Chicago Theatre Addict » Gator

Saturday morning

Bob Bullen — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:21:31 +0000

A typical Saturday morning in the Bullen-Karpo household.

Coffee in a homemade mug and HGTV:

A step outside on the patio, to be greeted by an uninvited guest (I can’t believe I took this picture):

It’s like the Battle of Gettysburg around here:

Gator playing around with Google Sites:

Alley, unamused:

A soggy day at the Brookfield Zoo

Bob Bullen — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:41:32 +0000

Sometimes a day at the zoo — even a rainy, grey, les misérables day — can revive you.

Thank goodliness we have the glass between us and mother nature.

Who says we’re too old for the carousel? My mother sure doesn’t!

I just like this photo of my darling Sarah. Taken while waiting.

A graceful giant.

I think if we all felt serenity as captured here, the world would be in a much, much better place.

In the end, as with all happy endings, the sun finally came out.

Nine.

Bob Bullen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:37:20 +0000

Today is Gerald and my ninth anniversary!

I’m surprised he’s stuck around that long. I love him. In honor of this day, let’s watch a performance from the musical Nine, featuring the original Broadway cast:

FYI: As I’m sure we all know, this musical has received the Hollywood treatment, set for release December 25. And this particular song has been covered by none other Ms. Fergalicious. Go here to listen to her Auto-Tune™ happy version.

Oh, and to celebrate our near-decade together, we’re seeing The Addams Family tonight.

Gayest birthday cake ever?

Bob Bullen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:57:12 +0000

I win.

(Yes, that’s my mug crudely Photoshopped onto Reese Witherspoon’s.)

I love Gerald and my friends.

Ten things that (most likely) won’t happen at my birthday party

Bob Bullen — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:00:50 +0000

My darling Gerald is throwing me a birthday party (yes — a few days past my actual bday, but who wants to get drunk on a Monday night?). At first, the entire party was a (top secret) surprise! And, because it’s Gerald, who can’t keep a secret longer than a newborn can hold its bladder, it became “surprise: you’re getting a party!”

And then it became “surprise, you’re getting a party…and it’s at Sidetrack.”

And then it became “surprise, you’re getting a party, and it’s in a private area of the bar I rented at Sidetrack with open bar for three hours.”

And then “surprise, you’re getting a party, and it’s in a private area of the bar I rented at Sidetrack, with open bar for three hours, and they’re going to play nothing but showtunes we hand-selected in your honor.”

With all that out there, I’ve been told there are STILL a few surprises in store. So, with that, may I present the top ten things that (most likely) will not happen at my birthday party:

1) I remain entirely sober and don’t do or say a single embarrassing thing.

2) The gang breaks out into spontaneous dance (led by yours truly):

3) I’m given back a full head of hair as a gift.

4) In a blast of glitter, Nathan Lane, who’s currently starring in The Addams Family, arrives and performs a few raunchy party tunes before heading back to the Loop in time for curtain.

5) I refrain from twittering or facebooking all night long.

6) I don’t put on a single feather boa.

7) Bebe Neuwirth, feeling jealous of Mr. Lane, arrives to recreate “When Velma Takes the Stand” before posing for pics and offering a bday kiss.

8) Someone gifts me something “Twilight” related.

9) I make it home at a respectable hour.

10) I wake up at 8 am the next day, refreshed and revived, ready for a brisk morning jog.

Things I learned at the yard sale

Bob Bullen — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:18:18 +0000

Gator and I spent our Labor Day weekend helping his mother and father sell their stuff for some extra cash in support of their upcoming move. The yard sale lasted from Sat morning (which required us to leave Chi after work on Fri — arriving in Michigan around midnight) through Monday.

However, Monday didn’t happen, due to rains.

Regardless, a LONG weekend, and not in the good way.

Some helpful tips for when you hold your next yard sale:

The crazy, intense antiquers will arrive at least two hours early the first day of the sale, never to be seen again. If they don’t like what they see, they will go so far as ask you to rummage around the house for specific requests. As if it’s an On Demand yard sale.
Electronics won’t really sell. Especially old electronics that you can’t guarantee work.
Have boxes on hand for shoppers to put their finds in.
The older generation who attend yard sales are mostly very nice, and like to tell you in exquisite detail what their purchases will be used for, and for whom they will be used.
No one wants the dolls.
Have lots of change before the yard sale — that means two hours before it’s actually supposed to start (see the first item above).
Ya can talk, ya can talk, ya can bicker, ya can talk, ya can bicker, bicker, bicker, ya can talk, ya can talk, ya can talk, talk, talk, talk, bicker, bicker, bicker, ya can talk all ya want but they still won’t buy the friggen power generator.
Make sure you look in the portable DVD player before placing it in the yard sale to ensure there are no DVDs in it. Especially the “blue” kind. (And I’m not talking Blue-Ray, if you know what I mean.*)
An extension of the previous tip: Review the books you put on the shelf carefully*.
Sometimes you just have to accept $20 for something that should collect at least $60. Just because it makes the man so damn happy.

(*I should note that these items weren’t necessarily Gator’s mother’s and father’s. They have 11 kids between the two of them, so it’s anyone’s guess.)

Not really related to this post, but pretty sunset at the end of yard sale: day 2. It was our special “thank you for working so hard” from mother nature, I’m assuming.

I think I’m touched in the head

Bob Bullen — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 02:32:23 +0000

Why else would you wake up at the crack of dawn to hail a cab during a sleeting, thunder-snowing blizzard to go downtown to stand in Grant Park for 1.5 hours while snow slowly slides down your back and then herd up like so much cattle to run in slushpuddles for 4.97 miles on your day off? Oh, and your shoes have soaked up a few gallons of ice-cold water, and your gloves have fallen in a puddle, so forget about being able to feel your toes or hands today. But who needs finger or toes when you’re busy doing all that character building?

In other words, I was one of the 13,294 other possibly retarded people (out of the 32,000 registered runners) who ran today. At first it was pretty miserable, and I considered throwing in the towel…but then I found Jamie and Eric and Lindsey, and we warmed each other’s damp spirits through laughter and giddiness.

While my time wasn’t as great as I was hoping, I’m mostly glad I ran 4.97 miles without stopping. Not once. Not even for a few seconds to walk. I’m so proud of all of us!

And I really want to share my appreciation and gratitude to Gina and Gator (and Liz!) for standing at the finish line and cheering me on today. It means a lot to me!

(Lindsey, Eric, Jamie and me pre-run. Note how deceptively chipper we all look right here. And note the snow on my brim.)

Painting and Coraline in 3D

Bob Bullen — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:54:33 +0000

Not necessarily in that order.

First off: Coraline in 3D was wondrous. Such artistry and craft. I loved every minute of it. The 3D effects were cool, but not jarring. Subtle, if you will. And I love children’s tales that are basically dark morality lessons. (Shockheaded Peter, anyone?) For children: Mind your parents or risk getting buttons sewn in your eyes. For parents: Pay attention to your children, or get trapped in a snow globe. It’s your choice, really.

Sunday was spent painting Gator’s friend’s new fourth-floor loft. Since I’m strange and love painting (I’ll gladly paint your place in exchange for beer and pizza), I was happy to do so. But this place presented a distinct challenge — with its 15 foot high ceilings and light paint over a dark burgundy. Many coats and many trips up and down a rickety ladder. But we did it!

Meanwhile, the view from their new place. Jealous much?