July 4th

We’ve been in the Chicago area since the beginning of May, but July 4th was the first opportunity we’ve had to do any sightseeing, since we didn’t work. We went downtown with Rich and Sam and we went up the Sears Tower. Then we went to Taste of Chicago (Richard M. Daley, Mayor. Chicago must have the largest percentage of residents who know their mayor’s name, because “Richard M. Daley, Mayor” is proclaimed everywhere. I first heard it listening to “This American Life,” which broadcasts out of Chicago. Signs at Taste of Chicago also had the words.) I intended on getting a famed Chicago dog, but was distracted by other food that looked better to me.

Ze Frank explained American culture, saying that “In the evening, Americans come together in throngs to form symbolic hot dogs that roast underneath firework coals in the sky.” Yet, we went home before the fireworks started. I was suffering pain from an ear infection, and slept nary a wink that evening from the pain. The pain medication he gave me made me nauseous, and I could avoid throwing up only when I was laying down. I’m trying to go without the pain medication today so that I might be able to work this afternoon. We’ll see.