Wanderlust

I think celebration is in order – we finally found a geocache! Well, yes… another geocacher did point it out first, but I think that’s just a small pesky detail of our hunt. We dropped a bug, signed our names proudly, and (of course) snapped a picture to save the moment. The guy with us was planning on spending the entire day driving around the area and finding as many caches as possible; we had only one goal – to find this specific one. And had given ourselves hours to do so. Hehe. Good thing it didn’t take hours, otherwise I have a feeling it would’ve been death for my geocaching hobby. Again. At least for another month.

There are great trails in and around the Starved Rock State Park. Warning though – declines + terrain during winter = falling. I think I slid about 20 feet on this one, thankfully came to a halt before the huge rocky ravine. Yes, that is my butt mark. I like sledding and all, but wasn’t planning on it so abruptly and painfully, and I didn’t have a sled. Cujo and Charlie stayed upright, yeah yeah, walking experts or whatever.

So, you know the show American Idol? Well, I don’t really watch it, but in this area of Illinois it’s pretty popular. Most of the small towns have the contest on a smaller scale. We went to the ‘Rockstar” competition for the Ottawa area naively – totally expected a handful of people singing karaoke style – thought it would be something to do and somewhere to have a drink and be entertained. We were FLOORED! It was packed – standing room only in a huge lodge – I’m guessing 200 people to watch, eat dinner and vote, the contestants were GREAT, and the process was professional with judges and feedback. If it was like karaoke at all, it was karaoke on steroids. I want to go back and watch next week’s theme is 80s – my favorite! I suppose instead, I will watch from afar.

Guy Fieri is my hero. He’s the host of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on the Food Network. He is that lucky schmuck that goes around the country and eats all the good low key places. He is also the one who introduced me to Paradise Pup in Chicago. Healthy is not how it’s described, but oh man it’s good. They have char burgers with this cheddar spread – it’s like a paste or a spread – and tastes much better than that sounds. They put it on fries, too. The burgers are juicy and the bun is grilled, and the onions are too. Sooooo good. Trust Guy. Yeah, we went back for seconds, so what?

The Museum of Science and Industry was a beautiful building, and held a submarine and a 727. However, the 727 wasn’t accessible and the submarine tour cost extra. I suppose I lacked a little planning as my expectations were much higher than reality. It always irks me when there are extra add-ons. Like those damn grocery store ‘rewards’ cards you have to sign up for. Just give me best price without me giving you my phone number. Anyway, we saw the outsides of the plane and sub. And we saw a baby chick peck out of it’s shell. There was also a little movie/exhibit about the power of 10 that was neato – moved out into the deep black at a power of 10 in 10 seconds, then back in. Gave you that – whoa I am but a speck of dust – feeling.

Millennium Park is really an incredible area of Chicago. It’s huge, and it houses a slew of art, architecture and events. The Cloud Gate held our attention for quite a while - wandering around it, in it, looking at all the angles of ourselves and the skyline in the abstract blob of mercury. Check out the reflection behind us. There is an exhibit called the Museum of Modern Ice during February, and it’s basically that – colorful art in ice slabs. There is also a fountain area which displays heads of Chicago residents on a big tower. Adjacent is the Chicago Cultural Center which had exhibits ranging from artist’s neurosis to maps/geography. Those were really, really interesting and really, really odd. In a good way, of course.

Cody, welcome to the planet - we have been waiting for a long time to meet you!

Let's hope that you will be the answer to calming down your wild and crazy parents. hehe. No really, the truth is that they were born to be your parents. Jamie and Wendy, you guys are going to be wonderful family. We love you.

We had another great weekend of exploring with visitors - this time from Omaha. We wandered around the area here, and took in the Starved Rock State Park Lodge , as well as Washington Square - the site of the first Lincoln/Douglas debate (which Daniela had recently studied), and the Ottawa downtown area.

We made pizza, though it didn't necessarily rival Chicago style pizza, and went out for fish shaped steak. Not really, but doesn't it look like it, seriously? And too bad we didn't take any video of the cheese dance for the pizzas... next time, haha.

Of course, Charlie was paramount - and kept us all entertained - this is the new hairpulling/eating trick she learned (after the nose biting, dear god, ugh, sorry again Daniela), outside the window with g-paw Dennis and sitting like the queen she is... uhhh, *thinks* she is...

We made it to Chicago, and though short, we had a good time!

After a questionable arrival (according to the innocent almost-struck pedestrian and innocent slightly-bummped Beamer) we settled in to the hotel before setting out on the town.

Ventured out for Chicago-style pizza (not California Pizza, as the California tourists pointed us to) and found it - Pizzeria Uno. It had a full layer of sausage - like literally a full layer, like a big ole patty made special just to fit the pan. Hard to eat more than one slice if you can believe it, it's sooo filling.

It was a busy Friday night with a waitlist, so we headed over a block and played games until then. This is a place that you could hurt yourself - physically. Beer + active games = sore body but fun!

The next day was Operation Shopping as we wandered down the Magnificent Mile (great architecture) and around the Navy Pier.

Sad news, I'm sorry that I can't make it home for the funeral. Miyo was always very caring and sweet, and practically a professional bingo player. I've never seen anyone else so passionate about that bingo! She also loved going to Jackpot - I remember wandering around the casino after midnight one time and finding her on the dollar slots with buckets of coins around her. Always innocent, she obliged when I told her that we should cash all her (heavy) buckets in for something she could securely stick in her purse. And the funny thing was, when I returned with her paper winnings, she forcefully tipped me! Haha! She made the best teriyaki chips, and I regretfully never did learn from her exactly how to make them, though I luckily do still have the recipe. Hopefully I can decipher her handwriting. I'm also thankful for the beautiful rice bowls she gave us years ago, and will think of her fondly every time I use them.

Miyoko 'Miyo' Sumida Ota

POCATELLO - Miyoko "Miyo" Sumida Ota, 91, Pocatello, died Monday, January 28, 2008, at a local medical center. She was born May 9, 1916, at Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Wajiro and Yoshiko Ishii Sumida. She married Joseph Noboru Ota in September 2, 1944, and they were later divorced.

She had worked for food service and housekeeping for Idaho State University. She was an avid bingo player. She enjoyed going to Jackpot, fishing, playing cards with her very good friend, Carolyn Ray, and crocheting dish cloths. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

Miyo was an active member of the JACL. She was also active in association of Sister City. She is survived by a son, Philip (Connie) Ota of Pocatello; a daughter, Kathi Rivera of Pocatello; three grandchildren, Chris Harada, Hollie Ota and Cassie Ota; two great-grandchildren, Akima Harada and Tayvin Siebert; and a sister, Susie Okimoto of Gardena, California. She is preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Martha Shimamoto, a brother, George Sumida, and a grandson, Aaron Siebert.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 2, 2008, at 2 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church, corner of 15th Avenue and Clark Street, Pocatello, with the Rev. Eric Brown conducting. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday evening and one hour prior to services in the church Saturday. Interment will be in the Mountain View Cemetery, Pocatello.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cornelison-Henderson Funeral Home, 431 N. 15th Ave., Pocatello.

Published in the Idaho State Journal on 1/30/2008.

Apparently Eagle Watching this weekend is a pretty big event here in the area - there were lots of folks out there, and they brought the big ole cameras. You know the kind, the size of a commercial tv cameras that look like they weigh more than a small child. Bird watching is a popular hobby - we even saw personalized license plates. Maybe I'll give that a try. My crochet attempts were pitiful. Any recommendations for a hobby, please send them my way! Back to bird or eagle watching, it was an event - the visitor's center was packed, and there were talks and food and face painting. The actual looking at them, however, was a bit anticlimactic. Maybe you do need those giant cameras to truly appreciate it. Or a bit of knowlege about the subject. Neither of which I have. Either way, it was a fun day to get out and explore the area.

There is a groovy little pub in Utica called Duffys - good Bloody Marys, lots of tap beer, and yummy fried veggies. In Irish fashion, they've got a year-round countdown to St Paddys day on the wall. 50 days left, my friends!

Along the Illinois River at Allen Park... where I spent a frustrating hour trying to heel Charlie, before calling it quits!