Parents Weekend at Bradley, Pt 2 (of 2)

We spent the rest of Saturday hanging around Sam's frat(ernity) house, the Delta Upsilons. Sam showed us around the house--the chapter room, the basement party room with bar (Lori's favorite), and the horribly deteriorating bedrooms (not pictured, out of deference to grandparents).

There was a double-elimination bed-race tournament, the final heat of which is in the video here. Sam's team won--it's closest to the camera, on the left with the big squirrel head riding on the bed as it rolls by. Then there was an auction, and finally a steak dinner at a gigantic steakhouse called Alexander's. The waitress said they regularly get 2-3000 people on Saturday nights. It was rather pricey--even Sam said we should probably not do it again.

On Sunday we got up and took Sam to Bob Evans for brunch, then said goodbye and headed home. The leaves and scenery were nice along the Illinois river on the way north.

Parents Weekend at Bradley, Pt 1 (of 2)

Keeping you busy during pre-election week.

We drove to Peoria Friday night--terrible weather, rain all the way--got in around 9:30 and just went to our hotel. Sam had stuff going on anyway, and we were tired.

Saturday we got up, went to Sam's dorm and moved in his futon (but, so help me God, I will never move a futon again) and his table, then took him shopping. Back from the shopping trip, we carried all that stuff in, then went over to look at Bradley's new recreation/athletic center.

Wow, is this place incredible! It has a pool that's like a cathedral of swimming, a track, three large courts, one small practice court for the basketball teams, two raquetball courts, tons of exercise equipment, and check out the three-story rock-climbing wall. Oh, and they also have a second, 45-degree climbing wall. And of course a juice bar and HD TVs.

After seeing this, we went over to Sam's dorm, and on the way, Lori discovered a Bush she actually liked (Go Barack!). And Sam and I got in a shot together in front of his dorm, just to prove I was really there. Coming soon: Sam's Delta Upsilon house, his team's big win (a video!), steak dinner, and then we come home.

Far as the Eye Can See...

Like us, our neighbors are ready to do the right thing. Are yours? Also, here are a couple more pix of fall colors on campus.

Lori at Work

Lori took the camera to work to get some seasonal shots. This is the view out the window from the Children's department at the Oak Park Public Library.

We're going to Peoria Friday for Parents Weekend at Bradley. We'll update then.

W.

Greg here. Went to see this movie this afternoon. Very disappointing. I don't think I have ever seen an Oliver Stone movie that I liked. I'm always looking at my watch, wondering when it will be over. He's a Democrat, but his movies suck. But isn't Lori to die for?

Candide

Tonight, we went to see the musical "Candide", up on Belmont on the north side. Glenn picked up Lori and Greg, and we drove into the city. Meanwhile, Marlis scoped out the neighborhood, and found us a little restaurant across the street from the theater--Cooper's. Very good food--I had pulled pork, Glenn had brisket, and the girls had chicken pot pies. And we all enjoyed the beer.

Before the play, the bartender at the theater, Georgia, expressed a sincere desire for my Obama button, so I gave it to her--that's her in the picture. Hi Georgia!

The play was lots of fun. Staged in the round, there was plenty of action very close to us. Its first run on Broadway was in 1955, and it closed after four nights. But the music was really good, despite its operatic (yeah, you know me) nature.

Still Life, and More

Greg here. Things have been kind of quiet since Sam, Dad and Mom were here over the weekend. We're back to our minimal family, which is Lori, me, Harley and Barack, plus a couple of other odd characters.

The tree outside my office window at IIT is spectacular this time of year--unfortunately, I took the picture on a very cloudy day. Also, there's a shot of trees on campus taken from the Green Line L stop.

Now I think we need Lori to take the camera to work to give you an idea of what her days are like.

Sunday Night Live!

We missed all of you tonight! Everything would have been so much better with y'all. But, we went on. Greg smoked some pork chops and baked some beans, and Lori made some apple sauce. Glenn and Marlis joined us, and Sam, too! Hope to see you all soon!

Fun Weekend

Jim and Sandra made it here Saturday afternoon, at about 4:00. We had spaghetti and Italian sausage, and then watched Mizzou's chance at a number one ranking go down the tubes at Farout Field. This morning, Jim and Sandra treated Lori, Greg and Sam to brunch at the Wishbone restaurant. Tonight is the big To-Do--more on that later.

Hi, Hi, Sam!

Sam got home for Fall Break tonight--kinda late, we were worried. But he made it. We cooked burgers out back. Then he left to hang out with friends. The more things change...

Now we're looking forward to seeing Sandra and Jim tomorrow afternoon.

Turn of the Century

Lori, Glenn, Marlis and Greg met in the Loop tonight to see the new musical at the Goodman Theater, "Turn of the Century," with Jeff Daniels and Rachel York in the lead roles. A musical couple gets somehow transported back a hundred years in time, and uses their knowledge of pop music to "write" some of the 20th century's greatest hits years ahead of the time that they were actually written. It was directed by Tommy Tune.

We had dinner at a little sandwich/soup shop around the corner, where Glenn took a little nap before our food arrived, and Lori unveiled the Mini-Obama one of her co-workers gave her.

Tomorrow, Sam comes home for Fall Break and Saturday, Jim and Sandra arrive on their trek back to Missouri for the winter. More on all that soon.

Bye, Bye, Sam.

This weekend we started getting serious about fixing the walls and repainting Sam's old room--yeah, we didn't turn it into a shrine to our departed child! Think we're gonna put a double-bed and dresser in there, and sleep in it sometimes ourselves and use it as a second small guest room, along with Lori's room off the DR. We're probably going to end up with several twin beds up in the loft-area, so we'll be able to sleep a lot of folks here. They won't want to bathe, but they'll have a bed. Here are some BEFORE pix.