Happy Friday!!!

Anyone that works in the Chicago Loop knows this guy. Broke, ain't got a dime in his pocket, nothing to his name but the clothes on his back, standing on the corner of Washington and Franklin screaming at the top of his lungs:


"HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!! HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!"

(yes on monday he says monday, tuesday's tuesday, etc.) Wow, to be that content with your situation, he's not looking for a porsch, no Armani suit, just a few bucks for a pack of smokes, double cheese burger, and a bottle of booze. If you ever have a chance to say hi, he's willing to chat with anyone. Please expect him to ask for your change, and if you have twenty cents, it won't stop you from buying the $4 latte on your debit.

Then there are the guys in their mid 30's holding the sign that says "Got pick pocketed, need a train ticket to Iowa". You expect me to believe that one...maybe it's just me, but if I went to visit a big city not too far away from home, and I got robbed and had no one I could call collect at home to come get me, you bet your sweet ass I'd start walking. Survival folks, stay and starve on the street, or take a 4 day walk to get home? Tough one. Just be honest, like the young guy that hangs around Union Station. His exact words to me were, "Dude, I'm just lookin' to get fucked up tonight. Got a few bucks you can spare?"

In the end, the unemployment rate has risen to 5.1% nationally and more and more people are stuck making the choice between food and bills. As we deepen ourselves into this recession (maybe the fed won't admit it, but I will) make sure you have comfortable shoes so in a few short years when we're all be lined up for bread and milk at least your feet won't hurt.

On to a lighter subject...MY WIFE GAVE ME THE WEEK OFF! YEAH!!! She left yesterday and won't be back until Tuesday. Guess what I did on our weekly Thursday Cleaning Night...NOTHING! I ordered a pizza and had a few Jack and Cokes. It was fun. No TLC, no HGTV, no E! special about the life and times of the rich whore "reality" show "The Hills". Nope I watched History channel specials about war and got drunk. Oh, I even got mushrooms on my pie and didn't put the seat down.

Tonight I have been rockin' out to Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, and The Toadies (Possum Kingdom, you know it) and many other icons of the 90's. I still have some Jack, and since I don't need to work tomorrow...I might stay out passed my bedtime.

I have a lot more I can ramble on about, I might add some more when I get back from the Tap, but for now Yellow Ledbetter's on and my Jack and Coke's empty.

Peace!