John Ratcliff's Weblog

I just got back from a long weekend trip. My daughter Lauren is coming home from school next weekend. My wife and I took the truck up to Chicago on Saturday to help pack her stuff and bring it home. We stayed at the lovely Palmer House hotel and I made a point to drink a $7 beer while my wife enjoyed a lovely $12 glass of wine which helped wash down our elegant $13 mini-hamburger appetizer. Having spent almost $40 for two drinks and a snack, and fondling my $51 overnight parking pass, I knew, finally, I was truly in the lap of luxury. Lauren found this incredible website which offers theater tickets at a 50% discount if you buy them on the same day of an event. For the low, low, price of only $50 a ticket we were able to sit in the orchestra section last evening and experience the incredible Joffrey Ballet. There are things in life you imagine are quite elegant and full of culture to experience, like the symphony for example. I find that, often times, I would just as well list