Halien Party - Chicago, Labor Day weekend, 8-31-13

[Tusk]

Prepare for a rough landing, plane had to circle a thunder cloud a couple times before landing. Good luck Swan and Nug

I guess I got the best of it. I just got off the phone with Yanni. He got diverted to KC to Midway. Planes are circling O'Hare due to weather, some low on fuel so have precedence. He hadn't heard from Swan, so assume he's in the air, they were very delayed

When we landed, they announced they couldn't get ground crew on the tarmac in case of lightening strike ...

Luckily, the Westin is a close drive once they land, about 20 minutes

Haven't been glad to be 'only' half hour late in awhile

[Babbs234]

Are you in your hotel Tusk? I drove by BG days to check out the scene. Didn't look too crowded due to the weather. The stage is in a field right along the street (Lake Cook Rd) which I thought was kind of strange. but I guess thats where they have it every year. They must have cancelled the band that was suppose to play because there were only a few people near the stage at 7:30pm and nothing looked set up. (at least from what i could tell as I was driving by) and it was still pretty wet out.

[Tusk]

Ya, checked in. Getting car took some time and was warned about tolls, exact change, so had to stop off to get change and snacks, but never saw anywhere to pay tolls...hope I didn't miss them (Hertz was laying it on thick about extras like paying for missed tolls )

[Miguel]

I looked into tolls a little bit earlier. It was mentioned that some rental car companies might offer a transponder or tag. Did Hertz? Also, how much were the tolls?

[My Alter Ego]

Are you in your hotel Tusk? I drove by BG days to check out the scene. Didn't look too crowded due to the weather. The stage is in a field right along the street (Lake Cook Rd) which I thought was kind of strange. but I guess thats where they have it every year. They must have cancelled the band that was suppose to play because there were only a few people near the stage at 7:30pm and nothing looked set up. (at least from what i could tell as I was driving by) and it was still pretty wet out.

I don't find it too surprising that they erred (if it is an error) on the side of caution. Lightning, water, and electricity don't mix.

Stay safe everyone and I hope that Yanni, NUG, and Swannie can land soon.

[Tusk]

I looked into tolls a little bit earlier. It was mentioned that some rental car companies might offer a transponder or tag. Did Hertz? Also, how much were the tolls?

that's the thing, I never encountered anything that looked like a toll station . But then again, it might be because I had set my GPS to avoid tolls when I was in Cali. Hopefully I don't find out later that I was dinged for it. I assume the toll collection would be obvious, I looked for them but didn't see them.. It was dark by the time I got to driving

Hertz did offer a toll device @ $4.95 per day

edit: just talked to the bar tender, she said there are ways to drive around the tolls and you can't miss them, so I'm probably good ....

[Himm2]

Dave Buzz & Kathy Buzz made it safely to Party HQ by 3:40 and after a quick tour we jumped in my car at 3:55 and I stated we'd be at Navy Pier at 5:55. We got to our $25 Navy Pier parking space at exactly 5:55 as the dark storm clouds rolled over the skyscrapers. Picked up my discount coupons for Seadog that Elizabeth left for me and headed to Bubba Gumps. Got on the list for a 45 minute wait and went next door to Harry Carey's Restaurant where there was just a 15 minute wait. Went back to Bubba Gumps and found a lady that 3 people in her party that was waiting in line for a reservation and I said to her: "Do you have anybody in your group that looks like a "Steve"? She said yes so I had her take my Steve spot that was about 9 names sooner to be called and said use mine when she calls Steve cuz we're doin' Harry's.
Harry Carey cooked some great meals even though he's dead. We all enjoyed it so then I went to get the tickets for Seadog as lightning was sizzling up the sky all along the Lakefront. Many awesome photographic shots of the skyline with deep brown bulbous clouds and lightning...too bad I didn't have my camera. Buzz took some shot...I only got a picture of the 3 Seadog tickets before I got a refund because they couldn't take the boat out in this weather.

Minigolf was closed and the Ferris Wheel was closed but we had a wonderful time anyway chatting up a storm. Still planning on golf in the morning weather permitting.

I thought about how the flights coming in would probably be delayed and hectic. Hope all our Friday Night Haliens will soon be all safe and snug in their beds with visions of Haley Plums dancing in their heads.

[Miguel]

just talked to the bar tender, she said there are ways to drive around the tolls and you can't miss them, so I'm probably good ....

I was looking at Google maps earlier. The default route had tolls. You can choose a route without them, but it's more complicated.

In Texas, they have done away with many if not most of the toll booths. You either have a tag or they use a license plate reader and send you a bill. I had a tag but the card tied to it had expired. I didn't know that because I had shut down the email address associated with it. They sent me a bill -- which was twice as much as it would have been if I had an active tag.

[Himm2]

Tusk if you drove under a sign that said iPass lanes the car company may backcharge you. normally with an iPass the tolls are $0.50 but the cash lanes are twice that at a buck on the Tristate I-294 to Wheeling. Guess I shoulda mentioned that. I told Buzz that tolls can be paid online if you missed one and avoid a penalty.

You guys ready for a big day tomorrow? after 8 months of planning it will all be over before you know it. Oh well the memories will last a lifetime.

[Haleylvr4evr]

Tusk if you drove under a sign that said iPass lanes the car company may backcharge you. normally with an iPass the tolls are $0.50 but the cash lanes are twice that at a buck on the Tristate I-294 to Wheeling. Guess I shoulda mentioned that. I told Buzz that tolls can be paid online if you missed one and avoid a penalty.

You guys ready for a big day tomorrow? after 8 months of planning it will all be over before you know it. Oh well the memories will last a lifetime.

When I went to Louisville a few months ago my dad forgot his i-pass so we had to go back to get it...luckily we were only about an hour away. Then he just paid the rest online.

And yes.....I am ready!!!! Cake is all done, just needs to be decorated and to make cookies