W and I left for Chicago on Thursday after snuggling with Lucy all morning and making a quick stop at a grocery store for provel cheese. Have you heard of provel cheese? Have you tasted provel cheese? Smelled it? Dreamed about it? Thought about it for hours every day, wishing you could have just one more grilled provel cheese sandwich with tomato soup? ...no? I am the only one? I guess you're just missing out.
The drive to Chicago was long and painful, and, unfortunately for any and all reading, I didn't take any pictures. I think we were just so "go, go, go" that it never occurred to me to take any. I was a little sad when I realized it... but I also didn't want to be that person in a crowd of people taking pictures of buildings that could just as easily been found on Google. AND W and I were constantly getting lost on the train, on the street... in buildings... that it would have wasted time if I was snapping pictures.
Anyways, we had so much fun in Chicago. We stayed with a friend from high school (Tricia) who currently attends Columbia. The week as a whole was fabulous, but there was something extra special about staying in Chicago and feeling like I was on my own that has really given me something to look forward to. We took a tour of Columbia during Admitted Students Day. ASD was full of the usual: workshops for prospective majors, financial aid meetings, time management, blah, blah, blah. Even though it wasn't anything I haven't heard from any other college planning meeting or orientation day, I think it helped me decide that Columbia is the right place for me. They addressed any grievance I ever had at MSU, and I feel like I will be really happy living in the city. AHHHH! I CAN'T WAIT!
So: day-by-day:
Thursday we made it to Chicago after about four and a half hours in the car. A 45 minute trip into the city (including bus, train, and walking about a bajillion blocks) lead us straight to Columbia for a gallery showing and meet/greet with The Guerilla Girls. I didn't know who they were before last week, but I'm glad Tricia made us go because it was awesome. The Guerilla Girls were pretty inspiring... they make me proud to be a loud mouth kind of lady. Tricia, W, and I went out for amazing sushi afterwards. Mmmmm.
Friday was Admitted Students Day at Columbia. Basically the day was pretty boring and scheduled from 9:30 until 3 when W and I decided to sneak out a little early to catch a train to Michigan for a little shopping. We hit the pants jackpot at Gap.
Saturday we woke up a little later, got ready a little slower, and stopped for breakfast bagels at Panera before getting a little lost on our route to Shedd Aquarium. After about 20 minutes of being lost and 30 minutes on a bus, we finally got to the aquarium only to turn around and go back to the bus stop because the line was about 300 people deep and the wind was a howlin'. W was really disappointed, but I couldn't wait in the line and the wind... next time we will wake up super early and be the first people in line! Since we had all the extra time, we went to The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. Long story short: found a long hair in my fish taco and flipped out. The food was a HUGE disappointment, but the cheesecake was to die for. Next time I'm only getting cheesecake.
We left the city around 7:30 and made it home by 11:30. It was basically the best vacation I've had in a long time, and I would like to attribute it to my awesome travel partner. No one has shown me as much patience, sweetness, and love. Like crazy.
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