Chicago Trip

Well slightly out of chronilogical orser, so of course I beg your indulgences. However this past weekend a tradition has been born. After months of planning and attempts a boys weekend has finally been started. Every Labor Day we are going to congregate at some city to celebrate manhood and life itself.

On this first trip four of us convened on the city of Chicago. This all started by testing the culinary skills of our good buddy Nate over a barbecue. After a unanimous vote, we believe that his cooking skills have greatly improved since marriage. Of course the two cases of beer consumed before, during and after probably aided in this decision.

Saturday we decided to do when men do and conquer something. So took off down the Chicago river in tandem kayaks to take Old Man River. We have since concluded that Old Man River (well ok the other one) is stronger than we are. After a much needed shower to wash hoff the layer of toxic wastes from the river, it was onto the driving range. Myself never having picked up a golf club was well an interesting site to see. A quarter of the balls went directly to the left, others to the right, the third quarter striaght up, and the final, well those I missed altogether. I guess you can say I am completely hooked on the sport, anyone willing to volunteer to teach me how to play? Round out the day with dinner (Pan Asian, Yummm) a number of drinks at ye' old drinking hold, followed by an improv comedy club. What makes this improv club different than all others is that they took one theme and run with it for 30-45 minutes. Sinve I can not accurately describe what really happened suffice to say simply "cuuubbbbaaa".

Sunday is exactly the reason this is a guys weekend and not a co-ed weekend. We woke up on a Sunday and decided within twenty minutes to take a road-trip to Milwaukee for the simple purpose of watching a baseball game, a Milwaukee Brewer's game to be specific at the new Miller Park. Does 4 hours in a car seem appropriate for a baseball game? We think so. But where else can a proposal be brought up, a plan created and executed in mere minutes. We were so exhausted upon returning that all we could do was go back to the driving range for another couple of hundred balls. (can you tell we are addicted at this point?)

Monday, one of the few mondays of the year we do not dread or fear, for this monday is not one for working, rather for celebrating (celebrating Labor? I thought only mother's did that), and relaxing. We decided to do so by cruising the city proper and seeing the sites. This of course had to include of course a meal of classic Chicago deep dish pizza. I don't think I will need to eat for a week, but truly a great meal. For the married boys, gifts were purchased for the appropriate spouses, while the bachelors in the group gave advice which would be better off not headed. But all good things must come to an end, and thus the weekend draws to a close and us men must head for home, to jobs and reality.

Filled with exhaustion, a full stomach, and sleep depravation I climb onto the plane for a quiet and relaxing flight home, and wonderful a great movie to watch as well, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkerbaun. Just my luck with only 20 minutes to go in the movie an announcement comes through, 'Ladies and Gentleman we are sorry to interrupt, is there any medical trained professionals onboard'. Of course, I stand up, its my obligation. Nothing serious thankfully just an infant having some problems breathing, nothing serious. So much for the uneventful flight, but it is an end of an unbelievable weekend. Thanks guys for all the fun! Until next year!