Chicago: customers are advised to allow extra travel time

YAAAYYY, Jesse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(By the way, I got your letter! THANK YOU)

USA v. BRAZIL @ Soldier Field!

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_1998867.html

Katie, Matt, and I are going. It's a little pricey but... BRAZIL! Supposedly they're bringing all the stars along, too.

Will they be selling novelty bottle openers?

lol Here's hoping

http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/DarkieToothpaste_new.jpg

speaking of allowing extra travel time, did anybody else have to sit on a dead train for 20 minutes this morning? They said something about "police activity" at one of the stations.

But then the train went express and I made it on time anyway.

Are there any good online crosswords out there? The UI on the AV Club's xword is great.

This has been bothering me for a while since it's at the top of the screen, but what is "UI"?

Oh wait, "user interface"? I just googled it. I thought it was a crossword term, haha.

I am craving some of those maple candies that you can get in New England or at Cracker Barrel.

this kind:

http://www.piecesofvermont.com/images/robb/candies.jpg

I guess I will just have more coffee though.

You could get a maple-glaze donut at Dunkin' Donuts.

Eh.

We haven't had any office coffee at our office for like 6 months since our last coffee maker broke and the bosses didn't replace it. However, one of my coworkers just contributed her old coffeemaker, and bought coffee and creamer too. Is it wrong for me to be annoyed with her because she only bought Sweet & Low and not sugar?

Answer, yes it is wrong.

I'm going to buy a bottle of maple syrup and chug it.

I could send you some, Nick. You can get them in MN & I haven't sent your wedding present yet . . .

i'm currently sewing the short dress w/ the tie sleeves from this pattern:
http://www.builtbywendy.com/onlineshop/images/BBY-3835_MAIN.jpg

does anyone have any ideas for what I can embellish the pockets with? the dress is currently close to this color:
http://www.heritageyarns.com/DeepTurquoise52F.jpg

which is fun, but it needs something to break it up . . .

p.s. I may wear this dress to our chicago party!

Exciting!

I'm totally addicted to sewing clothes!!

That is a good addiction! Are you using a patterned material or is it solid?

Damn Sarah! I can't believe how fucking long that letter took to get to you!! I sent it...over a week ago. From Chicago. To Chicago.

It's solid. I am going to make another version of the same dress out of houndstooth for the fall.

Chicago mail sucks, amirite?

I just posted my dilemma to the sewing thread so I don't talk it to death here.

User interface, yeah.

Hey Fake Fics are playing and talking live on WLUW tomorrow at about 1 p.m. They stream live on the internet so you can listen at work if you want. Just FYI.

I'll totally listen in!

I've been thinking about this so much that I feel like I might have already said it, plus it's not fascinating, but I am saying it anyway.

You know that I had almost for sure decided to move, but now I've changed my mind (this was before the job that will lower my income significantly) and I've decided to stay for at least a year, saving money and building credit. As a compensation, I decided that I would:

1. get serious about making my apartment feel like home by cleaning, hanging shit, putting up curtains.

2. Maybe get a scooter. Part of the reason I wanted to move is to be closer to stuff--my ideal being between Sheridan and Belmont on the Red Line. I'm tired of having to wait for the bus to go to Courtney's or the gym. And walking home with groceries sucks. My brother assures me I can buy something serviceable for less than $1000.

http://images.craigslist.org/010202010308010401200708139edc428503e2653d4c00af6f.jpg

This one for example is $700 OBO.

3. Maybe hooking up an all-in-one ventless washer/dryer machine.

4. doing something about the cat.

That is all.

This is my coveted washer/dryer machine http://www.lgwasherdryer.com/images/combos/WM3431HW.jpg

The question is: scooter or bicycle?

4. doing something about the cat.
Dare I ask, like what?

I vote bike. It would be easier to store for one thing.

4. doing something about the cat.

This sounds sinister.

I'm going to play hooky this afternoon to go play an outside gig in Wausau. However, I'm going to be really pissed if I take half a sick day, drive 2.5 hours, and the gig gets rained out.

I hear ya.

I'm pumped for taking all day off tomorrow for this little radio bit. I will sleep in, bake breakfast at home, be on the radio, and lounge around.

I think I have two itch mite bites on my arm. Probably from hanging out in the park on Monday.

Actually, I'm sure I do - the picture they link to looks exactly like the two marks on my arm.

jesse: what are your pros & cons for bike vs. scooter?

Pros:
bike- easier to store, maintain

scooter- more fun, I already have a (srsly piece of shit) bike, it may be helpful in the commute to new job, cheaper than iGo and WAY cheaper than car

I want one of you guys to take the cat.

bike- exercise

I already have my hands full in the cat department.

You don't get sweaty when you ride a scooter.

I say this as someone who hesitates to bike to work because, well, who wants a sweaty teacher.

If it's not humid and >85 degrees, it's ok.

Kr told me about the itch-mite epidemic but prefaced it with "Maybe I shouldn't be telling you this..." She knows me well.

because, well, who wants a sweaty teacher.

Van Halen?

"Hey, whaddya think the teacher's gonna smell like this year?"

I get sweaty when I ride, but I also change my clothes when I get to work. I also keep baby wipes in my drawer for really bad days.

Hmmm. I don't know what to tell you, Jesse. There's probably a way to buy both if you really want to. Working Bikes has really decent bikes for good prices and if your bike frame is decent enough, they may take it off your hands. I understand the appeal of a scooter (Leaf & I have been talking about getting them) though. The sweat factor is less and you could do quick grocery runs really easily. Although, pannier bags & racks aren't that spendy either.

Yeah, I avoided telling Sarah about the itch mite thing because she constantly insists that she sees tiny bugs in our apartment, bugs that I never see myself.

GET OFF THE METH SARAH

Probably the best solution is to buy a decent cheap scooter and suffer the embarrassment of taking my total shit bike into the bike shop for some TLC.

Sarah, I still have a salad spinner for you. This is not a euphemism.