Janie and I went to only one yard sale this weekend, on our way back from Chicago, and there wasn't anything worth buying or taking pictures of, so what we have are picutures of, yes, you guessed it.
The 20th APRA conference in Chicago.
APRA used to be the American Prospect Research Association, but changed it's name to obscure the business of fundraising research. I don't feel it needs obscuring. If you hate my organization, it's my job to make sure we never ask you for money. If you love our organization, and you're wondering why we haven't asked you for $25,000 yet, I'm not doing my job. There's no dishonor in that.
But you don't care about Moves Management, do you?
We decided to drive. Not bad mileage for a 10-year-old car, eh? This is the advantage of walking to work.
It's 399 miles from St. Paul to Chicago, and we'll only ask for reimbursement for one way.
"We" is Janie and I. Since the rooms cost the same for one or two people, Janie came along.
I asked a woman at a reception desk where the Wrigley Building was. I had no idea I was anywhere near it, though she said across the street.
My dad worked for the Wrigley family throughout the early depression years. He always had a job running elevators, and as a result worked double shifts. As a result, he bought a brand new Roadster in 1934. He didn't pay full price though. If you had money in the depression, you could buy just about anything cheap.
I wanted to take picuteres of the elevators, but that building is now the British Embassy, in a town with a large Middle-Eastern population. I didn't even ask if I could get past the ropes.
Just about every town has murals. Chicago has murals of amazing quality.
Our hotel room also had a great view of the Wrigley Building, even though we didn't know it at the time I took this picture.
On the final night there, the conference attendees rented a boat to take us out on the lake.
There was a light fog moving into the city, and it gave the impression some of the buildings had no end.
After dark, the city looked fine indeed, and bobbing out in the lake drinking beer made it all the more enjoyable.
On the way back, we went through Iowa, because - sorry Wisconsin - the way down was tedious in the extreme. Even though it was an extra 120 miles, we got to see Dubuque - and who would want to go to their graves not having done that?
We saw a sign, that said "Hell is for Democrats." It was in a corn field. I wonder if he accepts any ethanol subsidies? I wonder if his heroes favor ethanol subsidies?
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Comments: 19
Loved it!
Was in Chi-town spring of 2001... had a great time!
I suppose I could bring myself to locate 100 miles from a major city, Sue, as long as that wasn't my commute. I'd gladly work at home and then go to the city for _______. I could live with that, though it's really nice to bop over to the asian supermarket for some fresh seaweed or pea greens . . .
Paula, there's something so great about a view of nothing but a thicket of buildings. I can't say what it is, but I like it.
Thank you, Mary. We only passed through once prior to this trip. We'll be going back - maybe even to Dubuque.
Great pictures, Ron!
Brian, I actually did not see any shows, and I did not get to any restaurants I'd write home about. I would have loved to have gone to a good dim sum, but we stuck close to downtown.