last days in chicago, first day in san fran

My last few days in chicago unfolded more or less as expected. I didn’t end up going to the gym, but and I did end up skating through the horde of people watching the air & water show, then up to hollywood beach and back to boystown. One of the guys I’d been chatting with at the bar on Saturday, Lee, invited me to the Big Gay Cocktail Club on Sunday, but ‘s departure was delayed so he could synch up with his coworker’s arrival at O’hare. Besides, arriving sweaty and tired from skating probably not so much in keeping with the tone of the event. Afterwards we ordered from chicago pizza. I got a deep-fried veggie variety pack (mushrooms, cauliflower, and zucchini), once again proving that vegan does not imply healthy.

was a great weekend guest. I actually think he’d make a great roommate (in case this in inobvious, this is high praise from me), but I’d have to take a pass on Phoenix.

Monday I think I packed for a bit. Dropped clothing off at the Brown elephant. Browsed pornographic superhero comics at unabridged and generally lazed around. spent some time at the Emergency Room with some worrying symptoms, but nothing terribly wrong was found. Went I got home, Mitch (whose lj, remains empty) showed the two video games he’d acquired. I played the one he got for Laura, Fable, from 11pm til 6am. I went to sleep as the sun was rising. This made my last minute packing a little more hurried. I mailed a couple more boxes back to mpls. One heavy and clunky, the other a shoebox full of books. Must remember to tape down all edges. I scratched up my inner elbow to an annoying degree on the half mile walk to the post office. Then I caught a cab to the airport because I was tight on time.

I was still standing in line for about half an hour waiting to board the plane (southwest, so no assigned seating). In line, I met Chris. Chris is a punk, homo (he’d say “queer”, he may actually be bi, but whatever), writer (particularly of zines) from Milwaukee, freelance mac support guy, who has lived mere blocks from the places I lived in berkeley and minneapolis. He saved me a seat (middle seat, towards the back of the plane). We chatted for the first couple hours of the flight. I loaned him Bear Cub to watch. I listened to my iROK podcast, watched over his shoulder, and read a bit more of Freakonomics. Then we talked some more, and took bart, then muni from the oakland airport to the castro street station, where we parted ways to get housing from our respective friends.

I watched a little charmed with Jason, had some good ethiopian food with and (rather fewer people than expected, but oh well). joined us later, got some pizza, then we got some beer (well, cider in my case). Then Josh went home, and Aaron and I hung out at, or rather, in front of, Badlands. I was introduced to a tall, skinny, blond minnesotan, who paid a flattering amount of attention to me. I quickly repaired to Josh’s.

I just finished shaving, and am now off to talk to GAO people and the ERG at berkeley. See y’all later.