Photos from Trip to Chicago, and Other Miscellaneous Photos (September 16, 2018)

(Click on any of the thumbnails below to view the full-sized photo.)

On approximately September 14-16, I went with Brittany and James to Chicago.  I don't remember all the details, but I believe that Brittany flew in from Orlando on September 14, and the three of us spent two nights in Chicago and we dropped Brittany off in Litchfield on September 16.

The planning began earlier.  My cat Tiger (female) was very willing to help.

Brittany had also prepared a list of things to see in Chicago.  I believe I photographed this list later, when we were in Chicago.

Brittany is a big Al Capone history buff, so we went to see Al Capone's grave.

I also have a video of Brittany and James at Al Capone's grave.

We rode the El-train ...

... took a quick peek at The Wacker Tower ...

From downtown Chicago, I have a video of some sort of labor protest at the Marriott hotel.

We proceeded to Al Capone's house ...

This is Brittany and James eating something very fattening—I don't remember what, or why Brittany was giggling.

... and back on the El-train ...

James and Brittany asleep ...

Breakfast on the morning of the 16th ...

Brittany driving us to our next destination ...

I believe (from memory) that our next destination was the site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre ...

They had rental bicycles in Chicago.  Overall, the system worked well.  The bicycles were in good repair, and there were enough rental stations that we never had to walk more than a few blocks after returning bicycles.

It ends up that Brittany, James, and I were quite the kamikaze bike riders.  I have two great videos (#1, #2) of us riding around Chicago on rental bicycles.

We visited The Wacker Tower ...

The parking rates in downtown Chicago were outrageous.  The placard below shows that 1 hour and 21 minutes is worth $48 in the deck shown.

In downtown Chicago, there was a gentleman running a very polite panhandling operation.  He had good luck with members of the armed forces.  I forget exactly what he did or said, but I was impressed with his technique.  I recall that I may have given him $20.

Before our trip back to Litchfield/Homer, we had lunch at a pizzeria.  They had some very interesting beers at premium prices.

Photos from the trip back.  Photos of James sleeping in the back and the GPS.

The photos below are miscellaneous photos unloaded from my phone or camera.  They are not part of the trip to Chicago.

Apparently on August 3, I went with Trista and Kiersten to pick up a pizza in Homer, and I helped them to fill out some sort of a sweepstakes entry.  Also, for some reason, I have pictures of Trista painting her nails.

I also have a great video of James playing with Mia at Erin's place.

Sweetie sleeping, Sweetie on my lap, Sweetie inspecting my carry-out food, etc. ...

I also have a great video of Sweetie playing with me, another great video of Sweetie playing with me, a great video of Sweetie playing with her favorite toy, and a video of Sweetie on the front porch.

Tiger playing in the dirt.  It amazes me that cats are overall clean animals, but they sometimes love to roll in dirt.  And, Tiger doing various other things ...

Phoebe ...

I have a great video of Tiger and Phoebe reclining on my bed apparently watching TV.

This is a cat who lives in the neighborhood, in the neighbor's yard ...

Me reading a Kindle and using a computer at the local Biggby (not on the same date).  I greatly enjoyed Watson's book The Double Helix.  I liked my old Lenovo T420 better than any modern laptop.

Heath at Vector North America ...

A humorous T-shirt worn by a gentleman (Mark?) at Vector North America ...

Photos of my sunflower debacle.  I tried to get an early start by sprouting the sunflowers indoors.  Those eventually died and I had to plant seeds outdoors.  I found out that when sunflower seeds sprout with inadequate indoor light, they grow into forms that don't right themselves, even when moved outdoors.  Also, I had a squirrel break one of my sunflowers outdoors, and I did a wonderful splint and pruning seal job that surprisingly allowed the plant to survive to maturity and produce seeds.

At some point while driving in the downriver area (I think), I came across a Bill Knapp's.  I did not know there were any left.

Bill, when we had dinner at Texas Roadhouse in Westland, apparently on June 30.  I suggested Texas Roadhouse because, at the time, I owned TXRH stock, and I wanted to actually visit one of the restaurants.

These days, I often prefer older TV.  I am a Kojak fan.  I believe I bought one season on Amazon Prime Video and watched it.

I had some darling magnets in my cubicle at Vector North America with photos of Trista, Bubby, Kiersten, Nevaeh, and Avarie ...

This ad for training as a software developer was posted (I think) at the local Biggby.  As a software developer, I'd like to say that to be effective, a little bit more than evening training is recommended.

In the back yard, I had some really ferocious weeds.  I refer to my lawn euphemistically as a "multi-species" lawn.

I did find a car with an interesting collection of stickers.  I don't often see a sticker about tolerance on the same vehicle as a sticker about shooting sports.

Interesting art about Michigan's upper peninsula ...

A cute Mad Magazine cover. I recognize Cosby, Weinstein, and Trump, but I'm not sure who the gal is ...

The power lines (5 kV?) roughly above my garage in the back yard keep losing insulation, and they have smoked from time to time.  It makes me nervous if I'm going to be out there power-washing and painting.  Not only might a line fall and make contact with me, but the lack of insulation makes the use of liquid spray risky.  I think I will need to take safety precautions when I power-wash and paint.

Apparently from April 15, I also have a video of the flooding in my Allen Park neighborhood.

On August 31, I spotted a possum in the back yard (video #1, video #2).  This is very uncommon.

From September 8, I have a video of my trash being collected.

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