Now that the world has thawed, I'm finally creeping back towards my old self. To tell you the truth,

I really don't think I'll be able to live through another winter in Chicago. It's not just the cold and snow

and shades of gray and brown. It's the complete DEADNESS that I found myself surrounded by.

At least in New York, you could walk to work on the most dismall day and absorb the colors on the street -

a flower stand, a fruit market, the tacky vendors, the wavy-gravy wackos...But in my neighborhood here,

there IS no sidewalk culture, and I miss it in a most crippling way. Next winter, I will be jetting February and March.

I will be jetting February and March. I will be jetting February and March. I will be jetting February and March. I WILL

OK! This is the view from my living room window

and my living room

My house plants helped me get over the winter blahzzzz

On a walk to Wicker Park. Something I am embracing for the first time is the tremendous sprawl.

I've been trying to find spots in Chicago that replace my spots back in NY. I used to love the

waterfall in Prospect Park, (on the Southeast side, near the boat house) and HEY! I found a waterfall in Hombolt Park!

And some willows too

Cherry blossoms ala Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Ben got a Wii. Here's us as our Wii selves

Miriam is T.M.G.F.

And M.T.B.F.s Dave, Kyle and...what's his name

Suckin on chili dog, outside the Tastee Freeze

Here is a photo of the Two Marias. The other Maria owns the Whilraway and is a second mom

to many a slacker. Myself included. She and I got a special thing goin on. But then again, I'm sure

that's how all her "ninos" feel. She made me a special fresh mango blended margarita, followed by

a papaya one. Other folks tried to orded it, but she told them she's out

Oh yeah, I got braces

Nate and Ben gave each other brosagges

Adam had a few hours layover on his Amtrack trip from Texas to New Jersey so we got to hang out.

I took him to dinner at Lula

This is Kate right after her final brunch shift

And this one was at Danny's

I got a bike here called Jeans 2 and she's a peach

Ben took me on a suprise tour of Garfield Park. As we were riding through, I got cat cat-called Becky, Stacy and Amy by

the black folks chilling at their cars. Chicago is super segrated, but - REALLY CHICAGO? Geez...it was hella disappointing

On our cruise around, we came upon this fella who was turtle-miles away from home. Named him LeSean

And sent him on his way