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femkes_folliesWow. Busy, busy weekend.
First, it was off to Chicago. Missing one toll plaza for being in the wrong lane has instituted a discussion on whether an I-Pass might be worthwhile. What I'm wondering about is what the "refundable" deposit is all about. Especially on recharges. WTF? Deposit for what?
We started at the Field Museum, which may have been a tactical error. Anneliese enjoyed it, but it was pretty much over her head, and really not hands-on enough. She did like Sue, but wasn't fascinated for all that long. That place is such a maze, that in the herding of the Anneliese, we never even got to see the Maneaters of Tsavos, which John was looking for. Though, in truth, knowing that the current mounts are quite a little smaller than the original animals - given the repeated trimmings and time spent as rugs - it was likely to be anticlimatic. John wants to do it sometime, just him and I. A reasonable thought.
It was such a nice day, we wandered down the way to the Adler Planetarium. This is a place that holds many fond memories for the Hubs, as his mother drove him down for weekly astronomy classes when he was a kid. Apparently it has changed drastically. ;-) Though it didn't shift his paradigm as badly as watching Chicago cabbies waiting (reasonably) politely for pedestrians to cross streets. He speculates that they must in some way fear a visit from The Outfit otherwise. *sporfle*
Anneliese preferred the Adler, certainly. Heck, so did I. The sheer selection of honest-to-goodness medieval astronomy instruments was super keen. I sense an ivory sundial in my future as an A&S project. John took Anneliese to a Big Bird and Elmo sky show, which she adored. Perhaps a bit too much. After Elmo said "Bye bye, friends!" - she sobbed. I sat on the bench outside the theater with her for 10 minutes - sobs. We went upstairs so John could check out the other exhibits - sobs. Walked back to the parking garage at Soldier Field - sobs. Maybe an hour? Until she was finally distracted by the great Pokemon seek-and-find book. Aiieeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was then 4 PM, and John and I were faced with spending hours in a hotel room until the girls were tired enough for bed. Or find something else to do. God Bless GPS. And I mean that in a literal, non-blasphemous, genuine way. Up to Woodfield we went. Ah, another place to visit when unencumbered by children. It's the weirdest mall. Lots of half-levels, ramps, and mezzanines. I could SEE the Janie and Jack store, just couldn't figure out how to get AT it. And was unwilling to drag the whole fam around anyway. As it was, we stopped at Caribou Coffee for hot water for Rori's bottle just in time to avoid a meltdown on that front. The Disney Store was big and well stocked. And the Disney Doorway to Dreams was really a lot of fun. They put on movies and dragged out toys for the girls while John and I toured the models and talked turkey with the salesman. I suspect he will call tomorrow. John was briefly tempted by Bay Lake Tower, just because of the view. Until I pointed out how few of the units HAVE a Magic Kingdom view. He still likes the location, and we're less affronted by the decor, having seen it in person. But I'd still rather have Boardwalk. Especially since the salesman was emphatically sure that an extension would be in the works, soon. Though I doubt I'd get that in writing. I think we'll wait. Mostly cause we can't afford it anyway at the moment. Even with some pretty damned good incentives.
We window-drooled at Texas de Brazil. But again, had the girls along. And $42.50 a head was a little steep, with kids. Then off to the hotel in Portage, IN for the night.
First, it was off to Chicago. Missing one toll plaza for being in the wrong lane has instituted a discussion on whether an I-Pass might be worthwhile. What I'm wondering about is what the "refundable" deposit is all about. Especially on recharges. WTF? Deposit for what?
We started at the Field Museum, which may have been a tactical error. Anneliese enjoyed it, but it was pretty much over her head, and really not hands-on enough. She did like Sue, but wasn't fascinated for all that long. That place is such a maze, that in the herding of the Anneliese, we never even got to see the Maneaters of Tsavos, which John was looking for. Though, in truth, knowing that the current mounts are quite a little smaller than the original animals - given the repeated trimmings and time spent as rugs - it was likely to be anticlimatic. John wants to do it sometime, just him and I. A reasonable thought.
It was such a nice day, we wandered down the way to the Adler Planetarium. This is a place that holds many fond memories for the Hubs, as his mother drove him down for weekly astronomy classes when he was a kid. Apparently it has changed drastically. ;-) Though it didn't shift his paradigm as badly as watching Chicago cabbies waiting (reasonably) politely for pedestrians to cross streets. He speculates that they must in some way fear a visit from The Outfit otherwise. *sporfle*
Anneliese preferred the Adler, certainly. Heck, so did I. The sheer selection of honest-to-goodness medieval astronomy instruments was super keen. I sense an ivory sundial in my future as an A&S project. John took Anneliese to a Big Bird and Elmo sky show, which she adored. Perhaps a bit too much. After Elmo said "Bye bye, friends!" - she sobbed. I sat on the bench outside the theater with her for 10 minutes - sobs. We went upstairs so John could check out the other exhibits - sobs. Walked back to the parking garage at Soldier Field - sobs. Maybe an hour? Until she was finally distracted by the great Pokemon seek-and-find book. Aiieeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was then 4 PM, and John and I were faced with spending hours in a hotel room until the girls were tired enough for bed. Or find something else to do. God Bless GPS. And I mean that in a literal, non-blasphemous, genuine way. Up to Woodfield we went. Ah, another place to visit when unencumbered by children. It's the weirdest mall. Lots of half-levels, ramps, and mezzanines. I could SEE the Janie and Jack store, just couldn't figure out how to get AT it. And was unwilling to drag the whole fam around anyway. As it was, we stopped at Caribou Coffee for hot water for Rori's bottle just in time to avoid a meltdown on that front. The Disney Store was big and well stocked. And the Disney Doorway to Dreams was really a lot of fun. They put on movies and dragged out toys for the girls while John and I toured the models and talked turkey with the salesman. I suspect he will call tomorrow. John was briefly tempted by Bay Lake Tower, just because of the view. Until I pointed out how few of the units HAVE a Magic Kingdom view. He still likes the location, and we're less affronted by the decor, having seen it in person. But I'd still rather have Boardwalk. Especially since the salesman was emphatically sure that an extension would be in the works, soon. Though I doubt I'd get that in writing. I think we'll wait. Mostly cause we can't afford it anyway at the moment. Even with some pretty damned good incentives.
We window-drooled at Texas de Brazil. But again, had the girls along. And $42.50 a head was a little steep, with kids. Then off to the hotel in Portage, IN for the night.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2009-05-26 03:58 am (UTC)Boo. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2009-05-26 03:53 pm (UTC)Besides, you might not have been up for Cranky Children, by the time we were done with our running 'round. ;-)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-05-30 02:54 am (UTC)