Day 2: Ohio to Chicago

There is one very valuable lesson to be learned from today: driving 6.5 hours through Ohio and Indiana is like wandering your way through purgatory. Farms, fields, and more farms are all you will see, one blending into the next as if you're not really moving at all. To break up the relentless backdrop, Michaela and I decided to make an impromptu trip to Lake Erie (top right). We drove up to a little peninsula in an area referred to the Ohio Coast. Apparently Ohio has coast - who knew? We found it to be serene and beautiful. As refreshing as it was, it did not cure us of our disdain for Ohio or Indiana... sorry. But, one good thing I can say: it is really easy driving. No people, no cars, no backups, AND the speed limit is 70mph, which is very exciting for us. The even better news is that all the driving was worth getting to Chicago. I have never been and I find it to be a clean and lovely city. I think living in NYC has desensitized me to crowds and city life because I found myself saying: "where the hell is everyone?" I drove us in and found it to be laughably easy to get around, not to mention immaculately kept up. Since calling Michaela about this trip over two months ago, she has been talking about Chicago deep dish pizza. So, we met up with our friends Jess and Kris and had us some pizza. I can see why Mich was so excited - it was pizza to die for. I cringe to think of how many calories there are per slice. In addition to gorging ourselves, we went to the top of the John Hancock, visited the pier, and went to Millenium Park where Michaela just HAD to see "the bean." I, quite frankly, don't get it, but there is a picture of it here anyway. I feel fairly certain I will using this against her for our entire trip. Tomorrow - a long and equally excruciating day to Sioux Falls, South Dakota!

Anecdote of the day:

I feel you should all know that more than

once today we have stopped for a bathroom break, Michaela has gone into the bathroom, come back out, gotten in the car and said to me "I have to pee again." Yes, this is who I'm traveling with.