Hi Readers: I just thought of something that I wanted to do for the trip. However, I am not sure what you guys might think of these chapters. So, I want to get some feedback on these chapters that I'm going to write for you guys. If you guys like them, then I will definitely try and keep writing them for you. If not, well we'll see what happens. But for now, let's just get to what I have decided to try and write for you. I hope you enjoy this, and want me to continue this. Let me know.

Gabby Casey's Travel Blog
Matt & Gabby Casey's Trip Across America – Day 1

October 6, 2018 – Chicago, Illinois to Cleveland, Ohio
Welcome readers, I hope that you guys had a great day yesterday; and I just want to introduce you guys to just what this blog that you have found here on the internet. First, I am going to introduce myself to you; and then, I will explain to you guys just what this blog is all about; and I am also going to tell you the reason why I am writing this blog. Well, let's start with the introductions that I have for you. My name is Gabriela Casey, the wife of Former Chicago Alderman for the 23rd Aldermanic Ward on the City Council. And just recently, we have decided to travel across America together in an RV. Our final destination? Well, we aren't exactly sure yet. All we know is that we enjoyed yesterday, and it's been perfect so far. After a rough start to our marriage, and an especially hard 2018 for the both of us; we both decided to take time away from our lives as first responders in the City of Chicago to just take it easy and concentrate on our marriage for a while. And that's why I have decided to write this blog. I want to document just where we've been so far, and what we've experienced.

Now, I hope to get some posts out to you on a regular basis; but I do not know when I will get a chance. I am, in fact, writing this post about our first day on the road on what's our second day on the road; so, let's just clarify that. But enough wasting time explaining that's obvious now. That this blog is about our travels, and when I am writing it. If you're here, you're here to read about the journey that we're taking across America. Well, let's start on where we left from. Yesterday morning, we left from Chicago with an original destination of New York City. Well, that was the plan until we got to Cleveland. In Cleveland, we decided that we no longer wanted to go to New York City. The reason for that? Well, it's due to the fact that it's going to be cold. So, we're now on our way to Miami after a couple stops. Our first stops? Ann Arbor, Detroit, Toledo, and Cleveland. God, the ways that me and Matt experienced these places were so different; and the pictures were cute.

Especially the pictures that I have from places where my husband told me that he just HAD to visit during our trip. The first place that he told me that he HAD to visit, was the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. So, that was where we went; so that we could visit Michigan Stadium. My husband is a huge football fan (go Bears!) and he actually knew a bunch of facts about this stadium that I never knew. He may not call himself a geek, but I will definitely call him a geek when it comes to this. He knew how old the stadium is, how there's these huge chants that they have, and how stadiums aren't made like this anymore. Driving up to the stadium, I tried to see if we would be able to get in (as I knew that was definitely something that he wanted to do). But unfortunately, you aren't able to visit the stadium; nor are you able to get in. So, we had to settle for something else. We got as close to it as possible, and I took this picture of Matt in front of the stadium.

Insert Picture of Matt in front of Michigan Stadium, and Insert Picture of Matt & Gabby in front of Michigan Stadium

And of course, he wasn't just content with him having a picture in front of the stadium; he wanted me to join him in one of the pictures, so I obliged and gave him what he wanted (well, one of the things he wanted). He wanted me to take a picture with him in front of the stadium, and I obliged. But it wasn't just going to be any picture. I wanted a nice picture of me and my loving husband sharing a kiss in front of the stadium. So, that was exactly what the two of us did. We shared a kiss in front of the stadium. And let's just say this, he got a bit handsy. It was crazy, and it made me jump. I swear, ladies; if you want to get a man excited, just take him to this stadium…and you're going to get a bunch of attention from him the night after you visit. Honestly, we had a bunch of fun; and I was glad that we went here to explore the city. And of course, we didn't just explore the campus. We also ended up taking a look around the city, and it was an amazing sight. The city was beautiful.

It was just this typical college town that you'd see anywhere, and I was truly impressed. But that was not the only thing that I was impressed with, I was also impressed with the architecture. With the University being quite old, the architecture was so much different than what you have now a days. And of course, with my long husband being the owner of Casey Construction, he knows everything that you need to build some things; and that even includes what you need to build old historic structures like this. He said that the fact that this structure that we visited yesterday was still standing definitely was something of a miracle; he said that he always thought that it was going to be something the could easily be targeted in a war (especially during the Second World War). With them having bombed Pearl Harbor, people must've been worried that the enemies would fly over and bomb other marvels of the world. Yes, he called this a marvel of the world; don't argue.

That's something that I learned. When it comes to men and their football, one thing that you don't argue about; is whether something is a marvel. And the truth was, I can easily see why my husband would call this structure a marvel. It really is a gorgeous piece of architecture, and I am so glad that we got a chance to visit it (even if I am not the biggest fan of football). The truth of the matter is that I only really watch it because it gives me time to cuddle up to my loving husband as we hold each other close on the couch. My husband is just that comfortable, and I am so glad that we visited this place. There's nothing like seeing the joy in my husband's face when he saw this place. And I mean that whole heartedly. Visiting this place reminded me of a kid in a candy store, he was full of glee; and he was excited for me to see more of the country. And the truth is, I love the fact that we're doing this; as it's giving us a chance to make our marriage stronger and just fix it.

Unfortunately, our marriage has seen better days than where it was in May; but I can easily say that we're in a much better place, and I am so proud of the fact that we're in a much better place. This is due to the fact that there truly is no man like Matthew Casey. He has the sweetest heart, and I just feel like the luckiest woman in the entire world. I truly feel blessed over the fact that I'm his wife, and that will never change no matter what fights we have with each other; and if you end up reading this Matt, I promise that I am not going to reveal any details about said fights. And if some of our friends read this, then you are going to have to text me for more details. But back to the trip. When they say that a road trip is the best way for you to see America, they're telling you the truth; just seeing America from the window of our RV is incredible, and I am so glad that we did it. The way you can see the cities drive by in the window is really nice. And I'm glad that I didn't end up driving.

There were times where I thought that Matt should take a bit of rest when it came to driving…but like the man he is, he insisted on driving; and call this old fashioned, I found it quite a turn on that my husband wanted to drive me all over the country. There's just something about the way he told me that he wanted to drive me all over the country that made me really happy. It made me smile, and it made me want to just take it easy as he drove; and that was what I ended up doing. I ended up falling asleep during the trip, and he had to wake me up in Detroit. Yes, I slept all the way from Ann Abor to Detroit. And the original plan was to visit Detroit, but we ended up not visiting. However, I made sure that we at least went through the city. And when they say that the interstate did ruin the city, I can see why that's the case. And I hate to say this to the politicians, but I am going to call you out. I can easily see the destruction that the interstates have done.

And I don't like it. I will definitely include some pictures that I see in the future, but I just didn't end up taking pictures this time (unfortunately). But right now, I just took it easy and got some needed sleep. God, the amount of packing that I ended up doing the night before. I didn't exactly want to have to rush the next morning, so I wanted to make sure that we put as much as we could in the RV before we went to bed the night before; and that meant that we ended up going to bed past midnight (hence the need for the nap that I ended up taking). As much as I hated the idea that I missed a bunch of the country, I do have to say that I'm glad that I did get a chance to take the long-needed nap that I just had to take. It was perfect, and it ended up being the exact reason why we didn't stop in Detroit. We continued to Cleveland. I know, I said I saw Detroit…but I just woke up briefly (like 10 minutes) before falling back asleep. (I was tired, don't blame me for it).

I mean yes, would I have liked to see more of Detroit? Of course, I would have liked to see more of the city. But I promise dear readers, that I will definitely see more of the country. And there are definitely places that I'm already excited to visit as husband and wife. And that's actually something I'm glad to talk to you about, some of the reasons why me and my husband decided to take this trip. A few months ago, I left Chicago to go volunteer in Puerto Rico as we were having problems in our marriage. But, I am happy to say that some of the problems in our marriage have definitely been solved (and we celebrated that the night before). It was perfect, and I am so glad. And I can really say that this trip was something that we needed, and it was something that I will always appreciate; because of what it has done for our marriage, how I believe that it's saved it. And I will always be grateful to this trip for doing so, and for all the changes that it has made for the both of our lives.

Even though we've only been gone for 24 hours, I can already say that me and Matt have learned more about each other; and that's a point that I definitely want to also make in this blog. I want to write down some of the lessons that me and my husband have learned through this journey, and the conversations that we're going to have. However, I can't promise that we're going to share all of the details due to the fact that those details are going to have to stay between myself and my husband. But for now, I will let you guys go…and I promise that I am going to keep you updated on our journeys.

But for now, I hope you all have a great day; and I hope that you guys keep reading about our journeys.

For now, this is Gabriela Casey signing off on her report on Day 1 of 'The Casey's Take Time Away: Our Journey Across America (and It's Territories)'

Written with love,
Gabriela Marie Casey