Chicago: customers are advised to allow extra travel time

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.

A, I suppose I should kick it before my 30th.

OOHHHH... SSPIINNNEEERRRR...

Honestly, I just don't like the idea that to get anywhere, I would have to get on the bike and huff/puff my way to my destination, carrying extra clothes/face soap/towel on top of the papers/books/laptop/purse/food bags I already carry to work. That's enough to make me never ever want to leave the house.

Sometimes a machine (train/car/scooter) needs to do the heavy lifting because I'm just not always up to it. Some people don't have to carry as much shit around as I do. Biking to work a couple of days a week when it's <40 minutes is great. Biking > 40 min. (ie to South side) every day? F that sideways.

Jesse, just get the cat shaved.

the itch mite thing

no to sound like a hypochondriac, but that could explain several if not all of the mysterious itchy bites I've woken up with in the last month or so. There was a nasty one on my shoulder that I was convinced was a spider bite (still might have been, it's spider season, too), and a rash-like group of bites on one of my legs that drove me nuts for a week.

Just go back and time and tell yourself to have some foresight and not get a cat to start with. Oh wait.

Guys, don't forget about the possiblity of bedbugs.

I am way too lazy to bike from your house to the south side unless it was some saturday excursion with the promise of great food & booze to reward my efforts. I DO NOT JUDGE YOU, AMANDA. My current commute is about 5 miles, down from 7 when I lived in Chicago.

Excerpt from Brown Line seatmate's iPod this morning:

Counting Crows
The Cure
Darryl Worley
Dave Matthews Band
Death Cab for Cutie
Del the Funkee Homosapien

(Clean-cut guy in his 20s wearing a light blue dress shirt and black slacks.)

Let's judge him!

Guys, don't forget about the possiblity of bedbugs.

oh, I didn't. Especially with my cheapy Ikea mattress. I took it out back and beat it out and sunned it and washed all the bedclothes.

The Worley threw me a bit. I wonder if it was the 9/11 song ("Have You Forgotten?").

@Kenan

A CTA Alerts text message at 8:20a stated: "Red line sb sitting at granville. Power out b/c of someone on track at Jarvis."

Let's judge him!

Yes!

The girl next to me this morning was looking on with great interest as I clicked through my playlists. I wonder what she thought.

Red line sb sitting at granville.

that's the one. I got on at Granville and immediately got ta sittin'.

I think bedbugs are impartial to the cost of a mattress (just for the record).

http://noelio.blogia.com/upload/bat-mite.gif

I took it out back and beat it out and sunned it
from what i've read, this might not be the best idea. bedbugs are often carried in from alleys, from furniture/other things brought inside from alleys, particularly if someone has discarded an infested mattress. just sayin'. if i get an itchy spot, my first fear is always fleas, followed by bedbugs.

ps kelsey i know you're not judging me -- at least i hoped not!

pps - someone on tracks at jarvis??!?

I didn't take it that far out back! There's a porch.

ok good.

Guys I got paid today, what should I have for lunch?

Sarah's big 30th bday is in three weeks. We are planning on a party on Sept. 15 I think. There will be evites coming but just letting you know ahead of time.

I want pad thai but Cozy Noodles is kind of far to walk to, get food, and bring it back to the office, and I don't really want to drive.
Other options: veggie sushi, Cosi veggie muffaletta, mysterious new falafel place I haven't tried yet, different Thai place I noticed the other day that I know nothing about, many other chain restaurants.

My birthday is a week from tomorrow. There will be no party.

Go to mysterious Thai place and get pad thai.

What will you do to celebrate?

falafel