A Cheeky Chicago Adventure – Day Two: Morton Arboretum and More
A Slow Start (But Who’s Complaining?)
So, you’d think after being up for over 25 hours, I’d be sensible and have a lie-in, right? Wrong! I was up just after 7 AM (local time), bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Well, not quite, but awake nonetheless. My first order of business? Catching up on the sports news back home on the good old Beeb (BBC). And what do I find? The delightful news that Amir Khan got knocked out in the 6th round by Mexican powerhouse Alvarez. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer chap, if you ask me.
A Hearty American Breakfast (Because Why Not?)
After my sports fix, Michele and I decided it was time to tackle an All-American breakfast. Off we trotted to Morningside Café in Lisle. Michele, ever the classy one, opted for an omelette. I, on the other hand, went full-on breakfast warrior with scrambled eggs and sausages. And let’s not forget the unlimited coffee—because, let’s face it, no one’s counting cups on holiday. The place was buzzing with families, but we managed to snag ourselves a table, so all was well in breakfast land.
A Quick Shop and a Bargain (Michele’s Shoes, Not Mine)
Once suitably stuffed, we made a pit stop at Jewel Osco in Wheaton to grab some essentials for the room—water and snacks, because why not be prepared for those midnight munchies? Michele, being the savvy shopper that she is, managed to sneak in some shoe shopping. She nabbed herself a pair of ballerina-style shoes for a mere $15. A bargain, she assured me. Not that I’m one to argue with a woman and her shoes.
A Peek at the New Digs (Sort Of)
The afternoon saw us popping over to visit Julie and Joe. With Elle and Aunty Jilla out and about, Julie and Joe decided to give us a sneak peek at the house they’re having inspected tomorrow. They’ve sold their current place, so it’s all go for them. We only got to tour the outside, as the house is empty, but it’s in a cracking location. It’s one of those places with good bones, as they say, livable but with plenty of potential for Julie and Joe to stamp their mark on it over the years. Lots of outdoor space too—perfect for chilling after a day’s graft.
A Stroll Through Morton Arboretum (And a Close Encounter)
Later on, we left Joe and Elle to their own devices—Joe had some work to catch up on, and Elle was in full chill mode. Aunty Jilla, Michele, Julie, and I decided to head over to the Morton Arboretum for a bit of a walkabout. Now, here’s where things got a bit hairy—the queue to get in was a nightmare, with three lanes of slow-moving traffic. But it was Mother’s Day here in the States, so naturally, every family within a 50-mile radius had decided to treat Mum to a day at the Arboretum. Can’t say I blame them.
Once we finally got in, we were treated to a lovely walk. And just to make the afternoon a bit more exciting, a large bird—some sort of eagle, I think—decided to land in a tree just a few feet from us. I’m no ornithologist, so I’ve got some pictures to show my dad when I get back. Maybe he can enlighten me on what sort of feathered friend we encountered.
A Family Reunion (Of Sorts)
After our little nature walk, it was back to Julie and Joe’s to catch up with Chris, who had popped over to see Julie for Mother’s Day. We didn’t hang around too long, though—wanted to give them some quality family time. But we’ll be catching up with them later on for our evening meal at Granite City. I might just persuade the hotel to sort us out with a taxi or, better yet, give us a lift so I can enjoy a beer (or two) without worrying about getting back.
