Embarrassing Things I Know...

A sign of the times. The firemen on Elston Avenue recently removed their x-mas decorations. I imagine one nice thing about working at the fire department is readily available ladders and people who know how to use them safely.


For those of you who doubted me, at the bottom left is 7-11's "Cheeseburger Hot Dog." It may just be a really old normal hot dog. But, it does exist...


Best $4 calendar ever. Look at January. The one on the left is very coy...


Show off...


Megan's toes before work.


Rosie and Megan at the L & L before the comedy show


They are much more attractive in the photo.


Frances and Noah


Two Mikes and a Frances


Megan with her trophy popcorn from the comedy show. Rosie got us free tickets to Maria Bamford. THANKS ROSIE!


Why is this trophy popcorn? Because this was the trivia price given for the right answer:

Announcer: "For a bucket of popcorn, what is the name of the cafe..." Megan's hand shoots up, "on the television show 'Frasier?' Yes, you!" pointing to Megan.
Megan: Leans to me, "What's the answer?"
Me: "Cafe Nervosa."
Megan: "CAFE NERVOSA!"
Announcer: "Correct! How do you know this stuff?"
Megan: "WE DON'T HAVE CABLE!"


The conservatory in Lincoln Park








A plant from the set of Star Trek (not the new remake of the old Star Trek. The original).


Guess the name of this plant.




Sports fans, do you know this plant?


Named in honor of the multiple Stanley Cup champions




If you could read this sign, it would tell you the name if this plant is "Fire Bush."




Andean Bear


This Andean needed a good back scratch


This little hippo was playing with the kids or... trying to break out...


Nothing like a bucket of aardvark...


Upset lion.

That's about it from now. On Thursday, I'm going to the Chicago Auto Show's First Look For Charity for work. So, that should be cool. Me is a suit looking at snazzy cars. Megan's in Rochester right now for a funeral. So, tonight is my night to play Madden in my boxers eating nachos. No wedding info update probably for a couple weeks when we check out the venues and all. It also depends on how disgusting I am after a day of Madden in my boxers eating nachos...

xoxo,

Mike

We're Going To Need A Few Drinks If We Actually Do This...

Megan's work, AIAChicago, decided to throw us a Martini Engagement Party last Friday after work. It was very nice of them to do that for us and a lot of fun. Pictured above is my Orange Bitter Martini with Gin. It was damn good.


Here's Steve. He's an interesting guy. Every time I talk with him, some fascinating story or event happens. This Martini event is one of them. I had no idea he was such a Martini artist. He had this whole thing planned out with chilled glasses, ingredients, and crafted each drink to perfection by rubbing various fruit and stuff. It was amazing just to watch.


Here's Megan cutting up some Mango for a few drinks.


Here's the team at work


Here's Steve explaining the fine balance of making a Martini, "Well, it's a lot of alcohol with a small splash of juice." And that is why Megan and I ended up at Gino's East and ate a whole pizza afterwards...

PS - Has anyone else been watching the "THIS" Movie Channel? It's like HBO that you get with an antennae, but only shows really terrible B movies. And, if you know me, I love B movies. They had Charles Blakely's Monster, Species III, and millions of others I've never heard of before. It's pretty awesome. I highly suggest it...

I <3 New York City

MEGAN AND I WENT TO NEW YORK FOR A WEDDING!


Megan and Liz (the bride)


Look at our awesome hotel room at the Salisbury! We got at upgrade!






central park>


The Dairy>








I like the real bird poop behind the fake bird.








Not the usual type of ceiling you'd find in a public park






http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b37/hfipublishing/New%20York/100_0816.jpg
The Weather Station in Central Park








Inside the weather castle


The Met


<5th Avenue


The Plaza Hotel


The carriage rides into Central Park


FAO Schwartz!








Taking a lunch break at Trump Tower




Ol' St. Patrick's


Rockafeller Plaza












The site of the former World Trade Center


My first official piece of New York style pizza in New York. Notice how I have folded my pizza in half. Why? I don't know.






In Chicago, this may be seen in an alley. Not in NYC. This is right in front of Wall Street, which is probably one of the highest concentrations of wealth on earth. Yet, they have trash piled up on their sidewalk. True wealth, indeed...




The Statue of Liberty WAAAAAAAY off in the distance








The Brooklyn Bridge!






Superdawg and Hot Doug's is much better...

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The New York Times building






I learned so much about coffee beans here...






A celebrity sighting!!!!


Toys R Us in Time Square!






">
,br>Looking good!




Columbia Circle





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Grand Central Station






New York Public Library





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Macy's






Flatiron Building




I guess this is where they stick their homeless population in Manhatten...










A truck with a rocket strapped to it.

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I left the station for food since the only thing I could find was a burger for $12. TO THE STREET VENDOR!!!


THE BEST GYRO I'VE EVER HAD!

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Welcome to Fairfield, Connecticut. This is where we had our rehearsal dinner at the Roger's house (of Roger's and Hammerstein) and also where Megan went to college.

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Before we got real ugly. And we got real ugly that night. It wasn't the drinking or anything fun either. It was food poisoning or something. Worst night of my life and Megan's still dealing with it. What a fun plane ride home that was...

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The happy couple



NEW YORK CITY!!!!