Sunday, June 15, 2025

Well, even though we’re in the air, officially it’s a new day.

I took a sleeping pill before supper was served. Teresa loved her chicken but I gave up on my beef after one unchewable bite. I managed to sleep the last two hours of the flight and Teresa even longer.

In Houston we went through a long immigration line but it went smoothly and fairly quickly. At Baggage Claim our bags seemed to arrive the same time we did and we quickly and easily put them in another machine where they disappeared and Teresa bought a small coffee and a package of cookies on the short walk to our gate.

We didn’t have long to wait and our flight took off on time. I rested my eyes for quite a while but wasn’t able to fall asleep. Teresa doesn’t seem to have that problem, she puts a blanket over herself covering her face and she’s soon asleep. I didn’t feel cold during either of our flights but I was wearing hiking pants, thick long socks, a t-shirt with sleeves and a jacket.

When we landed in Chicago a Chinese woman was visibly worried and through the stewardess we learned her connecting flight leaves in 20 minutes. The stewardess made an announcement and asked for a show of hands of those who had connecting flights and a lot of hands went up. After a 10-minute wait for a gate to open up the plane finally docked and we, and others, remained seated so the “connectors” could exit first.

We quickly found our bags in baggage claim and after asking for directions found our way to the Airport Transit System (train). From United’s Terminal 1 we took the train to the other end of the line, the Budget Rental counter at the Multi Modal Facility. There was only one person ahead of us and we quickly got our car rental assignment. It was interesting to hear it print on an old-fashioned dot-matrix printer, a sound I haven’t heard in a while. We got our Toyota Corolla and it took me longer to figure out how to move the seat up (which was why I couldn’t find the button) than anything else. 😊

We exited the facility and headed north on Mannheim (I think) to Omega restaurant on Golf Road. I was surprised it was so busy until I figured out it must be Fathers’ Day. Teresa was surprised by the basket of rolls they put in front of us and she immediately attacked a muffin which she enjoyed. We shared a large bowl of chicken rice soup then a large salad. The check came to about $26, I tipped $5, and got a chance to break my $100 bill. The waitress brought paper and plastic bags and said we could take all the dinner rolls but Teresa just took another muffin. (Which she finally finished 3 days later.)

Teresa was tired so we drove to our Airbnb. At first, I had a problem opening the door until I realized their were two locks for the one key. The place is nice but freezing and I don’t see a thermostat anywhere.

We went looking for the T-Mobile office in Des Plaines and even though I had their address of 101 W. Oakton, darned if I could find it. So, we had no internet.

Teresa complimented me on my driving. It’s nice to drive again but I find myself struggling to remember roads and places that used to be so familiar.

We went to Walmart and picked up a number of basic items for $131.77 (no problem scanning items but didn’t see the card scanner right away for payment). For me I bought deodorant, Blink (for dry eyes), Cerave Intensive Moisturizing Lotion (for dry to very dry skin) and Equate allergy relief (pink) pills. Teresa got One A Day and vitamin D vitamins and some makeup items.

I found Walmart a little overwhelming with its tall shelves and not knowing where anything is and we had to ask several times for directions. I asked a manager if he knew where there is a T-Mobile store and he informed me there’s one on the other side of the plaza. We drove over there but it was closed so we’ll get to that tomorrow.

For supper we drove to a Panera Bread I remembered but it was closed permanently which I should have figured out when I noticed a couple of their other locations on the way had closed. I drove to downtown Des Plaines where we found a Potbelly Sandwich Shop and Teresa had a small bowl of cheddar broccoli soup and I had a large bowl of chili.

We walked around downtown a bit and I showed her The Choo Choo restaurant, a big attraction for little kids.

Teresa was amazed how light it still was outside at 8:30pm.

I tried making an ATM withdrawal at a nearby bank but it didn’t work. For security purposes do they shut it down at night?

We returned to the apt and got ready for bed. Tomorrow we’ll probably stick around the area for T-Mobile and I promised to show her Michaels for her craft supplies. I guess our touristy stuff will have to wait until Tuesday.

Just before going to bed, I had a moment of inspiration and closed all the overhead A/C vents since it’s still freezing in here.

 

FUNNY