07.05.05 On July 5, I went back to work and Rich Gittleman stopped by and so I took a picture of him with the fish IMG_0610 I also took a picture of Chris Achen (Politics) who had somehow escaped my lens but can do so no more as Associate Chair IMG_0611

07.07.05 This set the stage for another college tour with Jane. We got up ridiculously early and drove to long term parking at Newark and marked our location IMG_0612 got our stuff together IMG_0613 and marked the bus stop IMG_0614 as Jane waited for the bus IMG_0615 and I read the sign IMG_0616 and next thing we knew we were in the terminal looking at the wares IMG_0617 at Seattle's Best IMG_0618 where Jane had a bagel IMG_0619 and I had a large decaf IMG_0620 before we went over to the other side and landed in O'Hare where the hallways were busy IMG_0621 as I waited at the Dunkin Donut IMG_0622 for Jane IMG_0623 and we rode the bus together as I took this self portrait IMG_0624 and then this woman at Hertz IMG_0625 rented us this car IMG_0626 with these Florida plates IMG_0627 so that we could drive to Evanston and find parking at our hotel IMG_0628 and then find our way to our room IMG_0629 where this was the view IMG_0630

Next we headed out to lunch at the Greek place where this was the menu IMG_0631 and Jane IMG_0632 and I IMG_0633 were happy to see the condiments IMG_0634 as I ordered my Greek salad IMG_0635 which came with pita bread IMG_0636 and dressing on the side IMG_0637 and she had her burger IMG_0638 which the waitress IMG_0639 took care of as she took our picture IMG_0640

On our way to the Northwestern campus, this girl IMG_0641 asked to interview Jane for her journalism project IMG_0642 and then we found the campus IMG_0643 and made our way through the exercise course IMG_0644 to the lake and the beach IMG_0645 where people were bathing IMG_0646 IMG_0647 as we looked north to the point IMG_0648 and south to the Chicago skyline IMG_0649 IMG_0650 IMG_0651 as we walked around and found a small whirlpool IMG_0652 and a very calm lake of beautiful colors IMG_0653 before taking the tour.

After the tour, we passed Urban Outfitters IMG_0654 on our way to a creamery (which turned out to be the wrong creamery) IMG_0655 we approached the creamery IMG_0656 checked out the menu IMG_0657 and the specials IMG_0658 and then Jane got this ice cream cone IMG_0659 IMG_0660 and we had these drinks IMG_0661 while recording the location for future reference. IMG_0662

After a respite, we went to the Blind Faith Cafe IMG_0663 for dinner. The menu offered many choices IMG_0664 but we began with drinks IMG_0665 and Jane IMG_0666 and I IMG_0667 enjoyed our waiter who was from Brazil via New York IMG_0668 as he brought Jane's salad IMG_0669 with dressing IMG_0670 and my rice IMG_0671 and main dish (Mongolian with meat substitute) IMG_0672 and a very large sample of peanut sauce. IMG_0673 I managed to finish my main course IMG_0674 even as this waiter IMG_0675 filled my water glass many times. The dessert menu IMG_0676 had a wonderful peanut butter bar IMG_0677 and then we paid the check IMG_0678 and called it a night.

07.08.05 The next morning, July 8, I took a short walk and passed the Frances Willard house IMG_0679 IMG_0680 before we began our drive past Gary, Indiana IMG_0681 IMG_0682 IMG_0683 IMG_0684 IMG_0685 IMG_0686 IMG_0687 IMG_0688 IMG_0689 IMG_0690 IMG_0691 and down the highway IMG_0692 IMG_0693 IMG_0694 IMG_0695 IMG_0696 IMG_0697 with our directions IMG_0698 that took us through the Indiana Toll Road IMG_0699 IMG_0700 where we paid our toll IMG_0701 and made our way to the IHOP at Benton Harbor, Michigan IMG_0702 where the bathroom had a great collection sign with all details IMG_0703 as we ordered our drinks IMG_0704 and Jane tried to recover IMG_0705 as my self portrait IMG_0706 brought out her cereal IMG_0707 IMG_0708 but my sour dough toast took a while to prepare. IMG_0709 While in Benton Harbor, we also went to Wal Mart to get Tylenol but we were happy to hit the road to Ann Arbor IMG_0710 where this gentleman checked us into the Bell Tower IMG_0711 and our room looked like this IMG_0712 IMG_0713 with a view of our car in the parking lot IMG_0714

Because we were rushed, I got this sandwich IMG_0715 following the advice on the neon sign IMG_0716 and Jane got this sandwich IMG_0717 as Jane IMG_0718 and I IMG_0719 realized that Jimmy John's was a restaurant with a lot of guidance IMG_0720 and much signage IMG_0721 to behold.

After we finished the tour, we rested and then went to explore the town where we found the Seva restaurant IMG_0722 IMG_0723 and once correcting our settings realized that it had been a VFW hall IMG_0724 before taking on the Seva name. IMG_0725 Before eating, we explored the car show in town which had caused us large delays in getting to the hotel. There were fancy cars IMG_0726 IMG_0727 and old cars IMG_0728 IMG_0729 and a fire engine IMG_0730 another old car IMG_0731 a Ferrari that Jane posed with IMG_0732 IMG_0733 IMG_0734 IMG_0735 IMG_0736 and car engines where you could see distributor caps IMG_0737 IMG_0738 not to mention these midget cars that you enter through the front windshield IMG_0739 IMG_0740 IMG_0741 and this deux chevaux (2CV) IMG_0742 which set the stage to head back to Seva IMG_0743 and read the menu IMG_0744 while Jane IMG_0745 and the waitress IMG_0746 were amused as the drinks arrived IMG_0747 and we admired the hot sauce IMG_0748 and the best French (aka freedom) fries we've had in a long time IMG_0749 as Jane had the ravioli IMG_0750 and I had the pasta IMG_0751 which made my self portrait IMG_0752 and the second beer IMG_0753 feel even better even as the waitress took a picture of Jane and me IMG_0754 and told us her interpretation of the name of the restaurant which we tried hard to write to remember IMG_0755 IMG_0756 IMG_0757 IMG_0758 IMG_0759 IMG_0760 IMG_0761 so that we could go to the chocolate shop IMG_0762 IMG_0763 IMG_0764 and buy this chocolate for Jane IMG_0765 from this sales person IMG_0766 and then head back to the hotel where we saw this wonderful sign IMG_0767 and thanked the hotel staff for their dinner advice. IMG_0768

07.09.05 Saturday morning July 9 began with a breakfast spread IMG_0769 of cereal IMG_0770 fruit IMG_0771 and donuts and pastries at the hotel. IMG_0772 I began with cereal IMG_0773 and banana IMG_0774 but couldn't resist this donut IMG_0775 after which we headed out until we got to Kalamazoo IMG_0776 and followed the road IMG_0777 IMG_0778 past the Kalamazoo exit IMG_0779 into town past the colleges IMG_0780 looking in all directions IMG_0781 IMG_0782 IMG_0783 IMG_0784 until we found gas IMG_0785 at this place that seemed to not welcome us to their rest rooms in signs IMG_0786 but did offer a good station sign IMG_0787 as we drove on until it became Jane's favorite time (11:11) IMG_0788 IMG_0789 IMG_0790 IMG_0791 IMG_0792 IMG_0793 IMG_0794 and then headed off I-94 to the Indiana Toll Road observing a sign for Krazy Kaplan at every turn and so deciding to explore the Fireworks market IMG_0795 where Uncle Sam's store sold many varieties of fireworks IMG_0796 IMG_0797 IMG_0798 IMG_0799 IMG_0800 IMG_0801 IMG_0802 IMG_0803 IMG_0804 and we captured Uncle Sam, the proprietor, who had little advice about Chicago restaurants IMG_0805 before heading down past the Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge ($2.50) IMG_0806 IMG_0807 IMG_0808 into a small traffic jam where we recorded license plates from Ohio IMG_0809 and Illinois IMG_0810 before the traffic got back and Jane decided to record scenery IMG_0811 cars on the road IMG_0812 IMG_0813 IMG_0814 IMG_0815 IMG_0816 IMG_0817 scenery IMG_0818 directions IMG_0819 and more road scenes occasionally with the Chicago skyline IMG_0820 IMG_0821 IMG_0822 IMG_0823 IMG_0824 IMG_0825 IMG_0826 IMG_0827 IMG_0828 IMG_0829 IMG_0830 before we saw the signs for Wisconsin (and yet another traffic jam) IMG_0831 IMG_0832 IMG_0833 IMG_0834 IMG_0835 as we tried to get the rental car to this woman at Hertz IMG_0836 and get Jane on the bus to the terminal IMG_0837 so that we could record the prohibition against fireworks IMG_0838 and then make our way to Wolfgang Puck's restaurant IMG_0839 where Jane was amused and relieved IMG_0840 that the SSSS on her boarding pass meant a search she had survived IMG_0841 and so could have her table setting IMG_0842 and admire my self portrait IMG_0843 as Jane had her sandwich (and fries) IMG_0844 and I had my pizza IMG_0845 and we celebrated a successful trip to the colleges of the MidWest.