Day 2: From Avon, OH to Chicago - I violated the dress code when I walked in the door

I just arrived in Chicago and I've already violated the dress code of the place I'm staying. They don't allow t-shirts, jeans, or flip-flops (on the 10th floor or below) and that's what I'm wearing. Oops! I'm staying on the 15th floor, so I guess I'm okay now. I do, however, need to change if I ever want to leave my room.

The drive from the Cleveland area was uneventful. I did lock my keys in my car outside of Kelly's house, which was also locked, but it's okay because I added lockout service to my auto insurance policy. Someone was there in under 30 minutes to open my car for me. Other than that, it was smooth sailing.

The nice man from "Auto Rescue" breaking into my car.

That vest is hot, don't you think?

The guy totally thought I was weird when I wanted to take his photo next to my open car door. He obviously didn't notice the first two photos I took.

God there's a lot of corn around here. And Evangelical radio stations. And McDonalds'. And stuff like this:

When I stopped for gas I was sure to take my keys out of the car with me. See?! And look - I stopped at pump number 8 and it wasn't even on purpose! In case you weren't aware, I LOVE the number 8. The number 3 is my second favorite number, FYI.

Time to make myself presentable. I'm meeting my godfather, Uncle Joe, in the lobby in 30 minutes to go to the synagogue and then dinner.

ttyl

Danielle :)

Day 1: Avon, OH

It's day two and I'm in Avon, Ohio at my friend Kelly's house. Kelly and I lived together at Teach for America summer institute in the summer of 2001. Oh, what a summer! Between the hurricaine, the texas-sized mosquitos, and consequently, the mosquito spray trucks that sprayed toxic fumes on us daily at 6:30 AM, working for 18 hours a day, having to travel to 23rd floor of another building clad only in a towel just for the chance to take a freezing cold shower, having to tape folders over the vents to try to differentiate our room from an ice box, and sleeping on the bouches (for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, a bouch is a a couch that becomes a bed. It was the latest in dorm-chic, circa 1970.) Ahh, the memories!

It was great to see Kelly. She and her husband, Dennis, live in a beautiful house. It's huge! She's 6 1/2 months pregnant with her first child, a boy, and she looks great! Last night we ate in at a yummy Middle Eastern place in some sort of mixed-use manufactured town - I don't know if you've seen these places, but they're all the rage in suburbia. They're walkable, but have massive parking structures, the buildings are varied in size and style, but all manufactured by the same company at the same time, and there are fountains, benches, etc. to make it look like it developed organically. I don't know who they think they're fooling.

Let me apologize in advance for my spelling mistakes; I'm using one of those teeny tiny computers and I keep hitting the wrong keys. The drive yesterday went fine. I got started a little later than I'd planned, around 2:00, so it was almost 9 when I got here. I got a little scared about 3 hours into my trip when I saw a billboard that read:

Coal is the Solution

Providing Clean, Affordable Energy for over 100 years.

No bailouts.

I'm afraid of what West Virginia will bring.

There was a tornado warning, and associated torrential downpour, two hours outside of Cleveland. I haven't seen rain like that since hurricaine season on the Gulf Coast. I took a photo on my phone while I was driving that I will upload as soon as I figure out how to do that. Sorry, Daddy, I know it's not safe to take photos while I'm driving in inclement weather. I'l never do it again.

There's a car about 20 feet ahead of me, but there's too much rain to be able to see it.

I'm heading to Chicago shortly. I'm so excited! If you're around, hit me up!