Chicago Day 1

We arrived safe and sound in Chicago last night. This morning started with me helping get the network up and running with Mike and Marleen's new laptop. There was one point that I wasn't sure if I had ruined everything or not, but after a few pokes and prods, the network worked the way I told it to, and everyhing is good. As soon as the new desktop arrives next week, setup should be smooth and easy.

After the network was taken care of, breakfast eaten, and showers taken, we went to see all of the schools where Hayley went. There was some confusion on whether or not she went straight to high school after elementary, but as it turns out, she did it in order just like the rest of us. (Just kidding... we went to see her elementary, then the high school, THEN the junior high.) And her junior high doesn't look anything like it used to. It was cool to see all her schools. I kept smiling.

For lunch, we went to Portillo's and MAN was that good! New York dogs have NOTHING on a Chicago dog. At Portillo's, we took our first Chicago pictures. Take a look:

Mike and Marleen. We got some cheese sauce for the fries, and Marleen's salad looked mighty tasty!

This is me and Hayley enjoying lunch. Check out that hot dog. It had ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes, and a giant pickle spear on it.

That's the day so far. I am very excited to be here! Everything just makes me smile. I think it's because I'm finally experiencing Hayley's town with her as my guide. I'm enjoying every minute!

I can't promise I'll blog every day, but I'll do my best.

Happy Brithday, Hayley Girl!

How do you tell the person you care about most in the whole world how much you love her? How do you find the right words? Even if you like words, and even like putting words into legible and concise sentences, how do you find the right thing to say--or write? That's how I feel when I try to verbalize what I feel for Hayley. She is the most important person in the world to me and means so much to me.

Today is her birthday. Happy Birthday, Hayley! We're playing it pretty low key this year, but we're headed to her home town the end of this week, where we'll be sure to live it up. I can't wait to see all the places she grew up, meet the old friends, and get to see firsthand the people and places that were part of her formative years. In no particular older, can't wait to see William Fremd, walk down "the RIGHT terminal in the RIGHT airport," watch Robin Hood and The Fugitive, have root beer floats, eat at Ed's, Lou's, and countless other places. But mostly I can't wait to be there with her.

Hayley, you're my best friend. I love you so much and I want you to be the happiest girl in the world. I hope you have the best birthday ever! Love you!!