Even My Dreams Weren’t This Good

For all you car guys reading my blog, here's the latest addition. Not sure what it is, but it's nice.


Albany Park has a sizable Middle Eastern population and this is a hooka for sale that was about the size of myself


Here's my co-workers, Christyn and Ruth, working on our top secret project. I'm sure more of this will be revealed at a later date.


Ok, so Thursday I was paid to go to a White Sox game. THIS IS MY DREAM JOB! Also, during the game there were four consecutive homeruns hit, which ties an MLB record.


After an organizational meeting, we went to the game!


Here's Nathan. He's a great guy and sits on the other side of my cubicle wall.


Our seats were along the third base line by the bullpen and foul pole. Three of the four consecutive homeruns were hit near us.


bullpen


Due the the Air & Water Show this weekend, the "Leapfrogs" or something like that flew into the stadium.


There were a ton of these guys


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! 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!


After the Sox game, went to Millennium Park to check out the tribute to Sun-Ra. Sun-Ra is a fairly interesting story along with being a good musician. He had a huge influence on George Clinton and others. Check him out at: http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry/




Saying our final goodbyes to Ronan tonight. He had his going away party last weekend. Tonight, I helped him pack up his stuff into the Yaris. Megan gave him his personalized calendar. He left his apartment of the last 3 1/2 years for the last time. And, tomorrow morning will be on his way to Houston. Ronan, you will be missed...

They Ain’t No Lawmen In This Town; Only Cattlemen!

Chicago's had a lot of snow this year. It's beautiful too. It's been a long time since I've seen a decent amount of snow. In fact, Megan's car is stuck there until it thaws a bit. She's stuck in 6 inches of ice and snow plowed from the road...


What a postcard


Nothing is prettier than trees after a snowstorm. It looks like Narnia out here.


Bushes under the weight of snow


Roberto and his art show! Everyone should check it out. It's up until the end of February at Subterranean located at 2011 W North Ave. If you go on Tuesday or Thursday, Kate from Darkroom is the bartender (for those of you from Monday Night Klub - Chicago Chapter days)


Checked out the Museum of Modern Ice Exhibit at Millennium Park. Pretty lame. The description and drawings made it look like the most awesome thing in the world. It's mostly just ice and food coloring. This was the best part, which is chopped ice used as chalk I found behind the bushes away from the show.


Here's the exhibit. Frances, there were no more powertools. I don't think it would look that much cooler at night either...


Canadian art. Not surprised. All its missing is a Maple Leaf. If this were Michigan art, it'd have a beer logo or something.


Yep


Here's the drawing they did on the ice rink.


Ice exhibit seen through the bean (cloud gate).


So, I went over to the Chicago Cultural Center afterwards and found this sculpture. I don't know who made this or why, but why is my face on this? Bizarro-world!


Entrance of the CCC. I've taken this picture a million times and still think it's great


A cold Chicago night on the 'el. Even the pigeons know enough to huddle under the heat lamps at the station. Huddled like fried chicken at KFC...

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

"Yeah, They're Pretend Monkeys!"

Dear You, Here's the Memorial Day Weekend Edition of my life...

Nick and Karli enjoying a few brews on the back porch. A great hobbie I would like to see more of.


Here's a couple members of the "Fashion Police" outside of my work. If these girls would have caught me, I'd be in some fashion concentration camp for a very long time...


You know, the Ad Council is trying to make a statement that you should follow politics or you'll elect food. But, I'm thinking that people shouldn't follow politics so they do elect food. I mean, I'd much rather see Sweet Peas running the country than George W. Bush. At least President Sweet Peas wouldn't get us into unnecessary wars in the middle east. Yeah, I said it...


Ryan Daly and Amanda Talmadge at Galway Bay after Radar 7's final Chicago performance.


Diversey Harbor looking toward the Loop.


Megan at Small Bar after a few tator tots...


Ronan and John. Notice how much John hates that salad. I'm serious, he hates that salad!


FLW inspired park just north of the Lincoln Park Zoo.


Lily Pad in the pond.


"Hi Adam!"
"Hi Polar Bear..."


If Nirvana were a band of polar bears, this would be there breakout album Nevermind cover.


Camels shedding.


Roaches...


MEERKAT MANOR! WHICH ONE IS DAISY?!?!?!


They watch us more than we watch them.


Walking toward Oak Street Beach in downtown Chicago.


In front of Buckingham Fountain, firefighters were hosing off the water for some reason unknown to us. Probably just trying to pick up girls near the lake...


Buckingham Fountain looking toward the Loop.


Some sculptures by some Polish lady about the Holocaust. How can art about something so depressing be so fun?


Spertus Museum's new facility!


What Memorial Day is all about.












Crowne Fountain at Millennium Park. Look at how many friggin' people are in this fountain!


Somehow, this has become my latest trademark. I've had quite a few pics with presidents lately...


Nothing shows the glamous side of Mike Kraus more than this...


Megan's pretty picture.


The Renzo Piano addition to the Art Institute as seen from Millennium Park. I really like this because all the plants are growing and it's almost like the building is growing from the Lurie Garden too.

That's it. I'm going to clean my room, find my fan, and go to bed. The Pistons played another lazy game and allowed LeBron James to tie the series at 2-2. Lazy... Red Wings lose to the Mighty Ducks was bad enough. If Pistons don't knock out the Cavs, it's bad news...

xoxo,

Mike