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On Thursday after Jen's meeting we decided to do some driving. Chicago was only about 90 miles away.

We had been in this position once before while visiting Mike and the family in Wisconsin. We had driven to Milwaukee for a Brewers game and a Rush concert. During the day of the concert we were looking for something to do. Tammy hit on a tour of the jelly belly factory that (we thought) was nearby. I don't like jelly beans but it was as good a destination as any so we went.

The place ended up being a couple of hours drive away. On the way we started seeing road signs for Chicago. At one point near the end we were within 60 miles or so. Jen and I both started thinking that maybe it would be more fun to just drive to Chicago so we could all say we'd been there.

As it turned out the jelly belly thing wad a collosal bust. The "tour" consisted of a little train that did a lap around a warehouse. There was no factory at all, it was just a storage and distribution house.

After that, we weren't going to pass on a chance to dip our feet in Chicago.

Here we see the skyline! We were there!












Here we see the back end of Wrigley Field!






The drive to Chicago was pretty long. We hit rush hour traffic. That gave me and my wife a chance to take on-the-road pictures of each other.












After returning to scenic Mishawaka, IN we had a late dinner at a place called Houlihans... I think I misspelled that.

They had a fish tank that featured almost the entire cast of Finding Nemo! Here are pictures where you probably can't make out any of them!












On Friday we got up early to get to the airport and head back home to civilization. Here is a picture of Jen looking pleased to be leaving.






Before going to the airport we stopped a the Notre Dame campus to see the football stadium. Unfortunately we were so close to the Central Time Zone that the sun was still down at 8:00am and all we got were dark pictures.






We found Touchdown Jesus and it was fully lit up. At least it was when I was pointing the camera... Just as I clicked they shut off the lights.












And for luck, another angle on the stadium.






Once we got to the airport we dealt with a douche of a rental car agent, checked in, went through security, and then learned our flight was cancelled.

We spent a ridiculously long time in the Continental line before deciding it would be easier and less stressful to just rent a car and drive home.

We got our hands on a very nice Chevy Impala and headed East on route 90.

I drove us across half of Indiana, all of Ohio, and into Pennsylvania. Then Jen took us from there to about half way across New York State. We stopped at a hotel in Liverpool, NY and got a good nights sleep. On Saturday morning I got behind the wheel and drove us into Massachusetts, and the Jen drove us to my parents house where we took a break before driving to the Manchester, NH airport.

We had a little bit of confusion over the bill and needed a little time to straighten it out, but we did and not long after we were home watching Smallville.

Here we see Jen driving in Pennsylvania.






Here we see a view of route 90 in New York. Where there was a rest area in the median with a foot bridge over the east bound lane.






Saturday in New York was a beautiful day.






Last but not least... Our awesome car that took us almost 1000 miles.












Now we plan to spend the day on Sunday flaking out in front of some Superman and hoping my cold goes away.

Welcome to November.