Day 27 - June 24, 2012

Day 27 – June 24, 2012

Chicago, IL          

Well it was bound to happen, and happen it did….wedding partiers got “home” around 12:30, and woke me up.  I’ve become such a fuddy-duddy.  To their credit, the after-party only lasted till about 1:15ish….and they were much quieter than the Cape Cod Crew.

We slept in till 7:30, which was nice.  I planned our strategy with my internet printouts and MapQuest.  We had a lot to do and I was determined to dodge traffic.  I’d heard on the news the night before that there was a big Gay Pride parade/celebration in the city today (on the North side), so I focused all our sights on the South side.

Curiously….this is the fourth city of our road tip where we ran into a Gay Pride celebration, not sure if their following us or we’re following them…

We visited the Robbie House (another Frank Lloyd Wright design), the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Soldier Field, The Chicago Art Institute, Millennium Park, “the Bean”, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Chicago home, & the birth place of Ernest Hemingway.  Not bad for a day’s tour!

The kids loved the science museum, it was very cool, even for a science phob like me!  I loved the Art Museum….so many MonetsJ and very cool to see in person, colors were vivid.  Although this museum was a few steps up from the one in Indy….security everywhere…so many rules, I was a freakin’ nervous wreck with Bear! 

Highlight of the day, was Audrey explaining to Camden that the painting he was looking at was an examle of abstract art & it could be anything he wanted it to be.  Thank you Mrs. Goforth.

We had lunch at a café in Millennium Park, which was nice.  The kids were amazing today.  We’re lovin’ Shy-Town.

We’re back at the hotel and the kids are swimming.  I have an awful crook in my neck…I left MY pillow in Indy, so had to make do with the bag of cotton balls they call a pillow at the hotel….and I’ve been suffering all day.  I stopped at Target for a new pillow, Ben Gay & Advil!  Thinking about ordering pizza and laying low for the night.  We have another big day tomorrow.  So much to see!

The Robbie House

Museum of Science & Technology

Rock climbing

Soldier Field

The Art Institute of Chicago

Audie recognized the painting...she has a print in her room!

The Chicago bean

FLW's Oak Park Home

The birthplace of Ernest Hemingway, 1899

Day 26 - June 23, 2012

Day 26 - June 23, 2012

Indianapolis, In/Chicago (Elmhurst), IL

201 miles/4 hrs, 15 minutes

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!  We miss you.  Some work commitments got in the way of his being with us, but today’s agenda/destination cities, were planned with his birthday in mindL.

Up and out early.  I wanted to get to the Indiana Motor Speedway (IMS) early, as we were booked for the 9a.m. tour.  I’ve only been to the race track in Kansas City, which was brand new and state of the art, and had a freeway built to deliver spectators directly there.  IMS was in the middle of Speedway, Indianapolis (where, by the way, I got gas for $3.25 a gallon!).  One minute you’re cruising through a small (admittedly run-down) town, next, there are grand stands on the left, drive through the tunnel, and you’re in the center of the IMS. 

The people who work there were very nice.  We spent a few minutes in their museum (99% of which was dedicated to Indy racing….Richard Petty was the only nod to NASCAR).  Then we boarded the bus.

Won’t bore you with all the details, but very cool, and made me consider, actually going to a race with Hunter, Rich & Aud one day…we’ll see.  Hunter was beside himself & we all got to kiss the bricks.  You need to be A NASCAR fan to get the significance of that!

Then we headed north to Shy-town.  We left Indy at 11:10, and should have been in Chicago in just over 3 ours (with enough time to go to the zoo).  Quick drive to Chicago…with one note:  Gary Indiana sure does smell bad….picked up speed on that stretch of highway…yuck!

Chicago was traffic hell.  Honestly, I don’t know how or why people complain about Atlanta.  It was midafternoon, on a Saturday, and it was gridlocked.  It was terrible.  Made my skin crawl.  (For the record, Boston & Montreal are on my traffic Sh** List too.)

After circling Lincoln Park three times, trying to get a parking spot for the Zoo…it was a zoo…pun intended, ha, ha.  Eventually we landed, and the zoo was pretty nice, but the kids ranked it third, behind New Orleans & Detroit.

Long drive to our hotel (waaaayyy out in the suburbs) and yet more traffic.  We checked into a Courtyard, to discover there was wedding booked there.  Oh Joy.  Here we go again.  I was hauling the luggage onto a bell cart (by myself…no bellman, out in the burbsJ) and noticing how young everyone was….definitely a post-college-graduation crowd.  I was feeling very old.

Then, as I wheeled the luggage cart down the hall, with Cam & Hunter “helping”, passing 20-somethings dressed to the nines, with drinks in their hands…I’m thinking they’re going to keep me up all night.  Then...bam...I hear battle-like sounds coming from our room.  Aud & Bear were going at it…loudly!  Guess maybe we’ll be the ones keeping them up.

Took the kids out to dinner…I needed real food.  Planning on sleeping in tomorrow….before we fight the traffic again.  Planning an all-day adventure in the city.

Here we go

Kissing the bricks, baby

Hunter, his Crew Chief, Publicist & Manager will take your questions now!

In the winner's circle

Day 25 – June 22, 2012

Columbus, OH – Indianapolis, IN

190 miles/3 hours

We spent our morning on a mini-Columbus tour.  As expectedJ  I dragged them to the Ohio State Capitol, which by the way, is in need of a face lift.  I don’t know if they were trying to send a message, about being the back bone of America, or car/ tire makers, but it was an industrial looking building.  Very little pomp and circumstance - and very much in need of a pressure wash!  It was the only blight we saw on another wise, nice downtown.

Next we ended up in the Ohio State University area.  Mainly, we were in search of a bookstore for Aud, Cam & I...we all needed something new to read (don’t ask about the twins….haven’t cracked a book!).  It’s a beautiful campus and there were very nice people in the bookstore.  Then we did a supply run at Target, before heading west to Indiana.

Easy drive.  We ate left over pizza from the night before, in the car for lunch.  Cammy opted for a yogurt he’d swiped at the buffet that morning.  I didn’t have a spoon, so kept trying to hold him off till we made a pit-stop…but he kept persisting.  “Mommy….did you find a spoon?”  Those of you familiar with his voice can imagine…it got whinier as the time ticked onJ.  I explained I couldn’t look while I was driving…”have some pizza”.  A few minutes went by, “Mommy, what about the white spoons, forks, and knives you bought, that you use in the hotel?”  Busted.  I literally pulled over to the side of the road….well on the grass…and got the kid his damn spoon!  “Thanks M-o-m-m-y.”  Then the milk smile! 

Once we hit Indianapolis, we visited the capitol…not to beat a dead horse….and then the Indiana Museum of Art, which was awesome.  I couldn’t believe how nice it was (and free!)  The kids were actually good, but only Audrey truly enjoyed it.  We saw paintings by Renoir, Monet, Da Vinci & Georgia O’Keeffe.  They had an impressive collection.  One exhibit was textiles, which highlighted the dresses of Halston & Bill Blass.  Very Cool.  Finally….the Contemporary Art section had all the kids rolling.  Some very strange stuff.

Back at the hotel (pretty nice, but off the beaten path) the kids swam in the hotel pool.  I have a new definition of Hell:  My four kids, competing with three other kids, at an indoor pool, to be the loudest.  Put. A. Bullet. In. My. Brain.  Headache in 5 minutes.

After swimming, back in the room, the kids were changing back into their clothes.  I came out of the bathroom & there’s Camden, butt naked, bent over, mooning the parking lot below (we’re on the second floor).  What the…?

“Camden what are you doing?”

“Hunter told me to do it!” 

Don’t know where Hunger came up with that, nor do I want to!  Audrey starts laughing and tells me (as she looks out the window) that “they’re” waving at her….oh dear Lord.

As I’d mentioned…off the beaten path, very few choices for dinner.  After ten minutes of cruising the area….McDonalds.  So, I am feasting on a side salad and handfuls of Goldfish crackers.  Chicago…here we come.

The night in the hotel room is proving to be long…and not because of Bear, this time.  Hunter cannot contain his excitement about our Indy 500 tour tomorrow.  I hope it lives up to his expectations.  Not much on TV….except Presidential Campaign Commercials….poor Ohio…I swear they are on constantly!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ohio Statehouse

Indiana Statehouse

Nacy Reagan's Bill Blass original...look familiar?

The ORIGINAL Love Statue...who knew?  In Indy.  The Philly one is a "recreation"!

Day 24 - June 21, 2012

Day 24 – June 21, 2012

Pittsburgh, PA/Wheeling, WV/Columbus, OH

207 miles/4hours, 45 minutes (Ran into traffic due to horrible accident & some road work)

We were On the Road Again, by 9:05, heading west to…well…West Virginia.  About an hour in, we hit a wall of traffic.  There were road signs noting that there was an accident ahead (man-made ones, not digital), so that wasn’t a good sign.  It took us about an hour to move 10 miles, and it wasn’t pretty.  There was a carcass of a car on the side of the road.  It was terrible.

We pulled into Wheeling, West VA, about 11a.m. and out of there by 11:10a.m.  What a dive.  I have no words to describe it, but truly, I should write a letter to the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau and complain about the false advertising on their website.

We rolled into Columbus around 1:30p.m.   Downtown Columbus is clean and pretty.  We’re staying close to the capitol, but I wanted to check in and get settled, before exploring.  Our hotel is cool, very different for a Residence Inn.  It’s located in an old bank building (Ppate on the front of the building says “Buckeye Building 1927”).  They built the hotel around the bank artifacts.  For instance, to get to the buffet (tonight was hamburger night) you walk through the old bank vault door.  Kinda cool.

Auntie Kristen was supposed to meet us at 2p.m., then 3:30p.m., then 4:30p.m…she arrived at 4:45 (some things never changeJ).  The kids were sooooo excited to see her.  So was mommyJ!  I tagged myself out.  After breaking ALL 10 fingernails and torturing my feet for three weeks, in flip-flops while I toured major cities and a few beaches…my lovely feet were looking rough.  So, thank you Kristen, for allowing me to escape for a much needed mani-pedi.

We ate dinner with the kids and then caught up and reminisced, all the while, sipping wine and simultaneously playing both Sorry and Yatzee with a rotating roster of Smithies…serious social multitasking.  The kids were enchanted with Aunt Kristen.  It was great, nice, easy day.

Downtown, "Historic" Wheeling West, VA

                         Wheeling Suspension Bridge, the "Original Gateway to the West"

Chilling, waiting for Auntie Kristen

The love Kristen!

Day 22 - June 19, 2012

Day 22- June 19, 2012

Cleveland, OH – Pittsburgh, PA

147 miles/2 ½ hours

Woke up and Rich was gone…always a sad feeling.  Then, when the kids wake up, they get sad all over again, too…even though they knew when they went to bed, that he wouldn’t be there in the morning.

As the trip goes on, and the cash dwindles, I resort to extreme measures to save money.  Our room was as far from the front door as you could possibly be.  I was going to need a bell cart, or it would take me about two hours to get the luggage to the car.  I searched for the bell carts, to no avail (I suspect they were locked up because of guests like me, trying to dodge the bellman).  As I sipped my coffee and scoped out the various exits, I hatched a plan.  I moved the car to the very back of the hotel and carried the luggage down two flights of stairs, through the fire exit.  Hunter and I had the car loaded in 15 minutes (and met the laundry guy, Skip, who total knew what we were doing…but whatever).

We were running a little late, because I made a small detour to visit the grave of a friend, and so we got to Patty’s with no time to spare.  I literally dropped the kids off and profusely thanked her husband, Brandt, who’d agreed to watch my kids and his kids (seven total!), while Patty and I visited the Frank Lloyd Wright designed house, Falling Water.  It was amazing!  You have to visit it, if you’re ever in Western Pennsylvania.  An architectural marvel (although, once again, no pictures inside).  I only got a few outside, as I’s forgotten my camera in our rush, so only had my camera phone.  I was nervous about Bear and how he may have been behaving (turned out he was fine), so I didn’t walk around the property after the tour to get the awesome waterfall viewsL…but here’s a link to the site.

http://www.fallingwater.org/

We rushed back to Pittsburgh (Falling Water is a little more than an hour east of the city) to relieve Brandt.  The kids and I had a dinner date with our former neighbor, Mr. Jim.  We had a good dinner and it was great to see him.  Kids were so-so, I was a little embarrassed.

Patty’s children had swim meets, so we chilled at her house.  Baths and laundry and the kids played with TOYS!!!!!!  They are so excited to be here. 

Visiting Pittsburgh tomorrow (we’re in a suburb).

Falling Water

Toys:)!

Day 21 - June 18, 2012

Day 21 – June 18, 2012

Cleveland, OH

How did we end up in Cleveland Ohio for two days?  I don’t know what I was thinking.  I’m very grateful for little Forsyth County, let me tell you!  Cumming peeps, we got it goodJ.

I talked Rich into watching Barrett, while I took Aud, Hunter & Cammy to Canton, to see the NFL Hall of Fame.  Once again, poor Richie had to workL.  Canton’s about an hour south of where we are, but it was all interstate, so I was able to catch up on some phone calls.  Sorry I’ve been bad about calling back, promptly.  When Rich is here, I try to be present, and not on the phone, and of course, in Canada, I was incommunicado.

The NFL Hall of Fame was very cool and a must-see for fans.  It’s in a strange location - literally adjacent to the interstate!  I also think it’s a little dated.  Built in the 60”s (I think, from what I’d read).  The section of the museum, which is beneath the football, smells very musty.  But you forget about it once you start to soak in all the exhibits.

The low point of the day was the film…Road to the Super Bowl.  I thought it would be about the event and all the Super Bowls…nope, it was just about this year’s Super Bowl.  It was torture.  I looked over at Hunter and he appeared to be tears, and I was getting a headed ache, watching it all again.  SUCKED.  I asked for my money back when we left, but they wouldn’t do itJ.  Hunter said he wasn’t going back again, until the Patriots won the Super Bowl (ahem…again).

We hung out by the (indoor) pool for a few hours.  Our hotel is not in a nice area, but I must say, the hotel itself, is very nice.  We were the only ones at a very big pool, so it was cool.  The skies have been grey for two days (OHIO!!!!) and the thunder is getting ominous, so we are planning on dinner in the hotel dining room (a first!) and dial up movies.

Rich leaves tomorrow…we won’t see him for 15 days.

Jim Thorpe Statue

Day 20 - June 17, 2012

Buffalo, NY/Cleveland, OH

188 miles/3 hours

Cleveland Airport Marriott



Happy Fathers Day! 

We had a great breakfast in Buffalo (seriously).  Then we had a Father’s Day celebration in the room.  Soon after, it was checkout time and I had to assert my road warrior man-card, once again.  Rich had loaded the car in Toronto and it was not ideal.  So, I let all the boys at the hotel (and in my family) know to just line up the luggage on the sidewalk, and let me do my thing.  I’ve got a system and it works…every square inch is precious...back off boys:))…much to the amusement of the Valet staff.  Rich has been through this song and dance before, but he still tries to mess with me for appearance sake, even peeling out, from the hotel...so they think my emasculating behavior has started a fight.  I laughed and said I should’ve been driving...that would’ve really given them lots to crow about.

Easy drive to Cleveland (I was reading...ha,ha).  Cleveland was a buzz of activity.  Big air show & the Indians were playing.  We grabbed a quick lunch.  I was talking to one of the guys at the restaurant asking about the Flats and if Shooters was still there...turned out his wife worked at the Shooters in Fort Lauderdale....we dropped some names to each other. SMALL WORLD!

Then we went to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.  It was kind of cool…but not what I expected (and totally over priced even with Aud & Cam being free). 

We left and cruised along the lake.  Cleveland (it’s been 20 years since I’ve been here) is actually looking pretty good.  Although...Mother Nature didn’t help.  Grey, grey, grey and then rain, rain, rain.

Our hotel is in the middle of …Nowhere!...We had Father’s Day Dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  Actually, dinner was pretty good….side show…even better! 

Rich was very, very, very sweet.  He actually bought me a new computer today and he’s going to set me all up tomorrow.  Hopefully all my technology bitching will be overL.

So no pictures from today, but I will get them up tomorrow…but not sure if anyone notices/cares.  I haven’t heard from hardly anyone?  Guess we’re boring this summer (which is probably a good thing).

OMG!  Just remembered…Barrett and I had a big incident with a NOT NICE WOMAN at the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.  I was really mad AND LET HER KNOW IT…but my description of the incident might get colorful, so let me know if you want to read/hear about it.

Ohio here we come...

Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame

Audie, fell asleeep during the into-film at the Rock Hall

Lake Erie