The Windy City · Nov 13, 12:30 PM by Amberlee
Returned last night from a trip to Chicago. No pictures this time as the goal was getting all the holiday shopping finished. I would have enjoyed going to a museum or an area of the city I hadn’t explored before, but there just wasn’t time. This happened mostly because my mother was with me. Mom has type II diabetes and needs to eat at regular intervals. This means I can’t just get something on the go or skip meals or anything. Eating took up about half our time each day. It’s kind of a pain but it’s how things have to be so you just deal.
I also had the interesting bit of luck that President Jimmy Carter was in Chicago to sign his new book one of the days I was there. It just so happened that my mother and I were discussing his new book (along with the man himself) on the drive up. We decided to stop and pick up a copy at the Borders across from the Water Tower while we were out and, wouldn’t you know it, there was a sign that said he would be in doing a books signing in an hour and a half. Mom and I went: WOW! Sign us up!
Most book signings I have gone to in the past have been different. Some have included readings or questions from an audience prior to the actual signing. Normal signings take quite a time because you are allowed to speak to the author as they sign your book and they often write something personal in addition to their name.
Due to President Carter’s security and whatnot there was no reading and no Q&A. Additionally, in order to get through as many people as possible in the two and a half hour session, we were told that President Carter would not personalize books. We also had to turn over our packages, coats, and any items that might contain hidden objects to two Chicago plain clothes police officers prior to approaching the President with our book for signing. There were loads of “Smiths” hanging all around the building to ensure the safety of the former President. In short, it was a very interesting experience.
Of course, it took us two hours or so of waiting to get out books signed. It killed our day. However, I had the chance to tell the only living President I truly admire that I think he is a wonderful person and had a book signed by him. A nice trade.
I managed to get everyone on the gift buying list except for Clara taken care of. The few people not on the “buy” list are getting cookies that I will bake next week and send out the first of December along with holiday cards. Everything needs to be done by the 7th so I can focus on sorting, cleaning, and packing for the trip to Australia.
Yes, I will take pictures of that one.
Now it’s time to do laundry, take care of fall lawn work, and get things clean and sorted. If I can do most of the deep cleaning and pickup now I’ll only have to dust before I go in December. Thank goodness for Sar and his help! He’s here to give a hand with lawn stuff today and he’ll be house sitting and cat watching while we are gone.
Hope everyone is well!
