Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

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Fuel

Val / July 13, 2009 8:10 AM

Sunscreen in warm air, charcole, popcorn and hot rain.

Val / July 13, 2009 8:11 AM

oops... I mean charcoal :o)

sd / July 13, 2009 8:19 AM

outdoor cafes, flowers, the lake

Rachel / July 13, 2009 9:05 AM

freshly-cut grass and my drunk uncle's armpit

Katie / July 13, 2009 9:33 AM

Stale hobo pee in the Jackson tunnel.

Marie / July 13, 2009 10:32 AM

Nectarines. I don't even have to eat them. I can just stand there and smell them.

Mucky Fingers / July 13, 2009 10:43 AM

Chlorine and hot cement, sometimes combined.

Carrie / July 13, 2009 1:00 PM

Cookouts and some weird tree smell that bothers me.

printdude / July 13, 2009 1:25 PM

The ballpark: grilled onions, spilled beer, cracker jack, popcorn, grilled sausages, peanuts, sweaty men, perfumed ladies, suntan lotion and freshly mown grass.

anne / July 13, 2009 2:58 PM

fields of freshly cut grass

R / July 13, 2009 3:20 PM

Flame-broiled armpits wafting through the aisles of the bus.

David Grant / July 13, 2009 3:21 PM

Laundry, lavender, pizza.

Amanda / July 13, 2009 6:12 PM

There is a weird smell in the morning, a kind of sour smell that seems to be coming from the street. Not sure if it's the run-off from the sewer or what, but I only smell it when it's hot outside. That and cut grass.

cval / July 13, 2009 6:32 PM

Funk & Wagnels!!!! Taking the Summer Quarter at De Paul

fluffy / July 13, 2009 8:14 PM

freshly cut grass, humidity, sweat, coconut lotion/suntanning lotion, chlorine, fast food, cheap avon perfume, ocean/beach/fishy smell, flowers, marijuana, grilled food, cool (as in a/c) but moldy old bar.

Pete / July 14, 2009 10:41 AM

Too often, somebody else's armpit.

kelly / July 14, 2009 11:00 AM

Burning hot asphalt, which in turn makes me think of the extreme excitement of going to Great America as a kid.

Rose / July 14, 2009 12:29 PM

Heat.

Elizabeth / July 14, 2009 4:32 PM

Carrie- I think I know what tree you're talking about--the ones with the white flowers? We used to call them cum trees in college...because we were ever-so mature.

spook / July 14, 2009 5:31 PM

moist soil

Carrie / July 15, 2009 12:13 AM

Elizabeth-- yes, that's the one! My mom knows all about trees and recently mentioned the catalpa tree to me-- I just looked it up and I think that is the one. I feel like it stinks before it flowers? ...when it's full of pods? ha cum tree-- what else would college kids call it? ;)

Guy Smiley / July 15, 2009 9:59 AM

Weed. Sweaty bodies. Charcoal. Dead fish. Alley urine. Stale beer. Cigarette smoke on the sidewalks now. The gorilla/lion house at the Lincoln Park Zoo. And the occasional sweet smelling flowers in the park.

Juana / July 20, 2009 3:32 PM

Yes, alley urine mixed with warm garbage smell.
Tequila.
The smell of the hot pavement after it rains and makes it steam.
Fresh cut grass of course.
Night humidity.
Summer lake breeze.
Marigolds....

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