Time is on my side...

 

      Here goes nothing...7am with a car full of luggage, a two year old, a possessed cat, balding (because Liam pulls out his fur) giraffe, 2 (naked) teddy bears, and a Thumper bunny. All were successfully dropped in their vacation locations, and thanks to my best (only) sister I arrived at South Station on time and in style! Of course, it helped that the train left a full hour later than I thought it did.

      I've been accused of being many things in life, but never a light packer, thus, I quickly gave up on toting around my two bags and backpack. I repacked and checked one of my bags. I'll have to either find a Sherpa, or perhaps a small farm animal, in Chicago or schlep 'em around myself...live, learn, and pack light!

 

 

     Finally we boarded the Lake Shore Limited....and it looked and smelled like an airplane. I hate flying. Check back Thursday night to see how that goes. I skillfully procured a window seat for the 22+ hour journey to Chicago and was joined by a very nice man around my age, whose name just so happened to be Liam. He was a very chatty documentary film maker traveling to Albany to create a sort of docu-propaganda film for the teacher's union. After a very nice chat, that included descriptions of his arrest record (mostly "Juvi"), he gave me 20 hours worth of movies off his laptop. I think there is some very interesting stuff there...I'll have to keep you posted. After a short stop in Albany we are back on the rails heading (eventually) for Chicago. There are several interesting characters aboard the train this evening, including an Amish family from Maine with four of the most adorable little boys I have seen, and a charming older couple wearing matching t-shirts on a pilgrimage to Alaska. Today is the first day the LSL is back up and running after an accident over the weekend. Amtrak was bussing people from Albany to Buffalo...yikes! If I've learned anything so far it's to expect the unexpected and if I make all my connections it will be a small miracle.

 

 First leg of the trip.

 

 

My home for the next 14+ hours.