Part 3: Free Time & Events

Just a few highlights of what I did during free time. My main partners in crime - Angela and Island Bandit - this is such a great picture of both of them!

Shopping on Michigan Ave. My purchases - socks and a 20 buck sweater. Ya, not so impressive, but unless it was something I had to have I didn't want to deal with trying to get it home. I always love seeing the city. It's so clean and well maintained. While we were out and about they were working on all the median areas getting them all setup for fall. Love it!

Navy Pier where we rode the Ferris wheel! Thankfully while it was windy, the bucket(?) didn't move much so I was able to pretend it was no big deal. Well, other than cold!

View from the wheel.

China town - which I'm pretty sure all of us thought we could have skipped. But at least we can say we've been there.

 The Bean!

 Passing through the theater district.

Ramblings on planned activities...and the not so planned.

• The best part of the drag show for me was when the MC wanted to become a B00b. I am so on board with a tranny b00b. I think it's hilarious! Ms Ohio was also a hoot with her glow sticks. **Thanks again, Barbara. You know what for. : )

• My roomie Angela is a songbird! For real, the girl can sing. She belted it out at karaoke along with others after the drag show. I really got to know Read much better that night. LOVE her! ...might be kidnapping her. Seriously.

• I went to dinner with Stephanie M, Stacy, LapBandGal, Island Bandit, and Angela. It was great spending time with all of them. The waitress was a bit daft. She kept forgetting orders, but repeatedly it was Stacy's who had Peps1 and pepperoni. I think she returned 4 times. Seriously, how hard is that?

• I was nervous Friday night! I loved the meet and greet though. Again, the swag bag and the door prizes were awesome. Draz scored a Nan0 as one of the prizes and there was also a body bug!!!! Angela won the Nan0! (Angela also won the challenge! Congrats Angela!). I spent time getting to know Dawnya and more about her family. She is the sweetest. That night we went to the same karaoke bar we had been to on Thursday night, but it was packed. People went to various places, but my feet were killing me and I went back to the hotel. (Gilly - I have not forgotten. I just can't find the stupid thing. For the life of me, I don't know where it is or when I last saw it, but I'm not giving up!)

• Saturday was shopping and vegging for me. Then getting ready for dinner Saturday night. The restaurant was awesome. Again, the planners hit a home run. I sat at a great table which allowed me to get to know Kristin and Grace. There was talk of going out, but then pretty much everyone ended up back at the hotel in a common area for PJ time. I put in a suggestion to the planners to consider making this an "official" event. For me, everyone just seemed more relaxed at this point and we really got to laugh and share. I think it was Joey who scored WINE as part of the swag. (Thanks Joey!) I brought my bottle down and proceeded to twist Catherine's arm to share it with me. It was great getting to know this banded star and she's a wonderful person and beautiful too! Want to talk about pressure? Imagine sending a sisterhood package to Catherine! : ) Man, there were a lot of clothes people brought! Hat tip to Jen S for all of her hard work on it. Go Jen!

• Tessie Rose & Miss Vickie gave me one of the nicest (and funny) compliments. They said to me that they thought I was a party crasher and didn't believe that I was ever fat. Here's a link gals to one before pic. Much like Tessie Rose (I just think that's the cutest name and it fits Theresa perfectly that I am sticking with it. Love her hair!), I don't have many before pictures or ones that I do I am conveniently hiding behind people, etc.

• Sunday Angela and I took off with Jacquie and Miss Vickie to head to the bean. It was a great opportunity for me to get to know both of them. Jacquie's daughter has picked up running and completed her first 10k! She's planning on doing the Princess, so we're all hoping to be able to find one another there. Miss Vickie - she's just a delight! She lights up speaking of her children and especially her grandkids. Um, she does not look like she should have any grandkids! I was relieved to hear that her dad is doing better and hearing about her trips that she has coming up. At the bean we parted ways as we needed to head back to the hotel.

I'm not listing 8 million things that I learned about so many gals! Everyone was absolutely great. If anyone is on the fence about joining in, as someone that was going for the first time this year and anonymous, I encourage you to go. : )