This Hampton Inn is smaller than other ones I have stayed in. The hotel was nice and clean, but wasn't the nicest hotel I've ever visited. This Hampton Inn also didn't provide bottled water and snacks in the room as I have gotten at other Hampton Inns, unless you asked for it. The hotel is located near many restaurants, and the Woodfield Mall (Chicago's biggest mall) is located just a couple blocks away. There are also a few stores across the street in case you forgot to pack anything for your trip. The Hampton Inn provides a complimentary breakfast which contains an assortment of items. The food was really good and there was a nice variety. The menu changed slightly each day - the one day there was scrambled eggs, the next day there was breakfast pizza, etc. Overall I had a nice stay, but I would just consider this hotel as average.

I visited a Wildfire restaurant while on a business trip in Schaumburg, Illinois. They also have several other locations throughout Illinois, in Minnesota, Georgia and Virginia. Wildfire is a 1940s type diner, and their specialties are steaks, chops and seafood. In fact, they will cook your steak anyway you would like it, with any kind of crust. They also offer a variety of salads and sandwiches. My first time to Wildfire, I was seated in a semi-circular booth near the open kitchen. From my seat I was able to watch the cooks and servers bustle around. I was able to see some open fire ovens. I ordered the French Dip sandwich with a side of broccoli. The sandwich was excellent. The side of broccoli turned out to be half a head of broccoli - not what I was expecting, but it was also very good. My second visit to Wildfire I ordered the Wild Mushroom Pizza and a salad. The pizza was the best pizza I've ever had, and the salad was quite good too. Overall, I had a very good experience at the Wildfire and enjoyed my meals and the service. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere. I cannot wait until I have an opportunity to visit a Wildfire restaurant again. For more information and their menu visit their website.

My sister had a daughter, Meghan, in June 2007.  I have many nephews and nieces, and I love them all and have a special bond with each of them.  But I felt a close connection with Meghan, right from the first time I saw her, when she was only a few hours old.  Perhaps it's because I'm older and (hopefully) more mature than I was when my other nephews and nieces were born, perhaps it's because I knew I'd miss 18 months of her life while I'm away, or perhaps it's because now I'm next in line to have a child (gasp) ... I don't know why.  Anyway, my sister recognized this too, and honored me by asking if I'd be Meghan's Godfather.  To which I agreed, happily.  My sister and (probably more so) her husband are great procrastinators, and had not yet even had a Baptism for Meghan's older brother (Braedon, he just turned three) so I was once again surprised when they had the Baptism (for both Braedon and Meghan) before I left - 4 days before, to be exact.

There is also a picture in here of Matthew, my Godson (one of my brother's sons).  I was 16 when he was born. :D