August 31, 1998: Birthday Lunch at West Egg

My department at Information Resources used to take each other out for their birthday lunch which was always fun. It was another way for me to try out different restaurants in town.     Yolanda, Chris, Tony, Josh, Wayne, Joe, Jeanette, and Bryan took me for my birthday lunch at West Egg Cafe in our Monroe St. building.    Joe called me after work to say he would take me for my birthday dinner when I came to visit him in the suburbs.   

August 29, 1998: Shania Twain Concert

I still wasn't feeling too well, but got some extra rest before going to the Shania Twain concert in Tinley Park with Jennifer Lovato.    Jennifer picked me up from the train station in Tinley Park and we drove to the Shania Twain concert.    Shania had a 13 yr old she had met at an autograph session come on stage and sing for us. She was excellent.   

August 25, 1998: Bronchitus

I was still very sick today with Bronchitus.  I hated to call in sick to work, especially after being on vacation, but I had absolutely no energy.   My supervisor, Chris, was joking with me that I was going to skip work and go to the beach.   As I said, I had no energy, and not sure how I managed to walk myself down to Addison St. to hail a cab. There is nothing worse than being alone and sick and having to get yourself to your doctor.   I took the cab to my doctor office as I was so weak.    I had a temperature of 100.7.  I got 2 prescriptions and took the cab home and slept the rest of the day.     Joe had written to me to see how I was doing which was nice of him.

August 24, 1998: Las Vegas to Chicago

We flew back from Las Vegas to Phoenix, then to Chicago.    Kara's parents met us at the Chicago airport.    My mom rode back with Kara and her parents to Muskegon, while I took the "El" back to my apartment.   I had come down with a cold on the trip and was coughing alot.    It was such a pain carrying my luggage up and down the steps of the "El".   Then, I got on the red line north, which was crowded.  There was a Cubs game, so I had to stand on the "El".     The escalators didn't work at the Addison stop so had to carry my luggage down the steps which I hated.  I was so exhausted by the time I got back to my apartment.  

August 23, 1998: Downtown Las Vegas

We took the bus to downtown Vegas to see the other casinos.   Saw the "Golden Nugget", Union Plaza (where my mom, dad, and Pauline stayed years ago).    Then, Kara took the bus back herself.   Mom and I went to the Riviera Hotel and Circus Circus.  Mom won a t-shirt at the Riviera.   My mom and dad also stayed at the Riviera years ago.

Kara, my Mom, and I had a delicious $14 buffet at the Mirage.       Mom and I went to the "Sigfried and  Roy" show while Kara went to a different show.     This was my birthday gift from my mom.   The visual effects at the Sigfriend and Roy show were awesome.

August 22, 1998: Las Vegas

We had a delicious buffet at Harrah's.   The dining room was decorated with different fruits and vegetables.   I put 25 cents in a slot machine and won $15.   Of course, I gambled it away and lost.   We went through Barbary Coast, Ballys, MGM Casino/theme park, New York, New York, etc.  It was so hot outside.  Toured the Coca Cola World where we got samples of Coke from all over the world.   I didn't realize they made different sodas around the world.   Italy's soda tasted horrible.    Went through the M&M store.

It was pretty cool to go on the outdoor escalators across the street.  Our walk back to the hotel was miserable.  Kara looked like she was going to faint.   We walked through the Mirage.    "Sigfried and Roy" was cancelled tonight due to technical difficulties.   We had dinner at this authentic Japanese restaurant where you sit on the floor and eat and take your shoes off.    Then, we went to the New York, New York casino and I got this hilarious photo taken of me. I got to pick out the body and they put my head on it.  I picked the picture of a gal laying on a blackjack table with black lingerie, silk gloves, and a cigar.  We were all laughing so hard as there was a TV screen that faced out so others could see it. They were laughing, too.  

Walked through Monte Carlo and Caesars Palace.  

Went to the Pirate show outside our hotel, Treasure Island.    That was pretty cool.

August 21, 1998: Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Vegas

We got up early and went in our pajamas to see the sunrise over the Grand Canyon.  The sunrise was beautiful.     Went to various points of the canyon and came back to the hotel and slept another 2 hours before breakfast.      Then, we went back to the canyon and stopped at all of the look-out points on the east rim.  Stopped by this point and walked up to the top of the tower.   Man, it took my breath away.     

We left the park and headed down highway 17 toward LA. The drive to Vegas was absolutely gorgeous with all of the mountains.    We drove around the Hoover Dam which was pretty impressive.   Then, we got into Vegas and into the heavy traffic.   Drove down the Vegas Blvd strip and saw the wedding chapels, casinos, and all.    Stayed at the Treasure Island Hotel at the Mirage.  Kara and I drove down the strip to the airport to drop off the rental car.     We lucked out and were able to get a limo ride back to our hotel for only $3.75. 

Walked along the strip. It was about 106 degrees outside.   It was so hot for Kara. She almost died walking in that heat.      We had sundaes at the Ghiradellis and went to an impersonator show at the Imperial Palace.   

August 20, 1998: Phoenix

Kara, Mom, and I flew out of Chicago for Phoenix, Arizona.    We got to Phoenix around 7:30 a.m. pacific time.   We rented a car and drove around downtown Phoenix. Then, we headed for Sedona.  Sedona was absolutely gorgeous. There were tons of red rock all over.  We went up to this small church where you could get an excellent view of the area.    Then, we went to Flagstaff, which was where Charlene and Steve lived for about a year when Kelsey was 1 yr old.   It's quite built up now.   Stopped at a Safeway store, as that was one of my clients at work.    It was a pretty nice store.    Had lunch at Fazolis.    Then, we drove around the University of Arizona.

Then, we drove to the Grand Canyon.   We stayed at the Quality Inn on the south entrance to the park.   The hotel was behind the IMAX theater. It cost us $20 per car to go into the park.   We got there at sunset. The Grand Canyon was absolutely gorgeous.  It was so peaceful there.   I saw a rainbow over the canyon.    It's something that everyone should see in their lifetime.    

We watched a film at the IMAX theater and went back to the hotel. 

August 19, 1998: Mom and Kara in Chicago

Mom, Kara, and I took Amtrak from Holland to Chicago.   We dragged all of our stuff to the green line 'El'  We were worn out from carrying all of our stuff.    
We had lunch at Ed Debeviks.  Showed Kara my old apartment at 1030 N. Dearborn.   Then, we went to the Sears Tower, as she hadn't been there before.    It was nice to look out and know where things were around the city.  It was a sunny and clear day, so we could see everything. I took plenty of pictures.    Then, I took them to my work to meet some of my co-workers.  They met Yolanda and Wayne.    Then, we went to Park Community Church for a service and had ice cream at Ben and Jerrys.  

August 18, 1998: Kim Daugherty & Matt Tomasiewicz

Kim Daugherty came over and we had a nice chat.   Then, Matthew came over.  I took both of them to the miniature golf on the Causeway.  Then, we went to Frosty Cove on Lakeshore Dr. for ice cream.   

Mom and I went to Grandpa and Grandma's house for homemade burgers.  Grandpa did a great job on the burgers.    He put mushrooms, ketchup, and seasonings in the patties.

August 17, 1998: Grandma Gonyo

Went to visit Grandma Gonyo. She made us up frozen pizza and some peaches. We watched "Young and the Restless".   Then, I took her to a movie at the Cinema and we got ice cream at Frosty Oasis.   Grandma was saying I was the most thoughtful person and it was so nice to get a card from me for her birthday.  

August 16, 1998: Blueberry Picking

Mom and I went to St. Francis de Sales for church service and sat next to Mrs. Kulikowski.  Went with Mom, Grandpa and Grandma Thomas to the chicken dinner at St. Thomas Church on Apple Ave.   It was only $6 for the meal.     Then, Grandpa and I went blueberry picking.    We hadn't done that in 2 yrs.  The weather was gorgeous.    It was a tradition every summer to go blueberry picking with Grandpa.    I was very picky about my blueberries. I only picked the big berries. Grandpa pulled the berries and all from the tree.  It took me alot longer than him to pick a bucket of blueberries, but mine looked the best.   We always laughed about that.

Got back to Grandpa's house and Grandma had made us blueberry pie for dessert.    When I got home, I went and visited with John Colella, who lived 2 doors from us on Lawnel. He said Chicago seemed to be agreeing with me.   I continued my walk over to Patty and Matthew's house. I learned that Patty's husband, Jeff, lived in Chicago for 3 years.   

August 15, 1998: Kara's Pool Party

I came home for a visit.   Today was supposed to be my 5 yr high school class reunion; however, it was cancelled due to lack of money and participation.     So, my friend Kara had a pool party at her house.     Jake Messinger came over.  He had moved to West Hollywood and really liked it.    He didn't have a car in California and just took the buses around.   

Sue and Ashley came by and we all sat by the pool watching Ashley do her tricks.   Kara fed us hot dogs, chips, and smores.     Then, Sue and I went to Laguna Beach Club in Grand Haven.   

August 9, 1998: AOL IM with Joe Idstein

Joe Idstein started working at IRI this year. He overheard me telling Chris Blackwell that I had AOL and wondered what my email address was.    In the evening, he sent me an instant message on AOL and we chatted for about 3 hours.   He said he liked to write poetry. 

When I look back, I should not have started chatting with Joe, as the outcome 2 yrs later was that he ended up marrying my roommate, Dawn, from Western Michigan University.  It became a drama for me for the next 2 years, which I wish I had avoided.  

August 5, 1998: RDS Cubs Game Outting

We had a half day of work due to our Cubs game outting for work.    We all took the red line 'El' to the Addison stop. Joe Idstein came with me.    We sat behind Wayne and next to Yolanda.    Then, we all went to Murphy's bar across the street on Sheffield/Waveland.  We stayed until 9 and drank.   We told the new guy, Bryan, about Wayne at the Halloween party.     Josh gave me his Cubs jersey to wear as it was raining outside.   I looked like a rapper.      

Josh came to my apartment and we watched wrestling and South Park.    He gave me a hug and left.     

August 2, 1998: St. Michael's Catholic Church

Grandpa, Mom, and I went to St. Michael's Catholic Church in Old Town.   This is where my mom's Aunt Elsie was baptized.     It was a gorgeous building.     We had ice cream at Ben and Jerry's on Armitage.

Then, we took the bus down to Graceland Cemetery to see where all of the famous people of Chicago were buried.  We finally found Marshall Field's stone.    My mom taught me the baseball song:  "Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd, give me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if we ever get back, for its root, root, root, for the home teams, for its a shame if we don't win for its 1, 2, 3 strikes your out at the old ball game."  I will never forget my mom teaching me this song on our walk back from the cemetery.

We took the cab back to Union Station so my Mom and Grandpa could go home. It was hard to see them go.

August 1, 1998: Southside Tour

Mom, Grandpa, and I rented a car and drove down I-94 to 111th St to see the Pullman district.   Mr. Pullman was the man who invented the sleeper car.   I got to see the homes he made for his workers.    All of the homes were connected to each other.  It was definitely something to check out.

Then, we went to 63rd St. to where my Grandpa used to go dancing.  The building was now torn down.    Took a tour of the Robie House (Frank Lloyd Wright house) which was at the University of Chicago campus.   

Then, we went to 79th St/Stony Island where the Thomas family grocery store was located.   That building was also torn down.   Now, there was an old parts store next door to where our family grocery store was.

We went to see the church where he was baptized (St. Georges) on 32nd and Lithuanica.   The church was torn down, but there were new condos being built.    We drove through Marquette Park which used to be where many of the Lithuanians lived.   

Grandpa's house was on Wentworth/32nd St. It was also torn down.   Then, we drove to Oak Park.  We stopped by my co-worker, Yolanda's apartment, but she wasn't home.   

We had dinner at PS Bankok on Clark/Roscoe.  Then, we went to the play, "Hellcab".