ALL ABOARD!!!!

 I think it took all of about ten minutes of leaving Chicago's Union Station, listening to the "clack-clack" of the wheels and feeling the motion of the train, to realize that I felt truly relaxed for the first time in a long time. I find myself spending a lot of time just gazing out the window. At nothing in particular.
Jim is the name of our Sleeping Car Attendant. From what I can tell, his sole job is to keep us happy. He keeps us supplied with ice and drinks, and will stop by to "turn down our beds" starting at 8:45 tonight. Anything we want or need, or any questions we have, we just push a magic button and *WHOOSH* Jim will appear.
Our accomodations are not like those you see on the Orient Express, with all the fine mahogany and huge compartments. Although my room is pretty darn spacious. Several years ago, I drove to New York State to visit a friend of mine, and took a car ferry across Lake Michigan. It was at night, and one could choose to either sleep on deck or rent a "stateroom." I picked the room. It was all metal, which surprised me as I was expecting something like on a cruise ship. But I suppose touring the Caribbean and negotiating the Great Lakes are two different animals.
My rail room is also all metal. Nice metal, but metal nonetheless. The bathroom (tiny separate partition with a toilet) also serves as the shower. I can't wait to see how I'm going to manuever this one! No, there will be NO pictures posted of the process, although I may post a pic or two of the room!
No pictures or video (if I can figure THAT process out now!) until tomorrow, though. I have internet access, after a fashion, but it does go in and out as we travel on down the line. Dicey at best. So even my words are going to be limited.We have just completed our stop at Bloomington-Normal. A complete stop, so smokers can go out and smoke. They only get three stops to do that. I imagine some of them are none too great to travel with, given those constraints.
Coming down from Joilet, we have spent some of the time following the old Route 66. Which is another trip that is on my Bucket List. (The list of things I want to do before I kick the bucket). I want to follow the old route all the way from Chicago to Los Angeles. And the little bit that we followed hasn't dimmed that wish. It looks like tons of fun. To be able to really visit small town America before it disappears forever. Looks like we may be heading into a storm (BIG black clouds), and my connection is going haywire. Anyway, it's almost time for supper. ANYTHING on the menu we want. I keep flipping back and forth between steak and bbq ribs. MMMMMMMMM. Either will be a wise choice, I think.