Category: Getting It Off Your Chest

The Humboldt Park Alligator Saga bothers me and I'm not sure why

Earlier this week a friend shared a post on Facebook about an alligator discovered in the lagoon at Humboldt Park.  Uncle Ivars posts frequently about many bizarre and diverse things, usually ahead of the wave of things that go viral.  I shared it with the following: Fucking gentrification. When I lived in Humboldt Park, no self-respecting... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
July 12, 2019 at 3:25 pm • 

Letgo is the Tinder of furniture selling apps

In a pre-move effort, or at least an attempt to light a fire under our butts and look for a new house, We have made the decision to start getting rid of the clutter. This was before I had even heard of Marie Kondo and we aren’t getting rid of things that don’t give us... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
March 26, 2019 at 9:09 am • 

Summer of 99: When It all went to Hell

This time of year always brings me back to the Summer of 1999 when I experienced a terrible Series of Unfortunate Events.  I lost my job.  I broke my toe.  My roommate and I were not getting along.  I got mugged.  And I let someone special get away. Hat tip to Nina Vallone of YouKnowKeen. ... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
July 19, 2018 at 2:18 pm • 
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Why I hate financial services online sites

Like many people, I have two retirement accounts: the one at work because of matching funds and the one that is the culmination of past jobs’ 401K accounts that got transferred once the job terminated. About once a quarter I attempt to log into my retirement online accounts to see how they are doing. I... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
October 18, 2017 at 12:37 pm • 

Hey Alderman: Let the teenager sell me alcohol already!

Scene:  Me in a long line at Jewel.  My Super Power is the ability to always choose the slowest moving line.  If there are three registers open, no matter which one I pick, it will grind to a halt. Finally it’s my turn and the young checkout clerk (what do they call them these days?)... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
August 24, 2017 at 11:46 am • 

Groupon Customer Support Fail

The other day my wife sent me an email with a link to a Groupon Deal.  This deal was only available for customers who receive the promotional email directly from Groupon.  However, after purchasing the deal, Groupon prompted my wife to share the deal via email with her friends, hence her forwarding it to me.... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
July 25, 2017 at 1:31 pm • 
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Who cares if Cursive Writing becomes Extinct?

  I have always hated my manual writing.  Both my cursive and my printing suck (my writing sucks in many ways, but it is especially noticeable on the visual level).  I do take pen to paper now and again when taking notes or writing up the first draft of some writing opus.  But I usually... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
June 21, 2017 at 1:00 pm • 

9 things that annoyed me this week

<strong>CTA Jerk Riders:</strong> You have the guy with his bags on his seat oblivious to the crowded EL while talking on his phone, and just in front of him a lady is sitting on the aisle seat so it isn't easy for someone to slide in and sit down.
While I wish I could lead a more easy-going, zen lifestyle, I’m just not wired that way.  I often get annoyed at the most trivial things and even if I ignore them to the best of my ability, they seem to become cumulative.  I miss a turn light  I could totally have made had it... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
March 10, 2017 at 12:15 pm • 

Three valuable Friendship Lessons

Stop me if I’ve written about this before…or just read anyway.  Recently a friend reached out to me about Mutual_Friend who was being a twatcycle to them.  I listened for about 20 seconds before interrupting:  “oh sorry to hear, I’m sure it will work itself out.” If you don’t know me, that’s not that kind... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
October 10, 2016 at 12:05 pm • 
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When History repeats itself, it's an opportunity to take the other path

Like most people, I periodically clean out the friends list on the ole Book of Faces, removing people who don’t interact with me,  log in very often or not make one of the Bucket Criteria.  In general I’m unfriending people that don’t fit one of the criteria for being a friend/connection on FB.  I discovered... Read more »
By Michael Messinger,
June 21, 2016 at 1:42 pm •