The pothole was just too huge to avoid. It was a three lane expressway jammed with traffic- I couldn't swerve. Ten miles later I herd a clink clink and my Mom's hubcap went rolling across the street. I stared ahead at the skyscrapers growing with each passing second and stared in the rearview mirror as my Mom's hubcap sputtered and vanished from my eye.

A few miles later I found myself on a one way street. Next thing I knew I see a car driving at me. I swear I about had a heart attack as I slammed my brakes and honked like a New Yorker. The car next to me followed suit. The woman driving the car was perplexed. She was determined to finish going up the block in the wrong direction. I passed around her and she continued her dangerous journey - but with a bit of caution.

I don't pay to park in cities, you can ALWAYS find free parallel parking. Sure enough just two blocks from my destination an open spot emerged as I saw a car leave. I circled the block and pulled right in.

I was walking to the Botanical Gardens because I wanted to see green, lush foliage in a humid environment. I stopped to cross the street, when I almost got hit by a cop car who failed to stop, or indicate that he was turning onto the street I was crossing. I'm sure if I could see his rearview mirror his face was a look of "stupid kid."

I basked in the fake warmth that only a greenhouse could provide.

I then enjoyed the relative warmth that only a greenhouse (gas) could provide.

It was very weird to go from being cold to being in a thick, humid, warm climate. I took off my coat and scarf and marveled at all the trees and plants and flowers as I walked around. The sun shined through the huge glass panes, and birds chirped and flew overhead. I spotted bananas, avocados, cocoa, grapefruits and chili peppers that were being grown.

I touched a lot of the leaves since they were so unlike anything I'd seen before. I also couldn't stop taking deep breaths in, just to smell the fresh, earthy smells and feel the warm air in my nose and lungs. It really wasn't too hard to imagine I was somewhere far, far away from Wisconsin.