Close, but no cigar yet!

Ugh....not sure there is much more to say!
When we last posted, we were on our way to O'Hare to drop our bags and head to the consulate.
Well, we got to the airport to be told that since 9-11, lockers are no longer allowed at airports! So, as we head into town, we have two transition bags (full of all our tri gear) and our carry on briefcase (with laptop and stuff) to lug around all day.
As we got off the EL, we had a bout 4 blocks to walk to the Brazilian Consulate. Once inside, we queued up at the wicket to speak to the counter people. We advised them briefly that we were requesting a "day-of" tourist Visa. We were advised, without hesitation that "we do not give day- of" Visas and that we would not be going to Brazil on Wednesday! She advised that the soonest we could get one is 15 days. After some respectful persuasion she returned and advised us that she had gone to speak directly with the Consular General who advised that given our mission, he would grant us one on Friday at noon. A huge thank you!
Talk about looking at a silver lining when the sky's are certainly grey.
So, we needed to go and get passport pics, find a US Postal Office for the money order for the Visas and return ASAP to complete the application. Once that was done, it was a day of emails and phone calls to Michelle at Tritheworld.com who was looking into once again changing our flights to Brazil and the ones from SaoPaulo to our final destination; getting a hold of IM 70.3 Brazil and obtaining "special arrangements" for check in as we will be late for registration; cancelling the hotel in Penha for the race (the hotel would not hold them) and finding another hotel in a city that is sold out due to the race.
Speaking of sold out, our next problem was that Chicago is sold out of rooms, unless you go out of town, out near the airport (read: near nothing!!). So we opted for a "just outside the downtown core" Hilton which, for the price, should include our flights to Brazil...lol.
So now we have a day to blow in Chicago....but to be honest, we are so beat mentally and physically from carrying the bags all day that we will just chill. We have no workout gear so the first time in our gear, on our bikes or in the water.......will be race day!

Still looking more silver linings here.....so cross your fingers. Hey, maybe we will see Oprah!!!

We will try and update after we find out our fate on Friday!

Brian and Heather