Yeah, so that plan about going to Cleveland and Columbus and Cincinnati? Not sure if you’ve heard me complain yet or not, but it’s f**n cold there, so I just decided to skip it and head south. Yeehaw!

First, I got to check out the home town of Superman. Soo cool, even at night. If I’d been there during the day, I would have worked out at Thor’s gym.

It was raining when I got in, late last night, but that’s OK. It was above 40 and in the 50’s today. And, once again, I’ve been meeting some interesting folks. This time I’m sharing the hostel with music lovers and players: a 19 yr old singer songwriter from Connecticut, a writer who ended up here by happen chance named Hope, a few Ausies and an Irishman who thinks he’s Australian. (He really likes Australia, he knows he’s not from there.) Odd thing about this place is how folks come for a day and stay a month.

On the docket? Since I decided to wear red, I had to buy a pair of red, reptilian boots to match. (Really. It was buy 1, get 2 free and the guys lured me in the store. Luckily, I didn’t have to pick out 3 pair since everyone was going in on it.)

I’m looking forward to meeting up with another friend from high school this evening, kicking it around Nashville and then heading to the Jack D distillery tomorrow. And more drinking and listening to local singer songwriters. There’s so many musicians here, it’s quite a treat.

In today’s Wired is an article pronouncing that a psychologist will speak this afternoon at TED, to reveal his learnings on how good people turn bad.

Chicago Indie Rock
Turns out my childhood-high school friend, Megan’s, husband is in an indie rock band, The Bandages, and they’re good. As I listen to their first song on MySpace, “The Chemistry”, I think of McGnarly’s Rant, a Vancouver BC band who used to play at Biddy McGraw’s in Portland, who now call themselves RantMusic. (I think it’s the “Celtic guitar”, for lack of a better word, in their first song that immediately has me transported back in time.) I enjoy a more pop beat in their second song, and an off-beat, minor bass/keyboard line that pays tribute to Fiona Apple. And then some jazz infusion in the third. Yay! I can’t wait to listen to their full-length CD, Breakup, which sports some killer cover artwork. Hanging from an old ceiling light fixture is an etched heart (think of an illustration from a 19th century medical journal), decorated in thorns and deadly arrows from Cupid in the distance. All this is in front of a cemetery silhouetted against the Chicago skyline.

Omaha
Yesterday, as I’m kicking off an early morning, I hear the Chicago morning news team give a shout out to an old favorite band of mine, Tilly and the Wall, and play a snippet of their new video for the new single “Beat Control.” The news team chuckles at the retro beat and fashion, “It’s like Tron meets Milli Vanilli [...] and they’re from Omaha.” In trying to find the video, I find some others worth checking out. And it’s worth noting that in place of a drummer, they simply have a tap dancer.

• Beat Control Video (IndieBlogHeaven)
• Zombies in Chicago’s Wicker Park (YouTube)
• Emulating the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s (Pitchfork)

Speaking of Omaha, last week I was lucky to stumble across a fabulous show, after deciding to check out the Slow Down, a bar slash music venue opened last year or so by the guys at Saddle Creek Records. Neva Dinova is their name and I’m in love. Not with any particular person, as they’re a little out of my age range, but the versatile group had, at minimum 4 guys on stage and sometimes 7 or 8. A few times I saw three guitars going, along w/the bass and drum. The drummer struck me as someone who grew up playing jazz and the lead singer could have been Will Oldham’s brother, or my brother in 20 years. The harmony singer friend did a great job, though I sensed he hadn’t practiced with the band and showed some nervous fidgeting which he soothed with his PBR tall boy. And I especially loved the melodic trumpet song. So, yeah, check ‘em out on MySpace.com/NevaDinova - you won’t be disappointed.

As a woman was gazing into a mirror, she heard her husband ask what she’d like for her Birthday. “I’d like to be 6 again,” she sighed, still looking into the mirror. On the morning of her birthday, she woke to a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then a trip to Six Flags. What a day! Her husband put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster … everything there was.

Five hours later, when they staggered out of the theme park, he took her to McDonald’s (not as cool as the Rock-n-Roll one in Chi-town) where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&M’s. What a fabulous adventure!

Finally, they wobbled home and collapsed into bed exhausted. The husband then leaned over with a big smile and lovingly asked, ‘Well Dear, what was it like being six again??’ Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. ‘I meant my dress size, you dumb ass!’

My friend Stacy sent me this humorous little story, and as I slipped into my new 6 jeans this morning, I thought of it and just had to share. I only have 27 days till San Diego so am continuing my CARdio fitness plan, which consists of “air drumming”, including the kick drum and isometric exercises while always keeping at least one hand on the wheel. When I’m not in the car, I do my Aikido stretches, jumping jacks or rope, push-ups, crunches and a few my friend Erin recommended while in the bathroom: calf raisers in the shower and lunges while brushing teeth. Fun!!

after a long month and no computer work, i couldn’t help it … i just had to fiddle with the site. i realize it’s not the perfect layout for those of you with small monitors, but i have to get out and enjoy the free chicago museums. the black is back (at least a little) and i hope you all enjoy! if not, check out some sweet monitors, trade some cds and go outside and play. ~jewel

My first impression of Chicago? Holy Batman, look at them potholes! If you don’t, your car bumps, bleeps and yells at you. Upon sharing my amusement with a local, he whispers, “well, Chicago’s still a bit corrupt.” And I think again of Boston … as I’d been walking earlier, I kept picking up silent allusions to Boston (a building, a scene, lots of brick, etc.) and here’s another link I write down in my mental notebook. In Boston, the word on the streets has been that the Big Dig failed in large part due to mob involvement and I wonder if there’s a similar link between construction and corruption here in Chicago. On a funny note, while doing a quick search to confirm the spelling of potheads and potholes (all one word or hyphenated) I stumble on a funny memoir about a man who dedicates 8 years of his life to cataloging all of IL potholes, discovers new passion in his life and falls in love. Individually, they are evil, but as a collective whole, they can be good. Does that substantiate the theory of emergence? I’ll spare you a fanatic rant on emergence for the time being … but if you haven’t heard of it, I highly recommend checking it out.

Luckily, it snowed last night so the potholes will be temporarily packed and forgotten about. I also got several recommendations from some locals yesterday, so looking forward to an exciting Tuesday!

• Rock and Roll McDonald’s - yesterday
• Wicker Park - yesterday
• Ice Skating in Millenium Park - today
• Free Museums on Tuesday - today
• Hotdog Stand - today
• Drinks on 98th floor of Hancock Building - today or tomorrow
• Call Heather (friend of a stranger) for lunch or shopping - today or tomorrow
• Pick up film and compare proofs against film, settings and filters - tomorrow

TALK-ACTION=0

Omaha, NE: Saturday, Feb 23

Hanging out with medical professionals and students has its advantages, including refills on stupid human stories. I figured that with all my raves on awesome people across the states, we could use some laughs at the not-so-fortunately-cool. My top faves from the night:

1. She Don’t Use Jelly (right)

A pregnant woman visits the doctor, amazed that she even got pregnant. “I always used spermicidal jelly. Sure, it tasted bad, but every morning I ate some with my toast.” Yeah, sadly, it is a true story.

2. Skip the Strips - Bleach Your Teeth

A woman comes into the dentist, complaining that she has 0 biters and chompers. While she had teeth, though she didn’t like to brush or floss, she wanted to keep her smile sparkling … so she regularly rinsed her mouth with household bleach. Gotta love those crazy meth heads and their addiction to ingesting cleaning supplies. What’s a little bleach when you’re used to using Draino to make nomobraino to smoke?

These plonkers provide more laughs than the stupid tech support calls! Don’t be fooled, poor sleep deprived residents can lack some serious common sense on occasion - so the laughs don’t always stop at the patients. Share your favorite stupid-human story - it’s OK, you can make fun of me if needed.

Preface: I’m bummed I’ve been such a bum and haven’t jotted down the blogs I’ve written in my head while driving through Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri…so catching up the best I can.

Monday/Tuesday Feb 18/19

Oklahoma bleeds as I leave, and Kansas washes the sunset into a startling, saturated oil painting. My own private art show has me forgetting I’m driving, so I swerve a few times to miss potholes and snap photos.

Driving into Wichita in the dark, I stalk the University, thinking there must be night life. It’s a no-go. So I swing into 2 convenience stores, asking directions to a down-town, or community of bars and eventually discover the Delano district. “Brewing Company” catches my eye and I soon discover a gem of a coffee shop-cafe-bar with free wi-fi. Two hot toddies later, I nearly leave for my hotel without any conversation before I spot an open bar stool and meet the men who would introduce me to this city. (See Karaoke Kansas.)

The following day, I have time to adventure on my own and discover more about the enterprising and creative youth centered here (and take a much-too-short ride on a motorcycle). The maker of the fresh, home-made pizzas, the raw-food chef and dj bartender, and vintage store owner remind me of a nursery rhyme and college town Lincoln.

In his early 20’s, Adam (for the sake of this writing) opened a pizza shop off the main strip. For some (skeptic) reasons including shady inspections and tough codes, he closed the store but continues making fresh, frozen pizzas for local bars and cafes. All ingredients are local (and organic?), all the way to the Kansas wheat. Without knowing it, I sample one and think it superior to the frozen bar pizza I had expected.

A Vagabond bartender, Andrea carries her 5′10” frame with confidence and a charisma that says while she’ll give everyone a chance and has an innate sweet nature, she won’t take any shit. As she hands my new friend Joe a CD, which he hands to me for my road trip, I know it’s going to be technically suave and innovative. (And it turns out to be enjoyable - a fresh and fun break from the CDs I’ve been rotating.) She’s been DJ’ing for 8 years and hypes up a recent KC show … the electronic scene here is growing. Joe and Myspace confirm the word across the street that Andrea is also an excellent raw food chef. Not having a store yet, she hosts classes and, one can only imagine, some tasty dinners. » MySpace: DJ Primmitiv (and Andrea the Raw Food Chef)

Across the street, Harmonious Posh Vintage catches my eye, and as I rustle through the racks I think of Lisa, my fashion maven from Portland. (Portland is so saturated with fake Vintage, this is a diamond in the rough. And then I think of all the estates likely filled to the brim with forgotten jewel’s.) The owner, Heather, works the counter and enjoys filling me on how long she’s had the store (a year in this location) and a recent fashion show. Her brown eyes share optimism and excitement for fashion in the center of America. She doesn’t share her age, but I guess she’s my age, which she wears well with smiles and vintage-modern print scarfs playing up her dark hair in pony tails. Not only has she established herself in a hip fashion scene, she contributes to it’s growth and appeal. So she’s playful and lets me pose her for some old-fashion black and white portraits. » Harmonious Posh web site

On the west side of town, I meet up with my best friend from childhood through high school, who works as an ER nurse. I’m glad the auditions for the Darwin Awards concluded yesterday, as it gives us ample time to catch up. She’s 6 months pregnant and not loving it (the “being” pregnant - she’s certainly excited for the family). I do my best to swap stories of my close friends who’ve gone through it, as I have not made any decision towards having children yet. She still has the beautiful grey-tinted eyes, one blue, one green, and homecoming queen smile that had (and likely still have) all the boys crazy for her. A sweet nostalgia wafts in as I remind her of my favorite birthday (she gathered the gang with a cake and candles on a country road) and her knack for story telling. Something settles in her, she contemplates her creative counterpart and foreshadows giving thought to writing a children’s book. (I know some great illustrators, I offer.) Wow, it’s difficult for me to leave, but I know she has work to do and lives to save.

Thanks people and places of Wichita - I remember why I love the midwest.

Finally! After 3 sober, singless weeks, I find karaoke in Kansas. After I finish writing a post on being sick, I pack up my things and start to head out, when I decide to sit at a single open spot at the bar. The men are friendly and I easily contribute to their conversations on the Simpsons. It also gives me a great way to introduce myself as being from Portland, home to Matt Groening. One thing leads to another and I ask about karaoke. Turns out that there’s a bar offering it 7 nights a week and these guys actually enjoy checking it out.

Maggie’s Scotch and Soda is slightly larger than the Sugar Pine, but the locals are similar. The selection reminds me that I’m now in the heartland/cowland … lots and lots of country I’ve never heard. And so I’m surprised by a few gems that I make note of - it’ll be fun to bring these back in Portland. “Some girls doin’t like boys like me, but some girls do.” “Save a horse, ride a cowboy.” My favorite: “well, I ain’t first class, but I ain’t white trash.”

Jack and Joe mention Kamakazie Karaoke, when you don’t know what song you’ll be doing. As the name suggests, it can be dangerous. Jack’s last experience had him singing “Girls just want to have fun”.

So far, Wichita has my thumbs up!

A quick shout out and congrats to ms Erin Walker - soon to be Erin Walker-Beitz or just Erin Beitz. They already share a darling child/puppy Dahlia and an adorable condo in Boston and I wish them all the happiness and fertility they desire and deserve.

Upon hearing the news, late one night in Santa Fe trying to sleep off a cold, I flashed back to last election year. Would they have ever hooked up if I didn’t pick a fight on a cute little Republican? Who’s to say - but this is marriage #2 I’ve helped “spark” and I don’t mind if I do give myself props for that. Starting things is a heck of a lot easier than actually getting them going successfully. (Remember that for business…)