It has returned from Chicago and is once again safely ensconced in "the lattice factory".
Always good to get home from a long trip.

My place was being painted while I was gone so it looked like the holocaust when I got in from the airport.
I immediately had an OCD induced panic attack and paced around in circles for 53 minutes and 37 seconds, trying to figure out whether I should start cleaning, re-hanging all of my photos, putting away my luggage, or just set off the booby-traps I have carefully placed in case of:

A.)     Zombie Apocalypse
2.)      Alien Attack
L15.)  Return of Hellbeast

Eventually, I came to my senses and went for a beer.

All better.

As Thanksgiving Day looms ever present, I thought I would share some random cool things that I've found jumping about on the interwebs.

Hope you all have a good day and hug your people for me!

A very cool narrow house in Japan.

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/now-what-you-call-narrow-house-3.html

A very cool small wooden home.

http://tinyhouseswoon.com/tiny-wooden-house/

ESPN sponsors these short documentaries.  Great stuff.

http://espn.go.com/30for30/index

Treasure maps in Paris from Messy Nessy.

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/11/26/10-treasure-maps-to-secret-paris/

Interesting people from Vimeo, posted by Nessy.

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/06/21/the-sole-resident-of-the-worlds-largest-abandoned-building-other-tales/

I'll add as I find other cool stuff to share.

Luvulongtime,

EPPdF

I've been in Chicago for the last couple weeks working a large project.
Gotta say - I love this town!
Almost everyone I've met here has been really friendly and pleasant to interact with - there was one cabbie that irked me so much that I wadded up a $10 and threw it at his head - but outside of that it's been a great experience.

"The Source of the Trouble" arranged a couple of condos for the month for me and the guys which has been pretty awesome.  Staying in a hotel for a month stinks, even when it's a nice one.
Renting a condo lets have a bit more space and you blend in with the locals a little more.

Places we like:

http://www.thefrontierchicago.com/
Whole smoked alligator.  For Reelz.

http://doritedonuts.com/
I know I've gained 5 pounds eating these little bits of heavenly cakes.

http://www.delilahschicago.com/
Great dive bar.

http://stocksandblondesbar.com/
Ditto.  And right under the stairs to the L.

http://www.chicagobluesbar.com/
Love this joint.  Like Northside Tavern in Atlanta.

http://www.hugosfrogbar.com/
A little more upscale than I normally go for but the bartender was entertaining as hell.

http://bavetteschicago.com/
The guys and I had 2 fantastic meals here.  Order the bone marrow.  Seriously.  Incredible.

http://www.thefryecompany.com/frye-flagship-stores/
The Frye Company Chicago Flagship store on North Rush Street.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-michigan-avenue
Turns out that the high price you pay at a store like this is worth it when you also get excellent service and a friendly, helpful staff that will find just what you need.

The Parsons Chicken & Fish El Camino.

http://www.parsonschickenandfish.com/
Excellent fried chicken and butter-beans - north of the Mason/Dixon line!!

http://www.speakeasycustomtattoo.com/
I met the owner, Patrick, and talked to him about getting another piece.  Nice guy and amazing artist.  The shop itself is gorgeous too.

If you come to Chicago, the area around Wicker Park is pretty amazing.  Wander around; you'll find something.

Contemplating Those Ancient Japanese Masters of Haiku While Remembering a Dream About Taking Communion with My Mother as I Gaze out on a Crisp Fall Day in Atlanta and Eat a Peanut Butter and Jelly Lunchable Under a Dogwood Tree:

I feel there must be some trickery
under those ceremonial kimonos.
After giving you the time, location, the weather, and sometimes the meal of the day,
all in the title,
even I could guess their emotional state
with just 17 syllables.

In what must seem like a lifetime ago to you,
I made a simple request as we gazed up at the moon
from our singular places, in our singular times:
"Take me with you under the moon
and let me run thru your dreams
as you run thru mine".

But the weight of my wanting was too much
and I watched with increasing horror,
that heavy moon sink into the darkest of seas,
never to be heard from again.

And me, from my watery bed,
still looking up saw only the light
and could not know that I was gone.
I could not understand why the sailors crossed themselves
when I approached to ask if they knew you,
had seen you,
would let me follow them back home.

And even now, when time is of no more use to any of us,
I am still gazing thru this carnival glass
seeing only the reflection of what once was
and the wanting moon that keeps me under.