May 27, 2002

From what I remember, Rebecca and Paul fastened me into a makeshift papoose and carried me back to Jason's last night. After a buttery breakfast with my mysteriously un-hungover drinking partners and an unsuccessful thrifting forage, I spent most of my last day here in Chicago reading comics and sleeping it off.

Despite my unsettling first try at a Chicago visit, everything ended up more or less okay on the way back through. I got to spend Saturday in Wisconsin with Jason and Sunday in town with Paul and Rebecca (who was also in town by a happy coincidence). I really should learn to be less of a crybaby and just get along. Things generally work out. After all, if it had been really fun here from the beginning, I might've blown off Indiana and/or Wisconsin, and I'd've missed two car museums, a pickling plant, a buggy ride, the super RV Heritage museum, drinks with Cindy and her charming friends, a wild west museum, a roadside stand with some terrific fresh cherries, cherry cider and cherry pie (still warm from the oven), the National Dairy Shrine, a Friday fish fry and some fried curds I'm still thinking about, a Francheezie at the Sugar Bowl, cheddar blue cheese, a Wisconsin-shaped coaster made of foam "cheese," the amazing Forevertron, Grandview (I really wanna do that to my house), a tour of several novelty rooms at the Don Q FantaSuites, the most chilling dirty look I've ever gotten, and of course miles and miles of plush farmland.

Tomorrow morning, I start out for Kansas City to visit Kelly Sue. But tonight I really want a hot dog. Unfortunately it's late and it's a holiday. Do you think I'll find a hot dog place that's open if I just start walking? It's Chicago for crying out loud.

Where's my hot dog?

05.22.02