The Last Bonfire... Ever

Tuesday September 16th, 2014 was a day of tragedy and the first emergency care trip for myself in probably over a decade. I had gotten home from work and was in high spirits after seeing an awesome prize pack my mom had won for me had arrived. Check out this sweet Heineken gear!

Not only had this awesome prize pack arrived, but seasons 1 & 3 of 30 Rock arrived as well. 30 Rock is one of the few shows (maybe only) that I have watched every single episode and it was all out of love for Rachel. I didn't know it was love at the time, but it definitley was. Rachel had told me to watch the funny show back in September of 2011 when we started talking online for excessive hours. I became addicted and loved it and loved having something to talk to her every day about. Ahh, the start of a life lasting friendship.

Anyways back to how I ended up at the Emergency Care office. Rachel was cooking us up a tasty dinner, some chicken quesadillas with rice, and green beans. The green beans were in a can that required opening, and Rachel was having a tough time with it so asked me to open it. No biggie, I am an expert at opening cans, so I went over, opened it up and then went to pop off the lid. Unintelligently I went to use my right thumb to pop the now sharply cut can lid off. It was still slightly attached at one spot and as I applied a little pressure to the can lid, in it went into my thumb. It was not super painful, but blood started to come out. I was mad at myself for not using a spoon, fork, or knife to lift the can lid first. We wrapped my thumb up with some towel since it was bleeding quite a bit.

Now you have to remember that I do not get injured too often "knock on wood" and this was the first time I can remember slicing or cutting myself ever (except that dark period in 7th grade, jokes jokes). I had bashed my head on the cement playing basketball in 1st grade, and had my dad come out and yell at me for not wearing a helmet (he thought we were playing hockey), but besides that, I cannot remember any significant injury.

With that being said, it was a fairly long slice, about an inch long and it was bleeding at what I thought was a steady rate. After almost passing out from tying a rubber band too tight around my thumb, Rachel and I were on the move to find an Emergency Care that was open past 8pm, since it was about 8:20p. We found one online that was about 1/4 of a mile away and headed for it.

Once there, I was admitted to a room and the nurse came in, she started asking me questions and I began to take off my little wrap around my thumb. She started to say Oh no, don't take that off. But it was too late and I had taken it off, and then she saw the little slice in my finger and said, "Oh, you won't need stitches." After that I was basically treated like a 5 year old child and felt slightly embarrassed about the whole situation. She gave me a tetanus show, which was one of the positives of this trip, since I haven't had one since probably high school, but when she was giving it to me, asked if I was okay with shots, and then counted down as it went in. Confirmed, she thinks I am a little girl. When the doctor, some guy in his 30s, came in and put a band-aid on my finger, that was the icing on the cake.

Rachel and I both had a good laugh about the situation the whole time and on the walk home. At least we know where the immediate care is now and I am now free to step on rusty nails for 10 years. Woohoo!

Wednesday September 17th

I do not recall any particular events from this date, so enjoy a couple of videos. One a funny comedy rap song by a guy named lil dicky, and the other a pretty amazing rendition of the waltz, via GoPro.

Thursday the 18th of August and Friday the 19th of August were spent working, and prepping for our big event at work for the upcoming weekend, and preparing for our garage sale at home. Finally getting rid of a lot of stuff we should have awhile back! On Friday night, after work, Beth and I decided to have a bonfire. As we were walking outside, I said jokingly, "are you ready for the last bonfire... ever? Little did I know, these words would actually come true. I meant it since we only had one big log left and it will be too cold out soon, although I always want to have a bonfire out mid snow storm. Anyways, I get the big log going with some kindling, and also a couple pieces of bark from the big log that had fallen off, nothing out of the ordinary. About 5 minutes later, the flames are out of control and I see that the lid of the firepit is starting to melt and the paint is chipping away from the flames. Holy cow, this is getting out of control, so I ran inside, grabbed some water and threw it on the fire to calm it down and then broke apart the bark so it wouldn't burn as strongly. 

After a few minutes we were back to normal, the fire was again roaring strongly, but not too strongly. Beth and I were enjoying our time around the fire, making some s'mores with gram crackers that expired in 2011, yuck, then using new gram crackers, and just chatting it up. After about 25 minutes of sitting around the fire, there was a pop, and then the bottom dropped out (song reference anyone). Apparently this bonfire has seen too many great fires produced by yours truly, and it just couldn't take it anymore, and puked all of the hot embers and ash onto our patio. Fantastic. We couldn't believe what happened and it marked an end of times. The last bonfire... ever was over. Check out them pics!

Saturday September 20th was our big event at work, and brought us a boatload of candy, which is great, but also bad because we all know I can't resist candy. In fact, that is all I ate during my 9 hour shift on Monday the 22nd! Ahh brings back memories of childhood & cavities. After the event, I headed home and did some preparing for our garage sale, and also power washed the garage floor. It was quite dirty, and I don't think I have even swept it out in a couple years. I used to clean it at least every summer, but have not of late. After power washing out the garage, Beth and I headed over to Phil's place, Rachel's bro. I didn't want us to show up empty handed so we stopped to pick up some beers and apple-ahhh-ritas. I was carrying it all as we were walking out of the store and Beth says, "Do you need any help with that?" I said nope I got it, and went to switch hands and missed my hand on the transfer. Crack went the bottles of Sam Adams that I had just bought and out spilled the beer onto the floor. Luckily only 3 of them broke, so we still had at least 3 to take home! As I found someone to clean it up, I was then blessed with hearing that I could go grab a new 6 pack fo free. Fo FREE! This was quite the deal, especially after being so clumsy. 

At Phil's we had some delicious burgers, potato slices, and homemade beers. Tasty stuff. After Rachel's parents took off, Beth, Rachel, Phil, & I all decided to play cards against humanity. It was a hilariously great time and we headed home around 1 am. A great night!

On Sunday September 21st, Rachel and I did a little shopping for our apartment and then headed back. On our way out, we picked up some McDonalds. Once back we cleaned, hung up pictures, smoke alarms, & towel holders. The place is really starting to look complete and we plan to finish it out this week!

Rachel and I finished up the night by watching 2 episodes of Breaking Bad together, and then I couldn't resist and watched 2 more by myself! The show is getting sooooo good and the story line is getting crazy. Really keeps you on the edge of your seat and wanting more! Only 5 episodes left for the rest of the week! Can't wait to finish! 

Monday the 22nd was a standard work day, ended with an episode of Breaking Bad and watching the Bears cruise to another victory over the Jets. Also set up some speakers to the turntable in the basement as I was cleaning and listened to War Elephant by Deer Tick on vinyl. They need to play a show close to Chicago again soon. 

I leave you with the top of a dresser that we are getting rid of. You can tell it is old because...

Until next week.

Josh

Back to the Norm

I had my first "normal" week over the past 7 days. I wasn't traveling about, hiking mountains, or moving. It was nice to finally be able to somewhat relax after being on the go for about 4 weeks.

Tuesday September 9th, 2014 I had brats, chicken, and corn for dinner with Rachel. Kind of a throw together meal, but who doesn't love a little more corn stool? We watched the first 2 episodes of the last season of Breaking Bad. The show is getting really good and we are seeing quite the character transformations.

On Wednesday the 10th I forgot to bring a lunch to work, but we were blessed with a man who brought us free Jet's pizza. A Jet's is opening up just down the road from work, which is great news since their pizza is so tasty.

On September 11th, Thursday, there were memories of September 11th, it has already been 13 years which is crazy. Here is a touching video about a lacrosse player who saved lives on that day. Brings a tear to the eye, and gives me motivation to be a nicer, more caring person each and every day.

That evening I got home pretty late and Rachel was out at Yoga, so I walked around trying to find some dinner for us, eventually picking up Wing Stop again. This time getting some lemon pepper and Louisiana rub flavors. They were both delicious, but I couldn't get enough of that Louisiana rub. Succulent. We of course watched some BB while enjoying our meal.

Friday September 12th was the day that I began to backup my computer. Having almost 3 TB of data now has forced me to split my backup between 2 externals. The power of music, photos, and videos. Large large files. I also began creating another Jcubed logo this weekend. Here is a very little tease for what it will look like.

Unfortunately on Saturday the 13th I had to head to work. Taking 90 minutes to drive out, just to work 3 hours, and then to drive back home for an hour. Rachel and I quickly cooked up a Pasta Side for dinner and then walked a mile and a half over to Brian's to hang out with Chris and Phil. Zac Brown Band was playing at Wrigley and we could hear them sitting in his apartment and standing on his porch. Despite being country, it sounded like they were playing a pretty good show by playing some rock covers and ended their show with Chicken Fried of course. After that ended, we threw on some Deer Tick for the people to enjoy. We walked home after a few hours and hit the hay.

On Sunday September 14th Rachel and I walked a mile and a half over to Zella. A brunch place that is popular for their all you can eat and drink brunch from 10:30a - 3p. We met up with Tori, her bf, Aly, Mary, Chris, and Rach's bro Rob. It was a fun time and I was wearing my Titans jersey. Go Titans! I became super full after 3 plates of eggs, bacon, chicken tenders, diced potatoes, fruit, bread, & some other foods, as well as drinking far too many mimosas and filling up on that OJ. After brunch Rach and I walked the 1.5 miles back home, stopping at Mary and Jeff's on the way to pet their cat.

Once home I continued to back-up my computer and watched some football. For dinner, I picked us up some Angela's steak taco dinners. Pretty tasty. While I was waiting for my tacos to be made, a super drunk 49 year old guy, who claimed to still get the ladies, kept high-fiving me and another guy in the place, yelling "Go Bears!" He also told me how he was blazing earlier in the day and had to take the train back to Libertyville. This dude was pretty funny and just kept talking about how great the bears were, "Go Bears!" He then showed us a photo of him and Walter Peyton from when he was a kid. Walter Peyton just looking ripped and shirtless, pretty cool photo, super weird dude. "Go Bears!"

Rachel and I enjoyed our dinner as the Bears looked terrible during the first half. It was so bad I said let's watch an episode of Breaking Bad, so we did. After dinner and BB I put on the second half of the Bears game and couldn't have been happier (unless I really cared, then maybe I would have been). The Bears stormed back and got the W in SF. Woop Woop.

Monday September 15, I finished my first audio book in the car. Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card. This book is the second novel in the Ender's Game series. Rachel has already read the whole series, and since I don't have time dedicated to reading currently, I get to read by listening every day on my drive! The book was good and the plot was solid, it was just difficult to follow the sci-fi names at times, but I did the best I could while having to focus on the road at times as well. Xenocide is the next novel in the series. Can't wait. Picked up some Steak n Shake for lunch as well. Triple steak burger with fries for $4.40. I am amazed at how much faster I got my food when in the drive thru versus being in a steak n shake. Makes me question if they purposely are slow when you dine-in, or if they give your food away to the drive thru lane. 

Well, that is all, looks like another normal week ahead.

You Stay Classy Friends.

Josh

Chicago

After finally finishing my blog about the Colorado trip, it is now time to talk about an event that happened a little over a week ago, moving to Chicago.

Let's pickup from where we left off, just ending the most amazing week of my life with another Deer Tick show back in Chicago on Saturday night.

It is now Sunday August 24th, 2014.

Aunt Lil and I on her birthday!

Aunt Lil and I on her birthday!

John and I take off relatively early from Rachel's place in the city and I head home for a family party for my Aunt Lil. We have the party at Auntie Wanda’s. It is good to catch up with relatives and I tell them about my journey, unfortunately with no photos. There was great food and great company, resulting in a great party! My Dad and I stop at IKEA on the way home and pick up a new desk for my new place I will be moving to at the end of the week. It is pretty darn heavy, but I man up and carry that box out of IKEA all the way to the car, instead of wheeling it out on a dolly. Man Strength.

Monday August 25, Tuesday the 26th, and Wednesday the 27th were all spent packing for the new place.

ACS summer camp tees, keep or toss?

ACS summer camp tees, keep or toss?

Thursday 8/28 I am starting to get really excited about the new place, but still going through boxes and packing. Nothing new except realizing I have more than a lot of stuff. Stuff explains it well because most of it is not essential, yet I feel attached to it and do not want to see it go. I am making progress though and beginning to let go of more and more of this "stuff" since I really have no use for it anymore. We are talking about old childhood toys, posters, clothes, stuffed animals, things like that. Don't worry though, all the essentials like adult clothes, photos I have taken, computer equipment, video equipment, and my DVD collection are all being packed up.

Fri 8/29

Had to work pretty early, but was planning on getting out early as well, unfortunately I had to wait for the boss to get back with my keys, so I had to wait an extra 2 hours, but got the keys, so it was worth it. That night we ordered Jets Pizza for my final meal living at home. Half hawaiin and half bbq chicken. Mmm tasty Jets. I finish up the majority of preparing for the move by packing up my car and putting the rest of the larger items in the garage. I head to bed just around midnight. I found out the next day, Rachel was up until 4:30 am packing. Dedication! What a lady!

Some classic phrases put together by YaBoys over the years, found on the filing cabinet, in my room. You know many kids who had a filing cabinet as a kid? High class.

Some classic phrases put together by YaBoys over the years, found on the filing cabinet, in my room. You know many kids who had a filing cabinet as a kid? High class.

Sat 8/30
Move in Day! I wake up and go get the Uhaul with my Dad. Then we pack it up and head to the city to buy a couch off a guy on craigslist. Very nice guy and very nice leather coach with 2 recliners. Pretty heavy and somehow he took it upstairs by himself when he moved in. Must have been his giant calves. Man strength! We then drive over to Rachel's current place and began to put her items in the UHaul. Her parents arrive and meet my parents for the first time! Exciting times for everyone. We pack up most of her stuff, leaving a little for a second trip later that day.

Brian was nice enough to come help us move after playing volleyball. We drive over to the new place and get a perfect spot to start the move in, just in time too because 2 or 3 other groups moved in the same day and we beat them to get a good parking spot for the truck. The move in could not have gone any more perfect, even though the place was pretty dusty and dirty, everything else went flawless. No rain, we had a good system going and everyone was helping out in different ways. I can’t thank my parents, my sister, Rachel’s parents, & Brian enough for all of the help. We couldn’t have done it without everyone. My family heads out around 2:30 after a full hard working morning of moving in. Brian stayed around and sorted through all 360 or so of my DVDs, putting them in alphabetic order and arranging them on the bookshelf, or shall I say movieshelf. Amazing.

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Rachel’s parents help us do a few more things around the place and then we go out to eat right across the street around 6pm. First meal of the day tastes so darn good. I had a chicken sandwich. After dropping Rachel’s Parents off at their car (we did some rearranging of the cars earlier by still parking at Rachel’s), we head back to our place for our first night living together. We do a little more unpacking, cleaning, and organizing. Rachel falls asleep on our new comfy couch watching Friends as a I start putting my new desk together. About half way through I am pretty tired and we call it a night. What a day. Here is a little gallery from the move in.

Sun 8/31

I wake up and finish putting my desk together, while setting more of the apartment up. I clean the apartment, mopping the floor twice over, moving things around in the process. We go shopping to Walmart Express, Bed Bath & beyond and TJ maxx to pick up some things for the place. We decide on Wing Stop for dinner, which is just a few doors down. Chili Lime & Mild wings are our choice for the day. Surprisingly the same price as it is in Naperville. Delicious.

Around 9pm friends come over to check out the new place. Brian brings John McCoughly’s pick from the DT show at the Metro. First he helps with the move, now he honors us with a Deer Tick pick, what a noble man. Grant, Becca, and her roommate come over and we play Loaded Questions as well as Cheers Governor. Rach and Becca head out to GasLight Bar down the street, and Brian, Grant, & I jam out to some Deer Tick for another hour so. They both leave and I head to GasLight to meet up with Rach and Becca. We have a couple of beers that Rachel so kindly bought and then head back to our new place to crash for the night.

Mon 9/1

-Wake up late, clean a little then nap on the couch for a few hours.

Around 3pm wake up and start to clean and organize more. Have canned soup for lunch. Listen to Deer Tick for a solid 2 hours while swiffering the floor and cleaning. Head out to the store around 7pm and pick up some things, as well as McDonalds for dinner. 3 mcdoubles, 3 mcchikens, and a large fry, which came out to exactly $10. We must remember this order when we only have $10. We eat McDonalds while we watch Divergent. Divergent is a bit different than the book, but still a pretty good movie.

Tue 9/2

I found out about the huge celebrity nude leak at work. Apparently not having internet and being buys moving in over the weekend caused me to miss some serious internet news. The drive to and from work that day was not too bad at all. That night I brought weights back to the new place and got a decent workout in. I cooked some tasty pasta with peppers, onions, and brats for dinner with Rachel.

Wed 9/3

I took lower wacker on the way to work on Wednesday, which gave me memories from the movie The Dark Knight. I stopped at the parents’ house after work and did some serious cleaning and organizing, trying to get rid of old clothes and items I won’t be using anymore. I have also began to listen to Speak for the Dead (2nd book in Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card) on CD for my longer drives.

Thur 9/4

Standard day of life including work, eating, sleeping, and working out. I also finally received my prize pack from a stick trick contest on laxallstars. Pretty cool shorts. Gotta love free gear.

Fri 9/5

Worked late and then got home and met Rachel’s friends out at Gaslight. After a drink we had them come over to our place and played some drinking games and talked. We also played Deer Tick for them all night. Nice people and friends and always a good time with some DT on.

Sat 9/6

Woke up late and got Chipotle for lunch. The lady who was making my burrito sucked at wrapping it and ended up breaking it, throwing out the shell and some of my burrito with it, then tearing it again the second time she tried. I left a little upset, so stopped at McDonald’s on the way home and picked up and ate a McChicken before indulging in my burrito at home while watching Breaking Bad. After cleaning up and such, we had Tori over for what was going to be a grillout for dinner. Unfortunately we found out that the grills on our patio do not provide us with the propane to actually grill, so instead we just got to see some really big spiders. We came back up to our apartment and grilled burgers on the George Foreman. They actually turned out to be pretty good. Since they were smaller I had 2 double burgers. I topped them off with a couple of gummies and we had more friends over for the night.

Everyone has enjoyed seeing our place which is always a good thing! We found out that one of our friends who occasionally tweets/instagrams for KFC took a photo of Rachel and Sarah. Only Rachel made the picture, but look at that latina hand, lovely. Rachel looking cute has caused the photo to get 4387 likes right now! Woo!  Most peeps ending up going out, but I was determined to finish my Colorado blog, so I stayed in and worked on the blog until Rachel returned around 2 AM.

Sun 9/7

Rachel and I watched a bunch of episodes of Breaking Bad while eating some tasty frozen Jacks Pizza. We finished season 4 and the show is getting really good. I love the character development and cannot wait to see how the show ends with season 5. Only 16 episodes left! To Rachel’s dismay, I also watched a good amount of football. To be fair, it is the opening weekend! The Bears looked pretty poopy and proved it by losing to the Bills. I am excited for football to be back though. It is by far the best sport to watch along with hockey and lacrosse. Everything else I could really care less about, except maybe some world cup soccer. I spent my evening staying up pretty late finishing my Colorado blog, but finally finished and posted it as you all saw.

Mon 9/8

I actually finished my blog this morning, not Sunday night and posted it up. Be sure to check it out, as it has close to 100 photos of the beautiful landscapes in Colorado. After work, I stopped at home and grilled up 15 brats for the family. A tasty dinner for all!

Speaking of brats, it has been 3 years since cookout 2.

I leave you with this photo from the early 90s. Thanks for sending Aunt Lil!

Yaboy

Josh