Hi from Chicago!: A Hodge-Podge of Randomness

I can only say that I have the greatest, coolest friends in the whole world! My short stay in Sandusky was awesome, thanks to Tommy who put together a barbecue at his sister’s lakehouse. All the usual suspects were there, except Sarah, Burky, and Phil, who unfortunately had to work. But it was myself, Tommy, Hilo Milo Rudolph Vandalay (Master of Sand and Sky) The Boxer, Lisa Lou, Nikki, Crazy Audrey , Taylor The Black Labrador and Tommy’s friend RT. Tommy and RT smoked ribs, grilled chicken and fried up some fresh Lake Erie walleye. They taught me how to play a card game called Uecker, similar to Spades, and Lisa and I won both games. (Only because Greg taught me how to play Spades a couple months ago.) It was so chill and we all had a great time.

Not only that, but my going-away party on Saturday was the best! Thanks to everyone who came out, and I was totally blown away by my gifts. You all are too kind, and I’ll use all of them -- the money, the books and the boxer shorts -- in your name!

Right now I’m in Chicago, staying with David. We met last year while I was traveling through Chicago -- and not a moment too soon because I was having a pretty bad time in this city up until we ran into each other! Well, we’re still friends and right now I’m at the corner diner stuffing my face with French toast, waiting for him to wake up. We’re going to the Blues Fest today! I can’t wait!

Yesterday when I got here, we took a picnic to the beach on Lake Michigan and squirrels were begging for our food. Then last night we went out for sushi and totally gorged on every kind of roll ever! We had spider, ebi tempura, dragon, rainbow, and philly! So good! Then we went to this place called Trader Todd’s, which has karaoke 7 nights a week. I didn’t sing, but I toyed with the idea of singing “Midnight Train to Georgia”. That is, until a drunk chick in a dangerously low-cut dress did it first. Oh, well! Dave did a really good version of “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You”, so that was enough for us.

I think any night when these words are spoken is a good night, karaoke or not:

Me: “Hey, see that guy over there in the Miami Vice blazer, with the sunglasses on inside and at night?”
Dave: “Yeah, that guy is totally cool.”
Me: “Yeah, well, wait til he takes his glasses off again. I swear he looks like if Ian Zering from “90210” and Booger from “Revenge of the Nerds” had a kid.”
(Cool Guy takes off glasses)
Dave: “Holy crap! You’re right!”

This quasi-celebrity guy came in and everyone was flipping out and taking pictures with him. His name is Ronny Woo-Woo and he’s vying for the title of Baseball’s #1 Fan. He’s at every Chicago Cubs game and wears a real uniform, with the name WOO-WOO on the back of the jersey. According to the guy sitting next to David and I, no one knows where the guy gets tickets, because “he’s kind of a bum”. Ronny is a dead-ringer for a thinner Barry Bonds, which makes it funny to see him in a Cubs uniform.

I know this post isn’t really up to par with my posts from last year, but it’s actually because I’m not “really” on the road yet. I mean, I am, but I’ve just been visiting friends in familiar territory. It’s harder to write about crazy discoveries and new friends made when the terrain feels like home. I can say, however, that my trucker tan is back in full regalia, baby! I currently have the farmer-trucker combo, which is the short sleeve tan, but only on the left arm, while the right arm is pale as talcum. Oh, yeah!

Well, by tomorrow night I should be in North Wisconsin, and then North Dakota by Saturday, so I’ll be back to my old, sentimental self again. Fear not.