So, did anyone else notice that the leaves on the trees kind of just changed colors overnight? It's so beautiful.

So you're probably wondering, "Where's Andy been?"

Reply: "I've been busy and don't have Internet at home. Thanks for asking though."

But soon, I will be back on a regular basis...I promise.

What a good dog Kazak is. No mess, no destruction, nothing. And he was alone a lot longer than I planned, because Butch didn't go home between work and going out. So Kazak had to wait until I got back from softball. He was well-behaved and everything, and this morning, he finally "took care of business" when I walked him. I know most of you could give a crap (pun intended), but this is a big step, really. It shows that maybe he's getting even more comfortable...

I got to work today early for the first time in a long time. I woke up only marginally earlier than I used to in The Brook, but I had to walk Kazak. So I did, and it took me just 25 minutes to get to work because there was no traffic. I was 20 minutes early. I was the second editor here. I felt great about it. :)

My upstairs neighbor stopped by briefly (very briefly, to see what was up with me and Butch yesterday evening), but scared the hell out of me because she knocked on the door. I was like, who the hell is knocking on my door, forgetting that, obviously, it can only be one person--the upstairs neighbor. She seems pretty cool...so that's good...no assholes or bitches upstairs.

Then I ran to my cousin Will's apt., which is sooooo close now and sat and watched the last quarter of the Cubs game, but left after the ninth inning because I needed to get some shopping done. His sister's apartment is even closer. Thankfully, there's a couple 24-hour grocery options in the relative area...I went to the Jewel on Ashland north of Armitage. The whole North Side was dead last night during the game too...it was interesting...lots of blue flickering in windows too, as folks watched the game.

Then, when I got out of the store, I saw all the westbound traffic on Diversey and was glad I lived as far away from Wrigley as I do.

Meanwhile, I feel seriously out of touch with everyone, since I don't have the Internet. It's amazing how addictive it is, really. I just hope my cellphone doesn't become that way for me. I'm concerned it might...I should be able to turn it on this Saturday for the first time, but I may not have time, as I'm moving the rest of my stuff pretty much all day that day.

Ah well, I should get to work...

Went to Hawkeye's last night after trying, unsuccessfully, to hook up our "entertainment system"...It turns out, we'll have to manually disconnect and reconnect the PS2 and DVD player, because it goes into the same port or whatever. Unless we can find a splitter for that. We'll see. Butch fought with the rear-speaker stands, threading the wire through the piping, which was a bitch and a half. Then, I asked, wait, shouldn't the longer wires go with those? Yep...He was pissed and had to struggle to get the other wires through now.

Meanwhile, I read the instructions, which said they were in english, but really were bad english if that.

So Luis came by and we went to Hawkeye's for 10-cent wings. There were a bunch of Red Sox fans there, and they went nuts when the Sox-A's game ended. i saw the MNF game, but didn't hear it (the volume was down), so I was a bit lost as to what was going on.

I woke up, unexplained, at 5:30 this morning. I stayed in bed, trying to fall back to sleep. But I couldn't. Then Butch woke up to go to work, around 6. Meanwhile, I had a "panic attack" about the messiness and unpackedness of the apartment...if I'm going to be entertaining folks, I need to clean. So I got up and unpacked all my kitchen stuff and foodstuffs. I installed the paper-towel holder and utensil hooks and filled the cabinets with whatever I had.

Tonight, I have to go grocery shopping and get some things. I also am supposed to have softball, which I'd really LIKE to play, but may not. We shall see. Also, Kazak's first day at the new place alone is now, so I'm wondering if he'll leave me a mess (which I can deal with) or wreck the blinds or doorframe (or door). God I hope not. I hope he's grown up enough by now and can be trusted by himself. It would be nice.

Ah well...not having the Internet at home is tough, but I guess I'm surviving. :) So, back to work I go now...

All right...that's that for today...Got about seven boxes packed...now I'll have to spend most of the evening UNpacking my stuff. Hopefully Butch will be home, because I need help getting my dresser into my bedroom. But we'll see...it's gonna take some time to get settled, no doubt about it. But that's OK.

So I'm more or less signing off for the day here, unless through some weird chance I find Internet access. :)

Well, here I am in Bolingbrook, gonna pack up my kitchen and bathroom stuff today I think. As well as Kazak, of course. But first, I'm going over to Noodles & Co. for lunch for probably the last time in a long, long, long time. It's too bad Noodles is so expensive, relatively speaking. But it's sooooooooo good.

Ah well...more later...

Well, I'm officially moved in, minus a handful of things. I emailed most everyone my new address and phone numbers, but if you didn't get an email, then send me one...it just means I don't have your email in my address book.

I left a few things behind, furniture-wise, that I'll have to get on Saturday with my dad when his van's fixed. My CPU is there, because I don't have Internet at the new place, and won't until around the 16th, I'm told. So that needs to get brought to my place yet, but there's really no huge rush right now. Anyway, you might not see a lot of posting by me in the next week-plus, because of the fact that I don't have the Internet connection at home for now. Soon though, I'll be back and ready to go.

Also, Kazak remains in Bolingbrook right now. I will take him to the new place tomorrow, when I can "supervise" him and ease the transition for him a bit, if possible. A new place is always tough for dogs...he should be OK, but still, I'd want to be around so he feels more comfortable in the new digs. And to clean up any messes right away. :) He's my boy, I have to take care of him, ya know?

All in all, I'm pretty psyched about things right now. Soon, my monetary situation will rebound, and I'll be even happier. It's been a good couple of months, and I'm just trying to enjoy it while I can, ya know? Because the good times don't always last for long.

And I find it very hard to root against the Cubs, even against the Marlins, who is probably the only National League team I'd think of rooting for. I figured out my stance on the Cubs, really, but I'm at work and don't have time to explain right now. Maybe later, if I think of it again.