20140831 + Lena Bday

20140831 + Up to old church, better pastor, nice to see folks.  Home ate, got things done at desk.  Lenas bday party in afternoon.  L&I played cards with G.  All down to watch season finally of falling skies

20140830 - Family Day

20140830 - Up to J's soccer scrimmage, he did pretty good.  Home for a few minutes then to the ball field, D umped G played.  G's team won.  Home, cleaned up and changed and on the road to Uncle John & Aunt Mary's in Shelby for a party for a chance to hang out with Frank, Jessica, Max & Sam, our cousins that live in Germany.  It was a nice visiting and playing with the cousins at the pool and the park.  The boys were a little out of control...  ugh.  Home and watched a bit of football before bed.

20140829 - Chilly Picnic

20140829 - College day at work and co picnic.  We did the ice bucket challenge to a couple of the managers for some good fun.  Home ate, D's girlfriend over.  All to high school football game.

20140828 - Germans

20140828 - Up in the am and dropped D off at school in his White ox outfit.  On to work where I had a busy day of catching up and fixing things.  We had investors in today and we gave them a tour.  Home for a quick change and to the ball field to coach.  Uncle John & Aunt Betty showed up with Max and Sam to watch the boys play and they got a good show.  D's team didn't do so hot tonight but G's team won and they all got to see G pitch.  After the games we headed to Dairy Queen for a snack and to chat.  Sounds like they are having a great time here.  I can't believe I didn't take a picture :-(  Home and all boys cleaned up and off to bed.

20140827 + Highway Day

20140827 + Up and ready D&I headed down for bfast at the hotel. We had a good bfast and then walked a couple of blocks to get on the Megabus at 9 to head back to Columbus. We thought we would have plenty of room and were caught separated wit strangers sitting next to us... The guy sitting next to D was playing his music so loud through his headphones that the entire bus could hear it, and the guy that sat next to me was on the phone the entire way from Chicago to Indianapolis }:-| when we got to Indy we all got off the bus to stretch. D&I got back on early and he moved up to sit with me. The talker was not thrilled he lost his windshield seat, but I just stated 'he is my son an he is sitting here', that was the end of that discussion... This put the talker and music man together :-)  On to a truck stop somewhere on 70 and we climbed out for lunch at Burger King. More windshield time and we got home about 5pm. 

LJ&G picked us up and we took an alternative route home to avoid the stoplights that were out due to no electricity... Home for seconds and L&J to his soccer practice and D to the ice cream place with his girl. I made G a pb&j and relaxed in the living room. D home and I created a hotspot so D can work on homework and G&I played some catch and then rummy which J joined when he got home.  All boys to bed and going to try and get some real rest for a big day at work tomorrow.

20140826 - Great Day 2 B 15

20140826 - Off the bus at 7am in Chicago. Our first stop was a tour of Union Station that was right across the street from where we got off the bus.  From there we took a short walk to our hotel where we changed and then were able to get our room and store out stuff. 

It was too early to do anything so we asked where a good breakfast could be found and were directed to Lou Mitchell's. We walked there and found it a great little local diner that is a regular stop for presidents and movie stars, and had a fabulous breakfast topped off by a happy birthday serenade and a huge piece of cake.  

On to the first destination, the Sky Ledge at the top of the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower.  We watched the video and then zoomed up 103 floors for a amazing views all around the city. The next part was a bit unsettling, where we walked out on a glass box that hangs 1353 feet above the street :-o  It was super cool but I didn't want to stay out there for long :-s

Our next stop was the Money Museum in the Chicago Federal Reserve. There were some cool displays and $3 MILLION in cash in there: a 4'x4' cube of 1 million $1 bills, a 1 million dollar pile of $20 bills and a briefcase with 1 million in $100 bills.  We got a bag of money from there (shredded) and headed down the road.

Our next stop was the start of famous Route 66.  One block over was the end of Route 66. Seemed like a short trip, don't understand why it is so famous ;-)

Across Michigan Ave and down a bit we came to a water park with great big monoliths that had water pouring over them into a shallow splash pool kids were playing in. The monoliths had screens that showed faces on them that moved, changed expressions and spit out a stream of water every now an then. 

With the skies darkening was found the Bean and walked around it looking at our reflections and all the people taking pictures.  Now raining we seemed shelter and found some buildings that were connected so we could get to our next destination, the Chicago Tribune building that has famous artifacts from all over the world embedded in its walls.

The rain ceased and we walked all the was around the building. D's favorite rock was one from the beaches of Normandy (just under the light). From here we found a Microsoft store we ha to check out in a huge Nordstrom's complex. 

 

Then down under the city to the world famous Billy Goat's Tavern where we each got a 'CHEEZBORGER CHEEZBORGER' (double cheeseburger). It was good to sit and listen to the locals and read all the stuff on the walls. 

 

 

Next was a long walk on an empty pier. The Navy Pier was pretty deserted an not a lot going on. We made it to the end and D sat on a huge anchor. 

Back to the front of the pier where we grabbed a cab, D's first cab ride ever, to Wrigley Field. We got tickets for the tour and checked out the souvenir shop across the street made of shipping containers to kill some time before the tour. We took the tour and learned a top about the place, the team and all of the history. It was super cool and a really neat stadium. 

The tour ended on the field. It was amazing how perfect everything was groomed and flat. Not the dusty lumpy fields we are use to...  Looking across the field, right in front of me was a feather...  

 

Tour over and we jumped on the train to head back into town. We went to the huge fountain down in front of Lake Michigan.  

We got a drink and them walked to the Field Museum that was about to close and decided not to pay full price for an hour tour before it closed...  We walked towards the train again and found a neat headless and armless steel figures in a park. Onward to find a charger for D's phone and to the train to head to the stadium. 

We arrived at the stadium stop and took a short walk around to Gate 3, where Uncle Russ had arranged for us to meet 'a guy' that got us into the Scout's Lounge. The Scout's Lounge was a buffet where we could hangout and eat before the game. We had a nice meal and a lot of looks as we were the only Indians in the place :-o  up to our seats and we had a great view for the game. We took a break and went to the team store where D picked out a shirt and hat. When we got back to our seats we decided to move even closer and settled in the 6th row behind the dugout.  There was a group of Sox fans there that were very nice and we spent the rest of the game having a lot of fun with them, listening to the heckler and seeing D's name up on the scoreboard. The game went into extra innings and the Indians won!  A quick train ride back into the city and then what was supposed to be a short walk to our hotel that turned into a fence barricade jumping, six lane highway frogger crossing, cement wall jump detour.  Our detour did lead us to an abandoned building that was used in one of the Transformer movies :-)  Back to the hotel and exhausted we fell asleep easily.

What a great day with a great young man I'm proud to have as my son.
Happy 15th Birthday D, I love you buddy.

20140825 - Overnight Road

20140825 - Up with only one hour of sleep and in to work. Had a list of things I needed to get done today before I left and finished up right at 5:30. Headed home and got things packed up. Saw the fam for a bit when J got home from soccer and we had a mini bday part for D as the rest of the family would not see him on his actual bday for the first time since he was born (insert L crying here).  

 

Penn came over and carried D&I downtown where we waited for the Megabus. The bus showed up, D&I sat in the front seats on the top deck and we headed for Chicago.  Sitting up front and that high made us feel like we were going to hit every stoplight and bridge we came to :-s  the bus stopped at OSU and then on to Cincinnati. From there we went to Indianapolis and then on to Chicago.  We got use to the bouncing and pitching on the bus, like being on a boat, and were able to get some sleep.

20140824 - Zombie

20140824 - Up in the am and G had baseball practice and later turned into a zombie

20140823 - Dork Twins

20140823 - Up and got some things done at the desk.  To the ball field for the day, except J, he went with his buddies to a movie.  G had a game and they lost.  D had his 1st game and they won!  I ran to get a hair cut, Wendy's to get food, post office, gas station, Goodwill to drop stuff off, bank to get cash. back to D's second game, he caught for a couple of innings and they won.  Home and cleaned up and we all headed to the Clippers game with stops to pick up J and Stephanie's sweatshirt.  We met Tom, Landon, Bill, Tiffany, Brady and Amaya at the game and had a BLAST!  The Clippers lost but we we had a great time and stayed for the fireworks after.  Home about midnight.

20140822 - Where I want to be

20140822 - Work, stressful final preparations.  Submitted, 4 second left, more to do, missed it!  Got it submitted... Relief.  Met fam + D's Girlfriend + Mallon's for a really nice dinner.  Home and watched Divergent.  Up until 5:30 am working....

20140821 + Ice Bucket

20140821 + In early, stayed late.  Home and J did the ice bucket challenge today.  Out for a baseball meeting.  Home late.

20140820 - Knee Up

20140820 - D to school work frustrating a lot to do not getting the audience we need. Rushed to G's game. We have a 'challenged' team...  Bases loaded and G slammed a natural triple! 3 RBIs! In the last inning he was catching and dove after a foul ball to get an out :-o  D umped a different game and L took J to his first soccer practice. He did good and has 4 buddies from school on the team.  Home, little boys to bed, D watching baseball on the big screen. L&I trying to stay awake on the couch.