Memory of Chicago TMNT Road Trip

[Michaelangelo]

Well at the Navi Pier now, sitting here looking towards the back of the Turtle bus, as Leonardo is taking photos with fans.  This has been the scene of the Chicago stop.  Sunny, windy, and crowded.  Over all the prefect weekend for the guys to be out with everyone.

We got here yesterday, Frenzy, Miki and I took what felt like a two hour trip from our hotel to the Pier.  Once here we saw Leonardo and Michelangelo was outside greeting the fans.  The ATA group set up with a tent right near the booth and the fans were just pouring through.  Getting buttons, the normal yellow ones given out at most of the stops and now green ones that mention the ATA on them. 

Miki and I came over and camped in front of a planter next to the front of the bus, where we met up with a few other TMNT fans that were coming through.  The ATA crew that came for the day was TMNT fans as well.  As they were wearing different color head bands, and using weapons that you'd see the Turtles with... chucks, sais, bo, and swords were all here and being used for the demos. 

The view from the bus is nice either way, if you look west you see Chicago sky line, as the buildings stand tall along the water.  If you look East you see Lake Michigan, with some buildings in the distance... boats are out on the water, one of which a pirate boat that liked to make loud banging noise.  There was always something going on.

Mike and Leo took turns coming out to greet the fans.  Miki started to get pictures as I talked with other fans and showed pictures from the previous events.  The wind was a bit stronger yesterday than it is today, and when the sun was up it was so warm that most of the crew were getting some color to their skin.  People playing the video game got to stay in the shade, as there is still only two levels you can play of the game.

The biggest different with the van is that the fin has been added, so we got this big yellow fin riding up top of the van, with the words Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles across it, must like the old Turtle Van toy.  On the bottom back side of the fin it says the URL of TMNT25.com  It looks really nice and just gives it even more the feel of the original Turtle Van. 

I met a handful of great people that day, as they stood around and talked.  One of which was another hardcore fan who was hanging out here for the day as well.  He stuck around with us, as we had some in dept talk of the 4Kids series.  Dean, one of the ATA members would come over and join into the talk about the series as we had a lot to debate about how the show changed with the last few seasons.

Over all Friday was a total blast!

I think my biggest pet peeve about this spot is the loud music being played next to the set up... it's part of the Pier, not the TMNT display and playing random music.  I just feel that it would be neat to have some real TMNT music playing near here instead.  The old theme songs, sound tracks, Coming Out of their Shells Tour music, ect... there's just so much more that could be done.

I will have pictures to share later.  Working on a lot of great things to share with everyone with these photos that we've been taking at all of the events.

Today, Miki and I got here around 11am, and have been hanging out ever since.  It's been a great day, much like yesterday but less wind.  Mike and Leo have been hanging around, a different group of ATA members are doing demos here.  I made another friend with a TMNT fan that was hanging out here as we got to sit around most of the day.  Miki and I have taken a table behind the bus today for the shade to get out of the heat/sun.  Taking turns watching the Table and taking part in the events.  Frenzy is not here yet, she decided to come in later.  She called a little bit ago saying she's heading here.

Today one of the things that really stood out was a cosplayer showed up dressed like the Shredder with a Foot Solider.  They stayed for some photos and talked a little, it was great Michelangelo came running out to confront the Shredder, and posed for some photos.  It was great getting to meet them.  I posed for a photo with them and Michelangelo.

The day is still going, but going to look up a food place as my sister is going to get something and bring it back.

I'll be on later with more to report

[BubblyShell22]

Wow. Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun there, Ivey. I can't wait to hear what else you guys did.

[arcade joe]

And a fine Shredder costume it was...... . Although we have agreed to say that the metallic pieces on the helmet were a little big, but awesome nonetheless.....

[Michaelangelo]

Welcome to TMNT-L Arcade joe!!!! It was great hanging out with ya the other day at the Pier and thanks for answering the welcome questions already

Well Saturday was fun, after doing that post I did here on the forum I got up going over to the bus and got a lot more photos.  I also got some good Hot chocolate, for a nice warm drink since it does get cold there when the sun goes down.  To my surprise Shredder was not the last cosplayer of the day, as Donatello and April showed up just after dark in hopes to watch the fire works with the Turtles.

Sadly though the Turtles were done coming out for the night, they're more of a part of the daytime crew.  Even though the website does say "Hang Ten on the pier all weekend, from May 22 to May 25, and watch the fireworks along with your favorite Turtle"... the crew working the bus did  not realize that and already was getting things ready to close up for the night as the crowd thins down since they do get there at 9am each day.

I talked with the Donatello cosplayer, he was there on Friday though he wasn't in cosplay and this was his last day.  He did not realize that the Turtles would not be coming out for this, so was very disappointed.  He also was originally hoping for all four Turtles cause of that line about hanging out with your favorite Turtle.  But this event only has Leonardo and Michelangelo.    We watched as the bus was packed up for the night, than stayed around for the fire works.

It was a great show, as the fire works went off right at the Turtle Bus area, so the photos turned out great.  Can't wait to post some.  After the fire works, we stayed around talking to Donatello and April some more, than headed back to the hotel.

We made a mistake, see we're staying a far way away from the hotel, it is a 40 to 50 minute train ride and these trains don't run all night.  Also we got to take a bus from the train station to the pier.... and it's a bit of a walk from the front of the pier to the end of the pier where the TMNT bus is at.  We learned of the free Trolly and decided to take that out for the night... thinking it'd drop us off at the front of the Pier... wrong it drove right passed it... ended up dropping us off on State street which wasn't that close to the Pier.

The people of Chicago this night really came through for us any who over heard our situation was there to help us.  Telling us what way to the station would work best.  Two people at the first bus stop we were at, were going over where the different buses would take us and which ones would be best for us.  We even talked about subway routes.   Than when the bus got there, they even gave us a faster route to the train station as we got on and they dropped us off over near another bus stop telling us which bus to get on.

Thanks to the awesome folks here in Chicago Miki, Frenzy and I made to the train station with a half hour to spare before the last train of the night.  We picked up trained schedules so we wouldn't be so in the dark next time and sat down waiting for the train.  We did not get back to our room till after 1am that night, the bed was our best friend.

For Sunday I felt like I was barely at the Pier... as the trains now run every 2 hours instead of every hour Miki and I missed the earlier train and had to wait till 10:55am for a train than it didn't get us to Chicago till almost Noon, and after the bus ride it was close to 1pm by time we got there.  We hung out for a few hours, meeting another cool group of TMNT fans.  Four fans who came sporting their TMNT shirts and clearly showing their fandom as they were getting photos at the bus, Mike (The driver of the TMNT bus) pointed them over to us at our table setting up to save photos to my laptop.

We talked Turtles for awhile, as they knew me from the evil VH1 show, and one of which was a member of one of the bigger forums here on the net.  We talked about the 4Kids series, the TMNT movie, the last few stops of the tour and about some home made TMNT videos that they did which sound really cool.  I hope to some day get to see. 

After our new friends left, I went over to the bus and watched some of the new demos being put on.  Oh and got to see Michelangelo dancing to the live music.  Got a little bit of video of this, than went to sit back down.  Sunday was a lot harder on me as the weather was a lot colder and the wind was strong.  I had to remain in all three coats that I bring.

While sitting down a lady came over asking me if I could come chat with her friend who had her leg in a cast and show the photos that I carry around.  So I came over and talked to them, we ended up talking more about our wounds and how they changed our lives.  I did show the photos I had with me, and a little about the history of TMNT as well.

After that Miki and I decided to pack up our bags and go over to stand closer to the bus as the ATA crew was getting ready to leave.  Watching a few more demos and talking to students about their favorite weapons, was a real treat as everyone we've met from ATA has been great and a lot of fun to talk to.  Sadly we only get to know each set for one day before the next set comes in.  At the same time it is cool to know there's a new set of friends to meet each day, just everyone is so cool ya want more time than a day to talk with them. 

HotHead showed up, and we decided to go into the city and take a break from the Pier a break I had to take with the wind as strong as it was.  So we took the free Trolly and found a place to eat.  Miki and I only had some Chili and a tiny Sunday (World's Smallest Sunday as it even says in the Menu).  After eatting we came back to the event, and hung out with the newer workers at the bus who were only here for Sunday and Monday.  Both were a lot of fun to talk to, and I really hope to stay in touch with one of them that we made friends with last night.

We even stayed in the bus for a little bit when the crowd slowed down just to get out of the cold.  Around 8pm the newer crew got to leave as the crowd was at a full slow down, though a few of the members had to say because Michelangelo was going to be out for the fire works.  They did close up the bus and take a break, during their break we went inside and found an outlet so that I could charge my laptop as Miki charged her camera battery.

Frenzy, HotHead, Miki and I got to hang out sitting right inside the door, where we stayed till 9pm in which we took this chance to go outside and get ready for the fireworks.  It was another good show, this time with pictures of Michelangelo in front of the bus and a few good night shots of him in front of the Chicago skyline.

All in all a good night.  One of the crew members we made friends with, came back to pick us up and gave us a ride all the way back to where my car was parked for the day since he lived near here.  So we got to talk about a lot of different things and came back our earliest time on this full weekend, around 11pm Chicago time (so midnight back home heh)

Now I'm up getting ready for the last day of the trip.  Going to pack up the room, so we can check out than we're going to drive to the Pier today.  It's $24 for parking, but with all the public trans and stuff we'd have to pay for it's not that bad.  And our car would make a nice locker for our cooler that we've been dragging around with us.

[arcade joe]

I'm still a little sad that Raph and Don weren't there...

I guess somebody's got to watch over the lair and Splinter......

[Jade]

Im guessing this goes here

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/05/26/take.a.look.at.this.monday.cnn

TMNT is on CNN.com yay!!  I couldn't watch the video, because their videos don't like to load on my comp any more ;w;  but I know they're in this one cause I saw Leo from the tour in the photo for the video hehehe!!  If this in the wrong spot though someone correct me ;w;  But i thought it awesome had to share

[Michaelangelo]

Awesome!  Thanks for posting Jade, it's of the Chicago stop so I moved it here.  But being on CNN is GREAT!   

I got a few projects for people to look forward to based on this tour

[ResidentEvil7]

User ID: Michelangelo says: "I met a handful of great people that day, as they stood around and talked.  One of which was another hardcore fan who was hanging out here for the day as well.  He stuck around with us, as we had some in dept talk of the 4Kids series."

That hardcore fan was me, Nathan.  And yes I did stick with Michelle and her two friends for most of Friday (11AM - 6:30PM) inneracting with Ninja Turtles, politics, tornadoes, just about anything that we can share in common.  I took a lot of pictures and some video clips, some of which Michelle took of me hanging out of the front bus door, and I took a picture of her with her friends.  And you know the best parts of hanging with Michelle and her friends is: first of I made new friends and it's sad I had to say good-bye (except here), and she tought me somethings about the Ninja Turtle universe I never would of known, and showed me a gray T-Shirt filled with autographs of actors, voice actors, producers, etc.  Oh and knowing that I'm a hardcore TMNT fan, she gave me issue #1 (Free Comic Version), and I read it on my way home on the train, and wow [POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT] I never knew that Shredder had a personal grudge against Splinter because of Yoshi, at which I didn't know that killed Shredder's brother.  In fact, I thought Kazuo Saki was a detective on the good side and never died at a young age.  [POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT OVER].

The only things I found dissapointing about the Chicago tour is that Raphael, Donatello and April weren't there.  I kept saying "aren't the turtles better off as a team of 4 and not a team of 2," and even the anniversary website made it look like that everything is coming along.  But oh well, at least Leonardo was there and meeting Leonardo has always been my life's dream.  Leonardo is my idol Turtle.  Because I like the color blue, swords, and admire leadership, and honor.  To view information about my Ninja Turtle fansite, see below past the next paragraph.

Now let me tell you about Chicago itself.  Getting there wasn't that hard.  I mean it took a while to walk from the trainstation to Navy Pier (I think over 90 minute walk), and no one bothered me, except a driver who made a left-hand turn while I and other pedestrians were crossing the street.  On the way there, I decided to take pictures of the landmarks and buildings, including the Bean, my favorite building the Associates Center (Adventures In Babysitting)  Even a good friend of mine who unfortunatly couldn't be there called me throughout the route walking there, and he wanted to know what was there.  He and I talked and talked, and when I was done with him, I turned off my phone because my battery was low, and later on that turned out to be a BIG problem which I'll explain below.  Now I wanted to stay at the event until it was over, but I also didn't want to walk the Chicago streets after the sun goes down, and I sort of experienced why.  I decided to walk back, and I took about the same route to get back.  And on the way back I kept taking my camera in and out take more pictures of more landmarks.  And I even wanted to take a short side trip to ABC7 Chicago News, where the studio is at street level.  But on the way there, there was a VERY unorthadox person marching down the street screaming, ranting and raving loudly to himself using VERY obsense words, screaming anti-black (he is black) and anti-white hate phrases loudly at people in front of him.  I kept to myself rather than feeling offended, because the last thing I need to do is get some fire-breathing bumb who's already unstable as is even more unhappy.  So I just waited until the bumb left and took my pictures of the Channel 7 studio, and man that place is small.  A little bigger than a house garage.  Then after that, I continue my way back to the trainstation, feeling kind of nervous, because I'm a big city and it's gotten dark and I've dealt with an unbalanced person.  Still, I'm taking pictures of the buildings.  At a city block just 2 blocks before the trainstation, where I was completly alone, another bumb needs to stop me, and he shakes my hand and he uses religion as a gag to get $5 out of me, which I didn't have and he didn't like that and I just continued on feeling even more nervous.  Finally I get to the train station, and get this I MISSED THE TRAIN!  I turned on my phone to see what time it is (8:41 PM), and the last train back to my home in Geneva left at 8:40.  1 minute, and the next train was another hour.  Over 1 minute, I had to wait an extra 60 minutes.  But it still doesn't there.  Apparently it was all in the previous 10 minutes, but people were trying to get a hold of me and earlier I had my phone off to conserve battery power.  I left home without leaving a note to my dad also.  So my buddy tried to call me with no luck, then tried to call me at home again with no luck.  Now my dad things I'm with my buddy all day, up until he got that message on the answer machine that I wasn't.  He calls my buddy back, and found out that his idea of where I was all day was different.  So he calls my mother up, and wonders if I was there.  At this point, I got 3 people worried sick.  Then I turned on my phone to check the time where I found out I was a minute late for the train.  My mom tries calling me with luck, and she chewed me out and put guilt all over me saying that my dad is terrified and badly worried about me and so was my buddy.  After a few minutes of my mom tearing my heart appart, I waited a few minutes to call my dad, because my mom had to call him first.  I called my dad up and he was no where near as worried as my mom made it out to be, in fact, he sounded quite happy and excited.  Then after all that I went on the train and got home, praying that my car starts and it did (my car has battery issues), and I was home and eating in front of the TV watchin the latest DVD TMNT release, and that was it.  Sounds like a very busy day, huh?  But meeting Michelle and her friends and interacting and meeting Leonardo was was well worth it.

Speaking of Ninja Turtle websites, mine is www.ninjaturtles25years.webs.com.  It contains a dedication and a full look back at the past 25 years: 1987 animation TV series of episode trivia facts, episode mistakes with short video link to view the mistakes, VHS/DVD Covers, Autograph Cells, and list of episodes.  Samething with the 2003 animation TV series.  I have coverage of all 4 movies: pictures, trivia, mistakes with linked short videos (not yet finished), cast/crew, VHS/DVD/Blu Ray covers, signed autographs.  I'm also posting front page covers of all the comic books of all the different series.  My current project is posting all the Playmates Toys of all the different years and it's NOT an easy project.  I had no idea they made so many toys, but when the site provider allows access again, I'll continue that.  My site also includes a forums page (I'm the only member so far), links page with picture preview, and images of the different Ninja Turtle Shell-Ebration tour locations (not yet started), and I'm covering Chicago's tour.  The site is like 85% completed, and hopefully it should be finalized by the end of the week, if not mid next week after I come back from a short trip.  It's a fun site to build and look through, but let me tell you it's a lot of all day work and I've been working on this site from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed every day for the past 3 weeks, and I'll be glad when it's done.  And by the time it's done, it should have over 2,000 images and 500 blooper video weblinks and only use about 30MBs of 83MBs of free (no charge) storage.

Again, my website is www.ninjaturtles25years.webs.com, and this site is also clickable in my profile page.

[Michaelangelo]

HI Nathan!  Welcome to TMNT-L!

It was great getting to hang out with you in Chicago!  Thanks for joining TMNT-L, please do feel free to answer our welcomes questions at: http://www.tmnt-l.com/index.php/topic,8.0.html

Sorry I haven't made much of contact yet, as I said before the best area to talk to me is here.  I'm on here all the time, btw it's only one L in Michele

I'm hoping that after Miki and I get a real nights sleep on this trip or at least our hands stop and feet stop hurting from moving everything out of her house, I'll be able to focus on posting photos.  (BTW Miki isn't just a friend, she's my sister ). 

[ResidentEvil7]

Hello Michelle,
I'm going to make this quick, because it's 5:30 AM and I haven't gone to bed yet.  And it was a real pleaure meeting you too.  And it's a coinsidence, just minutes ago, I was checking up on the images that were taken that day by the Ninja Turtle Staff, and I found 4 images that include me in the background, and one of you that included me.  Well I'll finish this up later, I'm real tired, and I post a continuance blog after I get up.  But before I go, did you check out my Ninja Turtle 25 Years Of History site?  It's not fully completed, but the 85% that is completed is up now.  I just need to add the 2007 - 2009 toy images, and edit out the short video clips of the movie mistakes and link them to the writen movie mistake in the movie section.  But if you did see my site, how do you like it?  If you don't remember my site address, it's http://ninjaturtles25years.webs.com.

PS: Tell your other friends (I don't remember their names) that Nathan from Chicago say "hi."

[pizzablg88]

Hello, I'm BLG, the red/purple head band wearing avid turtle lover from the Friday ATA group  . I hope you all had a lot of fun in the city!! And Nathan, welcome to the randomness that is Chicago...such a fun, and VERY interesting place. No matter how often I'm downtown, people never cease to amaze and stun me...Anywho, hope the rest of your trip is going well Michele, and Nathan, I hope you had a blast on the Turtle bus!


-BLG

[ResidentEvil7]

In continue response to Michelle (Michelangelo):

Well I'm back continuing with what I wanted to say earlier.  You know when I was heading back to the trainstation (with a side trip to ABC7 News) I continued taking pictures of the buildings and I guess there was a part where the webpage you provided (which is this one) to me on paper fell out of my pocket.  I went home, late, and I tried to remember what the website address was.  I failed like over 15 tries.  It wasn't until two days later, I tried again, and I got it on the first shot, and then I took a few minutes to browse through, I opened a chat accoun here.  I didn't have time to chat on this site up until yesterday, because I've been VERY busy building my website.  I just finished uploading all the toy images of both classic years and modern years, and man they DID create a lot.  There had to of been over 1,000 toy releases, because that's about how many images I had to adjust and upload.  I DO have a forums page on my site, but I haven't done much with it, because I want to build the major parts of the site, and the forums would be last.  Beside, the most I ever had in a single day was 14 visitors, and half of them was me.  Today I got a visitor from England who entered my site through the link I provided on this site, and who ever that was clicked everything that I have up so far.  More than I ever clicked.  And with my Playmates section completed, now my next site task is editing short videos of bloopers from the four full-length movies.  I've already covered the 1987 TV series of bloopers.  In comparision to both the classic TV series and the modern series, the old series had a MUCH wider amout of mistakes, but yet, this modern series has much more trivia fact and references to other movies and shows.  And when I'm done building my site, I'll have more time to browse around on this forum page at which my site does have with me as my only member so far.  Well I'm going to get back to my site building, and I'll be back here and there even before I'm done, and more after.

Visit me at www.ninjaturtles25years.webs.com

[ResidentEvil7]

Depending on which city stop you go to or from, it depends if it was worth it, or if it was a rip off.  In my opinion Chicago was ripped off; only two turtles and the van, but the previous cities had all four turtles and April, and St. Louis had those two turtles Chicago had, but they included April.  And I don't know about the other cities after St. Louis.  So in my opinion, out of all the cities so far that I know of that the turtles visited, I think Chicago (where I'm from) was most short-changed, and New York and San Diego (no yet there) is getting a good gig.  Now I spent the whole first day (Friday) with Michelle and her two friends, and I enjoyed it, but I feel they should of had the whole 9-yards (all 4 turtles, plus April instead of just two turtles).  And the funny thing is, you can see the whole thing in about 10 minutes, but I spent about 8+ hours down there with Michelle and her friends just talking Turtles, tornadoes (which one of her friends DID get caught in), Hurricane Katrina, and Turtles, Turtles and more Turtles.  So in my opinion, it was worth it, but like I said, I feel Chicago could of gotten more of the Turtle action, like those previous and later cities did.

Visit me at www.ninjaturtles25years.webs.com. 

And I just recently, before I went on a weekend trip DID add images from the Turtle Tours leading up to St. Louis, and including my shots I took when I went down to Chicago (my favorite buildings and the turtles themselves, but you will NEVER find pictures that include my image).  Believe me, I worked over a month on my site, I still not done yet, and I'm taking a long break from it to do other things, but my Ninja Turtle site IS a fun site to go on.  I have a forums page, and if not enough people register to my Ninja Turtle forums, I'll just have to remove it.  It's taking up 1 of my free 25 pages, and I'm the only member so far.  Well that's that for now...

[Michaelangelo]

At least Chicago had two Turtles, Texas only had Michelangelo.

I don't feel Chicago was short changed at all... Chicago had 4 days of the Turtles being at one spot so people knew where to find them each day.  They had the best Karate demos from the ATA, really had a great crowd, and wonderful weather (besides for Monday when it rained).

So no, Chicago had it good.  True no April, Don or Raph.  Though how can we complain?  There's no charge for the fans to come to most of these events.  They're doing this to say thanks, so we're going and playing video games, watching their video clips, getting free buttons, and enjoying Karate demos.  Plus getting to see at least one Turtle.  I really feel these sets up are great. 

Chicago was my favorite set up they had, besides for NYC.

[ResidentEvil7]

I was only reacting to the fact they didn't have all four turtles and no April.  I mean they were best known as a four-some than a two-some.  I forgot about the Turtles In Time video game being there.  That was fun, and I remember kicking butt in that one level without getting shell-shocked once.  And only one turtle in Dallas?  I don't want to sound like a downer, but it sounded like some of those locations sounded kind of cheap.  In fact what happened with Leonardo and April in Dallas that they showed up in St. Louis?  And also it seems that Donatello and Raphael haven't made appearances since Detroit?


PS: I don't want to change topics, but there's major BREAKING NEWS in regards to the the deaths of Michael Jackson (died an hour ago at age 50 from cardiac arrest), and Farah Fawcett (died at 11:40 AM Chicago time at age 61 from cancer).  I didn't really follow these people, but I do remember Fawcett from the movie "The Burning Bed" and Jackson's sister Janett Jackson as Sharlen from episodes of Diff'rent Strokes.

[arcade joe]

I can agree with the fact that only 2 turtles were there. I too was hoping to see all 4, but at the same time, I feel fortunate that we had at least 2. Like Ivey said, there was only Mike at some of the stops. I also feel for the TMNT fans who couldn't attend, because they lived too far from the city stops. I guess you have to weigh the good with the bad, but thats just my take on the situation...

[Michaelangelo]

I feel asking for all four Turtles all the time can be a bit much, they're not getting money for this tour but the workers are paid workers.  So how do you except them to pay for four Turtles at every stop, if they're not collecting money?

Don and Raph were not at Detroit, they were last in Philly.

I'm happy with how this is, they're at least touring to see the fans even if it's not all four Turtles.  That van is worth stopping to see.

[tOkKa]

I feel asking for all four Turtles all the time can be a bit much, they're not getting money for this tour but the workers are paid workers.  So how do you except them to pay for four Turtles at every stop, if they're not collecting money?

Don and Raph were not at Detroit, they were last in Philly.

I'm happy with how this is, they're at least touring to see the fans even if it's not all four Turtles.  That van is worth stopping to see.

-->> .. yeh  watch ya mouths !!

Mike and Aaron and 'Angelo bustin' their arses to make sure you all have a good time !!


GRRRR !! BE NICE !! !!

[ResidentEvil7]

Well if I couldn't see all four turtles, I at least got to see my idol turtle Leonardo.  That was worth it, provided I couldn't see the turtles all together.  And yet with Michelangelo only appearing at Dallas; is it my imagination, or is Michelangelo seem to be only accepted at every stop?  It was the samething when I was a kid, there was a festival in my Chicago suburb in the late 1980s, and only Michelangelo made an appearance.  And after hearing about Dallas only having Michelangelo, I guess I feel better about Chicago.  I guess there were other areas that were shorter changed than us.

[tOkKa]