Jumping the Shark

It's 80. It's 40. It's 80. It's 40. Welcome to Spring in the Midwest. Look at all these unemployed/underemployed people enjoying the nice weather on a weekday...


View of downtown from Lincoln Park


As much as I talk about hating public art in America, every so often I find a gem that I kind of like. This is near the zoo in Lincoln Park and Lake Shore Drive






Ol' St. Mike's. I have to practice taking architecture pictures before the honeymoon


The fella I'm named after (The guy standing, not the one being stood on).




How close to a Robin can I get before he flies away. About 2 1/2 feet...




What a weird thing to do to a home. This is a facade-ectomy. They preserved the original home on the site (good). Reused it with new construction (understandable). But, there's a huge gap between the original front and the new house which appears to be a patio or something (strange).


City horses






Aqua building


These signs are getting more and more elaborate and militant.


If I ever have a home, you can expect to be welcomed by something like this when you visit...


Oh accountant humor. Marylin's last day is tomorrow and she's making everyone jealous...

Stupid Smiles

What do I love about winter in Chicago?  After the hibernation, a nice day happens and everyone walks around the city with these stupid smiles on their faces.  It's great.  Plus, I get to look at a bunch of buildings I've neglected over the previous few months


Speaking of stupid smiles...


The most accusatory "please help me" sign ever...


My car from high school, except green.  Best car ever.  $5 in Diesel gas every couple of weeks and when it broke down, you opened the hood and could see what the problem was and fix it.  Only thing better is a bike


Megan and I observed Earth Hour by playing Life by candlelight.  How romantic...


Looks more like a Ouija Board...


Our little wedding sweatshop operation


More invites than our printer thought possible.  Or is that more Kraft American Singles than he thought possible?








Nothing like a game of 20 on 20 soccer...


YO!

Hope everyone has a good Easter.

THE CELEB-AQUARIUM!

The day before this picture was taken, it was 65 degrees. Obviously, this was below freezing. Today is somewhere in between. Oh March...

Baby Back Rib chips. How can I love and hate something so much at the same time?

I'm sure there's an interesting story to go along with this. What? I don't know...

St. Josaphat doing some "people watching" near my work. It's a nice perch. Apparently, he was a martyr. But, he became a saint because his body didn't rot.

Apparently, the worst thing you can put in the office at a children's hospital is a mechanical dancing chicken. My poor co-workers, they only wanted it to feel more like Spring...

Originally, Megan was the one that was called "difficult" by the jewelers. She had specific styles in mind, baby fingers, desired and exotic looks, and so on. I, on the other hand, wanted plain, simple, and affordable. Megan got her ring months and months ago and I finally got mine. Simply put, for every one men's ring in a store, there are at least 25 women's rings. Done and done...

I'd Believe That Milkshake Could Do That...

Oh, St. Patty's Day

I believe this falls under the category of "ironic."

Half good advertising; half too-true to be funny...

Megan and I's 4th anniversary DMV shot

We went Sabatino's for dinner, which was really, really, good! REALLY!

It's been really beautiful in Chicago the last few days. Pretty much since Monday. And, it won't be good again this weekend apparently. Oh well...

I use to think the other side of this building was hideous. Was there a discount on all building supplies as Home Depot and the architect just had to use everything?

When did public art turn into "meaningless crap." Let's see... Not the Egyptians...

Not the Greeks... Not the Romans... It wasn't the Renaissance... Not the

Enlightenment... It wasn't during Colonialism... Not around the Civil War... Still

decent during WWI. Great stuff by the WPA during the Great Depression... Ah,

here we go, since WWII. Post war America, what were you thinking? The the war

shock the aesthetics out of you? When will you recover?

My grandpa had this cookie jar. I can tell you, he didn't pay $375 for it.

AMAZING

That's all...

The Procrastination Ends Tonight...

Megan got me a new toy. It's a stick to put my camera on and take pics with. See how excited she is. Why don't know why she gets me toys to torture her with.


Went to the Oriental to watch the Addams Family play. It was alright. Never been to the theater before and that was really impressive.






Went to Cole's and watch Nathan's band, The Pear Traps, play. They're pretty good. http://www.myspace.com/thepeartraps


Went to a Bulls/Timberwolves game to see how NOT to play basketball. It was easily the worst game I've ever seen. But, it was free. So, I got what I paid for. Still fun.




The running of the Bulls


Snowball event at Navy Pier. It was fun, but really insane.




Another fundraiser. This was First Look For Charity at McCormick Place during the Auto Show, which is always fun.


My handy work at my office potluck party. Our wedding will look like this, but just a little bit nicer.


Megan and I took a trip down to Kankakee River State Park. First thing I saw when I stepped out of the car was a bald eagle. After that, I pretty much walked around staring at the sky. It was awesome.






My Valentine's gift from Megan. The most awful thing that could be sold at a liquor store. It's a few shots of Bailey's or something. And, of course, it's from Germany... Weird Germans...


Megan and Rose at The Couch last night having tons of wings!


Mike and I having wings at the Couch. Now, imagine us in tuxes. Again, it will be just like my upcoming wedding.


AWESOME THING OF THE DAY. One of my co-workers came up to me and said, "Congrats, you received a gift from the Random Acts of Kindness Committee." I had no idea such a committee existed. How do I join such a secretive committee and just give out gift cards and jelly belly's? Completely made going to work worth it today!