Chicago: They paved a fetid swamp/and put up a parking lot

that sounds fun but i can't go anywhere tonight
why because my head is full of snot

Not that I'd trade our little guy for anything in the world, but it seems like there's been an incredible run of shows I'm missing since he was born. Really want to see Kvelertak.

why because my head is full of snot

When the performers ask for a suggestion, you can just blow snot at the stage and everyone will crack up.

cmon. that's gross.

It's Wrigleyville, Jake.

it's germs, sal.

My left thumb has been twitching for 3 days. It's like it's possessed. It's such a big twitch that when I hold my hands on my keyboard, it sometimes presses the space bar. It's sort of cool tbh.

I get a mad left thumb twitch every night as I lay down to go to sleep. And yeah, it is strangely cool. Like, "Whoa. Involuntary, dude!"

NICK: There's been an important development in the world of popcorn-based snack melanges.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmndvcGqsV1qam9wh.jpg

that seems ... gross?

i am such an idiot! i just checked and austra are playing 11/28 not 10/28
you guys can stop bombarding me with emails about going to the show now

Tell me about this Austra. I listened to one song, and it sounded like Zola Jesus.

In other news, Dave did not perform with the team he is supposedly on.

It's not fucking gross, Nick. It's delicious!

Free improv and decently priced beer and the good company of jaymc is a good combo.

4real?

jmc --
do you remember me posting this video like 100x and being like "hey somomeone listen this it is so good!!" ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJi26Eo6hgc

She's why I like Austra. I feel p neutral about Zola Jesus esp since I decided that I found that one vocal trick kind of samey. I looove K Stelmanis' solo album too.

Oh shit, she's Austra! And I've heard those finished versions and remembered hearing them live at Ronny's of all places two years earlier. I do want to see that but I still think I can't!

Recently almost won the Canadian Polaris prize!

don't worry, you have a whole month to rearrange your calendar

http://chicagoist.com/2011/10/27/city_may_crack_down_on_property_own.php

I'll believe this when I see it.

Whoever owns the triangular parking lot at Diversey and Racine NEVER shovels. And unless you know the exact address, 311 won't take a complaint about it.

That reminds me… we need to pick up a snow shovel and some salt.

ordinance that explicitly states you cannot be sued if you put forth a good faith effort to clear your walk from snow and ice.

I really wish I could show that story to the condescending ding dong I used to work w/ at Catch who made a big deal of informing me that my the businesses on my street were not obliged to clear the walks, and in fact if they did their insurance premiums would skyrocket because they were opening themselves to lawsuits if someone blamed a fall on inadequate shoveling.

Jenny, you probably knew I was going to say that.

I didn't, actually. You never fail to surprise me.

Guys. I bought some Girl Scout candy (it's a thing) from a coworker. I was supposed to have the money today but forgot. She suggested I lift these skirts of mine and show my big legs to make some money.

When I (dryly) thanked her for her confidence in my moneymaker, she said, "You're married, aren't you? It works!"

Now a different coworker just filled three liter bottles of water, emptying the cooler in the process, while I waited patiently for a mugfull of hot water for tea, and then walked away without replacing the cooler bottle or apologizing or anything.

It's like everybody here lost their damn minds at lunch.

That parking lot used to be a clothing store for short men called Wallaby Station.

That reminds me… we need to pick up a snow shovel and some salt.

Really?? You do your own shoveling?

condescending ding dong condescending ding dong ding ding dong

By "Really??" I mean that I'm surprised, not appalled.

Chicago, especially the ILS contingent, but actually anyone, let me know if you are interested in a FAP-ette on November 11 or 12...

I am interested! I'm going to be in a retreat all day on Nov. 12, but Nov. 11 could work. I have to remain maddeningly noncommittal until the week of, though, since there are a few other things going on, too.

Jesse, he comes to shovel but it can take him a day or two. In the meantime, I'm hanging on to the stair rail trying not to go ass over elbow down our front steps. Last winter, the up and downstairs neighbors did the shoveling and our contribution was buying salt at 7-11 on the way home from the train and dumping that all over the place. So mostly I'm interested in shoveling our front steps and the back deck and steps. I'm okay leaving the side walk for J.

Great, I'll email you nearer the time Jenny.

Word!

me too me too

yay!

I was all excited because I found out I get to go to D.C. for work in November! But then I heard the details which involve a 6:00 am flight to D.C. and actually having to drive out to the burbs in MD that night for an early morning meeting the next day. Not so exciting now.

Yeah that's not my idea of a good time, either. Driving around that part of the country gives me the vapors.

Well hopefully I get to just be a passenger because the coworker I'm going with has spent a lot of time out there, but, still, I was hoping to have some more time to see D.C. The site we'll be at first will be a block from the Capitol building.

work boondoggles are almost never as good as they could be

DC is the worst city for driving that i have ever driven in. as an architect, you should check out the masonic temple in alexandria. i always wanted to do the tour, i heard they have animatronic presidents and a room you're only allowed to look at for like 30 seconds.

a room you're only allowed to look at for like 30 seconds

Oh man this is so so so intriguing.

that might be apocryphal but i hope not

huh they have an interactive tour on their site, i'll have to take a more detailed look at that later: http://gwmemorial.org/index.php

apparently their elevators are angled at 7.5 degrees

DC is the worst city for driving that i have ever driven in.

God, yes. I have stories dating back to the time I was nine years old and crying in the car with my mom because she had been driving in circles for over an hour and I believed we were never going to get home.

I went to a Phish show at American University and dropped acid and when we all met up at the car, I was the only one in any shape to drive. That was interesting.

DC is the worst city for driving that i have ever driven in.
omg yes
when i moved there with my two friends i drove the uhaul around and around the beltway until i managed to get lost in the city -- we lived near adams morgan and i was driving a uhaul and wow was it terrible. there was also a huge murder mystery that happened in my building years later.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/05/AR2007120502585.html

the weird thing is that dc was a planned city! pretty shitty plan if you ask me.

worst plan!