Training Log Archive: chitownclark

With Sari, down to Rush St to pick up some alkyd oil-based exterior paint, and have Sunday brunch in the sun. Illinois has joined many other states in outlawing oil-based paints, to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOC's) from the atmosphere. A good move since so much of these are the components of smog. So since April 1, no oil-based paint has be shipped into Illinois.

Thirty years ago lead-based paint was outlawed; now oil-based paint. With a coating of white lead, a building could withstand the elements for 50 years. With oil-based, 20 years. But now we're left only with latex water-based paints...lucky to get 8 years on south-facing exterior surfaces.

So I've been calling around in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana...searching for alkyd oil-based paint that might still be on the shelves. Today I scored 3 gallons. And we hustled down to pick it up....

C • What kind of a surface are ... 6

Down to Building Court for a hearing on some violations on one of my buildings...exterior steel (fire escapes) that hadn't been inspected. Hearing officer was sympathetic and dismissed the case....even came out into the hall to copy the structural engineering report I had made ($600) showing that the fire escapes were safe and well-maintained.

Afterward I treated myself for my escape from John Law again, with a nice open-air lunch in the Rush Street area. Followed by a dash home into Earl-enhanced headwinds, racing with some young stud who thought he could pass me coming north on Lincoln Avenue without a response.

C • be carefull stud 2

Biked around the buildings, picking up September rent checks from my basement drop-boxes, and checking on newly arrived tenants. Everyone seems to be settling in.

As usual, the arrivals from the suburbs can't believe how small the rooms and closets are in these Victorian and Arts & Crafts era buildings. Those great big overstuffed sectionals take up the whole room..if you can even get them in the narrow doorway!

But neighborhood stores sell this oversized stuff...as impractical as it may be for city living. American furniture design is overwhelmingly suburban. And ironically, only IKEA, out in the suburbs, offers more modestly sized pieces for city living.

Out west to meet Soupbone. Then to Lake Michigan for a swim, a beachside bar, and to a Mexican restaurant to meet Sari for dinner...then to the 9:45 train for Soupbone's trip back to Wisconsin. The swim was great; water was tolerable...felt very good after the hour biking in the hot August sun.

Fell off the bike negotiating a pedestrian bridge over Lake Shore Drive...cut my right eyebrow, with blood streaming down my face and Soupbone laughing. Until I plunged into the healing waters, and everything was fine.

C • oops boom boom 4