My Summer Vacation -- Day 4

Tuesday August 4--

Finally, the day has arrived for the drive home! Been waiting a few months for today. I need to get back to my roots and ground myself again. The time in March helped, but I need more Chicago in my system!

We hit the road at 7:55 am and dropped off Meesha, mom and dad's dog, at the kennel on the way. We croosed from Tennessee into Kentucky at 8:48 am. The went into Illinois from Kentucky at Paducah at 10:18 am. Dad drove that first leg. We stopped at the Metropolis rest area to walk around and stretch. The temps are warm and muggy.

We got back on I-24 and merged into I-57. We exited at Benton IL and drove through town to Masonic and Oddfellows Cemetery where my great-grandfather, Antanas Vozgirdas, is buried. He died in March 1927 and is buried in an unmarked grave. We have talked about getting a marker for him, and did so again. The monument company is right outside the cemetery gate. My great-grandmother, Petronele Nasvytaite Vozgirdiene, is buried in Belleville IL, acroos from St. Louis. They lived in East St. Louis IL and she died in 1910. Antanas and my grandfather, Mike, walked the railroad track to Benton after she died.

We were back on the road and saw a backup on the other side of the interstate that went about 7 miles. Glad it was southbound instead of northbound! Have to check to see if it is still only one lane when we go back. If so, I'll take a side road from Mt. Vernon to Benton or West Frankfort to avoid the traffic.

We stopped at KFC Buffet in Mt. Vernon IL for lunch. Mmmm...chicken livers!! Back on the road to Sigel and the Moto Mart for gas. Always stopped here on the trips when we still lived in Chicago. Station is still there. We got unleaded for $2.48. Everywhere else was more than $2.65. Here in Chicagoland the average price looks to be $2.79. When we got out of the car the temp felt like 65! It really cooled down. That felt great!

Stopped for a stretch again before Champaign IL. The skies were overcast and a few sprinkles. The temps stayed cool, but as we moved closer to the city, it started warming up again. We had just missed the bad storms that came through Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

Finally, we exited I-57 at 159th St. We drove through my old hometown of Midlothian. Drove past our old house. Wow the houses on the block look great! Even ours has gutters now! Drove through the business district and tried to remember what was where. A lot has changed.

NExt we had to get to Oak Brook from the Southwest suburbs at 5:00pm--rush hour. I decided to go west on 143rd to Wolf Rd. And then Wolf north to Cermak (22nd). I figurd it would be less congested the further west I got. I just didn't know if Wolf went all the way through. So we wound through Midlo and then Oak Forest. Passed by Batchelor Grove...the most haunted spot in Chicagoland.. Went through Orland and finally hit Wolf. It worked from 143rd to 123rd. The I had to backtrack as Wolf dead-ended. Went less than a mile before I hit 108th Avenue. I got on it and it was a great drive through the forest preserves. Very nice, shaded, few cars. Took it to Ogden, then Ogden back to Wolf and Wolf to Cermak and Cermak to Windsor and WE ARE HERE!!!

We unpacked and registered. Then since it was almost 8 pm, we decided to get something to eat. We went back to Cermak and Wolf to Buona Beef and got good ol' Italian Beef Sandwiches. They hit the spot! I had the combo--Italian Beef and Italian Sausage. Then came back to the hotel and went to the bar area and sat and jabbered with my fellow Knights. I finally ahd to call it a night because I had the trip to Springfield and the Lincoln Museum and Library to go to. I had to be up at 5:30 am to be ready to go at 6:30 for a bus departure at 7 am. So I finally amde it to bed after 11:30.

What a full day! And I go to bed happy to be back home!

My Summer Vacation -- Day Three

Monday August 3--

Today was a catch-all day. I needed to finish packing for the trip, had some meetings in Nashville and Green Hills, had to take out the trash at church and count the Sunday collection with Jim and Mike. Then drive to Mom and Dad's to spend the night so we could leave early on Tuesday.

I finished packing with room to spare! Everything fit and I didn't have a lot of extra stuff in separate bags.

My meetings went well and I am on my way with this current project! Now just waiting on the go-ahead.

Trash went out in record time and collection is counted and deposited.

On to the folks! And the trip in the morning.

An early beginning for Day Five

I am awake and ready for a trip to Springfield Illinois! Going to see Abe today! Bus leaves at 7 am, so gotta be ready by 6:30. Be back by 5:00 pm? Yeah, right! Lithuanians on time????

More when I get back!

My Summer Vacation -- Day Two

Sunday August 2--

Didn't have to go to Mass since I went in Dover on Saturday! So I got to sleep in a bit.

Did a lot of small things. Had St. Casimir Guild work to do, finished the estate KY Inheritance tax return, finished washing clothes and packed for the trip, listened over the 'net to the German program from Chicago then Mormon Tabernacle Choir then some Polish music, then Lithuanian from Hartford Ct and finally Lithuanian from Cleveland OH. Got papers together for some meetings on Monday.

Went to eat at Las Palmas on Hayes St. Had Tamales Supremos...they are great! And a margarita...only one.

Ya know, it's amazing how much TV I don't watch. I didn't have the TV on at all this past weekend.

My Summer Vacation -- Day One

On the first day of my summer vacation... oh wait...that sounds familiar! The Cheech and Chong Big Bambu album...

My first day of my vacation was spent in New Concord KY cleaning out one of my aunt's sheds. Found many interesting things and found a lot of garbage. We maybe have it 40% done.

Stopped in Dover for Mass at the new St. Francis of Assisi church there on Ft. Donelson Pkwy. Beautiful church and nice people.

Made it home by 11 pm and crashed after a hot shower. And only found one small tick on me!