May 10 may be a good day to get out of town, with the masses of proud parents on their way in to witness the bloated pomp and circumstance that is UI graduation. Amtrak is providing us all with some incentive, for that day is the first annual National Train Day (gosh I love made-up holidays). To celebrate, Amtrak is offering one free companion ticket with the purchase of one full-fare adult ticket. Tickets must be purchased this Thursday (April 4) using discount code H768.
Our family uses Amtrak often, especially since the additional morning trains were added to and from Chicago’s Union Station. Just last week a good friend of mine used it to visit us. I don’t get on it as much as I should, but that’s because I often travel with the Killer Cockapoo.
Recently Peanut has started saying choo choo every time I say train, and I’ve been wanting to take her on her first train ride. Perhaps this is a good opportunity. Maybe we’ll have Mr. lbotp pick us up in Rantoul, that would be exotic.
7 responses so far ↓
GoingLikeSixty // April 1, 2008 at 3:39 pm
You didn’t happen to see this bunch did ya?
http://keepingyouinstitches.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/more-train-pics-from-the-sex-trip/
http://keepingyouinstitches.wordpress.com/2007/08/26/finally-pictures-from-the-sex-trip/
My wife and friends!
I’ll tell her about the National Train Day.
Leeanthro // April 1, 2008 at 5:33 pm
We ride the train in Monticello several times a year.
Amtrack has a cool viewing car where the walls are all glass and the seats face out.
Lisa // April 2, 2008 at 7:50 am
Sounds like a good deal. Hmm. Can I get a plan together . . . by tomorrow?!
Rayne of Terror // April 2, 2008 at 8:15 am
Henry and my first Amtrak ride was a dismal failure. He cried, whined, and was generally in the foulest mood ever for the entire 2+ hour ride from Union station to Bloomington. I had high hopes but they were dashed due to a lack of nap earlier in the day.
Jennifer B. // April 9, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Did you not go to your graduation from Northwestern? Also, are you advocating that Peanut doesn’t go to hers when she’s done with college?
Is it just that you don’t like graduations in general, or that the UIUC ones are a bit more “bloated” than average graduations?
The only reason I went to either my grad or undergrad ceremonies was because my parents insisted–I certainly wanted no part of them because I considered them to be bloated madness as well! It’s good to see I’m not the only one who feels this way.
lbotp // April 11, 2008 at 8:13 am
I did go to my graduation from Northwestern, although Bill Cosby was the speaker and it was pretty dang funny.
I think you hit it on the head — graduation is for parents, not for graduates. The reason I called the UI’s bloated is merely for the number of people it involves. Why go to graduation if you don’t even get to hear your name called and walk across the stage? I know there are a few of the smaller colleges that do this, but for the most part it doesn’t happen.
Leeanthro // April 12, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Our graduation ceremony was at Krannert’s big hall and was anthropology, sociology, and a couple of other smaller departments. That’s the one I went to. We did get to walk across the stage and hear our names.
I would not have gone to the big one at the Assembly Hall.
I did not go through the ceremony for my M.A. But then again, I was already living in another state by the time I officially graduated.
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