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Sunday, August 24th, 2008
The Land of Lincoln, Humzoo, and Middle School Field Trips
Several months ago, I decided to plan a trip to visit Springfield, Illinois. Susan reads a great deal of political biographies. You know, the kind with footnote sections that are larger than the actual text portions. A while ago, she completed Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns-Goodwin and loved it.
That made me think.
Sure, I've been to Springfield a few times. My eighth grade class trip and once for a work meeting with the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) back in 2001 are the only two times I recall. We did stop for gas in 2002 on our way to St. Louis, but that doesn't really count. Okay, we did drive in front of the Capitol, so we will call that three visits for me.
Susan mentioned that her grade school never took a trip south to see the State Capitol, Lincoln's home, or the log cabins at New Salem. Since April, I kicked around a few ideas. Schedules never quite worked out. When I heard that Barack Obama was planning to unveil his vice-presidential running mate on Saturday, August 23 in Springfield, plans were quickly organized and we made the 3-hour trek south on I-55.
While standing in line and winding through the downtown streets, I passed someone who looked familiar from photos on Humzoo. I had my first face-to-face encounter with a fellow Humzooer. It was nice to meet Biker Ben. He looked busy and I was about to pass through security, so it was a quick introduction.
Our original intention was to visit the Lincoln Museum, then go to the rally. When we arrived, the lines were so long at 10:30 a.m., we just waited in queue. Following the rally, we hit the museum, saw Lincoln's home, swung by Lincoln's tomb, and headed back to Elmhurst. I should have asked for directions to Dane's Discount, a place I would have no knowledge of if it wasn't for Humzoo.
Oh yeah, the Cubs won while we were there, so the Magic Number is 29.
The Land of Lincoln, Humzoo, and Middle School Field Trips
Several months ago, I decided to plan a trip to visit Springfield, Illinois. Susan reads a great deal of political biographies. You know, the kind with footnote sections that are larger than the actual text portions. A while ago, she completed Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns-Goodwin and loved it.
That made me think.
Sure, I've been to Springfield a few times. My eighth grade class trip and once for a work meeting with the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) back in 2001 are the only two times I recall. We did stop for gas in 2002 on our way to St. Louis, but that doesn't really count. Okay, we did drive in front of the Capitol, so we will call that three visits for me.
Susan mentioned that her grade school never took a trip south to see the State Capitol, Lincoln's home, or the log cabins at New Salem. Since April, I kicked around a few ideas. Schedules never quite worked out. When I heard that Barack Obama was planning to unveil his vice-presidential running mate on Saturday, August 23 in Springfield, plans were quickly organized and we made the 3-hour trek south on I-55.
While standing in line and winding through the downtown streets, I passed someone who looked familiar from photos on Humzoo. I had my first face-to-face encounter with a fellow Humzooer. It was nice to meet Biker Ben. He looked busy and I was about to pass through security, so it was a quick introduction.
Our original intention was to visit the Lincoln Museum, then go to the rally. When we arrived, the lines were so long at 10:30 a.m., we just waited in queue. Following the rally, we hit the museum, saw Lincoln's home, swung by Lincoln's tomb, and headed back to Elmhurst. I should have asked for directions to Dane's Discount, a place I would have no knowledge of if it wasn't for Humzoo.
Oh yeah, the Cubs won while we were there, so the Magic Number is 29.
7 Comments
LGrant Sunday, August 24, 2008
dannie Sunday, August 24, 2008 LGrant Sunday, August 24, 2008
Bill Sunday, August 24, 2008
Angi Sunday, August 24, 2008 Bill Monday, August 25, 2008 BeanCounter37 Monday, August 25, 2008
1) Sounds like a win-win day.
LGrant Sunday, August 24, 20082) Great day-too bad you didn't run into th NC Humzoo contigent that's visiting.
dannie Sunday, August 24, 20083) I think Humzooers need to wear buttons in a crowd to identify each other. :)
LGrant Sunday, August 24, 20084) @dannie: Yes, it would have been nice to catch some of the NC crowd too. Perhaps at a future gathering.
Bill Sunday, August 24, 20085) I'm seconding the button idea from LGrant, especially since I've never received any stickers to post all over B-N.
Angi Sunday, August 24, 20086) I never received any stickers either. I also never asked for them. Perhaps I should.
Bill Monday, August 25, 20087) Because it was the legislative birth place of one of the greatest presidents that the US has ever had, it would be worth the trip. I have been to Gettysburg,PA,the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, and lastly Walt Disney World in Florida, when yoiu see the various places he walked and the thoughts and ideas he put forth, it make a trip to Springfield worth the time and effort to go. Nobody that has ever called Illinois home will ever come close his stature, Adlai Stevenson (what a joke), and obam.
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