Bean There, Done That

We slept in a bit longer than I had hoped after being out late for the movie. We eventually made the trip into the city for another couple shows at the Adler Planetarium and to check out the rest of the exhibits. This time I ignored the full parking signs and went straight to the planetarium parking, and a guy let me in for the same $25 rate I paid a couple days ago in a parking structure over half a mile away.

When we finished there, we went outside and ate some leftovers on the beach. Lake Michigan was a pretty spectacular sight, and there were sailboats everywhere. I even spotted the Tall Ship Windy on a tour. I’d love to go out on it sometime in the future. The weather was nice for sitting around, and I’m sure it would have been even better out on the water.

After that spot of lunch, we decided to walk the two miles to Millennium Park to see the Cloud Gate bean sculpture. It was pretty impressive, and completely surrounded by people. None of the girls wanted to get close enough to touch it, so I didn’t bother myself either, though I immediately regretted walking that far and not taking the extra few steps to see how it felt.

Two miles back to the car and we were off toward St. Louis. We stopped at an A&W/Long John Silver’s on the way because I wanted some home brewed root beer. We finally got into the hotel around midnight, and my first impression was that this hotel was completely built out of parts and pieces that were stolen from other area hotels. It’s like the owner kept booking rooms and would walk out with a hand full of room number plaques and elevator buttons, and then come back to use them in his hotel. We’ll have to see how things look in the morning when we’re not all dead tired from a four mile walk and a five hour drive.

Seriously bruh? Follow the speed limit!

Remember Sailing

I woke up around noon and eventually got out to my parents’ house so Dad and I could go sailing. We looked at both boat ramps at the marina, and though they are on opposite sides, the wind was coming in the wrong direction at both, so we took the favor of familiarity at the dock we normally use. It was tough getting out of the breakwater because of the bad wind, but we eventually made it and sailed around the lake for a while.

We didn’t stay out on the water for very long, but we didn’t plan to pack a lunch or anything. I tried my best to re-learn how to read the wind while my dad piloted the boat. Overall there weren’t too many moments of panic, but I really do wish I had a small motor to get out into the water a ways before putting the sails up. It would be a great deal less stressful that way. This is definitely something that needs practice. Perhaps in the end, the lack of the motor will make me a better sailor.

After we pulled back onto the hard and tore down, we went back to my parents’ house and I had some leftover chow mein. I was so tired after I ate that I came home and fought sleep with some Overwatch for a while. A few games in, I got a text from Mayra inviting me over for some lasagna she made. She was there with Armando, her cousins, and a couple new guys from AT&T that I had never met before. I hung out there and watched them play PS4 for a while, then came home to sleep.

Until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore, you will not know the terror of being forever lost at sea.

Grounded

I got up this morning to prep for sailing, then realized in the shower that the boat registration had expired. It would have been a fair day to sail, too. Not too windy, but not dead calm. Plenty of time to ease back into our sea legs.

I ended up going to my parents’ house to try and at least clean and set up the boat, and try out the trailer hitch. Everything came together pretty smoothly, so once I’m legal again, things should work quite well. I just need to practice some proper knots.

After finishing up some spring rolls for dinner there, I came home and watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I thought it was a fantastic movie, and it kind of reminded me of myself, only without the daydreaming so much. My visions are more vague, with general malcontent. Maybe some day, though.

Perhaps I can contact you, possibly through my poetry falcon.