It's May 31st and I spent the holiday weekend in Chicago and have dinner plans tonight at 6:30. Feels weird to not be in a suit and tie and working at the Statehouse all weekend and tonight. Not bad, mind you. Not bad at all. Just… really weird
I hear ya. I was a substantive committee staffer decades ago. June 30 adjournment. 200 bills in committee. Unlimited committee amendments, and on the floor. No computers.
When I finally moved on, it took me a while to realize why I became so subconsciously anxious around Memorial Day. Others at cookouts while I was at the capitol. Wouldn’t trade the experience for anything, but also prefer not to repeat it.
Had close family come over and got to do a whole lot of grilling and relaxing. Felt weird (but very nice) to have a typical Memorial Day. Wouldn’t complain at all if lawmakers decided to wrap up session by mid-May going forward.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 12:41 pm:
I see that you joined me, and millions of others suffering in a crime-ridden, corrupt, dysfunctional hellhole. Welcome.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 12:47 pm:
Was great being able to do family events and see what “normal” people do on Memorial Day Weekend.
To me one of the most ridiculous things the GA does is convening on Memorial Day. Not only does it fly in the face of their “patriotic talk” but if they think the general public thinks and admires them for working on a Holiday, they need to think again.
The general public doesn’t care and if they are paying attention, they think lawmakers have months to get their work done but are so incapable they have to work on a holiday to get it done. No one is admiring them for working a holiday.
I wasn’t refreshing my CapFax page every five minutes obsessively all weekend.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:07 pm:
Third year at home for this weekend but the first two didn’t really count, right? Before that, 22 consecutive sessions (twice they adjourned before May 31).
What’s it mean? Well, I got to see my daughter on her birthday and go to her party - I usually only make one of those. Had a relaxing Friday night with some friends on their deck, a killer dinner at Virtue in Hyde Park on Saturday, and a cookout of our own for friends on Sunday. And Monday we chilled. So, so different from “normal” years
We have two German Shepherd Dogs. My sister in law has a Maltese. She and her family went out of town so we took care of the Maltese.
The three wrestled and played chase nearly the full weekend.
It was exhausting but I loved seeing all three so happy.
Other than that, pretty normal.
I love Virtue! I’ll be taking one of my sibs there next week for her birthday. Chef Erick Williams has been nominated for the James Beard Best Chef: Great Lakes award. He’s going to be opening a new restaurant specializing in po’ boys in Harper Court. No opening date set yet.
I walked into the Stratton and was not greeted by bleary-eyed security who had been working around the clock on mandated overtime for days. Instead we got to talk about their BBQs and parties.
Sorry, that’s was what I did on the 30th.
Yesterday was just another day in the life of a retiree, hanging out, avoiding yard work and forgetting what day it is.
First we got our June’s back. Now May for many. Hard to adapt, but we look in the mirror and see that Illinois remains as robust now as when we lost those months. Life can go on.
- Langhorne - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 12:35 pm:
I hear ya. I was a substantive committee staffer decades ago. June 30 adjournment. 200 bills in committee. Unlimited committee amendments, and on the floor. No computers.
When I finally moved on, it took me a while to realize why I became so subconsciously anxious around Memorial Day. Others at cookouts while I was at the capitol. Wouldn’t trade the experience for anything, but also prefer not to repeat it.
- Treefiddy - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 12:39 pm:
Had close family come over and got to do a whole lot of grilling and relaxing. Felt weird (but very nice) to have a typical Memorial Day. Wouldn’t complain at all if lawmakers decided to wrap up session by mid-May going forward.
- PublicServant - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 12:41 pm:
I see that you joined me, and millions of others suffering in a crime-ridden, corrupt, dysfunctional hellhole. Welcome.
- Give Me A Break - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 12:47 pm:
Was great being able to do family events and see what “normal” people do on Memorial Day Weekend.
To me one of the most ridiculous things the GA does is convening on Memorial Day. Not only does it fly in the face of their “patriotic talk” but if they think the general public thinks and admires them for working on a Holiday, they need to think again.
The general public doesn’t care and if they are paying attention, they think lawmakers have months to get their work done but are so incapable they have to work on a holiday to get it done. No one is admiring them for working a holiday.
- Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 12:53 pm:
Instead of the inevitable caucus or exec committee at 10:30 p.m. on 5-31, I went to bed. Sweet, sweet sleep. Ahhhhh.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:02 pm:
I wasn’t refreshing my CapFax page every five minutes obsessively all weekend.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:07 pm:
Third year at home for this weekend but the first two didn’t really count, right? Before that, 22 consecutive sessions (twice they adjourned before May 31).
What’s it mean? Well, I got to see my daughter on her birthday and go to her party - I usually only make one of those. Had a relaxing Friday night with some friends on their deck, a killer dinner at Virtue in Hyde Park on Saturday, and a cookout of our own for friends on Sunday. And Monday we chilled. So, so different from “normal” years
- Sir Reel - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:13 pm:
My wife was in the hospital and went into cardiac arrest while I was helping to change her gown. In ICU now and slowly getting better.
Capital Fax has helped me pass the long hours. Thanks
- Crash - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:26 pm:
We have two German Shepherd Dogs. My sister in law has a Maltese. She and her family went out of town so we took care of the Maltese.
The three wrestled and played chase nearly the full weekend.
It was exhausting but I loved seeing all three so happy.
Other than that, pretty normal.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:41 pm:
= a killer dinner at Virtue in Hyde Park =
I love Virtue! I’ll be taking one of my sibs there next week for her birthday. Chef Erick Williams has been nominated for the James Beard Best Chef: Great Lakes award. He’s going to be opening a new restaurant specializing in po’ boys in Harper Court. No opening date set yet.
- Sangamon Girl - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:46 pm:
I walked into the Stratton and was not greeted by bleary-eyed security who had been working around the clock on mandated overtime for days. Instead we got to talk about their BBQs and parties.
- Stoney - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:51 pm:
Good to be at Camp Butler for normal Memorial day ceremonies.
A walk through a national cemetery on Memorial day should be on everyone’s to do list.
- Stoney - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 1:58 pm:
Sorry, that’s was what I did on the 30th.
Yesterday was just another day in the life of a retiree, hanging out, avoiding yard work and forgetting what day it is.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 2:00 pm:
First we got our June’s back. Now May for many. Hard to adapt, but we look in the mirror and see that Illinois remains as robust now as when we lost those months. Life can go on.
- Chicago Cynic - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 2:04 pm:
It was awesome. Home. Family. Recreation. No need to monitor this page. Let’s make this permanent.
- Bigtwich - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 2:31 pm:
I voted. Don’t believe that option was available before.
- NoOneOfConsequence - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 3:49 pm:
It seemed like there was more elbow-room at Boone’s.
- Nick Name - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 4:31 pm:
I napped. Recovering from late nights binging the new season of Stranger Things.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Jun 1, 22 @ 6:36 pm:
Best wished to you and your wife, Sir Reel.