More Chicago Meet Pictures

[helenabear]

My weekend started off bright and early on Friday morning (the 11th). I was up and out the door just about 7:15 or so Eastern time (that would be 6:15 for you Chicagoans ). Shortly after, I was on the road to Chicago. Except for minor lay ups in Columbus itself, and rush hour around Indianapolis, I had a pretty easy and quick drive to Chicago. Five hours after I started, I hit the south side of Chicago and decided to take a drive through the loop and along Lake Shore Drive.

Here we have the Chicago skyline ahead of me. But most importantly to prove to you all that I can actually drive the speed limit (or close to it). If you look off to the right, the speed limit is 40 MPH. If you look down at my dash you will see that the speedometer reads just a hair over 40 MPH as well. So jokes about my speeding will no longer be tolerated

Another shot of the Chicago skyline while I was sitting at a stop light.

Unfortunately this picture just does not do Lake Michigan justice at all. It was a beautiful sunny day. My window was open, as was my sunroof and I was just loving the beautiful blue water and weather that Chicago had to offer.

A quick pick of Navy Pier. You can see the ferris wheel in the background. I truly loved this place and had I had more time, I would have parked my car and wandered around there for a few hours. Truthfully, I was tired and wanted to go check into my hotel.


Now skipping to later that night…

Here we have one of our “acceptable” doodles on the wall at Gino’s East

DonnaW was chatting away while her DH (Mark) just glared at me for taking the picture

Brisully (Brian) and Dan Murphy doing the normal camera talk they seem to do.

Side view of Pandy Paws (Donna) and the back of her DS (Ryan) while talking with December99 (Chris)

fire14 (Juli) chowing down on some great pizza!

Dan helping Martin take a few pictures with his camera.

Dopeygirl (Tricia) was the poor victim of the bathroom exit shot.

Tricia, KimRaye, Chris and the two Donnas all chatting away

Bunchkin (Nicole) and her DD Lauren. They brought us wonderful cookies and tons of stickers to go around

Serena’s DD (Kelsea) doodling on the wall

The butterfly in the center was what she was drawing. Very nice isn’t it?

Serena (Laurie) was having a nice conversation with others while her DD’s Brittany & Kelsea were drawing away.

Tricia, Donna and Lady M (Marie) were having a nice conversation while DoctorP (Mike) was trying to give me the evil eye


This brings us to the next day of the meet at the Chicago Ridge Mall

Here is KimRaye’s cute DD (Kelly) playing with a Pooh stamp set that Brisully was so kind enough to give out. (Thanks Brian for mine too… I love it!!!)

Chris is talking to Donna while yepod (John) was trying to avoid me

Here we have the two Johns (Towncrier & yepod) enjoying their lunches.

Isn’t Bunchkin’s DS (Hunter) just the cutest??

Glo won the award for the longest distance traveled for this meet coming all the way from MA. DG, Ellen (PatrickIL’s DW) and Patrick all having a great time.

Robinb’s DD (Celia) had just the cutest button she was showing off for me. Along with it, she had the best shirt on that her mom made for her!

John was working hard on his “cheat sheet” while Laurie tried to help him get it all straight.

A bunch of DISers just enjoying the afternoon… Serena, Glo’s DH (Phil), KimRaye, DoctorP (Mike), Chris, Robinb (Robin), Ellen & Tricia

A little later on fireplug (Steve) and Jeepers Lady (Colleen) showed up. There they are chatting with Glo, Donna & Patrick with Laurie and Phil in the foreground.

John… that pic is payback for that sticker on my back…

… you know… this one

Here we have super mom Glo with two of her DD’s

Dan and Steve reading (we read at these meets?? )

Here was the beginning of the flash wars… see Dan started it!!!

John put up a good fight but he finally gave up

As the day came to a close, poor Ryan was completely tired and tried to take a nap in his mom’s lap.

After the meet was over, I went back to my hotel and began to pack up. As much as I enjoyed this trip, I hoped to leave bright and early so I could get home and relax that afternoon.

I left my hotel at about 6:30 Chicago time… I had been up an hour so I figured it was time to get on home. This is a shot I took from 90 as I was leaving Chicago… such a beautiful sunrise and I had such mixed emotions about leaving.

I must admit, this really put a smile on my face to see!

And just a tiny shot of some of Columbus’ skyline as I drove on by on my way home.

I truly had a wonderful time this weekend. I can’t even begin to describe how much fun it was to spend so much time with such a great group of DISers. I hope that my next trip to Chicago won’t be too far away… actually I just hope that my next DIS meet won’t be too far off either

 

[jldriscoll]

GREAT pictures Elaine!!!! Looks like tons of fun!! Just one question....who was driving while you took those car shots? SINCE I KNOW YOU WENT ALONE!!!!!!

 

[Blondie]

Thanks for sharing what looks like a most memorable DIS meet.

In this photo, Serena's DD looks like Kate Winslet!

 

[EROS]

Beautifully done..........Thank You

 

[lilboo]

You are SO GOOD with online and real life names-how do you do it?
I just caught Yepod's Chicago pics...I'm SO glad you got payback!

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Great pictures - thanks for posting!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Great pictures, Elaine, of two nice days with you and everyone. We did have a good time, didn't we?? Thanks for sharing, then, and now.

 

[KimRaye]

If you look down at my dash you will see that the speedometer reads just a hair over 40 MPH as well. So jokes about my speeding will no longer be tolerated

Sorry Elaine, since NO ONE can SEE your speedometer, the true facts, what you call jokes, will continue!!!

Thanks for posting these! Looks like you got almost everyone!!

I'm glad you came in all that way, it was another fun time!!

 

[robinb]

Thanks for posting that great picture of Celia. She and I really enjoyed meeting everyone IRL .

 

[Kama89]

Lookin' good everybody...wish I could've been there!

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

Thanks for posting all these pictures, Elaine. It did look like a lot of fun. I've gotta admit that I was thinking the same thing as Jennifer though about you driving and taking the pictures at the same time!!

Just a hair over the speed limit, huh? According to freetrip.com the distance from Columbus OH to Chicago is 5 hours, 44 minutes. So if you made it in 5 hours that means that you shaved 44 minutes off even with a couple slowdowns which is a tad more than a "hair" but I'll let it go.

Seriously though, thanks so much for sharing, I know it must have taken a lot of work to put these together and we appreciate it.

 

[catsrule]

Beautiful pictures, Elaine. You are brave to drive to Chicago solo, I am too scared, and I would be falling asleep at the wheel.

 

[Big V]

Great photo's! Thanks for sharing.

 

[dizneenut]

Great pics, Elaine!

 

[Fire14]

Driving to Chicago is really an adventure in itself. I'm sure she did it in 5 hours. I personally did it in 5.25 hours and was futher south than her and took a differnt route with lots of slowdowns. She traveled mostly interstate which from personal experience DO Travel FAST!!!!.

 

[newmousecateer]

Great pictures Elaine!

I agree with Kim. I can't read the speedometer, so no proof as far as I am concerned.

 

[yepod]

Originally posted by lilboo
You are SO GOOD with online and real life names-how do you do it?
I just caught Yepod's Chicago pics...I'm SO glad you got payback!

The sad truth boo, is Elaine started this silly sticker thing at the Battle Creek meet a couple of months ago Then she repeated it at this meet (something about being picked on Cheese with that whine El )
So paybacks were MY picture! I tried to get Luis (her DH) to put the sticker on HER back as payback at the BC meet but she was "too sensitive" & caught us

But this time I was able to 'somehow magically make it appear' on her back

Originally posted by helenabear
But most importantly to prove to you all that I can actually drive the speed limit (or close to it). If you look off to the right, the speed limit is 40 MPH. If you look down at my dash you will see that the speedometer reads just a hair over 40 MPH as well. So jokes about my speeding will no longer be tolerated

As for this issue, like KimRaye said, sure Elaine, what ever you say

Originally posted by jldriscoll
Just one question....who was driving while you took those car shots?

And I'm sure Luis doesn't appreciate this unsafe mode of driving Fast AND Reckless

Now about the pictures Elaine, the one was my normal glassy, slack mouthed stare after 8 hours straight DIS meeting (or was it my shock at the pin 'feeding frenzy' )

And this picture was not "give up" it was "grow up"

Talk to the hand cause I'm notta' lis'nen

Thanks for sharing the great pictures DP & the great time we all had

Stupid John

 

[dianeschlicht]

Great to see you all again. Great "hand", Yepod!

 

[yepod]

Talk to the hand, Diane

And Juli, don't defend Elaine's speeding habits (that will be her defense attorneys job in speeding court) LOL

 

[browneyes]

Great pics. Not only do I get to see what fellow DIS'ers look like, I get to see the city I've always wanted to see (Chicago). Thanks for posting. Looks like y'all had a great time.