Lopaka Lounge

Met up with Gretchen for drinks at Marty’s wine and Martini bar in Andersoneville last night.  Had a great time hanging out.  Tried to go out after we ate dinner but was a bit too tired and full so we made our way back to our friend’s house.

Ray’s aunt is not doing so well.  She needs surgery so I’m heading home today and Ray is going to stay behind. 

Going to try to go standby on the 2:30 to Tucson.  If I can’t make that, I’ll be sitting at the airport until 7:00 PM.

Doesn’t that sound like fun?

I met up with my friend Stephen for lunch.  We had a great time catching up.  Steve showed me his office at the School of the Art Institute.  I so knew him when. 

He’s got a window office!

Later that evening, Ray and I met up with Steve to see his girlfriend perform with her band Too White Crew.  They were so loud, I could not tell if my hair was vibrating or the fluid in my brain–or both!

They totally rocked!

Sing out!

We had a great time and the band was very cool to Ray and me.  I can’t wait to see them play again. 

Last night I went over to see my pal, Lesley.  We met at Zefer years ago. (She was in the Boston office but now lives in Chicago.) We hit it off when we discovered we both Have the same last name.  

Lesley has a fabulous new condo in the Printer’s Row area of Chicago.  The building used to be a paper factory.  After showing me her place, we had cocktails, cheese and crackers.

Later on, Ray, his niece Gretchen and our friend Cathy joined us for dinner at La Sardine.  It was really good. 

Cathy is a marathon runner and breast cancer survivor.  She is featured in the October 2007 Runner’s World magazine and running her 8th Chicago Marathon this year to raise funds for the American Cancer society.  Please help her out here.

Clowning around with Cathy.

Clowning around with Gretchen.

Gretchen and Ray (disgustingly photogenic).

As you can see, we tend to clown around a lot.  The night was a blast.  I ate and drank way too much.  What a surprise!

We’re going to stay at Cathy’s house tonight which is great because we can take the train and not drive! 

I’m going to have lunch with my friend Steve today.  Later tonight, we’re going to see his girlfriend Kristen perform at the Cubby Bear with her band Too White Crew.

Can’t wait!!

This afternoon I had lunch with my friends Collen and Kerry.  I forgot the name of the restaurant because; A) They took me there and B) I had two–TWO–glasses of wine!

Lunch was fantastic and so was the conversation.  I am quite fond of Collen and Kerry.  They both make me laugh.  Colleen was kind enough to let me try on her hip and cool sunglasses.  You can see by the totally unflattering photo that I am not meant for the world of hip and cool.  Fortunately, I have been grandfathered in by my two friends.  At least for the time being.

After lunch, I stopped by their office.  We all used to work for an Internet consulting firm back before the dot-com bust.  When Zefer (the comapny we worked for) went under, most of my colleagues went over to this new little start up called Orbitz–yes, I’m still kicking myself in the ass for not being a part of that movement. 

Anyway, they showed me around the office and what looked like the command center of the USS Enterprise.  I saw several people I knew just casually walking through the halls.  I am so glad I am able to keep in contact with my old Zefer buds (Even though Marie claims she was sick–she went out drinking the night before.  Whatever Marie, I know you’re just trying to break up with me.)

I’m having a great time in the city.  I forgot what it was like to be an urbanite.  Perhaps I’ll do a little shopping and take in a movie before I meet up with my friends for drinks and dinner this evening.
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This just in:
I was relying on free WI-FI hot spots to blog from around town.  I was impressed to see that Caribou Coffee and Cosi both had free WI-FI available for the public–unless you’re gay.  I can understand both establishments freaking out and blocking some of my gay chat/profile sites but at Caribou, I could not even check up on one of my favorite blogs. 

Sorry Jimbo.