Sunday, December 28, 2008

working mans blues

Christmas is over and work is dying down. I'm sorry I wasn't able to come back and see everyone while they were with their families and whatnot but I'll be able to return for "Christmas" next weekend. It's been a few months since we've returned and I'm looking forward to seeing whoever will see us.

The wife and I made a brief, spontaneous visit to her folks house xmas day. I didn't have an extended break where I got to sleep in and lounge around the living room or even a few hours of time to reset my psyche this year, but christmas day was good. We had some wine and cheese, a good dinner and time with the in-laws - not to mention a brand new bike trainer. The day was capped-off by a sleepy drive home to resume my early morning routine. This is a hard time of year for people who do what I do. You work tirelessly in effort to create (or create the illusion of) what can be described as 'dream christmas' for those more fortunate, while you yourself work sixty hours a week with no break, no time for reflection, no 'holiday season' to speak of. Christmas becomes something achieved for others, and taken away from you. I'd like not to do this next year. Now, I don't want to be all negative; I describe it in this way because the experience, the feeling is unexpected. I'd certainly rather have it this way than the way it was before this job.

Soon friends should be returning to the city and I can resume this season as normal. I'll be working new years day, but I'll try to stay up past midnight and find something to do this new years eve.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

In a few hours it will be official...

...I have gone the entire day without pants.

It's winter now and I've wussed-out and stopped riding to work. I feel a bit guilty about driving the car everyday, but I justify using it with the rational that: a) public transit is more expensive because I already own the car and b) the CTA is unpredictable and when I already wake at 5:30 each morning, getting up nearly 45 minutes earlier would be no fun at all and would most likely adversely affect my quality of life.

Xtina is waiting to hear back from her top-pick school. We were supposed to know by now. We don't know and it's making us nervous and crazy. There is no more nintendo wii to take my mind off the everyday. sigh.

I finally finished reading 'Blink' which I bought for seven dollars at powells books in Portland. The book was worthwhile. I miss Portland. I'll now start reading 'The Ghost Soldiers' until another book distracts me from it until its' due date.

I've recently acquired 'Belle and Sebastian: the BBC sessions,' which is great if you haven't heard it yet. I brought me back to those college days when I first heard Tigermilk. I also got the new Deerhunter album which I like much more than I thought I would - I typically lean towards music much more straightforward. My favorite new album is definitely Neil Young's 'Sugar Mountain: Live.' I can't believe it hasn't been released until now. I ordered 'They Shoot, We Score' from Yo La Tengo's website yesterday. It was the first cd I've ever purchased online and will probably be the last.

I'm hungry and I've already eaten too many cookies: the only prepared food in the house. Xtina doesn't get home until eight. What to do... What to do...

Sunday, November 09, 2008

sunday: pumpkin pancakes and window-sealing plastic

I saw my first snowflake of the season just moments ago. Fortunately, we've almost finished sealing the windows. This year, we're doing all of them, not just the draftiest ones and it's clear we're doing a better job - the plastic isn't buzzing in the window draft. This afternoon we took our weekly trip to the food whole to purchase foods that complete our CSA box into meals. We also stopped at village discount outlet to look for some second hand season-appropriate clothing for me but to no luck.

I had a decent birthday. Aside from getting a new president I also got a set of glencairn glasses - the glass made specifically for tasting scotch. In addition, I got a nice bottle of single malt, single barrel scotch, a bottle of artisan bourbon (can you guess my latest hobby?), a couple gift cards and a bit of cash. I told my brother in college that birthdays stop being fun after 21. That statement may be exaggerated for effect, but it's true that birthdays aren't what they used to be.

I took what may be my last long-distance 'pleasure' ride of the year this week. I wasn't fortunate enough to have time off of work while it was 70 degrees early in the week but I got to go out while it was still in the low 50's. I'll miss it but I'm trying to buy a pair of rollers to turn the bike into a 'stationary bike' as it were. Hopefully if I do this I can pick up in the spring where I left off this fall - which would be great.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Saturday, October 18, 2008

It's Saturday and I've picked up the CSA box, grocery shopped at 'the hole,' and cleaned the apartment. Tonight we're having Matt and Mandy over for dinner. Rest assured we'll clear out the magic hat variety box purchased today and I'll awake tomorrow morning with a sore shoulder from swinging a wiimote around the living room. Very little other news to speak of - Xtina is sending out her first nursing school application this week.

Making dinner, Xtina is listening to Garrison Keillor in the kitchen. It's curious that while I've always found his program irritating, It's starting to give me nostalgic feelings - but nostalgic feelings for a time where I also didn't like prairie home companion. strange.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Day trip to Pullman



Each year when the air begins to turn crisp and temperatures fall, I start to get a bit of cabin fever. This may be why we tend to go on a significant vacation every year at this time. However, with xtina's school schedule and our restricted budget, that simply isn't in the cards. Not sure what to do with our weekday off together, this morning we debated several options. We considered visiting starved rock, geneva, or warren dunes state park but in the end it was obvious we didn't want to spend hours in the car and a fortune at the pump. We chose a trip a bit closer to home and are happy with the results.

We started our trip with lunch at a local culinary institution: Hot Dougs. They're widely known for unusual gourmet hot dogs and weekend duck fat fries but they also have the best veggie dogs in town - served chicago style with everything on 'em: tomato, pickle, grilled onion, celery salt, relish and mustard. Make sure you go before noon because the line can reach all the way around the block.





From Hot Dougs we drove to the far south side to visit Chicago's historic Pullman neighborhood. To those of you who aren't familiar with this part of midwestern history, the town of Pullman was the brainchild of George M. Pullman and his Pullman Palace railcar company. Slated to be a 'workers paradise' Pullman created a model village adjacent to the factory complete with row houses, markets, a church, hotel and plenty of public space. In the height of its operation the town was dubbed "The Worlds Most Perfect Town." Shortly thereafter, however, the famous Pullman Strike begins when leaders refuse to hear workers grievances. Two years later the Illinois Supreme Court rules that the Pullman company cannot own non-factory buildings and is forced to stop collecting rent from the homes and municipal buildings (including the church) where they were demanding a six percent return on investment. The homes and buildings have been privately own ever since.





The Pullman Palace Car Company has long since closed, and after community leaders and residents banded together in the 1970's, saving the town from demolition and renovated most buildings, Pullman now faces a new onslaught of problems.





Only six weeks ago, the state of Illinois suspended access of the Hotel Florence to the Historic Pullman Foundation which until recently operated the building for the past thirty years, hosting events and tours regularly. Fifteen years ago, the state purchased the Clocktower/factory building (pictured)and the hotel (pictured, top) with promises to open a much-needed Pullman museum. The state never made good on its promises and the Clocktower, once painstakingly renovated by neighbors and volunteers, now sits deteriorating behind barbed wire. Now with the closure of the Hotel Florence, a hotel still in private operation as recently as 1975, all foundation tours have been called off. The building sits darkened and unused with no plans for further renovation or public viewing. Now stripped of access to many of its assets, the Pullman Foundation appears to be hanging by a thread, ironically operating by the aid of a sole volunteer in a 1960's stone box building on the site of the former marketplace. This sad tale appears to be business as usual for the state of Illinois, notorious for underfunding its historical assets. It's worst (in)actions include razing entire neighborhoods, allowing limitless facade jobs, neglecting Worlds Fair artifacts, and allowing the Uptown Theater to rot all while putting on the typical progressive face for tourists and dignitaries.





While we were so far south we figured we might as well go to our favorite brewpub: Three Floyds Brewery in Munster, Indiana. Inside the tiny pub in a secluded business park the furniture is ikea, the music is generic, and the decor consists of Star Wars paraphernalia, but the beer is Fantastic! The demand for three floyds beer is astronomical, limiting their distribution to the Chicago metro market, all while scoring top honors at national beer festivals.





After a gorch fock, a munsterfest, and a topless witch, we were on our way home.

A more complete photo set can be viewed here.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

9pm with a gumballhead

My downstairs neighbors have all their kids and grandkids over to watch the sox game. I figure I don't have to watch the game myself as I can tell the outcome of each play based on the frequency and volume of yeahs and boos. They're pretty hilarious because they're not my family.

I got summoned for jury duty today and I'm trying not to be pissed about it. It's on a Monday morning where I would normally be working frantically trying to make serious deadlines. Also, it's in the same week that I'm going back to Michigan and I can't exactly afford to take two paid days off right now. Then again, there isn't anything I can do about it so I shouldn't sit and stew over it all day. but I will.

The days have gotten much cooler. This morning I left the house (on bike) in a t-shirt as normal, not registering that it was fifty degrees outside. By the time I determined it was too cold to bike I was too late to turn around. I grit my teeth and faced the wind. Just the other day I was thinking that if I lived in a more temperate climate I could probably go without a car at all and continue riding longer and longer distances.

After doing serious damage to this computer last week. I'm back online with a freshly reformatted hard drive. I'm kevdek and I'm a regretful PC.

NPR is streaming the new Bob Dylan bootleg series. I'm pretty into it.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

back to the week

The weekend ended up being everything I was hoping it would be. The Cubs won the division title - my seats were so close to the field I felt I was part of the game. I will say this about major league baseball - it moves so quickly! When going to a Whitecaps game, for instance, it seems like you're there all day. Granted Saturday was a relatively short game, but there was so much going on it didn't even feel like I was settled in before 'go cubs, go.' I'm glad I went, though. I had a great time and I'm not feeling much cognitive dissonance about the value of the tickets - I'll probably never get such great seats again.

The Hideout Block Party was fun, too. Attendance wasn't as strong as last year due mostly to what many call a weaker lineup. In fact, the festival didn't sell out for the first time in years. Nonetheless, the acts I went to see were fantastic. And Neko Case performed, 'Buckets of Rain,' my favorite Dylan cover.

Xtina and I will be returning to Grand Rapids Oct. 30th for a long weekend.

More updates to follow

Thursday, September 18, 2008

weekend view

Work has been pretty tough lately. I'm looking forward to what is shaping-up to be a fantastic weekend. Saturday, although I'm working in the morning, I've managed to score some pretty sweet tickets to the Cubs and Cardinals game. In fact, they're about 20 rows behind home plate and are going for an unspeakable amount of money on ticket brokering sites right now. I gave some serious consideration into selling them but after a day deep in thought and helpful discussions with Xtina and with Metal, I decided for a number of reasons that I should go to the game after all.

As soon as the game ends I'm biking south to the Hideout Block Party where I'll see one of my favorite artists - Neko Case. Afterward I'll sprint downtown where I'll start an impromptu parade in my honor and will bring all races and classes of Chicagoans together in a choreographed rendition of 'Twist and Shout.'

Well, not that last part but I'm one trip to the art institute away from what I call the 'Bueller Trifecta.'

Sunday I have the day off and will spend it doing a long ride in the morning - I'm feeling better these days and didn't end up having to see a doctor. My favorite cycle route (the one in which I got hurt) is completely under water in light of last weeks events but the routes on the south side should be fine. After my ride I'll be going back to the Block Party for a concert by the likes of Mucca Pazza, Ratatat, and The New Pornographers - featuring Neko Case.

I'm nervous about getting my hopes up that everything will work out, but I think this weekend will be the kind of urban weekend that I've been waiting for for a long, long time.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

slip and fall

I may have mentioned this previously but my place of employment has an annual bicycle contest that I have been participating in all summer. My goal has always been to finish in the top ten and as of two weeks ago I was ranked seventh overall in the region. Prizes include trips to NYC and to Guatemala, gift certificates and PTO hours. The competition ends in two weeks so I've been hitting it pretty hard.

This past Wednesday I got up at dawn intending to finish my standard 65 mile training ride (I try to stay around 20 mph). The trail was a bit wet so I slowed down but slipped around a corner on what must be the first fallen leaves of the season. I'm pretty scraped-up on my hip and elbow and until just recently I had some serious pain in my bones - so much so I missed a free Andrew Bird concert downtown.

I've (correction: Christina has) been tending my wounds the best I can and I'm still in some pain but I wouldn't let it keep me from riding in the Chicago Bicycle Federation's Boulevard Lakefront Tour. Early this morning I bandaged myself up and competed today's 93 mile trek (63 miles on the course and 30 miles to and from the starting line in Hyde Park.) I didn't think I'd be able to finish - even yesterday - but Xtina and I made it. I love group rides; I'm considering riding in the North Shore Century Ride.

A friend of mine is riding to the U.P. in a few weeks. It makes me think I should try riding to Grand Rapids sometime. The only problem would be the route.

Xtina thinks I should get a bike tattoo.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

what I did on my summer vacation...



I'm back from vacation and taking it easy - enjoying a Saturday off. I have a pile of wet, smelly laundry to do and I'm letting our equally wet, smelly tent, packs and boots air out in the backyard. Our time in Portland was relaxing and enjoyable. As you previously saw I spent some time riding a rented bike, walked the city excessively, visited Powell's books multiple times, and ate out for each meal. At 'The Farm,' a restaurant that exclusively features local products, I had one of the best (and most expensive) meals I've ever had - a plate of local cheese and fruit, Columbia river sturgeon with root vegetables and heirloom tomatoes, a bottle of Willamette Valley pinot grigio and pecan dulce de leche cheesecake. Oh man, my mouth waters just thinking of it. On Saturday we visited the Portland Farmers Market, which I believe is the largest farmers market in the US in terms of number of vendors. For lunch I purchased what were sure to be the worlds juiciest peaches, a sourdough loaf from a local bakery and some great fennel-ed chevre. The temperature did reach 105 for a couple days and it did keep me indoors for longer than I had wanted, but I successfully enjoyed the city and gave serious thought into relocating there. I don't think I'll ever go into a move as optimistically as I did my move to Chicago, but quality of life seems to be pretty high there and they seem to have my lifestyle interests and activities widely available - from local, good vegetarian cuisine to plentiful bicycling and a seemingly endless supply of great backpacking within hours of downtown. Don't get me wrong - there are plenty of jerks there, and some neighborhoods were definitely better than others (I was terribly disappointed after visiting what was described to me as the 'logan square' of portland), and I felt a little square, but I'd definitely be fine with relocating there in the near future. So, Xtina won.

The second part of the trip involved us backpacking the famed Timberline Trail around Mount Hood. But due to recent heat and a short spring half of the trail was closed due to washouts and forest fires. We altered the trip to include a section of the Pacific Crest Trail with a side trip to the top of Yoakham's Ridge where we saw real live glaciers melting and bald eagles nesting. Camping at Ramona Falls the weather turned cold and it rained for almost thirty straight hours. At some point we decided we weren't equipped to deal with freezing wet windy weather (we weren't) we hiked eleven miles out and 1/2 mile up to the historic Timberline Lodge (where they shot 'The Shining') to try and check in for the night. Struggling against the wind and rain we waddled into the lobby during a wedding, looking and smelling terribly and checked into the cheapest room they had left. And while it was more then I had ever personally spent on a hotel room and the food was shamefully expensive ($14 boca burgers, folks), we had a wonderful time. Our room featured what had to have been the softest bed on the face of the earth (all down), a hot shower and dry, safe space. There was talk of me, as a soft bed afficionado, starting a new magazine called soft beds quarterly where I review hotels based on the softness of their beds, discuss the latest trends in mattress softness and even include soft beds personals.

The lobby and breakfast buffet were adequately filled with backpackers, many of them hiking through the PCT. Because we had packed more food than we would have guessed we would use, we offered it to some rad PCT dudes who were also toughing out the storm. They gladly accepted the food and after some conversation it was revealed that it was my college friend Mando's Group! Only he wasn't there. It appeared as though I missed slick B by only a matter of hours because he did a side trip with some hippies. Mando - I'm sorry I missed you on the trail. It's funny too because when I checked in I thought how funny it would be if Mando would start the pct in april and I'd randomly run into him in Oregon months later. It would have been a great coincidence.

Now, it's back to work and Xtina starts school on Monday. I'm terribly jealous, I've got to figure out something to do that doesn't involve working a retail job.





Wednesday, August 13, 2008

my oh my

I woke up super early considering the local time. After waiting for five hours for a bike shop to open, I was on my way. As far as good days I've had in the last few years, today ranks near the top.

Check my route - I made it public this time.

The next few days the temp is expected to climb to nearly 100. And while it's only 80 right now, I'm vowing not to let it ruin my vacation.

Thursday, August 07, 2008

_____________vacation___



Just a few days ago it dawned on me that Xtina and I will be flying out to Portland and backpacking around Mt Hood this coming tuesday. I had to dig up the emailed flight confirmation just to be sure. Tuesday also, then, marks Xtina's last day with the food hole. Yikes! It's a good thing this trip will fall on a new credit card billing cycle.

Now I'm in pretty good shape these days in terms of my cardiovascular health, but I'm very unprepared for continuous high-elevation hiking. I've only worn my hiking boots a twice on very short neighborhood walks. Xtina is in the kitchen dehydrating stir-fry and I'm preparing a list of things to purchase last-minute from REI tomorrow. So far the list includes:

sanitary shovel (to dig a hole in which to shit)
bio-degradable toilet paper (to aid in shitting)
bear whistle?
ropes
pants
compass
plastic flask (to drink bourbon out of)

We'll be gone for almost two weeks, only four of those days will be spent in the woods, the rest of the time will be spent at a nice hotel near downtown portland. We may check out some schools; I'll definitely check out the biking scene. Updates will be sure to come.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Tonight

Tonight:

Drinking twelve-year craft scotch while listening to a podcast of a recent Tom Waits show. The two truly go hand-in-hand. Also, I'm doing this in our pleasantly cool kitchen while Xtina makes a carrot cake, allowing me to lick the spoon covered in cream cheese icing.

This afternoon I took my signature 65 mile ride through cook and lake counties - it's amazing what a week long interruption in ones training schedule can make. I was exhausted but managed to keep my speed up. My knees are creaking audibly.

Maybe Erin and I can go shopping for 'Life is Good' T-shirts.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Update

Update: They arranged a limo to drive me from Detroit Metro to the store.

I felt like Kwame.

I did actual work for about an hour today before quitting time was called and it was time to go out for drinks. Tomorrow I'm visiting Ann Arbor.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

out of "office"

I'm leaving tomorrow morning on a business trip to Rochester Hills, MI. I've got mixed feelings - I don't especially want to leave Xtina for a week but I suppose it will be good to get away.

Not much new around here. Pitchfork was fun, everything was exactly as I had expected it to be. The Tour de France is over so I can stop watching three hours of television every day. I came home a couple times for family-related activities.

I'm currently ranked seventh in overall cycling in my work's regional competition. I'm riding like crazy these days. Friday I took the sixty five mile trip to Lake Bluff and yesterday I rode with friends to the Lynfred Winery in Roselle. I'm saving up for Look-style pedals, shoes and cleats.

In just a few weeks we're going to Portland so I can feel as good about the city as Xtina does. We'll be staying in one of our favorite hotels, the Jupiter, and for a few days we'll be backpacking on Mount Hood. I suppose I should break in those new hiking boots sometime.

I'm feeling a bit disconnected these days - I'll have to make some phone calls when I get back.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

I made it!

It was pretty rough, though. I fell around mile twenty and was very close to getting hit by a truck at mile fifty. I'm tired and sore and sunburned, but thrilled that I accomplished my summer goal so early. Perhaps I should try a trek to Michigan next. I'll wait, though. After riding 100 miles I can't even think of getting on that bike again for a couple days.

By sheer chance I was given a long forth of July weekend off and I returned to Michigan. The gang was all there and I drank my fair share of oberon from the mini keg.


Update: I am unbelievable sore today. I calculated that I burned over 4,100 calories on the trip and my body is wrecked.

Friday, July 04, 2008

Back in Town

After a late night, I started with a great morning.

Update: link should work without forcing registration

Sunday, June 22, 2008

summer is here

I went for a ride this afternoon before the rain started. Now it's raining and I'm stuck inside doing dishes and watching Caddyshack on VH1. My new bike has been treating me very well - aside for some hamstring pain around mile 40 I didn't really 'hit the wall' concerning energy until I was five miles from home. I'm giving some consideration into setting a formal training regiment with the goal of making it to the Wisconsin state line and back in an afternoon. This is what I've been up to lately. Thank you president Bush for the tax incentive check.

Tonight Josh Ritter is playing a show at the west loop neighborhood festival for only $10 admission but it's supposed to rain all evening and I'm pretty tired from earlier today. I'm sure I'll hear about this from Peter and Erin.

Speaking of shows - we had a great time at the Mark Kozelek show. The old town school of folk music is a fantastic place - small and intimate amphitheater with great sight lines and relaxed attitude. It helped I scored 2nd row seats. He played very few songs from his solo records and instead focused heavily on playing old Red House Painters tracks and songs from 'ghosts of the great highway.'

I've been listening to Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. I'm getting ready for pitchfork.


Our first CSA box was delivered yesterday. Last night we enjoyed the freshest salads I've ever had accompanied by Cypress Grove Chevre on a Tuscan loaf and a delightful bottle of Pinot Grigio from Sonoma.

Summer is here, indeed.

Friday, June 13, 2008

"...you want to hire a choirboy you can go back to Grand Rapids. I've been to that scumbag town, it's full of 'em."

...Is a line Peter Boyle uses in Paul Schrader's 1979 film "Hardcore" which Xtina and I watched last night based on a g-rad discussion board mention. If you haven't seen this movie you should check it out. It's filled with GR nostalgia and plenty of nudges to those who are familiar with its' subculture. It was nice to view that Calvinist familiarity from the outside-in. I can see why many in city administration vowed never to have another film shot in the city again. The movie makes GR appear in the same way the news media are making mormon enclaves appear today.

It's been incredibly hot in the city for the last week or so.

Not too much is new...working, sweating, riding, eating. Oberon is back in town under the guise of 'Kalamazoo Unfiltered Wheat Beer.' Perhaps I'll post a photo.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Just got home from Ill'nois...

...Lock the front door o boy

I had to catch a ride with xtina on her way to work this morning because the cta is completely unreliable on early holiday mornings. That is why I'm here almost an hour early, blogging in a dark office before six a.m. on memorial day.

Not too much happened this weekend - I found myself working the entire time. I didn't have any alternate plans, I just miss the holiday weekend in general. I suppose I did watch 'The Big Lebowski' while drinking a Two Brothers 'Victor's MemoriAle Altbier' - that may count as memorial day-related.

I'm taking a few days off this coming weekend. I'll be returning home to go to my younger brother's high school graduation open house. Maybe I'll see a couple of you around. Peter - I'm looking in your direction.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Budget Hero


Via Boing Boing, I found this game created by american public media. I've spent almost an hour playing around with it. The saddest part is discovering how easy it is balance the budget, eliminate debt and create a healthier society for all. If only politics were this simple. Try it out - you can even compare your policies with those of other ages, locations and persuasions.

Warning - contains sound.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

annual aching for more

Today is my day off - and a perfect afternoon to listen to Tom Waits' Closing Time in my underwear. I'm not sure how the rest of the day will pan out, but I want to get some more reading done, watch a movie so I can get something else from netflix, wash the dishes, look at stuff online and perhaps go for a short ride if it isn't too windy. Then again, I have tomorrow off too so I'll probably put everything aside for tomorrow. Work is the same, the weather is changing and with it my annual aching for more.

Sunday Xtina and I biked to the Chicago Green Festival. The green festival is essentially a 'green business' trade expo with exhibitors and speakers. We weren't able to catch Amy Goodman on Saturday but we did see former Nader runningmate Winona LaDuke.

I was nervous about going. I'm grateful to christina for essentially holding my hand through it. You see, events like this typically give me mixed feelings. On one hand a feeling of hope that there are organizations out there fueled by my uncompromising values and on the other hand feelings of jealous rage that I'm not or in some cases, been kept from, being a part of them. I had overwhelmingly positive feelings Sunday, though. I met some interesting people with interesting visions and goals, ate some good vegetarian cuisine - both field roast gyros and catered Soul Vegetarian East - and drank some local mead and great lakes beer. I was delighted to see my place of employment portrayed in a glowingly positive light again - I needed that. It makes me feel good about not taking the corporate jobs I turned down when on many days I tend to curse my values and ideas for bringing me to my level of labor.

I spoke to representatives from a few schools offering 'green MBA' programs. I certainly hadn't considered an MBA in many years and I don't necessarily want to go back to school but at some point I may have to realize I can't get a career/lifestyle I want without one - judging from my own experience that is. After doing some research it became clear that the programs I'm most attracted to are by far the least legitimate and the ones I'm most repelled by - the 'traditional' mba - the opposite. It's no question that I learn better in a nurturing, collaborative environment that a cutthroat, competitive one. To be honest, I can't research consecutively for long amounts of time because the whole thing makes me so nervous.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

the burning, oh the burning

After a 53 hour workweek last week I seem to have gotten a day off on what appears to be the nicest day the city will see in the foreseeable future. So far I've finished reading 'Where I'm Calling From,' picked up the apartment, gotten groceries, taken stacked-up bottles and cans to the recycling center, and listened to the new album of Scarlett Johansson singing Tom Waits covers. Ask me how I feel about the latter, well, later. I did not, as I usually do on a nice day off, go for a ride. On Sunday I went for a pleasant ride which ended up being a long-distance trek to Wolf Lake, Indiana. After nearly sixty miles and four hours in the mid-day sun, my leg is burning like mad. The worst is the sunburn on my kneecap which reminds me with each step I take not to overdo it again. It wasn't all bad, though, I had a nice ride and saw things I hadn't seen before and only once on the south side did I say, "I really shouldn't be here," due to a gap in the cycling signage.

My leg is still burning but things are looking up because I purchased another pint of my latest obsession, goat milk ice cream. A miracle in every cup.

Summer is here and soon I'll have Kalamazoo Brewing Co's 'Oberon.' For now I'll settle for a sale-priced six pack of Victory's 'Whirlwind' - not bad for $7.99. I also purchased lemonade and Green Mountain Salsa - yep, summer is here indeed. Outside I hear the sounds of bells from ice cream carts and the occasional loop of 'do your ears hang low' - now with an urban hip-hop beat.

Work is going great - I was awarded with recognition of statistically being the 'best buyer in the midwest' and for having the most efficient department in the region. I've also been given an exclusive contract with a famous cheesemaker in London and next month I will be one of two midwestern pervayors of a rare raw-milk stilton, a cheese made from the original culture from the middle ages. Things are going smoothly, though, some of my better vendors are having a hard time supplying me due to the goats being in 'kidding season,' which I find charming every time I say it. My CSA this summer has a learing center where this summer they offer a cheesemaking class. I need to remember to sign up for that soon. Xtina is busy, busy, busy and it has become very clear that there is no way for us to do all the things we want to do before the weather gets cold once again. And so it goes.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

sunday morning before inventory night

I'm reading again thanks to the fantastic new website update by the chicago public library. Now entering the 21st century, chicago library patrons can finally place holds and renew books online. It feels good to read. It feels good to start and finish tasks. Thanks to Peter's goodreads profile, I've picked up some interesting and highly enjoyable books and I'm also anticipating his very own book in my mailbox each day I come home from work. It's still not here, Peter.

Xtina is back from Portland and seemingly already wishing she had never returned home. It appears she spent the week gallivanting around the metro area, visiting waterfalls and shopping at small bookstores and specialty food boutiques. After a week of that, who would want to go back to dealing with adult children from behind a grocery store counter all day? We'll get out of here one way or another.

On the bright side, I have someone cooking for me again.

Summer is on its way and with it I've gotten back on the bike again. Last week I completed a trip I had hoped to do last fall but was held back due to construction. Foolishly, I should have waited until I was in better shape to complete the 42 mile ride out of cook county but I made it and almost collapsed at the finish.

We're in the process of planning the summer. We're wide open save for a wedding or two, a concert or two, and ready to get into the outdoors again. We might go backpacking as soon as early June. Of course, I'll have a lot of training to complete by that time. I'm also surprisingly considering shelling out over $200 per ticket to see lollapalooza. Nah, I'm too cheap for that. Surely, our plans will involve coming back home in the near future. I suppose it has been some time already.

Work is a hassle. I had to change the prices on most items this week to catch up to the shitstorm of rising fuel costs, poor dollar/euro exchange rate and skyrocketing demand for milk. Customers are pissed and are letting me know about it. At this point in the US economic crisis, it should be no doubt to anyone that things aren't going well - costs of goods keep climbing while real wages are declining. Why then, when my store raises prices (because I can tell you definitively, I'm paying more for wholesale goods) it's a frivolous money-grab? One thing is certain - this job will change - either in goods offered or shopping habits, things will change. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Bells is Back!


That's right folks, after a year of absence on liquor store shelves all over Cook County Bells Beer is back in Illinois under a new guise. The somewhat unattractive packaging refers to the beer as Kalamazoo Royal Amber Ale. Reportedly, this is the same beer as Bell's Amber (the bottles note that it's brewed and bottled by Bells) which can only mean the name was sold to a new distributer, not the product itself. In a few weeks we'll be getting the 'new' oberon. While I've been exposed to much more enjoyable beer since I lost my bells, (think Three Floyds among others) there is something nostalgic and satisfying about the Beer of my formative drinking years. Summer simply isn't the same without Oberon. There is no word yet on the distribution of Two Hearted Ale or what that may be called. Our favorites so far include Broken Hearted Ale or Cold Hearted Ale.

Friday, March 21, 2008

thick, wet snow

Just when I thought spring had sprung I get out of work this afternoon to find my car buried in snow. sheesh.

I haven't updated despite having things to write. Now that I'm on I can't seem to remember what they were. I'm also very, very busy. I'm working six days this week and next and I don't have another day off until next week saturday. I suppose I need the money to buy that new bike I'm lusting after. Yesterday I was off with xtina. We had a good day of cleaning, hot dog eating, and new hiking boots buying.

Xtina is leaving me. Well, she's just going to portland to visit her sister for a week but I'm laying on a guilt trip pretty heavily claiming abandonment. I'm still not sure what I'll do for the week or more importantly, what I'll eat. Speaking of which, she should be back from work any minute to start dinner.

Friday, March 14, 2008

buying tix, riding bikes

At approximately 9:16am today, the following phone call took place:

Old Town School of Folk Music Employee: Hello?

Me: Oh, hi. I've been online trying to get tickets to the Mark Kozelek show in June. It seems that less than fifteen minutes after tickets went on sale they said there weren't two adjacent seats left. I wouldn't normally call, but the website was having problems and I see this as somewhat unlikely.

OTSE: Yeah, tickets went on sale to members about a week ago.

Me: oh (sound of heart breaking). Is it common for tickets to sell out to members?

OTSE: Not especially. I know we didn't sell all of the tickets to tix.com (their 3rd party brokering site) let me see if we have anything left. (long pause) It looks like we still have 170 tickets available.

Me: That's awesome. I just need two.

OTSE: okay, it looks like I still have tickets in the center of rows 1, 2, 5, and 8.

Me: what?

OTSE: you just need two? take your pick of rows 1, 2, 5, and 8.

Me: I guess I'll take two tickets second row center.

OTSE: sounds great. There's no surcharge for phone orders (transaction takes place). Have a great weekend, I'll get those in the Mail today.

Me: (Baffled, Bewildered) Yeah, you too. Thanks.


And that is how I beat out thousands of people for tickets for some of the best seats in the house. Things like that don't typically happen to me. I was so excited I also bought three day passes to the Pitchfork festival while I still could. Yes, the whitest person in the city will be seeing Public Enemy in concert.


I went for a twenty mile bike ride this afternoon and I'm pooped. That was such a short distance last fall. I'm looking forward to getting in better shape again.

I went into a couple of bike shops today. I think I'm going to buy this bike for commuting.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

part two

Despite my greatest efforts, I can't seem to wake up later than 6:30 on my days off. Xtina has no trouble sleeping in - that's what she's doing right now. Basically, I'm on a daylight-based sleep schedule and the only problem is that it's march. Daylight savings is going to mess me up.

I took the bike out for the first time Thursday. The sun was bright and warm and my neighborhood was posting temps in the mid to upper 30's, which in the fall would have been completely unacceptable, but thursday it was good enough for me. By the time I got to diversey harbor the wind had picked up and with it wind chills far below freezing. I crouched below an embankment for warmth and watched ducks and geese walk on the frozen harbor. My bike laying next to me, we were all waiting for spring to arrive.

Xtina is up and bleary-eyed now. I'll try to get us out the door so we can check out the bongo room, a long-standing brunch place in wicker park, when they open to avoid standing in the cold. Oh how I wish I were at SXSW.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Saturday a.m., pre Car Talk

After sleeping for twelve hours Thursday night, I'm back up at 6:30 this morning - which doesn't seem so bad when it's bright and sunny outside and I can hear birds chirping outside my window. That's one of the many things I enjoy about logan square - birds that aren't pigeons. Christina isn't up yet but when she does emerge from the bedroom I'll be prompt in reminding her that today is the day her relatives are coming into the city and taking her to see 'Jersey Boys.' Xtina is responsible for taking them out to dinner and navigating them through the loop. I'm pretty relieved that I'm working later today. The weekend isn't a total washout, I had yesterday off and I will have tomorrow off. Also, I'll be home in time to see wilco on SNL.

Speaking of Wilco, the show was fantastic. I was delightfully surprised by some of my old faves - pick up the change, box full of letters, blue eyed soul, etc.. and some rarities - bob dylans 49th beard, remember the mountain bed, hesitating beauty. I was also awed by the extended appearance of Andrew Bird and the Bird/Tweedy (not tweedy bird) whistling duet. We were able to get good seats near the center and the band sounded fantastic. I recently got a Tweedy/ Bennett show done in Chicago before the Summerteeth tour at the Old Town School of Folk Music. The show is chock-full of rarities and mermaid avenue tracks.

I recently got tix to see the new pornographers but I just discovered they will be sans Bejar. They could have told me that when I bought the tix. Perhaps I'll buy destroyer tickets at the logan auditorium to compensate. I'm okay with it just as long as they don't announce they'll be without Neko Case, my girlfriend.

Yesterday I had a good day off. Being Feb. 29 I went to the last day one could get into the Hopper/ Homer exhibit at a discounted fare. The Hopper exhibition was great, despite the hoards of people fighting for spots directly in front of NightHawks. Hopper appeals to my taste of Americana, love of simplicity, and interest in New England historical cities in an almost embarrassing way. It warms my heart. I can say I enjoyed every step of his career for different reasons - from new england watercolors to NYC cityscapes and cape cod couples. Homer, on the other hand, was a lot of watercolor seascapes. I don't mean to hate, the exhibit must have had more than 200 pictures, most of which looked strikingly similar and they were so small I couldn't see from the distance I had to stand with the crowds anyway. From there I went to a couple cheese shops to scope out the competish and come up with new ideas for products to carry. I'm trying to make my purchasing more locally-oriented. I've already brought in Zingermans products from Ann Arbor, now I have to research some new creameries in Coopersville, MI, Iowa and Oregon.

My Saturday morning is about to start, I think I'll catch up on my Good Magazine before it's time for some car talk.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

answer: that's just the way it is

Ahh, with my new wireless internet I can sit in the kitchen and make a blog post, watch the sun set behind rows of houses and eat peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon. Yes, Xtina is at work and yes, I suppose I could have eaten peanut butter with a spoon without wireless internet but having that convenience makes it even better. So far today I have picked up the apartment, cleaned the apartment (exaggerated), gone to the lavanderia and done the laundry, washed the car, hung the curtains and washed all the dishes. I am going to have one happy wife when she gets home. That, my friends, is how married life is done.

Tomorrow night is inventory night at work which means I'll be there until 1am counting and by the end of the night we'll see if my first fiscal period as buyer was a success. I'm a bit nervous. I think I've done okay, sales have remained constant but I've increased inventory a little more than I'm happy with. The search to do something entirely different drags on. I'm working on getting at least one weekday off every week so I can volunteer my time and balance my life out a bit and do something I actually feel strongly about. My life is much more enjoyable and balanced than it was a year ago - I'm feeling like myself again - my career problem is simply constantly staring me in the face.

We've been fairly stagnant on dinners lately - although a couple nights ago we had xtina's signature vegan vodka penne, but I've had some great beers. Last night we shared a bottle of framboise lambic out of real lambic glasses. In the last week though I've had the Carolus Easter Ale - in it's U.S. debut, Sara Buckwheat Ale and Goose Islands' surprisingly good bourbon county stout. I've been buying beer and checking in with beeradvocate.com - an outstanding publication.

We'll be back in town next week. I hope to see you at the Hop Cat.

I almost forgot: my wilco concert is Monday. I saw the setlist from last nights show and it looked great. They reported played for three hours. It's going to be awesome.

Friday, February 01, 2008

this just in: peapod.com carries scotch

I finally did it - today I caved and got cable television and internet installed. I'm already feeling a bit of buyers remorse over the television. I fear my frugality will force me to 'get my money's worth' from my television and I will die cold and alone facing the hum and glow of my tv set. On the other hand, I just watched a show called 'weird u.s.' on the history channel and I haven't seen a minute of vh1. I must use these powers only for good. One day down - I'll take this one day at a time. Getting internet access, on the other hand, was long overdue. I had exhausted my supply of unprotected wireless networks from surrounding houses and had little choice if I was to remain part of the twenty first century.

In a related note I have the new Cat Power album, and while it didn't get great reviews from pitchfork (who never rate two consecutive albums from the same artist favorably)I think it's pretty enjoyable. She didn't change what I liked about 'the greatest'. Next on my list: I must finally get Dr. Dog. He has a track on the latest paste sampler and it kicks ass. Concerts that are coming to Chicago that I must see: Leonard Cohen (first in 20 years!), Sun Kil Moon, the National, the new pornographers and several others. I'm still gazing lovingly at the Wilco tickets in my desk drawer.

Last night we continued our ritual of going to small bar in the afternoon with work friends, drinking too much, eating fried food, and coming home too exhausted to make dinner. I've had pasta for the last four meals and I can't wait for christisha to get home from work in a half hour and make enchiladas. Yum-O!

Saturday, January 19, 2008

cooking, buying, brunching

It's the weekend and I'm actually home. Well, not only that but I'm watching christina cooks - not my wife, christina, cooking but a show on one of our local pbs affiliates called 'christina cooks.' It's a vegan cooking show in which christina's husband (again, not me) performs folk music on the intro and outro to the show. I've decided that I'd like to learn how to play the slide guitar. I'll try and take lessons from an alt-country musician friend of ours and perhaps, in time, I'll be able to play transition music while my wife, christina, cooks.

As already stated, I'm home on the weekend. Many of you don't know this but I recently got a promotion at work which gives me a much better schedule and rate of pay in return for worrying about stuff and trying hard. I'm now a buyer which means I, solely, determine my own product mix and interact with our vendors ordering and receiving product. Naturally, this occurs on weekdays so I'll get at least one weekend day off every week. Nice, I know. Hopefully I can use these skills I've gained to eventually do this type of work for a locally owned business; at which point I can cut some of the overwhelming cognitive dissonance.

In other news, xtina is leaving our store this week for the downtown location. She's bummed about saying goodbye to all her coworker friends but she knows she'll be treated better at a different store. She's giving some consideration into going back to school these days so she may not have to worry about it for too long.

Today, on our quest to conquer every vegetarian restaurant in the city, we 'brunched' at Victory's Banner, a brunch place dedicated to studying the Indian Spiritual Master Sri Chinmoy. The flavors were on the okay side but everything had serious textural problems. Despite the choices we have in vegetarian dining, it seems when we visit a new place we spend the meal talking about how much we love Marie Catribs. Oh how I miss Marie's.

Well, I smell cookies in the kitchen. It appears 'christina cooks' has inspired christina to cook.