"I've got a bad disease"

When I come back from a vacation I need rest. 

I used to feel that way even before I was concussed. I would hurry and pack (leaving a tornado wake of clothes behind) and fill my trips with a bunch of fun activities, then come home with laundry and travel fatigue and a mess to deal with.

Now its enhanced even more because I just can't do all those days of conversation, thinking, and interaction (on top of the usual vacation fun activities). My travel fatigue is exponentially greater.

I don't want to imply that I had a bad time. I had a wonderful trip! My enjoyment of family never wore thin, but by the end of the week, it was nearly impossible for me to interact with strangers. I couldn't be in clamoring coffee shops and I thought mean things at the slow walking families. 

And when everyone wanted to do a wine tasting, I realized the thought of responding to a sommelier about 'how long we're in town' or 'if we can detect the subtle hickory notes' might push me towards aggression. (it wasn't far from this scene in Bottle Rocket when Anthony explains why he went into a mental institution. which is not necessarily comforting)

So I'm taking all morning to say nothing and do nothing and rest from my relaxing vacation.

(that sounds spoiled, I know, but I'm saying it anyway)

Here is a nice soothing song for my kind of concussion recovery day (I've got to take it slow):

Here is an image of the beaches in Michigan (yes Michigan) that I will close my eyes think about.

my buddy, Chicago

Right now we're on our way to CHICAGO!

Its an exciting vacation where we will see Neil's cousin get married just north of the City this Saturday. Before that, I will take him around the place I used to live and visit friends I miss so much it hurts. After the wedding, we go with his family to the neighbor state of Michigan and kick it by the lake for a few days.

As we head off to the windy city my head is swimming with all the things I want to fit into such a short time.

When you go back to a place you love do you ever feel like you need to re-visit places (parks, restaurants, train stops, etc) as well as people?

Don't those well worn sites feel like friends too?

I find myself booking us for way more meals than we will know how to eat! And franticly trying to decide the most perfect location to watch the NBA draft (in a city that actually has an NBA team!)

I'm just going to keep posting photos of flirty Chicago (that minx) because it's making me so happy.

And I'll tell you some places I love to go when I'm there. Like Sultan's Market for lentil soup and falafel that's so tasty it will make you late for work and not care (at least that's been true for me). 

and Smoke Daddy's for 'hot damn that's good' barbeque and live blues and jazz every night (no cover).

and Dunlay's on the Square for really good brunch and really really good bloody mary's

and they serve a cookie in a skillet with ice cream on top. amen.

my favorite vegetarian place, Handlebar (where Andrew Bird eats)

as for the chicago staples...

Hot Dog: when I was eating meat it was Hot Doug's all the way (or the Wiener Circle)

Pizza: I'm not big on the deep dish - I know its against all things mid-western - but when I need a true Italian style, wood fired, thin crust pie, I go to frasca.

I love going to the cocktail lounge on the almost top floor of the Hancock Building and paying way too much for a drink but not as much as you pay for the observation deck one story higher.

I love the burritos at a little place in my old neighborhood, Lawndale. It's called Spicy and it was small and hot and the horchata was churning in a machine by the door. It was always packed with people. It was were I would linger to watch world cup matches on a fuzzy tv with about 50 of my neighbors. They put avocado chunks on everything. *Spicy's does not have a website. 

The coffee shop, Cafe Mestizo, in Pilsen is legit. Get the Mexican Hot Chocolate. I don't care if its July.

I also have a thing for Efebos, which is right down the street.

And the bars - DOC wine bar for atmosphere. Map Room if you want all the beer ever. Guthries if you want board games! Dark Horse if you want The Steelers. and Goose Island if you want local brew and better nachos than you can begin to imagine.

Then the nightlife - Peace has live band karaoke so you can be a bit more terrible and its okay. The Green Mill has jazz. The Subterranean has reggae night (oh does it ever!) Funky Buddha Lounge has dancing. 

But alas, we have less than 48 hours with my old pal Chicago 

and I should stop before this goes on and on. 

maybe next visit will be long.

although honestly - even years wasn't long enough.

Vacation Photos

I'm going to use the terribly unappetizing term 'dump' and unload a bunch of our vacation pictures.

Stone Harbor, New Jersey

cargo bike

           naps  

   
                        
                                   (here's the zoom in for Neil's reaction)

        

Tetherball: its wholesome family fun until someone crushes Uncle Neil in the face 

           books                                                                   castle moats

dinner buddies

 

more naps and
beach yoga (at 7 months pregnant)

flying a kite

make that, awesomely flying a kite

 

games 

pool snacks (with a bite missing)

lazy days

long walks

lots of love

the end.

HAPPY WEEK! hope its relaxing

Our hotel in Wilmington charged for wifi. Our rental at the beach has no internet. The small town coffee shop’s access is ‘down’ for the foreseeable future. All these road-blocks add up to some silence as of late. 

Now I’m hunched over on a bench outside a Caldwell Banker by the glare of the midday sun. I have 20 plus emails (mostly living social deals for electrolysis) and I can’t ignore the pull of the ocean tide - away from the one thing I was only half-heartedly hoping to find (oh internet, what a love hate relationship we have!)

So you can bet this will be the last time I carry my computer to what seems to be the only non secure site around. Now is the only time I’ll expose my laptop to the salt air and today is the only day I’ll spend time on this bench - communicating with the outside world. 

Because inside this worlds is pure bliss...

Its toes in the sand

and dips in the pool

and playing till you can't play any more

I’ll catch you next week friends! Have a good one!

Packing Tips

I love Pinterest for so many reasons, but today its for all the quick, easy, packing tips I found...

(seriously... genius!)

an empty q-tip case for your earbuds

saran wrap to prevent spills

roll silk scarves around empty paper towel holder for no wrinkles 

soap case to protect your digital camera

snacks! every trip needs snacks!

put your necklaces through straws so they don't knot

(this one might be my favorite)

you can inflate a pool swimmie around a wine bottle for protection in your suite case

once you arrive, deflate, and you have plenty of space!

use shower caps (free from hotels) around your shoes to protect your clothes

Any packing tips you have? 

I had always heard "Lay all your clothes and money out on your bed. Then put away half of your clothes and double your money." haha! 

all photos via pinterest