the ocean

Chicago's Pride Parade was today. This year I observed the occasion by going to the gym, making myself some avocado toast, and hanging out on the roof with Ian and the dogs. Nary a shot was ingested, and although I did briefly have my top off, it was only because I got it dirty while gardening. Needless to say, shit got pretty wild.

I actually don't think I've been to the parade for like five years now? Maybe longer? Definitely pre pandemic. I think there was a year or two when they didn't do it because it's definitely a disease carrier. There was also a year when I'd just gotten back from six weeks in Texas for a trial and all I wanted to do was lie in my own bed for like a week straight. But back in the day it was definitely an annual event for me. My friends would have a party near the parade route, where I could alternate between screaming for the ABC7 float or the Dykes on Bikes (likely brought to you by some mutual fund) and soaking up air conditioning while mixing alcohols that did not belong together. Inevitably I'd inhale the greasiest Mexican food available and pass out by 8ish. It was a triumphantly misspent youth.

But, I have to say, I don't really miss it much. There's something to be said for remaining functional, at least inasmuch as I ever truly am. And if I'm going to eat 2000 calories of something, I'd at least like to be able to remember it the next day. Plus, reading outside on a nice day is pretty amazing. Top on or top off.

Apparently Thursday was the longest day of the year. I'm a bit embarrassed because I somehow thought that always fell on June 21, but the Internet tells me it can also be the 20th or 22nd, and it was the 20th this year. So I guess I failed to observe the occasion in any way on Thursday rather than Friday. Either way, it's all downhill from here. See you on the Winter solstice, when the lack of sunlight will have transformed me into an utter monster, and likely a fat one at that.

Another milestone of sorts is that I believe I may have actually won Uno for the first time in my life today. I mean, it's totally possible I won it as a kid and just don't remember, but every time I can think of I've just been praying for the game to end as it went on and on and people insisted on "playing for second." As Tanya Harding's mother said in the TV movie when I was a kid, "What is second? The first loser." But anyway, I beat not just my niece and nephew but also their parents and my mother, who literally did not even know how to play, so that's pretty impressive. Come to think of it, I was trying to let my niece and nephew win, so I sort of lost by winning. The streak continues.

Also, we're celebrating two years in our house this week. It's been a magical period full of unexpected maintenance work and unnecessary disputes over paint colors. We do love the place, though, especially the dog, who has really taken to running up and down the stairs and hallways for no reason. I'm more of a lying in the hammock guy, but that's probably not surprising to anyone.

We had people over on Friday and I made jello shots. I was thrilled to find I had not lost the knack for it, which is especially ridiculous when you consider that the process is basically just boiling water and pouring shit in. Reactions ranged from "oh these are great, you can't even taste the alcohol" to "holy fuck these are strong," so I guess I nailed it. 

It was a nice evening, which is a switch from when I was in my 30s and we would have nearly burned the house down or when I was in my 20s and I wouldn't even have remembered it. Age does have its advantages, and I am trying to think of what they are. Lots of insurance, I guess? 

The weather's been pretty great the past few days so we've been spending lots of time outdoors. I went for a run and am mildly orange. And we took the dog for a walk she did not particularly want. Exercise is important, mostly because it makes you appreciate not exercising all the much more.

Now it's like 90 degrees out, so I'm blogging and shopping for shorts online. Which is no one's vision of what America should be. May Lauren Boebert and  the ghost of George Washington forgive me.

Work travel this week to Brooklyn. All in all, one of the better work trips I've taken. No one screamed at me and I did not end up stress eating a Baconator alone at LaGuardia. In fact, I met some lovely colleagues, won a trivia contest where the prize was being told there would definitely be a prize in the future and I should just leave my contact information, and abused the privilege of a very solid omelet station. All my flights were on time and I had an empty seat next to me on the way home. So I'm assuming that I've used up all my travel karma and my next trip will somehow end up diverted to cannibal country or something.

In other news, we've finally got our roof decks in fighting shape some two years into our residence here. It took lots of passive aggressive calls and texts, an excessive number of trips to Home Depot, and way too much money, but we now have some very pleasant outdoor space. I actually should be writing this from my hammock right now, but I'm not because the Samsung TV is playing an Unsolved Mysteries that really slaps. In case like me you are wondering if Robert Stack is dead, the answer is very.

And our media consumption has continued, never fear. We are up to date with Top Chef, which really suffers without Padma looking bored by it in my view, and just one episode behind on The Valley. I'm not really sure why people are raving about that one, unless it's because Vanderpump has finally succeeded in becoming wholly unwatchable. I like watching terrible people fight with one another as much as the next person, but it somehow hits different for me when they all have young children. Oh, and we watched Madame Web the other day. We thought it would be funny bad but it was just bad bad. A tragic waste of potential if there ever was one.

We threw my friend a Hamilton karaoke party for her birthday. No, she is not a precocious eighth grader in 2016. But we are sort of an attention seeking group and there was alcohol involved. Also costumes, which made for some very interesting Uber rides, especially on the way there when I realized it was still light outside. (Importantly, the hat did not fit on my head when I was in the car.)

See, my friend is happy about it. Even though for some this might be a nightmarish scenario. She played Eliza, natch, and really brought it. I was George Washington, for some reason.