Visiting Missouri is always an interesting experience for me. Some of my inlaws live on Lake of the Ozarks, and—it’s different from what I’m used to. To say I am immediately ejected from my comfort zone is an understatement, just as native Missourians must be when they visit the hustle and bustle of Chicago. Much of the time is spent on a boat (I get seasick fairly easily), laying out in the sun (I burn fairly easily), sitting around (I get bored almost immediately without some sort of technology in front of me), and drinking (no complaints there). I’ll leave it at that, except to say that visiting Missouri makes me incredibly thankful for Illinois’ smoking ban.

Lake of the Ozarks MO