a midwestern adventure

I like adventures.

Whether they are as epic as meeting Kobe Bryant in Las Vegas....

We had a very stimulating conversation. I said, "Can I take a picture with you?" and he said, "No."

as bizarre as accepting a ride from a combo bus driver/cowbell player in Florida...

as irritating as herding sheep out of our way during a scenic drive in Ireland...

as ridiculous sounding as driving to Canada...

as stupid as walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with a paralyzing fear of heights...

or as confusing as trying to find Lance Armstrong at the finish line of the Tour de France.

That's not him in yellow, contrary to our popular belief at the time.

I've been spoiled in that I've traveled to so many interesting places, as early as a wee three year old. Did I mention I lived in Holland?

...in the 1600s, apparently.

Now, thanks to being dragged from country to country, museum to museum for as long as I can remember, I hate sitting still. In my spare time I plan hypothetical vacations and browse kayak.com. And when I find $100 plane tickets to Chicago from my local regional [usually expensive] airport, I don't pass that up.

So, I recruited two friends and we're off to Chicago tomorrow morning before the sun comes up. I think I'm most excited to step outside without sweating and drink my first pumpkin spice latte of the season - they aren't quite as exciting when it's 90 degrees and the closest Starbucks advertises them like this:

It's the PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE, people! Show it some respect!

I've actually been to Chicago once before, just for a day, and made the unfortunate mistake of wearing boxers under a dress in order to ride a bike without flashing anyone.

Which leads me to the real reason I'm going to Chicago -- I need pictures of myself in the Windy City where it doesn't look like I'm wearing a diaper.