Chicago rehash
Xmas Tour Happy Hour added!
Fun was had - until.
No surprise - fun was had in Chicago. We started out on a smooth bus ride, headed up by Dan the Man, and headed south. We poured wine, enjoyed some “Green Flame” tequila that sparkles when you shake it (none of us drank this - we all just shook it)…. Then we played Pictionary. Which turned out to be a TOTAL disaster. Do not, ever, attempt anything with an easel on a moving bus and 30 wine glasses in hand.
After doing this trip for 18 years, though, I had no qualms about aborting the mission with no shame - and pouring more wine. I have learned that more wine always seems to fix any of my flubs. But here’s the trick - BABY POURS. Wine on a sloshing bus ride? Our cups always look full to the BRIM, yet we arrive in Chicago calm, cool and clear-headed. It’s my greatest illusion.
While I had hoped to demonize everyone’s drawing skills, I had to settle for some 70s trivia and a round of the now-traditional TEEN SLANG (6-7!). And all was going well… until…. creak, croak, squeak - MY VOICE LEFT THE BUILDING (BUS). I had started the week with a little head cold and didn’t think much of it… but add in 4 hours of hosting with the mosting and for the first time in my life - my voice disappeared.
I’d never had anything like it. It was GONE gone. I was mute, wishing I was deaf, and at the front of the bus. The ladies looked at me expectantly? I could do nothing but squeak out a few words that it was lunch time!
They filed off the bus to get lunch at our fast food stop and that’s pretty much the last time I talked to them on the bus.
After a (rather) quiet arrival at the hotel, I scuttled to my hotel room, took Tylenol and did nothing more than move my lips in prayer. Two hours later - I was cured! I could speak and yelp and shriek over the SKYDECK with the rest of them. What a miracle! (Or it could be because a gal pulled out a martini shaker on the bus and made chocolate martinis that soothed their nerves and my larynx.)
Most of us did the ledge. It was surreal. Doing it at night added such flair. We were on the 103rd floor and had a perfectly clear night - we could see for miles and miles. And, bonus, it was late, so we had the place to ourselves.
Which meant we had enough to sit on that giant pizza slice in the museum and then force the most unwilling to lose their will at the top - and, oh yes, plenty of time for “pics first, rescue second” on the ledge. Including this one pic* of Fran - crawling back to safety.
After that, the women scattered. I saw them in fits and bursts in the lobby, elevator, and on the Magnificent Mile all weekend. A handful of us did a “ghosts and gangsters” tour on Saturday, which turned out to be mad depressing but we were saved by the weather being 6-7 (ha) degrees and gorgeous.
However, after that tour, my voice disappeared again.
It was coming and going in 2-hour shifts all weekend. I would have some fun and then be sent back to my room for another “time out” (sulking and swearing - without a word). By Saturday night, I was done for, reappearing for one final evening shift which included more eating (Giordano’s pizza and Crumbl cookies) than talking. It would have to do. I had no choice. I used my Notes app to broadcast messages of hope and despair in equal parts.
All in all, it was another great weekend for the Michigan Girl** gang. Our first one without any real mishaps maybe EVER??? Unless you count my voice situation, WHICH I DO.
*More pics of not being rescued in Michigan Girl Bike (& HIKE!) Group on Facebook - join us!
**If you aren’t an official member yet, I hope you’ve seen enough to be swayed. All memberships bought now through the end of the year will be considered 2026 memberships and be good through Dec. 31, 2026 and receive 2026 pins and decals! You can be a part of the fun and mayhem here: https://michgirl.com/plans/membership/ 🩷
🧡 MiGirl Friendsgiving 🧡 THIS Thursday, Nov. 20
The MiGirl Friendsgiving 2025 is FREE FOR PAID MEMBERS is tomorrow Nov. 20 - 5:30-7:30pm. We have room for a few more ladies - right now 15 hardy souls are braving the night adventure! I WILL MAKE THE RAIN CALL by 3pm in the FACEBOOK GROUP! Fingers crossed!
We will be hiking at Lost Lake Pathway and feasting in the woods. There will be glow-in-the-dark orange necklaces (so I can more or less keep track of all turkeys) and probably some tripping in the dark (wear headlamps!). It looks like rain showers are possible but we are going to hold the line… and build a bonfire, and bring a canopy to put over the picnic table - plus a thermos of Witches Brew to warm our souls.
MENU: Jimmy John’s Turkey Toms (courtesy of MiGirl Member Deanna Russell) and dessert by Moomers Homemade Ice Cream (courtesy of MiGirl Member Becky Mead)! Dress for the weather and wear something turkey trot-ish if you want. (drumstick hat, that kind of thing!)
This event is FREE for any level of paid membership as a thank you for all you’ve done to make this group HAPPEN - with joy, laughter, mud and - in this case - turkey. Non-members can also join us (and check us out!) at $15 each. Thank you to our sponsors!!!
More info / register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/migirl-free-friendsgiving-2025-tickets-1937122217699
XMAS TOUR - HAPPY HOUR ADDED
I have an update to MiGirl Griswold Lights Tour - 3rd Annual!
We are adding a Happy Hour to this event at and sponsored by Einstein Cycles in Traverse City from 5-6 pm! We will serve the food and drinks at EC before we load the bus and depart. (THIS IS A NEW location and time - 5pm.)
After drinks and snacks and shopping - EC will be offering MiGirl store specials for holiday gift ideas!! - we will get on the bus and cruise around looking at light displays in TC. This part of the night will go until about 8pm.
We will have a few stops where we get out and walk through a display, but most will be on the bus cruising around. A group photo is a must! Wear flashing lights, Santa hats and/or any ridiculous sweaters you have. (P.S. We will pass the hat at the end of the fun to tip our bus driver!)
Cost:
$49 (if you bought a MiGirl membership)
$59 for newcomers who want to try us out first and become spellbound.
GET TIX HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/migirl-griswold-lights-tour-tickets-1816044601289
If you aren’t a member yet, I hope you’ve seen enough to be swayed. All memberships bought now through the end of the year will be considered 2026 memberships and be good through Dec. 31, 2026 and receive 2026 pins! You can join here: https://michgirl.com/plans/membership/
XO,
Kandace, Maple, Ellie & Happy The Cat
Happy liked the cookies I brought home from Chicago.
Kandace Chapple
Michigan Girl, owner
kandace@michgirl.com
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The voice disappearing act on the bus sounds absolutly brutal! Baby pours and chocolate martinis are definitly the right survival strategy. Adding the Happy Hour at Einstein Cycles before the Christmas lights tour is smart planning. Sounds like the Skydeck at night was worth it though, especially with the whole place to yourselves.