Carbon Copy

Family Excursions (continued)

Sorry it's been a while. Final projects and work and such have combined to keep me from the computer lab with leisure to update. I hope absence has increased your desire to hear more about my visit with Mike and Amanda. I actually started writing this out last night and was going to post before my class, but unfortunately, I lost everything. It was quite disheartening. Even now, I feel like I won't be able to recreate my witty descriptions, but I will give it a try, for your sake.

On Saturday, we drove up to Chi-town, the Windy City, Chicago, home of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Originally, we had planned to park somewhere in Indiana and take the train in, to avoid all that pesky traffic and especially the expense of parking. Luckily, Mike remembered he had friends in Chicago and after a few calls to obtain phone numbers, we got in touch with them. They invited us to park right in front of their apartment in Hyde Park near the University of Chicago. Brad and Sara kindly escorted us to the local public library and checked out a free pass for the Art Institute and then dropped us off at the Museum of Science and Industry (housed in the only remaining building of "the white city" built for the 1893 exposition). I have to admit, I liked the building better than anything inside the museum. Here it is:

It's not that I didn't enjoy the museum. It's just a case of high expectations I think. I had heard from so many different people how cool and fun it was. And it had some nice exhibits, but all the rugrats running around and the games that tried to teach you things just made it not so fun. But I didn't say it wasn't any fun. Why, just take a look at these pictures and then tell me we didn't have some fun!

Here's Amanda at the replica of a farm:

And here's a huge submarine:

And some other stuff at the submarine exhibit:

Surprise! It's Amanda popping out of that window! And here's Mike checking out what it might have been like to sleep on a submarine. We thought it would be cramped, but he looks quite cozy.

We also got to see lots of really cute tiny buildings and cars and roads and bridges, and Amanda took lots of pictures trying to make them look real (and not like Mr. Roger's neighborhood).

It was supposed to be a beautiful day on Saturday, but I guess it was either Nature's or the weatherman's April Fool's joke on us because it turned out to be kind of chilly and dreary. Oh well, we still had fun rambling around the streets by the Art Institute.

We, along with many others, were quite attracted to this shining orb.

Can you spot us?

And strolling around the amphitheater in Millennium Park, which I knew was designed by Frank Gehry, not because I know that much about architecture, but because I know The Simpsons. Remember that one episode where Marge thought it would be nice to have a concert hall in Springfield, so she wrote to Frank Gehry on Snoopy stationary and asked him to design one? Later it turns into a prison and Homer becomes the Prison Snitch. Anyway, I could tell that the same architect inspired by a crumpled up paper was the man who came up with the Millennium Park design.

(That wasn't my picture, by the way... I hope no one minds... I just forgot to bring my own to the lab... maybe I'll swap it later.)

We were fascinated by these large towers, which apparently is actually a fountain. (It wasn't working when we were there.) Right now it has a calming ocean scene, but most of the time, it had someone's face. Not the whole head, just the face. And sometimes, the eyes would blink. Yeah, it was a little creepy. But it definitely is "a bold statement that is sure to stimulate passers-by and invite them to enter and experience Millennium Park" (from the chicagotraveler.com website).

Here's what it looks like up-close:

After walking around a bit more and standing in line for some delicious popcorn, Mike took the Metra back to Hyde Park to meet up with Brad for the Priesthood Session of General Conference. Amanda and I spent that time looking at the worldly goods so eloquently exhibited at Marshall Field's, ooh-ing and aah-ing over beautiful dresses. Then we walked over to Giordano's for some Chicago style, stuffed crust pizza. We figured it would be crowded, so we got there early. It wasn't crowded. Mike was meeting us there around 9:30, so we had a leisurely meal... and even more leisurely ice cream... and then sat and talked some more while sipping our water. Luckily, it still wasn't busy, so our waitress didn't mind us staying at the table for 2 hours. After Mike came, we packed up our leftovers and followed Brad's directions to the Lake Street El (which made me think of Fiery Furnaces). After a short ride back to Hyde Park, we hopped in the car (nice and safe) and headed home.

After the two sessions of Conference on Sunday, Mike and Amanda waved good-bye. I stood on my porch and watched them leave. I hate the leaving part.

Family Excursions

A couple weeks ago, Mike and Amanda drove up from North Carolina to visit. Apparently they had an eventful trip up here, driving through Kentucky, but they will have to start their own blog to tell about that. My concern is with our eventful trips during the time in Indiana. So, I've just spent an hour and half printing off articles and researching, so I think I've earned a little blog updating break.

The first day, I showed them around Purdue, West-Lafayette, and Lafayette ("two great cities, one great university"). The weather was absolutely perfect, sunny, warmy, and breezy. I introduced them to the circles outside of the English building where if you stand in the center and clap, it comes out sounding like a squeek rather than a peal. While I spoke with my professor about my upcoming final paper, they went around to each circle and experimented. Apparently, they also polled passing students to see if they knew about the squeeky clap. Most of them did. I played the tour guide and showed them all the hot campus spots. Unfortunately, none of the fountains have been turned on yet, but that meant we could stand right in the middle of them.

Then we went downtown for lunch at this corner cafe I have been wanting to check out called McCord's. Apparently, it's more of a place for ice cream and chocolates than lunch. But at least it was quaint (and cheap). We wandered downtown, but I've already posted lots of pictures about what that looks like. Here are a couple new ones, though.

Amanda at the courthouse:

And a detail of the Digby Fountain:

We spent the evening hanging out and playing at Life. Amanda and I created a fun new game called Flife. It's a faster version of Life. It goes in our repertoire of faster games, along with Fahtzee.

Friday we left early (well, after I had to work) for adventures at Turkey Run State Park. We had to drive through Wingate - Home of the State Basketball Champs 1913 and 1914 - to get there.

We hiked a bit (I didn't have the best shoes on) and had a picnic lunch. Here's what we saw:

On our way from Turkey Run to Bloomington, we stopped in Rockville for gas. It was kind of a cute little town, once you got away from the gas station.

As you leave town, you come across a little covered bridge with a fake town next to it. I bet it's a tourist trap in the summer, so of course, I want to go back.

We also stopped by a waterfall.

Indiana University has a beautiful campus with buildings made from limestone. I felt the normal regretful feelings while I was there. I mean, they actually have an arts program, a cemetery, and a little chapel. Anyway, you'll see why I liked it so much after these pictures:

We finished up our triangulated tour of Indiana in the capital city, Indianapolis. The town was all a flurry with the Final Four competition. Monument Circle was being transformed in preparation for the Big Dance, which I subsequently found out does not mean a real dance (disappointing, I know).

It started raining, so we walked along skyways from the mall to the convention center in search of Hoop City. A little boy on the news said that it was "really cool," so we wanted to check it out. Apparently, it's really cool for little boys, but not so much for us, esp. since you had to pay to get in. Whatever. Here's something else we saw that was cool (and free).

We went to Chicago, too, but I'm gonna draw out your anticipation for those pictures a little longer. It's time for me to get home and have some dinner. Bis morgen. Tschuess!

springtime potpourri

today was the perfect drive to work. sun on my arm, a blossomy breeze, and yet a tinge of lingering sadness. i don't know why. probably residue from my cry this morning. a good, sympathetic kind of cry, one that releases everything. a heart(y) sigh. just four more weeks and i'll be home for a good, long while.

confession: i really like the DoubleMint twins (they're different) commercials.

this morning, i laughed because i flipped the channel to The Price is Right and Bob's Beauties were modeling a chess set. they were moving the pawns diagonally! those beauties...

i also didn't get the hefty fellowship i applied for, but it's ok because now it means i don't have to do the project. (although, i'm actually thinking of doing the project without getting paid for it!)

i thought of a new idea for my thesis, but before i share it, i'm going to think about it some more.

Choices

This morning I had the choice to either straighten my hair during Days of Our Lives or prepare pictures from my exciting weekend with Mike and Amanda. I made the choice to straighten my hair. I don't think it was the right choice because turns out, it's raining outside. This means my hair won't stay straight for long. All that work wasted, whereas if I had chosen to prepare pictures, you'd have something more interesting to look at right now than this small insight into how shallow my life really is.

Also, I'm at work. I actually really like my job, and I think two hours of work a day is the perfect amount. I might stretch it out to three, but anytime after that and I'd be watching the clock.

Even though final papers are coming up and I have lots of reading about valentines and ruins to do, I think I will take some time out this weekend to prepare photos. K, back to work...