Belchy Bartokomous Or Farty McFly?

Things are coming along nicely. In a few days, I will be at the copy shop making the next issue of my 'zine. It's all written and all. So, hooray! In the next couple of weeks, I will be going camping. Hooray again! The 4th of July is this week. I've been BBQ-ing like there's no tomorrow. Fireworks! HOORAY!

Here's a bee drawn on a building that caught on fire near my apartment.


I've been seeing some fine automobiles lately. I have to think it's somehow connected to the Transformers movie.


The girls posing for Katie's (left) going away party, part II. For those that don't know, Katie is going to be a "Marilyn Monroe-type actress" at Disney World. So, that means a trip to Disney this October!

 
Margarita's for Katie!


Nick showing off Black Moses by Isacc Hayes. Karli's mom gave it to him with some other good finds from garage sales in Minnesota.


This is my new favorite photographer. He is located across the street from the Two-Way Lounge on Lincoln.


Matt and Amanda at the Two-Way Lounge. I don't know when the Two-Way became a Hipster bar, but it's strange. Seeing a packed bar full of kids with funny haircuts is much different than a couple of regulars. It's a good time, but a very different atmosphere. It's only a matter of time though until the douchebags arrive and PBR goes from $1 to $3...


Nick, Rob, and Matt figuring out the economics of the Two-Way.


To me, this much patriotism is suspicious. What are they hiding behind the flag that is eight stories tall and six windows wide? Is this a front? Whatever it is, I have to say: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!


Tearing down a building on Clark somewhere near the Gold Coast.


I'm all about environmentalism, but I have limits. This is the worm bin at work. We are suppose to dump our food into this bin and have the worms convert it into dirt. Nothing too odd since I grew up with a composter and had a similar set up in Grand Rapids. But, this is downtown Chicago. This thing is going to stink up the office and bring in more bugs than you can imagine. Also, what are we going to do with the dirt in downtown Chicago? We don't have plants because we don't have windows. I'm sure you will hear more about this. It's the talk of the office already...


Beth and John showing off John's Pasta Party 2007.


PIZZA FEST! IT'S PIZZA FEST. This is Pizza Fest? Really? What a disappointment. Well, it wasn't well planned. Pizza Fest is a great idea and everyone I knew wanted to go to it. But, they scheduled it at the same time as the Taste of Chicago and no vendor was going to be here instead. So, only three pizza stands at Pizza Fest. I think they had more sunglass vendors than pizza. It was their first year. If they do this next year and hold it in September, I bet it would be awesome.


Mike, Megan, and I hung out at the beach for a little bit since Pizza Fest was a bust. Sat in the patio area overlooking downtown and then walk the beach. Feet in the water. Nice...

..
What a strange lifeguard situation in Chicago. If our lifeguards are in a rowboat wearing rain coats, it's no wonder they never filmed Baywatch here.


Cooking hot dogs at Angela and Brent's apartment!


Karli teasing the very pleasant Gracie.


Words fail me...

That's all. It should be another busy week. At some point, I need to pick up some batteries because they are on their last leg. No batteries = no pictures. With all the festivals, parties, and trips coming up, I need to remedy that soon. Much love, Mike

T-Day Minus Three Days and Counting...

Hey All,

What's going on for Thanksgiving? I'll be back in Muskegon and I'm sure I will be up for lots of drinking and hanging out from Wednesday evening till sometime Friday. With my parent's getting divorced, it doesn't look like it's going to be too festive around the Kraus house. Anyway, give me a call...

Sleeping...


Federal Plaza


The History Channel sponsored an event for their show Engineering An Empire, which is one of my favorite shows. I was real excited to hear they were going to be at my work. Although, I was really disappointed that the host, Peter Weller (of Robocop fame) wasn't there.


Setting up for competition for vision of Chicago in 2106


More set-up


Again...


Placing X-mas decorations before the Festival of Lights on Michigan Avenue.


Trump Tower


Rebekah and Martin on Martin's last day of work. Tour and Membership department just got back from lunch with him before having a little celebration at his desk in CitySpace.


Judges looking over the models for History Channel competition.


More judging eyes...


Listening to the Hamburg, Germany group.


Lt. Governor Pat Quinn announces that Urban Labs wins. My contribution was giving him the envelopes that contained the winners. How very Oscar!


Jame Party of 4, which had 5+ members @ the Two-Way


Nick with the robotic eye.


Nick, Mike & Matt's boss, and Matt a day after getting hit by a car @ Two-Way.


The boss, Mike, & Matt @ Two-Way


The North Ho(tel) near my apartment.


Another adventure into cat porn. Oh yeah, Lady!


There's the money-shot!

Here's a late movie review:

Borat - I laughed through that whole movie. It was so vulgar that some 25-30 girl next to me had to leave. Awesome!

The Departed - One hell of a movie. Great story and good acting. Some good funny parts too. Last shot is cheesy, but whatever...

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Terrible. About an hour too long. Especially since there was no story or point to the whole excursion. It would have been nice if their poor fake accents were understandable too.

See you all soon.

xoxo,

The Kraut

"In a World Gone Mad, Only a Crazy Man Is Truly Insane!"

Dustin and Mike at Cliff & SME's apartment in Humboldt Park.

Nick and Mike Nummerdor at the Two Way.

Matt Andres and SME at the Two Way

At the Two Way, "Seeing is Believing!"

Mike, Nick and SME at the Two Way.

SME, I would have deleted this if you didn't give me the finger...

Mr. Mike Nummerdor.

Ahhh! Robots at the Museum of Science and Industry. I saw the Da Vinci show there. Wasn't too impressed and didn't like how repetitive it was. The best part was a couple pages of his sketch book, which were minor pages placed off in the corner of the exhibit.

Idea Factory at MSI

"What the hell?" MSI has a better architecture model of Chicago than we do at the Architecture Foundation. The irony is this is not an architecture model. This is a display about intermodal trains.

This model is huge!

And detailed!

And even has accurate details of the near Westside!

And the Sears Tower is like 8 feet tall!

Man, I have to talk about this to the people at work. This is too much!

I'm a pilot as well...

U - 505 at MSI

U - 505 at MSI

Summer's slowly coming to an end. I can start getting some sleep now. A few days ago, I was eatting at Stefano's and a 16 - month old stopped breathing and started to have a seizure. Apparently, my phone was the only one getting reception and I called 911 and waited for the ambulance and fire department to arrive. The kid was alright, but it was crazy. Afterwords, we headed to the Davis to see Little Miss Sunshine. I highly suggest that you see it.

Tonight, going on the booze cruise for work. It's going to be pretty good and I hope to get some fun pictures.

xoxo,

Mike