i'm on top of the world, ma!

We decided to take Grammy Shirley downtown so she could check out the view from waaaaaaay up high. Now, while tourists may make a beeline for the Sears Tower, locals know that's for suckers. Nope, the good folks of Chicago know that if you want to see all the way to Wisconsin, you don't need to shell out $12 a head for the privilege, as that too is for suckers.

Nope, if you're looking for the view, you head on over to the John Hancock building and bypass the observation deck on the 93rd floor (where they charge the suckers just like at the Sears Tower) and visit the bar on the 95th floor instead. As Overboard says, "The extra two floors totally make a difference." Besides, if you're gonna shell out cash for the vertigo, you might as well get some drinks in return.

Afterwards, we went down to the Cheesecake Factory on the ground floor and had a lovely lunch. While there, Kenny amused himself by dropping as many objects as he could on the ground (at lunch, that is, not from the 95th floor...he's not that cruel, and we're not that lax on security).



The Aon Building, aka, where Evenkeel now goes to work.

The Sears Tower. If you look closely, you can see an aforementioned "sucker" looking at the camera through one of those 25-cent telescope thingees.

North Avenue Beach. Where Evenkeel used to play inline hockey during the summer.

"Damn paparazzi just won't let me be."

The staff didn't harass Kenny for bringing in his own drink.

"Hmmm...$35 for an appetizer seems a bit steep. Let's just get two."

"Hey, Ma...you think there's a 99th floor?"

Overboard's reaction when I tell her we can either pay for the drinks or send Kenny to college.*



*Actually, Grammy Shirley picked up the tab and Kenny will still be able to go to college. Most likely.