Chicago: The zittiest summer ever

I have questions:

* How long should one plan to prepare to take the GRE before taking it?

* Theoretically, could a tattoo artist go over my tattoo to sharpen the lines and brighten up the color?

I just posted to the old thread because I wanted to tell you guys something but did not want it to be in the first 5 posts of new thread.

Mornin' Chicago. I'm not tattoo expert N1ck, but I've had a couple friends get their tattoos brightened up. Not sure of the process though.

Hi Chicago. I'd like to live in you, zitty summer notwithstanding. However, my husband had to go and start a business in Austin TX. (I always put TX in as if people are gonna think of another Austin instead)

Hello, earthbound. Have you been around ILX before?

Sra Lechera, you are still in the first five posts! Anywho, it turns out a ton of people I knew were at Pitchfork. They just didn't try calling me. OTOH, I didn't try calling anyone else either. I just expect people to come to me I guess, to flock to me and my blanket.

I am tired. The dueling pianos at H0wl@ the m00n were entertaining.

Hi KitCat! I just posted for the first time today but I've been lurking for a couple of months off and on.

oh jesus, jeff. You're as bad as jesse. I don't mind a thread that's gross to everyone else because it's about sex and embarrasses people (OH NOES!), but zits are on the short list with warts and hare lips of things that I DO NOT NEED.

guess what I am?

http://www.hollywoodteenmovies.com/AnimalGallery1.jpg

Theoretically, could a tattoo artist go over my tattoo to sharpen the lines and brighten up the color?

more than theoretically, it's one of the things tattoo artists do

A little while ago, <a href="http://www.noonokabab.com/";>Noon o Kebab</a> got referenced in the Chicago Restaurants thread (I think Toby and Colette were looking for a Persian place). Katie, Matt, and I tried it last night and man oh man... best meal I've had in a while.

I like the thread title.

However, I hate the bbcode.

Word.

Who does that 'Suicidal' song that's over the chords to Stand By Me? I can't tell if I like or hate that song.

I don't know who does it but I know I hate it.

It's called "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston. I hate it, but parts are growing on me after repeated exposures.

if Kevin is around, have ya found any Cubs tix?

Jesse, I finally got around to watching Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf last night. There is some hilarious shit in that movie.

Even bitter, angry alcoholics who are soaked in liquor down to their very last cell can have a few laughs.

That's the lesson of the play, I think.

We went to this dueling pianos thing with Sarah's work last night where you could request songs for them to play. Everyone kept insisting you could request whatever you wanted and they would play it. I could have been an asshole and requested something superobscure, but instead I chose "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath. They did not play my request! But instead, they played a pretty bitchin' version of "Crazy Train," which I think was a reasonable replacement.

Dr. Morbius, what game are you looking for?

I am not in favor of the dueling pianos trend.

Monday the 30th, Jeff (6pm start). The Cub site only has single seats upstairs left, but if I can't get in any other way I spose I'd cough up $42! for my first bleacher seat.

Jordan, you and Dan should start a Dueling Drummers show in a bar.

"We'll perform anything!"

http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/normal/495/Drum_Battle_At_JATP_Gene_Krupa_Buddy_Rich__5972495.jpg

Ha.

Sarah: http://chicagoist.com/2007/07/19/check_out_the_w.php

http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/images/local/mediumsite/6F170E8B70C7426DB419924793817E1E.jpg

Did you see the Fuze(tm) cornhole setup at P-fork?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/images/2006/07/11/drummers_400x300.jpg

http://www.billrotelladrumbeatings.com/double.jpg

I can look on my company bulletin board, they are loads of tickets on there. How many would you need?

well, Kevin wanted to go, I think.

so 2

(tho I haven't heard from him in a few days)

No, EZ! I missed the drink samples too.

I think the GRE prep time is pretty variable. I'd go out and buy yourself a book and cd and start working through it. When I did it, I think I put aside an hour or two after work to study. Once I was scoring in the ballpark of what I wanted, I signed up for the test. Start to finish it probably took me a couple of months, but I also tend to overprepare out of fear.

I have this sneaking suspicion that Jordan would kick my ass in a drum duel!

That said, I'm a big fan of the Fugazi dual-drum stuff, and some friends of mine pull it off pretty well in their band: http://www.myspace.com/sah

I am dual-curious.

http://www.chicagocornholeclassic.com/

Who's in???

The cornhole.

Oh I bet there's some real assholes in that.

Yeah, it's pretty tasteful and tight on the Argument, almost to the point that it's unnecessary??

I haven't seen many two-drumset bands that I really like, but love situations where the parts are split up between multiple drummers (brass band obv., salsa, African shit, etc.).

I kind of want to sign up for the social/first-time division of cornhole but I'd want to practice first. I've only ever played once.

I saw Ibrahim Ferrer a few years ago, and his band had the block guy, the castanet guy, the ribbed-seashell guy, etc.

I'd just wing it. I'd get a little drunk first though. Works for darts.

* How long should one plan to prepare to take the GRE before taking it?

Couple of months, maybe? I don't remember studying all *that* much, and though I didn't do as well as I'd have liked, I don't think studying more would have boosted my score.

Of course, I took it in 2000, so my statute of limitations is up, I think, if I actually want to apply to grad school again.

I'd just wing it. I'd get a little drunk first though. Works for darts.

This applies to first-time cornholing, being a first-time cornholee, and taking the GRE.

applause

If no one wants to be on a team, I'm going to go for singles.

Are you thinking of doing the first-timers or the social division?

The tournament page made me crave Chipotle.

Q: How competitive is the competitive division?

A: The competitive division will be very competitive. There will some of the best players in the Midwest coming to play in this tournament. However, if you are up to a challenge and think that you are a good bags player, then the competitive division is for you. If not feel free to compete in our Social or First Time throwers Division.

I'd say first time.

although!

Q: What is this I hear about Chipotle giving out free burritos?

A: The winner for the tournament will receive free Chipotle burritos for a year. Chipotle will also be there at the event handing out free burritos certificates to each and every competitor.

haha

ooh I think I'm in

I have an appointment today to join the steering committee of the Commie Restaurant Workers of America group! Immediately following I have a coffee date!

Congrats Jordan on WAoVW!

Nick, what did you think of Museum of Love?

I want to play in the first-time throwers division! Seriously. It looks fun. And hell, I'll get a cornhole classic t-shirt out of the deal.

Uh ... I took it back after I read a couple of chapters. It was well-written but not what I was in the mood for.

so we have:

me
sarah
jeff
e-z ryder

I think we either have to team up in doubles teams or all play individually or two singles and one doubles.

Hey, did any of you Chicago ILXors get food poisoning at Taste of Chicago?

oops, sorry - it was salmonella!

Jenny said of it, "It made me feel like I was in a cold, dark place." Which is exactly what I LOVE about it.

Are you (Nick, or anyone) familiar with the film work of The Bros. Quay? Steve Weiner, author of MoL, works with them on animation work, and it totally shows.

xpost

Q: Can you play in both Doubles and Singles Division?

A: Yes you may play in both divisions. The doubles divisions will be played first during the day and then the singles divisions will be played.

People who live in Chicago do not eat at Taste of Chicago.

I did. And I will tell you, never again. If I'm going to eat festival food, I want it to be at a street festival.

Is ToC not a street festival?

I got so sick of overpriced street festival foood last weekend (not SICK sick, just do not want).

I know a little about Bros Quay b/c i dated someone who was into them.

Steve Albini on the Taste of Chicago:

I've had my quota of REO Speedwagon and Buddy Guy for the year, so I'll pass thanks. Big public scenes full of white hats, guidos and suburban blues fan dorks... no thanks. I'd rather have my nuts crushed in a vise.

I am getting them confused with the brothers Kray.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39299000/jpg/_39299613_krays203.jpg

Taste of Chicago is gross. Period.

It really really screws up my commute if I'm riding the bus to or from work.

I think Chicagoans are required to go once just so they can complain about it in greater detail with other Chicagoans.

The winters are tough AND we have to put up with Taste every year.

xp - Exactly.

jaymc on the Taste of Chicago (from an e-mail I wrote to a co-worker a few weeks ago):

When I was a kid I used to love going to the Taste because it meant walking around in Chicago and getting to try weird foods like tempura and junky stuff my parents wouldn't normally let me eat. Now that some of that novelty is worn off and since I dine out in the city fairly often, it just seems touristy and the food not all that great. (This perspective mostly comes from having gone after work one night two years ago.) Actually, it's probably not bad if you're interested in getting a slab of ribs or a Chicago-style hot dog, but don't expect anything too creative or interesting.

Hey, did any of you Chicago ILXors get food poisoning at Taste of Chicago?

No, but here's the chILX connection: the food poisoning at the Taste came from Pars Cove, which was recommended here a few weeks ago.

I went for the first time ever, just for an hour or two. Saw Robbie Fulks and had mustard fried catfish, and it was good.

I think I was too impulsive about cornholing on Saturday, because I actually have to go to a cookout later that day. I jumped at the free burrito before checking the date.

If I ate meat, I might have enjoyed taste the first time around or two. I mean, those drumsticks are HUGE!

Yeah, but I eat meat and I don't want to touch that shit. Eating while standing up and surrounded by that many morans just instantly puts me in a bad mood.

hahaha 2x

I'm probably going to go ahead and sign up for singles and doubles.

Eric, it's the 28th, not this Saturday, if you didn't know.

So if any of you want to be my cornholing buddy, just give me $15 and show up.

This could be the beginning of a beautiful career.

I wish I were around. I would totally cornhole.

Oh, hey, remember a few months ago when we were talking about that Bar Chicago ad and were trying to figure out what the bags in "Bags, Beer, etc." was? From watching the promo for the tourney, it's now clear what the bags are: c-holing.

xpost - ohh, the 28th?? Ohh...

I'm in! Nick, do you want to sign us up for both singles and a doubles team??

Robbie Fulks & Catfish are both A+

No, I want YOU to sign us up. Boo-yah.

Taste is a festival, but I mean that I want a street festival, full of neighborhood folks, and neighborhood stuff, where I can walk around carrying a beer, looking at the booths. What I don't want is to go to a bloated mess full of suburbanites where the really ordinary food is the big draw, and where my booze opportunities are limited to a couple of booths (instead of my precious go cups!), and where to get in and out, I have to ride nightmarish public transit.

^^^^Belmont Art & Music Festival

My parents and the neighbors used to throw block parties from time to time. It involved getting permission from the town cops, throwing up some barricades and a keg of beer. I had forgotten about those. Does that count as a festival?

Yes.

Taste is a festival, but I mean that I want a street festival, full of neighborhood folks, and neighborhood stuff, where I can walk around carrying a beer, looking at the booths. What I don't want is to go to a bloated mess full of suburbanites where the really ordinary food is the big draw, and where my booze opportunities are limited to a couple of booths (instead of my precious go cups!), and where to get in and out, I have to ride nightmarish public transit.

What do they do, make you drink all the beer before you leave the beer booth?

^^^^Belmont Art & Music Festival

Well, also, dozens of other neighborhood street festivals in Chicago. Ribfest at Lincoln/Irving Park, Midsommarfest in Andersonville, Wicker Park Fest, Guinness Oyster Fest, etc.

no picture.

I clicked specifically for the pic. Once again you thwart my perverse plans.

No, but that is the only place you can get booze. My options were MGD, Lite, and something else. Or I could get some Gallo wine. At Midsommerfest on the other hand there were beer booths, local bars set up booze booths, and the bars and restaurants on the street were allowed to dispense go cups.

Oh crud - the cornhole thing is the same day as one of the Wicker Park Summerfest days, isn't it? Fortunately, I think I may have had my fill of outdoors indie rock for this summer, and almost all the bands I wanted to see are playing on Sunday, if I remember correctly.

Leaf & I volunteered at one of the festivals & got free beer.

Wicker Park Fest Band Schedule

Saturday, July 28

South Stage - presented by Silver Wrapper & The Smoke Daddy
12:30 PM - Dubconscious
1:45 PM - Eliot Lipp
3:00 PM - The Frequency
4:30 PM - Future Rock
6:00 PM - New Mastersounds
7:30 PM - Benevento/Russo Duo
9:00 PM - Prefuse 73

North Stage - presented by Subterranean & House Call Entertainment
12:00 PM - Kids Show
2:25 PM - Fancy Trash
3:30 PM - Skybox
4:35 PM - Catfish Haven
5:40 PM - Maritime
6:45 PM - Centro-Matic
7:55 pm - Man Man
9:00 PM - The Thermals

Sunday, July 29

South Stage - presented by Silver Wrapper & The Smoke Daddy
12:30 PM - Juice & The Machine
1:30 PM - Sabretooth Organ Quartet
2:30 PM - Dearborn
3:30 PM - American Babies
4:15 PM - Something for Rockets
5:30 PM - Oh My God
6:45 PM - Dirty Dozen Brass Band
8:30 PM - JJ Grey & MOFRO

North Stage - presented by Subterranean & House Call Entertainment
12:00 PM - Kids Show
2:25 PM - Mannequin Men
3:30 PM - Don Caballero
4:35 PM - The Race
5:40 PM - Sybris
6:45 PM - Pit er Pat
7:55 pm - Russian Circles
9:00 PM - High On Fire

I thought Taste would be much better than it was. I didn't go into it with the attitude that I was going in order to hate it better, (the way that for example I want to go to LA and Las Vegas in order to have a better reason to hate them.)

MIght go Sat. night for Man Man and the Thermals, then Sun. for Don Cab, Russian Circles and High on Fire? Or maybe might not go at all.

High On Fire!!!!! High On FIRE!!!!! Sorry, just really excited to see them.

Those other fest things didn't have the Wrens, though. I would really like to see the Thermals. And OMG fake Don Cab got low billing.

I feel a little bad for Damon Che, with Battles getting to play Pitchfork fest for tons of hipsters and fake Don Cab relegated to mid-afternoon at the WP Summerfest.

Whoa.. I didn't even notice Don Can on that list!

(x-post)

I think I'm going to move soon. I have a potential replacement renter for my place, and the Reader is full of good deals. There are four listings for 1-bedroom places on Cornelia that are between $725 and $775!! One of them is in a highrise.

Fake?

Nick, I say we come home from cornholing that Saturday then go see the Thermals.

We're signed up by the way.

Yeah, why fake?

Because Don Cab broke up years ago and then D. Che reformed a band under the name but with him as the only original member.

(as far as I know)

New Masters0unds

lol, we opened for these guys once. Brit retro-funk.

I would see Damon Che and Sabretooth, theoretically.

Helpful diagram

Like fake Veruca Salt then.

To be fair, the only other "original member" of Don Cab left besides Damon Che when they broke up was Ian Williams, who is now in Battles, but I think he was a pretty integral part of the band. Hence fake Don Cab. But it's mostly just snarkiness.

Should I:
a) go eat pancakes with my coworkers
or
b) eat miso soup by myself and read the book I'm enjoying reading?

do you like your coworkers?

Yeah. The question is, do I like them more than my book (or my wallet)?

pancakes >>>>> miso soup

books >>>>> coworkers

hmmmmmmm

I guess I'd say that pancakes is a fairly cheapish lunch if you feel the need to put in some "bonding" time with the co-workers or feel hungrier than miso soup (i often do). But if you're just feelin' the chill today, then save a little cash & read.

otherwise, i am totally with jordan on this issue.

Eat your soup and read. You save money. The soup is good. The book is good. You can do crossword puzzles with your coworkers another day.

You will be starving in 45 minutes.

I get it now. I didn't really understand why a band of Don Cab's stature was playing, like, the Note on a weeknight. (I thought they had reunited.)

I don't mean to brag, guys, but I am having artichoke heart + feta quiche and chilled avocado + tomatillo soup for lunch.

OMG. WANT.

I am not having lunch b/c I am finishing up a few things before leaving mid-afternoon and going to the UP with Tomas. But on the way to pick him up I am getting HOT DOUGS.

Jordan! You're eating food porn!

I am going for pancakes, based solely on the fact that I have enough cash in my wallet for pancakes.

I am! And it is delicious The soup is really spicy.

You will be starving in 45 minutes.
Nick tends to eat a lot less than I do for lunch. When I brought that same kind of soup yesterday, I also made a side salad with romaine, some chopped red pepper, and a nectarine.

I'm officially in the cornhole tournament. Now I need a partner.

Huzzah.

When I brought that same kind of soup yesterday, I also made a side salad with romaine, some chopped red pepper, and a nectarine.

I would still be starving in 45 min.

Yeah, I eat more at lunch that any other meals of the day. Probably from long days and not getting to dinner until around 8:30 or 9.

Today for lunch:
http://www.leancuisine.com/Products/ProductImage.ashx?ProductID=79&width=230&height=230
http://www.stemilt.com/2006/layout/blueberries.jpg
http://www.justhungry.com/images/scary_strawberry.jpg

The strawberry I brought seriously is a freak strawberry.

http://www.pud.com/uploaded_images/strawberry-758321.jpg

Heeey. Where did my pic of a strawberry go?

Niice.

ooh. A fattie.

So b/c I've worked here for three years, I got a personalized goodie bag yesterday. It included a bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, a kid's toy drum, a broom + dustpan (it would take too long to explain), some Mardi Gras beads, and a couple Zatarain's microwave dinners-in-bags. I think the microwave dinners were supposed to be jokey, b/c I like food & New Orleans & all, but the joke is on them, I am able to put off grocery shopping for two more days.

jeff, i will be your partner to play cornhole!!

my lunch stinks today! I was tricked into an awful salad.

http://www.ejectejecteject.com/archives/Admiral%20Bilbar.jpg

that's so cute that you got a goodie bag!

for lunch i ate a whole wheat roll w/ fake turkey & a stringed-out string cheese and a small cup of soup that had spinach, basil, and lemon in it.

now i am thinking about coffee or tea...

Excellent.

earlier this week i made myself a wrap sandwich with hummus, fresh beets (that i had cooked & chilled the night before), mixed greens, mozzarella, and carrots. i accompanied that with the avocado/mint/pea salad I made & blueberries. It was lovely. Next time on Reflections on Lunches I've Packed Myself . . .

yay!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118299527491351006.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

I am starting to come around on the beet issue.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qJhVvxN_wQE

oh! i made a mojito last night!! it took me two tries to get it, but the second try was excellent. i think the secret is in the muddle-ing & now I would like to find a good muddler. the first try i squeezed lime juice in the glass, added some sugar syrup I had boiled & then added the rum. then i poured mineral water (i didn't have club soda) & threw in a spring of mint. awful!!
the next round i took the mint leaves off the stem, used more than i thought i would need, grabbed two or three lime wedges, and sprinkled maybe a tbsp of brown sugar. then i stabbed & stirred it with tongs (after i finished fishing out the corn-on-the-cob i had boiled). The stabbing! The stirring! THAT is the difference, I think. I then added ice then rum then the mineral water. Perfect-o! I honestly think club soda might work better, but the mineral water was equally refreshing.

jordan, beets are my food porn. i LOVE LOVE LOVE beets. all kinds. fresh beets are amazing if you've only had canned. although canned and fresh are excellent on a burger (a la aussie style). maybe start there & work your way into beets. if you want any tips, i'll talk beets anytime.

pickled?

I can't say I've experienced many pickled beets. I'm really all over the fresh ones.

I had some pickled beets as part of a veggie plate at a restaurant recently and they were pretty good. Also, someone made me an awesome sandwich w/fresh beets, carrots, and other stuff sauteed then put on a brioche with melted cheese. These are my beet experiences.

Those sound like excellent ones. Why are you on the fence about beets? Wait, are you?

I might eat out tonight at a place that describes its food as, "roasty, long-cooked comfort foods." Roasty!

Bye! Have a good weekend, everyone.

I just never ate them as a kid (same with a lot of things) and never cooked with them. Also I think they may have a bad reputation?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/26/Office2.08_02.jpg/350px-Office2.08_02.jpg

Bears ... beets ... Battlestar Gallactica

you're totally right about the bad rep beets get. it took me a while to warm to them but now i am hooked!

you know what's funny? harvey birdman - attorney at law. my bro bought it for leaf as a wedding gift.

sorry i'm all over the board today. i think i have post-lunch ADD. i had it before lunch too. known as pre-lunch ADD.

Are Beets Noise?

xpost S'okay, Kels, I was starting to fear that the whole afternoon would be about beets.

Is midnight ADD post-lunch or pre-lunch?

My only story about beets is that I had a friend who went to see an in-store/signing thing with Moby, and he brought a can of beets with him, and asked him to drop it. And then sign it.

Oh, kids.

that took me an embarrassingly long time to register.

i'm eating chocolate covered cinnamon altoids.

i prefer the ginger ones, but they are hardest to find.

do dudes notice eyeshadow on women?

Not if it's properly applied.

I love beets. I roasted up quite a few this past winter. They don't seem summery to me, but yes, roasing then chilling is a possibility. I have a can of pickled beets at home, which I'm considering putting on a black bean burger.

Wait. What?

Nope!

xpost to eyeshadow

Surely it's really hard NOT to notice it on some women.

I mean, unless you're Bowie in the 70's, isn't the point of eyeshadow to gently accentuate?

Or Grace Jones.

http://www.gordonmunro.com/adm/photo/89_GraceJones2.jpg

Yeah I mean if they're goth (black) or a sorority girl (blue?), then I can't help but notice.

i like it for a splash o' color sometimes. not to the grace jones extreme but what's the point of it looking so natural that no one can tell?

I guess because it can still make your eyelids look better, but still natural, like concealer.

..or some sort of foundation.

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/pew-pew-pew.jpg

Yeah, there are plenty of times you want to go for a slightly more showy look. I like sisut's greenish eyeshadow.

I never noticed it. ;)

I've never been one for showy eyeshadow. This is nothing against sisut or anyone else who goes for big color, but I guess subconsiously I feel like it's too slutty of a look for me. That's right. I'm a prude. I blame it on my upbringing. Also, I blame it on my step-mom. I wasn't wearing any makeup in middle school - well, only minimal makeup. Then she stayed over one night and did my makeup the next morning. She did it up just like hers with lots of deep purple and eyeliner, etc. Then this hottie guy I had never talked to before and totally crushed on say me and said (first thing he ever said to me, maybe only thing), "Wow, Sarah. You sure are weird."

saw me

Maybe now is a good time for me to start breaking out the flashy colors.

You know, live a little.

I have offended all you flashy eyeshadow lovers.

I never understood why eyeshadow and blush and all that clown crap is supposed to equal "Do me." It mostly makes me want to wash her.

And I'm no prude.

Taking sides: Kissing someone wearing lipstick vs. kissing someone wearing ChapStick.

Maybe I'm just stuck in the Victorian era. Proper women only wore a little bit of makeup to look a little healthier, like beet juice on their cheeks, and noticable makeup was associated with prostitution.

Chapstick if it's the Burt's Bees stuff that makes you feel all tingly.

I wasn't allowed to wear make up when i was younger either. i remember when mom FINALLY let me buy mascara. and blush. pale, pale blush. and i got to pick out a pale lipgloss but i was so excited. so excited that i never really wore it. only recently have i started to wear make up with some regularity. i think it's a fine line between polished & overdone, so i try to just aim for polished.

back to beets!

I always ask Leaf to do kiss tests when i get new chapstick. so far the winner is either oyin coffee balm or their honey stick. they're just a bit less waxy than burts.

think burts bees will ever make a line of blush called burts beets?

Does the coffee chapstick contain caffeine?!

It has actual coffee in it, so probably trace amounts?

Yeah, sorry I sort of went off on makeup there. I just really don't like sorority girl types. I really, really do not like them.

sisut is not a sorority girl. I demand an apology or you can expect a glove slap and subsequent duel.

Oh no! I tried to make a disclaimer but failed. I like sisut and her makeup and do not in ANY WAY AT ALL think of her as an annoying sorority girl.

Satisfaction: satisfied.

Obviously it can be done. You can wear un-natural makeup and it be flattering and attractive.

And she is a good example.

now i want to see sisut's eyes!

This is more along the lines of what I'm talking about.

Of course, there's more wrong with that picture than her makeup.

I also hate purposefully orange skin. But that's another topic.

haha Exactly.

I feel like that girl is saying, "Heee-eeeyyy!"

I think you're all talking about two tooootally different kinds of makeupping. One is supposed to "fix flaws/accentuate the positive" and the other (the one I tend to prefer) is to "play dress up."

I just heard that 90's song at lunch that goes something like, "I'll be the rain coming down your fire escape" - but when I type in the lyrics that way to figure out what the band is, I don't get anything. Clearly I am hearing the lyrics wrong. Does anyone remember this catchy alt-rock tune?

(xposts back to me) Like Stacy from Wayne's World right before her bike crashes into a parked car.

I feel bad now about going off like that. Too much drinking for me, not enough sleeping. ;_;

I wish I could have fun playing dress up instead of worrying what other people would think. ;_;

Fastball, stingy!

It's "I'll be the rain falling on your fire escape"

Every girl I have ever dated has been big on playing dress-up.

I hear that! High five!

I was counting backwards myself, Jordan. Odd. But my result was totally, totally the opposite... I honestly can't remember having a girlfriend who wore makeup, like, ever. Maybe to a party once a year on New Years or something.

Maybe there was a little foundation in the medicine cabinet that lasted 20 years.

I am acting like an old lady today, a very opinionated, very sensitive old lady.

In my prime I had like a bajillion different colors of lipstick. My purse is still well stocked, though the colors are less garish. Whether or not this made me more/less attractive to men -- who knows, who cares. I felt good. For all I know people found me repulsive. But I found myself appealing and that matters like 100% more.

People like what they like. Who cares so long as it's not hurting anyone else.

I should have recognized Fastball, seeing as how they played my freshman year last day of classes concert. Along with Vertical Horizon and Naughty By Nature.

I must still be kind of drunk from last night or something. I totally agree with what you're saying, Leche. That's a healthy attitude. I'm just tired.

So on that note, I think I should take a break from ILX from a while. I'm being ridiculous. Hopefully, when I come back, you will all just remember my enthusiasm for cornhole and not my judgmental attitude. ttfn

You're not being ridiculous ENOUGH!

http://img59.echo.cx/img59/4544/c38dq.jpg

jeff, if you see this, gmail just says "sending..." and never actually sends. so my answer is to ask morbs. looks like i'll be broke for a while as my old job basically fucked me over in getting some money to me saying they had my old address on augusta as my home address for a form i needed to fill out. this despite them sending everything else to my current address for the past 18 months. so i probably won't even be able to pay my rent in 10 days let alone have cake for extra curriculars. i have $30 in my pocket and i'm going to go out tonight and try to get as drunk as i can off of it.

i shouldn't have got out of bed today.

I've probably said this before, but I'm not generally a fan of makeup on ladies, in the sense that I don't personally find it that attractive, but some women can definitely rock the look well, and more power to 'em, I s'pose. The end.

xpost Me neither. It's been another day of me being a right proper asshat on ILX.

I used to want to wear makeup. Mostly eye makeup and lipstick--the dramatic stuff. Also foundation or concealer when I had really bad acne in high school.

hi chicago plz change subject line to 'zeitgeistiest summer ever'

Rent: $750
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Bedrooms: 1BR
Map: 730 W Cornelia, 60657
730 WEST CORNELIA
posted 07/09/2007

730 WEST CORNELIA one bedroom $750. Just move in. Don't pay utilities. No security deposit. Available now. Please call 773-929-0430.

Strangely worded ad, no? I called it, and left a message. An Indian or Pakistani guy calls me back, so I may have misheard, but I'm pretty sure he said that the rent is $950. I left him a message asking for clarification. If it was $750 I'd be on that shit, $950, not so much.

the zwitterhaft-iest summer ever

Kevin, are you still in Chicago or no?

yes, i'm here until at least spring.

http://tinyurl.com/2og349

So I am going to be joining this R3st@ur@nt W0rk3rs group, and I had a conference call today in which I learned some of the details of what they are doing, etc. It took me about half the conversation to figure out that when referred to "The enemy" they were talking about management and restaurant owners. Awesome!

after your corn holes, you could go to the pierogi fest: http://www.pierogifest.net/info.swf

I finally finished my Pitchfork Fest wrap-up.

you kept a sandwich that long?

ha
ha

ha.

does anyone have the comcast package deal thing (telephone/internet/cable)?

i talked to the at&t and comcast salespeople today and rather than convincing me to use their services, they just made me want to kill all salespeople becuase they're way too fucking draining to deal with.

ha.

My coworker is entering the cornholing tournament. I bet he'll be the only 300 lbs plus black man there.

I don't know, fat dudes love cornholing!

I'm going to keep reminding you that cornholing means buttfucking until you stop saying it.

Kenan's right. We should just call the game buttfucking. That would be funny.

Miles R.'s Pitchfork wrapup in the Reader is pretty good.

I'm all for sentences like, "I'm up for some buttfucking with all you guys this weekend."

I am against sentences like, "Fat dudes love cornholing."

See, because buttfucking is something lots of people do, gay men, married people, people with jobs and pets and good taste in wine. Cornholing is something Jeb does behind the barn with Sue Ellen, and she only lets him because her mama never told her which hole was the right one.

And when Kenan says "with all you guys" he means "with all you guys".

Leave no butt unfucked, is what I always say.

No srsly, I always say that. You've all heard me say that, right? Many times.

Miles R.'s Pitchfork wrapup in the Reader is pretty good.

Agreed. I think he's a very good writer, although as I say in my own wrap-up, I still can't get over the fact that he's the same punk kid/college drop-out I met in 1998 at Fourth Coast Cafe in Kalamazoo. Also, I obv. disagree with him re Girl Talk, but I've said that already.

Is the wrap up online?

It will be tomorrow if it's not today, under Sharp Darts.

Yeah, probably not online yet. I usually pick up the Reader on Thursday mornings as soon as I get off the el.

This thread title is just really, really gross. And I hope it is not an omen.

You're welcome.

I haven't been able to verify this anywhere, but I've now heard from two independent sources that the Wicker Park six corners area will soon be getting a Marc Jacobs and a Vera Wang Wedding. Can we officially rename it Lincoln Park II yet?

More like Lincoln Park 3 or 4 or 10.

Jeff, you have attained some kind of success, I guess, when people drop in just to say how gross your thread title is. But it's more like the "getting banned from a museum" kind of success.

i.e., not.

Sarah coined the phrase.

Tomato sandwich for breakfast is good.

I also like M1les R@ymer, I like how he alternates between big "state of the industry"-type articles or articles on bigger bands coming to town with profiles of local bands. I wish he would do a little more branching out into local acts that aren't part of the indie rock/punk/hipster scene, but his writing is a lot more readable than most music journalists.

He was at the Sharks show the other night.

Today I am listening to Xiu Xiu; "Fabulous Muscles" in the car and "Knife Play" while working.

He also just left a comment on my blog and may have taken umbrage to me calling him a "drop-out punk," but I'm not sure. I mean, that's what he was ... 10 years ago.

Did you talk to him there, Nick? I forget what people look like the second they walk away.

This morning Kylie Minogue came on my ipod and one of my Stone Fox songs came on right after that. I was thinking we could be friends when I'm a famous pop star.

Why didn't this look catch on?
http://cdn.last.fm/coverart/300x300/2326209.jpg

I forgot I was supposed to be taking a break from ILX. I guess I'm all better already. :-D

I waved to him as we left, he was outside talking on his cellphone.

I need to work today, so I will take an ILX recess today.

I just looked at Miles R.'s Reader blog for the first time today, and it lead me to this page at Consumerist, which I had also never seen before. And that allowed me to tell the saga of my terrible laptop repair experience that lasted from 1/8/07 to 4/8/07.

Right now the most dilettantish act in the indie world is probably Girl Talk, aka producer and DJ Gregg Gillis, and unfortunately he's riding a big thumbs-up from Pitchfork. Gillis is the current champion of the mash-up, and his admixtures of hip-hop and rock have earned him a sweatily enthusiastic following -- at his side-stage set, people climbed trees and flooded the stage and the VIP area to get closer to the action. Ideally mash-ups capitalize on the strengths of their source material, complementing rap's rhythmic play with rock's dynamics and melody, but Gillis's blends don't do any favors to either genre -- if anything they're less than the sums of their parts, planted squarely in the most mediocre common ground. And because he hardly ever challenges his audience by straying from instantly recognizable hits -- Elton John's "Tiny Dancer," Tag Team's "Whoomp! (There It Is)" -- he ends up sounding like a wedding DJ hopped up on editing software. Populism is one thing; what he does is more like pandering.

So his samples aren't obscures enough? It's more than populism, it is populistic nostalgia. I don't want any challenges in my nostalgia, I want jock jams and number 1 hits. But I only want the most rockingest 15 seconds of every song, no filler.

I like me some Girl Talk. It's great for people who appreciate the big hits but don't want to listen to each song in its full 4-5 minute repetitive glory.

And I like that he samples things like the Pixies, because it is just popular enough that most folks our age know it but obscure enough for them to feel self-congratulatory in the knowing (ie: particularly for folks who don't follow indie music as closely as we do).

The GT songs would lose that special something if the samples they were built upon were not all at least somewhat familiar gems.

I'm going to make a list of my top 10 Night Ripper moments.

You guys aren't really contradicting his point, you're just looking for different things than Raymer in Girl Talk's music. Raymer wants mash-ups to combine multiple songs to create something new and better; you guys seem to be saying that the purpose of Girl Talk is to be a condensed greatest hits, playing just the best parts of different songs.

And I think I can agree with Raymer on that; I feel like Girl Talk is really fun to listen to and caters to a certain desire among music lovers and/or people with short attention spans, but I'm not sure he's creating "great music" or art or whatever. Which isn't necessarily a criticism.

He gives me a clear idea of what Girl Talk is about. Specific songs aside, though, it sounds a lot like a description I read of DJ AM recently (in the NY Times or Us, not sure which).

a condensed greatest hits, playing just the best parts of different songs.
Like the commercial for FREEDOM ROCK?

In a white room with black curtains, come on people now, smile on your brother, don't you want somebody to love, sunshine go all away today don't feel much like dancin' etc etc

I think it is great music that often exceeds the quality source material. Juicy on Ready to Die fucking sucks, but beats on the whole album bore me to death. Every time I hear it now, I want to hear Tiny Dancer. Otherwise it just sounds empty.

quality of the source material.

(note: i have never heard Girl Talk)

Jumanji OTM

In a white room with black curtains, come on people now, smile on your brother, don't you want somebody to love, sunshine go all away today don't feel much like dancin' etc etc

haha!

There'll always be a debate between those who enjoy music further when it has a context (either personal association or knowing the "story" behind the record) and those who find the music itself obscured by personal association and context.

Which is to say some folks like most to know what they're listening to and some folks like most to have no idea what they're listening to.

we may never pass this way again

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jKDk-mg1J9Q

all the original artists! i screwed up the order of the songs, but you get the point.

OMG, I don't think I'd ever seen this video before, it's sort of incredible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bev53HnN4Mk

(inspired by listening to a brass band cover on the way to work)

I remember being at a party in the olden dot-com days where "The Rockafeller Skank" played, sometime before it was a hit. The 30 or so people at the party all started dancing like crazy. Afterwards, Geoff and I were like, "What the fuck was that?"

Later that night I had to google (though Google wasn't around yet) "funk soul brother" and there were only a few hundred matches, but I found out what it was.

For me, knowing more about Fatboy Slim and seeing his photo on the cover of Spin and seeing it in Can't Hardly Wait diminishes the song more than adding to it.

I want to be out dancing and get blown away by "The Rockafeller Skank" or "Umbabaraumba".

I need to go spend some time on youtube apparently.

Like the commercial for FREEDOM ROCK?
Amanda, YOU ARE ON TO SOMETHING! Someone should totally record bits of those infomercials and create a myspace music page for them.

I want to be out dancing and get blown away by "The Rockafeller Skank" or "Umbabaraumba".
Yeah. Sometimes I wish I didn't try to find/hear music so much because I might be dimming that wonderful element of surprise in the real world.

I don't know if I've heard Girl Talk or not. So, you know, big impression. Sounds like mashups, innit?

Who knows, I might find it thrilling. I generally trust Jeff on music matters. Then again, more on the William Basinski tip than the happy happy dance tip. I think because I hate fun.

Raymer wants mash-ups to combine multiple songs to create something new and better; you guys seem to be saying that the purpose of Girl Talk is to be a condensed greatest hits, playing just the best parts of different songs.

OK, let me say, then, that I think that Girl Talk DOES create something new and better simply by recontextualizing songs. The main accomplishment of Night Ripper is that it allows us to experience the music he samples in a different way from how it was originally intended, and this leads to an interesting relationship with the whole mix: 1) the strangeness of anticipating a part of a song that isn't actually part of the song, and 2) the way the samples coalesce in one's head in a way that may not actually be as smooth on record.

I think it's key that he uses super-popular songs because what he's doing is fucking with our pre-existing relationships with such songs. For instance, the other day when Kr and I were at Kopi, "Tiny Dancer" came on. A couple years ago, I might have hummed along, remembering the bus scene in Almost Famous. This time, both of us looked at each other and started going "It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazine."

I think it is great music that often exceeds the quality source material. Juicy on Ready to Die fucking sucks, but beats on the whole album bore me to death. Every time I hear it now, I want to hear Tiny Dancer. Otherwise it just sounds empty.

Haha, I hadn't even read this before I posted. Totally OTM.

Jazzbos: Yesterday's New Quintet

I'm just listening to it for the first time now. I like the way people in the office react. Funky groove = ok by them. Piano and vibes after dark = smooooth. OMG SCREAMING FREE JAZZ CHAOS = "What the hell are you listening to?"

Heh, that sounds exactly like the way that The Grey Album has hurt The White Album for me. I keep hearing Jay-Z when I hear those Beatles songs, especially because I'm nuts about the first few songs on The Grey Album.

The best songs on The Grey Album are the ones that use unrecognizable samples, IMO. "Allow me to reintroduce myself, my names HOV...!" So so great. Totally distracting when you have to be like, "Oh, that's 'Blackbird'".

Night Ripper is better composed than your typical mashup, which was usually just two songs playing over each other with the beats matching. Sometimes he is using 3 or 4 songs, in like a 5 second span, only to change it to another couple of songs a few seconds later. He's very good at micromanaging music.

Stroke of Genius comes to mind as your typical mashup. There may have been better one's since then, but I haven't heard them.

I forgot about the Grey album!

I think some of the Hood Internet stuff is great, although a lot just as easily falls flat.

Some of my favorites:

Rihanna vs. M83, "Cyborg Umbrella"
Lloyd vs. Feist, "My Moon My Shawty"
Omarion vs. Mylo, "Drop the Icebox Pressure"
T.I. vs. Fujiya & Miyagi, "What You Know About Transparent Things"
Timbaland vs. Hot Chip, "Give It to My Boy From School"
R. Kelly vs. Broken Social Scene, "I'm a Flirt (Shoreline)"
Dizzee Rascal vs. Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Wanna Fix Up"

Cool band and bros Al3ks & the Drumm3r featured in the Chi Trib today

YNQ is all Madlib, rite?

Carrots ... am I right?

When my friend Chris and I used to do mash-ups back in 1997-98, I always went with identifiable samples -- they weren't all super-popular, but you could pinpoint them as samples: they were discrete 5-second portions of a song dropped in and looped. I wanted to see how different songs played off each other, like I took the entire first verse from Lou Reed's "A Perfect Day" and mixed it with the bass line from Brainiac's "Kiss Me, You Jacked-Up Jerk," and some weird noises from, like, a Weather Report song.

Whereas Chris was way more into chopping up samples into unrecognizable pieces and then playing them backwards or whatever, so there was no way to tell where it came from and it might as well have been his own noise-composition.

Carrots, agreed.

I'm gonna be round my vegetables
I'm gonna chow down my vegetables
I love you most of all
My favorite vege-table

If you brought a big brown bag of them home
I'd jump up and down and hope you'd toss me a carrot

I'm gonna keep well my vegetables
Cart off and sell my vegetables
I love you most of all
My favorite vege-table
Oh oh taba vega vegel

I tried to kick the ball but my tenny flew right off
I'm red as a beet 'cause I'm so embarassed

Oh oh dum do dum de dooby do
Oh oh dum do dum de dooby do
Oh oh dum do dum de dooby do
oh yeah
Oh badumday oh dum do dum de dooby do
Oh badumday oh dum do dum de dooby do

Chomp chomp chomp chomp do-do-do do-do-do
Bop bop bop bop do-do-do do-do-do

I know that you'll feel better
When you send us in
Your letter an'
Tell us the name of your
Your favorite vege-table

I know that you'll feel better
When you send us in
Your letter an'
Tell us the name of your
Your favorite vege-table

Whew, that was a lot of carrots ... I hope my skin doesn't turn ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who let the little kid in?

Carrots just ... bring out the kid in me!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;)

One thing I've never understood: so the jingle goes, "The taste of Tony's Frosted Flakes, it brings out the tiger in you." And then Tony points to the camera and says, "AND YOU." Why??? What was the jingle's "you" referring to, if not the viewing audience? I mean, it'd be one thing if Tony just wanted to emphasize it, like in a "you means YOU" sort of way, but he makes it sound like the jingle's "you" is a different "you" than his "you." It occurred to me for a second that maybe the jingle's "you" meant Tony, but that's impossible, because if that were the case, it'd say, "The taste of *your* Frosted Flakes brings out the tiger in you." Argh.

http://www.fadetoblack.com/combingo.jpg

shit

i meant
http://www.fadetoblack.com/combingo.jpg

Hmm that is complicated. I was going to posit that perhaps the Tony of Tony's Frosted Flakes is a different Tony, and so that way the "you" in the jingle would make sense in reference to Tony the tiger. However, Tony is already a tiger, so why would he need to eat a cereal to bring out a tiger in him?

That's like a zen koan. I will be chewing on that until lunch, I think.

he's just a cartoon tiger. he wants to be a real one.

Then you will be chewing on lunch.

xactly

I think clearly the "you" in the jingle is the general you, referring to the whole audience, while Tony's "you" is a specific you, meant to highlight the individual.

But the general you wou include the specific you, wouldn't it?

Well, yes, there is some redundancy involved, but I think in marketing you can't be too overinclusive.

Yeah, that's where I get tripped up.

Maybe the general "you" is more like a rhetorical usage, something like "brings out one's tiger," and Tony's you is like "we're not just saying this rhetorically, we're also indicating that YOUR VERY OWN TIGER is gonna be brought out."

I think they probably just thought the idea of a cartoon tiger pointing OUT of the TV was really cool.

Frosted Flakes bring out one's tiger and we're not just saying this rhetorically, we're also indicating that YOUR VERY OWN TIGER is gonna be brought out.

AND YOU

Who me?
Yes YOU!
Couldn't be!

Old-school Tony was a classy tiger:

http://fafnir.phyast.pitt.edu/tony/figs/1952.jpeg

Let's deconstruct the bandanna now.

I deconstructed a banana this morning.

By which I mean to say I ate one.

Or neckerchief or whatever it is.

New-school Tony looks like a Scoutmaster with it:

http://www.gr8pr.net/images/frosties-tiger2.gif

Reminds me of the Halloween story about the woman who always wore the scarf and then her husband untied it and her head fell off.

I don't want to bring out my tiger. I don't trust my tiger. I think it would kill a zebra.

It kind of looks like a bib.

The design on the original scarf was too french.

Hep Tony is wearing his kerchief (because he's so hunnnngry) like an ascot (because he's so swank).

Maybe the general "you" is more like a rhetorical usage, something like "brings out one's tiger," and Tony's you is like "we're not just saying this rhetorically, we're also indicating that YOUR VERY OWN TIGER is gonna be brought out."

Exactly, I'd say.

Were kerchiefs a beatnik look? Is that what Tony was going for?

That sounds like some Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark shit, Nick.

I love how you think about jingles, J. I never paid much mind to it. My simple answer though is that the "tiger in you" is a collective you - you of the people - and the "and you" is tony singling out YOU the kid planted in front of the tv. Just so you'd know that everyone else is bringing out their tiger too and it's cool & stuff.

just scrolled back & realize that nick already said this. so hey, i agree with nick!

http://www.dissonskating.com/our_events/images/Rudy%20Galindo.jpg

New mascot for Tony the Tiger.

Whoa, check out his package.

Do you mind if I share a few images I found while trying to find a good ascot?

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41535000/jpg/_41535960_horseheads_getty416.jpg

http://www.ireneeonline.com/images/men/men-3suitsadjline.jpg

You know what they say, you can't spell "mascot" without "ascot."

HA!

is anyone else going to a harry potter party tonight?

else?

I know this is really pretentious of me, especially since I have not read one word of the Harry Potter books, but I have trouble not making fun of adults who are excited about Harry Potter.

in my head at least

I just want to hear the spoilers asap.

xpost Nick otm. Srsly. "Oooh... but the books get progressively darker and edgier!" Well, congrats on graduating from books for 12 year olds to books for 16 year olds.

I am excited! I am also going to a party, with my friend who is more of a harry potter geek. When in the history of things has there been parties surrounding the release of a book? I feel like I'm John circa K-College when the Star Wars trilogy was re-released.

I want NO SPOILERS.

I'm going to the I'm going to the Printers' Ball.

Harry Potter looks like Albini in the new movie poster.

I also make fun of Harry Potter fans in my head, which is to say everyone. Although I do think it has been good for bookselling in general.

I feel guilty about my mocking feelings towards adult Harry Potter fans, because some of them are people I like (eg Kelsey). And I have no problem with reading stuff just for entertainment. It's just a kneejerk reaction, emphasis on "jerk."

Actually, I have trouble with adults who read fantasy at all. I don't know why, either, because I read science fiction. Just replace magical beings with speculative technology that could change and even improve the quality of life on this planet... oh wait. I think I just answered my own question.

:P

xxpost Yes Potter fans now get to see themselves as an oppressed minority because meanies like us are keeping them from having all the self-esteem they deserve. They gotta stick together, you know.

Nick, don't feel guilty. Embrace your inner judgmental asshole.

You should clarify that I myself was not excited about the Star Wars trilogy being re-released but was baffled and bemused by the excitement of others.

My (now-ex-) co-worker Laura has been going on about Harry Potter for the past few weeks. I don't have a problem with them, I'm sure they're good books, etc., I just can't really bring myself to make them a priority in my life.

Also Kelsey, speaking of college, you should do a Google search on "Bl@ze L@mper" sometime. Apparently she's exhibiting art in all these NYC galleries these days.

I'm excited that they took large steps to ensure the recycled/non-ancient growth content of this next book. It sends a nice message. I think the HP books are just really fun & great. I also saw the movie last night & I am extra PUMPED today.

Actually the one appeal of HP that I can get behind is the shared cultural thing.

I'm going to a cupcake party.

Actually the one appeal of HP that I can get behind is the shared cultural thing.

Yes, that's the only reason I have actually considered reading them.

I am above it all. ABOVE IT, DO YOU HEAR?!

Who knew Blaze was really into trees & stuff?

Is the cupcake party Jody's?

Yes!

Just Blaze L@mper

Are you entering the competition, John??

Me and Kenan agree on SF vs. Fantasy. I just can't make it through a book with swords, wizards, goblins, orcs, magic, etc.

I'd make an exception for The Shadow of the Torturer and The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe. They ain't half bad.

Me and my 14 year old self agree: Lord of the Rings kicks ass.

Also StarCraft > WarCraft.

Are you entering the competition, John??

I'm helping Kr with her entry, the details of which I'm not supposed to reveal in case it all goes kablooey.

I feel the same way about sci-fi vs. fantasy, and even with sci-fi, I don't really like stuff that's set too far ahead in the future, where I have to buy that in the 23rd century, people are going to look like Scott Bakula in spandex. I prefer narratives that are set in pretty much the same world we live in but with a couple of interesting changes, like "what if this technology existed?" or whatever.

My 14-year-old self was into Robert Ludlum espionage thrillers (the Bourne Identity, etc.) and comedy-caper suspense mysteries like Fletch and The Hot Rock.

If it didn't have a good car chase or some double-crosses, wasn't my bag.

The part of me that, for a minute, follows Kenan's advice and embraces my inner judgemental asshole finds it funny to think there's a gulf of difference between Xena and Battlestar Galactica, since almost all the SF and fantasy I've seen both rely on familiar archetypes and very old-school gender roles, etc. But, hey, I liked the Lord of The Rings movies...

I remember reading The Mezzanine and Shampoo Planet during the summer of 1993, when I was 14.

I was a Xena fan back in the day, and now I like Battlestar.

I got a ticket for August: Osage County @Steppenwolf on the 31st. Which I guess means we'd FAP on the 30th, as play isn't over til 11... (well, I imagine Jesse might still be up & out)

I hear you liked bigtime, Eazy?

BEST AMERICAN PLAY OF THE PAST 20 YEARS

(Without the clock of the judgemental asshole, I don't really judge other folks for liking those shows.)

clock/cloak

I remember the episode where Xena pretty much hooked up with Gabrielle (I think maybe they washed each other in a beautiful pond or something??) and I got annoyed with the show for moving beyond the mere implication of a relationship which is part of what made it entertaining.

That's when I stopped watching.

Also, I haven't completely forgiven Battlestar for the Boxing episode.

That episode was bullshit.

Yup.

How easy is to get rush tickets for August: Osage County? Do you just call up Steppenwolf at 11 AM and say, "Yo, hook me up"?

Also, EZ, do you still recommend Beauty Queen? If I only see two plays this summer, I'm not sure I want both of them to be about dysfunctional families.

Boxing episode was good! Not the boxing, but the flashbacks were actually pretty worthwhile.

As of this week, it looks like it isn't selling out. You should be able to get tickets an hour in advance. What they do at Steppenwolf is put you in a line, and then right before the play starts they let you go in and pick any open seat. (They do this because so many of their tickets go to subscribers, who end up not showing up.)

If you can do so, definitely try to watch this show from the balcony.

I'm guessing in the next few weeks the New York Times and/or The New Yorker will pick up on this show, and then it will start selling out.

xpost - BQ is more of a thriller and A:OC is more of a family drama. They're both really good shows. A:OC is more of a major event, but BQ is in a theater with about 30 seats with a great cast doing this really intense (both instensely funny and intensely harsh) play.

I think my mom has a Steppenwolf subscription. I should ask her if she's going.

For both of these shows, you can get half-price tickets through Hottix.

I think I'm about to admit netflix defeat on Planet Earth.

Punny headlines:

· Adam Sandler Tops Himself with Chuck & Larry, Alas [palmbeachpost.com]
· 'Chuck and Larry' gay, not funny [StarTribune.com]
· 'Chuck & Larry' will lead you straight to exit [ABQTrib.com]
· Tie the knot? Stupid, offensive 'Chuck and Larry' is more like a noose [sltrib.com]
· I Now Pronounce You Not at All Funny [thestranger.com]
· Stereotypical and stupid, as usual [freep.com]
· I now pronounce this movie full of wasted potential [theglobeandmail.com]
· But who will get to ride on top of the fire truck? truck? [SF Chronicle]

That preview made me die a little inside.

Yeah, Leaf & I saw the preview in the theatres & looked at each other with horror.

2.5 hours (leaving a little early for a gig today)

I have 2 hours 19 minutes left. I will keep you updated.

I ate the cutest sushi today.

haha

it was! i got to eat the ones with the little belts that hold things on top. except my 'things on top' were vegetables which never happens! i ordered the vegetarian sushi lunch & it was amazing!

I thought you ate really adorable squids or something.

Well... that was certainly a two hour lunch hour. I'm pretty happy about that.

I went to Tokyo Lunchbox and got a tofu teriyaki bowl, but the guy behind the counter didn't understand that I wanted the red chili paste, and I didn't understand that what he was pawning off on me instead was spicy mayo. :/

I ordered exactly what I said I was going to on the FUCKING LUNCH thread.

Oh! I ate here: http://www.floatingworldcafe.com/

You're not working in dwntwn St. Paul anymore?

no! I'm at the U of MN on the west bank . . . I think I got this job shortly after your visit b/c it's been about a year now, actually.

I just did my first personal training session. The trainer is named Mike and he is an ex-Marine. I had to cut our session short by about 5 minutes because I was just about to puke--it was fucking BRUTAL. I spent some time in the bathroom, and when I was sure I wouldn't vomit I went and lay down on a mat for 15 minutes, sipping on juice.

While that sucked BAD, I'm excited because this is exactly the sort of discipline I've been looking for!

It all sounds very gay.

One woman I work with always says, "you're not really doing ab work unless you puke," something she learned form a gym where you got a free t-shirt if you vomited.

http://www.bluewonder.ch/upload/DSCN2365.JPG

I was really reluctant about having a male trainer, but I think now that it is totally what I need for best results; I have a thing about wanting to please men, and his dominant but supportive encouragement really hit my target.

I think we already had a thread on that.

xpost, the vomit I mean

I had a good gym week, T/W/Thu.

Heh, Eminem as Jesse's trainer would make a good song and music video.

He had me do this excercise where you have a step platform in front of you, and you put your right hand up, left hand up, right hand down, left hand down, but then you put your left hand up, right hand up, etc. It was not so much tough physically as mentally. He says that encourages an awareness of the body, etc.

He told me that Derrick Brees's trainer has him squat while flipping playing cards for him to catch alternating right and left hands, while asking him trivia questions.

My gym nightmare is when my little anti-social, headphone-protected bubble gets broken by someone inevitably wanting to strike up a conversation, or needs a spot, etc. Yesterday this happened and I was forcibly introduced to Ryn Tyger, Personal Image Consultant. Yes he drives an H1 Hummer, yes he has a barbwire tattoo, and yes he was wearing sunglasses...indoors...at the gym. It was like a caricature of a shitty dude -- unbelievable.

Is that his real name?

He had me do this excercise where you have a step platform in front of you, and you put your right hand up, left hand up, right hand down, left hand down, but then you put your left hand up, right hand up, etc.

You know, I want to try that “less is more” kind of acting. Where you just -- when you’re talking to someone you close your eyes. And then you look at them when you’re not talking to the person. I mean you open your eyes when you’re looking away but then when you talk to the person you go like that. And you open your eyes and then you look back at the person, but you never open your eyes when you’re talking to the person.

http://mikemariano.com/materials/sheilaalbertson.jpg

I doubt it, but it's how he breathlessly introduced himself in all one word (Ryn-Tyger-Personal-Image-Consultant), and that's what it said on the business card I didn't ask for. I'm guessing Ryan doesn't project that unique, douchebag sort of image enough for him. Besides, replacing valid vowels with "y"s is cool now -- you know, like Wyld Stallyns. Either way, as fascinated as I was by him, I wasn't eager to get to know him.

I don't know if I would want my "image" consulted by Ryn.

Although, from a guy like him I'd probably need to get implants & wear heels while I toned AND tanned.

Oh no, the new gym by my office "Flirty Girl Fitness" is for that.

The owner of which called me a "gayboy" as I rode by on my bike.

Carrying heavy trays of drinks is gonna be real fun tonight.

The owner of which called me a "gayboy" as I rode by on my bike.

did you have a dick in your mouth at the time?

Actually, I was giving "a ride on my handlebars" if youknowwhatImean.

Those people who say you should puke at the gym are probably the same people who triumphantly shit themselves at the end of a marathon.

I can't make any damn sense of what jaymc said, or why. Eye closing? Acting? Huh?

do people shit themselves at the end of a marathon?

I have not heard that one. That's... probably a sign something is wrong.

I'm going to a tennis "meetup" on Sunday. I hope it's not a trap.

John was quoting Waiting for Guffman. Thus the pic.

Well, I only know that colloquially. I worked with a girl who ran marathons regularly -- she was sort of an amateur competitive runner -- and she said that people often shit themselves from the strain and then keep running to the finish line with crap running down their legs and whatnot. She had seen it many times. Lord knows I've never run a marathon, but I take her word for it. YUCK.

I think long runs have that effect on runners to begin with. Or some runners, anyway

Not this one! I don't do "long runs"

marathons are gay

John was quoting Waiting for Guffman. Thus the pic.

ah ha. I have all but forgotten everything about that movie. Except that the theater director is gay LOL

Gayer than running a marathon with crap running down your leg.

Running while running.

Sarah's right. Jesse's "right hand up, left hand down" post reminded me of Sheila Albertson's reflections on acting.

which still cracks me up, by the way!

john, do you remember kat1e v0gel?

Yeah, sure, she was the only member of our class who was younger than me, which sort of unnerved me.

(What about her?)

She was my waitress last Saturday & we're going to hang out soon!

When eating gummy bears, do you ever take one and bite a part of it off, and take another one and bite the opposite part of it off, then stick them together to create a cruel Frankenstein gummy creature? Cause that's what I'm doing. This one has a white body and a red head, making him look almost Christmas-y.

xpost Oh! Weird!

Kenan, what do you do with the resulting paste?

A lot of runners run with TP to help clean up if they are suddenly afflicted with the runner's runs.

runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons. leaf's training for his 4th one right now.

runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.
runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.runners runs, bleeding nipples, blisters...i don't know why people run marathons.

In the context of running marathons, this is grossing me out
Kenan, what do you do with the resulting paste?

-- jaymc, Friday, July 20, 2007 8:50 PM (14 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

I would love to run a marathon.

you should totally do it!! leaf loves it but says that everytime he runs it he swears he will never do another one & then he gets "the bug." I'm more into the idea of triathlons.

I want a summer version of the winter triathlon, i.e. running + shooting guns.

10 min

Tom Green is...The Marathoner

I want a triathalon of pool, bowling, and darts.

I want a summer version of the winter triathlon, i.e. running + shooting guns.

that's pretty much a typical weekend night on the west side, isn't it?
eazy, when i have some $$$ we should totally organize some bar room olympics (pool, darts, pop-a-shot, air hockey were what we played at my old local in massachusetts).

My explanation of that right-hand-up thing was wrong. I would be surprised if anyone cared, but what I meant was that you put yourself in a plank position, like position in which you would start doing pushups, then, with the platform between your hands, you put your right hand onto the platform, then your left, put your right down to the floor, then your left, BUT THEN, put your left up.

Man, I am boring myself and I would erase this post, but I've done so much typing to say nothing that I would rather just share the inanity.

http://65.110.75.8/_media/imgs/articles/a84_a8.jpg

That pattern (RLRLLRLRR) makes a decent drum rudiment

It's hard for my little brain. I'm sitting here trying to do it with my desk and laptop and it's twisting my melon.

Borders on State St. was a mess last night at 11 PM. When Wicked lets out there is always a big crowd, but last night the Harry Potter crowd combined with them to make the sidewalk completely impassable. They were open till 1 AM.

BEST AMERICAN PLAY OF THE PAST 20 YEARS

-- Eazy, Friday, July 20, 2007 5:55 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

including Angels in America, eh?
I got a seat in 2nd row.

I would like to see A in A on stage. Because the TV version sucked so bad, I'd like to give it a chance to redeem itself.

I saw it onstage (the one time I've been to London) and thought a lot of it was glib -- kind of a gay Northern Exposure in its combination of zingers and searching for spiritual profundity. (I mean, still, I liked Northern Exposure.) The Roy Cohn scenes are some of the best in the play, though the language and style is cribbed from Mamet. I don't think it will age as well as the best plays of the 1980s -- Top Girls, Glengarry -- or the best British plays of the 1990s, like Closer and The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

That said, after seeing A:OC, it struck me that Angels was the last major successful American play of this scale, and that was 18 years ago.

Hey, a non-theater thing: Time Out has a good feature this week about Chicago dive bars, and a substantial article about Malort.

I read the Dive Bar article. Not bad. No surprises Old Timers was listed, but I haven't heard of a lot of them.

http://www.timeout.com/chicago/Details.do?page=1&xyurl=xyl://TOCWebArticles1/125/features/bitter_brew.xml

She don't lie
She don't lie
She don't lie
Malort

“Most first-time drinkers of Jeppson’s Malört reject our liquor,” the label reads. “Its strong, sharp taste is not for everyone. Our liquor is rugged and unrelenting (even brutal) to the palate. During almost 60 years of American distribution, we found only 1 out of 49 men will drink Jeppson’s Malört…It is not possible to forget our two-fisted liquor…the first shot is hard to swallow! PERSERVERE (sic). Make it past two ‘shock-glasses’ and with the third you could be ours…forever.”

I just spent the last 2 hours redoing my myspace page. Exciting Saturday night.

http://www.myspace.com/excessivereason

Oh, oh, and another article in the current Time Out has the lady bartender from the Old Town Ale House (Jesse & Courtney & I have met her) buying sex toys and discussing them.

I had a fantastic bottle of vino tonight, one I had kept stored away for a year or two: 2004 Migration, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley. Worth it.

the cheap beer article (if you can call it that?) in time out was pretty funny. especially the "type of hangover" part about old milwaukee.

Oh come on, tamale guys go to real dive bars. The writers must not've ever been to Rich's First One Today.

SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT
Jeff, since you listed your myspace, I will use this as a shameless opportunity to welcome (read: ask politely) any and all of you to befriend the WORK series. I've never really been that "into" myspace before, but if everyone else is doing it...

We need more friends. I am in charge of myspace administration and, well, it's kinda slow. I'm sure the page needs help, but it's coming along.
The address is:
/workseries

ALREADY MY FRIEND

As of 10 minutes ago.

Yaaaay. Today we are working on poster design (eek) and DVD extras(whee!). I am also baking some soda bread.

The Roy Cohn scenes are some of the best in the play, though the language and style is cribbed from Mamet.

omg, I SO don't agree. (esp since Mamet became a Zionist nut, he's now a kind of anti-Kushner)

but anyway.

I mean cribbed from Mamet in the craft sense of Kushner taking his cadences -- the incomplete sentences, the thoughts-moving-faster-than-words, words and rhythms as indications of power and losing power -- more than how Mamet and Kushner would each portray a character like Cohn.

As far as I've seen, Mamet's anti-Kushner stance (he refers to Angels in Bambi vs. Godzilla) stems from his belief in well-made plays and the amorality of good storytelling.

Hey, in case you feel like going out or taking a study break or cooling off, I'm playing tonight at MoJoe's on Belmont (a few doors west of California). Two others on the bill starting at 7 -- not sure when I'll be playing in the lineup. Bring something to read or a laptop or something.

I have had a Migration one time, but it was years ago and I don't remember the vintage. Would you care to share a few impressions?

I had a bottle of Guenoc Petit(e?) Sirah that kind of let me down. It used to be one of my favorite wines because the best way to describe it was "inky," but the newest-released vintage is not as big, fruity, decadent, jammy--sort of lean and tight. :|

The video on Jeff's myspace page is worth watching.

So is the one on mine.

A friend gave me 11 V|c0d@n for free! Yay.

Thank you for being my "friends".
Hey I am ready for some karaoke business.

Is that Sam Beam eating ice cream?

Hey. Ever eat bleu cheese that went bad? It smells/tastes like pure ammonia. It fills the nasal passages.

Buhhh... 9 hour trip back today. Fortunately, I have a sack o' pasties.

Alright... does anyone know anything about hi-speed internet connections and what might cause them to go to shit every night?

We have C0mcas1 hi-speed internet and for over a year its worked perfectly - no interruptions, no slow signals. Last Tuesday it suddenly slowed to a complete crawl, ping times upwards of 1450 milliseconds (usually in the 30-40 millisecond range when working well). Called C0mcas1 - no help. Finally set up for a technician to come out Saturday. Thursday night goes back to normal, works great. I consistently check it for the next 24 hours and still works great. Not wanting the $75 charge for them to come out and tell me nothings wrong, I cancel the service call. Works great all weekend. All of a sudden, Sunday night, back to being incredibly, incredibly slow. Any idea of why this is happening? Is someone stealing our wireless signal? Its password protected, but I can't figure out why else this is always so bad at night. Any thoughts?

I can't help you, jon. Sorry!

I ate a ton of ice cream this weekend.
Also, I bought Handmaid's Tale.

Hi Sarah.

I watched lots of movies this weekend - the most enjoyable being Citizen Kane and the new Harry Potter at the IMAX.

I went to Milwaukee, then yesterday I read a lot and watched all this Simpsons.

Now two piano players have canceled on me for a gig and I'm down to trying to track down a high school friend through myspace/facebook. :(

Hi Nick. I'm working on lyrics.

Sorry, Jordan. :-(

We went to a fun party on Friday, then we were really lazy the rest of the weekend. Watched a lot of "The Larry Sanders Show," that kicks ass. Jeffrey Tambor is so good in it. Wrote most of a new song in practice yesterday, which is a relief since we have been having problems writing new stuff lately and I was stressing out about it.

People who cancel gigs should be whipped with wet noodles.

I watched several episodes of a Man Vs. Wild marathon yesterday. This crazy ex-special-forces guy gets air dropped into hostile environments (jungles, glaciers, volcanoes, etc) and has to make his way back to civilization using only his wits, a knife, and sometimes a bit of flint, but not always. A camera crew follows, but near as I can tell, is not allowed to interfere or help. I can't say why I'm so addicted to it.

I finally played an epic (for me) song last night that ive been working on for a while.

Yay! Do you give any Chicago-specific shoutouts in this one?

So I'll be in Chicago this weekend. It'd be cool to meet a few of you.

...but it's going to suck to meet some of you.

Alfred, if you like loud, semicompetent rock music, me + Sarah's band is playing Friday night.

It's kind of the centerpiece of the chicago songs, about the end of bigsby & caruthers and ubis orbis (mens clothier and old wicker pk coffeehouse) and ending in 2007 with the narrator buying a house in uptown.

;_;

You should do an EP of Chicago songs, it could have Red Line Waltz on it too (which I like a lot).

"The End of Bigsby & Caruthers" would be the title.

Sarah, once you have some lyrics don't forget to send them to me so I can come up with something for the bridge.

Whenever you mention Bigsby & Caruthers, I'm always reminded of now-defunct Chicago bookseller Kroch's & Brentano's.

The musicians who canceled on me have good reasons, it just sucks anyway.

I'm kind of obsessed with Man vs. Wild right now.

It's great, isn't it?!

Yeah. I'm fascinated by what the cameraman's situation is, esp. when he's scrambling down waterfalls or across gulches. Is there just one? Does he have a bunch of gear & food? Do they helicopter him out at night? Maybe he's more of a badass than Bear is.

Would people be interested in hanging out with Alfred on Sunday? There's a party I might go to on Saturday, and I have band practice on Monday. Or does another day work better?

Like maybe a late afternoon thing (as he has just suggested to me over e-mail)?

Sounds theoretically good to me.

fri night - hideout show
sat - cornhole contest
sun - afternoon beer

nice

Waitwaitwait can I see the winning cornhole?

I forgot about cornhole contest! Where is that happening?

Here tis, John.

Oh wow, Soldier Field, haha.

The field will be sown with corn holes on that day.

I don't know what I'm doing but I'd like to hang out with peoples this weekend.

Q: Do you know if spectators are allowed to attend? Is there a fee?

A: Spectators are allowed and encouraged to attend. There is not a fee but a $3 donation toward our sponsoring charity Fathers Helping Fathers is appreciated.

Dan, you could also go to the tail end of WickerParksummerfest Saturday to watch the Therma1s with us.

I don't think that a charity called "Fathers Helping Fathers" is doing much to change my associations with the word "cornhole."

ha!

i just texted someone about breakfast and mistyped breakfart instead

Use that in a sentence.

I forgot about Wicker Park Fest, too. Man, this weekend will be busy. Maybe we could have beers on Sunday somewhere Wicker Park-ish in case people want to see some bands before or after. I know Kr was excited about Dirty Dozen Brass Band on Sunday night.

I am moving Julia this weekend.

I mean, her and all of her stuff, to a new place. Not just, like, emotionally.

Use that in a sentence.

i refuse

Breakfart: when you have leftover Indian food for breakfast.

I was mostly interested in what Jordan's message said.

For my future reference:

Wire Adventures in Modern Music Festival

9.26
White Magic
Badawi
Holy Fuck
Burning Star Core with Graveyards, Zac Davis

9.27
Pere Ubu
Ulrich Schnauss
Hair Police
Glen Jones & Jack Rose

9.28
Qui
Excepter
Thomas Ankersmit Leslie Keffer

9.29
Deerhunter
Daniel Carter with Micheal Reed
No Age
Sin Ropas with the films of Brent Green

9.30
Boris
Michio Kurihara
Damon & Naomi
People

9.27
Pere Ubu
Ulrich Schnauss
Hair Police

Is this all on the same bill? Because that's a weird bill.

I was mostly interested in what Jordan's message said.

Oh, a friend of mine is on a movie shoot in New Orleans and I was recommending some places to eat.

They are all weird bills, that's the point.

I am curious about Qui, David Yow's new band, but they could easily suck. Duane Denison was the best part of the Jesus Lizard anyways.

2 years ago I went to all 5 shows. I should have gotten a medal for that.

They are all weird bills, that's the point.

Fair enough. The only acts I've actually heard over the whole course of the festival are Pere Ubu, Ulrich Schnauss, and Deerhunter.

I've heard "of" most of them, and I suspect the acts I don't recognize are probably jazz people.

Oh but you said heard, not heard of. I have heard Pere Ubu, Deerhunter, Boris (with Michio Kurihara), No Age, Damon & Naomi, and Burning Star Core. If you have listened to my Q2 2007 mix, you have heard No Age.

I've heard *of* about half of them, but I still couldn't tell you what they sound like.

I am investigating lodging for a potential Labor Day getaway, and this place in Brodhead, Wisconsin, looks awesome. It is a five-room hotel with a bike shop on the first floor, and if you stay two weekend nights, you can rent bicycles for free. (There are a couple of nearby trails.) It's also about 20 miles from New Glarus (num num beer).

Cool, I've never heard of that place.

I asked my friend/bandmate Elizabeth for recommendations, since she's the queen of finding cool out-of-the-way travel destinations for cheap.

She also suggested Mineral Point.

EZ sent me a link to an NYT article about the Kenai peninsula in Alaska, and one of my friends who lives there is in the accompanying slide show!

http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/travel/22alaska.html?hp

In the slide show, he's the guy on the bike at the coffee shop. Crazy!

john, that place looks awesome! totally up leaf & i's alley as well. I heart spotted cow . . . sometimes we drive to wisconsin just to pick up a 6 pack.

I'm really getting into the idea of bike trails. We rode up to Pita Inn in Skokie the other day via the North Shore Channel trail.

I spent about 20 minutes on a mountain bike this weekend, just fooling around at a friend's place. I MISS IT SO MUCH

Not all of their beers are great but Spotted Cow is A++

Dude! You should bring your bikes up here! It's bike trail city!!

I think I agree, Jordan. I tried the nut squirrel one & thought it was okay but I love the spotted cow!

fat squirrel. not nut squirrel.

Oh yeah, that one is pretty good too. Fat Squirrel Nut Brown, I think?

Btw I buzzed my hair pretty short and I don't really like it, I look baldy. I probably should've gone even shorter, or not at all.

So what are you going to do? Shave it shorter or grow it out? I'm sure it looks fine!!

Grow it out, and save the shaving for when I'm actual-bald

I think it was good of you to try something new even if you didn't end up liking it like you hoped!

I'm always hesitant to change things up so I admire those who do...

Kelsey, your wedding photos have gotten a lot of love on the WDYLL thread, in case you hadn't noticed.

save yr head, shave yr balls

Is Jenny taking the bar this week??

mmmmmm shawerma

I think she is, b/c I think I remember hearing something about getting shit durnk later this week to celebrate the end of the nightmare?

Guys I am getting stressed out about how awesome this weekend will have to be.

Embarrassing story:

This past weekend I went home to visit my family and friends. I left Thursday afternoon, and before I went I gassed up the car, checked the tires, and topped up all fluids. Standard stuff, right? Well, I got about 300 or so miles up the road, just outside of Manitowoc, WI, and was bombing down the road at around 75 or so when my car made a horrible noise and shut off. All the idiot lights came on at once. I pulled over and kept rolling, and when I was off on an exit ramp I tried to start again, with the same horrible noise and a puff of white smoke out the wheelwell. Not good. I opened the hood to find I HAD NOT PUT THE OIL CAP BACK ON. In fact, it was still sitting on top of the headlight cover. The engine bay was covered in oil, and long story short: I killed my car while trying to preserve it. I got a tow, spent the night in Manitowoc, got drunk, and my old man came with a truck and trailer the next day to take my sorry ass home. I got made fun of a lot and generally feel like less of a man (sorta) because of this fuck-up. I decided to replace the motor but it's going to be $$$.

So, next time I give car advice, take it with a grain of salt. groan

really, john? i haven't gone over there since the day i posted!!

oh dan!!! that's dreadful!

That sucks, dan. I felt manly last week because the brake light kept coming on, I figured out it meant I was low on brake fluid, I went and bought brake fluid and poured it in myself, and solved the problem. So relatively you are still more manly than me.

Wow, Dan. :(

i would see about half of that Wire bill! Maybe I will come back.

Talk me into it.

I don't even know about this Wire bill of which you speak, but come back, man!

Dan, I'm sorry.

Horseshoe! Welcome back!

hi John! thanks! I missed y'all, Chicago.

ps Dan that is a serious bummer, and just the sort of thing I would do :-/

Dan, don't feel stupid or like less of anything. it's such a human mistake!! I am so so glad that you were able to get safely off the road! That could have been so very dangerous!!

I have to remind myself to get an oil change tomorrow morning before driving to Detroit Rock City for a show.

Thanks guys. I have told that story so many times I figured why not post it here so I can get it all out at once! :\

The best part of the ordeal was the whacked-out hippie guy that pulled over to see if I needed help, who bailed ASAP as soon as a cop also pulled over to see what was going on! I had to laugh at that one. Then I drank a beer on the side of the road. Good thing I brought a cooler.

OMG BLOWN MOTOR = not good at all. Condolences, ferreal.

I think I'm going to have to move in October. That's not all that far away.

Why? Where to?

You haven't been there that long.

I think Kr and I are ... eep ... going to move in together! And fortuitously, our leases are up at the same time.

WHAT?! That's awesome!

Will you move into her place or find a new place together?

eep

Also, congrats!

;)

Nice.

Will you move into her place or find a new place together?

You're joking, right? She has a studio that she hasn't slept in for probably six months.

We'll probably look for something not too far away from where we currently are, because that Ravenswood Metra station is really convenient for her, as is the Brown Line for me.

And we'd like someplace a little bigger than the 1BR I'm in now, especially since we'll be able to afford it.

Couples be gettin' serious.

(I found out over the weekend that a few other people I know are getting married, moving in, etc.)

I didn't know what her apartment was like! Just askin' N stuff.

2x

xpost

leaf & i are talking about buying a house in the next year or so.

not quite the same, i know. but still an adult-like decision.

Well, we're not getting married! It does feel like a big step, though, but only because of the commitment it implies, like we're assuming that we're going to be together for another year. The actual day-to-day living-together business doesn't worry me, because that's basically what we're doing now. She just goes home to pick up her mail.

Exciting!! Was this discussion at all prompted by Le@h & Sc0tt moving in together?

Looking for an apartment together is alot of fun. :-D

Hey, K, what kind of place are you guys thinking about?

Was this discussion at all prompted by Le@h & Sc0tt moving in together?

Nah, it's something that's kind of been in the back of our minds for a few months now -- and was half-heartedly raised once or twice -- but we just realized last night that it's coming up kind of soon, like we could start looking for October apartments in three weeks.

WOWSA! I am out of the loop! Le@h & sc0tt are moving in together? exciting!

I don't really know how to answer that, sarah except to say "not in the burbs." some folks keep telling us that "the burbs aren't bad" but we're hesitant to see them eye to eye on that front. we like living in the city. that's why we moved to a city. i doubt we'd be able to afford a house in the neighborhood we live in now, but maybe a condo or something? but i don't want to give up my dream of having a yard...

As someone who grew up in the Mpls metro area, I can say that "not in the burbs" is about as OTM as it gets. Mpls is a great town, but only if you ignore the awful suburbs.

I mean, I delivered pizza in Woodbury for chrissakes.

Also, isn't N Mpls cheap/cool these days? I'm stuck in a time (ie - the 70s, when my parents were young) when the Wedge was considered cheap, but I'm guessing that's serious $$$ now.

Do you think you'll be in Minneapolis for a while? (I assume Leaf is taking the Minnesota state bar.)

oh hey my sis is taking that tomorrow!

NE Minneapolis is kinda turning around. That's a definite consideration. As are pockets of South Mpls. The Wedge was cheap?! I would love that. I actually shop there a fair amount now, but cheap it ain't.

Leaf is taking the MN bar & I do think we'll be here for a while b/c he is 97% certain of a job offer right after he graduates. Or we're moving to Canada. I'm serious.

I guess it's not that I think the burbs are so awful or anything, they just are not as vibrant as the city is & we like living in the city.

On another note, the difference in the lives of our Minnesota friends vs. our Chicago friends is obvious. Many of our friends here are mostly other married/committed couples and most already own homes & talk of having kids. By contrast, our chicago friends might be married & stuff, but many still rent & kids aren't on the menu at the moment. Leaf & I fall on the "chicago" side of things on all counts & I think we are looked at as slightly odd sometimes.

Jenny is taking the bar tomorrow and Wednesday. She is in her hotel room now!

Are most of your friends colleagues from law school? If folks are moving toward a specific profession in a specific city, it's easier to plan families, homes, etc.

Hotel room?

YAY JENNY!!!

Eric, maybe about 1/2 are? But yeah, I think you are totally right. I mean, just using ourselves as an example it makes sense.

We got a hotel room near the place she is taking the bar. To take public transit out of the equation and to allow a little extra time in the morning.

And to keep me out of her hair.