Put Your Junk in the Box

I am disturbed that people have to buy a package deal to wrap up their package.

Palmer House

My hotel in Chicago is one I stayed in during a college visit. Much nicer than I remember but I also do not remember much from that time.

Proof...

Just like Knoxville, the sign shows you I am here. If you look in the back of the picture, you can see what is left of my balls that froze and fell off a block ago.

Wow Bao

In the cold street I found this treasure. They have kung pao bun and they make their own ginger ale.:-)

Dreary Ride to the City

Looks beautiful, huh? Chicago in January is like Baghdad in July - lovely.

Not a Good Sign

I just arrived in Chicago to a couple feet of snow and lots of delayed or cancelled flights. Hopefully I can get home tomorrow!

Mud Flap Man

I about fell out of my car when I saw this parked next to me at work. It looks like me after a Nascar race!

Downtown Grill & Brewery

Nice big brewpub in Knoxville but I could not try the beer because I was with some clients. I will definitely try it next time!

Effort to be Obvious

Guess what state I am in? It is not mental distress but close - Tennessee! Just kidding - the town is much nicer than I thought it would be and the downtown actually has people living here!

Welcome to Knoxville

This is the Market Square area. Pretty cool area!

Pepper Loves Ready Whip

This is probably a bad idea to give a dog aerosol dairy products at will but it is funny as hell. Pepper hears the sound and gets all excited. Needless to say, it makes good video...

Smurf Snow

Here is the aforementioned blue snow. Pepper now has blue feet.

More Snow

This blast seems even thicker than before. You may not be able to tell but our idiot lawn care guy put fertilizer with blue dye to create a color only seen on Bert & Ernie birthday cakes.

Cold BBQ

Not as cold as Minnesota but we got about an inch of snow. As usual, the city is in a panic.

Oy Vey!

I went to a Kosher Chinese restaurant and there was a grocery with very specific hours working around the sabbath.

Miami Parrot

In the lobby of my hotel there was a friend who greeted me with a friendly Hello! He also gave me some unsolicited advice on a hot aviary escort service.

Scary Lady

This has nothing to do with travel or food but this redneck woman on COPS made my eyes bleed!

Chang's Old Man

My vote for a name is Walter Matthau or Alan Greenspan.

Chang's dog poop...

She said Shaun served her sticky toffee pudding but she has three dogs.

Shaun's Dessert

Home-made Kit Kat Bars made with ganache and hazelnuts is much better than any candy bar.

Shaun's Pomme Frites

Fries cooked in duck fat is great for anybody but Donald.

Shaun's Shrimp & Grits

Chang had this & said that the addition of fatback made it awesome. Pig makes everything good!

Shaun's Amish Chicken

Very good but the chopped brussels are the best!

Shaun's Prix Fix

Cheryl wanted us to go here to try their gluten free menu. Chang & I had a Brooklyn Brown Ale. So far so good...

Fishing Hut

I walked on another lake to see what was up with the huts and I saw a guy fishing with a kerosene heater. It was just like the one in Grumpy Old Men!

Big Viking

This is an enormous viking near a frozen lake. I walked on the lake until I saw a melted piece. I would have gone down like a Cuban refugee.

Country Inn & Cold

After my snowman debacle, I took a walk in the snow during sunrise. It was very pretty but I could not feel my face.

Snowman or Dog Poo?

I thought the snow would be powdery but it was icy. The sad pile of crap is my attempt at a snowman. I am from Florida.

View from my Room

It is pretty and not as bad as I thought it would be. Remember that I am a Florida boy with thin blood.

Minneapolis View

At least I got to see the city from a distance.

Mall of America...Not

Not as big but it does not have as many mouth breathers.

Welcome to Minnesota

I guess Snoopy dancing has some meaning but the airport is nice.

Pepper at the Dog Park

As a final piece of Pepper's city adventure, we took him to the Piedmont Park Dog Park. He was confused by all the dogs & played with people instead!

Ritz Celebrity Alert

Cheryl spotted the second name when we worked out in the gym. I knew Wolf Blitzer was there because of the beard hair on the treadmill.

Pepper Pondering

The view from his window is much nicer than his second floor perch in Woodstock.

Pepper Paperwork

He is hard at work signing autographs at the Ritz Carlton in Downtown Atlanta. It is his first time in a city hotel & he is both confused and happy to be with Mommy & Daddy.