Our youngest is back in school. Senior year of high school started on the 24th of this month. Our eldest is just...as of today, 8 days away from the airplane ride that will take her on the next journey of her life.
I won't lie and say that it isn't affecting me. I've always been somewhat of an emotional person. I think I am quieter these days and maybe a little more withdrawn than usual. Not because I am sad or unhappy, but because I am thinking, and reflecting on life and how different things are going to be after September 7th.
One of the things she wanted to do before she left was go to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. So last Wednesday (8/25) she and I drove to the Amtrak station and hopped a train to Chicago. We arrived about 9:30 am and proceeded to walk from the station to the Aquarium. I have absolutely NO idea how many blocks we walked, but it was a lot. We did a lot of window shopping, even stopping into the historic Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue to look around. Seeing Kitty O'Sheas restaurant inside, we decided then that if we didn't find anyplace else we wanted to eat, that w would be back for some good Irish Food and beer.
The Aquarium was amazing. They have a terrific show called "Fantasea" which stars their Beluga Whales; Penguins; Dolphins and their Sea Lion. Very interactive, in that the penguins get up close and personal with the audience and a child becomes part of the show. Very beautiful. Very memorable. Probably the most 'memorable' part for me was not the show (which I watched through tears, which I will explain next) but for what happened before the show. As we were walking down the pebbled concrete stairs to find a place to sit, I stepped off wrong and lost my balance. Twisted my ankle slightly, and righted myself, or so I thought. I hadn't really and momentum (and the fact I am carrying a few extra pounds on me) took over and I continued to fall, almost taking out the man on the next row who grabbed me and tried to pull me up, but I kept falling, pretty much, rolling, to a stop on the next row. My left ankle was under me and I sat there, embarrassed and in pain throughout the whole show. I was not about to take off my shoe and see the damage, but I did scrape my knee pretty good. I limped and hobbled my way through the rest of the day. We took a water taxi over to the Navy Pier and shared a Seagram's Watermelon Snow Cone (yummy) then visited the USO for some air conditioning and then continued our walk. I was in pain, but I didn't feel I was in enough to call it a day and go home. This was our day...perhaps one of out last mother/daughter excursions and I was not about to spoil it.
We made our way back to Kitty O'Sheas (we couldn't find any other Irish Pubs) and ordered drinks and an appetizer. She had a small pint of Guiness and I had a small pint of Killian Red. Our appetizer was "Loaded Irish Potatoes". These were FANTASTIC. Fries made with Irish Potatoes and covered with a corned beef gravy that had melted Irish Cheddar Cheese in it and topped with green onions. Oh my. For dinner, she had fish and chips and I had steak and chips.
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| Loaded Irish Potatoes |
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| Fish and Chips |
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| Steak and chips |
Once we got back on the train at 8 pm we were worn out from the sun and all the walking. I had stopped at Walgreens and picked up an ice pack and put that on my foot. Once I removed my shoe I was shocked at how bad my foot looked. I could see the black and blue on the top and side of the foot. But it was dark on the train, so I just closed my eyes for the ride home.
The next morning, I woke and saw my foot. Clearly I needed to call my doctor. My foot was double its normal size and black and blue (more black than anything) on the left and top. Xrays showed no break but I have had my movements restricted with orders to elevate and ice my foot as much as possible. I go back to work this morning so that will be interesting.
It's been so warm here in Central Illinois and our little part of the state just can't seem to get any rain. It's like we have a bubble over us. The corn is ready to be harvested already and the farmers were out all weekend getting their combines ready to go. Across the road from us, a few rows of corn have already been harvested. What I think I like most about living around here is the ever changing landscape. As the crops grow the view changes, and then again as things get harvested they change again.
Don't forget to go over to "His Little Mrs" and get in your entries for her Women's Week Giveaways. There are a lot of great products available to review and/or win.
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