Everyone Goes Coo-Coo Bananas When They Arrest My Neighbor

Our Governor (my neighbor) was arrested today. Apparently, they arrested him for being "a politician." Doesn't every politician use their political power of monetary gain? Anyway, read up on the man I saw shopping at Toys 'R Us: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1321300,rod-blagojevich-illinois-governor-custody-120908.article


Megan's work, American Instutute of Architects - Chicago, had their x-mas party at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies a few nights ago. This is their new building. It's facade is designed to look all busted up or something in the front. Think Robocop futuristic.












Inside at the party


They had some kind of cool looking display. Unfortunately, this is as close as I got to it.


LOBBY BLOB!!!




I love my neighbors (not Blagojevich this time) with their decorations. Halloween was pretty good too. I think they add something new everyday. Since I took this, they have added a life-sized Santa Claus and a music system.


Decorations at the fire station on Elston near Sacremento


Our Charlie Brown x-mas tree. It has a couple of gifts under it now. Thanks Katie!


This customized stocking was part of Megan's gift last year.


Which meant, this year I had to customize a matching stocking of my own...

Not too much going on here other than cold, snow, and lots of x-mas parties. I have five or six x-mas parties at work. The first is tomorrow and it should be good. Nick and Katherine's is on Saturday. There's probably a few others I'm forgetting about at the moment. Plus, I have to do my x-mas shopping still. Another reason why Thankgiving and Labor Day are the best holidays ever. Still trying to figure out the x-mas plans. I think I need to eat something.

xoxo,

Mike

Job Interviews Are the New Speed Dating

The Graham Foundation is putting on an exhibit about the Dutch architectural firm BIG. Here's a model for one of their projects made from Legos


This was suppose to be a pic of a Lego lady that looked like Megan. Instead, it looks like a still from a Tool video...


Just the citizens of Legoland partaking in commerce


Another model of another project


Here's an apartment complex called "Mountain." Since the Netherlands are flat, they created this artificial mountain. It's a parking garage with slanted terraced apartments.


Here's from another apartment complex. The client for this project called these "Leonardo Di Caprio Balconies" because all the tenants can pretend to be the star of the movie "Titanic."


A rare sight: Siberian Camels. Went to the Lincoln Park Zoo to check on the animals.


Here's a Detroit Tiger.


I wonder how they catch these guys in the wild.


Here's John Cougar Mellencamp


Went bowling at the Waveland Bowl. Ronan decided to have his last meal before going on a diet. He'll be lucky if this just isn't his "last meal" judging by how much cheese is squirted on his meal.


Ronan either bowling or his arm went numb from the heartattack.


"What did we do in high school? Oh yeah, what about bowling?"


Megan throwing heat.


Call me "Capt'n Consistency"


Rockin' Ronan Carroll - 1st place - 3rd place - 1st place
Maniac Megan Bell - 3rd place - 1st place- 3rd place
Medium Mike Kraus - 2nd place - 2nd place - 2nd place


Megan and Ronan trekking through the snowhills of the Waveland Bowl


Party at the Murder House.


Matt - the drunkest looking sober man I know


Megan and I aren't too keen on the whole V-day thing. Although, we did go to Noon O Kabab and Nazareth Sweets on Kedzie just south of Lawrence (both highly suggested). But, we do enjoy a good deal. This box of chocolates are normally $15. But, a day after V-day, they are only $2. WHAT A DEAL! Maybe next x-mas will be celebrated on December 26th...


The Shedd Aquarium is FREE this week to all my unemployed and underemployed friends. Also, the Field Museum is FREE all month. Give me a call if you want to go. Here are some fish with a sea urchin.


The Shedd has done a great job with remodeling their exhibits. It's annoying how they are charging extra for their dolphin show and under water thing. But, what can you do?


Another urchin!!!


Moon Jelly Fish. The four circles in the jelly are stomachs!!!


Look at this guy. He looks like he should be a mascot or logo for some minor league baseball team!


Giant Amazon fish!


Why does the head of this turtle look like a Baby Ruth candy bar that's been stepped on? Evolution is amazing. That's right, I said evolution; not intelligent design.


I annoy my girlfriend


My passport photo from Eastern Europe


CHICAGO!!!

"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