Chicago, Summer 2005
We toured around Chicago practically the whole summer, with just some breaks to visit Indiana and California. Our main goal was to find a house to buy. Our other goal was to eat Chicago-style pizza at every place which serves it. We did better at the first goal.

Tricia hangs out in front of our sublet -- where we spent a month while looking for that perfect house.	Here's that perfect house! Notice that the bushes haven't been trimmed, and the "For Sale" sign is still in the window.	The view of our new favorite city from the top of the Sears Tower

Maureen visited our place before we closed, so she couldn't see inside.	Peter came out on our first day in the house, while the movers were still unpacking.	Tricia and I in the "before" version of the kitchen.

Tricia and Lilly, our youngest visitor during our first summer	Suzi came out to visit	So did my family -- here's Mom and West

We went out to see Wicked, which was a fantastic musical. I'd see it again. Tricia read the book afterwards.	Working on that pizza-eating goal	Cheezborger, Cheezborger! (It's a reference to an old Saturday Night Live skit.)

Cubs hats for sale	West and Sue, the famous T. Rex skeleton	Ah, now that's a lawn! Tricia worked hard to get the sod ready.

The living room has a gorgeous built-in hutch	We love the living room, especially all the wood trim	Here's the kitchen "after" some decorating.

I love Chicago's architecture! Here's the Sears Tower	The Wrigley Building	Marina City, also known as the "Corncob Building"

Oh, that's an attractive building! Look at the lovely hedges and lawn!	The Hard Rock Hotel -- formerly the Carbide and Carbon Building	The Water Tower

A boat tour of the Chicago River with Pat, Marsha, and John	And us	And another boat tour -- this time with Maureen and Dave

Tricia driving around in Cynthia, our convertible Mustang	Tricia and Maureen hanging out in front of Dick's Last Resort	Robot DJs at the Wired Next Fest

	We love Chicago! But we also travelled around a little this summer.
Khush, Lilly and Amy came to visit.		So did Matt and Daryl

Indiana, Summer 2005

There's Cynthia! Parked near Marsha's in Indianapolis	Isn't the ice-cream man just the perfect bit of Americana?	John and Skipper

Tricia, Jake and Kristin		Brian, Warren, and Jake

California, Summer 2005
We rented a big ugly hearse-like car and drove from Los Angeles to La Jolla

Mamma Mia! That's one ugly automobile.	Tricia and Ian in Santa Monica	Jeff and Tricia

An LA landmark, and really the best doughnuts I've ever eaten	Seals on the beach in La Jolla	Tricia, Warren and Suzi in La Jolla

	The main reason to visit La Jolla was Genta and Chris' wedding. A truly fantastic wedding!
Chris and Genta on the beach		Aren't they the happiest couple?

Ian, Tricia, and Michael get sniffed by Pepito	We saw Rip Taylor hanging out in this little breakfast joint. It was our "Hollywood Moment."	Jeff loves his new hat.