as I haven't been to this city since I was little and remember nothing about it.  I have a work conference to attend, but the boss is letting me go a couple days early to get some sightseeing in.  I am going to be such a tourist and I don't care!  I bought a City Pass and hope to make it all the museums and such, but only have 2 days to do it in.  I'll be there for a total of 5 days, but 3 of those days I'll be sitting in conference meetings.  Ever since I was little I have wanted to visit the Sears Tower (now called the Willis Building).  There are certain tall buildings/structures that I want to visit in my lifetime.  I've been to the Eiffel Tower, Seattle Space Needle and now I'll see Sears Tower and next I wanna go on the Empire State Building.  I bought a guide book about 6 months ago to prepare myself for what I want to see and have mapped out routes and such to be able to see as much as I can.  One attraction I'm thinking that will have me not wanting to leave ... the Penguin habitat at the Shedd Aquarium.  No joke! I've seen pictures and such online and it looks amazing!

After Chicago I hop on a plane and fly to Southern California to spend a week in Disneyland!!! I'm meeting up with a group of friends for the Disney Podcast Network's annual WestFest.  It's gonna be so awesome to see everyone again .. specially my Party Girls!  I have missed those girls so much since last December when we all went to Walt Disney World for the DPN World Holiday. 

I'm going to try and keep my blog updated with what's happening, but it might just be small entries as I believe there's a way to send posts by text, but I'm not sure how that works as texts usually can't be too long.  Oh well, if it works, it works.  If it doesn't, I'll have tons to say when I get back!!! 

Happy Birthday Gilbert!!!

My bubbs is 7 years old today! Yes, that is an estimated guess on his birthday.  When I adopted him (almost 7 years ago!) I just went back about a few months and decided to have it fall on April 15th...tax day! lol  I can't believe my little lovebug is 7!  He definitely does not act 7 ... he still acts like a little kitten just in larger form.  I'm glad though that he has such a unique personality.  I'm thinking of writing a kids book about the many adventures of Gilbert.  He gets into such mischief and hilarious situations that for me at least it would be fun. 

Here's his baby picture! 

I took this after his first bath and this is literally the first pic I ever took of him.  I remembered that I have the printout from the Humane Society when I found him online and it has his pic on it.  I'm gonna have to find it and frame it or something.  Even when he was that small he had such personality! 

I'll probably give him a little special treat tonight cause of his special day ... wow! my special little guy is 7! Amazing!

tradition!...tradition!

so I have this ritual or tradition that I've had ever since 1998.  Every year on my birthday (which happens to be today..yay me!) I get out of bed, look in the mirror and sing "happy birthday" to myself.  Crazy, I know, but it puts a smile on my face and it's just something that I've really enjoyed doing every year for myself.  BUT! I don't sing the traditional birthday song.  I sing it sort of like Anthony Michael Hall does on Sixteen Candles ... "they say its your birthday..dah nah nah nah nah...well happy birthday to you" ^__^  Occasionally I'll put a little dance step in, but nothing major, seeing as how I've just woken up and still trying to focus. 

But there you have it.  A little peek into the crazy workings of your's truly

dreamin'

Some people say they never remember their dreams or don't even think they dream when they sleep, but I on the other hand know that I do.  I have ever since I was little.  There were a few dreams that would repeat over time.  One in particular dealt with my cat Cookie killing people.  Strange, I know, but hey, I have a very wild and crazy imagination.  Always have, always will.  I find myself daydreaming all the time and can even scare myself if I think about it long enough, but that's a different story.  Back on topic...dreams! 

There are a few times when I will have a nightmare and will even wake myself up because it's so vivid that for a moment I feel that it's actually happening.  And then there are the dreams that involve *shudder* bugs.  I'm okay with bugs and not one of those girlies that scream and run away, but will stand and smash...though there are times when I will let it live and make sure it goes back outside...it's rightful place.  Anyways, these bug dreams usually have me waking up thinking I actually see the bug in my room.  Another nightmare that I seem to keep having is about a haunted house.  It doesn't look haunted, and once it was even where I worked.

And there's always the dreams where random people appear.  People that I may have not seen in forever or see daily.  And it's usually a mix of both. 

Tonight I actually had a dream style that I've never had before.  I say "tonight" cause I took a nap.  Before I had curled under the covers and shut my eyes I had finished watching "The Tudors: Season 3, Disk 1".  (This is a good show, but not suitable for children...you should check it out)  So in this dream I was reading outloud from a book which seemed to be for the show and it was being performed as I read.  To me, it was really odd. 

Anyways, some dreams I remember quite a bit of, but others I know I had a dream, just don't really remember specifics.  I've even written a few down before cause I remembered every detail.  So happy dreams to you all!!!

*Side note...I'm writing this after midnight cause of my earlier nap and therefore this entry seems to be making no sense...or at least to me its just rambling.

For me it's a major accomplishment!!!!

There are some things in life that when you finish them you breathe a sigh of relief and can't believe it's actually over.  Well, today is that day for me.  Today I made my last payment on my truck!!! I finally own the beast and am sooooo happy!  I about cried today when I realized that among the bills to be paid this was going to be the final one for this item.  YAY ME!!!!

Once I receive the title from the bank I will have my very own, all paid for 2005 Toyota Tacoma.  Not very many people know, but his name is Moody ... Moody Blue.  He's a great pick up truck that I am so glad I got him.  Several moving adventures and helping others with their moving needs.  Oh and not to mention the countless trips to IKEA for work for all new office furniture.  He has definitely come in handy for that ordeal. 

So, yay for life's accomplishments!!!! one done and who know how many more to go!