FREE Days, Snow, and Shows.

I love Chicago's museums, and I really love the museums' free days. There are a couple of great websites such as this one that have all of the free days nicely compiled together for our enjoyment.

Yesterday, I was able to see two dear friends that I haven't seen in a long time. My sweet friend Iliana came to visit for part of the day. She lived across the hall from me in college 2.5 years ago, and she just happens to be from a suburb an hour away from the city. She took a train into town, and we headed over to the Shedd Aquarium prepared for the worst line to wait in which has happened in previous experiences on Shedd free days. To our surprise, we only waited about five minutes! Being an animal lover, or maybe fanatic would be a better word, I ate up every minute there. After we visited, we stopped in the gift shop, and I spoke with the manager about the possibility of getting hired back with Event Network and working there at the Shedd. Event Network owns the gift shops in multiple tourist venues, and I was employed by them when I worked at the Willis (Sears) Tower then transferred to the AMNH.

 Here are just a few pictures of our time there! (Not wonderful quality due to my camera/difficulty taking photos through tanks)

My new little friend Iliana bought for me! :)

Monday evening I had dinner with the newly married Joe and his father-in-law at Gino's East! My family has known Joe and his family for many years from attending the same church/school. Joe came into town with his father-in-law for business related matters, and it was so wonderful to see him and catch up on life. Gino's East is a famous deep dish Chicago pizza place, and I've heard great things about it. It was delicious.

Chicago is blanketed with white again! While walking home today I had a moment that I've only ever seen on TV or in Movies. I was waiting to cross the street during rush hour, and a giant snow plow was zipping a long on the side of the road that I was on. I saw that it was madly spraying everything in its path , and I tried to think of a quick get-away plan. The moment I turned to run, it attacked me. Soaking wet, I just laughed and laughed and proceeded to wait to cross the street. Thankfully I was near home, so I didn't freeze too long. I can imagine it was a funny sight to see for the traffic around! I bet the snow plow drivers have contests for how many people they can soak. I know I would.... ;)

I'm very excited to attend the musical "Grey Gardens" opening at the JPAC this weekend. My friends Jill and Austin are in it! When I heard of the musical, it was suggested that I watch the documentary of the two ladies on Hulu or netflix to watch the story of the ladies of Grey Gardens. When I watched it, I couldn't believe how young Edie acted for her age, and I couldn't get over how adorable Edith was. It was so cute to watch her smile and sing a long listening to her recordings of herself singing back in her vocal prime. Her never ending love of ice cream, cats, and singing make me think I'm going to be a lot like her when I'm in my 80's. haha. 

If you're in the Chicago area, ticket info can be found here.