Savannah

 When planning my visit, Cole asked me if I wanted to go to Savannah. I said yes, I'm up for anything. Savannah is a 2.5hr drive from Jacksonville. Nicole pointed out that Florida was flat. There were no mountains in the distance. The freeway was along side a lot of forest per Google maps. I was grateful Mike was driving and I could work on Duolingo in the back seat.

It was a hot day in Savannah. Mike's brother and sister-in-law drove into the city to meet us. Our first stop was the convention center. There was a little market Cole wanted to check out. Kim, the sister-in-law, saw a vendor she followed on Instagram. At first, at first she wasn't sure if she should say hello. I encouraged her to do it. I believe it's more awkward to ignore someone you may know than it is to get uncomfortable and say hello. I think it's because you'll be uncomfortable either way. If you don't go up to them, you'll spend the rest of the time wondering if it is in fact who you think it is. You'll wonder if they saw you too, if they recognized you too, if they're trying to avoid you. If you do approach, it's a more controlled awkwardness and it's quicker too. You can move on with your life if things go south, and then you'll never have to see them again. She said hello and they instantly recognized her too.

After the market, we went across the bridge to have lunch. We parked very far from the restaurant. It was a nice walk, as this area of Savannah was beautiful. The architecture reminded me of New Orleans. However, on a hot summer day, the walk was brutal. 

Kim told me a lot of bachelorette parties happen here and then I started to see them. There was definitely a group sitting at restaurant. I had a Caprese Waffle BLT. There was a lot going on in that sandwich, but it was scrumptious. My only complaint is that the waitress cut no slack when I saw that I didn't have my ID. I pulled out my insurance card out of my wallet before we left, and I forgot to put it back in my purse.

Once we got away from the waitress, we walked down steep steps to get to the river. It was a few degrees cooler closer to the water, but it was still very hot. We got a drink and then went into the Marriott hotel. The lobby had a chrome dinosaur fossil replica. There were lots of things to see in there and best of all, it was air conditioned.

Us girls got some gelato, the boys got another drink. I took my pictures by the river as quick as I could to get out of the sun. Since it was a touristy area, there were souvenir shops. I found a thimble to add to my collection in the second shop I went into.

The walk back to the parking structure was shorter because the riverwalk was towards the car. I saw a bunch of pedicabs with bachelorette parties. Riding through down on one of those with drinks in hand looks fun, but would probably only be fun for 30 minutes. I wouldn't want to pedal the entire time. Another cool thing in Savannah was the McDonalds with a walk up window. It's like a drive thru but for pedestrians. The concept is not groundbreaking, but it was interesting to see at a McDonald's. 

We got back to the car, and to my surprise the in-laws parked there too. They were experienced tour guides. It was a well-executed sightseeing venture. I will have to come back when the weather is cooler to see the night life. I'm down for a bachelorette party here, or just a girls trip.

@jmeprcn

Must come back when it’s not so hot and spend a few days in this charming city ##savannah ##georgia ##travelvlog

♬ Peaches - Justin Bieber

Goodbye Chicondo

Every night in the Chicondo, the light above the kitchen sink automatically turned on around 9pm. It was eerie at first, but we figured there must be some sort of timer. The kitchen and the living room are hooked up to the Google home, so it's very possible. I do wonder if it's possible for the owners to control the lights remotely. I wonder if they'd mess around with the lights just to mess around with the tenants.

Last night, I binged Virgin River, season 3. I was cozy in the living room and turned off all the lights for optimal viewing. The kitchen lights turned on. I sat still for a moment. That's never happened. I texted Christina.

"Stop it," she replied.

"I'm serious," I told her.

I waited a few minutes before getting up to turn them off. I got nervous that someone was in the Chicondo, or that someone is watching the lights turn on and off from the outside. I was being paranoid. The Chicondo was so much bigger now that I was alone. I was glad this was my last night.

I had a lot of time to kill before my flight. I had to play tetris with my luggage. The extra duffel bag was definitely handy. It would have been easier if I brought a bigger one. I made space in my main luggage for the two frozen pizzas. 

Once I packed everything I needed to take from the Chicondo, I had to clean out all the food that couldn't stay. I left unopened pastas, canned goods, and chips. I made a sausage scramble to take with me to the airport. I cleared out the fridge and made several trips to take out the trash. I'm glad I had a jump start because it was trash day. They garbage people took it all away so it felt like a clean slate.

Christina removed her sheets in a neat manner when she left. She must have learned that in finishing school-- I mean her teaching course. I mimicked what she did for the other two rooms.

I took one final look at the calendar on the fridge. It was a colorful masterpiece that documented a fraction of the action that went on in Chicago for all of us. So glad Christina brought the markers.

@jmeprcn

Chicondo calendar was all sorts of action packed colorful goodness but now July is over ##byechicago

♬ Psycho (feat. Rubi Rose) - Dixie

Finally, it was time for me to take myself to the airport. I was thrilled to NOT drive to O'Hare. Instead I drove south on California to Midway. I passed by a jail on the way. I definitely didn't notice that on the way in. Okay okay, so I guess O'Hare is the nicer airport, at least the nicer area. It's like the John Wayne Airport. Nicer area, but it's outside of the main city of Los Angeles.

Midway felt like the Chicago I got to know. And it only took 15 minutes to get there.

Returning my rental car was a breeze. I noticed there were less cars available than when I got here. They're probably all rented out for Lollapalooza. 

@jmeprcn

Bye Chicago, hello airport ##midwayairport ##southwestairlines ##travelvlog

♬ Fly - Marshmello

Nicole picked me up and now I'm in Jacksonville. We ate sushi for dinner then chilled. Big weekend ahead. Luckily, they bought a nice comfy air mattress I could use to get some rest. 

Whilst I rest, here are the compilation TikTok videos I had been working on all month:

@jmeprcn

A play about my ##travelvlog and how my friends feel about it ##CHICAGO ##tourist ##thebean ##thisisajoke

♬ original sound - Netflix

@jmeprcn

From that hit limited reality series ##alittlebitalexis ##schittscreek ##chicago @softblueshimmer

♬ chronicdancer A Little Bit Alexis - chronicdancer

Oz

Today was an errand day. It was my last full day in Chicago. I had the car to myself and I could do anything I wanted, and the first thing I knew I wanted was to go jogging at The 606 one more time.

Second, I wanted to get my brother's SOX hat. Instead of going back to the baseball stadium, I went to Grandstand Ltd down the street. That place has official licensed gear for all Chicago sports teams, and then some. To my delight, I found a snapback with a green bill and the logo my brother wanted. I watched him look for that hat up and down this store 2 years ago, and I'm excited it was here now.

Third, I wanted to get frozen deep dish pizza. It's the only souvenir my family asked for. I wanted to get Lou Malnati's and Giordano's. I tried going to the locations near the university. But parking was difficult and gave me anxiety. I circled the block a few times before I realized I didn't want to be there.

Instead, I drove north. There was residential parking that was free. I bought spinach from Giordano's and Sausage from Lou Malnati's. Lou Malnati's packaging was more secure since it's in a box, but Giordano's had an insulated cooler, which I bought. These pizzas had to survive two airplane rides.

I was okay driving north because I could go to Oz Park. I wanted to go there since my first visit to Chicago. It never seemed like anyone else's jam, so I never made it a priority.

There are many layers to the Wizard of Oz. The movie is iconic. The stories behind the scenes were tragic. The book was alright. The broadway sequel is my favorite. I also adore the SyFy adaptation. There is a long list of ways this story has been in my life.

At the park, I visited the statues of Tinman, Scarecrow, Lion, and of course, Dorothy Gale. As I stared at the statue's ruby red slippers, I thought about her journey. The whole time she was in Oz, she was looking for a way home.

I'm looking for home too. Although I had an amazing career, I didn't feel at home in accounting. Although I love my family, I don't feel like I should live near them. I'm going to make New York my new home. 

Chicago was practice. Last night, I was able to drive back to the Chicondo from Wicker Park without getting GPS directions. After two weeks, I had a good sense of direction on the buses. It felt like I lived in Chicago, but that didn't feel like home either.

I don't know where home will be in the future. My guess is I'll come back to California in the end. There's too many reasons not to, except for the part of my brain that keeps wondering what else is out there. I think about all the traits the other characters asked for and how they had them all along. 

I'd like a brain -- I'd like to learn about broadway, stage and film production, and writing.

I'd like a heart -- I want to feel excited and passionate. I would also like to find love.

I'd like courage -- I'm scared. I'm scared of being alone. I'm scared I won't succeed. I'm scared I won't find what I'm looking for.

I tell myself I have what I need and the capacity to learn the rest. 

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
And the dream that you dare to (dream)
Why, oh why can't I?

 I also want to remember that there were a bunch of dragonflies at this park. They flew over my head like airplanes landing at LAX.

Christina Chicago

Christina was flying home, which meant one more trip to O'Hare airport. I got dressed for the day, but Christina just wanted to stay in. She didn't get much down time between school and her family visiting. She deserved that break, and staying home was fine with me.

Christina was the reason I got to be in Chicago this month. Everyone who visited was there because of her. When you get older, you don't see friends as often as you like. It's great when you can seize the opportunity to spend quality time with someone.

Macy's + Teen Witch

Christina's family flew home today. Her parents, sister and nieces left in the morning. Her cousin and family weren't flying out until 4. They wanted to check out the Art Institute of Chicago (which I know from Ferris Buller), but part of Chicago is closed on a Tuesday as well.

After the search engine didn't fare any sightseeing options that interested them, I suggested the cultural center to see the Tiffany glass dome. There was a gigantic light outside the door. Something was being filmed inside. At the door, we were greeted in a whisper. They explained there was filming in the dome. We were able to catch a glimpse, but only from the staircase. They were filming something with kids in juvie. I wished it could have been whatever Chicago show that has Sophia Bush.

After, we walked across the street to Macy's. I took a look at the Tiffany mosaic. It's dull in comparison to the light that shines through the Tiffany dome, but I can appreciate all the pieces that go into the mosaic.

Kim wanted to get chocolate. We made our way to the bottom level and I didn't expect to see a candy shop down there. I had never heard of Frango chocolate until we went there. Its speciality appeared to be their mint chocolate, which I don't like in general. I'll have to try it though when Christina opens her box.

There was also a Starbucks, a wine shop, a book store and a stained glass exhibit down there. I felt like I was in a mall. Perhaps this is what a department store used to be. I learned the word "atelier" from watching Katy Keene. Department stores feel like they can hold many secrets.

Our last activity was Block Thirty Seven. I showed them the boba vending machine. Next door, there was a sign that claimed to have the best grilled cheese. Naturally, we had to try it. It wasn't the best ever, but it did prompt a grilled cheese sandwich party idea. Sandwich parties, they're going to be a thing.

@jmeprcn

##vlog Macy’s in downtown is it’s own mall ##chicago ##frangochocolate ##stainedglass ##grilledcheese

♬ Rick & Morty - Soulja Boy Tell 'em

Then we dropped them off at O'Hare. So many airport trips in our rental car.

We had dinner in Wicker Park with one of Christina's classmates. She was newly single and we gave her some tips on dating. I shared the advice Cole gave me about not having to be polite. I know it'll be a fun time for her. I know I did. 

On our drive home from the airport, Christina and I tried to learn the lyrics to "Top That" from Teen Witch (1989). The movie soundtrack isn't on Spotify, but there was a soundtrack for a musical. Go figure. 

We watched the movie when we got home from dinner. I love that movie. It doesn't hold up, and the ending is terrible. She gives up her powers for a guy, ugh. But I can't help but love the music numbers, the outfits, and dance at the end. I love when Louise and Brad are spinning to "Finest Hour" and then a wide shot shows the couples dancing around them doing the same spin and moves. I would LOVE to do that dance with a significant other.

Chicago is Closed on Monday

 Christina had a whole day planned, mainly for the kids. First, they would go to Go Ape, then Chinatown, then Shedd Aquarium, then finally Navy Pier.

My friend Angeli was in town. She saw my Chicago posts and reached out, which again made me feel like a local. I met her and her friends at Wildberry Cafe. I saw the boy, he didn't recognize me. I ordered savory this time, a grilled cheese brisket sandwich. It was delish but I could only eat half. I kept the other half in a to go box in my purse.

Angeli made our way to Fulton Market, while her friends went to Shedd. Fulton Market has lots of restaurants. When we got there, the area was empty. Most of the restaurants were closed on Mondays and on Tuesdays. 

We had a drink at the bar at a tapas restaurant.

"Let me ask you something," I said to the bartender. "Why is Chicago closed on Mondays?"

"Because of COVID-19," he replied.

Ooh. Right. Pandemic. They closed on Mondays and Tuesdays because no one was going out. I keep making my analogy to Spirited Away. Downtown, the Riverwalk, and even Fulton Market are empty at the beginning of the week. Then the weekend hits, and everyone comes out. It's like in the movie when Chihiro first arrives in the town, and it's eerie because no one is there. When nightfalls, it's hustling and bustling and everyone is suddenly visible.

The bartender gave us some recommendations. "Normally, I'd get you to stay here, but I want you to see Chicago. I want you to see my town."

We went back downtown to London House. We wanted to try a rooftop bar. Rooftop bars get you closer to the sun, and we were still in a heat wave. It was maybe going to be a miserable time. There weren't any tables in the shade where we could sit.

Up a small flight of stairs, there was a rotunda. That had shade and people lounging about. It felt very good under the cement roof. We climbed up and sat on the wall. The view was cool (minus the eyesore of a building right in front of us). It's funny how videos and photos don't capture how tall something is. We were 22 stories high, but the picture just feels like a nice backdrop, not something that can trigger your fear of heights or falling.

We walked along the river to get one more drink. We found a gimmicky sand bar, but it did the trick. The tables had umbrellas that provided shade and the ring on a hook bar game.

@jmeprcn

##vlog Daytime bar hopping is challenging when half the city is closed on Mondays ##londonhousechicago ##chicagoriverwalk ##downtownchicago

♬ Paradise - Bazzi

I went with Angeli to meet her friend. We made our way up to find the bus stop.
Level 1: Bus Stop
Level 2: Lower Street?
Level 3: Upper Street?
Level 4: Main Street?

I don't know, it was very confusing, and map apps don't detect what level you're on. We eventually found the stop. It was empty when we went aboard, which made up for the fact that the bus driver almost didn't stop for us and I had to wave them down. It was the first and only time I got to be on an empty bus.

Shedd aquarium is below Millennium Park. Millennium Park is a huge park. It was a longer bus ride than I anticipated. You turn a corner from the bus stop, and the neighborhood was a little shady. Like there was a lady hanging out in the bathroom stall the entire time. I felt like a dude was tracking me at the bus stop. The bus was late, so I opted for the train. At least, that would arrive and would get me out of here. 

Red Line is my least favorite train. It takes you to both ballparks, but it's not as nice as the others. Green Line is my favorite train. It's elevated and takes you to downtown. 94 was my favorite bus because I used it most. 126 was my least favorite. It was never reliable.

I made my way to Navy Pier. Kim got the kids Dragons' Breath, which was a cereal ball (which tasted like Captain Crunch berries) with liquid nitrogen. The gimmick lasts for only a minute. You eat it, and smoke will come out of your mouth and nose.

@jmeprcn

Liquid Nitrogen + Cereal = 🐉 ##navypier ##fundesserts ##liquidhoney

♬ original sound - Jamie P

The kids rode all the rides and had the time of their life. I checked out the arboretum I had seen when I rode the swings before.

@jmeprcn

📍Chicago Children’s Museum ##arboretum ##navypier ##chicagotourist dc: @santizegarraa

♬ KESI (Remix) - Camilo & Shawn Mendes

Kids loved the rides, and it's a good note for when traveling with kids. They appreciate the fun stuff at that age. The culture will come later. Christina's mom got stung by a bee. I think I did too.

Is This It?

 Sunday night, I had cramps. At first, I thought it was gas, but the pain persisted. It was around my abdomen. I asked Christina for Advil, which I don't frequently take. But this pain plus the fact my bug bites were eating me alive, a bit of relief sounded good.

Cramps, though. I wondered if this was it. Could my cramps be related to my period? Did that mean it was returning? At home, it's me and my mom. My mom no longer gets periods. Here at the Chicondo, I lived with 3 other women. Plus, two visitors had their periods when they were here. If cycles are contagious, is my body picking up that signal?

The cramps went away the next morning. There was no blood. It was nice to think it was going to happen, but it's not going to happen on this trip.

I was on Lupron from 2017 to 2019. Christina says I should wait at least that time for my body to go back to normal. The thing is, I'm almost at that time. We'll see.

Sunday Moves

Sunday's schedule was lighter than yesterday's, at least it was for me. First, we had dim sum. I was wary of the location because it was in downtown and I was very much over downtown at this point. But, the restaurant was in a living community, so it didn't feel touristy. It was authentic, but we ordered food instead of carts being pushed around. We ordered way too much food, but I knew most of it wouldn't go to waste if we took it back to the Chicondo.

After dim sum, I took Luisa to the airport. Another trip to O'Hare. She was very nice. I hope she succeeds in what she wants. Then, I went home to finish the laundry and make sure the Chicondo was clean for Christina's family. They were moving in for the rest of their stay. I moved to Luisa's room, her parents took my room, and the two moms and the kids took Christina's room. The one and only boy took the sleeper couch that was still in the living room from Sahil's visit. Christina took the couch.

With 10 people now staying in the Chicondo, it still felt spacious. They were all relieved to be there instead of a hotel. Hotels are nice, but they are cramped and confined to a bedroom basically. Here, they had a kitchen and a living room as options to lounge.

They all did laundry because the hotel had bugs. We got Lou Malnati's pizza and stayed in. I became the Tik Tok aunt and played with the kids for a while. 

@jmeprcn

Because chicondo bathroom is super cute ##emperorsnewgroove ##tiktokauntie ##whydoweevenhavethatlever

♬ Wrong lever - GirlyRedFox

They all rested and soaked their feet to ease the fatigue from all the walking. It's nice that we got to host them. It was nice feeling like a local hosting guests.

One Long Day

I have a Type A personality. I planned every single detail of my trips before. I made itineraries on spreadsheets. It looked like Google Calendar before I knew what Google Calendar looked like. I wanted to seize every travel opportunity because I felt like I only had one shot. I felt like it was the only time I'd get to visit. I felt like I needed to do all the touristy things.

On this trip, I only had a handful of things on my agenda. The rest was day by day. When Christina's family came to visit, they had an itinerary not unlike what I used to do. There was a lot to do and see today and I was along for the ride.

First, breakfast. Christina's niece picked Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe, which is just north of Millenium Park. They don't take reservations and whole parties must be present to be seated. We had a party of 11 on a Saturday morning. I helped Diana park because the garage I chose had an entrance on the lower level of the street, which was tricky to find.

They quoted us a 2-hour wait, but we only waited about an hour. The heat was back in Chicago, so it was a rough wait. We got seated and I asked for a recommendation from the host. He had a very detailed answer for a savory dish and I liked the honest answer. I ordered the churro french toast, which was the last thing he suggested. Breakfast was delicious. I only wish this place had mimosas.

On my way out, Luisa stopped me for a second. Then I saw it. Christina was talking to the host and getting his number. Oh dear me oh my. There are scarier things in life, but in that moment, I was so nervous. I wasn't ready. She got it, so I texted him. It's like ripping off a bandaid. You dread it, but after you do it, it's not so scary. I got some cool backstory. He was nice, probably way too young for me, but you'll be an interesting character in a story one day.

After breakfast, we headed for the boat tour. Summer of George was a smaller company, a smaller boat, but it had a better bar. It's all in the presentation. They give buckets to hold large orders. They sold cocktails in pouches. Of course they "sell out" of the smaller pouch, so you must get the big $20 pouch. I got Jameson and gingerale and sipped it throughout the rest of the boat ride. It was most refreshing in the hot sun. The tour guide was far superior than the guide on our Mercury cruise. He sounded passionate, knew what he was talking about, and landed his jokes.

@jmeprcn

Part 1/4 of the day - drink pouches 😍 ##summerofgeorge ##chicago ##boattour

♬ Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

I thought we would have down time at the chicondo before dinner, but since we were in Wicker Park, we stuck around. Just one drink, we said. Whiskey Business had a cool vibe, but lots of people. The rooftop patio was nice, but it was just too hot to be out there. So, we hung out on the ground floor indoors. After the first round, we were going to move outdoors but the server told us it was about to rain. Rain? I was just up there sweating in the hot sun. Where did the rain come from. Oh, the humidity. Right. That's a thing here.

@jmeprcn

Part 2/4 - Refreshments ##whiskeybusiness ##wickerpark ##chicagoland

♬ Rain On Me - Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande

It started to pour. We watched the rain through the windows. I was grateful to be indoors and sitting at the table. I found myself seated at the table next to our group, where a guy was sitting there by himself. His friends had run across the street just before the rain. As the rain died down, he went to get himself another drink at the bar and offered me one. I politely declined, but what a nice offer. While he was gone, his friends came back. I asked the friends to give my regards, and we left because our parking was about to expire.

Christina and I had 15 minutes to get ready for dinner. I took a quick shower and redid my makeup. I wore the nicest dress that I packed. We left after 30 minutes. We meant to uber so that we could bar hop in peace after dinner, but the driver canceled on us, so nevermind.

Dinner at BLVD Steakhouse was a lot of fun. Our waiter was fantastic, as was the food. I was especially impressed with the kids menu. I didn't know fancy places offered things like that. It always feels like kids are strongly discouraged at steak houses, but this one was welcoming.

@jmeprcn

Part 3/4 - Fancy dinner ##blvdsteakhouse ##chicagovlog ##marvelousmrsmaisel

♬ Someone in the Crowd - Soundwave Touch

The plan was to take the kids to Navy Pier after dinner, but Johnny called and told us it was super crowded. So everyone headed home. Christina and I had just gotten on the freeway when Johnny called us back. Parking was a nightmare, but the pier itself wasn't terrible. Since they were all already there, we turned around and met up with them.

Wanting to avoid the crowded parking, we parked by the park. I hailed a pedi-cab and he took us to Navy Pier. It was an incredible ride. Christina had been wanting to ride one. The breeze felt great. The carriage had LED lights. We got to control the music. It was a good time. It was an expensive time at $25 per person, but oh well.

@jmeprcn

Bonus ##pedicab music video because it was so much fun and we had ##multicam action ##digitalgetdown ##tourists ##nsync ##boybandwars

♬ Digital Get Down - *NSYNC

Fireworks from the pier were nice to see and it was a nice way to spend the day. All in all, it was a day filled with good company and good events.

@jmeprcn

Part 4/4 - Pedicab ##navypier ##fireworks ##coolforthesummer ##onvacation

♬ Cool for the Summer - Demi Lovato

Family Tour Guide

 After Milwaukee, my body felt tired. I took the next two days to rest. I didn't go out, and I didn't spend any money. It was a good energy refresh as Christina's family was going to visit this weekend.

They arrived later than anticipated. This was okay for me because now I could wait for Christina and Luisa to get home and ride with them. They had a hotel downtown, and we were going to get some dinner. I figured a 15-minute walk to Portillo's in River North was going to be fine. I didn't factor in the Chicago heat that decided to come back, the grandparents speed, and little Mia's little legs. On top of that, I went the wrong way, adding an extra 20 minutes to the walk.

River North was cracking. All the restaurants with seating on the sidewalk and in the streets were full. I keep making this analogy: it's like Spirited Away. When Chihiro first gets to the town before sunset, there's no one there. Once the dark hits, it's full on crowds. Here in Chicago, the weekdays are quiet. Once the weekend hits, everyone comes out. I did worry about Christina's mom, who already had anxiety about the Delta variant. Seeing her family walk around cautiously, wearing their masks, I remembered how differently Los Angeles and Chicago are handling the pandemic. There's nothing wrong with LA, in fact, that's the smart thing to do. I can't help but like feeling normal and not having to wear a mask everywhere out here in Chicago.

The dinner rush was in play once we arrived at Portillo's. We waited in a long line to order food and then to get our food. The employee that was calling out orders was very good at his job. He called out the order number and then said their food was ready. His energy was always strong, and on some numbers, he added some flare. "Order 298, don't be late! Your order is ready!" Our order ended in seven, so he didn't have a rhyme for us.

After we ate, the weather was cooler, making the walk more bearable. I had my bearings this time as tour guide, and avoided the street with the crowded restaurants. We made a stop for gelato along the river. Christina and I ran through the mini fountain with the kids. Once my socks got wet, I was done. 

The gelato shop also had a view of the Merchandise Mart. We sat for a few minutes and waited for Art on the Mart to start. We couldn't hear the accompanying music, but it was still very cool to look at. On the nighttime architecture tour, I learned the light projectors are so precise, they only project light around the windows. So, if you're inside the building, you won't be blinded by lights every 2 seconds. I imagined a jazz song in the background, and the only song I could think of was the Hey Arnold! theme song. If I were a musician, I'd definitely have that song in my songbook.

@jmeprcn

I couldn’t hear the actual music, so this is the soundtrack in my head ##heyarnold ##travelchicago ##vlog ##artonthemart

♬ Hey Arnold Main Theme (From "Hey Arnold") - Geek Music

The Good Part of Milwaukee

Today, I continued my quest to visit every MLB stadium. I think of it as recon (will that ever not look like an accounting term?) for when I do watch a Dodger game, with company. I'll know the lay of the land. I'll know what tickets to buy.

I bought my tickets during a flash sale. They were $6, plus fees, bringing the total to $9, which was a steal. Dodger tickets never go that cheap. I'm glad for the cheap tickets because I had to tack on the Amtrak cost of $50.

The 126 was surprisingly on time today, and I feel like we flew to Union Station. I suppose the whole transit fare works out because I paid $5 for transit on two days rather than a pass for just one. I went in and found myself in the Great Hall. Yes, that is what the sign calls it. I ought to look up why train stations are so large, with such high ceilings. It's not like the trains or platforms are that high, are they?

I recognized the train station from My Best Friend's Wedding, only in the movie, it was busy and full of people. This morning, it was nearly empty. There were only a handful of people quietly sitting at the pews. Come to think of it, New York Grand Central is never as busy as you see in movies either. Movie magic got me.

I walked around to get a sense of where I needed to go. I was my own camera person again, so I got some establishing shots for vlog.

I watched The OC as I waited for my train to board. When it was time, the doors to Track 17 opened. Side note, the odd platforms were on one side, and the even platforms were on another, so I couldn't have a Platform 9 3/4 moment. The platform was in a cemented tunnel, kind of creepy. I expected it to be open like... the movies, but also like the Eurostar station in Paris.

I took a seat that faced the direction of movement. A kid to my right kept sneezing, which gave me a bit of concern. He was wearing his mask though, so okay, sure. Chicago and Milwaukee are end of the line, which I didn't know at the time. I counted the stops in between to make sure I didn't miss my stop. I don't know why I had such anxiety traveling on the train. I guess it's a path less traveled. I kept telling myself people do it all the time on the Eurostar. So stop being an American chicken and act worldly! 

The tracks were mostly rural, passing through some woods, some plains, and some farms. I was officially in Wisconsin, which is new territory for me. I tracked our location through my phone. Again, I didn't know it was end of the line so I had to be alert.

When we got into the city, I took in the view. Milwaukee looked beautiful. The building with the green roof, clock tower and thermometer caught my eye. I saw the Miller brewery. I noticed the massive blue bridges. Milwaukee's station is smaller than Chicago's. I felt frazzled once I got outside. Should I attempt the bus? I didn't have exact change for the fare and it would take a while. The game was starting soon. Should I call an Uber? That's always easy. Yet, I didn't feel like giving Uber my money. So, I opted for a cab.

Google Maps said it was only a 6 minute drive, but it felt longer. The bridges stacked atop one another, like in Portland. And like in Portland, it gave me anxiety.

The cab driver drove past a drop off spot, and went further towards the parking lot. There were many cars driving in, so we were slowly moving forward. I tried to just take it in as part of the experience. On Monday, there weren't many cars, and a lot of people used public transit to get to the White Sox game. 

There were a lot of kids and groups, which makes sense considering it was a weekday day game. lapped the stadium. The concessions were all the same. I'd say Guaranteed Rate and Dodgers Stadium have a one-up there. They had standard offerings. I was tempted with the ice cream since it's Wisconsin dairy, but it was custard so, pass.

There was no gatekeeper for the field level section. I am learning that you should just buy the cheapest ticket you can and don't sit. It's more fun to walk around and stand. Lowest level had the best offerings. Second level was fine. Terrace level was lame, but it had the Chalet with Bernie's slide.

My seats were next to the slide. This seemed like a good idea until I got there. The seats were not shaded and the sun was blazing. If there had been a home run, I couldn't see Bernie slide from my seat. That simply was not okay. I spent an inning in my seats and left to get food.

Concessions were all the same, and they all had a long line. It was ridiculous. I just wanted a hot dog. When I finally got to front, I decided on a bratwurst. However, they said it was a 5 minute wait. While I was waiting I saw two of the cashiers cough, and neither of them changed their gloves. Like, no thank you. I opted out of food and got another drink.

I found my way to the shaded side of the terrace. But of all the sections I could have sat in, I was in family seating, so there were a bunch of kids. That's no problem, but that section had no cup holders. What the fizzle? 

I enjoyed the view from there much better. Milwaukee scored a run and had the bases loaded. How I would have loved to see a Christian Yelich home run. I would have liked to see any home run and Bernie slide. It wasn't in the cards this time. Neither was a win for the Brewers. I'm bad luck for the home team this time around. (Sorry not sorry?)

I realized I got jipped out of a 7th inning stretch at the Sox game since it was a double header. There was no "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." After they sang it at the Brewers game, they sang some barrel song. A couple danced on top of the away dugout. Are they allowed to do that?

I left before the game ended. Paula's sister was graciously meeting up with me. She and her boyfriend picked me up at the drop off area. They told me about a great food truck for burgers. Unfortunately, it wasn't open at the moment. So, they took me to the Milwaukee Public Market. I got pad see ew, which was pretty good! I do miss asian food.

After we ate, we walked along the river for a bit. They told me this was the good part of Milwaukee. I look forward to exploring more when I go to a Dodger game. The boyfriend was very good about getting me to the train on time. I told them my train left at 5:30, when it left at 5:45. I got to the station just as they started boarding.

Back in Chicago, Union Station still wasn't movie-crowded. Christina picked me up and I was exhausted from the day!

University Loitering

I tagged along to the burbs today with Christina and Luisa. They went to class, and I explored the campus. First, I watched an episode of The OC on the ground floor. It reminded me of a Netflix LG lobby. In that way, it was comforting.

After the episode, I changed into workout clothes and headed towards the athletic fields. There were repairs and or maintenance being done on the bleachers. A soccer team was running drills on the field. The players looked too young to be in college, so I think it was a local high school team borrowing the field. Otherwise, kids look younger to me these days. Their coach was watching from a utility vehicle. Along the track, there were two guys training. I think the older one was the coach.

The grass on and around the field was green. So green, like in the movies. I think back to my high school and how it was mostly dirt. The track was rubber, unlike the dirt in my high school. I suppose I never went to sports areas or events at CSUN, which is why I don't have field memories associated with college.

The track had 9 lanes, and the numbers were written in several places. I imagined I was getting ready for the Olympics. It felt good. I felt accomplished. I was freaking badass to be selected above all other athletes that season to represent. No really, I did. It was great to play around. A soccer ball went astray and I kicked it while running past. Perhaps I can be in the next Bend It Like Beckham.

After completing my interval run, I went to the baseball field. I hung out in the dugout for a bit and completed a few DuoLingo lessons. After, I did my not 5, but 10 minute, arm and ab exercises. The grass was damp, as were the back of my clothes after my workout. I'm glad there was next to no one on campus to witness the wet spots in my clothing as I walked back to the car to get my clothes.

Back in my clean clothes, I walked around campus. I made my way towards the lake. First, I stopped by every station of the cross marker. Number 13 was missing. I don't know the prayers or anything, it was just comforting to feel the devotion. The last time I prayed the stations of the cross was probably my DWHL class.

I sat on a bench that overlooked the lake. It was peaceful, and I think it's a real natural lake. I didn't see any whirlpools. I noticed pockets of ripples in the water. There was definite life in there. Were there benches at Hogwarts for students to overlook the lake? 

A wave of sleepiness started to wash upon me. I spread out my blanket and lay down, using my Ravenclaw jacket as a pillow. It felt good to rest. Then I saw a giant crawling on the blanket. I tried to divert it, but it kept coming back. Like, what is the allure of my blanket when there's so much grass around? I surrendered and packed up my blanket to avoid the infestation.

One good thing to note, I think Luisa was right about B-complex. She told me it sort of repels bugs, and I haven't gotten any new bugs since I started take them last weekend. But it saturates my pee, so I've been trying to balance that out by drinking more water, which should be good anyway.

I met up with Christina and Luisa at lunch. We ate on the grass by their building. No giant ants (gi-ants) there. Christina brought me some snacks from their class. 

After lunch, I was going to drop our lunch bags in the car when I saw a sign that said auditorium. To my delight, the door was unlocked and the auditorium was empty. It had more of a lecture hall vibe than the Pantages theatre. The seats were black, pleather, spacious and comfortable.

The stage was small and it reminded me of the community theatre they used for A Walk to Remember's play. I ran onto it and wished I could sing. I thought of lines by Juliet and Eurydice, but I didn't have the guts to recite or sing them. Stage fright. I did muster up the courage to record a TikTok dance though.

@jmeprcn

How could I resist a chance to be on stage? ##dontquityourdaydream ##theatrelover dc: @sauxyyjay

♬ I Don't Mind - Fammouzz.Khariiiii

I found myself exploring the rest of the campus. College campuses are full of surprises. The science building had a museum about animals. It was of course closed. The library was also closed. There were people working in the labs. I was tempted to sit in a lab classroom, but I felt like that equipment was fragile and expensive. 

Instead, I found a hallway with computer desks. I plugged in my laptop and edited Meredith's and my "A Little Bit Alexis" video until the school day was done.

I suppose I was productive. I still have outstanding accounting things on my plate, and I haven't done it. Goodness. That stuff truly makes me unhappy. 

White Sox Game

The Dodgers are not playing anywhere near the midwest this month, but I still want to visit new stadiums. I went to Wrigley Field for a Dodgers vs Cubs game at the end of our Route 66 road trip in 2019. It's time to visit the southside team.

It was my first solo outing using public transportation. I detest the 126 bus. It's always late. I wish I had taken the Green line for two reasons: convenience and I would have gotten in my last swipe before 2:50pm when my Ventra 7-day pass expired. When my card scanned, I thought there was a 5-minute grace period on the pass. Instead, the pass was in a negative balance, and I had to refill it as if I paid the fare. Annoyingly, you can only load your card for cash fare in $5 increments.

The bus ride had a man who was talking loud about whatever he was talking about. The train had this guy playing songs on youtube on his phone and acting as if it were a boombox. For two train stops, I watched him groove to the music and stare at his reflection in the door as he did so.

I wanted to buy my ticket at the box office, so I could ask for a section where I could catch a foul ball. He suggested a $41 ticket, and I was like nah. He sold me a $29 ticket. I think that's the cheapest for that level. I took it even though I was eying $12 tickets all week. I figured the extra dough was worth it to be on the lower level. I think that proved true.

But before I talk about the stadium, let's talk about the bag policy. I should have checked this beforehand, but bags bigger than 9x5 are not allowed. I brought my purse, which was twice as big. There was no throwing away anything because the big contents were my Anker battery and my water bottle. At two gates, there each was a gentleman holding a 9x5 piece of wood painted red and telling people they couldn't bring in their bags. They directed me to a trailer in the parking lot that could store my bag for a fee. Honestly, screw that. I debated throwing away my purse, but I still had stuff.

Instead, I put all my purse contents into the main chamber. Then, I folded in the sides of the bag. Now, the bag was smaller. Maybe it could pass for 9x5, but it was quite obvious I folded the bag. All my stuff was sticking out because I folded in the zipper to close it.

I found a gate without a red brick police person and handed in my bag and water bottle. The dude didn't say anything. He didn't care that it was open. He didn't care that there were other zippers. He did a quick check and handed me the bag. I was relieved to get away with it, she said with an evil laugh. I definitely won't make that mistake on Wednesday.

@jmeprcn

Reply to @jmeprcn My other options were: toss the bag or pay to store it ##vlog ##bendingrules ##bagpolicy

♬ original sound - Jamie P

I took a lap around the concourse to sink in the land. I popped into a couple of shops and they had a few hats with the vintage Sox logo Dan Roy was looking for. I sent him pictures and learned he doesn't like "dad hats." I ate a caprese grilled cheese sandwich and finished a jack and coke as I completed another lap. On my third lap, I got garlic parmesan fries, another jack and coke, and a first visit certificate and button. Then, I made my way to my section.

Someone was siting in my seat, so I grabbed an empty one a few rows back. There were plenty of seats, so it was no big deal. The Sox scored a home run. Their mega screen has smaller, round screens at the top in the shape of candy. Each circle looked like those peppermint swirls you get at restaurants or use on gingerbread houses, but there were different colors, red, yellow, green and blue. 

After the home run was hit, the candies twirled, and then turned into letters spelling out "HOMERUN." Fireworks shot out of the scoreboard. Dodgers should do something cool like that.

@jmeprcn

##vlog Guaranteed Rate Field ##chicagowhitesox ##mlbstadiums

♬ Hardball (LP Version) - Lil Bow Wow, Lil' Wayne, Lil' Zane & Sammie & Bow Wow & Lil Wayne & Lil Zane & Sammie

After a few innings, I started to get cold. My section was shaded. I made my way across where the sun still hit and found a place to stand. I still had half a bowl of the garlic parmesan fries, and I wasn't ready to give up and throw them out. I wish I had brought a plastic bag.

I saw a bunch of people with a lemonade cup. The cup was plastic AND had a lid. I could use a non-alcoholic drink. My plan was to drink some, pour the rest into my empty water bottle, and then transfer the fries to the cup.

The lemonade stand was very cute. The first person in the assembly line put a lemon into a cup along with a scoop of a powered mix. The next person squeezed the lemons. The last person added water, ice, and if ordered, vodka. They shook the final lemonade mix and handed to the customer.  It was just enough flare to make the $9 price tag worth it. It felt fresh-squeezed, but I imbibed clumps of the powder mix.

When I settled into a standing table, I noticed the guys next to me were wearing LA hats. They were Dodgers fans that lived in Chicago. One was born in LA but has lived in Chicago for a while. I guess we can call him guy #3? We chatted some about sports and Chicago neighborhoods. He told me he was a truck driver.
"Do they have," I started to ask. I stopped myself because I could hear how weird the question might be.
"Do they have sleepers?" He finished my question for me.
I'm genuinely curious about that! However, I think this means I made the first move. It sounds like I asked to hook up in his truck. At least, that's the story I'm telling myself.

He and his friends weren't staying for the second game. Before he left, I asked for a selfie. He was more than happy to pose, and he gave me his number. Told me to let him know if I wanted to "get up" later.

Is that new slang? I've never heard "get up." But also, am I old. Again, am I old?

I still wasn't down, so I didn't text him back, but it was nice to bring the story back to Christina.

Blogging/Vlogging is Hard

 If you fall a day behind, you risk falling two days behind. Blogging requires me opening my laptop, which still feels like work most days.

Vlogging is mostly done on TikTok because it's so easy to dump all the footage there. Instagram sometimes has better songs. I'm finding my way into this influencer thing.

It was a good weekend for social media. Seen Sa Scene clips did well and got us a few more followers. I used "Begging" for a clip on TikTok, and that is now our most viewed/liked video.

That song was also used in my Monster Toys door optical illusion video on my personal TikTok. That video has over 100k views and got me over 200 more followers. On top of that, my cupcake video got another 9k views. I hope that one cracks 1M eventually.

On Instagram, I'm still filtering out what I show to people. I could easily post my vlogs from TikTok, voiceover and all, I'm just not ready to. This way, I'm forced to think of meaningful captions, which helps with my writing.

The more I review the posts and videos from this past month, the more I appreciate my life. It was always action-packed, I'm just putting more effort into documenting it. Plus, TikTok has taught me that exploring a playground and (not) opening a door can look really cool with quick cuts and the right soundtrack.

I have a few more posts to catch up on. I just needed a real-time breather.

Back in the Game

The story starts while I was on the final crossing at Go Ape. It was highest level of the hardest obstacles. There are skinny planks, each hanging from the tress by two ropes. My nerves were still getting to me. I slowly crossed each plank.

“Any tips?” I yelled to Meredith, who had just crossed the course.

Down on the ground, Christina replied, “Don’t fall in love!”

Unbeknownst to me, the person manning the zipline and stationed next to Meredith heard Christina and laughed. He then offered encouragement to me, “You’re going to have to pick up the pace.”

“Excuse you!” I exclaimed with a smile. “I don’t do this 100 times a day!”

“You’re definitely more of a tortoise than a hare right now.”

I made my way across slowly, despite the encouragement.

Once across, I said, “Yes, last one, and then you’ll never have to see our face again!”

He thought I said something like “I never want to see your face again.”

I continued conversation. We exchanged a few tidbits about ourselves, like where I was from, and living situations during covid. I took the opportunity to ask for a bar recommendation. I put him on the spot and he couldn’t think of anything. Meredith had already flown down the line and Luisa was behind me waiting.

“Okay,” I said. “I’m going to zip down and then I’ll come back for the recommendation.”

I nailed the landing. Waiting for me were Meredith and Christina.

“Did you get his number?” They asked.

We returned the harnesses and I went back to his platform.

“Did you think of something?” I yelled from below.

There was a line for the zipline, so he wasn’t able to chat. He recommended his neighborhood. “Here, I’ll give you my number and we can talk more later.”

I took down his number and texted him right away.

He responded at the end of the day. His neighborhood was adjacent to another neighborhood recommended by someone else I met that week (I slid into their dm’s). We found a bar with a good vibe and headed over.

Nearby, there was a barcode, which Christina expressed interest in. Replay in Lincoln Park was decorated as a Nick Arcade. It had almost every Nickelodeon show I grew up with featured (missing: As Told By Ginger and All That). The “Hey Arnold!” stoop was my favorite photo opportunity.

The Midnight Society section was my favorite portion. There was even a clown in a closet that reminded me of the opening theme. I went closer to take a photo and still got freaked out. Clowns scare me, especially “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” clowns.

@jmeprcn

##vlog When the bar has all the nostalgia ##nickelodeon ##nickarcade ##nicktoons ##tetris ##midnightsociety

♬ Take Me There - From "The Rugrats Movie" Soundtrack - Blackstreet & Mya & Mase & Blinky Blink

I texted guy #1 that I was in his neighborhood. I could have texted earlier, and he offered his place as a pit stop. It was straightforward and I couldn’t make the leap to go there or meet up. By the time he offered to come by, we were already leaving.

The meet was cute, but my heart wasn’t in it. I didn’t have flutters. I didn’t feel sparks. I miss that feeling. And I think it’s okay to hold out until I find that. I’m not looking for anything right now. Plus I don’t know yet how to factor in the new covid world. Would I feel comfortable getting to know a complete stranger?

I sought out reassurance from Nicole. She could understand my single mind. Her reply:

Your comfort > politeness

That’s what it would have been if I showed up. Politeness. I didn’t want to be there, but I felt like I should.

Go Ape

Randomly one day this week, Christina asked if I would be down to go zip lining. I of course said yes. She found Go Ape, which was near her university. On the website it said gloves were required, and they charged $9 each. On one of our day trips this week, Mere and I went to TJ Maxx to get $5 gloves. We found blue ones at Ross, which were automatically mine. 

When we checked in, I opted to purchase a $10 phone holder. I wish I had bought the blue phone holder from Five Below for $5, so I basically broke even. We walked past the Treetop Adventure course. That one said 2-3 hours to complete, which we didn't have time for since Meredith was flying home at 3. Instead, we signed up for the Treetop Journey, which was good for all ages and only took 1 hour.

Compared to the Adventure course we had just passed, the Journey course looked like the kids table. All the courses felt very close together. It didn't look that high. Did we jip ourselves?

We got harnessed in and had a quick training session for the harness equipment. Then, we made our way to the first loop. I was in front, followed by Christina, Mere, then Luisa. I was excited but nervous as we made our way up the stairs. The first crossing had nets on each side. The second crossing was the same type of bridge, but without the nets. Throughout the course, they do a good job of easing you into new obstacles. Then they make those obstacles harder by making the planks skinnier or removing a rope railing.

I moved slow. Looking at the video footage, perhaps I could have spent less time looking down. Perhaps I could have fixed my posture and my center of gravity wouldn't have felt at risk. Hindsight is 20/20. Each loop ends with a small zipline. The worker explained what to do when we land and how to launch. It was a lot of words at one time. I had to process the words and balance the nerves. I slid down and landed on my butt/back. Christina had the running landing, which is far more graceful, and more clean.

The second loop felt a lot harder. My least favorite part was a net you had to crawl or squat through. I saw a hole in the middle of the net and it was discouraging. It didn't feel stable to me at all. My second zip line was better, but I still wasn't brave enough to jump off, so I slid again, and I landed sitting again.

On our way back, two little boys gave us insight on loop 3.

"It's the hardest one," the first boy said.

"That one took me ten minutes," the second boy said pointing to a course. "Because I got stuck," he continued. I asked where the third loop was and they gave good detailed responses. You enter through the box in the middle of the course.

Christina opted out of loop 3. I learned later it was because she didn't feel comfortable going up that box. I enjoyed the box. It reminded me of play places (play pens?) at Chuck E. Cheese. Only, this was better because my climb wasn't shared with other kids wanting to go fast and pass me. I climbed and met Mere at the top. She took the reign as first up. Luisa followed and pointed out there were a lot of bees in the box. I hadn't noticed, but when I looked at the video footage, I saw the bees.

Loop 3 was far easier than Loop 2. Two bridges were wide and felt stable, so they were easy to cross. There's a side story to this last section, which I'll cover in a separate post.

I was able to accomplish the running landing on my final zipline. Meredith gave me a tip to pull the rope closer to my body, and that worked. We returned our harnesses and got a completion certificate.

After, we picked up Luisa's charger at the university and Mere and I got to see the school our friends jetted off to on the weekdays.

The ropes course was a new challenge, and although I was totally up for it, I was still scared. No matter how "low" something looks, when you stand on it, your view is higher by your height. Whenever I was nervous during a climb, I sang songs to distract and calm myself. That definitely helped get me across. 

I was ready to bail after the second loop, but I'm glad I kept going. It helps to see my friends do it. It helps to see little kids do it. I wish I could be like kids and have no concept of fear or pain or consequences. I saw joy and amusement in their eyes. They went fast because they can't wait for the next one. I went slow because I was worried I couldn't make it to the next step.

Literally all I had to do on this course was put one foot in front of the other. I got through each challenge one step at a time, and I just have to remind myself that in life too. I can do this because it's something I want to do. So I will push myself to get there. Whatever my next bridge is.

@jmeprcn

##travelvlog Treetop Journey at @goape is fun and perfect for beginners like me ##chicago ##ropescourse ##zipline

♬ A-O-K - Tai Verdes

Playgrounds for Grown Ups

It was Mere's last weekday in the Chicondo. It was the last time she and I would go explore. We had nothing planned, except to use our gloves at the park. Yesterday, we went to two parks in search of monkey bars with no avail. On the bus ride home, we saw monkey bars at the park two stops away.

The bus did not come on time. We waited 5 minutes before realizing the park was only a 6 minute walk. At the park, there were two sets of monkey bars and neither were kid-sized. It was perfect. Meredith of course made it across on her first try. I had issues with my skirt and with my gloves. I eventually bustled the skirt its flow wouldn't distract. The gloves continued to distract. It felt like they were coming off by the time I was close to the other side. Plus, I wasn't gripping the bars well. So I never made it across. I had many almost attempts.

There were only a few others at the park, so we were free to play without feeling out of place. This park had workout stations with bars, rings, and balance beams. The park by my mom's house also has workout stations, but those include a wooden plank you sit on to stretch. It hardly counts as a station.

@jmeprcn

##vlog We got gloves, we found monkey bars @softblueshimmer ##PepsiApplePieChallenge ##onetreehill ##soundtrack

♬ The Mixed Tape (2015 Remastered) - Jack's Mannequin

In the evening, Christina wanted to check out Navy Pier. We wanted to see how it compared to Santa Monica Pier. Off the bat, parking is more expensive at Navy Pier. It's been a while since I parked at SM, but I'd say it never went higher than $25 at night. Navy Pier started at $25 and went up each hour.

The rides were more expensive. To their credit, the rides were also bigger. The comparison table is already forming in my head, so I'm going to put one in this post. Hold please while I google how to do that in Blogger.

Attribute	Navy Pier Chicago, IL	Santa Monica Pier Santa Monica, CA
2-hr Parking	$32	$18
Ferris Wheel Name	Centennial Wheel	Pacific Wheel
Ferris Wheel Cost	$ 18	$ 10
Ferris Wheel Height	198 ft	130 ft
Ferris Wheel Lights	Colored lights, mostly blue	LEDs with designs including messages, emojis and pokeballs
# of rides	5	12
Pier Length	3,300 ft	1,600 ft

That's all the metadata that come to mind for now. Navy Pier is twice as long as Santa Monica and since it's over a lake rather than an ocean, I guess it doesn't need to be too high. The base felt almost level with the lake. Points to Navy Pier too because it comes with the Chicago skyline. The view from the Pacific Wheel in Santa Monica is bright lights for the pier and the adjacent downtown Santa Monica, but those buildings aren't high. The rest of the view is the ocean, which is great during the day, but it's just darkness at night.

There is a hotel, convention center, and beer garden at the end of Navy Pier. City cruise ships also dock there. LA spreads everything out. You have Santa Monica for the pier, Venice for the boardwalk, then Marina Del Rey for the marina. If there are LA city cruises, I'd guess they dock in Marina.

It was very pretty. I'm surprised there wasn't more going on on a Summer Friday, but that's covid for you. Also, this is a tourist spot and tourism hasn't bounced back yet. I got to see the flags we saw on our boat tour. 

There was a group of guys who were hanging out past the "do not cross" chain. There is absolutely no difference in the view on that side of the chain, except for the adrenaline from knowing you're not supposed to. So, I found my way across the chain too. There's a mini sidewalk past the chain, so it feels safe, even though I was living on the edge. I do wonder how cold that water is, but I'm not willing to touch it to find out.

@jmeprcn

##vlog Tourist time. We got the $20 option that included tickets for centennial wheel + one other ride ##navypier ##chicagoland ##ferriswheel ##pokemon

♬ Permission to Dance - BTS

Wrong Directions

 Meredith wanted to see the new exhibit at SAIC, which meant a day in downtown. First, we stopped at Chicago French Market. This time, the restaurants were open and it didn't feel like a ghost town. 

I went straight to A Taste of Philippines and was happy to see it open. The owner, Kathy, and the sous chef, Derrick, were really nice. I told them I was going to make a TikTok video and they were down to be in the video.

The breakfast sandwiches were sold out since it was late in the day, so I only got ube donuts and breakfast lumpia. The ube donuts are air-fried before they're served, which makes the outside crispy, and the inside a bit dry, but it's a decent donut. I prefer it cakey and gooey like DK's Donuts in Santa Monica. The breakfast lumpia was bomb. I called my mom to tell her we should try that at home.

@jmeprcn

A Taste of the Philippines 🇵🇭🍴##chicagofrenchmarket ##filipinofood ##ubedonut

♬ Feel Good Pilipinas - KZ Tandingan & BGYO

I also got dim sum and boba, while Meredith got sushi.

We went back to SAIC. I'm not sure if it was the same guard. He didn't seem to recognize us if it was. This time, we didn't set off any alarms. We totally got jipped our last visit. The exhibit rooms are huge. There was a room with a projector that featured sending money to the Philippines. I noticed a bunch of asian names on these exhibits.

There was also a dark room with tv screens that were psychedelic. I wish I could have had my own psychedelics to make it more fun. My favorite exhibit was Is This Desire by Lesley Bodzy. It was a sculptural project that used gold drapery to represent the "shiny veneer we each present to the world."

When you don't show up: drapes are in a full ball, floating. Energy is full.

And I wasn't invited: the drapes are grounded on a box, beginning to melt. Energy starts to drain

And I didn't say a thing: the drapes shrunk and are crumpled against the wall. Feeling cornered and unrepresented

And: Drape is a bit longer but still pushed against the wall.

The whole thing spoke to my introverted self.

I also really enjoyed a painting of someone under a blanket. It was on a giant canvas, almost as tall as the wall, and just as wide. The blanket was blue and the painting had such detail for each section of the quilt.

After, we went back to the cultural center. We sat under the dome for a while. It gives me a magnificent calm looking up at it and the lighting shining through. The quote around it felt random: Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind, which are delivered down from generation to generation as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn. 

I was inspired by a tour group that came to look up the history (also motivated since I couldn't understand the tour guide). The dome was originally built for a library in 1897, and was restored and moved to the cultural center in 2008. Its restoration included clearing out the enclosure cast around it in 1935, when some persons gave up hope on that dome.

I also learned that the roman alphabet only has 23 letters, and is missing J, U and W. Therefore, "genius" and "unborn" used V's. The w in "which" is two V's together. It's so very rude for them to exclude J. It's the best letter ever.

Grace's visit inspired coffee shop visits in the afternoon. We found one near UIC to visit next. From there, I took us to a place I had starred in my google map. I thought it was a giant door I had seen from the internet. The walk was nice enough, it was just the wrong location. We doubled back to where we were and found the door. 

Mere staged an optical illusion video, which turned out fantastic. Zach King, look out!

@jmeprcn

@zachking Did I do this correctly? ##bigmonstertoys ##chicago ##opticalillusion

♬ Beggin' - Måneskin