GRAB MY WRIST!!!

Away we go!

MMMMmmmm.... BBQ Brat...


The most beautiful food I've ever helped make.


Ronan, my Irish friend, had his b-day party at Big Joe's during the Turtle Races.


Amanda and Frances at the Turtle Races!


Cormac, Ronan's very Irish brother, at the Turtle Races.


Me and Frances at Turtle Races.


Megan and Ronan at Turtle Races.


Turtle Race.


Me and Megan at Turtle Races


First, I found out Kareem Abdul-Jabaar is teaching martial arts in my neighborhood. Now, Michael Jordan is practicing law in Megan's neighborhood. Who's next? Larry Bird working at Starbucks?


Part of the Ravenswood Art Walk. I don't know why I took pictures of the car museum, but not the art...


I like this weirdo car.


Architectural Artifacts had this with their antiques. It makes me think how much more difficult and different the church would have been if instead of bearing a cross, Jesus had to bear a pool table. Just think about it...

That's it. Much love.

Mike

The Psychodelic Hot Dog

Hey All,

It's been a while... My iMac from 1999 is having some difficulty understanding the internet these days. So much has changed. Unfortunately, that makes it difficult to check email and all. I don't really care to spend $1000 to screw around on the internet. So, if anyone has any bright ideas, I'm all ears...

A part of an exhibit at the Cultural Center.


My lady brought me out to see "high culture." Here's the Chicago Dance Festival at Millennium Park. This is some local company that was very good.


More dancing!


Abbi (sp?) at Annie Zipper's going away party. Goodbye Annie Zipper. Keep in touch.


Megan moved into her new apartment last weekend with the help of Lil Sammy Mover.


This is Megan's new apartment; "The Hobbit House." Why is this the Hobbit House, you ask? First, notice the rounded off edges on the doors and all. Nice touch. Also, the ceilings are only 6' 2". So, no basketball players allowed. It's a great place though. Especially for a 2 bedroom for $600!


This chaise is crazy. It is so well-built and solid, we had to destoy it. It was so big, heavy, and awkward that we could not get it down the stairs. How it got up the stairs baffles me too. It's a shame that such a nice piece of furniture was ruined...


Talking about nice furniture, here's Lynn Nummerdor's latest creation! The psychodelic hot dog is really becoming her trademark!


Who doesn't love a hot dog who knows he's delicious?


It's not everyday that Lamborghinis (sp?) are spotted in Humboldt Park. So, I was going to talk about how these might be to replace the one Lance Briggs, Linebacker for the Chicago Bears recently crashed with only 400 miles on it. But, on my way to the office, I saw these and a couple other Lamborghinis just north of the Merchandise Mart with cop cars marked GPD for Gothem Police Department. So, you'll probably see Christine Bale driving these around downtown Chicago when Batman: The Dark Knight comes out in the next year or so...

That's it. Hope all is well with everyone!

xoxo,

Mike

Join Me On the Lake (TONIGHT!)

First things first. We have a fundraiser at work tonight on the boat. It's a lot of fun. So, if you are interested, please email me at MKraus@architecture.org or just come on down! Here's the info:

What: Boat Booze Cruise When: Today at 6:30pm - 9pm Where: Michigan Ave. and Wacker Dr. Why: It's a good cause and there is tons of food, and an OPEN BAR, and a DJ. How Much: $20 - to cover the cost of booze (still cheaper than our regular cruise that doesn't include booze)

On to what I've been doing!

How do you like my new wheels? I don't actually own this, but if you want to get me one for my birthday, it's on Saturday, October 13th... We had an ice cream social at work! I ate like a fat kid... Here's about half of the people at last weeks BBQ at the Murder House. Tomorrow, we'll probably have it in the yard since we are running out of room on the porch. I'll be late tomorrow since I have a meeting until 7pm...
Yes, that is Nick Fucking Butner at the BBQ.
Check out Alice's new tattoo!
Rich, Megan's brother, came to Chicago for Lollapolooza and stayed at the Sofitel. Swanky! Karli's brother, Adam, was at my apartment. Fancy! Now that Matt and Tyler have their own apartment, I've moved into Matt's room. Not completely, but near. Here's my new 'zine display! Thanks Billy of Loop Distro! Went to the Cubs game and saw Soriano tear a ligiment. Something I am sure will cause the 1st place Cubs to not make it to the playoffs. Also, Tom Glavine of the Mets won his 300th game. Something only 24 other pitchers have ever done (I think). Good times! 3rd base line at Wrigley Field. 1st base line at Wrigley Field. Derrick Lee up to bat. An old timey band played three rows behind me. I saw the banjo guy outside the stadium before the game screaming at the security "BUT, I NEED TO GET INTO THE GAME WITH MY BANJO!" Yes he did! You can get me this car. I like cars with sirens. If I get that car, I would get it repaired at this shop.  While I waiting for my car to be fixed, I'd eat here and stare at the artwork of soccer players blocking hamburgers...

I hope everyone had a good time in Chicago for Lollapolooza. I liked seeing everyone. Frances, I hope you liked your $5 meal! xoxo, Mike

Sometimes, You Just Get One Chance.

So here we go!

Wednesday BBQ Night.

Back at Kuma's Corner for Heavy Metal burgers. Mike seems to be pondering the meaning of ketchup.

What's more appropriate that Mike and Nick eatting a burger called "The Mastadon?"

Karli is featuring "YOB"

Cliff is having the "Iron Maidon" with a side of "ruggage."

This is my "Metallica."

Rumor had it that Humboldt Park was having an art fair this weekend. So, on our way to breakfast at the Flying Saucer we cut through the park. No art fair, but a great car show. Unless this is the HP art fair?

I wish these cars had information on how much time and money it took to do this because these cars are incredible.

My favorite feature of this car is the curb feelers.

When this Caprice rolled in, everyone stopped and watched it park, which took ten minutes to do...

Where are the airbags?

I like the spedometer and clock on the dashboard of this car. Very classy old Ford.

My neighbor back on Crestwood in Muskegon, Michigan use to have a Model A Ford like this. John (my neighbor) use to drive this around and let me ride in the rumble seat. For those that don't know, a rumble seat is the seat that pops out of the trunk of this car. After a short drive we'd head back and watch the Detroit Tigers game on his small TV.

None of my friends Buicks in high school looked like this.

I really like this Dodge Charger. It says "We like Dukes of Hazzard, but have our own style."

Now this is a Camero.

I'm not sure what's going on in the bed of this pickup truck.

This is an old Dick Tracy car with crazy upholstery.

Nothing says "American Family Road Trip" more than this car. I'd love to take a wife and a couple of kids to California in this.

This is one of my favorite vehicles.

This is the inside of the vehicle above. Probably one of my favorite features of this car is the interior based on my childhood bedroom. All it's missing is some punk rock posters, a bed, and lots of books of sketches and drawings.

Perhaps this should be my next tattoo?

If I still had my Volkswagen Rabbit, this is what I would do with it.

Can you imagine driving down the road and seeing this in your rearview mirror? What a dream machine!

This is the car Prince would drive.

My mistake. THIS is the car Prince would drive...

Look at this minivan. There was one other minivan in the show and it was a Sierra as well. Although, this one has been pimped. I didn't take a picture of the other one because the only unique feature was the interior smelled like Raspberries.

The van features six TVs. That's more than any house I have ever lived in has had.

I'm not sure, but I think this is a Transformer.

This car is a labor of love. What a great old Impala. I really like the orange and chrome. The engine was all chrome with etchings throughout. It has hydrolics. A car I'd love to drive REAL slow by Pere Marquette Beach.

After breakfast at the Flying Saucer, we ended up at Belmont Street Festival. It was pretty dead. The only thing of interest was the mostly girl punk band at one of the stages.

If there's anything true about Megan, it's that she's classy and has good fashion sense.

What do you get a good Catholic Irish-American girl? Well, the Kennedy's board game, of course! My favorite card inside was rating "Teddy's Social Standing." If only they knew then what we know now...