2 months later...

I am a slacker.

I get it.

Don't sass me.

There has been too much going on to keep up. Lots of improv. Lots of harmless debauchery. Lots of fat, melting off my body (17 pounds...I know, right?!)

It's been about a year since I started this blog. Actually, I think it's been over a year. I think that perhaps I might just end this one, and begin anew. Something that tracks my summer. Because, you know what? 2009 is THE year.

For what?

Well, I haven't quite figured that out yet, but it's deserving of a fresh start. And with summer in sight, I feel like there will be much more to hammer out on this here keyboard.

Until that's set up, you know, check back and whatnot. Who knows, I might keep on updating the ol' Randonimity.

acid cigars

Uh? Don't smoke the brown ones?

what's a matzo wit you?

Took Max to The Whistler for dinner not too long ago. Jeff ordered the matzo ball soup. When it came to the table, Max looked confused.

Max: What's that?
Jeff: It's a matzo ball.
Max: What's a mazzo ball?
Jeff: It's well, it's a ball of dough. In soup.
Max: Oh. Can I try it?
Jeff: Sure.

Max proceeded to finish off most of the soup.

At the table behind us a couple both ordered corned beef sandwiches and got snippy with the waitress complaining that the corned beef was "old." The nice waitress offered them a different menu item, but they remained grumpy and declared that they were leaving.

As they huffed across the parking lot to their car, no doubt complaining about their experience...and no doubt still hungry, I looked down at my plate. I'd ordered The Iron Duke, which was basically roast beef, lettuce, onions, and some packets of horseradish. (The menu had said, "covered in a horseradish sauce." Apparently that meant AFTER I opened the packets and covered the sandwich myself?)

I squeezed on the horseradish and took a bite, relived that I hadn't ordered the Reuben as I had initially planned.

Max asked for more matzo ball soup.

cultured

The first movie theater Jeff and I saw a movie at together is just a few minutes from his house, near Lincoln Ave.

We saw Slither there about 2 years ago after a nice meal at Lou Mal's. Back then, it must have been owned by a big movie theater company because it showed all the latest releases...and had an ample parking lot.

Not too long ago, it was sold to someone else, and I'm guessing it was an individual or a family, mainly because the parking lot was not sold with the building. That's right, there's no where to park if you want to see a movie. Well, there is...a few blocks and a hike across a bridge away.

And yes, a police car is stationed near the theater to ticket anyone who parks within a reasonable walking distance.

We drove past this theater recently, to see that, in addition to the mainstream blockbusters, the theater is now showing what I assume are movies popular to either the owners' or the local demographic?

So I did a little research. Turns out Mehbooba and Thoda Pyar (it's actually spelled "Pyaar." Good to see that even after an ownership change, there are still mistakes being made on the marquis) are Bollywood offerings.

Wiki pages are helpful, I know...but video clips are better:

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic:

This one actually looks pretty good. And if they had subtitles, I'd probably go see it.

And here's the trailer for Mehbooba:


But apparently, it's a remake? Not sure. Here's some footage from "Mehbooba" from 1976:



I think it's pretty cool, actually. (Despite the fact that yes, I laughed when I saw the word "boob" in big black letters on the marquis...what can I say? I'm still somewhat of an adolescent when it comes to body parts.)



But what I can't understand is, why is Momma Mia under new management?

And why do people interested in group sales need to call Hancock?

free hbo?

I've driven past a few shady hotel/motels in my life, but this is the first time one shared the same name as my reaction upon seeing it...



Oh...mi...

I wonder if they have a "4-hour nap" special...

mini golf

A few weekends ago, Jeff and I took Max to Skokie for some mini-golf. The theme of their 18-hole putt-putt course has something to do with interesting places around the world. The 17th hole just happened to be Africa.

Unfortunately, in this particular hole, you had to hit the ball into a hippo's mouth, but right in the way was a gigantic plaster elephant.

Luckily, my son Max (above), has no problem doing what it takes to make par for the course. I'm just glad that it wasn't a real elephant...after a heavy lunch.

Also:




What the hell city is this?

In other words, when did the Statue of Liberty move to Chicago?

Oh, Skokie...*shakes head*

long weekend delay

Sorry it's been a few days since I've updated. But don't worry...4th of July related blogs are forthcoming. And maybe a few that have nothing to do with the 4th, too.

Yay.

shift, change, morph, move

That sort of sums up my life right now...but in a good way overall.

Three years ago at this time, I was, well, I was sort of a mess. There was this negative relationship that ended in February 2005...but for the better. And not so much because the guy was a jerk..I mean, he sort of was...but because we totally weren't right. Totally weren't.

So by this time three years ago, I was trying to figure things out with myself. I hadn't really considered myself for the two years I was with said guy, and then all of a sudden there I was...all up in my face...and it was like I was looking at a complete stranger.

I had a lot of fun back in 2005. I really did. And like I said, I was kind of a mess. But a good mess. I was really fearless. I was exploring new places. I was trying new things. I was shucking away the shell I had created during that bad relationship with...we'll call him DC...with DC.

And it was incredible.

Hell, I was 30 pounds lighter back then too...and I didn't even exercise. How I wish it were that simple now!

So why am I writing about this? This "me" from 3 years ago?

Well, because I sort of miss her. I miss her a lot. She was fun. She wasn't uptight. And she was pleasantly naive.

Even for the next year, after things finally started falling into place, she was still around. And then, it was like she changed. I changed.

I started to fear breaking the rules. I started to care what other people thought. I started to stop trying new things, instead choosing to stick to the familiar. Oh yeah, and I gained back that 30 pounds I'd lost.

But I'm also thinking about that "Three-Years-Ago Me" because I'm once again at a turning point...a metamorphosis stage if you will. I worked really hard to get to where I am and I'm really happy with how it's all played out. Every up and every down. Sounds sappy and sentimental...maybe even a little (a lot) cliche, but it's true.

So now I'm at another one of those points and I'm trying to remember what I was like three years ago when I just let go and let be. When I stopped trying to please everyone else, and tried to live for what was important. I hope I can get to that point again...

...because three years from now I'll be looking back to June 2008 and remembering this time super fondly. I'll probably even want to relive it a little, so I'll pull out my CDs and pick out the ones with the songs that I'm listening to now and play it...hoping to bring back everything I felt now. If I quit smoking by then (which I REALLY hope I will...), I'll probably even crave a cigarette.

And maybe I'll even have gained back 30 pounds that I had lost...or that I really hope I'll lose in the next few months.

It's just sort of a weird time I guess. In good ways and bad ways. But when I look back? The best thing is, I'll really only reminisce about the good.

the 4th is coming! holy cow.

My mom recently reminded me that the 4th of July is only a few weeks away. This kind of shocked me. I mean, it doesn't seem like it's been a year since we were eating hot dogs, blowing crap up, and trying to haggle the folks at the fireworks stand for a discount. I mean, they say, "Buy 1 get 4,534 free!" But really, the cost of 1 is equal to the cost of 4,535. What a scam. Nevertheless, the opportunity to blow things up makes it difficult to say no. And, in turn, we end up buying the explosives anyways.

The above picture is from last 4th of July. My friend Angela and I decided to light as many of those charcoal snake things on fire as possible at one time . I think our number of snakes totaled 50. Maybe more. And there's still a stain on the sidewalk almost a full year later.

I have always liked the 4th of July. You might even say it's my favorite holiday. I like walking around my town, seeing everybody out enjoying the day, drinking large quantities of beer, and eating grilled goodness. And then, as soon as the sun sets, the skies light up with colorful sparks and explosions--the smell of gun powder wafting throughout every street.

I'm really excited for 4th of July...just like I am every year I guess. It's just I never realize how close it is until someone reminds me. It's weird. It's like I forget about time because it's going by so fast. I mean, has it really been a year since we created that stain on my sidewalk?

It totally has. And before I know it, Pierogifest will be in full effect, too. Crazy. What's crazier? To think of everything that's happened between last 4th of July and now. Sometimes I forget how fast time passes. It really is like the blink of an eye.

Or the pop, fizzle, fade of a firework.

a belated memorial day post

This past Memorial Day, Jeff came over to hang out with me and my family. After lunch, we played a few mean games of Badminton. I liked to yell "Atta' boy, Luther!" whenever someone hit the shuttlecock.

I also like to say shuttlecock for no reason.

We also had a water balloon fight, and then eventually headed to the beach. I took this picture just before we got on the pier.

I made this hoop a while ago, and didn't realize that when I took the picture, it looked like I was purposely creating a rainbow.

I also didn't realize how freaked out I get when I walk on the pier. As soon as we got to the end of it, I turned around and walked back toward the parking lot, holding the railing for dear life.

holy frozen novelties, batman!

When I opened the freezer and found this...


















...I knew it was gonna be a good day.