Wal-Mart Means Low Prices(Wisconsin -- part 2)

Zoe and Lily Outside the AmericInn in Ladysmith, Wisconsin
Originally uploaded by oldforest

How is it, that we managed to end up at a hotel next to a future Wal-Mart(there's only 3,932 in Ladysmith -- is that enough for a Super Center)? Construction starts at ungodly hours, if one of the kids didn't already make sure that we were or had been awake already, this would be bad...doesn't Wisconsin have laws about when work can start(cuz 5:30 the other morning seems mighty early)?

And why is it that these construction workers can literally move the entrance to the hotel parking lot EVERY day...

Greetings From Wisconsin

Zoe and Lily on Haywagon
Originally uploaded by oldforest

The drive went reasonably well.

The kids handled it great -- Zoe melted down for awhile Tuesday morning, when we were already in Wisconsin going from Madison(about 5 hours from Heather's folks) to Eau Claire(where Heather's aunt Lorrie lives). We covered just shy of 1100 miles in 22 hours-- not bad. Stopped more at the start of the trip, trying to find a rhythm(including 2 hours in the suburbs of Pittsburgh for dinner). Speed Limit in Ohio is up to 70(welcome back to pre-energy crisis days). Indiana has great rest stops with 24 hour Starbucks. Heather drove for a few hours until daybreak(and to get us around Chicago) and some of the morning in Wisconsin. Hawkins is down to 317 people(we're actually staying Ladysmith about 20 miles away).

The Chinese restaurant in Ladysmith is serviceble -- owned by real Chinese folks.

We have our cell phones with us, although Zoe soaked Heather's in Lemonade(or as Lily calls it "nemorade")

Chu's Cafe: An Institution of Sorts...

Chu's Cafe on Prospect Street NW, in Georgetown
Originally uploaded by oldforest

On Friday, I was saddened to learn that Chu's Cafe in Georgetown was slated to close in early July. While the food at Chu's wasn't ever going to land it on any "best of" lists, if you wanted dirt cheap, home cooked Chinese food this was the place. While I must admit, that I only ever ate there, maybe a dozen times, my fondness for the place was much greater.

It's a bit of a mystery how Chu's went undiscovered by me while I had the bookshop, but the first time I ever enjoyed a meal there was the night Lily was born, I was actually there with my mother-in-law when Heather called to inform us that they(her doctors at Georgetown University Hospital) weren't going to wait any longer, and an emergency C-section was in the cards. It is the only time I can remember needing to take a cab to get from point to point within Georgetown(time was that short). Not surprisingly, Chu's would become my prime dining choice anytime one of the kids was born.

Yet, other than the occasion of a birth, I made it to Chu's quite infrequently, but that didn't stop the owners from making sure that I left with a red envelope when each baby was born. My money was also refused for what was almost certain to be my last meal there a couple of days ago. I will miss the place.