[{"id":10525,"date":"2026-04-05T23:13:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T03:13:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/?p=10525"},"modified":"2026-04-05T23:13:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T03:13:44","slug":"a-weekend-in-the-windy-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/2026\/04\/05\/a-weekend-in-the-windy-city\/","title":{"rendered":"A Weekend in the Windy City"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chicago Adventures: Tattoos, Museums, and Unexpected Turns<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chicago never fails to surprise me, and this visit was no exception. What began as a quest to secure our Chinese visas quickly spiraled into an adventure packed with mishaps, mac and cheese (with pork belly, of course), and a tattoo convention that stretched the limits of my creative inspiration.<\/p>\n

The Visa Quest<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our trip kicked off with a two-and-a-half-hour drive into downtown Chicago, guided by the little dot on our GPS. When we arrived, the absence of signs or flags left us questioning whether we\u2019d landed at the Chinese Consulate or just another anonymous office building behind a Subway. After a few loops around the block and a failed attempt to consult a cop, we finally parked and entered the lobby\u2014a tall, plain space where you could catch glimpses of the other floors above.<\/p>\n

Inside, a woman in uniform asked us if we were there for the Consulate and promptly sent us outside to wait in the cold. After an hour shivering in line, we were at last allowed inside, only to sign in, ride an elevator to the fourth floor, and join yet another queue. The final hurdle? A metal detector and a request for a paper with a barcode. No barcode, no entry\u2014regardless of what the website claimed about appointments. Our mission abruptly ended there; the elusive barcode had bested us.<\/p>\n

Villain Arts Tattoo Convention<\/h1>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

With our visa plans dashed, we had time to kill before the tattoo convention opened at 2 p.m. We wandered down to Navy Pier, enjoyed a leisurely lunch, snapped some photos, and waited out the hours. Rich\u2014ever the hotel master\u2014found us a great deal just a block from the convention center, although we couldn\u2019t check in until 4 p.m. At least we scored a $28 parking garage for the night, which felt like a minor victory.<\/p>\n

When doors finally opened at the Rosemont Convention Center, the sheer scale was staggering: over 400 artists packed into rows, each offering a dizzying array of styles. Performers entertained the crowds with suspension acts, fire breathing, sword swallowing, and circus feats. We explored, inspected tattoo options, and sampled mac and cheese\u2014Rich\u2019s with smoked gouda and pork belly, mine with spicy pimento and pork belly. Both were delicious and, frankly, excessive.<\/p>\n

Eventually, inspiration struck. I chose Hard Life Style Tattoo, drawing from Chicago\u2019s history: the first World\u2019s Fair, the legacy of H.H. Holmes, and the iconic Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. My new ink\u2014a burning Ferris wheel with the fair in the background\u2014captured the city\u2019s spirit and its storied past.<\/p>\n

Richie, initially uncertain about getting a tattoo, was convinced by Giovani\u2019s promise to work quickly. He braved the ordeal, ending up with a striking microphone tattoo topped with a skull, strategically covering an old piece. Despite the pain, the result was beautiful, with barely any scabbing.<\/p>\n

Exploring the Field Museum<\/h1>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Day two brought us to the Field Museum. It had been years since my last visit, and I\u2019d forgotten how massive it truly was\u2014it took nearly five hours to see it all. The exhibits ranged from single-celled organisms to taxidermized lions and woolly mammoths. One highlight was the actual lion from \u201cThe Ghost and the Darkness,\u201d which famously terrorized railway workers in Tsavo, Kenya in 1898. Seeing the lion\u2019s enormous form made the legends feel real.<\/p>\n

The Evolving Planet Exhibit dazzled with thousands of creatures, but it was Dinosaur Hall that stole my heart. \u201cSue,\u201d the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil in the world, stood in all her glory, magnificent as ever. The Ancient Egypt exhibit was less impressive\u2014many pieces missing for refurbishment\u2014but wandering through the halls still brought a sense of discovery.<\/p>\n

Lake Michigan and Willis Tower<\/h1>\n

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After leaving the museum, we found a frozen margarita stand\u2014mango was the only flavor left, which wasn\u2019t my favorite, but the birria tacos more than made up for it. Richie\u2019s margarita came served in half a pineapple, and we settled in to enjoy the sunny 80-degree weather overlooking Lake Michigan. The rolling hills teemed with frisbee players, dogs chasing balls, and families soaking in the spring sun. Parking was free, another lucky break.<\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Our last stop was Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower. Hoping for a sunset view from the Skydeck, we found the time slot sold out. Once you are granted entry, you walk through a series of rooms that explain Chicago\u2019s diverse history. One room is in the shape of a subway car, another – the story of the damn breaking, and yet another – the iconic photo of Jordan slamming from midcourt. Still, nighttime Chicago was stunning\u2014city lights twinkling just like on TV. The elevator shot us up 103 stories in 60 seconds, a fitting finale for our whirlwind weekend.<\/p>\n

Finally, we hit the road and made the two-and-a-half-hour drive home, hearts full and stories ready to share. Until next time, Chicago.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chicago Adventures: Tattoos, Museums, and Unexpected Turns Chicago never fails to surprise me, and this visit was no exception. What began as a quest to secure our Chinese visas quickly spiraled into an adventure packed with mishaps, mac and cheese (with pork belly, of course), and a tattoo convention that stretched the limits of my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2794,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,32,33,31,29,30,34],"tags":[22,37,36,38,40,39,35],"class_list":["post-10525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chicago","category-field-museum","category-navy-pier","category-sears-tower","category-tattoo","category-windy-city","category-world-fair","tag-chicago","tag-field-museum","tag-navy-pier","tag-sears-tower","tag-tattoo","tag-windy-city","tag-world-fair"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2794"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10525"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10525\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":10508,"date":"2026-03-16T18:10:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T22:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/?p=10508"},"modified":"2026-03-16T18:10:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T22:10:21","slug":"our-concert-adventures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/2026\/03\/16\/our-concert-adventures\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Concert Adventures"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nine Inch Nails and More<\/p>\n

If you’re a fan of live music like us, you’ll know there’s nothing quite like the excitement of a concert\u2014no matter how many shows you’ve seen. Both Rich and I have been attending gigs for years, long before we even met each other. Rich often went with his mom to see legends like Tina Turner, Billy Joel, and Prince, while my personal highlights include Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, and Sheryl Crow. But, our shared love for hard rock and metal is what really brings us together.<\/p>\n

Flashback to 1995: Nine Inch Nails was set to play in Moline, IL\u2014a show both of us actually had tickets for! Unfortunately, a snowstorm grounded all flights and the concert was cancelled, never to be rescheduled nearby. We didn’t realize until much later that we’d both been planning to go to that same concert. Small world, right?<\/p>\n

Fast forward nearly thirty years, and Nine Inch Nails finally announced a gig in St. Louis\u2014the closest city for us, but still a solid five-hour drive away. As soon as tickets went on sale, we grabbed ours for the February show. Coming off a long vacation, we were definitely still a bit jet-lagged, so we booked a hotel near the venue and used ride-sharing to keep things easy (especially with some classic Midwest winter weather thrown in).<\/p>\n

Inside the arena, food options abounded\u2014even if the prices gave us pause. We snagged drinks and some merch before finding our seats. The opener, Boyz Noise, brought a German techno vibe with a vocal-free digital set that split the crowd\u2014some folks loved it, others not so much.\"\"<\/p>\n

Then came the main event. While we usually opt for general admission, this time around we decided on arena seats for budget reasons. Nine Inch Nails kicked things off from a small stage in the middle of the GA section before moving to the main stage, which featured incredible visuals: live video feeds on reflective screens, eye-catching lighting\u2014the works.<\/p>\n

They played all the crowd-pleasers: “March of the Pigs,” “Heresy,” “Closer,” “The Perfect Drug,” “The Hand That Feeds,” “Hurt,” and wrapped up with “Head Like a Hole.” The energy was electric, and honestly, the whole experience was top-notch\u2014I couldn’t recommend it more!<\/p>\n

The audience added tons of personality. One fan near us was especially enthusiastic about Trent Reznor, weaving in and out of her seat and getting neighboring fans involved. It made for lots of laughs and an even better sense of true fans.\"\"<\/p>\n

After the show, we made the most of our trip with some sightseeing. First stop: Pink Elephant Antique Mall and the Route 66 Convention Center and Hotel in Springfield, IL. The antique mall is a treasure trove with quirky decor and fun finds\u2014imagine a Donald Trump fortune-telling machine that told Rich he was \u201cBig and Beautiful\u201d alongside all sorts of themed statues!\"\"<\/p>\n

The Route 66 hotel itself is decked out in classic cars and has a restaurant famous for its fried chicken and regular live music.<\/p>\n

We also visited the Lincoln Museum and Library. If you ever get the chance, go! It’s much bigger than expected, with immersive exhibits chronicling Abraham Lincoln’s life using wax figures and dramatic displays covering everything from his early years to the Civil War and his presidency.\"\"<\/p>\n

Once our whirlwind tour wrapped up, we took the two-hour drive home, already chatting about sharing more adventures in future posts.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned for more stories from the road!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nine Inch Nails and More If you’re a fan of live music like us, you’ll know there’s nothing quite like the excitement of a concert\u2014no matter how many shows you’ve seen. Both Rich and I have been attending gigs for years, long before we even met each other. Rich often went with his mom to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2794,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2794"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10508"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10508\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":10502,"date":"2026-03-09T21:01:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T01:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/?p=10502"},"modified":"2026-03-09T21:01:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T01:01:59","slug":"free-agent-frenzy-beginning-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tap10.myagentgenie.com\/holliebedford\/2026\/03\/09\/free-agent-frenzy-beginning-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Agent Frenzy Beginning Soon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Rich Lopeman<\/h6>\n

Why the Bears\u2019 Future Depends on Smart Draft Capital \u2014 Not Flashy Trades<\/h2>\n

Every year, the NFL Combine dominates the headlines, but let\u2019s be real: it\u2019s mostly a workout with numbers attached. Speed, strength, and athleticism matter, but they don\u2019t measure the qualities that actually determine NFL success \u2014 heart, toughness, character, and the ability to handle adversity. Those traits never show up on a stopwatch.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the draft remains the most important part of roster building. Teams that dig deeper than combine metrics \u2014 into background, work ethic, leadership, and football IQ \u2014 are the ones that consistently find long\u2011term contributors.<\/p>\n

The Bears Must Protect Their Draft Picks<\/h2>\n

As a Chicago Bears fan, I firmly believe the team should guard its future draft capital. Trading multiple picks for one star player sounds exciting, but it often means sacrificing three or four potential starters for a single piece. Occasionally, that gamble pays off. Most of the time, it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Take the idea of trading for Maxx Crosby. He\u2019s an elite pass rusher and a potential Hall of Famer. But if the price is two first\u2011round picks, a third\u2011round pick, and a quality player, that\u2019s four assets for one guy. Those first\u2011rounders should become starters \u2014 maybe even stars \u2014 and there\u2019s still no guarantee Crosby alone pushes the Bears to a Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

Compensatory Picks and Front Office Drama<\/h2>\n

Behind the scenes, the Bears are also fighting for additional draft capital. They believe they should receive two compensatory third\u2011round picks after former assistant GM Ian Cunningham was hired by the Falcons. Confusion around comments made by Matt Ryan led the Bears to appeal to the NFL, hoping to secure those valuable selections.<\/p>\n

If the appeal succeeds, Chicago could walk into the draft with a strong cluster of middle\u2011round picks \u2014 the kind that build depth and long\u2011term stability.<\/p>\n

Roster Changes and Cap Space Strategy<\/h2>\n

The Bears\u2019 offseason moves suggest a clear plan. Their starting center retired, creating an immediate need. At the same time, the team has been aggressively clearing salary cap space.<\/p>\n