I pulled into the driveway last night at 2 am after riding a charter bus for little over nine hours. It was a fun trip but not without it's share of hair raising moments.

We pulled out of the band room parking lot a nine pm on Monday night, arriving at the Museum of Science and Industry at 10:00 the next morning. I had to rush through the museum in order to see everything (we only had 45 minutes ) Next up was lunch at Ed Debevic's; the 50's/ 60's themed restaurant where employees are supposed to rude to customers. I just flew under the radar there. Next up was a guided tour of the city (Kudos to the tour gude for using the Blues Brothers soundtrack).
It was also cool stopping at the Adler planetarium.
THat night we checked into our rooms at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Chicago. Later that evening we ate at Gino's East and attended a performance of the amazing Broadway musical "Wicked" that was originally slated for our New York Trip. Before the show a few panhandlers attempted to get my money.

Wednesday began with breakfast at the Rainforest Cafe. Next was the ride to the top of the Sears tower for sightseeing. It was the highest I've ever been outside of an airplane. Lunch that afternoon was at the Navy Pier. The rest of the day consisted of shopping at the miracle mile. My group, went to Walgreen's of all place to buy a hat, a microwave and air freshener. At the water tower place, one of the guys got all of his money stolen by a bunch of guys asking for donations. That night alot of people got ambushed by a person asking to shine shoes who was clearly high just outside our hotel. Wednesday night, the band attended the Columbia College Band Bash with all of the other bands in the McDonalds 75 annual thanksgiving day parade. There wasa dance that night, but most of my band left, way too much "bumping & grinding." Instead I played blackjack with some fellow students and a couple of chaperones on the bridge between the two parts of the hotel.

Thurday, we played at the parade and went home. On the way, we stopped at a Cracker barrel where I sat for two and a half hours waiting for service. Hence the Cracker barrel from he**.

On the way home the rest of bus 1 watched Bewitched while I watched Contact. I caugt the last bit of the new Indiana Jones movies (wtf at the day time running lights in 1957 in addition to physics taking a curb stomping).

Anyway, It's good to be home.

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Aim high (but don't blow yourself up)!- Homer Hickam

In Soviet Russia, UFO report you!- Phil Plait

Carl Sagan may have seen a pale blue dot, but I see a sapphire.- Doug Phillips, Discovering Alabama.

Clear skies Maksutov.

Sounds like a lot of fun. I love the song "Defying Gravity" from Wicked. (I listened to it on Sputnik Day because it seemed to fit.)

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I want to go back to the moon.
I don't care which rocket you use, whichever one you pick, I'll like it, I swear.
"If you think the LHC will create black holes, you might as well believe Hobbits are at the bottom of your garden."- Dr. Mike Inglis
Rovers forever! - ToSeek