I guess it's betterlatethannever around here

this was taken at my first visit to the Hideout in Chicago post-election. my friend Mike and I were there for the reappearance of beloved local literary event the Dollar Store. I needed a shot of this and Mike made the excellent point to make sure the Old Style sign was visible...two Chicago favorites. (this became one of my most popular photos on Flickr; I hope a few "random Europeans"--the people who show up commenting on some of my photos that make it into Explore--will check out the Hideout if they're in Chicago!)

From Obama

and then Inauguration Day. I'd wanted to be there taking photos even though I knew it'd be intense...but I just didn't put much effort (looking at listings for D.C. and Baltimore hostels the days after Election Day, then doing nothing) on how to get there or if anyone I knew from Chicago was going. and then I didn't go to any celebrations in Chicago, not in the Loop, not in Hyde Park. I just watched it and tried to get a few shots of the moments...and it went so fast.

From Obama

so I didn't have to deal with this.

From Obama

I tried to set up some shots with the Obama (wait, wait, how long till all the spellcheck programs I use ACTUALLY RECOGNIZE "OBAMA"? this is getting old) family paper dolls (really!) but that didn't work. I didn't go to any parties but I watched this WGN report from one and I can honestly say I've never seen any of the local Chicago anchors in a dress like this one. well, it was a day to dress up, I suppose. if I'd done more than go out to get coffee and books about trains at the downtown library, I might have.

From Obama

and then later (this was 1/31), on one of those crazy Metra-riding weekends I should be writing about, after getting back to Millennium Station, I walked past Macy's/Field's on State and saw these windows. glad I got this, it was gone next time.

From Obama

sorry I didn't have more to report on the historic day of history, or closer to it, but I figured it was well covered elsewhere. oh, and if you've followed my Flickr you've noticed I've switched almost exclusively to lowercase photo titles, usually lowercase captions, sometimes lowercase comments. yet I've never been into the all-lowercase thing, though there are others I think can get away with it. I don't know, hope it's not grating, it's what I'm used to now. actually I think it's a trick to fool myself into acting like my blog is like my Flickr, and is as easy and rewarding...whatever it takes to get me back here...soon I'll be getting back into reading your blogs, and adding some long-overdue ones to the blogroll...