I work half days on Fridays (a perk at Grubhub, where we all technically end the work week at 1PM on Fridays). Today, Liz took a half day to meet me downtown, and had an early birthday celebration for me planned.
I didn’t know what to expect, but hung out in the car as we drove our way to Logan Square. And parked on Milwaukee, alongside the two destinations (which were pretty close to one another).
So. I spent a lot of the day in the basement, working with these supplies. And it seems like all I did was make a few prototypes of Halloween anuses. Because let’s be honest, this is what they look like.
Today, Liz and I had a plan to just go out and about. To get out of the house some, and to just make a day of being “out” – something we don’t really do much of.
For Liz’s birthday this year, we headed back to a favorite spot: Giant, in Logan Square.
It’s been nearly 5 years since we were there. And the last two birthdays for Liz have been at-home celebrations, due to Covid. So we were looking forward to being out in the world again, albeit a little nervous and hesitant about it all.
“Sir, the truth is, I talk to God all the time, and, no offense, but He never mentioned you.”
It’s been a while since Liz and I did this, any of this, and it was great. No real deadlines, no rush, just ambling around.
Liz and I spend too much of our time at home, sitting at a desk, working. And to carve out a full day where we did the exact opposite of that… felt really good. And in many ways, felt like a reminder of a normal day.
Liz and I decided to use a rainy Sunday as our excuse to trek up to Logan Square, and to have breakfast at one of our old favorite spots: Lula Cafe.
While standing around, I spotted this note on the wall. For a moment, it felt nice imagining what it might be like standing here in the Spring. With no snow. And no cold.
Probably still masks though. Maybe that’s a dream for next year.
At times, I found myself getting bored and being done with being around people. At other times, I remembered why everyone had on a mask and got even more uncomfortable being around people. Even after all this isolation, I don’t find myself craving crowds; it’s the same feeling: get away, get home.
Today, I met up with Luis outside his hotel pretty early in the morning. We talked about getting him a Ventra card (for the CTA) and touring a few neighborhoods along the Blue Line.
After a full day of cleaning the house (and some miscellaneous yard work), Liz and I cleaned up and headed back to Logan Square for date night. Several months ago, back in March, she made reservations for us at a place called Giant.
Peering down each row, I couldn’t help but think back to news reports I’d see on TV. It felt like we were on the brink of a hurricane or blizzard, where everyone has cleared the shelves in fear of an impending storm.
Spotted this at New Wave Coffee, while Liz and I were out and about on my Birthday Day.
This morning, Liz and I met up with Chris and Leslie at Longman & Eagle, in the back at the Off Site Bar (OSB) for their Weekend Donut Shop.
It’s been nearly two months since we were last at Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits, and I’ve been thinking about this place ever since. Maybe not every single day, but… I would say at least once every two or three days. Easily.