“BLOG OPS” PIR 05/26/2011 Mission 3: Chow, Stimulant and The Navy Lodge

[FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW]

Need to feed the Team…all are suffering from caloric depletion.

I consult Miss GPS, but I think the hunger pangs are just causing a fog.

In me…not her.

So, I type in Wal-Mart hoping that it will bring us close to food.
Nada.

Right about now an MRE would be good…or a Box Nasty (I think they are called Bag Nasty’s now.)

I cruise along and spot…Chili’s!

The Team is HAPPY!

We eat WAY too much…play with the little electronic device on the table that you can order from. It has apps and a movie guide with previews.
“How long do you think this little device would last back home Team?”
“Not long.”
Roger that.

We get back on our way and fireteamleaderwife-(FTLW from now on)-realizes that she needs…
…a Starbucks fix.
Little Miss GPS comes through and FTLW is now fueled up and ready to go. We make a quick stop at Target for H20 and leave Rosemont and O’Hare Airport behind.

NOTE: I loved O’Hare. I had no problems arriving or departing.

 

It’s only about a thirty plus minute drive. We arrive at the Navy Lodge and check in.

The Navy Lodge is $65 a night. Tax free. It was clean. We had two queens and I requested and received a rollaway. Coffee maker, microwave and fridge. They do have rooms with kitchenettes but we missed out on one of those. You can rent DVD’s for a $2 a night for one or $3 a night for two. Or bring your own! They make a Brown Bag Breakfast-to-Go from 6-9 AM. Ours had a Bagel, cream cheese, chewy granola bar and large bottle of OJ.FT2 said it was his favorite thing! There is free coffee, leaded and unleaded, all the time. Vending machines on the first floor have the usual snacks, ice cream, soda, frozen “meals” (Hot Pockets and such), an “automat” looking one, toiletries and…liquor! Vending machines on the second floor are soda and snacks.

I’ve never seen one of those before! Airplane size bottles of Vodka, Jim Beam and Brandy. Beer too. You have to purchase tokens from the front desk for this one!

There is a laundry room on the first floor at the rear of the building and own the corridor on the elevator side. Pay Computers on both floors near the elevators with printer ($9 an hour and $0.10 a print) hat look just like the ones in the RTC NEX Phone/Computer room.

There are Navy items that can be purchased in the Lobby. Shirts, knick-knacks. It is in a small display case. Free USA News and local Paper.

There is a Jungle Gym for the kiddies but as it was raining it was very flooded.

One block up the street is the mini NEX and gas station. I believe you can get a pass to shop there if you do not have military ID. Gas was about fifteen cents less there.

At first I kinda felt bad that I didn’t get a hotel with a pool etc., but this worked out well as we were not there all day and pooped out at night!
Plus…okay, I will admit it, I just like staying at the military institutions!

 

GO NAVY!