my job yesterday was to take three boys across the state, to gary indiana, to their friend's birthday party. starting in galesburg, we go north to moline, where we are only about ten miles from the river. but then, straight across illinois, through joliet, where they are doing major construction on eighty, across the indiana line about twenty miles, then straight down broadway, south, and then east to their house. a straight shot, right?

the trip was actually somewhat pleasant. illinois is wide with green farm fields, all west of chicago; it's busy and full of orange cones in the chicago area; joliet, as i said, was a mess. the boys were pleasant. they have a train ticket back today and our fingers are crossed that they'll actually be on that train.

meanwhile a major heat wave has descended; tomorrow will be worse than today, and people are talking relief centers and such things, as we have visitors and are afraid that various aircon systems won't work or won't be enough.

after seven hours on the road, i've got a sore back. i'm not sure where i turned it or how, maybe the whole thing was just too much. there was a court appearance in the morning, so it was an hour or so on a wooden bench then.

in court, my son basically admitted to driving off with our car, something he has done several times, without a license. they were easy on him, telling him to get his license and they would forget about it. this may be easier said than done, but for now, he's feeling a weight off his back. he felt strongly about going to gary but we agreed to it; i wouldn't have done it if i wasn't willing. i like traveling. i like seeing them get out of here, if only for a day or two. i like them seeing the world a little. to me, train tickets are money well spent and will give them memories. we're lucky that the train goes straight to galesburg.

late at night, however, it was just me, the car, and the summer night. i started catching myself drifting off as i drove. no! can't let that happen. i pulled over at an illinois rest area, as they actually have pretty good coffee. about nine at night, the place was pretty empty, but it was steamy and green, and there was lots of room; the walking felt good. the large coffee felt good too though it almost didn't work well enough. i've been drinking way too much coffee again, but there's no way i'm going to allow myself to drift off in western illinois.

western illinois is orange-cone land, as i remember well from my travels. that much hasn't changed. joliet was terrible, but western illinois was simply one lane for miles. and again, i was scared to death of drifting off, even with a large coffee in me.

now i'm home - sore back, but airconditioner to help me avoid the heat. the boys will be getting on the train later this afternoon.

may everyone have a happy, safe summer!