A grandmother across from me in Panera is trying to convince her granddaughter that the donkey plays THE MOST IMPORTANT role in the Christmas story. The kid…

Thanks, Green Hills Library, for hosting me and the Griswolds! Incidentally, the last time I presented this talk, a deer jumped in front of my car and damaged the right front end. I'm happy to report that, last night, no deer were harmed! I cannot, however, say the same for Aunt Bethany's cat. 🐈

Meanwhile, in Chicago…

GOOD.

No surprises here: nothing glamorous about (peri)menopause. 🙄

Can I vote for “Con Air?”

Are you team pine scent or team no needles? 🤔🎄

Parallel parked on Halsted in less than 10 seconds. I’ve made it, right?! #Chicago

Yes, please.

Whoa. 😳

Not consistently funny throughout, but when the jokes hit, they hit hard. There were times I was laughing so hard I could not breathe.

That was a cold-ass dog walk. 😐

Went to TJ Maxx and didn’t have to wait in line! 🎄

Oral history of “Risky Business,” including how the setting—Chicago’s North suburbs and connecting train lines into the city—enhance the movie’s darker themes.

My kingdom for a decent film comedy to be released.

Worth watching—if only to see the players (hilariously) figure out how to dance together in sync. Also, how do most of these guys look younger now than they did in 1985?! 🏈

😳

Eternal Silence in the snow, this morning at Graceland Cemetery

Legit (heavy-ass) snow today. ❄️

Gotta wrap up Thanksgiving in the South a day early. 😬 #HeadinBackNorth

How did the costume person not catch Ray’s crinkled-up shirt hem? 😬 #EverybodyLovesRaymondReunion

Reminds me of “Fried Green Tomatoes.” 💚 #HeadinDownSouth

The way Hetty says “Illinois” 😆

Woooo! Finally back on “bike bus” tok! 🚲 If you dunno, look it up—or have a look here: www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8ULQRod/

Dude laid it down, didn’t he? 🔥

Thanks to Cam’ron at @chicagotribune.com for spotlighting my Ferris Bueller's Day Off Movie tour!

Two thoughts: (1) this was released at The Most inopportune time, particularly for those of us who’ve spent the last month in Chicago; (2) if you want a crude mashup of Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled,” Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” and “The Truman Show,” then have I got a movie for you! [Fin]

Keep on travelin', Carol! #Pluribus

🗣️ ESPN, ABC, and Disney channels are back on YouTube TV.

Wasn’t expecting Rick Steves’ name to pop up—not once but twice in an episode. #NowWatching

Waves to @sodapopandpunkrock.bsky.social 👋🍹

Happy fall from the ‘burbs. 🍁 #Chicago #MomentOfZen

Morning nap. 🤫

How’d you do? 🎬 #ChicagoMovies

“Previous recipients of the honour include Tom Cruise, Sir Kenneth Branagh, and Dame Judi Dench.” What a grouping! Lol

What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck? It's the Pope in 1982.

Such annoying caricatures. #NowWatching

He sued the NRA in 2018 but says with this situation, “It’s a bit more complicated because they’re a full, if you like, national army unit.”

Ahem. “Trump Tower’s commercial space has sat vacant for 16 years, becoming the longest-running retail vacancy Downtown.” (Block Club Chicago, Aug 11, 2025)

The queer pop anthem this administration did not ask for. 💕🐴🤥 #BigPhonySchmuck #NewVideo #parody

Thugs are gonna thug. 😡

Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer. He is a computer safety researcher. And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine. In under 1600 words. aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...

The amount of content he evidently had to sift through to make this is incredible. #NowWatching

View of Autumn 2025 in Chicago

Adding Gary Cole, Mary Steenburgen, and silly Jason Mantzoukas? I’m in!

That is one potent rat. 👀 #IYKYK #AppleTV

This is neither “weird” nor “fabulous.” My score: zero. #GenX

I’m guessing this would not work with a woman guide…

Well, that was great.

Get High On Nature. Autumn is alive on Thursday in Chicago's Lincoln Park Pond.