What Did I Expect?

I expect a good time in Chicago...

More fun at the Chicago History Museum. If I keep going there, I'm going to get fired from my job...


Francey-pants on the Ol' Timey Bike.


Ohhhh... The Great Fire of Chicago in 1871


Frances and the old lady waiting for the train to the Columbian World's Exposition of 1893. She's preserved in carbonite just like Han Solo.


Monkey's wearing barrets at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Seriously, if you are not French you shouldn't wear a barret. I'm looking at you US Army. Does anyone remember the controversy about the US Army starting to wear barrets (which are French) and the hats being made in China? They had to reissue all new hats that were made in America? What a great waste of time and money...


Okay. The Meercats at LPZ are my new favorite exhibit. They spend as much time watching the people as the people do watching them.


THE PUERTO RICAN FESTIVAL IN HUMBOLDT PARK! Look at what was going on right outside my apartment. This guy is grilling steaks on a go-go dancer cage! It was great and it came with rice, plantains, salad, and a potato. The best carni' food I've ever had.


The giant spinning, swinging, puke machine.


Goethe, the mastermind of the German people. Hmmm... So, he's the guy who's all about punctuality and high quality engineering...


Puerto Rican Festival invaded downtown Chicago. Now I am surrounded with Puerto Rican pride at my home and work! It's a good thing.


Puerto Rican Parade crossing Michigan at Jackson.


They had a DJ on the back of this truck and the music was so loud that I was inside and still had to yell to communicate with my co-workers.


Jason (the only guy in the photo) at his babyshower in Forest Park. It was a coed party with dinner and booze. That's where I met Else. She was a fine older woman who serves a stiff drink:

Else: (Pouring rum in a glass) Tell me when.
Me: You'll never here that from me.
Else: I like ya. You're just like my husband.

Photos to come? All I know is I want to move into the Eagles lodge in Forest Park, IL and I hope Else comes with the joint.

This was entertaining me on the drive home. I could have chosen a worse career...


And after drinking with Else at a babyshower, it's always good to follow that up with Dance Dance Revolution. This is at Katie's going away party. She's moving to Orlando to become a "Marilyn Monroe-type" actress at Disney World. So, this is where I get to say "WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!"


Me, Katie, and some guy playing Guitar Hero. Notice how I summon the spirit of Kurt Cobain. If I didn't see my elbows so well in this picture, I'd be worried about being a heroin addict.


Niki In the Park at the Garfield Park Conservatory. What better way to survive a hangover? Plus, Megan and I found $7 on the train platform, which we donated to the conservatory. We better get some damn good karma for that because it would have been much better for us to buy two smoothies since it was 95 degrees with 100% humidity. Anyway, look up Niki De Saint Phalles work at:
http://www.nikidesaintphalle.com/


Most of Niki's work is mosiac glass, beads, and tiles like this lucious smurfette sculpture.


This is my favorite part of the tree museum.


Megan sitting in the ugly Niki chair.


Me and Megan have drinks and a picnic with a snake (under my left arm),


If only you knew how much I was sweating...


Freaked out eagle totem


Egyptian phallic totem.


This is titled Basketball Player #23. Hmmm... Who is that? I mean, we're in Chicago. Just footsteps away from the United Center. Damn you LeBron James!


The coolest sculpture of them all. If this goes missing from the Conservatory, they better check my apartment livingroom.


Megan inside the skull!


A tree of serpents!


The Garfield Park Fieldhouse.

That's it. I'm going to work on the 'zine and layout of the porch. It's another 90+ degree day. So, if you see me lying face down in the shade with a sprinkler on me, don't worry. My neighborhood is still safe.

Chicago Is the Best Friggin' Place On Earth In the Summer!

Well, the title about sums it up...

Let's start off by paying tribute to the American Empire with an eight story flag.


Constrution of Block 37


Another view of Block 37


Nick and Karli enjoying a banana split from the "Ice Cocaine Truck." Little background for those who don't know. We have a ice cream truck that drives around our neighborhood at 10pm or later almost every night. Just seem a bit suspicious since most kids should be in bed. But, it keeps us adult kids all sugered up, I guess...


Went to Kuma's Corner for "Heavy Metal Burgers." This was the "Melvins!"


Karli got the "Judas Priest."


Nick had the "Iron Maiden."


And Mike is polishing off the "Metallica" burger. They were the best burgers I've every had. Especially since I was hungry at 6pm and didn't get it until 9:30pm. It was gone is seconds.


"A Private Bathroom" in Humboldt Park.


RIBFEST! Frances, Karli, and Mike waiting in line for Ribs from Hecky's, which served ribs from a school bus. The ribs were great and the baked beans were awesome. MESSAGE TO KATE DIAL - I OWE YOU RIBS AND THIS IS WHERE WE'LL GO! THEY ARE WAY BETTER THAN APPLEBEES!


Andrew and Matt relaxing at Ribfest.


Frances and I at Goldie's after Ribfest where we met up with Julianne and Damanda Talmadge.


Francy Pants.


Frances taking a nice picture with Mike at Goldies!


This about sums it up.


Mike, Nick, Frances, and I headed down to Maxwell (Canal) Street Market. Nick got Wheel of Fotune and Double Dare for Nintendo. Frances got giant pink sunglasses. All of us got really good tacos.


Frances scoping out the goods.


Looking for a good pair of sunglasses.


While waiting for Damanda to get out of work, Frances and I headed down to the book fair.


We met up with Damanda at the Andersonville Midsommer Fest. It was by far the gayest festival ever. I don't mean that as an insult. I mean there were more gay people here than at the Gay Pride Parade. Here, we see a scene where a cover band was playing all the hits from Journey, Rick Springfield, R. Kelly, Will Smith, and more!


I can't even discribe what this is. Basically, super-muscle gay men dancing with each other topless and either drunk or drugged up. It's not often that dancers in the back of the crowd get more attention than the band on stage.


This was another stage that featured a Motley Crue cover band with hair and all! We didn't even know this was going on until we went on the hunt for food and ended up at T's. Get the burger if you ever go yourself.

That about sums it up. Frances has another day in Chicago and we've just been going to all the great stuff around here.

Either tomorrow or Wednesday (depending on the source) is that start of the Puerto Rican Festival in my neighborhood (Humboldt Park). I'm really excited about it since it looks like chaos will reign. The neighbor kid has come over to do chores for us to earn money so he can go to the carnival. I may have to take some time off of work for this...

xoxo,
Mike

Summer Is Official

Hey all,

Here's another fine installment of what I've been up to...

Wednesday Night BBQ. The newest tradition of the Michigan Exiles.


Apparently, these guys are inspecting the Art Institute's Lion's ass. Actually, they are filming something. Probably some tourist ad or something.


The Museum of Science and Industry. They hosted the CANstruction event, which is a charity fundraiser for the Chicago Food Depository where they make art out of food cans and then use them for making meals.


This should have been the first place winner. Instead it was a replica of the Millennium Park Bean which was small and not well built because it was about to collapse. I'll never understand the dynamics of voting and how poor contestants seem to always win.


This is should have been the second place winner!


The MSI's entry.


Eh...


Big tough truck. The winners of this competition go to some national competition. I know nothing other than that. This site has a lot of winners from the past:
CANstruction Winners


This was my favorite part of the night! These are the back offices to MSI. Look at this office! I am really missing out on my calling. Where do I apply for a job at this place?


Who else has a green cow at their office?


I claim this desk as mine!


The German-American MayFest. It really wasn't that great this year. Unfortunately, the Cubs had a home game that day. Cubs fans in recent years have become the biggest douchebags on earth. After the game, they all came up and kind of ruined the atmosphere. Then again, the $10 cup of Pabst Blue Ribbon didn't help. Even if it was the equivelent of 2.5-3 beers, it was $6-7 more than I pay for PBR at a local bar...


John and Ronan arguing the merits of a girls ass.


John getting Megan's opinion.


The debate continues.


The highlight of the evening was heading to Chubby Wiener's for dinner, which is just south of Lawrence on Western. I highly suggest it. Here's our late night picnic.


John on the #49


Hyde Park Art Fair


We weren't going to go to the fair because it was suppose to rain. Then Amanda called and said she was going. Then we thought we should go after watching Children of Men (good movie). Then it really rained hard going back home. It was alright.

Good times in Chicago.

xoxo,

Mike