"eventually, i think chicago will be the most beautiful great city left in the world."

you know what? i think i have to agree with frank lloyd wright on that one. it IS a gorgeous city.

so i finally had my car in a parking spot down the street from zach, my bike was safely inside in the bike room (yay for universities and bike rooms!), and zach and alex were perfectly lovely and welcoming to this weary traveler. it was great to catch up with zach, and to meet alex (zach's girlfriend) - i'm finally getting used to seeing all of my friends reaching various levels of seriousness with their respective significant others, and it's really getting to be quite enjoyable. plus, they're wicked cute when cooking us (fabulous) dinners. much good eating, drinking, and reminiscing was had. then we watched law and order. what could be better?

on sunday, zach and alex had to work downtown, so we all went into the city - while they worked, i had a bit of a shopping spree at banana republic, then enjoyed an afternoon wandering around navy pier and the magnificent mile. it truly is magnificent. though i think too big for me, in the end. i'll certainly be back to visit, though :)

navy pier - karwa, remember this ferris wheel?

views of chicago from navy pier

ashley, look! i found you a boat! :)

the next morning, on my way out of chicago, i drove up to des plains to visit my grandmother's grave... it took almost as long to get from hyde park to des plains as it did to get up to milwaukee afterward, but so so so worth it to stop and say hello. even if there were several slight moments of panic when i couldn't find her grave... but that made the finding all the more special. thanks grandma joan :)

oh, look at all the stopped traffic ahead. but you have to appreciate the skyline.

<3