Chicago MMXII

And BBQ at Big Chicks would be excellent, actually.

how come none of us is having a bbq?

is it because we suck?

It's because we're old and it's hot outside.

At least, that's my reason.

It's mostly the heat for me.

I'm going to be in Minnesota

I've got a deadline on some work (that I may need to block ILX to finish). Maybe a beer at Moody's garden or the Waterfront Cafe July 4th eve?

I won't BBQ because I hate grilling.

I hate standing next to something that's 500 degrees when it's already 90 out. How about someone make some gazpacho instead?

Also, i wouldn't trust more than 4 people standing on our back deck.

I'm going to North Cack Wednesday morning.

I think for the first time ever, I'm going to find a spot and watch the lakefront fireworks. With my full bag of camera stuff in tow, of course.

i want to do something for the 4th but dunno what. don't think evie would appreciate fireworks yet. also it is going to be fucking hot.

glad I packed my thong.

I'm going to a pool party on the 4th.

Hey, does anyone have a renters' insurance plan that they would recommend? Kr and I are probably going to purchase a policy, but we haven't done any research yet.

We have something from statefarm but I can't remember any of the specifics of it.

i think ours is through geico but sarah does all that stuff

I am interested in hearing your answers re renter's insurance. I've gone way too long without and after the enormous leak in my bathroom ceiling during the tempest last summer, property loss became a realistic possibility for me.

I have a paper grocery bag full of Indiana fireworks plus a small box w/ others. We should have a pyro party sometime. Lincoln Park and Lakeview don't seem fireworks friendly.

Thanks, dudes. I will see what else I can find.

We went with State Farm bc that's who I had car insurance through and we got a deal.

Or maybe it was just easier.

Or it was the subliminal effect of their friendly coffeeshop in your neighborhood!

We had the renter's insurance long before their lovely cafe opened!

That would have been some strongly precognitive subliminal influence.

Maybe State Farm opened the cafe because that's where we get our rental insurance. Did you ever think of that? Eh?

I think that's the idea, to have these pleasant sensations come to mind, whether it's a funny Geico commercial or a nice coffeehouse.

xpost Hmm! They call it (CARL)'S NEIGHBORHOOD on their post-it notes at headquarters.

Man, 89 degrees at 10:30.

;__; Yeh. 10:52 and still 89. Did a lot errands on foot. Very bad.

Midwest, I try to love u, but always this monstrous summer shit

Worse than New York? I always had a notion that NYC had worse summers than us, but I don't know why.

Oh, and: currently 12:16 am and 85 degrees.

Monstrous is a good word for it.

I've never heard of a 4-day "heat advisory" before.

i don't know if i want iced coffee because it's hot outside or if i want hot coffee because it's freezing cold in the library

I'm going to Long Island tomorrow - its about 7 degrees cooler there and I am excited for that!!

Also, I have Travelers for renters insurance - it comes out to about $20 month - super duper cheap.

I'm going to dc next week so I get no breaks.

Fun fact! If you get into an argument in the food court, I can hear you yelling about killing that bitch all the way up on my floor!

Speaking of murder, there was a very agitated woman standing on SE corner of Clark and Randolph yelling at someone about Fuck you, come back here and say it to me, etc. etc. and she screams, "It's been a while since I killed somebody!"

JESSE I learned from some runners that I drank beer with tonight that there are red-winged blackbirds that nest along the lakefront path and fly out and attack people running and biking by. I told them about you and the menacing raccoons.

OH SHIT I forgot about this! Why does this shit always happen around me?!?!?

I was on the train, it stopped and Fullerton and this guy getting on the train got his foot caught in the gap between the train and the platform. AHHHHH NOOOOO!!! And he's there trying to pull his foot out, and other people are trying to help him pull his foot out, and the driver's like GET OUT OF THE DOORWAY WATCH THE DOOR DOORS ARE CLOSING and then *ding dong* Doors are closing! So I jumped out of my seat and started basically pounding the emergency button and the driver's like WATCH THE DOORS PLEASE GET OUT OF THE DOORS THE DOORS ARE CLOSING and I'm all *push push push push* like one of those poor monkeys with electrodes hooked up to the pleasure centers their brains thinking "Please don't move the train with this man's foot trapped in the gap." And the driver wasn't responding to the emergency button so I was like, "Should I run to the front of the train or step out and wave at him or what??!?!?!" then the dude got his foot out and he stepped on the train, and then stepped off and walked to the other side of the platform. Then the doors closed and we left.

Meanwhile, as I was frantically pressing the emergency button, some dude took my seat.

daaaaamn.

Somebody was blocking the doors so the driver wouldn't have taken off, I assume, but it was tense.

I'm going to Long Island tomorrow - its about 7 degrees cooler there and I am excited for that!!

Plus staying at your sister's is free and right on the beach!

I thought I'd mentioned that NC is going to be 4-5 degrees cooler than here until Sunday. It's like the summer I lived in NOLA and Chicago kept hitting triple digits while we were consistently in the 80s.

^^ Wrote that at 6 tonight but forgot to hit post.

That's nuts, carliffer. I imagine my reaction might be stepping off the train, screaming madly + flinging myself half in the platform and half on the car so that the operator might notice the ruckus and so the door wouldn't close.

Who knew blackbirds were so aggressive? If they'd said blue jays were being like that it wouldn't be news.

Man, I rrrrealllly MUST get plenty of quality time with the raccoons this summer! I want pics of with them. Plus now we know there are red foxes, too! All so close to my home!

hi guys, i'll only be online for sure once per morning, if any of you wanna have a happy hour (any day) in Wicker Park, I guess. i'll try to check later. Right now I'm probably headed to the Art Institute til 4 or 4:30 (unless kenan pops up w/ plans before then). Tonight I'm open before the iO thing at 11.

Also might do that Black Lips outdoor $5 show Sat eve (when it's sposed to be under 90), or Jon Langford opening/playing with the Sadies at Schubas at 10.

We're at the mall and plan to spend as much time in this sweet sweet a/c as possible. Our little window unit can't handle this, was so hot last night.

Nick do u want to buy a big ac for ¢heap? 100% hassle-free money back guarantee thru this summer. Also selling an Ikea shelf unit w glass frosted door. ¢heap.

O mine heavenly father, this concourse is hot as hell. The counter attendant said it got way worse every afternoon.

I create an Unattended Package today. I forgot my bag at Argo Tea where it stayed for about 15 minutes. No one noticed.

Flying is awesome. Airports are great. Planes are awesome.

Nick buy Jesse's big AC. The thought of how hot your apartment must be is stressing me out.