I've never been able to properly explain myself in this climate

It's so humid in Chicago. I can't sleep. Crystal's post about insomnia finally convinced me to stop kidding myself. There's a bed right next to me, but the prospect of lying in it for a few hours, dripping with sweat, is about as appealing as... well, something that's not very appealing. Analogies are lost on me in this sweltering jungle.

So, here's some random blogging from the dark side of the circadian rhythm.

I saw a bluegrass band the other night at a bar here in Rogers Park called the Red Line Tap. Appropriately, it's right along the red line of the L. I never could tell what people were saying the name of this band was. I'm pretty sure it's either Sexfest or Sexfist. Either way, not something you'd immediately think, "Oh yeah, Appalachian banjo, steel guitar, and fiddle." But wow, these guys were amazing. We're talking old school stuff here. A lot of original material, some Hank Williams, some old gospel songs. These guys are the real deal. I'll get back to you on that name...

One thing I always notice in Chicago is how much more integrated it is than Denver. Some people think Denver's not diverse, which is just incorrect. But I understand why they think that. Denver is disturbingly segregated. Sometimes I want to move out of Cap Hill just to get away from whitey a little bit. But then I think, am I going to hang out w/ these newly discovered minorities? Will they suddenly be my friends even though the young, white, middle class people in my current neighborhood aren't unless they already were for some other reason? Seems unlikely. But who knows, I'll have to give it some more thought...

Speaking of moving. We got a letter from Ed (the landlord) the other day. He says he's raising the rent again. $50 / month increases every 6 months starting in March of next year. $50 in March of '08, $50 in September of '08. $50 more in March and September of '09. Whatevz. Not the first time he's done it, not entirely unexpected, and hey, at least he gave us ample notice. However, the thing that really grinds my gears (bonus points if you instinctively just read that in a heavy Rhode Island nasally accent) is another little clause he added. Apparently, any new people who move into the house have to be non-smokers. That is, not just can they not smoke inside (which none of us ever do), they have to not have the personal habit of smoking. Two of my most favorite roommates are smokers. And you know what? I don't want to live somewhere where they're not welcome. Did we lose a war? Fuck that shit. So I pretty much want to move ASAP. Dan's trying to calm my righteous indignation. He always does that. I routinely get angrier about things that are personal affronts to him than he does. That's how we roll.

I've also been thinking about trying to buy a place. Since that's what the cool kids are doing these days. But all this sub-prime, liquidity, foreclosure rate craziness is freaking me out a little. I don't understand half of it. It just sounds bad. I'm like a crazy old woman when it comes to this stuff. New scary words I don't understand!!! Flee the unknown!! Take comfort in old prejudices, no matter how socially destructive!!! Or something like that... (I told you analogies were lost on me right now.)

OK, time for some more water.

And I'm back. So tomorrow is Friday and I'm going downtown w/ some old friends to eat some gen-you-wine Chicago deep dish pizza at the one, the only, Uno's. Now I know what you may be thinking. You're thinking, "I've been there. They're all over the suburbs of [insert city name here]. It's a'ight, I guess." No, my friend. No. Unless you've been to the orig, THE Uno's in downtown Chicago, you have not had deep dish pizza. It's the flakiest lard-based pie crust ever piled high with layers of cheese, sauce, toppings, more cheese, more sauce. Oh man. It clogs your veins with delicious. I'm pretty pumped (and triple-bypassed).

Overall, Chicago trip is a success. I've seen some good people. Met some new people. Ridden some trains (always a bonus for me). I'm pretty excited to head back to Denver, though.

One last thing (for the extra special friends who've made it all this way): Mark your calendars now for the party of the new, old, and every millennium. Yes, that's right. The LAST PARTY AT THE MARION HOUSE! We're moving sometime next year, probably. So you should just mark all of 2008 (and most of the rest of 2007 just to be safe) as "busy" because sweet Jesus are we gonna party. It's pretty much going to be the greatest thing to occur on planet Earth, ever. And you're all coming. No, seriously, you are.

OK, I'm going to attempt to sleep now. Goodnight friends, may the morning find you happier, wiser, or if nothing else, near a toilet for that wicked morning piss.