Hero of the Day

2008-09-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

shovels and wovels

2007-12-19T09:51:00.001-08:00

I have been meaning to name our Co-op association's janitors/groundskeepers as heroes. I have never complained about the monthly assessments because honestly it feels like a great deal considering it includes all utilities, property taxes, and janitorial services. But after this weekend I feel like our money is really being put to good use. After our large snowfall the other day, I expected the driveways to be plowed and of course, they were. But I did not expect to find a path shoveled between each residence's car cleared. After three winters of Chicago street parking I became accustomed to keeping a shovel in my trunk, always having to dig my car out or dig out a new spot to park. After several inches of snowfall my shovel is still dry and unused in our storage unit. I cannot believe how much work these guys do around here. I hear the snowblowers and shovels going constantly. They are real heroes. If I could afford to do so, I would buy them wovels.

Which leads me to my next hero: my big brother Aaron. He is doing all he can to promote one of the best inventions of recent years. See him in action here.

2007-12-16T20:50:00.000-08:00

Today's hero is the person who came up with the Verizon commercial in which a girl actually gets a pony for Christmas. For anyone who's ever had a pony you know the commercial is right on. Ponies are not the greatest pet, and can even be a little scary. That said, I still miss you Checkers, I hope they didn't make you into glue.

XXX

2007-12-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

This is one of my rare opportunities to name myself my hero of the day. I bowled my first ever Turkey. Gobble Gobble Gobble. I officially accomplished my '07 New Years Resolution.

mmmmm pumpkin

2007-12-14T13:19:00.000-08:00

Today's hero is whomever created the Gnocchi di Zucca dish at Omaggio. My god it is delicious.

Yay for getting last minute projects done efficiently!

2007-12-13T12:23:00.000-08:00

Today's hero is Survey Monkey, a fast free service on the introweb. It saved my life today.

It's been far too long. . .

2007-12-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

So it has been a while since I have had an encounter or observation powerful enough to make me want to blog about it. While watching WGN morning news I caught the helicopter shot that happened to be panning over the landscape where someone had drawn a giant penis in the snow. If this was an accident, then wow, the oblivious cameraman or film editors are my heroes. If it was done on purpose, kudos still. Right now I feel like I am thirteen years old, because this amused me all day. You can view the video, although it is of poor quality, on youtube.

Sean

2007-02-20T16:22:00.000-08:00

As you might have seen on my other blog, my honey is planning to shave his beautiful locks for kids with cancer. If you want to help him raise money to reach his donation goal, go here!

Thanks!

I'm not sure which person is my hero, they both just kind of made my day.

2007-01-27T17:37:00.000-08:00

Patron to young waiter: Has anyone ever told you that you look like Wayne Newton?
Waiter: Who?
Patron: Wayne Newton.
Waiter: Oh, is he the other waiter here?

It's been a while

2007-01-23T19:14:00.001-08:00

I am my own hero. Why? Because a conversation I heard made it on Overheard in the Office at 1pm today. You can read it here.

It's like Christmas

2006-12-10T05:37:00.000-08:00

Walking down State toward Congress, I could hear a commotion on the other side of the street. I kept straining to see what was going on and I realized there was music coming from a convertible Cadillac (top down in 10 degrees--nice!) ridden by two older women in white fur hats, blasting their music. But what completed the picture was the bum in a Santa hat on the side of the road, grinding to their gospel.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzz........

2006-11-18T18:06:00.000-08:00

Today Sean and I went to see For Your Consideration, which was fabulous. What made it even funnier though, was the woman sleeping next to Sean who was snoring so loud people next to her were kicking her chair and shaking her to wake her up. Then after the movie she stood up and announced, to nobody, that she had to go to the washroom.

A day and a year after the great american smoke out. . .

2006-11-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

Today's hero is my good buddy John, who quit smoking a year ago today. Congrats!

Oh, Deer

2006-11-16T04:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes animals can be heroes too. I've seen and heard a lot of crazy deer stories lately.

Last week I was in Des Moines for my grandfather's funeral and deer ran into a Target. He ran up to the building, the automatic doors opened, he entered and browsed a while. The workers coralled him out, I beleive the deer was fine.

Then I just heard from one of my instructors that there was a deer in my neighborhood. (Keep in mind I live in Chicago, Chicago proper, not the 'burbs, outside my window is the Sears tower and out my other window is Lake Michigan, not a lot of woods around here either). Apparently he was walking down the street when he saw some commotion up the block. A cop car came on over the megaphone and asked someone walking their dog to move out of the way. Behind the woman and her dog was a buck running down the sidewalk.

Crazy.

A more common wildlife experience in my parts involve squirrels, they're pretty tough. A few months back my boyfriend was walking toward my place to come visit and he actually had to yield to a squirrel on the sidewalk because it would not budge and was glaring maniacally at him. Sean actually crossed the street to avoid confrontation.

A couple weeks ago I was walking to my car and there was a squirrel drinking from standing water on a manhole cover and I thought, "how cute." Half a block later there was a squirrel drinking from a beer can.

At least she's willing to admit it. . .

2006-11-16T03:59:00.000-08:00

Smoking Hipster Chick on Congress: "I can't really tell the difference because I'm always a bitch."

I wish I had heard the rest of that conversation, but really that was enough.

tie

2006-10-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

A cop had pulled over an elderly woman and I assume just given her a ticket. As he walked back to his car she had the saddest face ever, I am pretty sure she was about to cry.

At Walgreens a dude was buying Halloween decorations. As he handed the (very old) cashier two skeletons the cashier said, "Hey, I think I know these guys."

catching up

2006-09-27T01:08:00.000-07:00

Saturday 9-23
In an amazing instance of coincidence Saturday, I have two joint heroes for their combined efforts. Nancy Faust was playing "Land of Confusion" on the organ at the sox game and sitting next to me was a young man wearing a Ronald Reagan mask. The effect of this combination made me so happy if slightly disturbed.

Sunday 9-24
Sean, for being the sweetest person on the face of the earth.

Monday 9-25
The girl on the bus that paid for the poor guy in front of her who was arguing with the bus driver for five minutes about the validity of his 7-day CTA pass.

Tuesday 9-26
The guy from Honda who actually seems concerned about the awful way I was treated at his service center.

We now return to our regularly scheduled posting

2006-09-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Winner: the guy in the fifth car to run the red light making a left turn preventing me and 20 other pedestrians from crossing Congress at State. A woman next to me yelled at him as he cruised across our path, he told her to shut up.

Runner up: the crossing guard/traffic cop that was standing at the corner not directing traffic. (the aforementioned woman also yelled at him).

E-I-E-I-Oh.

2006-09-07T04:23:00.000-07:00

Today's hero: The person in Lincoln Square blasting "Old McDonald Had A Farm" on their stereo.

Which came first, the canibalism or the AIDS?

2006-09-04T02:01:00.000-07:00

And I quote:
"Many Indians feel that eating or touching a person with HIV could result in the virus spreading to them."
You, reporter of news, are the hero of the day.

Today's hero is brought to you by the letter "A" as in Adam

2006-08-19T06:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday best buddy!!

p.s. in honor of your birthday I have opened up the comments section to all, I really just forgot to do that when I set this thing up in the first place. oops.

Friday August 18

2006-08-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

There is only one possible hero for today, and I think you all know who that is. If you don't, I suggest you get your ass to a motherfuckin' theater and find out.

Sentimental Heroes for Thursday August 17

2006-08-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

All of my students from the bridge program who made it through. Only one didn't make it, but it sounds like he's trying to get things together so he can go to Columbia (college, not university) in the future. My students were freaking awesome and I hope that I can keep in touch with them while they are in school here. Congrats guys!

Bus Drivers, grrrr!

2006-08-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

So I was standing at the corner of Congress and State, at the bus stop, which is kind of tucked between pillars that line the sidewalk, so sometimes it's hard to see, I understand. As the bus approaches it is obvious it's not going to stop. I see the driver point around the corner. I run about 30 feet to reach the bus as it stops right next to a flower bed which I have to wind my way around. I am just rounding the flower bed as a passenger exits and I awkwardly try to get around him to the bus door. The doors begin to close and I yell "hey" at which point the driver points down the street to the next bus stop, as if to suggest I run all the way to the next block. However he does reopen the door still pointing to the next stop saying the stop is up there, to which I respond, "The stop was back there!" to which he weakly replies, "oh I didn't see you." Funny, you just directed me around the corner less than a minute ago.

Tuesday August 15

2006-08-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

One of the most amazing junk trucks ever. I think they could fit one more fridge if they really tried.

Monday August 14

2006-08-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

Sarcastic Hero:
WIU for not cleaning the apartment of my friend before she moved in.

Real Hero:
Kay for being so gracious about being set up in an apartment so full of mold the cleaning crew gasped "Oh my God! We should get out of here."

Sunday August 13

2006-08-15T16:20:00.000-07:00

The woman who was speed walking on the lake front trail, pedometer at her side and cigarette in hand.

Saturday August 12

2006-08-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

So, I was checking out the toys at Target and they had this really cool kitchen set. See, see!!!

And I thought, hey cool there is food in the little metal baskets, but upon closer inspection I saw what was for dinner, the other white meat. Whatever kid was playing around and put the pigs in the basket rules. And that child is my hero.

FRIDAY August 11

2006-08-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

So many heroes. . .

What's that up in the sky?

Why, it's the flying Elvi.

So many Elvises

Behold the Elvis shrine (in the center)

Elvis's long lost brothers; Jermaine, Jose, and Tadahito Presley

hmm i mighta picked a bad time. . .

2006-08-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

starting a daily blog might have been a bad choice at this point considering I am only going to have access to the internet about half the time over the next few weeks (starting last Friday) But I will find a way, because after all there are a lot of heroes out there that need recognition.

The shot I shoulda got

2006-08-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

So after getting those extra shots of the ridiculous amounts of barriers at Loyola, we turned the corner and I saw today's hero, or rather, what he/she left behind. Your regular run-of-the-mill sedan sitting in the middle of a side street just off of Sheridan, on it's side (the drivers side to be exact). A guy got on my bus just across the intersection and everyone asked him how it happened. He hadn't actually witnessed it, but laughed and said he's been standing there for five minutes trying to figure that out himself. The beauty of it is it just looks like it had been parked on the side of the road and was just somehow tipped up. There were no other cars around (other than those parallel parked lining both sides of the street). If only I hadn't put my phone away so fast.

2006-08-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure who was in charge of putting up the sawhorses around this construction zone, but I think they got a little carried away. This is only one of about five spots around the Loyola Campus where they are redoing the sidewalks. Compared to the other spots, the barricades were used sparingly on this section (I really wish I could have gotten a pic of another section). Surrounding most of the construction areas, the barricade horses are actually overlapping. Apparently someone loves their sawhorses, or perhaps they don't trust those college kids to recognize a couple of barricades for what they are.

edit: exhibit b & c

Who put the "hip" in the Hippocratic oath?

2006-08-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

So in my last dream(nightmare) last night I was in this huge mansion where (long story short) if there were more than 16 people in the building at once, anyone who came within a certain perameter of the center would be compelled by a mysterious force to commit a ritual suicide in the reflecting pool. After finding my way into a medical ward (it was a big house) and explaining the situation to those I found, the attending physician suggested we force the ill and injured out to the center of the building so we could spare ourselves. She may have been on to something. . .

2006-08-07T16:25:00.000-07:00

I didn't post yesterday because I didn't interact with anyone, nor did I really use the computer or tv. Yay for being a hermit, the winner is me.

As for today, I am thankful to the person responsible for the five minutes of silence in the bottom of the first inning of the Sox game radio broadcast. It was nice to just hear the crowd and Gene Honda announcing for a while. I kind of hoped no one would notice and I could just listen to the whole game that way.

perhaps you needed to be there for this one, but. . .

2006-08-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

While stopped at a red light I saw two elderly women crossing the street dressed in workout shorts and obnoxious matching floral print tank tops. There is no possible way they were twins.

Whoever created this:

2006-08-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

He takes the time. . .

2006-08-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

As I was walking to work this morning a homeless man about 30 feet in front of me slowed down as he approached flower boxes topping the railings of a restaurant's patio area. He stopped at each box leaning in to get a nice long whiff of the pretty silk arrangements.