Thanksgiving III - plus the family pet

My city driving skills have atrophied and I was planning on driving through Chicago.  Figured the car's navigational system would direct me through so didn't even check which roads to take.   As I approached Chicago I put in a CD from the audio book "Lost Christianities" and settled back to listen to chapters on Gnosticism.  Suddenly realized the car had me driving two lane roads through the suburbs.  Didn't remember doing that the last time I came this way.  Got back on a freeway but the car instructed me to take the next exit.  When I did, it sent me right back onto the freeway.  After doing a few 'meet and greets' w/ the city's pan handler community I realized the car was attempting to get me out of congested areas (by sending me into even more congestion). Once back on a freeway I stayed there and let the car "recalculate" her brains out.  The car finally agreed  w/ me and settled on a less scenic route.  I was now headed  for the elevated Ryan overpass and the cars around me were ignoring the 45 mph signs.  We all were climbing upward at speeds closer to 80.   For the first time I prayed that the spoiler on the back of my car (which I got only because it was already there when I bought the car) actually was functional and would keep me from going airborne when I hit the top. What a relief to finally see the sign 'Indiana Welcomes You' - like stumbling out into daylight after being trapped underground.   The Gnostics believed the earth is an evil place created by an inferior spirit.  So, just in case, when I hit Chicago on the way back I made sure I was listening to chapters on the rise of early Christian orthodoxy and the building of the canon.  Breezed through the city w/ no problems.