Christmas Corner

I took these from my window. This is the view in my apartment. What the photo cannot capture is that these lights are BLINKING and chasing and things are spinning.

HO HO HO!

To be clear, these photos were taken in Winter 2004/5. The decorations have only gotten more out of control since these were taken. Also, the music has gotten louder and more annoying. Tons of people come here every year and park the wrong way on my street. They leave garbage, mittens, gym shoes and food wrappers all over the place. The news comes. It's awesome. I have a little mantra of reminding myself that, "this house brings a lot of people joy" HO HO HO! and all that shit.

This is the view from the sidewalk in front of my house. I will take some shots from my window tonight so you can get a real feel for my view.

Crazy Christmas House

I live directly across a narrow street from this Christmas monstrosity.

Daley's Picasso

Winter in the Chi.

Milwaukee and Western

This apartment was awesome we had a crack dealer across the street and there used to be lines of cars down the block with their blinkers on waiting to pick up. Next door was a methadone clinic so there was no shortage of crazies lingering on the block or trying to break down the door of the clinic (they closed at 4pm, but dope heads have a bad sense of time. They were always showing up at 5 or 6 and having melt downs on the street)
This is Jen with her sister.

This guy passed away as well.

I should post images of all my crazy old roommates. Lord knows I have plenty where that came from...
* not everyone in these photo was crazy - rather it was a crazy time.

Good Times (1996/7)

Duck and Jen

These are a few old shots from 1996/7. They were taken in a loft on Milwaukee and Western. Some of you who follow the blog may recognize the bottom picture. Duck (Jeffery) Collins passed away on Memorial Day of this year a few weeks before his 29th birthday. He is shown here with his long term girlfriend (at the time), Jen, who lives in Thailand now. I am posting these for the old crew. Memory Lane.

Middle Child

Here's Shane. A ringer for his daddy.

Big for a little guy

Chris just turned 4.

Day After Thanksgiving

Click here for more picks of this expanding brood.

MIA

Group git down on stage for the last two songs. They came out for an encore and killed it again! We love you M.I.A.!
Gratuitous photo of my outfit. Sorry, I'm turning into an old Asian woman.

M.I.A. House of Blues

Chicago, baby! This party was LIVE! I've heard a bunch of people dogging the HoB lately, but I have to say I have seen some AMAZING shows there, and this was one of the best! The crowd was awesome and the Cool Kids killed it as an opener. For the show M.I.A. brought the goods and pretty much rocked our faces off.

that sh!t was HOT!