caffeine, please.: New roads

This past weekend Gil and I and our tribe (Jaley, Tyce, Lena and Olivia) hopped in the Chrysler, filled the gas tank and took to the highway.

Here are some highlights from trip:

Skyline Chili, a Cincinnati creation of beanless, thin chili served over spaghetti noodles with cheese on top seemed a lot like, well--spaghetti. Is this simply a stubborn unwillingness to eat the real thing or a strange attempt at cultural (and I use that term loosely) distinctiveness? I don't know.
The Planetarium presentation at the Creation Museum was worth the price of admission all by itself (we got in free through our friends' membership but you get the point). I was thunderstruck by the incredible magnitude of the Cosmos and how ridiculously small even our solar system, let alone earth, is in the scheme of it all. I bought the DVD version and look forward to watching it again and showing it to people. Dr. Jason Lisle, the creator of the presentation is whippin' smart.
I have several Wii induced injuries from our time at Ron and Mel's. I wish I could say they resulted in expert Wii game play. They did not. We will not be getting a Wii--even if I could buy the console, the medical bills would wipe me out.
Another Wii comment... watching Tyce box on the Wii was pretty much the funniest thing I've seen in a few weeks. Does the phrase "in to it" mean anything to you? He just about knocked out the TV several times.

We passed through 3 cities (Indy, Columbus & Cincy) and four states (IL, IN, OH, and KY) on the trip. Great to visit and see new things but I'm always glad to come home to my city, Chicago. Fact: Chicago is better than bears or snakes. (Thanks, Dwight Schrute).
We need Chik-fil-a in Chicago.
Gas is cheaper here than in 9/10 of the world and we make more money than 9/10 of the world as well (I just made both of those figures up but I'm pretty sure they're right.) So, I refuse to whine about gas prices. Now car repairs, that's another subject. I reserve the right to whine about car repairs.
There is some strange law in the universe regarding children and the messing-up of confined spaces that I do not understand. I had the van immaculately clean when we left and by the time we got to dinner at Hardee's it looked like Matt Foley's van minus the river. But, I've also learned that what the kids mess up, they can clean up. So they did--and they did a great job.
Great to be anonymous in church on Sunday and to see the world as an outsider. Great also to know that things back here were well-covered in my absence. Thanks Mike H. and Pastor Mark for covering things at Lakeview and Lincoln Park.
Jaley and Lena made me proud. They slept in the same room as Julia, Mel's 2 year old daughter. Julia woke up at 3am on Sunday. Jaley and Lena changed her diaper and put her back to bed without going to get Mel. Our kids are growing up.
Children are able to survive a 6 hour car ride without a DVD player. (Beyond 6 hours, I do not know.)

more useless travelogue, including the reason for the entry title, in the extended body...

We left on Friday early in the afternoon bound for Columbus, OH. NL Lakeview "graduates" Tom & Sarah were our first destination.

We had what I would term a great car ride--good conversation, a great dinner stop at Hardee's (blew my cholesterol watch with that burger for sure) and new scenery along the way. Gil commented, "nice to have some new roads to travel." I heartily agree. New roads can be a good thing. Ohio was new territory for us.

After a great (but too short) overnight visit with Tom and Sarah, we headed for Cincinnati on Saturday to visit with Gil's high school bud Melanie and her husband and kids. Another great drive.

Really enjoyed the visit with Ron and Mel as well. Great to soak in well-aged friendships and to have family "down time" so far away from the usual routine. We've known Mel since we were awkward teenagers which led to plenty of laughs and good conversation. We also enjoyed a trip to the Creation Museum on Sunday. Ron and Mel are lifetime members.

Our trip back to Chicago on Monday was pretty uneventful but frankly not as fun of drive. Kids bickered a little and Gil and I got into a protracted "conversation" about politics, America and my general lack of patriotism. I'm pretty sure I was way too defensive. Lord help me. But we arrived safely home and before bed time so all-in-all not bad.