Illini Homecoming Weekend 2019, Champaign, IL

What a great day and trip this was! I hadn't been back in some time and luckily still know one family that has the inside line on tailgates and fun.

We wound-up in a tailgate area they always go to, with friends of theirs all around. AND, the game was amazing (though we watched it from a TV in the tailgate!). It was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, as it always was.

After the game ended, I went on a bit of a walk-about around the campus, see some of the old haunts.The first stop though was a new statue for Dick Butkus... pretty cool.

Then onward to Wohler's Hall, and on my way saw the band at the Education Building...

For an extra dash of fun, I wanted to take the underground passage through Main Library to the Undergrad Library... still the same, but actually nicer and more user-friendly now...

... Down, down, down...

Excellent mural and usable tables & chairs now too...

Finally, I pop back up outside...

Hit Foellinger Auditorium and the Echo Point...

And then pop-up to Kam's (which we were told all weekend was closing that Sunday - it should be closed now). And that's not to say I even spent that much time there, but it was a bit of a local legend.

Finish up walking back through the Quad...

And then a little more touring and Illini gear shopping the next morning...

... Stately Altgeld Hall

And I believe this was the English Building... love the entryway brass. You don't see that kind of fabrication anymore.

Awesome trip, still a boring flat drive, I'll be back, no doubt. Maybe I'll pay off my last remaining loan someday too.

The Network Effect of Happiness

Warning: I'm going to get goopy, gloppy, mushy and soft in this post. 

To start and as a bit of a review for some of you - my employer has allowed me to work remotely from IL in order to be closer to family. On the recent trip back to the Midwest (huzzah!), I had time to think about what this gift I've been given truly is, and jot some thoughts down below. 

In a nutshell, this opportunity is HUGE... but, for reasons that have only recently dawned on me. Sure, it's great for me that they're flexible enough and trust me enough to do this. It will also allow me to help my family, which is great for us. 

But, the thing that's only recently dawned on me is something I'll call "The Network Effect of Happiness" TM. Let me explain - Not only am I happy about this change, and my family is happy (save for one cousin:), but from texts, calls, and emails I've received from people back in the Midwest, many more people are now happy too. It's like this one little act of kindness from employer to employee is making many people happy as a result. I'd like to do my best to keep this going, and also have it come all the way back to the employer in California - stay tuned.

And what about this - what if all/many/more employers and employees could create this kind of feeling or relationship throughout their company? How productive would everyone be? How happy would employees be? How happy would customers be?! I don't know if it would be easy to do, but I also don't think it would be so hard.

City Images, Chicago, IL

With a number of happy hours and other jaunts over the last few weeks, I've had a chance to re-visit some of this majestic city. Below is simply an amalgamation of those pics, feel free to flip through. If you can identify all the buildings, you might win something.

That's a good start! I look forward to more happy hours and more pics.

Union Pizzeria, Evanston, IL

As any good girl or boy should, I love pizza. Any style, almost any day. Luckily for me, there's a 5-star rated joint across the street from me. It's pretty fancy, upscale pizza, made right in the wood oven on-site, but dang is it good. It costs as much as you'd expect it to, maybe more, but that still won't stop me from enjoying it at a reasonable frequency (daily?).

Great one-pager for the menu... I loose concentration easily in pizza places.

Check out the tasty-making embers!!!

Count the lights while you wait...

And then it starts to arrive... Mangia!!!

This was their Pizza of the Week selection...

Great people-watching, great service, nice folks all around. The food speaks for itself and I can totally taste why they have a 5-star rating on Google/Yelp. The really swell part is I had enough to take home for another meal the next night. Gotta love leftovers. Union, I will be back!!!

Northeastern Nevada Museum, Elko, NV

When you're in a town of 20,000 for a night, in the middle of the Nevada desert, you find things to do. Lucky for me, Elko has a very cool museum on the main drag. I was happy to plunk down $8 for the privilege of sauntering through this place. I only wish I could have dressed up in period garb to feel more like the folks that founded the area. I'd have really liked some cowboy boots and a poncho. I made due though, check - it - out...

This is by no means all they offer, and they have a very large and cool giftshop as well, with many items sourced from local craftspeople. Very cool, Elko.

St. Burch Tavern, Iowa City, IA - Part I, Lunch

Stopping for lunch in Iowa City was on my list as I made my way across the western US, back to the Midwest.

I saw this place from the short drive into their downtown and made a mental note to check it out for lunch. Sure enough, it easily passed the visual test as I walked in, even the patio was busy and airy.

I was seated on my own and picked through their lunch menu quickly - Whole Grilled Cheese and a Green Goddess side salad please... with an on-tap peach-basil kombucha on the side. Perfect!

This is easily now in my rotation during travel through Iowa. What a great little spot - I'd even hope to be their for dinner in the near future. They seemed to take everything serious and were even showing a oyster bar inside. I can't wait.

Dairy Chef, Elkhorn, NE

During a recent visit to a sibling in Omaha, we HAD to make a trip to this nearby town for a visit to their local dairy bar. This one is called Dairy Chef and they're known for the over-the-top heights of their cones and cups of soft serve.

I was ready, but a bit full from dinner. Never-the-less, I had to step-up, literally, to the counter and order a "Tower". I chose chocolate ice cream and Oreo crumbs surrounding it.

This thing was a perfect capper to the night's meal. I believe I got through about half, then the sibling and his family took over - Phew. Note: this is not even close to the biggest/tallest cone or cup we saw that night. And Cone-watching is a legit past-time while you eat - looking at other people's cone heights.

If you're in the area, totally stop by Dairy Chef, I don't think you will leave disappointed or hungry.