Newbie Nugget: A Ticket

When I discovered I needed to take a written driver's test in order to get my Illinois identification I was terrified. Without doing the math, let's agree that it's been quite some time since I had to answer questions about the rules of the road. What if I failed? 

But, with NATO just around the corner and the threat of barricaded streets and identification checks looming large, we finally braved the dreaded exam. After a small dose of test anxiety and a two hour visit to the department of motor vehicles (everyone there was very, very friendly and helpful) I am now an official Illinois resident. Now that I am, I look forward to all the benefits that it provides. (I can just hear my husband mumbling, "Higher taxes.")

Did you know... admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is free to Illinois residents the first and second Wednesday of every month? 

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Why are driver's license pictures always so horrible? That hardly even looks likes me.

Seeing Gustave Caillebotte's "Paris Street; Rainy Day" is definitely worth reading the test preparation book. 
Free admission to The Art Institute makes me smile. Knowing that we can spend a little bit of time at the AIC every month allows me to rethink my museum visiting MO. Generally, because I'm a cheap skate, I would rush through and see everything as quickly as possible to get the most bang for my buck. But this changes everything. Now I can focus in on a different area each visit. I can really dig in. My museum time has been transformed from a mission to complete into a relaxed wander. 
Free admission also makes paying for the museum's $7 self guided audio tour much more enticing. In fact, it's practically a no-brainer. Or maybe a free Wednesday would be the perfect day to try some of that fancy popcorn they sell in the Modern gallery's snack area? Who knows?
The Art Institute of Chicago is open from 10:30-5:00 on Wednesdays.
Sick day, anyone?