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Okay, here's a synopsis of my trip:

First Leg: Arrived in Chicago around 4pm on Monday. Picked up a rental car and started making my way to St Joseph, Michigan. I soon encountered a minor setback, in that I couldn't find anything because OF ALL THE FREAKING TREES!!! Eventually, I began to get hungry, got of the highway in some small town near Gary, and spent the next half hour trying to find a Wendy's, which had been hidden beyond numerous shops dealing with porn, smokes, and liquor (I assume this was done so that only those who pass by these temptations and prove their purity of heart can buy a burger). Anyway, I eventually met up with an old gaming buddy of mine up there in St Joseph, and hung out for several days. Hit up some of the local comic and game shops (well, local in that they were only 100 miles away), and managed to pick up several game books I had been looking for. Mostly though, just hung out.

Second Leg: Thursday, I decide not to stay in Chicago that night, and just keep on driving into Wisconsin. Grabbed some tourist pamphlets from the border station, decided to go to the Milwaukee art museum. Interesting looking building; they had a pretty nice section containing Renaissance clockworks, as well. Walked around downtown Milwaukee some, found some nice used bookstores (big multistory affairs, with rickety steps and labyrinthine stacks; IT WAS GREAT!!!). Finished up the day by continuing to head towards Oshkosh. Finally got hungry, stopped at a Cracker Barrel, and found out I was in a place called Germantown. Saw a nearby Holiday Inn Express, and decided to crash there for the night.

... to be continued

...AND??!?!

Heh. Sorry.

Okay, after Germantown, I decided to head on into Oshkosh. I was supposed to meet up with Shannon around 4:30 (I think); I arrived in town around 11 in the morning. I figured I would first establish where Shannon's house was, then I'd head back to Fond du Lac to see some of the tourist attractions they have there. About two hours later I was convinced that

1) Oshkosh had somehow broken off from land and floated into the lake, thereby becoming surrounded on all sides by water and

2) The city layout was based on designs by Daedalus in order to entrap the Mayor of Oshkosh's enemies, possibly to later be devoured by some manner of cow beast.

Also, I saw a Velociraptor statue in the middle of town. I'm still not entirely sure why it was there; I assume to honor the memory of all the velociraptors who died trying to kill Jeff Goldblum.

Anyway, eventually I made it to Fond Du Lac by travelling along some backroad. I visited the Galloway House and Village, which included a restored Victorian mansion, a museum chronicling the history of Fond Du Lac, and a working mill with water wheel. By then it was about 4, so I headed back to Oshkosh.

Met up with Shannon and his family, who were very kind in allowing me to stay in their home. Stayed up late playing video games and drinking the first beer I've had that I actually like the taste of. The next day we met up with BJ, and took Shannon's oldest to visit with her cousins, out there in Stevens Point (so, I have now seen where Jackies Fridge takes place). Afterwards, we went to the Houdini exhibit at a local museum, wherein his GREATEST SECRETS WERE REVEALED!!! (I'm not exactly sure what the controversy is all about; most of it was pretty common knowledge, I thought). Mostly just spent the day shooting the breeze with Shannon and BJ (I understand a lot more about Teagan's personality now, for example). Finished up the day by catching up with Joey and going to see Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban. So, basically, I had an extremely enjoyable time!

(Shannon, you can chime in if I forgot anything)

Up next: Chicago!

The suspense was killing me!

Mirober wrote:I was supposed to meet up with Shannon around 4:30 (I think); I arrived in town around 11 in the morning.

If I had known, I would've taken off work early. What, you think I like my job?

Mirober wrote:I figured I would first establish where Shannon's house was, then I'd head back to Fond du Lac to see some of the tourist attractions they have there.

*snort* Sorry. I work in Fond du Lac, and I forget that there are occasionally people in town that aren't required to be here. I can rarely figure out why, though.

Mirober wrote:About two hours later I was convinced that

1) Oshkosh had somehow broken off from land and floated into the lake, thereby becoming surrounded on all sides by water and

2) The city layout was based on designs by Daedalus in order to entrap the Mayor of Oshkosh's enemies, possibly to later be devoured by some manner of cow beast.

Yes.

Actually, there's just a <a href="http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?ov ... 00eVdo6A22" target="new">lot of water</a> around us. And the city streets are pretty much defined by a combination of that, and the big-ass highway (41) that carves our fair city in two. Or twain. Or, you know, whatever.

Mirober wrote:Also, I saw a Velociraptor statue in the middle of town. I'm still not entirely sure why it was there; I assume to honor the memory of all the velociraptors who died trying to kill Jeff Goldblum.

Actually, I found out what that was for - it had taken me by surprise earlier that week. The local museum is having a dinosaur exhibit.

Of course, that doesn't explain why the raptor is standing on the corner by the bridge. I'll try to get a picture and put it up here, it's really quite jarring.

And you forgot all of the lions in motley, Matt!

Mirober wrote:Anyway, eventually I made it to Fond Du Lac by travelling along some backroad. I visited the Galloway House and Village, which included a restored Victorian mansion, a museum chronicling the history of Fond Du Lac, and a working mill with water wheel. By then it was about 4, so I headed back to Oshkosh.

The man is here for a day, he finds touristy things I haven't found in seven years. @_@

Mirober wrote:Met up with Shannon and his family, who were very kind in allowing me to stay in their home.

Our pleasure!

Mirober wrote:Stayed up late playing video games and drinking the first beer I've had that I actually like the taste of.

That would be Leinie's <a href="http://shop.leinie.com/page.htm?PG=berryweissnews" target="new">Berry Weiss</a>, which they only brew for the summer season each year. Glad you liked it - it's Joey's favorite, as well.

Mirober wrote:The next day we met up with BJ, and took Shannon's oldest to visit with her cousins, out there in Stevens Point (so, I have now seen where Jackies Fridge takes place).

Actually we went to Wausau, which is about 30 miles north of Point. Wausau is where BJ and I grew up; Point is where he (and Joey, and my wife Carey) went to school.

Point doesn't look much different than Wausau, though, so it's ok.

Mirober wrote:Afterwards, we went to the Houdini exhibit at a local museum, wherein his GREATEST SECRETS WERE REVEALED!!! (I'm not exactly sure what the controversy is all about; most of it was pretty common knowledge, I thought).

Funny, that. You forgot to mention your superhuman ability to balance weighted sticks, and your resistance to biting cold metal tubing!

Mirober wrote:Mostly just spent the day shooting the breeze with Shannon and BJ (I understand a lot more about Teagan's personality now, for example).

Yes, much was revealed...including the new Freezepop album. Wheeeeeeee!

Mirober wrote:Finished up the day by catching up with Joey and going to see Harry Potter: Prisoner of Azkaban. So, basically, I had an extremely enjoyable time!

Ah, yes...the <i>comfy</i> chair... 8)

As did we, Matt, and I swear we're gonna make an annual gathering of this yet!

Later,
S

I demand pictures of the Velociraptor statue!

I, too, would like to see a photo of the Dino (wasn't able to snap one off for myself while up there). And yes, I r0xx0r when it comes to balancing weighted sticks and holding cold metal tubing, I admit it. And I stand by my assertion that it's all just one big town out there, occasionally broken up by barns and cattle.

Also, the Freezepop album has become a mainstay in my cd player.


As for Chicago:
This time I finally went on the Trolley Tour, which was extremely enjoyable. I saw the building Trump is going to knock down and replace with an enormous tower (I'll go ahead and abstain from making the obvious jibe comparing it to a phallus). Saw the Chicago Tribune building, and learned to check my home's masonry should a Trib reporter happen to come by (all around the skyscraper's base are sections of famous structures their reporters have visited, including the Parthenon, the Alamo, the Great Wall of China, and Notre Dame). Also learned that the Chicago River actually flows backwards, due to the creation of several off-shooting canals (this was done because Chicago's Industrial pollution was creating a health hazard; so, instead of reducing waste, they simply diverted it away from their drinking water). Walked along some of the Magnificent Mile, but didn't have time to do the whole thing.

I think perhaps the highlight was the Field Museum. I wasn't planning on going originally (since I went last year), but seeing as it was free admission day I decided to run in for a bit. I'm very glad I did, seeing as the special exhibit they were displaying was Splendors of China's Forbidden City (and I've been doing a lot of research on Imperial China for my Dragon Blooded game). Lot's of really incredible displays there, including the third largest Jade sculpture to be produced in China (it depicted the Nine Elders of Huichang). I even went so far as to pick up the companion book published by the Field Museum, so that I would have visual references for some of what I saw there. This trip I also set aside enough time to spend at the Chicago Art Institute, which was much more enjoyable without being rushed.

Oh, and I finally got to try a Chicago Style pizza (which was very good).

And that was my big trip to the north (and yes, I'm also hoping to make this a yearly thing).