The Deluge

August 4, 2008

The day started unsuspectingly under a light rain. We enjoyed an awesome mobster tour of Chicago. I'd say it's a must-do for anyone visiting, just to see the awesome characters who run this bus tour. Oh ya, you drive around in a school bus that's been painted all black. Spooky! From there, it was on the way to the Field Museum. The place was huge, the crowds were also enormous, so we didn't get to see as much as we'd hoped. But, the giant dinosaur inside was friendly enough, as were our friends from Texas who helped us get to the Cubs game on time. The best exhibit was the natural disasters exhibit. We didn't know it at the time, but it provided a sneak preview of what we'd see at Wrigley Field just a few hours later :-) We took the subway to the Cubs game, and felt very much at home among all the Blue and White jerseys. Although, I still don't know how many of those fans actually live in Chicago. Everyone in our row seemed to be from someone else... Los Angeles and Connecticut for example (yes, I'm pretty sure that guy from Connecticut is still talking...)

The game started under sunny skies and perfect weather. But soon thereafter, behind us the skies turned black and flashes of lightning grew closer and closer. Soon, the air-raid siren was going off in centerfield - and it wasn't because anyone hit a home run. We found shelter, and good thing... soon visibility dropped, the winds kicked up and trash began flying out of the stands and onto the field. that didn't stop some nice folks from running out onto the field during the middle of the downpour - and what turned out to be a Tornado Warning. Wrigley survived, we waited out the rain delay and got to see another few innings with the place nearly empty, before another round of heavy weather.

Our prayers were answered, literally, when a man wearing a suit asked for the rain to let up for just a few seconds, please, just a few seconds. It worked, we ran to the subway and headed for the hotel. What we missed at the Field Museum regarding natural disasters, we made up for at Wrigley Field. I wonder if this will be the year for the Cubs? I've got a feeling... :-) You know, the only way this team could lose would be if that Manny Ramirez guy catches fire for the Dodgers - and LA happens to meet up with them in the playoffs. I predict a sweep actually...

Mobster Tour: A

Field Museum: C (don't eat in the cafeteria)

Cubs Game: B+

Mother Nature: Off the charts

--Posted by Jon