Back from the Windy City

my voyage to obtain my visa...
we left sc fairly early on saturday morning to head to royal oak, my friend from home, Heidi, came with me and after a few random and last minute stops in Royal Oak, we boarded the Amtrak. First problem we had was that we couldn't print our tickets in R.O. and had to board with just the paper email confirmation; it ended up being okay, but that particular part stressed me out.
We were on that train from 11am detroit time until just after 5pm chicago time. It was not fun, the amtrak is very boring, and was over an hour late getting into the city. Heidi and I arrived to meet very cold and rainy conditions, walked a few blocks to the metra, and rode yet another train for an hour-ish to Shannon's place. =)

We had chicago style pizza and watched the Palin/Alaska reality show ...don't do it...you won't get that time back. That night we relaxed, and the next day was much of the same, Heidi and I visited my mom's childhood friend, Sharon, and later Shannon, Heidi, me and Shannon's friend Erin, all went to get dinner and to see Love and Other Drugs...it's hilarious, and Jake Gyllenhaal is a fox ;)

Monday we woke up early and hopped the train to Chicago...it was beyond freezing so we took a cab to the french consulate. That building was very hardcore on their security, but it went fine. I hope to have my Visa back to me in a few weeks.
After the consulate we shopped and explored the city, but it was cold, so we went back to Shannon's and napped had dinner with Erin and vegged out until bedtime.

We woke up super early....4:45 am today to hop the Amtrak home, and Oh my what a nightmare. It was dead-stopped for an hour-ish waiting to move which sucked and put us behind schedule....we got to Ann Arbor at almost 3pm wen it was supposed to be 1pm ...but oh well. it ended up going okay, my Visa will hopefully arrive soon, and I will be back to Mt.P 2moro to pack up my things...
 
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This is all real, It's finally happening, and I can't help but be excited and nervous all at once...