the time I got to leave the house for more than 24 hours. in a row.

So, one of my birthday resolutions was to go on a vacation without Lorelei. I think one night away counts, don't you?

edit: thanks for the compliments on my skirt! It's a vintage find from a great little shop near where we live.

That's us, looking nervous just before we left to spend 22.5 hours in Chicago. (With travel time on either side, we were gone for 28, but who's counting?) Except for the part about getting food poisoning or a 24-hour stomach flu (not fun, and it made me miss my craft fair on Sunday), we had an amazing time! Brahms CSO concert, leisurely morning at the Art Institute, great meals out (that I mostly kept down), and strolling in the autumn sunshine. Plus, Lorelei had the time of her life being the doted-upon granddaughter.

A few pics of our adventure:

 the view from our 21st floor hotel room

 Happened across two weddings -- if I were Beth, I would have gotten a picture of the bride huddled with her bridesmaids on a street corner under all the groomsmen's umbrellas, but I was too slow with my camera. This couple got married in the morning at the Art Institute -- how cool!

the required self-shot photo op of us looking goofy and happy