Labor Day - Chicago

Back in my original Labor Day post, I mentioned taking the train to Chicago. Well, we got to the station Saturday morning at about 7:20 am for the 7:40 train, and they announced over the speaker that the service was indefinitely suspended do to an emergency. Being so close to Chicago, we thought we'd drive into the city instead. Good thing we did. Found out the next day the train collided with a freight train and service wasn't restored until 4 pm.
In Chicago, the first place
we went was to
Millennium Park.
www.millenniumpark.org/
It's at the north end of Grant Park.

This is a picture of the curved walkway

with shiny steel curved sides.

It's called the BP Bridge. You can guess

who paid for it. Actually,

Everything in millennium park

was paid for by private donations.

No city money used!

The next pic is the Pavilion.

An enormous open air

entertainment venue.

It has seats down near the stage,

and lots of lawn seating.

The over head grid has

speakers so there's not a

bad seat anywhere!

The next is offically called Cloud Gate,

But everyone in Chicago calls it the Bean!

I'm not sure why. lol

It's cool how it reflects

the city no matter where you stand!

There's more, but I gotta get to work!

Will post later!

Labor Day pt 2

Here's some more pics from the Dunes.

As you can see, they were pretty tall!

Me in the beautiful sand. We were here quite early in the day, that's why so few people on the beach.

And Craig relaxing on the lifeguard stand.

We never did see any lifeguards

while we were here.

Here's my feeble attempt at a sand castle.

The sand was way too crumbly to

hold together in any form. But it was still fun!

And the water was suprisingly warm!

Labor Day weekend

For the long weekend,
we went to Indiana Dunes State Park.
About ten miles south of
Michigan City Indiana.

Part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

The campground was very nice.

Large spacious lots.

The campground was booked, except for the lot next to us.

They redid the entire campground two years ago. New pads, paths, shower buildings.

But they only have electric hook-ups.

One unusual aspect of the park is the beach.

If you look south, you see all the smokestacks from the steel mills in Gary, Indiana. I forgot how close to Gary we were!

You come walking down to this beautiful beach, and then you see that!

And look to the north, you see the power plant for Michigan City!

Of course, I'm use to the wide expanse of the lake father north. Never been to Lake Michigan this far south!

But we had a great time. The sand was beautiful. and the weather was good!

And the Dunes were much larger than I expected after seeing some we have here in Michigan.

While we were so close to Chicago, And practicly next to the South Shore line train, We decided to go into Chicago for a day. I'll post about that later.

Art? or just Trashy!

Okay, Everyone that has a house ends up putting things in the yard. Whether it's wind chimes, statues, birdbaths, or worse, those big behind cutouts. You know what I mean,
they're suppose to look like someone is bending over. Who thought of those? And who buys them and puts them in their yard? Any way for your viewing pleasure ,
I'm posting some of the
things in my yard for all to see.
I'll number them so you can tell me,
Art? or Not?



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Monday August 28

YOU GOTTA GET ONE OF THESE!
Sorry for yelling, but Craig bought this bug zapper a few months ago and I thought, ya right, this things just a gimmick. But boy was I wrong! This thing is amazing. here's a pic.





How it works.
It's just a bit smaller than a tennis racket. It uses 2 "D" batteries. You hold the button on the side of the handle, and the wire grid becomes electrified! Just wave it by the nasty fly or whatever, and ZAP! They're history. We've used it in the mo-ho and at home. Works every time! Not one gets away! It even sucks them off walls! Everyone should have it!
We got it at

http://www.harborfreight.com/

They don't list it on their web site, but you can find their store locations. It was only $3.99. Have seen them advertised in other stores for $10 or more!

And if your not quite sure how to use it. Here's Craig showing some bug zapper moves.

So for all you bugged by bugs,

YOU GOTTA GET ONE OF THESE!