Jan 28, 2012. I woke up after four hours of sleep to witness the Lakeview Polar Bear Club's 2012 plunge. It was cold, and it was awesome. No, I didn't go in. I did, however, go home and go back to bed afterwards.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Day 149 - Hairy Eyeball
Jan 27, 2012. I mistook the hairy eyeball for the evil eye, but Jason corrected me. Jason Hawk, here, is a sculptor, and I have to go get dressed for a party at his studio tonight. It's a theme party, and I should transform into a hero or villain. What to do?
Day 148 -Hannah's New Banjo
Jan 26, 2012. Here's Hannah showing off her new banjo, which has a surprising heft to those of us who don't handle banjos. She banjoed away while I shut down at work. She wasn't on the clock, but I'd honestly let her sit and play while I took care of the work if she were. In other music news, I'll be tapping on the drums with another person tomorrow. It's been a while.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Day 147 - A Shoulder To Lean On
Jan 25, 2012. I got out of work too late for the pizzeria, but I met up with folks at a nearby bar and ate the leftover pizza.
Day 146 - Cork Crayon
Jan 24, 2012. Hanging out with friends again at Cork Lounge. They have a big crayon hanging from the ceiling. Hm.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Day 144 - Commuting Monkey Cage
Jan 22, 2012. Here's the Armitage Brown Line station. It looks like a big cage for all those CTA users. Monday morning's coming. Go see the monkey show.
Day 143 - Thumbs Up Carl
Jan 21, 2012. Cash For Kids was held at the Irish American Heritage Center on Chicago's Northwest Side with several musical acts playing Johnny Cash tributes. This is Carl DaCorte from the band Iron Horse, who were joined by a former Sun labelmate of Cash's, Hayden Thompson. Their website tells me they've also been on America's Got Talent.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Day 142 - A Cigar For Al
Jan 20, 2012. This morning I had a photo expedition with two 365 buddies to Mount Carmel Cemetery. This is the unassuming grave of its most infamous occupant, Al Capone. There are a few other underworld figures buried there, but the enduring part of the experience is of beautiful statuary reflecting the sorrow and faith of a huge number of Catholic, mostly Italian-American, families. Several more photos will eventually be added to my flickr photostream, but for today, there's Capone. Someone has left him a cigar and a box of matches.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Day 141 - Time To Leave The Shelter
Jan 19, 2012. Today was one of those brutally cold single-digit temperature days. I can't find my balaclava, so I enjoyed the sensation of cold wind punching me in the face in one slow blow that lasted almost my entire bike ride to work. I do realize that continuing to ride my bike through winter will just result in more fabulous feelings like that one. I'm still willing to deal with it at this point, though.
Day 140 - Profile
Jan 18, 2012. I met up with some folks at the Cork Lounge after work, where the lovely Inga was also hanging out. Here she is.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Day 139 - A Well-Dressed Pair
Jan 17, 2012. Today I was off, and sat around waiting for the call to go pick up our car, which died on Shereen three blocks into her 30-mile drive from our house. I decided to take a light and my camera on the tripod out on one of my trips to the backyard with Malicous. I didn't get dressed up, though, since I'm so stylish hanging around the house anyway.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Day 138 - Man In Mourning
Jan 16, 2012. On my way to work this morning, I happened upon this friendly fellow alone on his front porch in contemplation. He greeted me, then stated what was my first thought upon seeing him, that he was in mourning and hadn't even changed his clothes since yesterday's playoff game, which his beloved Green Bay Packers lost. We chatted for a few minutes, rather, he did. That's just how conversation with me often goes. I do a lot of listening, not so much talking. He considered the game, and how the week ahead of it likely affected the Packers' preparation and play. He's the kind of sports fan I can really appreciate, never expressing hatred for the New York Giants, and showing a clear appreciation for the game and other teams and their players. I know a playoff game is considerably different than the others, but at least he had next to no football heartbreak this year. While I won't go so far as to root for the Packers, I wish this good fellow a fantastic football season next year.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Day 137 - El Patio
Jan 15, 2012. Still sick, I stayed in the house all day, except for taking the dog out. Then I went out to take this shot since I hadn't touched my camera all day, either. It was actually a really beautiful day today, but by the time I felt like I could muster the energy to get out of the house, the sun had dropped behind the buildings taking all the bright direct light with it, so I stayed committed to tea, football, and Words With Friends. Then I ordered Thai food.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Day 136 - Soup and Tea
Jan 14, 2012. I've got a cold and feel pretty terrible. I actually expected to have photos from a punk show tonight in Pilsen, but I just wasn't up to going out. Here's hoping tomorrow's picture will be more interesting, though I'm staying home from work sick again. I guess I'll tell the dog and cat to make sure they're presentable.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Day 135 - Pillars
Jan 13, 2012. Tonight I travelled down Ashland on the way home, because I had seen something from the bus in the morning that I wanted to shoot, if I had enough light. I also grabbed this shot, which looks far more interesting than the same view in daylight. The snow probably helps, as well. I got the other shot, too, the one I was looking for.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Day 134- Expedition
Jan. 12, 2012. I was under the impression that the daylight hours would be pretty moderate and the weather would turn bad in the evening. Instead, I woke up to a lot of snow, which is still falling half a day later. There is no evidence that I shoveled and salted earlier today. I guess I'll do it again and again - builds character.
Day 133 - Notes
Jan. 11, 2012. After work, I hopped on a train to meet some friends in another part of town. I left my bike at work, which is just as well, because I really don't want to ride with the amount of snow on the streets. I bet the plows will have cleared the roads for me by the time I come home from work tomorrow. While waiting for the Brown Line train to come, this woman came up to the platform and did me the service of standing in a spot that worked for my composition rather than sitting on a bench like everyone else had done. Thanks, Notebook Lady!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Day 132 - Sisters of the Resurrection
Jan 10, 2012. This, I am guessing, was a convent attached to St. Mary of the Angels cathedral across the street. It's been empty as long as I've been in Chicago, and has been expected to be turned into apartments. The land around it is apparently going to be the site of a few townhomes, which makes me wonder if this building is actually going to be demolished. I think it would be fantastic to live in such a building, especially in contrast to living in one of four new and identical homes on the same plot.
Day 131 - Where'd Ya Geaux?
Jan 9, 2012. It was tough for me to decide between a very cute Bernese Mountain Dog puppy lying on the counter at work, and the more "relevant" LSU Tiger. I decided to go with the Tiger, since it's a bit more specific to the date. That puppy was really cute, though, and I will definitely post him on my flickr stream very soon.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Day 130 - No Pants
Jan 8, 2012. I caught up with the Chicago No Pants Subway Ride at Roosevelt Red Line station, and rode up to Loyola with them. There were a few tense minutes when police officers made everyone get off the train because someone was apparently offended enough to call 911. I can't imagine why the hypersensitive person wasn't just told to get over it. As you can see, people are more covered than they would be at the pool.
Day 129 - The Captain and Me
Jan 7, 2012. I met Logan Pause, team captain for the Chicago Fire, in Whole Foods. I look forward to seeing his team on the field when the MLS season starts in March.
Day 128 - Brown Line
Jan 6, 2012. This was one of those rare days where my shooting was mostly done through the windshield, in this case taking Shereen to the hotel hosting the majority of the AHA meeting.
Day 127 - Playing Nude
Jan 5, 2012. Some days, that's about all you do. Or is that just me? I was referring to the Words With Friends, not the nudity.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Day 126 - How Are You?
Jan 4, 2012. This is a friend of ours from Austin who is in town for the American Historical Association's annual meeting. When I got to the restaurant, she and my wife were sitting side-by-side wearing black Daniel Johnston t-shirts. That made me chuckle a bit. Now, let the weekend of historians begin!
Day 125 - Lite Brite
Jan 3, 2012. This is in the window of a thrift store in Chicago. I got my own Lite Brite for Christmas when I was five years old, I think. This was the packaging it came in back then. The box was printed with blue and orange ink, with the full-color panel glued on opposite sides. I think I did either the clown or the sailboat pattern first. I remember enjoying the rooster due to the density of colors. It turns out that's also my Chinese astrology sign.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Day 124 - Morning Walk
Jan 2, 2012. At last, we got a snow that stuck. I opted to walk to work since my street was in need of a snowplow, and I didn't know what other streets that I typically take had not been cleared. I don't mind riding my bike in winter weather, but I need to be able to stay upright, and I can walk to work in about twenty-five minutes. As I was going down Cortland Street, this woman was also walking toward Lincoln Park, seemingly to work as well. When I got near this door, I felt I might have a good shot coming up, so I prepared for it and snapped when she was near center. Then I continued to the bagel shop before heading in to work.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Day 123 - 2012, Baby
Jan 1, 2012. Every New Year's Day, a throng of Chicagoans plunges into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan, as do many people all over the world with their nearby bodies of water. I don't know how many of those plunges include a New Year Baby, but Chicago certainly had one. Although there aren't chunks of ice in the water, I assure you it was cold. The wind was very strong, and the wind chill was 21ยบ F. It started snowing as I left the beach on my bike, but none of it has stuck to the ground, at least in the city. I'm sure the beach is actually covered in white powder mixed with sand, if the wind let any of it settle. I'll have at least two more chances this winter to see maniacs rushing into the lake, and I plan to bring them both to you, so keep your eyes peeled. Feel free to check my flickr page (clicking the photo will get you there) to see many more of these locos frios.
Day 122 - New Year's Eve
Dec 31, 2011. Our New Year's Eve dinner was at the Bad Apple in Lincoln Square. I had the Frenchie with a veggie patty. Bad Apple has great burgers; go see for yourself.
Day 121 - Tunnel
Dec 30, 2011. Here we are on the Kennedy Expressway on the Near West Side of Chicago, coming home from a party in Naperville.
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