I received a text message from my proctologist asking me to rate my recent colonoscopy.
Everything went fine, but still, somehow it doesn’t seem like it was a five-star experience.
I told people we were going on a getaway.
“To where?” they asked.
“Milwaukee.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Milwaukee is a nice place to visit! It’s easy to get around, people are nice, and it’s less expensive than Chicago. The Amtrak service is cheap, the train leaves on time, and it drops you off right downtown.
We stayed at this nice hotel right across the street from CVH’s favorite Milwaukee chow spot, the Milwaukee Public Market.
Here is the oyster bar at the St Paul Fish Company, where CVH consumed quantities of oysters.
We went to the State Fair.
We saw cows at the fair.
The historic Third Ward of Milwaukee has numerous lovely old buildings to gawk at.
Some are rather extravagant.
Some scream “Your money’s safe with us!”
The Gas Light building is a deco palace.
There are also whimsical birds around town.
We had a great time.
There are a number of theater companies in our neighborhood, and one of our favorites is City Lit. Today we went to their spring fundraiser; the theme was an Alice in Wonderland tea party.
The teas were delicious, and I had two full cups.
After the event, as we were walking home, we were passed on the sidewalk by a large white rabbit on a scooter.
“What was in that tea?” I asked CVH.
NASA named their latest race-to-the-moon project after the Greek goddess Artemis because she was the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the moon.
That’s OK, so far as it goes. But Artemis is probably best known for not letting Agamemnon sail his ships from Greece to Troy until he sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia.
Although the arrival of Spring is not a big deal to people living below the thirtieth parallel – Houstonians might even ask ‘You mean before you get to Conroe?’ – it is a big deal here.
Finally the leaves start to show again. Cyclists take off their bar mitts, and the down jackets are moved to the back of the closet.
And people casually appear in the park
And the lakefront loses its stark, barren look
Taking advantage of the agreeable weather Saturday, we went shopping at Marshall Field’s (Macy’s) downtown. Macy’s has done their best to keep up the place in this twilight era of department stores and the store is still nicely appointed. But I don’t know how they afford to keep the doors open.
We engaged in the traditional Chicago tradition of lunch at the Walnut Room.
Today it was such a beautiful day that we went to go see the new baby rhinoceros at the zoo. It was super cute; unfortunately, I did not realize that my camera phone was set on ‘wide aperture emulation’ (or whatever they call it) and so I only have a very fuzzy photo of the cute little critter and its mom.
Here’s an official picture from the zoo
We touristed downtown today and got the traditional spring photos of the tulips:
80°F this afternoon. There are many advantages to warm weather in Chicago.
For example, you don’t want to stand next to anyone wearing a hoodie.
After church, CVH and I went out for an Easter buffet.
Our Lyft driver was decked out for the holiday, too: rabbits and eggs all over the headliner
Son and GC2 came to visit Chicago this week. We went to the Field Museum of Natural History.
Here is son contemplating one of his fellow creatures.
For Valentine’s Day, CVH took me to Cuddle Bunny.
At Cuddle Bunny, you get to spend time with rabbits. They don’t do a lot, mostly you just pet them while they wait for you to hand out some rabbit treats or fresh cilantro.
We sat with Fraggle, an English Angora with fur that has to be felt to be believed.
Every few weeks, Fraggle is shorn, and the fur donated to students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, who eagerly turn it into yarn.
Here CVH has gotten the attention of Rex, a huge Continental Giant, with some fresh cilantro.
My favorite was the little Himalayan Sweetie. She was shy until she figured out I had treats.
A very nice way to pass some time with our long eared friends.
