2 Days in Chicago and 10 Minutes on Steve Harvey

My life has included some strange things in the past seven weeks. Not the least of which was the few days we spent in Chicago in early November.  It happened so fast that I literally have more pictures than words.  It started with a comment on our fundraising page and continued on with several calls from a producer.  The next thing we know, we get a call at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday, while in Target asking if we can be at Newark airport by 1 p.m. Long story short, we arrived late and quickly learned that Chicago has comparable rush hour traffic to NYC.  We taped some background footage and then headed to the hotel.  

Flatbread pizza in Chicago.  Don't ask.

Thursday was a free day for us, and honestly, it was the reason I agreed to go at all.  I thought even one day out of the mess of Staten Island post-Sandy would be a welcomed change.  We navigated through 2 levels of Chicago streets.  (Can someone please explain the whole concept?)  It was early November but not too cold.  We walked to Navy Pier and headed into the Children's Museum.  This place was likely the coolest place that I have ever been.  There was so many fun and interactive areas.  We spent the whole afternoon there with a quick stop for lunch.  

Navy Pier

My boy being "attacked" by an angry bird

Dad and the boy built "a new house"

I think I need more square footage.

I see a Spartan Race in her future :)

Then we headed back to the hotel.  I had met Krista at the Healthy Living Summit in August.  When we first headed to the airport, I had tweeted Krista to see if she was in the area.  So, Thursday evening, Krista came by the hotel and met hubby and the kids.  It was great to see her and so helpful to get a fellow blogger perspective about my lack of writing post-Sandy,  (Yes, I know, still lacking.  But I am trying.)  We even had a drink together since the hotel bar was about two doors down for our room.

Krista & I
(neither of us love this picture, but it's the only one we took)

Lovin the 312 on draft

 Friday morning we packed up and walked to the NBC Tower.  They went to town right away on hair and make up for me.  It was the first time I had ever worn fake eye lashes.  They literally felt like they weighed 10 lbs. on each of my eyes, but they looked good.  Apparently, the makeup people were the Oprah Show's former beauty duo, so I was honored. 

No house, but we have a "green room"

my hipsters

My boy has no stage fright.  He was warming up the crowd with his dance moves.

I was so nervous before I went out on stage that I could barely speak.  Steve Harvey was very nice.  Then it was over.  We had some deep dish pizza at Giordanos and stopped by "The Bean" in Millennium Park.

Lost in Chi-Town

My first deep dish

Tourist shot

We flew home that night and the following morning I spent 7 hours on line for free gift cards from the Tzu Chi foundation with hundreds of my neighbors.  While on line, my false eye lashes came off.  Clearly I was back in Staten Island.  It seemed no more like reality, but definitely more real.