We have a winner

Andersonville it is.

I Think I May Have Found the Place

My search for a place to live is turning out very well. Especially considering that the first place the realtor showed me made me cry. It was so bad.

Now, I'm down to three really great properties with totally different pros and cons that I'm having to decide between. Help me weigh in?

Apt #1
Super cool, up and coming (but very safe) neighborhood called North Center
-Super close to the El, as is the building backs up to the tracks.
-Heat is included
-No A/C (Yikes! But I can get a window unit or two)
-Really big apartment, over 1200 sq ft, 2 and 1/2 flights up. 2 beds, 1 bth, hardwood, sun room, loads of windows.
-The kitchen is large, white cabinets/appliances with vintage built ins.
-Street parking. It appears to be easy parking.
-Laundry in the basement. Walk down the stairs, outside, down to the basement. Eek this could be cold.
-I really dig this neighborhood.
-The most expensive rent, but very reasonable on the bills, I think.

Apt #2
Lakeview, kinda near Wrigleyville.
-Closish to the El, 2.5 blocks or so.
-Central air and heat not included. The current tenants say that they're on a electric regulation plan and pay $120-$140 every month.
-Again, HUGH apartment (over 1300 sq ft) with two beds, 1 bath, office with french doors, large living room and a sun room. 1/2 flight up in a courtyard building. Vintage.
-the kitchen is just "eh", nothing special. The least fave of the three kitchens.
-Street parking or alley parking for $160/month. I'm thinking that this will be the place with the hardest parking. No street parking during Cubs games, eek!
-Laundry in the basement.
-I'm a tad worried that this might be a little too "young and trendy" for me.
-The middle as far as rent. $50 less that the most expensive and $50 more than the least. Maybe the most as far as utilities.

Apt #3
Andersonville. A northern neighborhood, the farest North of the three.
-.5 mile to el, I walked it at 9 last night and felt totally safe.
-This is a complete GUT REHAB condo conversion. Granite, stainless, hardwood. In a super cute 36 unit courtyard building. Noting vintage about it at all. 2 bed, 1.5 bth.
-Very secure garden unit. A big gate to be buzzed into the courtyard, another locked door into the "lobby", down to the unit's front door.
-Central A/C which the owners say they've never turned on.
-Gas Heat, they said the max heat bill was $160 this winter.
-This is the best, new kitchen of the three.
-Easy street parking. Or $75/mo parking for the month if I want it for the winter.
-Laundry in the unit.
-Smallest of the apartments at 1000 sq ft.
-It's pretty far north.
-This is the least expensive. This is also the only unit that is being rented out by the owners, not a mgmt co and the people who own it are just super.


What say you, oh wise ones!? PLEASE give me your opinion.

Guess where I am?

My Kind of Town

Now this could only happen to a guy like me
And only happen in a town like this
And so I say to each of you most gratefully
As I throw each one of you a kiss

This is my kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of people too
People who, smile at you

And each time I roam, Chicago is
Calling me home, Chicago is
One town that won't let you down
It's my kind of town

My kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of razzmatazz
And it has, all that jazz

And each time I leave, Chicago is
Tuggin' my sleeve, Chicago is
The Wrigley Building, Chicago is
The Chicago Cubbies, Chicago is
One town that won't let you down
It's my kind of town

Performed by Frank Sinatra

12 of 12

Chung chung

11 of 12

Time to relax

10 of 12

Winner winner chicken dinner

9 of 12

Making salad dressing

8 of 12

The other cat

7 of 12

Driving to the CPA

6 of 12

Taking out the trash

5 of 12

Brusha brusha brusha

4 of 12

On a conference call with the IT department trying to fix my computer.

3 of 12

Not making the progress I was hoping for.

2 of 12

Play with Wesley

1 of 12

Today is 12 of 12. My camera is dead, so I'm participating via cell
phone camera.

It's after 8, but I've been up since 6:30.

What's In My Lunch Box

Y'all liked this picture! It is so cute, isn't it?

It was the first day of school. I was starting third grade and my brother was starting kindergarten. I remember that outfit and loved it so much. I got the pants and shirt at Katy Thomas' mother's shop in Dallas. I don't remember the name of the shop, but I loved it.

My lunch box was Peanuts and my brother's was Return of the Jedi. My lunch box undoubtedly contained a peanut butter sandwich. It may have had jelly depending if I was in a PB&J phase or PB only. There would have been chips and and apple also. My brother's would have had bologna and cheese with the chips and apple. I don't remember what we drank? There was probably a thermos filled with something as I don't recall going through the lunch line for milk.

What was in your lunchbox?

Overheard on the plane

One sided cell phone conversation:

"Guess what I got you, baby?"

"Well, I'm not going to tell you what kind of lures, but they are
fancy."

"Oh, and I bought a new cigarette case that looks like it's made of
100 dollar bills."

"No, I'm not allowed to make calls while the plane is in the air."

Sent from my iPhone

First day of school 1980

Only in Louisiana

Sweep the Swamp

Pizza with crab, crawfish, shrimp and andouille.

Crabby

I have just about eaten my weight in crab since Wednesday.

I ate my fave Mexican food here. I don't think it's as good as it used to me, but still tasty.

I had the world famous "Shrimp Buster" here. I can't find any info online about Herbie K's, but it's a local legend. The Shrimp Buster is three GIGANTIC Louisiana shrimp that are butterflied, flatted and deep fried. Seriously, each shrimp is the size of my hand! Then they're served open faced on buttered, toasted French bread with "Special Sauce", which is kinda like katsu sauce, if you've ever had that. Divine!

We have a crazy seven course meal here. Crab in every single course except dessert. Marinated crab claws, fried crab claws. Crab Caeser salad -- yep, had it. Gumbo with crab, duck, chicken, sausage, shrimp and more!! The gumbo came in a cup sitting on a saucer, they pour 151 into the saucer and light it and bring out the gumbo on fire! It's simmering when it's delivered! Snapper with crab and Louisiana shrimp, ribeye with crab meat and butter. Really, I need a trip to the cardiologist! Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and his wife (Mel Gibson's daughter) were having dinner there, too.

Yesterday, lunch was muffalettas here. It's not as good as a muff in NOLA, but darn good. Oh, and the sweet citrus spiced tea is amazing! So sweet and tasty! I want to drink a gallon of it. It's fresh orange and lemon juice with mint and other amazing things.

Finally, last night we went to one of my fave dives for a fab steak dinner. The Cub has been around since 1939 in its original location. Your options are pretty much steak or steak and french fries or au gratin potatoes. There is a man on staff full time and his job is hand peeling and cutting the fries and potatoes for the au gratin. It's not brain surgery, but man, we're happy he does it.

I have no idea what's next. Oh, yes I do...tonight, I'm doing this.