My Favorite Things #3

Man, oh man.

I think I ate here twice the first week it opened. Or was it three times?

Either way, Bobtail is a great place - a new soda fountain with the old school feel.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor? The Merlot Signature Sunset.

My Favorite Things #2

View of the city - going down Lake Shore Drive....

I took this pic yesterday.

And yes, the windshield is dirty and we do need to get the car washed.

My Favorite Things #1

From now until the day we move, I will be posting a few of my favorite things about Chicago....things I'll definitely miss.

First up - Intelligentsia Coffee....

Man, it's so good. We like the Quetzal Breakfast Blend.

Lately, I've really been getting into their teas too - current fav is the Organic Peppermint.

I'll miss you, Intelligentsia.

Tis The Season

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy shopping. But this Black Friday thing is bullshit. Sure, growing up, what red-blooded American family DIDN'T have the tradition of going Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving?

But alas, we are older and dare I say, perhaps even a little wiser now. So, why in the hell would anyone get up ass early in freezing weather to go shopping? Nothing's worth the rude shoppers you must battle, the long lines, and the fisticuffs that develop over parking space disputes.

Also, isn't it ironic that less than 24 hours after a day on which we supposedly are to give thanks for the blessings that we currently have, we are immediately clamoring for more? Let's call a spade a spade - advertisers, retailers, and societal expectations have created a tradition that manufactures unnecessary wants and desires.

Now, get out of the way, I'm headed to Best Buy for that Plasma Screen TV!

Top Tunes for 2005

Never too soon to start talking about top tunes of the year. I got inspired by my brother who sent me his list.

This year, instead of top albums, here are some of the top songs I downloaded from i-Tunes (released in 2005):

1. Bloc Party "Banquet"
2. The New Pornographers "Sing Me Spanish Techno"
3. Hot Hot Heat "Goodnight Goodnight"
4. Broken Social Scene "Handjobs for the Holidays"
5. Weezer "Perfect Situation"
6. Teenage Fanclub "Time Stops"
7. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth"
8. Death Cab for Cutie "Soul Meets Body"
9. Brazilian Girls "Don't Stop"
10. Aimee Mann "I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas"

Happy Turkey Day!

After the usual things to be thankful for (good health, great wife, loving family/friends, roof over our heads, good job, etc.), there are a few other things to be thankful for this holiday, such as:

1)Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson finally announcing their split;
2)The news that T.O. will not be allowed to play for the Eagles again this season;
3)Last night's episode of Lost on my TiVo;
4)That whiny bitch Clay getting the boot in last week's Apprentice;
5)My wife winning a sweepstakes drawing - free Depeche Mode concert tickets;
6)That tasty little turkey we'll be devouring later on;
7)The FOUR days off we have before we have to go back to work;
8)ND football;
9)The earnings we made so far from selling some stuff on Craigslist;
10)Seeing HP: Goblet of Fire - this weekend...

More Slope Pics

IT'S ON....

It's official. We're moving.

Now the fun part. Overpaying for an apartment.

But hey, it's NYC, right?

Not sure where we'll be. Manhattan or Brooklyn. Either way, it should be an adventure....

Evil, Thy Name is Dick

What a dick!

"What is not legitimate -- and what I will again say is dishonest and reprehensible -- is the suggestion by some U.S. senators that the president of the United States or any member of his administration purposely misled the American people on prewar intelligence," Cheney said.

Unbelievable. Pot calling the kettle black, no? They're the ones who started a war under false pretenses and have lied about so many things, but the senators who are questioning him are the ones who are "dishonest and reprehensible."??!!!

F You, I'm Rich!

A story in today's Chicago Tribune caught my attention. It's about a group of entrepreneurs in the haughty Highland Park suburb who have produced "lattees" (see picture to the left).

That's right. It says "Half Calf Vanilla Nonfat Extra Foamy Latte."

Apparently a group of privileged Trixie moms decided it was just too much work to get their order out for their fav drinks. So why not simply point to their T-shirts?

Is it me, or is this pretty damn obnoxious? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a tasty Starbucks drink as much as the next guy but there's a difference between buying a drink and advertising your privileged background with a shallow message on a T-shirt.

I can picture the Lincoln Park Trixies eating it up. But hey, why stop there? Why don't you just wear a T-Shirt that says "I'm rich, bitch!"?

New 'Hood?

Park Slope might be our new 'hood....

Pants On Fire

How does this guy live with himself?

Honestly, he must have no scruples.

He really does the devil's bidding.

How Can She Be So Skinny and Yet Live So Phat?

In yet another example of how Tyra Banks wants so desperately to become Oprah Winfrey, she recently donned a "Fat Suit" in order to go undercover and learn just what it's like to be, well...an average overweight American woman.

"As soon as I entered the store -- when I went shopping -- I immediately heard snickers. Immediately! I just was appalled and, and and hurt!"

Gimme a break, Tyra. Don't give us your manufactured sympathy. You take off the suit and you're back to being a vapid, skinny supermodel while the fat women in this country remain fat.

Get Back in That Closet!

Wow. This is an absolute trainwreck. I just saw snippets of R. Kelly's urban themed opera "Trapped In a Closet" on VH-1's Best Week Ever. I'm speechless. Apparently, the story centers around Kelly going home with a lady after a night of clubbing. Well, of course, the lady's married so Kelly finds himself "trapped in a closet" in case the husband comes home. I think hijinx ensue shortly thereafter.

All I know is that there are multiple chapters of this awful work and they include high-concept plotlines such as a midget crapping his pants. This is so bad, it might be good.

Sonbitch, it's Windy!

Chicago's known as the Windy City (for reasons other than the weather), but this past weekend it has everything to do with the weather.

We've got winds up to 35mph. Good thing I'm indoors, nursing yet another cold, sucking on some Vitamin C drops and listening to i-Tunes...

I hate Spam

So apparently the new trend in spamming is infiltrating people's blogs and posting comments.

I noticed 4 comments added to my last post about Canadian music - and it was all spam! I'm researching some fixes but until then, "comments" will be hidden! Sorry to disappoint the two of you who may read this blog on a regular basis.

Maple Leaves Ain't So Bad After All

Hey, when the heck did Canada get so cool? And no I'm NOT talking about temperature here.

Canadian music has come a long way from that monstrosity known as "Snow".

My favorite bands lately have come from our neighbors to the North. Check 'em out, eh?

1) Broken Social Scene

2) The New Pornographers

3) The Arcade Fire

Some Children Left Behind

The stroller set is up in arms in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood due to a sign put up at a local establishment asking that children use their "inside voice" when visiting "A Taste of Heaven."

Well, that sign did not go over too well with locals. Here's one reaction:
"I love people who don't have children who tell you how to parent," said Alison Miller, 35, a psychologist, corporate coach and mother of two. "I'd love for him to be responsible for three children for the next year and see if he can control the volume of their voices every minute of the day."

C'mon lady. The owner of "A Taste of Heaven" has every right to put up that sign and to kindly ask that you and your brood not disrupt other restaurant patrons. If you don't like their policy, then it's your choice to take your business elsewhere. Just because you chose to have kids does not give you the right to let them run rampant wherever you go on the premise that "kids will be kids". You have a responsibility as a parent and more simply, as a decent human being, to be respectful and courteous of others around you. You're not entitled to get a free-pass on being civil to others just because you have kids and because it's hard to control them. Common decency, lady. That's what's expected.

The DUMBEST Family Ever

Just when I thought I could not get into a "Family Edition" of CBS' Amazing Race, there I am watching and selecting "Save Until I Delete" from the TiVo options.

There's been some real choice families in this competition. But none are quite as infuriating as the Weavers. Essentially they are a group of White Trash, Bible-toting, and ignorant hypocrites.

They claim to be the only family living a "Christian Life" but continually contradict themselves by talking smack about other families and attempting to sabotage the race for the other contestants so that they may benefit. Is that what Jesus would do, Weavers?

Hey, Pat...F You!

Yesterday, I saw a bumper sticker on a car that said: "Christian Right. They're neither."

True dat.

Have you heard the latest? Jack-ass Pat Robertson has the nerve to give a Pennsylvania town a warning not to come crawling back to God if disaster ever struck since they voted against a plan to teach "intelligent design" in the schools.

Sorry Pat, remind us again when you became the mouthpiece of God? Oh yeah, and when did so-called "intelligent design" become a neccessary part of our public education system? And hey, that concept of God you presented is terrific. According to you, God sounds like a spiteful tween who was NOT invited to another girl's birthday party and reacts with: "You didn't invite me to your party, so now I'm ignoring you..."

Say it with me now: "You suck, Pat!"