Day 1- Ack! I had to be up, dressed, and lucid at 430am. I'm surprised I actually did it :) Got to The Dad's house RIGHT ON TIME thankyouverymuch. Got to the airport over an hour early which was fine... I brought AMPLE reading material for this escapade... and thank god I did. So I'm reading.. having a good time except for the fact that its around SEVEN A.M!! *sigh* So... because of nasty weather in Chicago our flight is delayed by about 45min.... but that's ok... at least the flight hasn't been cancelled... like the flight that was scheduled an hour after ours. So we get on the plane.. wing exit seats.. lotsa leg room... (flying tip #1) ... have a nice snack, got myself 3... count 'em THREE glasses of fresh orange juice.. no canned stuff for THIS adventuress, thankyouverymuch. Traded my banana for The Dad's muffin :) What a deal. Landed. Stepped outside. Have ya'll ever been in a place that has high humidity? I hadn't. Picture taking a bath in an enclosed room with no fan... let the hot water just keep running for about 2 hours. Get the idea? I kinda liked it. But then, I'm big on long hot baths :) Got to the Holiday Inn. They had an indoor pool. Coming from California... an indoor pool is highly unusual. Had to remind myself about SNOW etc. Noticed right off that just about everything is built with bricks. Out here bricks are a MAJOR no no. They don't SWAY particularly well.. if you know what I mean. Did some driving around, met some of The Dad's long time girl buddies. *smug grin* Finally got to meet Rage.. didn't die from the cats...(Actifed worked!... Muahahaha.. watch out Yolene your CD collection is no longer safe... muahahahaha) Had some great chili.. (Thanks Joan) Almost fell asleep in the basement.. (Not Rage's fault... see opening sentence). When finally made it back to the motel, TRIED to sleep thru The Dad's coughing up a lung...(not a fun thing, sounds like he's going to DIE for Pete's sake. Worriesome ya know?)... Almost since I could talk was always bugging him to stop smoking, he finally did but too late. Needless to say didn't get GREAT sleep. *sigh*

Day 2- Drove around Chicago. Drove under postal building, Chicago Stock exchange. The Dad just about drove me bonkers. Love him, Love him lots... but GEESH. Can only take so much of, "And there, were that building is, there used to be a bar that we'd hang out at". I know he grew up there and enjoyed visiting his old haughts and all.. but geesh. If stories had followed well great, but NO...mosts of the time it was just.. "Where that dirt lot is, there used to be this friends house" or "This is ___ and two blocks over that way is ____ and if you go down five houses, on your right was __ ___ 's house." I didn't say anything, I knew how much it meant to him to show off this city and his knowledge thereof, but it was definitely an example of how much I love him that I didn't start screaming at him a few times. Then it was back to the motel/hotel/whatever for The Dad's nap. I kicked back on the porch thingy by the pool and read for awhile, then collapsed on the bed and had some REALLY great dreams. Got up to get changed for dinner with The Dad and his friends at Tom's Steakhouse off North Street. I had an ok time till his friend Audrey arrived... what a hoot. Got to hear lotsa war stories 'bout The Dad. hehehehe. Then he dropped me off at the room and he then went to the bar at the Inn and closed the bar with Audrey, Jane Anne, and Carol. Had himself a fine time. I got to watch the last of the '96 Olympic opening ceremonies :) Went to bed around 2-3am.

Day 3- ICK! Got up early again. Drove up to Wausau Wisconsin to visit Dad's cousin Genevieve and her husband John. Had a quick bite to eat then The Dad, Gen and I piled into her van (I want a Van one day btw) and she drove us up to Minocqua where the cabin on the lake is. Been there once before when I was 'bout 8-9yrs old. Very rustic... has a outhouse. Now THERE's an experience let me tell you. Great view. Unspoiled lake. Ducks, Loons, Fish, MOSQUITOs!! I had one really amorous one that followed me to bed... got the love bites to prove it too. All over my face, thankyouverymuch. *sigh*

Day 4- Got to sleep in. Had some food. Got dressed. I rowed out across the lake with Dad. He baited my hook. I fished. Fishing is cool. Came back. The Dad took a nap, Gen and I went out walking up the road and bonded. Nice lady. Strong. I want to be like her.. energetic etc.. when I'm that age. She's blood so the chances are good :) We came back.. sat on the screened porch and read awhile. The Dad sneaked up and took pictures. His days are numbered once he develops the darn things. We ALL sat and read for awhile then played this confusing but fun game of cards. Round 'bout 330pm The Dad and I went back out on the lake. Got me a slight sunburn. Just about when we were ready to call it a vacation... I caught me a FISH! Yessir.. big mouth bass bout 10 inches long.. Wheeeeheee! Since the fish were biting we stayed awhile longer. I rowed back...I like to row. Had a light supper then packed up and left. Got back to Gen and John's and TOOK A SHOWER!!! Bliss. Joy. Then went to sleep.

Day 5- Isn't this supposed to have been a vacation??? Got up EARLY again dangblastit! Ate muffins, hugged, left by 830am. Drove to Milwaukee... stopped in on Marquette University *she buffs her nails on her shirt* Bought another college logo sleeping outfit :) :) plus lotsa other stuff :) Raced for Chicago to turn in the rental car before it turned into a pumpkin at 3pm. Flight was scheduled to leave at 542pm. Had LOTS of time. Killed most of it quite nicely. Flew back home, had lasagna for dinner. Finished the SECOND book I brought along. Got a pressure headache even though I wasn't stuffed up or anything. Felt burning need to use bathroom once the seat belt sign for our descent came on of course. Oh yeah.. and this return flight was rather empty so got to spread out all over the seats and such.. very relaxed atmosphere.. lot less cramped too. Got window seat both ways :) Saw Great Salt Lake. Did you know its RED?