A Month In Peoria...

or so it seemed. But really, it's been JUST over 30 hours since we got here, and we leave in about 15 hours. Oh wait - I'm getting ahead of myself. We need to wrap up Indy. And you're going to be way excited to learn that there really isn't that much to report. Friday was a DAY OFF - so we did some sleeping in, some eating, and then Elisa and I decided to do a 3-movie-day which, after the 2nd, turned in to a 2-movie-day...but still...that's about the extent of it. We ate some more after the movies (Chicken Little...which was a delight and earned a high 8 on the MASE - and The Weather Man....which turned out to be a bit of a disappointment to me and earned a low 6 on the MASE) and then I did laundry, packed and watched TV. I'm telling you this...I know how to REALLY live it up on a Friday night!
Saturday we left Indy - but since Tara, Jen and Eric were gone, it was just 5 of us in the van and it was GLORIOUS...allowing all of us to have our own seats and the drive was only about 3 1/2 hours. CAKE!
Our real EXCITEMENT for Saturday was when Elisa called our hotel (Hotel Mark Twain) to make sure we could check in early and they would be ready - and were told our reservation had been cancelled. Long story short, Elisa finally got a hold of Jordan at the KC, who had forgotten to tell us that they had changed our hotel. Awesome. So we got the info on the new hotel - the Hotel Pere Marquette which is old and smells of old, stagnant water and has very slippery bathtubs - and we got into town and checked in. Both of the hotels are right downtown Peoria, and both very close to the venue, so it's fine. But it was kind of an exciting time on Saturday. The rest of the day, we hung out and each did our own things.

Our original hotel on our schedules.

Our SATURDAY-SURPRISE hotel. I'm on the 3rd floor...I can see the tip of the flags out my window.

HAHAHAHA! LOOK! A real hotel KEY! Remember what they look like? I thought for sure they didn't exist any more. The Hotel Perre Marquette surprises me AGAIN.

BIGGEST NEWS: (especially for those who know of my love of this place) PEORIA ILLINOIS HAS AN OLD CHICAGO RESTAURANT! For those of you who are like, "SO WHAT!", just know that I love it and I worked at one in Boise for a couple of years. It was like coming HOME when we walked in to eat. And everyone was happy with their food and beer experience. Congrats to Chris and Torg for joining the World Beer Tour. I'm sure you'll be very happy!

Torg at Old Chicago - celebrating his first beer on the World Beer Tour - the SAPPORO!

L: Jackie shows off her delicious calzone. That is the look of joy, people. R: Elisa, caught trying to sneak under the table...um...still not quite sure why. But it was funny - so why not take a picture...

The Old Chicago Turtle Cheesecake. Simply EXHILARATING! (Can I SAY that about cheesecake?) Good, thick crust. Near perfect creamy texture...MAN! This thing was a HIGH 9. And I don't say that lightly. A TRUE Veterans Day Miracle in Peoria (just a few days early!)

Sunday - every continued to do their own things. I went to church this morning...gotta love the internet and the ability to find addresses and times and maps and directions and everything...and then a group of us headed out to the shopping center area - with stores, restaurants (that's right - I had lunch at Old Chicago again...and had a GLORIOUS cheesecake!) and a movie theater. It was a free-for-all really...but that's fine because we function best that way. And then tonight, Chris, Andrew and I walked around Peoria taking pictures and passing the time. Mainly because we were that bored - but also because we entertain ourselves like that.

Try THIS on for size. Today for lunch we went to Old Chicago, right? Well, tonight, for dinner, Andrew, Chris and I went to Pizzeria Uno - Chicago Bar and Restaurant. Wild, eh? Chris and Andrew were regulars at Uno's back in Columbia, after shows at Toby's.

AND NOW...OUR PHOTO SHOOT FROM TONIGHT:

L: Chris and Andrew at the "Peoria's Sister Cities" Signs. R: Here we are, in front of some art at the Civic Center, doing our 'NO EVIL' pose. Aren't we CRAZY?

Um - here we are being stupid. Thank GOODNESS for self-timers on cameras. Without mine, I would've missed these MONEY SHOTS of the 3 of us. "HOT" doesn't even BEGIN to describe how good we look. And that church in the back looks cool, too.

L: Chris outside the courthouse doing the Karate Kid thing. R: I LOVE this picture...it entertains me. Andrew and Chris are like, 'Hmmm...what time is it?' And I'm like, 'GUYS! UP THERE!' Pure comedy.

See that woman walking behind the car? She was taking PICTURES OF US from across the street. Evidently, we're a big deal here in Peoria. Either that, or she was taking pictures of the cool City Hall building behind us. But it was probably us.

Another random statue downtown. There was no place to set my camera, or I would've been in it, too.

Tomorrow we have 2 shows here in Peoria and then we head North (or another direction...I actually can't remember) to Springfield for a few days. The fun never stops! BUT - I did learn a couple of interesting things about Peoria that I think I should share with you before I go. Peoria is the site that Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglass engaged in their now-famous debate that spawned the form of Lincoln-Douglass Debate - which is one of 2 forms of debate used in high school debate programs across the country. And secondly, Peoria is the place where President Lincoln gave his 'I Draw The Line' speech - drawing an imaginary line and saying that he will not allow slavery to move any further North past that line. Gripping stuff here...and you're getting this education for FREE! You can thank me later.
Off to bed...and since most of you are reading this on Monday...have a HAPPY Monday and a great week!
Cheers....
G


So Friday, Elisa and I went to lunch at Chick-Fil-A, and there was lady giving cheesecake samples! I mean WHAT are the chances? It was not rateable...just a sample...but look how happy I am about it?


Passing the time on tour...here is the answer.
Here is my MASE ratings for the show:
Flightplan: low 5
Chicken Little: high 8
The Weather Man: low 6
Proof: 9
North Country: 8


The view out my hotel window. (See the flag tips?) There is this row of like 4 or 5 bars there (including: Adams Apple. So creative here!) and they play the LOUDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD AT NIGHT. Last night, I seriously thought I might have to rip my ear drums out just to get to sleep...but LUCKILY they are only open until 4am. PHEW.