DIS Dads Rust Belt Road Trip (2 UPDATES--1/18)

[Captain_Oblivious]

Wow, I'm moved.

You can really sense the emotional atmosphere, huh?

It's no Portillo's, but Al's Beef will do in a pinch.

Now we hadn't heard of that one. It appears there was one fairly close to the hotel as well. This list for our return trip keeps getting longer.

It's called Giardiniera.

{from Wikipedia}
American giardiniera is commonly made with serrano peppers along with combination of assorted vegetables, including bell peppers, olives, celery, pimentos, carrots, and cauliflower, and sometimes crushed red pepper flakes, all marinated in vegetable oil, olive oil, soybean oil or any combination of the three. It is also common to see it pickled in vinegar.

Thanks! I knew somebody would have the answer. It still doesn't sound like something I want on my sandwich, though. Too many vegetables and stuff that's good for you.

Again, just for that steely look in your eyes. I fear for that sandwich's life. (or should I say sammich's it is a Chicago Beef Sammich after all)

Mark 1, Sammich 0.

Poser. A combo is not a real Beef.

I dunno. I can't be too hard on a guy for doubling up on meat.

Rookie mistake, trusting a document published by a municipal agency in the city of Chicago. Next thing you know you're gonna walk right past Michigan Ave and miss it.

Oh come on, nobody's that dumb.

Told you.

Sorry, I thought he was looking for spare change.

Well, he sure wasn't in a hurry to return it.

OK, cool shot. It was worth it.

It is pretty cool. Props to Barry for that one.

Living up to your name I see.

I didn't just pull that name out of thin air, you know.

I didn't realize the DeDOT had a take your daughter to work day.

"When I grow up, I wanna be in middle management."

I agree that the Handcock has a better perspective being just a bit away from the heart of the Loop. The Willis Tower is cool and they have "the box" but otherwise the Handcock is a better view.

I'm sure there's nothing wrong with trying both. I really enjoyed the view of the skyline we had from the Hancock Tower.

Yea for creative license!

Great update and you captured a good sense of our fine city.

Thanks, Brian. I really do love Chicago.

Very good. Too bad you have the hecklers, I mean Disdads.

Oh, that's ok. They make it a lot more interesting. And at least somebody's reading it!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I can confirm, on the record, that the time stated is roughly in the ballpark of when the even actually occurred. Give or take. Ish.

Then we agree. Except for the parts where we don't.

I had planned on leading with a "Pull my finger" but Bambi made me promise to be on my best behavior.

I was just going to rip one and blame it on Julie.

Are you kidding? Al's was the fanciest place we'd eaten in months. The only way it could have been fancier was if we dined on their al fresco patio. AKA: the picnic table in the parking lot.

I would have taken you up on that if it hadn't been 96 degrees outside.

Nom, nom, nom...beef...nom, nom, nom. SURPRISE! SAUSAGE! YIPPIE!!

Mmmmm...surprise sausage...

Thanks Mark. That's quite a facade they put on, huh? Given enough time, Darth Vader would be hog tied with his own boot laces and Nurse Rached would be curled up the fetal position in the corner sobbing to herself.

Our kids are the same way. They're angels when they're with other people. They have to be alone for the evil twins to come out.

I guess I should have checked first - you guys have cardiologists in Delaware, right?

I dunno. I try to stay away, because I know they'll tell me to stop eating all that fatty garbage.

Gosh, you're making me blush. And it wasn't the only reason we went out there that day. Their meatloaf is pretty darn good too.

Still, the effort was noteworthy. And we have another reason to travel back out that way.

GPS never lies. Chicago Transit Authority Maps do, however.

I bet their maps are put together by the same group that rig--uh, runs the elections.

Seriously, who publishes a 2D map, then builds at 3D road system? WHO?!? Chicago Transit Authority, that's who.

We don't have that problem in Delaware. Mostly because the state basically is 2D.

EPIC WIN FOR THE DADS!

One of my favorite pictures of my kids was outside of the Sears Tower last time we went to Chicago.

I was just trying to recreate the Magic. And for as long as it takes me to haul my big butt back up off the ground, I might as well take some of your clan.

That is a great shot! I think you did pretty well.

Why did I decide to wear a shirt depicting a ride centered around a haunted death trap of an elevator, with a person that is, shall we say - not a fan of said ride, while riding in an elevator up to the 94th floor of a building?
Because that's what friends do.

That would be like wearing an obnoxiously colored shirt featuring the logo of a team that your buddy hates. Jerk move.

On a clear day, you can see my house.

Well, you can kind of see the bit on land that sticks out into Lake Michigan that my house is near. So that's close enough for me.

If I went up today, I could probably see the cloud of dust from all that renovation taking place inside.

Another EPIC WIN!

I'm still waiting on that shovel to lean on, though.

I saw your snow pictures. You already have a couple.

No, Mark booked his reservation first. And it didn't get stalker-ish until I called to book mine and under "special requests" I put "a room next to the Oblivious Family. If that's not available, just put us in the same room."

Our kids would have loved that. Until the rest of the hotel called security.

Like 30 minutes after Taco Bell type of moved?

Fair is fair… you can come over and join my TR and get back at me by throwing all the rotten tomatoes you want. Really… I’m inviting you to come on in and trash the place. Heck, it could only be an improvement.

Note: see the "Shameless Plug Board" in the Table of Contents on the first page.

Oh… and by the way…


I’m still laughing at that one.

Mission accomplished.

I thought "pull my finger" was your best behavior.

Me too!

Well, I don't know that it would show you where you were going, but there would a multi colored line showing you where you've been... although I'm sure on the concrete and pavement in Chicago that line would just be red.

It would only know the way to the Chicago Board of Trade.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I don't believe I have. I don't remember seeing it and that would be something memorable. I rarely see commercials unless they're on during a football game though. I love my DVR!

Here you go. 1 minute and 30 seconds of pure awesome:

http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/06/03/darth-vader-at-disneyland-viral-video/

I'd blame the DOT engineer that decided to put Michigan Avenue up in the air.

It's certainly not the fault of the dopes who failed to notice the road up on that bridge.

A W E S O M E! I might just have to see about a road trip sometime next year.

It breaks my heart to miss out on that. It says it's a traveling exhibit, so I'm holding out hope that it shows up at the Franklin Institute in Philly sometime.

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

There was a knock on the door, and the Rafiki's strode in bearing gifts. Ok, we were definitely on board with the neighboring room thing now. Madison had a brand new American Girl doll for Sarah, and Evan had Lego sets for our boys. Barry and Bambi also brought us a taste of Wisconsin: cheese and (root) beer. This might have been the coolest cheese ever: cheddar with bacon in it. Yup, I said bacon. Nature's perfect food. And they also gave us a sample of chocolate cheese. I'd never heard of that before. But it tasted like rich chocolate fudge, so it got our stamp of approval.

Really Barry?!? Giving a government employee “gifts” in a Chicago hotel room, how cliché.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Really Barry?!? Giving a government employee “gifts” in a Chicago hotel room, how cliché.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Note: see the "Shameless Plug Board" in the Table of Contents on the first page.

Ya’ know… I put together a shameless plug post in my TR just this morning. Now I think I like you’re idea of having it up front where I can keep it updated.

I do believe I’ll steal that idea.

Here you go. 1 minute and 30 seconds of pure awesome:

http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/06/03/darth-vader-at-disneyland-viral-video/

I love that one. It needs to be on a continuous loop on the front page of the DDC

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Really Barry?!? Giving a government employee “gifts” in a Chicago hotel room, how cliché.

Mark drove all that way to experience Chicago, and what better way to get that true, authentic, Chicago experience? Unfortunately I didn't have the funds to do it properly, so he had to settle for cheese and root beer instead of the standard hookers and coke.

 

[Cinderella's Fella]

Mark drove all that way to experience Chicago, and what better way to get that true, authentic, Chicago experience? Unfortunately I didn't have the funds to do it properly, so he had to settle for cheese and root beer instead of the standard hookers and coke.

 

[afwdwfan]

Really Barry?!? Giving a government employee “gifts” in a Chicago hotel room, how cliché.

I was getting ready to say that this is the best laugh I've had so far today...

Mark drove all that way to experience Chicago, and what better way to get that true, authentic, Chicago experience? Unfortunately I didn't have the funds to do it properly, so he had to settle for cheese and root beer instead of the standard hookers and coke.

... but then I read this.

 

[middlepat]

That would be like wearing an obnoxiously colored shirt featuring the logo of a team that your buddy hates. Jerk move.

Now who would do something that evil?

Really Barry?!? Giving a government employee “gifts” in a Chicago hotel room, how cliché.

Mark drove all that way to experience Chicago, and what better way to get that true, authentic, Chicago experience? Unfortunately I didn't have the funds to do it properly, so he had to settle for cheese and root beer instead of the standard hookers and coke.

I agree with Barry, this definitely falls in the "When in Rome" category.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Really Barry?!? Giving a government employee “gifts” in a Chicago hotel room, how cliché.

He picked the wrong government employee. I can't even fix parking tickets.

Ya’ know… I put together a shameless plug post in my TR just this morning. Now I think I like you’re idea of having it up front where I can keep it updated.

I do believe I’ll steal that idea.

I'll have to charge my usual fee, which is 40% of the profits from your TR.

I love that one. It needs to be on a continuous loop on the front page of the DDC

I've lost count of how many times I've watched it with the kids, and we still laugh every time.

Mark drove all that way to experience Chicago, and what better way to get that true, authentic, Chicago experience? Unfortunately I didn't have the funds to do it properly, so he had to settle for cheese and root beer instead of the standard hookers and coke.

I forgot to run that idea by Julie.

Now who would do something that evil?

I can't believe anyone would sink that low.

I agree with Barry, this definitely falls in the "When in Rome" category.

Well, I've been saying I need to come back...

 

[afwdwfan]

Here you go. 1 minute and 30 seconds of pure awesome:

http://thedisneyblog.com/2011/06/03/darth-vader-at-disneyland-viral-video/

Finally had a chance to watch it now that I'm at home... that is amazing. If there was bacon in that video, it would be the perfect video. Awesomeness all around. I think my favorite part was. Either using the force on the sword or the storm trooper trying to take a drink.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I'll have to charge my usual fee, which is 40% of the profits from your TR.

Wow… 40% of my TR profits!!

That’s equivalent to nearly 75% of what I make playing in our church band (and they’ve doubled my salary at least fifteen separate times in the last six months). Now I may have to reconsider the wisdom of my original notion.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Finally had a chance to watch it now that I'm at home... that is amazing. If there was bacon in that video, it would be the perfect video. Awesomeness all around. I think my favorite part was. Either using the force on the sword or the storm trooper trying to take a drink.

I love that sword in the stone bit. Cracks me up every time!

Wow… 40% of my TR profits!!

That’s equivalent to nearly 75% of what I make playing in our church band (and they’ve doubled my salary at least fifteen separate times in the last six months). Now I may have to reconsider the wisdom of my original notion.

Wow, all that math has to be making your head spin!

Well, I was hoping to get another update today but it looks like it's not going to happen. And I'm behind on Rob's TR as well. I hope I have the time to catch up soon. In the meantime, have a great weekend!

 

[Mrs. Knowitall]

There was a knock on the door, and the Rafiki's strode in bearing gifts. Ok, we were definitely on board with the neighboring room thing now. Madison had a brand new American Girl doll for Sarah, and Evan had Lego sets for our boys. Barry and Bambi also brought us a taste of Wisconsin: cheese and (root) beer. This might have been the coolest cheese ever: cheddar with bacon in it. Yup, I said bacon. Nature's perfect food. And they also gave us a sample of chocolate cheese. I'd never heard of that before. But it tasted like rich chocolate fudge, so it got our stamp of approval.

Thanks!!!!!

So in the end, we made it to our destination, everyone was safe, and we didn't need to ask for directions from anyone. Success all around!

"Success" also included five cranky kids....

Coming Up Next: The men and women decide they want nothing to do with each other and separate. At least until after lunch. And I wasn't there for the girls' activities, so I'll just make up that part of the report as I go.

Ummmm......who want the Captain to make up stuff while he goes along and who wants me to do a guest update? Vote early and often!

 

[middlepat]

Ummmm......who want the Captain to make up stuff while he goes along and who wants me to do a guest update? Vote early and often!

I'm from Chicago so I'm voting twice. 1 for each.

 

[afwdwfan]

Ummmm......who want the Captain to make up stuff while he goes along and who wants me to do a guest update? Vote early and often!

I'm not from Chicago but I will also vote for both options. Just because I thought he was making it up as he goes anyway.

 

[E3yore]

Thanks!!!!!

You're welcome. Thanks for the Delaware stuff. Evan loves his shirt. It made it into the weekly rotation.

"Success" also included five cranky kids....

and two cranky wives.

Ummmm......who want the Captain to make up stuff while he goes along and who wants me to do a guest update? Vote early and often!

I vote for you doing our part and his.

 

[KatMark]

Well, Mark, I am glad to see that some things haven't changed while I've been gone (and I still have 2 full days here and then our travel day). Only one update since I left ten days ago????? What's up with that?

I will give you a little credit as it was an awesome update and you got some great shots of your gather with Bambi, the kids and what's his name!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I'm from Chicago so I'm voting twice. 1 for each.

Spoken like a true Chicagoan. Now we just need some dead guys voting as well.

I'm not from Chicago but I will also vote for both options. Just because I thought he was making it up as he goes anyway.

Shh! You're giving away my secrets!

You're welcome. Thanks for the Delaware stuff. Evan loves his shirt. It made it into the weekly rotation.

Awesome!

and two cranky wives.

I vote for you doing our part and his.

Nothing like a good vote of confidence!

Well, Mark, I am glad to see that some things haven't changed while I've been gone (and I still have 2 full days here and then our travel day). Only one update since I left ten days ago????? What's up with that?

Work got in the way. I know, my priorities are all screwed up.

I will give you a little credit as it was an awesome update and you got some great shots of your gather with Bambi, the kids and what's his name!

Thanks! That guy kept sneaking into a lot of our pictures.