Birthday Wish!

"La la la la. We're going to meet Katie out in Palatine tonight. It will be good to see her. We haven't seen her since we saw her working at Disney World. La la la la... It would be great if she moved to Chicago. blah, blah, blah. It's weird that we have to meet her in the burbs, but I guess that's where her family got a hotel and all for her sister running in the marathon... blah blah la la, Hey, there's Medieval Times ha ha ha. Wait, are you turning into there? Are we meeting Katie at the strip mall next to Medieval Times? What? Is Katie at Medieval Times? WHAT? BIRTHDAY SURPRISE


If you've never been to Medieval Times, you need to go. Megan surprised me by bringing me to "Schaumburg Castle" for my b-day


It really is a great example of Medieval America...


The Prince and his Princess


"It's good to be the King."




I knew Jesus was "King of the Jews," but I had no idea he was "King of Schaumburg." This is the Jesus King presiding over the "Knighting Ceremony."


This six year old girl celebrating her b-day is now knighted and prepared to fight to defend the country...


Horse on display. These poor guys are in tiny stalls and tied to short ropes attached to the wall. I'm surprised no one goes all PETA on them.




Telling the Medieval masses how to have proper etiquette in the arena


This is exactly how I imagine Medieval Times with the plague, swords, chivalry, knights, and round tables...


Megan and I were on the side of the Kingdom of Navarra.


Megan and I look Spanish, right?


"Um, excuse me, we don't have silverware."
"Silverware? What's silverware? There's no such thing as silverware in Medieval Times. Now, do you want Pepsi or Mountain Dew?"


Megan suggests getting the vegetarian meal at Medieval Times. It's really good and does come with plastic silverware


Apparently, a unicorn exploded...




The host introducing the nights after we have been given the prelude to the drama!


The Knight of Navarre. He was flirting with the drunk girls ahead of us by throwing flowers to them and all. Also, the group on the corner in the front row seemed to be having their wedding reception there. The bride and groom were in their dress and tux.








Now for my restaurant review. My half-chicken, with spare rib, garlic bread, rosemary potato, tomato basil soup, and "pastry of the castle" was really good. What made it "awesome" was eating it with my hands and using the heated wet-nap afterwards. I want to eat like this everyday. I was born in the wrong era...


Who knew that Emo Hipster kids and Medieval Times were a match made in heaven?








Out knight is about to get his "you know what" kicked -John McCain






JOUSTING!!! This was the end and Megan and I ended the evening at Goldie's with a few friends. Good times! Good Medieval Times...


Megan and I went to Tre Kronor for my b-day dinner. This is my Kychlingfile dinner, which is a "chicken breast a la Malmo-baked with Swedish mustard, jarlsberg, Canadian bacon and fresh dill." I took forever to eat this because it was so good I wanted to savor it.


Megan go the "Norsk Lax," which is a Norwegian salmon broiled with chive beurre blanc. She really liked it.

Saw Forgetting Sarah Marshall recently. It's a really good, funny movie about dating. So real it's funny!

Jungle Art

Here's my Children's Expressions calendar at work. I could never make art like this. Come on, look at this. It's a witch using a Jedi Light Saber against Dracula while ghosts are watching. Classic!


This one's for Christyn. Megan and I went to Satay for dinner after some wedding gift shopping for Leslie and Andy. Andy, are you registered at AutoZone or something? Anyway, the food is quick, affordable, and pretty good.


The sign about says it all. The Art Walk Ravenswood is a fun annual event that a few of my friends participate. It's definately a fun event with lots of great arts and things to see.


Here's an 6' tall eagle from a bank building or something at Architectural Artifacts. I don't know if Bubba still works there. But, it's a great store. Basically, it's a lot of great big antiques and pieces of old building up for sale. If you want the facade of an old mansion, you can buy it here!


I think I found what I want to put in my livingroom. It's a counter from an old diner or bar


Close up of the diner/bar counter


The interior of an artists' studio


This guy looks like a guy I went to school with that also did pottery. Even wears the same hat. Weird...


Megan and I went to the Chicago Botanic Garden for "Harvest Fest" on Sunday. Neither of us have been up there before. Harvest Fest wasn't much, but the rest of the gardens are pretty awesome.








They had tips on how to grow pumpkins this large. So, it will be my hobby for next year...






This would be really cool for BBQs...


LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PUMPKINS! And there are like 40 more varieties!






How do you grow a banana tree somewhere as tropical as Chicago?






This is a field of roses. So, next time I need flowers for being a jerk, I know where to get them cheap...


Just like France...




Oh Swany McSwanerson


The church bell thing on Evening Island.


Oh la la


work that camera!


Inside the Regenstein Center gallery.


An Armadilla!


So, what's so amazing about this plant? Look below:


OMG! IT'S LIKE 8' TALL!!!




These plants don't really exist in real life. They are manufactured somewhere in China and used as lawn ornaments in southwestern America.

REVIEWS!!!

So, I watched Deathtrap starring Alfred from Batman (Michael Caine) and Superman (Christopher Reeves). Basically, it's a movie about people trying to kill each other in cleaver ways so they can take credit for writing a Broadway script. But, when I say "cleaver," I mean it in the way that the show Frasier is "cleaver" and "hilarious." It's pretty dry. Not really worth watching unless you want to see Alfred and Superman makeout...

LET’S GEEEEEEEET READY TO RUMBLE!!!

There's nothing like a political debate in a bar. A few of our friends set up watching the Obama/McCain debate at Goldie's in North Center. I hope Obama wins just for the awesome Chicago factor. I can see it now: Obama Park, Obama Avenue, Obama Diner.


Megan in her "model" pose with Veronica (?). Sorry, I forgot your name and didn't really talk to you at all. What I do remember is you would "marry a man in a Mariache (sp?) band."


Katherine. I watched her cat.


Working on the fire truck on a beautiful Fall Chicago day.


Here's the new Fullerton station on the Brown and Red Lines. I use to live on this stop from 2002-03 during college. Now, I work at this stop. It should be completed sometime in 2009 with the rest of the Brown Line.


The Maxwell (Des Plaines) Street Market has gone upscale. Here's part of the new grounds. For those who don't know, the Maxwell Street Market use to be on Maxwell Street. Then UIC decided to tear down the neighborhood for a new student living center. So, this 100+ year old market was forced to move and the city reluctantly let them exist. Then moved to Canal Street and then developers tore down the neighborhood and put in all new Staples, Whole Foods, and all. What that meant was then had the city force Maxwell Street Market to move... Again... This time, the city made a very smart, very Chicago move. They moved the market to Des Plaines and set the street up for it specifically. It's all marked off with room to grow. They actually give out permits now (which is good and bad if you ask me). But, at least it has survived!!!


Megan and I found Mike Nummerdor at the market. Rosie (his lady) bought the lovely globe pictured here.








By definition; heaven...


This looks like every alley your mother tells you "not to go down." I definately went and it was AWESOME!!!


My newest shirt. Of course, I ran a marathon. Little ol' asthmatic Mike turned into a ball of mucus for eight hours after reaching mile one. Actually, the Marathon takes place later and I will not be running it at all because I tend to stop breathing after a little more than a mile of running...

IN OTHER NEWS:
As of yesterday, I am now fully insured. So, if you have a grudge against me for whatever reason and want to do me physical harm, now is the time to do so.

CLASSIFIEDS:
I have a new Intel-based iMac. Does anyone have Photoshop and/or Quicken that they'd like to lend me?

ON TV:
I'm only going to watch TV tonight. Cubs against the Dodgers in Game 2. White Sox against the Rays in Game 1. Joe Biden against Sarah Palin in the ring.

REVIEWS:
No food reviews this week. Odd, eh? But, I did watch The French Connection with a young Gene Hackman. It was a decent cop movie. Probably the "The Departed" of it's time. It was alright. It kept my attention and it's great seeing 1970s New York.