Chicago MMXII

I had Storm Front because it was the first time I forgot to return one of those Columbia House things on time and it showed up. I didn't learn until later that I could've just sent it back. I think I listened to it once.

75. That should obv be 75 up there. Stupid thumbs.

my only other billy joel reference is getting a casio for xmas when i was like 11 and the demo song being "just the way you are." i wonder how much money he got for that.

$1,000,000

weird
mine had stuff like "down by the old folks home" and "greensleeves"

OK FINE i also know "my life" which is annoyingly catchy. gets stuck in my head when i don't want it there.

i know like a zillion billy joel songs
and i'm going to sing all of them here tonight

good comment on the youtube video for "my life"

why can't musicians like billy joel be around today

Coolz444 1 month ago 4

pretty sure billy joel is still alive?

Yeah, but to be sort of fair to Coolz444 he's only been "composing" classical stuff for a long time now.

the good old days weren't always good
and tomorrow ain't as bad as it see-ee-eeems

I kind of enjoy that b. joel has stopped writing new songs and just performs the hits now

there was a b. joel concert on pbs a couple weeks ago and it was almost enjoyable

that video is really weird. it has a long intro where billy joel is tough and wearing a leather jacket and walking around with other tough guys while a groovin' beat plays, then suddenly they're in a recording studio dressed like dorks playing the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3JFEfdK_Ls&ob=av2n

Don't waste your money on a new set of speakers.
You'll get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers.

I've always meant to listen to more Billy Joel after reading Chuck Klosterman's impassioned defense of Glass Houses a while ago.

Here are the Billy Joel singles I recognize as having heard:

Piano Man (Probably? I couldn't hum it.)
New York State of Mind (I know I've heard it at least once -- in The Beaver Trilogy)
Just the Way You Are
Only the Good Die Young
My Life
You May Be Right
It's Still Rock and Roll to Me
Uptown Girl (Probably the first B. Joel song I ever heard, since the Chipmunks covered it)
We Didn't Start the Fire
I Go to Extremes
The River of Dreams

I sort of think I like the idea of Billy Joel more than the reality. Like I think the aesthetic of it being 1978 and this sad-eyed crooner playing piano in a fancy brass furnished and wood-panelled bar for lawyers doing bumps in the bathroom as they prepare for, or come down from, a night at the disco is sort of cool. But then I hear his songs.

xp Oh, and also The Longest Time, which is Kr's favorite B. Joel song.

All apologies to R but I p much hate Billy Joel, except for Allentown. You grow up as close to Jersey as I did and you will either love him or be so overexposed to him that his music gives you stabbing head pain. I'm in the latter camp.

Yeah, watching that pbs concert was interesting because the audience was basically filled with the kind of people I hated growing up in the NYC area...

Billy Joel grew up like 5 min from me in. L-town (he hung out at the pool where I took my swimming lessons) and people in my town revere him, despite the fact that he thinks people from L-town are "trash".

courtnoodle why don't you ask for access to the 77 board? there's mad pussy there.

By which I mean of course that there is a thread full of crazy cats (all joking aside there is).

I fully support a McCormick place train stop. Will make packet pickup for races much much easier. That place is such a pain in the ass to get to.

Are you changing wards? http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/ward-redistricting-2012/index.html

Yeah, not having a McCormick Place stop as always been a little wtf to me. Guys, you can rest easy. My phone works fine this morning after drying out overnight.

Yay!

Speaking of the CTA, why did the purple line go the wrong way around the Loop this morning? I was v confused.

Yes. My train conductor wouldn't shut up about it.

I hadn't heard that it was. The redline was all sorts of crazy this morning. All of the fearmongering weather reports must have scared people into not driving because the redline train was already like 65% full at Howard.

Je55e, how do I ask for access?

xp Mine either but I had my earphones in and wasn't listening. I just figured he was babbling about the blessed train or being careful on the steps or something.

I mean, no biggie. Washington and Wells isn't exactly miles away, but I have grown accustomed to getting off the train in my actual building.

Ct, there's a thread for asking that maybe someone with desktop access can post for you. You just post asking for access and a mod will set you up.

Jenny I honestly am in awe of your phone typing skills if all of your posts are from your phone. How do you do it?!!

SUPERTHUMBS

For really long things (like my family crisis freak out), I will write myself an email and copy paste it.

i mean it is truly amazing

there is just no way I can type on my phone with my meat-thumbs

i have regular thumbs with decent dexterity and i could never in a million years type a paragraph with my thumbs
i guess i could in an emergency, but do not have the patience for that on a normal day

it's more the patience than the manual dexterity that amazes me!

I dunno. The worst part is having to catch all the mistaken auto corrects. But I guess it's just practice?

It's surely not the thing you will be remembered for, but it's an impressive skill nevertheless ;)

If you ever get your electronic device wet it's also a good idea to put it in a bag of rice.

xp - COURTNOODLE I WILL ASK FOR YOU THESE FIVE WORDS I SWEAR TO YOU

there is just no way I can type on my phone with my meat-thumbs

As I'm sure you know, I have meat thumbs, but I am a thumbtyping pro. I can *almost* thumbtype without looking b/c autocorrect is really good, but I wind up hitting delete or submit when I try it.

I'm wondering if ZS got his job in town, but I'm feeling bad knowing that if it hasn't been announced it might not have happened. Just curious.

i don't think he did

Thx Je55e!

Yeah, he posted on FB that he didn't get it. :/

well, that blows

speaking of jobs I posted this on fb but if anyone knows anyone interested in some entry-level editorial work, I've got a lead for ya

the snow has begun up here btw

I was searching ILX for "red barn" posts and came across this charming exchange from 2005 (2005!!) Also lol/sad that I have been talking/obsessing about the same goddamn things for going on 7 years.

I don't like books where rich white people have emotional breakdowns because they have realized their lives are empty.

HAHA! Avoid the collected works of Richard Yates! I am totally with you on that one.

If you're looking for something not all that well-written but scary, try Harvest Home, by Thomas Tryon if you haven't already. I also admit to really enjoying a book about the salacious murder of Maria Marten in the early 1800s in rural England -- I read a cheesy book called The Red Barn Mystery by ?? and have another book I'm saving for Christmastime that contains court proceedings and whatnot. Thousands of people attended the hanging of William Corder and the coroner actually bound a book with his skin. Awesome. (and true!)

― The Milkmaid (of Human Kindness) (The Milkmaid), Friday, November 18, 2005 9:10 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I just admitted to liking cheesy true crime. It's true, I do like cheesy true crime, but preferably when it's distant from the present in space and time.

― The Milkmaid (of Human Kindness) (The Milkmaid), Friday, November 18, 2005 9:16 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

You've mentiontioned Richard Yates before. He's a sore spot, apparently. Did he once dump you or something?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Friday, November 18, 2005 9:19 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Oh OH! Yes, I *heart* cheesey crime. I love modern true crime and especially love historical cheesey crime. How could I forget?

Thanks, Amanda! I'm adding those to my list.

― pullapartgirl (pullapartgirl), Friday, November 18, 2005 9:20 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark

that first line was quoted from a post above

mostly i really can't believe this

You've mentiontioned Richard Yates before. He's a sore spot, apparently. Did he once dump you or something?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Friday, November 18, 2005 9:19 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I don't like books where rich white people have emotional breakdowns because they have realized their lives are empty.

I think I like this stuff out of some weird romantic aspiration: these people always have great old houses and books and liquor cabinets.