It's rainin fans! HALLELUJAH! It's rainin fans!

The forecasted rain may have held off for the Cub's opening day....but Chicago was flooded with Cubs fans EVERYWHERE in the city. Pouring out of the subway, crowded on the street, in Wrigleyville, on Michigan Ave....the blue and red circled-C was seen everywhere we looked. It was nice to see such mass support and excitement for the local sports team. I don't believe the weathermen of espn would ever predict such a fanstorm for the Bobcats in Charlotte....

Cubs Fans galore at the bar right outside the field!

Our plan to bolt out the door, ready to tackle the day by 9:30am was thwarted when 1) I couldn't quite hop out of the bed...no matter how gently-and gradually louder due to alarm settings-Ray Lamontagne was singing to me and 2) sleepy girl+movie last night= had to blog this morning!

So, Emily patiently waited on me to wake up, sip coffee, fret over word choice, and get ready.

We made it to our selected "breakfast" spot by-drumroll please................noon! We dined at an eggcellent restaurant called Yolk (as suggested by roommate Taylor Florio). Every time I googled the restaurant I kept spelling it "yoke" and not "yolk." Some would say this was an error. I would say I'm just that holy.

mmmm egg-bacon-avocado-quesadilla-wrap-thing

Today's forecast called for rain. Since I'm made of sugar, in such condition I would surely melt. So today was museum type activities day. After waiting in the mile-long-line outside Shedd aquarium, braving the cold, constant mist for about ehhh 15 minutes, we made a game-time decision to get a Citypass which would get us into 5 of the museums/aquarium/Willis Tower-formerly know as Sears Tower deck BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY LET US SKIP THE LINES!! BRING ON NEMO!

Did we actually find Nemo in the Shedd aquarium? Indeed! And a few cousins. Plus some sea horses. And about 98024890 other species of fish.

epitome of a kissy fishy face.

I tell you what- that citypass is legit! Skipping lines, a 4-D movie, AND the live animal show? Yes please! I know what you're thinking-what the heck is the 4th D? Glad you asked, it's the cool air rushing in when you watch a storm blowing over the penguin huddle, the bubbles that pour out when the sea lions swim and play, and please don't forget the shaking chairs and the punch in the back at the moment a shark snatches one of those lions by the teeth that scares the absolute crap out of you so much so that you literally scream out loud. Yes, the chair punches you in the kidney.

Baby Beluga in the deep, blue sea...errrr-tank! The live show consisted of these white whales, flippin dolphins, and a floppy huge sea lion.

#penguinsinlove #presh

EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEAN THERE, WE WENT AGAIN! To the bean, that is. How can you resist a giant mirror bean? We couldn't.

After riding a SUPER crowded train back towards our humble abode, we freshened up for one of the nicest dinners we've ever had-sponsored by our dear host mind you. Brushcetta, tortellini, duck, magnificent creamy potatoes, and chocolate bread pudding--between "breakfast" and that Italian splendor, I'm not due to eat again til June. We now find ourselves reclining on the couch, full bellied and sleepy from adventure.

Masters of all things "city"

Emily was spotted with two giants yesterday. Or at least that's what it looked like when she stood in between Cierra and Elizabeth Williams (Player of Year and MVP of McD's game- no big deal...she's going to DOOK).

note: we had to take a pic of a pic with my phone from the back of Em's cam, so this is technically a bootleg pic...

We got to spend time with Ci that morning before she hopped on a bus to go to another all-america game in Indianapolis (the WBCA Convention). It was fun realizing that we were hanging around the TOP basketball players in the country. UConn, Tennessee, DOOK recruits....We even saw Marshall Plumlee and Cody Zeller...whose brothers play at DOOK and Carolina. After realizing both the Plumlee and Zeller families have produced three boys who've gone D-1 apiece, I decided that my next goal in life is to find someone with which I can repeat such an accomplishment. If you know of any available giant, basketball playing men....point them my way.

We then meandered over to Navy Pier...pretty cool spot to see. We were able to get some Garret's Chicago Style popcorn to snack on our bus ride. Chicago Style= Cheese popcorn+Caramel popcorn. Sounds really strange, but tastes really good.

We have graduated from elementary busrider champions to SUBWAY QUEENS! No, no, no...we did not down 2 five dollar footlongs apiece...we mean the L-Train! The L took us over to Wrigleyville, where we were to meet our dear friend Natalie Butters! (shoutout to Castaway summer '07...the summer Emily got stuck with me for the rest of her life...)

In Wrigleyville, Em purchased my fave book To Kill A Mockingbird at this really great used bookstore called the Bookworks.

I played on the ladder there.

Pretending to be Belle.

After our dreams of eating at the local Cubby Bear (aka CubbyBunny) were shattered....we settled down for a nice afternoon 4 hour lunch with Natalie.

Wrigleyville is a great place to wander if you come to CHITOWN. Also, you should hit up Strange Cargo. A small apparel shop that will print all kinds of Chicago type, obscure, and unfortunately some obscenebutreallyfunny shirts. Emily got a shirt that says I'VE BEAN HERE with the Chicago Bean on it. LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Giant thrifstore....with a few somewhat questionable elements...such as the "pornuary." Eek.

(I'm sure you are know wondering what a pornuary is. See below for the best descriptor)

True to our we-like-to-relax habits, Em and I came back to our 38th floor home to watch a movie and eat some chicago deep dish pizza from a pizzeria down the street.

PS Today I finally understood what a hashtag means. #omgmylifetotallychangedLOLZ

'member that time we conquered America?

Well, we're back.

Not on a roadtrip, but a wait-on-the-runway-for-two-hours-why-do-we-always-have-terrible-flight-delays-when-we-fly-together trip by plane to the Windy City...Chi-town...Chi-to the ca-to the gogo! (shoutout to LLH)

We only thought it appropriate to revive this old thing to share our adventures with friends just as we did that faithful summer 2 years ago....because, hey, this IS adventure and this IS america...right? Dern Skippy.

"BAD WEATHER, MY ASS! WE HAD A BROKEN PLANE" says the flustered business man as we fiiiiinnnaaallyyyyy step foot onto Illinois soil. Only 2 hours behind sched. Not too bad. (sorry I cussed, mom...my english teacher in middle school told me it was cool if we were reading or quoting.)

The man, the myth, the legend, watchouthe'llspoilyourotten Matt Grander picked us up from the airport to take us to our fabulous 38th floor condo we will be living in the next 4 days. We step out onto the balcony and see far out into Lake Michigan, then turn and see Wrigley Field, and we think to ourselves we have the best friends in the world! (see view below)

hello awesome view!

Wrigley Field is that large mass kinda to the left.

With a home, a full belly, some plans, an infinite bus pass, and a hug, we set off on our own. What? You worried about two small-town, Southern girls navigating Chicago's transit system? Us too.

BEETEEDUBS. The whole inspiration for this trip was to come and watch Miss Cierra Burdick, current Butler High School star, future Tennessee Lady Vol star, most relevantly MCDONALDS ALL AMERICAN!, and most importantly Julia's homegirl play in her MickeyD's Allstar Game.

So as we TRIUMPHED over that bus system, arriving at the United Center to watch our girl Cierra throw down upon the West team, we figured that considering we noticed that there had been approximately 783 restaurants per square inch in Chicago seen thus far, there would probably be a few options for pregame dinner right next to the place...right? Nope.

Walking a few blocks, freezing and starving....hope arrives on the horizon....or wait, is it hope? or am I just weirded out by that sign? Billy Goat Tavern and Grill: Cheez borger Cheez Borger Cheez Borger NO PEPSI "COKE"

um. dooo wut?

erupting into puzzled giggles, we reached no conclusion as to what NO PEPSI "COKE" meant (though it was on the flag and in fluorescent flag form), we tromped passed this goldmine of oddity....

I know I've drowned you with endless detail on just one day...so I'll give you the highlights of the game:

*Cierra straight BALLED. Started, played lots of minutes, looked awesome in her red McD's uni (not to mention they gave her three sweatsuits, three pairs of shoes, and endless other items of clothing)

*At half time, she was given the Naismith Award for best sportsmanship throughout her season and time with the other players and coaches.

*The girls game was way more fun to watch than the guys. Whoops, did I just mean that? yep.

*You should have seen her superstar statusness as people were asking for her John Hancock left and right.

*The best highlight about the game, and about her really, is that her bball talent is just one factor of how wonderful this girl is. I'm telling you, she's something special beyond an orange ball and net: the strongest work ethic I've ever seen, a selfless attitude, a huge heart, humility that is almost baffling, hilarious, fun, intelligent....she's the real deal peeps.

Thanks for giving us another chance. Until tomorrow folks.

And we will have more pics...alas! technical difficulties