bashful

Sold a house 15 years ago during the housing boom for almost double what I paid just a few years prior. Instead of rolling that profit over into a bigger place, as most were doing, I downsized a lot, and was able to pay cash for the new place. Today, after a roller coaster housing market, prices in our building have only recently approached (not quite yet) the same level they were in 2005. I don't fret about it because it's been cheap to live here, but more important, it's been a good home for me during this period of my life. The way I look at it, you have to live somewhere, so it's so much more than an investment. @Unicorn . Wishing you health and happiness in you new home.

I was a kid living in Detroit when the Tigers won the World Series in '68. I never realized Gibson's talent. RIP

I’ve seen numerous pics of Garik (masseur ad, Instagram), but this is first time I’ve seen the goods. Nice. Thanks.

I remember our jr. high school civics teacher in early 70's. He was younger, wore tighter pants with somewhat of a bulge, and some days, if they were a skosh tighter, a bit of a vpl.

David Pevsner?

Got a flu shot on Monday.

Be careful. I have heard, but cannot verify, but if any payment is sent, it can restart the clock. As @FrankR says, consult with legal council.

I was a paper boy. I delivered the Detroit News on our street in Detroit. Did it after school since it was the afternoon paper. Free Press was the morning paper. When I got older, I preferred the Free Press. When they went with the joint operating agreement, I felt like something was lost, like each had lost their identity. I got Crain's Chicago Business for two years after not renewing my subscription.

Sunday editions of Chicago Tribune, and suburban Herald. Occasionally buy a Sun Times. Amazing how thin they are compared to just a few years ago. I used to get the paper daily, but decided to cut it off when subscriptions became more expensive, and recently, deals via Groupon disappeared. They want more money for less paper. I don't like digital, so sad to think someday, we may no longer have a paper to sit down with and read while having coffee.

Sometimes it's just easier to say Chicago vs. getting specific when casually asked. I have friends who live in a leafy section in NW Chicago that resembles the suburban image (single family homes, trees, no sidewalks) more than my neighborhood in a suburb 25 miles from the Loop (9 midrise condo/apartment buildings within 3 blocks either way, and 3 more planned or going up). Suburbanite, or living in the city, we're all tied to it whether for family, friends, fun, profit, job, culture, medical care, entertainment, etc.. When I lived in Detroit (both city, and a suburb) back in 80's, some suburbanites lived their entire lives never going into Detroit. Here in Chicagoland, I don't know of anyone who has never been into the city, and I've lived in the burbs for 30 years.

I remember some TV promo for some sort of reality show (which one, I don't know), but someone was saying something to the effect ... write, regret; say, forget.

Can only comment on DC. Have stayed at both the Westin M St. NW, and the nearby Ritz-Carlton. It’s been a few years ago, but if I remember correctly, neither had very large lobby areas, but both had nice rooms with large bathrooms, both with a separate shower, and soaking tub. Edit...Forgot about the Capital Hilton. Nice place too, but not a mega size lobby either.

LOL! I hear you. Family once visited for a weekend, and I suggested we just stay at a hotel in the city. They arrived mid-evening, so no problem picking them up at ORD, and going into the city. Had a great weekend. However, they booked their return flight home for 9 am on Monday morning. Urg. What with getting them an hour early, and crawling on the Kennedy out to ORD, I told them to book a limo. I slept in.

If you decide to move to Chicago, welcome. I was born and raised in the mid-west, so I've always felt at home here. All cities are different, and have their own appeal, and downside for both natives and transplants. I used to travel a lot for work. Within the U.S., have spent time in Houston, Seattle, DC, LA, SFO, BOS, MIA, Orlando. Other cities for leisure. A couple I would consider if I wanted to leave the mid-west, just based on my limited experience, are Seattle, and Orlando. I haven't spent much time in NYC, but I often spoke with those at our offices in NY, NJ, and loved our conversations. We would laugh, and we cried following 9/11. Only actually visited three times, and only for day trips for meetings. I would think you would find similar mindsets. As far as places to live in Chicago, like NYC, we have it all. Apartments/condos, high-rise, low-rise, and mid-rise, duplex up, duplex down, town homes, row homes, single family homes (classic Chicago bungalow, ranch, 2 story, vintage, mid-century, etc.), in the city or burbs. Best neighborhood depends on what type of home you want. Those I know from NYC say winters are more moderate there. The trick here is to find a home that can work for you in a frigid winter, and a hot/humid summer. I have a small condo in the burbs on a Metra line with radiant heat in the floor, and a heated garage. If I didn't want to freeze outside walking to, and waiting for the train, I was able to walk from my warm condo, through my heated garage to my car, park in the garage downtown, and elevator up to my office in the winter. I only took a coat in the winter in case I went out to lunch, or something happened, and I had to get out of the car. My AC is separate, but my association fee includes the heat, in addition to gas for appliances. My electric bill (including AC) has never gone above $100 in a hot month. $30-40 in the cool months. My previous residence would cost me over $200 a month to heat, and on the frigid days, the furnace would run non-stop. Will you work remote, or have to show up in person. If in person, downtown, or beyond. Commuting here can be time consuming, but there are options. CTA (bus, L), Metra rail, or just driving. If you are going to have to travel as part of your job, you'll want to have access to ORD or MDW. Blue line goes to ORD, and limited Metra service too. I don't know what CTA line goes to MDW. Traffic on the Kennedy to ORD can be awful, or a breeze, depending on time of day.

During Chicago's historic heat waves in the past few decades, besides health, and the inability to afford air conditioning, they found some of the urban poor victims kept their window's closed, didn't sleep outside, didn't go to cooling centers. Presumably out of fear of being victims of crime. I don't see the point in naming them.

Reminded me of a time a group of us were in Mexico, and we went to dinner in a local (possibly expat) area of either Ixtapa, or Zihuatanejo. Not anywhere close to being a tourist spot. We were at a restaurant sitting in an open patio area in front. A dog walked up to our table from the street, and sat and stared are one of the women. She got scared and asked us to make the dog go away. One of the guys across the table looked at the dog and said, in a firm voice, "go away". It left.

Having experienced both when younger (not actually my pets), dog person. Me and my older brother’s cat never warmed up to each other. Years later, same brother, who no longer lived at home, got a dog. It tore apart his apartment when he was at work. He talked my parents into taking the dog. If I was lying down on the couch, she was lying down on the floor next to it. Every night, when I went to bed, she would come in my room and jump up on the chair and get comfy. Every morning, without fail, she would be lying on the bed next to my legs when I woke. I still miss that dog today.

Very true. Worked in the service industry for most of my working life. Most consumers never voice their disappointment with products or service. They just move on.

In my younger, poor life, I lived in a one story apartment building in the Midwest with a flat roof. Occasional leaks, but some of my neighbors had constant leaks. I would think In southern CA, it wouldn’t be such a problem. I’d be more concerned that the renovations were a cheap lipstick job done in the height of the flipping craze rampant a few years ago, rather than addressing real problems.

I get the same thing, even after I log in. Just going to move on.

I have a travel certificate from when I canceled a flight before COVID. It was set to expire next month, Sept. 2020 (12 months after it was issued). Went on United’s website, and it said all certificates are now valid for 24 months, so new expiration date is Sept. 2021. I called to ask if I had to complete travel by Sept. 2021. No, I just have to redeem it by then, so hoping to be in Maui in winter 2022. Go on Southwest’s website, or call. Also, if not possible to extend, ask if they can convert it to reward miles.

He's had a million names. Euromuscle was one of them.

I'm going to have to watch it. I especially liked at the very end of the trailer, when she's sifting through DVDs, a voice is heard saying "you guys made all these?", or something like that, then the other voice says "it put you through college".

https://www.corbinfisher.com/tour/trailers/acm-vince-2.html https://m4m-forum.org/threads/411-johnylong.154518/

Have shopped there less and less. Just before the pandemic, found same items cheaper on the retailer's website, so went that route. For me, they have become the retailer of last resort. What soured me is when, as a Prime member, I had to pay more for shipping than the cost of the face masks I purchased.