Addlepated

Miss you, love, miss you lots. (And please forgive the methods I...

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:14:00 -0600

Miss you, love, miss you lots.

(And please forgive the methods I used in re-aquiring these photos).

"Today my boyfriend set up an account on a game site. He decided to be funny and set his password as..."

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:29:47 -0600

“Today my boyfriend set up an account on a game site. He decided to be funny and set his password as “penis”. The message that popped up said “Sorry, your password isn’t long enough”. I laughed. He didn’t. MLIA.”

tinybuttough: hennypotter: guinness gasm. cupcakes made with...

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:37:45 -0600

tinybuttough:

hennypotter:

guinness gasm. cupcakes made with beer. beer cupcakes for the win.

Just bought the ingredients! Wish me luck!

Oh yeah, and Happy Turkey Day!

"Today, I watched a girl walk down the sidewalk, staggering and just walking weirdly. I thought she..."

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:51:50 -0600

“Today, I watched a girl walk down the sidewalk, staggering and just walking weirdly. I thought she was drunk until I noticed all of her steps landed on crunchy leaves. MLIA”

- … this could honestly be about me, I’ll never know …

At the Wilson Red Line stop. Thank you, Trib, thank you.

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:07:35 -0600

At the Wilson Red Line stop. Thank you, Trib, thank you.

"Sure, a positive pregnancy test would probably win scariest costume at most bar contests, but would..."

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:14:11 -0600

“Sure, a positive pregnancy test would probably win scariest costume at most bar contests, but would you really want to show up at a bar as something that’s meant to be peed on?”

- Me

Date

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:43:00 -0600

A while back I wrote about the worst date I’ve ever had, (I’m not even going to link to it, because that’s how much I don’t want to remember it). But I never posted anything about my favorite date, and I feel I need to honor that now.

It wasn’t really a date, or it wasn’t supposed to be. I just went to hang out with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. It was one of those friends who you could always count on. Someone who you could always call, for any reason, at any time. Soon, I realized he was more than just a friend.

At some point he had picked up that I loved roasting marshmallows, but was disappointed in the weather because it was just too freakin’ cold to stand outside, (even around a fire). So he had set up an indoor marshmallow roasting. It was more complicated than I would have ever imagined, but he wanted it to be like an authentic roast.

Aside from eating marshmallows, we talked, and talked, and talked. Oh, there were video games, and star gazing, (gay, I know), too. Before I realized it, it was 5am, and I had to sneak back home.

That ‘date’ was the last time I really saw him, it was years ago. Upon moving to Chicago, he called a bit more than usual, and since I was always on a bus or train, I hardly ever got to talk to him. At least texting was an option, we always had time for that, but it just wasn’t the same.

He kept telling me he loved me. I never really told him back. ‘What is the point?’ I thought.

I flew home for Thanksgiving last year, and thought about going to visit him. I didn’t. I didn’t even call him. Probably because I was ‘so busy.’

He died two days after I flew into town.

This time of year always reminds me of him. To you, John, thank you for some of my favorite memories of all time. I miss you, horribly.

kevinlaibson: rocketboom: Monorail...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:45:32 -0500

kevinlaibson:

rocketboom:

Monorail Cat florencio:kkkyndollwood:hidekiryuga:charmyourwayout-:sayeverything:wellimgabrielle:laurandlime:setthestage:allhopedeleted:(via exclusivee)

I found the urge to reblog this immediately irresistible.

What he said.^

New view!

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:52:00 -0500

Well, I finally moved, and glad as hell that I did. Here are some reports from my old apartment:

Saturday, October 24th:

(Today I had planned to go to my old apartment to pick up any mail. I would have left around 5:00pm. I’m glad I didn’t.)

“We’re getting reports of ‘shots fired’ on the 4700 block of North Sheridan Road, close to the intersection of Lakeside and Sheridan. Fortunately, no one was hit and there are no reports of damage. The police have recovered shell casings along the sidewalk.

One reader reported being outside cutting grass and still was able to hear 3-4 gunshots around 5:20 PM. Witnesses reported large groups of youths were involved in the altercation.”

Wednesday, October 21st:

“I wanted to let you know that one of our neighbors experienced a robbery this morning around 10am on the 4700 block of N. Kenmore. The perpetrator accessed the front gate and front door with a crowbar. He also popped his unit’s front door with the crowbar…”

Saturday, October 17th:

“First, another gang street fight took place early Friday evening… For some reason, the gangs (in this case, the Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords) believe they have the riot to commit mayhem over “turf,” even though they don’t own an inch of it and their names appear nowhere except in their scrawled tags on other people’s property.”

“I was crossing Lawrence on Sheridan and was caught literally in the middle of a gang fight at around 5:20. I called 911, several others were too. I hid in an alcove on Lawrence. Crazy, crazy times.

Then it escalated:

“Dude was beaten unconscious on Sheridan about 25 ft west of Lawrence around 6pm, tonight. It was still light out. Guys running everywhere. I split when a cop pulled his gun.”

And then it escalated some more, into gun violence:

Just hours after our positive loitering event tonight, several rounds were fired near Lawrence and Sheridan, the very corner where we stood. A gun was recovered and arrests were reportedly made. Gang violence is flaring up again in our neighborhood. Be safe. I also took the attached photos of the scene. The most disturbing photo is the bullet dent above the Lawrence House window. Any one of us could have been in the path of that bullet.

I was walking home from a friend’s house tonight. I was at Sheridan/Lawrence at 1040pm and all of a sudden I heard a round of gunshots. All of a sudden cops everywhere and I finally got to Kenmore and they were running down Kenmore with their guns cocked. Anybody know what happened? I live in on Winthrop and Lawrence…. Lately there are gangbangers hanging out on my street. This has just started happening in the last month.”

And I didn’t even bother mentioning the aggressive prostitute/drug dealer, gay bashing uptown cop, or Alderman Shiller’s fish farm/excuse to squeeze every penny out of you. I hand it to the residents of Uptown that are trying to fix the neighborhood. More power to ya!

Uptown Girl

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:13:33 -0500

Video: http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=61948@wbbm.dayport.com

(I’m really tired, and upon rereading this blog, I find that it doesn’t truly express my frustration and sadness on the subject. To find out more, visit www.uptownupdate.com, my source for most of the going-ons in Uptown).

Moving to Chicago, I knew I was on a budget. Luckily, I found this cute little studio convertible, brand new, renovated, all that jazz… for a great price in Uptown. I also knew that the town had a slightly shady reputation. But with the shiny, colorful neighboring mosaic walls, youth centers, cafes, and hidden upscale properties; I went for it.

For a while all was well, (but it was cold out, so no one was outside making a ruckus). I ignored the garbage truck that threw around dumpsters outside my window at 8am… 3 times a week. I walked fast at night when I was getting home from work and felt anxious. Hell, I even tried to forget the morning that my entire apartment was filled with a thousand shades of burning poop smell for HOURS while the building next door was being pumped.

But I’ve had enough.

About a week (or so) ago, there was video footage that found it’s way across the ‘net, and the nightly news, of the ‘Uptown Riots.’ Granted, it’s not really a ‘riot,’ but it sure as hell isn’t something I want going on right outside my front door.

Seriously… this shit is going on right outside my front door.

I watched the footage numerous times, and tried to voice my opinion. While many people felt the same as I, many others basically had the, ‘White bitch, move if you don’t like it.’ Except… the grammar and punctuation wasn’t as nice.

So I started digging into the happenings of Uptown. I learned what an Alderman was, and I learned how ours wasn’t doing shit for us. She’s been AWOL, popped up, refused to talk to anyone, and then disappeared again. I discovered what that strange mailing was, and how it related to the Wilson Yard Redevelopment… I also discovered that I was not an idiot for not understanding it’s pages of non-sense and rambling. I’ve heard rumors of low income housing coming in, and fish-farm plans coming out of the woodworks.

Seriously… our Alderman wants a fishfarm.

Wtf?

I’m ashamed to admit that I’m doing the worst thing that I can: I’m giving in… I’m moving.

I’m moving because there were gunshots right outside my window the other night. (Confirmed by the news. At least I now know the difference between the rings of a gunshot and the pop of a firecracker).

I’m moving because I can’t walk home at night without the threat of getting shot or getting hit by a bat/car/glass bottle.

I’m moving because I couldn’t leave my front door because of the CAPS meeting. (Which is a good thing, but I don’t think it resolved anything. Where was our Alderman?)

I’m moving because there’s no hope. This neighborhood has reached out to the one who can help, and the one has disappeared… yet again. If I have a problem, I know I’ll be stuck with it. I don’t want to be an unsolved case, lying in the street, bleeding to death for no good reason.

Yes, I know it sounds dramatic and unnecessary. That’s what I used to think. But people, we LIVE here, and it’s already happening.

If I can find a way to help fight, I will. But until then, I’m just trying to survive.

streeter: Just saw this in the CH picture sweep. Made me...

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:43:29 -0500

streeter:

Just saw this in the CH picture sweep. Made me LOL

I’m now following streeter b/c I’m always wanting to reblog his shit.

Photo

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:54:00 -0500

uptownchicago: What a riot! This is where I live… yaaay!

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:58:33 -0500

uptownchicago:

What a riot!

This is where I live… yaaay!

Not your Edward, Bill, or Eric

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:49:18 -0500

Not your Edward, Bill, or Eric

Hey, I know you!

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:16:40 -0500

I saw this on my daily visit to NotAlwaysRight.com:

Enigmatic Espresso

Coffee Shop | Oxford, AL, USA

Me: “Welcome to ****, what can I get started for you today?”

Customer: *in drive-thru* “I don’t know.”

Me: “Er…would you like any suggestions?”

Customer: “Well, I don’t know what it is I always get. My daughter usually gets it for me.”

Me: “OK, no big deal. Was it hot or cold?”

Customer: “Both.”

Me: “…was it ‘coffee’ or ‘not coffee’?

Customer: “Hmm…I believe it was both.”

Me: “I’m gonna go grab my manager…just a moment!”

Manager: “Hi there, could you please describe for me what you usually get?”

Customer: “I don’t know! My daughter gets it for me every day!”

Manager: “Let’s break it down further…was it a solid or a liquid?”

Customer: “Both…”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Good ol’ Oxford, Alabama. *Sigh*

That was odd...

Sun, 31 May 2009 23:33:22 -0500

I should start a blog just to mention what I see on my way home at night.

All in one night I saw:

1. A woman peeing on the sidewalk

2. A woman in a wheelchair… pulling herself along with her feet/legs.

3. A man at the bus stop in a hospital gown.

*shudders*

History

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Actually, I was sitting in Math, about ten years ago, when we discussed the Columbine shootings.

The teacher was discussing how we felt and what we would do if something similar were to happen in our school.

At one point, he mentioned that if we had no prior warning, the students sitting closest to the door would be the most unlucky.

I turned my head to the door, immediately to my right. The only thing between me and it were the two feet of tile on the floor.

As my wide eye’d self turned back, I noticed everyone starring at me with pity.

I don’t think I’ve ever lost the fear instilled in me that day… which is probably a good thing.

Who cares?

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:13:00 -0500

Seriously, if I died, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.

No, no, no, this isn’t a, ‘No one cares, wah! wah! Me so sad! I’m going to slit my wrists and cry a lot’ blog, I’m just stating the obvious.

It wasn’t until my sophomore year in college that someone really close to me died. When I found out, I didn’t even cry. I just sat there. Sat there, in shock, thinking, ‘I should be crying.’ I’m not really sure if I ever did cry. Shock and anger, that’s all I remember. I went to the viewing, and the funeral. Although I didn’t go to the grave site until a few weeks later, I was just too mad to go, and didn’t want to be mad and try to say goodbye at the same time.

Maybe I just didn’t know how to handle my emotions.

Anyway…

A few months ago a really good friend of mine died. No one really knew how close we were. We both had completely different lives, completely different circles of friends and family, and although we hardly ever saw each other… we talked whenever possible. It was one of those, ‘lay it on me, what shit has hit the fan this time?’ type of friendships. And you know how I found out he died? Someone, that I didn’t even know, messaged me on Myspace asking me how he died. I wrote back, at first thinking she had the wrong person, writing, ‘I’m sorry, but who?’

It didn’t seem right, though. That’s not a usual spam message, and you can’t very well mix up friends on Myspace. As I read my message to her over and over, I though, ‘Why me? Who would have me as a top friend that would make her message me?’ And it dawned on me… no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

That was all I could think. No.

Sure enough, I went to this friend’s page, and there were comments about how much he would be missed, RIP this, ‘never be the same again’ that.

I had just found out that one of my best friends had died… via freakin’ Myspace. I cried. I cried because I lost a friend. I cried because I had no idea. I cried that I wasn’t closer to his friends/family. I cried that I never really said goodbye. I cried because I had flown into town two days before he died. I cried because I passed up the chance to visit him on that day in between. I cried because I couldn’t help it.

My roommate’s girlfriend found me crying. It was then I realized that no one would understand. No one knew this friend, or if they did, he was just an acquaintance. I had no one to relate this to, no one to share anything with. ‘It’s’ all just still simmering inside… and I have no idea what’s to come of ‘it’.

A few days ago another friend died. I wasn’t that close to him, but I was friends with those who were; They were using social networking sites to try and express their grief. And just a few minutes ago, I noticed another circle of friends who lost someone they so obviously loved.

Death.

I’ve though about this before, and I still stand by my ideals:

Say I died sometime after my grandparents and mother passed… who would really care? Maybe my best friend, but she’ll have her own life by then. Wrapped up in family, work, and maybe even more school, (she’ll laugh if she reads that), she’d be sad, but not consumed by it. People on Facebook and [insert popular futuristic social networking site here] would change their status’. People would make calls and say, “Hey, you know so-and-so? She died!’ And everyone would remember how they sat behind me in class, or were taught by me in band camp, or worked with me at the theatre. Everyone would remember whatever experience they had with me to throw their name in the mix. But who would really give a shit?

A day or two would pass, and I would be forgotten. Messages on my Facebook wall would stop coming in. People would think less about me day after day. I’m simply at a point in my life where I’m not contributing much to anything… I don’t matter, and I’m okay with that!

Some people, or person(s), think this makes me selfish. I don’t see how, and I’m not asking for reasoning anymore, I’m just telling it like it is… like I see it. I’m not trying to spread a theory here, and you can’t tell someone that what they believe is wrong, (…well, you can, but that would just make you an asshole). I’m also not saying that I want to die. It’s just that it wouldn’t be that big of a deal if I did. I’m not seeking out stunts to threaten myself, I’m not suicidal or crazy… in fact, I think I’m pretty logical. What’s the difference between what I’m saying and saying, ‘I’m not afraid of death.’?

Don’t answer that.

I’m sure there’s a big difference, I just don’t care. Like being woken up by nightmares and trying to catch my breath… I just don’t care anymore!

kevinlaibson: fullcircletheatre: samreich: Waiting for...

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:33:09 -0500

kevinlaibson:

fullcircletheatre:

samreich:

Waiting for Elmo.

(via Patrick)

Amazing. I bet Dora never tackles Beckett.

phew

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 01:56:00 -0500

Okay, I’ll admit that not having heard ‘the horror’ for the past few nights has put me a bit at ease, but I was still worried when I got off the red line at 1:15 am. So I managed to catch a bus that drops off less than a block from my apartment, but still had my keys in hand, clutched so I’d be ready for an attack from any angle.

Luckily, no attack.

I was, however, startled by a cup blowing in the wind from an alley… and once again when I reached my building door by my own approaching shadow.

Time for bed.

Addlepated

Miss you, love, miss you lots. (And please forgive the methods I...

"Today my boyfriend set up an account on a game site. He decided to be funny and set his password as..."

tinybuttough: hennypotter: guinness gasm. cupcakes made with...

"Today, I watched a girl walk down the sidewalk, staggering and just walking weirdly. I thought she..."

At the Wilson Red Line stop. Thank you, Trib, thank you.

"Sure, a positive pregnancy test would probably win scariest costume at most bar contests, but would..."

Date

kevinlaibson: rocketboom: Monorail...

New view!

Uptown Girl

streeter: Just saw this in the CH picture sweep. Made me...

Photo

uptownchicago: What a riot! This is where I live… yaaay!

Not your Edward, Bill, or Eric

Hey, I know you!

Enigmatic Espresso

That was odd...

History

Who cares?

kevinlaibson: fullcircletheatre: samreich: Waiting for...

*phew*

phew