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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.
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TODAY

Friday, March 29

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Fuel

Steve / August 27, 2004 8:16 AM

I have dozens of stories, but they all pale next to "Dave Matthews gives tour boat passengers a Lukewarm Carl...."

jennifer / August 27, 2004 8:53 AM

this was the summer of "things I really want to do but can't afford to due to saving for a new apartment", so, unless you want to hear how to live on $100 per month, I have no stories. this summer kind of really sucked.

Dawson / August 27, 2004 9:22 AM

I can't remember anything other than hearing about the Swift Boat Vets, because it's been going on in the media since the beginning of time.

I did hear a tidbit somewhere about Dave Matthews... that was a good one.

I also liked the one about Alan Keyes claiming citizens have the right to own machine guns.

ali bobba / August 27, 2004 9:28 AM

sounds trite, but this was the summer of having to face myself.

a girlfriend of 3 years and I broke up in Feb very quietly. freakin' sucked, and subsequently became very complicated and difficult. the lastest resolution is that we just aren't speaking to each other.

that's not to say I haven't had fun, though. i've had a blast.

Carly / August 27, 2004 10:32 AM

Summer?

Is that what you call the last two or so months?

First, it wasn't hot enough to be called summer. Second, I didn't go to the beach, not once. Third, I vowed to go to every movie in the park, only making one and the next minute the whole seven-week event was over. Fourth, I also wanted to hit up various street festivals and outdoor activities...can't say I did that either. And, I think I only ate outside ONCE.

Unbelievable.

I did make a couple of memorable trips (Atlanta and New York), but overall, as much as I look forward to it every year, it's become lackluster since college graduation.

I'm thinking this was supposed to be a happy, "say something nice about your summer!" fuel, but instead I bitched and moaned, so, sorry for that.

jenny / August 27, 2004 10:46 AM

Spent a lot of the summer in rehearsal, but that's what I love. Good memories of a nice walk down an alley in Andersonville, and finding a woman selling plants. Bought armloads of basil.

emily / August 27, 2004 10:49 AM

My most memorable event so far would have to be sitting on my roof top deck on the 4th of July, surrounded by 360 degrees of illegal firework shows. It was an indescribable amazing experience.

Louis / August 27, 2004 10:51 AM

This summer marked the end of my youth. I started seeing Phish at the Cabaret Metro (remember when it was called "Cabaret") in 1992 as a 17 year old - and then the Vic and then the Aragon. I saw my last show a few weeks ago in Hampton Virginia at age 29. Quite a run. This summer was the fall of my youth. Sad. Please me, have no regrets!

miss ellen / August 27, 2004 11:04 AM

Louis, I'm right there with you, man!

A couple years younger, I caught my first show at UIC in '94. 43 shows later, I ended up watching the last show at a simulcast in Lincolnshire!? I couldn't let it end with Alpine Valley.

Funny, I just bought my own place this past spring, so it's almost like it came to a natural end, but I sure will miss those days spent with countless friends, travelling to see the one band we all loved to pieces....

Naz / August 27, 2004 11:29 AM

It's been an upside down sort of a summer - I'm getting allergies now instead of at the start, partly because the weather has been sort of topsy turvy. More rain and cooler days than anything else.

However, this summer will be marked as the summer when work has been good, the cycling has been great and the friends and time spent even better.

Maybe an Indian Summer is right around the corner.

Mike / August 27, 2004 11:57 AM

My favorite summer memory had nothing to do with Chicago. A bunch of friends from college met down at one of their parent's houses in the middle of the woods in Kentucky for the 4th of July.
We spent four glorious days drinking beer, going in a hottub, watching fireworks at the neighbors to the sounds of shitty country music and playing poker.
Best week of the whole summer.

dav3 / August 27, 2004 12:35 PM

wednesdays at SummerDance in Grant park! Too many silly stories from that to post here. That's what i'll prolly remember most from this summer.
god, those were fun.

amyc / August 27, 2004 12:39 PM

Mr. Life Partner and I celebrated five years together in June. So, that's cool.

Also, I traded in my suck-ass, soul-killing job for a much nicer one. Up yours, shitty ex-boss!

Sean / August 27, 2004 12:50 PM

This was supposed to be the "Summer of Sean". Well, it didn't quite turn out that way. But the summer will still be sorely missed.

Jake / August 27, 2004 1:56 PM

At a birthday barbecue last Saturday night, hovering over the grill to try to stay warm, even though I had borrowed a sweater from the birthday boy. I was wearing jeans and a sweater in August and was freezing to death. For, like, the sixth Saturday in a row! This summer has been rainy and/or cold almost every day. Screw it -- bring on fall.

Lacey / August 27, 2004 2:28 PM

My favorite part of the summer has been playing volleyball every Sunday at Foster Beach. It's probably the most surprisingly enjoyable thing I thought I would ever do in Chicago.

Michael / August 27, 2004 2:40 PM

I for one liked this summer...not much humidity and overall pleasant weather -- more rain than usual, but then I enjoy walking in the rain. Some of my best memories of this summer will be grilling and playing baggo -- I happen to excel at both.

suzanne / August 27, 2004 5:14 PM

lots and lots of bike rides,walked around a lot,esp.downtown, summer dance,went to nyc,volunteering at old town school &chicago folk and roots fest,volunteering for some other things, going to the zoo,reading up a storm, and soon banjo lessons!
mostly this summer has been about having fun and seizing the moment. and i hope fall is more of the same.

Alex / August 27, 2004 5:41 PM

Heh, yeah! I was in labor from Sunday until Thursday -- that was a riot. Woo, won't forget that anytime soon.

Actually, it did bring my son into the world and that was memorable as all hell. I lurve him.

Susan / August 27, 2004 6:20 PM

This is the summer I went to El Fin de Mundo! Or, Ushuaia, Argentina. I'm learning about the vertiginous nature of Argentinian politics and geography. Back in Chicago on Tuesday and I'll be grateful, (can't believe I'm saying this) for the heat and humidity.

I heart Chicago and, I'm glad to say, so does most of the rest of the world.

BC / August 27, 2004 6:27 PM

Dinners outside at Tarascas on Clark!

Archie / August 27, 2004 7:38 PM

Well I didn't go photographing in the city as much as I wanted to this summer compared to last, but the opening of Millenium Park as well as the Wednesday nights at Summerdance will be something to always remember!

tony / August 28, 2004 1:51 PM

I'll remember catching my first sunrise on the lake (growing up by the lake you'd think I'd have caught one by now)... I'll remember having my car stolen... I'll remember spending July 4 at the Taste of Chicago, watching with my special girl her favorite band play at the Petrillo, and then staying out by the lake to catch the fireworks that we had missed from the night before.

All in all, a bittersweet summer. Much cooler than summers past, I'll give it that.

Lisa / August 28, 2004 11:08 PM

I had a mole on my face removed. Does it get any better than that? Oh wait, yes it does. My summer kinda sucked.

steven / August 29, 2004 10:10 AM

celebrated 2 yrs of marriage..road trip to new orleans..hitting puerto rico in a few days...finally pubished photolog...

summer '04 not too bad

shechemist / August 29, 2004 2:01 PM

My favorite memory is biking down to Buckingham Fountain along the lakefront with ManCoon toting bread, cheese, fruit, and wine to watch the fountain light show. Picnicking under the small groove of trees at the north east corner, talking about getting married as fireflies and little kids with those flashing light shoes sparkled around us.

National J. / August 29, 2004 9:25 PM

My favorite part of summer was that I didn't get shot at once! Though when it's really hot and muggy my back alley smells like a corpse... I keep waiting to come home to the dumpsters across the way being all blocked up with yellow tape.

Pete / August 30, 2004 9:25 AM

Just calmly settling into the house we've always dreamed of.

PP Tom / August 30, 2004 9:56 AM

Ahhh it was so interesting to see more of my single buddies fall to the grips of Holy Matris money. Thankfully enough, I was able to jog these inspiring visions because far from my home in Chicago, I lived and watched the results of what countless unprepared eneducated people produced into this new world. The seed of rednecks willing to find life's facination through budwieser, nascar, trucks, rebel flags, country music, bar fights, slow thought process, and devoted lack to contribute dedication and integrity to making the future of america a success for the next generation.

robin.. / August 30, 2004 2:01 PM

best autumn ever.

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