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July 1, 2002

Taste of Chicago

My cousin Carolyn is in town, visiting from California. She's been deciding on whether to attend law school here (at Loyola) or in California (San Diego). It's been a tough week for her, as she has been trying to figure out where she wants to attend school (and, by extension, [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 1, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 2, 2002

The Upper Echelon

My cousin Carolyn left yesterday. After a week of deciding, she's chosen to attend law school in San Diego, instead of Chicago. So - even though she didn't end up getting an apartment here, we were able to do some catching up. It's been eight years since we've talked, so [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 2, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

microserfs

I've been rereading Douglas Coupland's microserfs for the past week. To say it inspired me to start up this blog is an understatement. I'm loving the book again, and I'm about 30 pages until the finish. Definitely one of those novels that you hate to see end. Excerpt: It's late [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 2, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 3, 2002

Introversion

Right now, I can hear fireworks going off all around the neighborhood. Earlier tonight, my friend Alex Galt invited me out with a bunch of folks to go see the fireworks downtown. I called him up and said I wouldn't be going. Here are my questions: At what point does [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 3, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 4, 2002

This Week's Assignment is...

My friend Matt has been yelling at me lately. I haven't written much since I got out of school, and this is coming up on almost 2 years now. There was a time where I was waking up every day at 6, putting on a pot of coffee, and writing [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 4, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Sweat

by Felix Jung Tonight is not extreme, not the kind of evening some would call blistering. It's a slow melting, a film of warm jelly enveloping the city. Around the house, random things cling to my arms. The paper holds tightly as if grafted to my wrist, lint finds its [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 4, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

The Working World

Like many folks, I'll be heading in to work tomorrow. More than half my office has requested July 5th off - so it'll be crickets and tumbleweeds tomorrow. The plus side is that I expect everyone else to be a bit slow from the festivities. I've decided to start drinking. [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 4, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 5, 2002

Leopard Lounge

An expensive place, but it's really close to the train stop. Stumbling distance from home. Going to meet my friend Ed (an ex-coworker) for a drink or two, before heading out to find a wedding gift for our friend Ron (another ex-coworker). Ron was the guy who served as my [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 5, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Images

Leopard Lounge, exterior. Gorgeous evening, and a mild breeze. Ed and I used to come here after work on Fridays. It's a nice place when it's deserted, but pretty awful once the regular Friday night crowd arrives. Our server, Anaeshka (sp?), was nice enough to pose. A shot of [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 5, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Cheating

I was too far gone to come up with anything, and sent Matt an old haiku that I had written: I'm a walking stick living in the woodpile. It's a matter of time. [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 5, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 6, 2002

Wedding in Crystal Lake

After re-hydrating for most of the morning, Ed and I wandered around the neighborhood looking for an appropriate gift. Went into some rather fancy stores, but turned up empty (unless you want to count a $3000 Buddha head as a possible gift). We finally came across one place that was, [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 6, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 7, 2002

First Fan Mail. Can the Movie Deal be Far Behind?

I got my first ever (read: non-test) e-mail on the avoision.com account. Woot! Portnoy, I just checked your blog, groovy stuff. Thought I'd let you know you have an audience. Not that I'm going to be looking at it too much this week but I'll definitely check back when I'm [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 7, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Homeless Week

Two major figures from the We're Here Flash Forum are spending a week out on the streets of Seattle. Derrick Clark (derrickito) and Scotty Weeks (StinkFist) have decided to forgo lodging, food, all the basic necessities we take for granted. You can follow their progress at http://www.homelessweek.com/. I've been kicking [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 7, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

A More Social Attitude. Or: Me Version 1.2

My friends Alex and Elissa came by today, around 1 PM. They were heading out to Hollywood Grill, and wanted to see if I was interested. Having just finished lunch, I decided to join them for coffee. When they came by, I was still unshaven, unshowered, and a bit smelly [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 7, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

You Have a Blog? Really? What's the Address?

When Alex and Elissa heard that I started this blog, they wanted to know the address. I balked. :D My concern is that, if all my friends start visiting this page... will I begin to edit myself? Will I stop myself from saying certain things in fear that a friend [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 7, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

I am the Worst Brother in the World

In the hustle and bustle of yesterday's wedding, I completely forgot to call my sister to wish her a happy birthday. I called her this morning, full of apologies, and she told me not to worry about it - something a forgiving, kindhearted person like her would say. In an [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 7, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 8, 2002

derrickito Checks In

For those who may not get this... a lot of us WH folk play a little game called Unreal Tournament. Derrick and I both seem to have a penchant for the sniper rifle, and the word "snipe" seems to have come into its own, as a verb. A few [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 8, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Matthew Motivates Portnoy into Writing

Matt: I've decided not to talk to you until you send me a poem. I figure that kind of threat would get the words pouring out. ;) Portnoy: Doesn't this message automatically negate your threat? Portnoy: Matt: I'm still not talking to you. Portnoy: Got a favor to ask Matt: [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 8, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Ted Williams Dies At 83

I don't really know anything about baseball. But driving home over the weekend, I heard on NPR that Ted Williams died. It was pretty incredible to hear his accomplishments, both on and off the field. His era was truly a very different time from now. Prior to this weekend, what [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 8, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Strange Library Coincidences

My friend Kevin and Camelia were visiting Chicago last night. Chalk more points up for the newer, more social Portnoy! We all were at my friend Justin's house (I'd provide a link, but he doesn't have a portfolio up yet, the bastage) and ordered Thai food. I met Kevin through [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 8, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 9, 2002

I Ate a Moldy Donut

I don't think you can spot any mold in this picture, but this is how far into it I got: At first, I just thought it was a crappy ass donut. Tasted like hell, and I figured it was the preservatives, chemicals, whatever. A bit later, my coworker Mike tells [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 9, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Homeless

Derrickito and StinkFist are still at it. If you haven't seen their site already, check out Homelessweek.com. I'm still uncertain about my views on this. While I don't feel they're really experiencing homelessness... they never really claimed to set out to do that. The point of the experiment was to [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 9, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

That Above "Mom" Thing was a Joke.

I haven't told my mom about this site. And I doubt she'd ever find it. I'm a bit of a nerd and a bit of a loser, but come on. Give me SOME credit. :D [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 9, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Jacki

Talked to an ex-girlfriend of mine, Jacki, from Columbus. I found out from our mutual friend Juliet that Jacki's mother is having open heart surgery on Thursday (I'm sending good thoughts towards Columbus). We chatted for a long while, and got caught up on recent events. Well... recent is stretching [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 9, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 10, 2002

Letter from rypunked

Got a letter from rypunked in the mail today! Last week, when my cousin was in town, I read a post by her that she wasn't feeling well. When Carolyn and I went out to eat, we killed some time in a nearby comic/book/store, called Quimby's. Found some cool stickers [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 10, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

isketch

Stayed up late to play a few rounds of iSketch last night with the WH crew. What an evil, addictive game that is. Mr. Grumpy took some screenshots, and that reminded me I should do the same. I actually won a round! My score was 666, but let's look past [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 10, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Time and Exercise

Ack. Been trying to log off of the computer for a while now. But it's hard to just shut down when you're talking to multiple people and chatting. I don't want to be rude and simply disconnect. I've got to say "Hey - I'm taking off. Going to head to [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 10, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 11, 2002

Thinking Outside the Box

About two weeks back, I noticed a strange little fact. Let me fill you in on where I work. I commute from Chicago to Barrington, M-F. My company has gone through several changes, since the market went south some twelve months ago. We've moved several times, and our current digs [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 11, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Second day, second letter.

Second day, second letter. Who would have thunk it? a3dmofo send me an awesome letter in the mail. Here I was yacking away about how nice hand made mail is, and I have this gorgeousness waiting by my door. My crappy picture taking doesn't do this letter justice. I'm [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 11, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Note to God: Give Me More Hours Per Day

Cripes. I ended up staying at work late, doing stupid "trademark" searches for potential brand names. Glad I could help out, but it was grunt work - any warm body could have complied the same data. I should know better than to ask "Is there anything I can help out [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 11, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 12, 2002

Inspiration on the Train

This morning, riding the Metra, I was looking out the window at the line that ran alongside the train. From my angle, the sunlight reflected off the tops of the tracks. Not a singular glint, but two bright reflections that actually seemed to be traveling down the tracks. I [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 12, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Alcohol: Start Happy, End Crying

A ritual we used to have at work (before the massive layoffs, when there were six of us commuting via train) is the Friday Beer Train. For some reason, Metra allows its passengers to bring alcohol on board. Suckers! There is a liquor store about 100 yards from the trainstop [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 12, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Alcohol: Start Happy, End Crying (Part 2)

Jenny and I had some good, interesting conversations. Lots of relationship stuff. Really good conversations, actually. Lost track of how many drinks we had. I feel like a lightweight anymore, as far as my liver is concerned. Also - there's something about hanging out with Jenny that's problematic. I never [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 12, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Oh, I Could Have Won at Pool, But I was Too Drunk

Seriously. [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 12, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 13, 2002

And Our Winner for the Darwin Awards is...

6 AM. I woke up on the couch, thinking: My. Who's cooking this early in the morning? That smells pretty go... OH SHIT! In case you've ever wondered what a Tombstone Supreme Pizza looks like after spending all night in the oven, well here's your answer. Darwin awards, here [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 13, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Temptation, Thy Name is Tobacco

This was the only redemptive thing from last night. Jenny had gone up to the bar, and was buying cigarettes from the bartender. She came back with two. They were both for her, but I kept handling one of them, rolling it through my fingers, smelling it... Actually, I [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 13, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

FYI

jverbal thinks it looks fat. [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 13, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Penny Arcade

I wasted my entire day. Short of updating this area, I haven't done one productive thing while the sun was out. I went back and used the spellchecker, and tried to clean up most the pages, made sure all the titles were using intial caps.... yadda yadda. Most of today [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 13, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

July 14, 2002

I'm at Home. But I'm Working. But I'm at Home. But I'm Working.

Big day Monday. A client of ours is having an incredibly big launch Tuesday, so we need to have a TON of crap ready to go by end of day, tomorrow. I've got all the components I need, and it's a matter of weaving all the pieces together. I'm making [read more...]

Posted by avoision on July 14, 2002 12:00 AM | | Comments (0)

Procrastinating? What are You Talking About?

Just went through Photoshop and created an action to throw in a 3 pixel white border on an image. Created a batch process, and updated all the pics. [read more...]