thoughts bouncing around in my head

If you have to have an MRI, don't listen to the b.s. that 'one size fits all' and it doesn't matter where you have it done. as someone who has had 4 in the past six weeks, i can tell you IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHERE YOU HAVE IT DONE and that the lake zurich, illinois mri has the smallest, deer park mri is a little bigger and vista in lake villa gives a big guy like me plenty of room.

 there are six protocols for a total of 31 minutes for a lumbar mri and if the technician knows what the hell they're doing, you'll be out of the machine in 35 minutes.  some have music, some don't. DON'T BRUSH YOUR TEETH the morning of the mri as that will dry out your mouth. pack 3 or 4 pieces of gum in your mouth but you have to hide them when you're going in, otherwise the tech will have you spit them out. ALWAYS take the earliest appointment.
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in other news, i see where motorcycle riding is down and it's no wonder because of car drivers texting while driving.  DISTRACTED DRIVING is a nuisance to other cars but fatal to cyclists. 
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Can anyone explain where the lightning bugs have gone? when i was a kid in Northlake (by franklin park-ohare airport) we would run around after dark having contests to see who could capture the most in a mason jar. at my house in Grayslake, we see a dozen or so at dusk and then they disappear.
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And i have zero mosquitos at my house. go figure.
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DIGITAL TICKETS. what a pain in the butt. the bulls, cubs, bears & white sox have all eliminated paper stock tickets which means if you don't have a smart phone, you're out of luck.  they're trying to eliminate the counterfeiting of tickets and i understand but many people are struggling to understand the new concept. believe it or not, I adapted right away.
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How much is a ticket to the bears-packers game on thursday night?
 i just sold 4 in the south end zone for $550 APIECE. two years ago, i was lucky to get a hundred apiece.
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The tomatoes have been wonderful this season as well as the cucumbers but the green peppers went down in defeat this year. radishes have been so-so. ANYONE WANT SOME REALLY HOT PEPPERS? lmk and i'll mail them to you. insure your lips.
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The sweet corn at STADE'S FARMS in mchenry is outstanding despite a late planting season. still time to take a trip up for the BEST sweet corn in the area.

Welcome to Stade’s Farm and Market!

Stade’s Farm & Market is located in scenic McHenry County in northeastern Illinois approximately 50 miles from Chicago. We produce 2,200 acres of fresh fruits and vegetables that we sell directly to consumers through our Farm Market.

Our farm is also popular for pick-your-own fruits and vegetables including strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, and pumpkins. We have a large entertainment area which includes a petting zoo, corn maze, giant slides, hay rides, and a large variety of unique attractions. Our fall festival Shades of Autumn is a harvest time extravaganza featuring 30+ farm-related attractions, pumpkin picking, special events, great food and lots of fun.

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Does anyone read a real newspaper anymore? i get the sunday tribune delivered and sit in the gazebo eating an almond horn pastry from the local bakery with a pint of chocolate milk and spend a couple of hours consuming both the horn and the paper.  the other day i mentioned to a friend, "did you see that article in the sports section about the bulls?" he looked at me like i had just landed from mars and said 'nobody reads the paper anymore---it's all electronic/digital."  sad if true.

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We were chatting at the bowling alley the other day about things that were disappearing or have already disappeared: SEARS, TOYS-R-US, (although someone said they're coming back) 

MARSHALL FIELDS, K-MART, go kart tracks, land lines for phones, drive-in movie theatres (also called outdoors), cameras, locks, keys, clock radios & hotel keys. and there's plenty more for this list but i'm too tired. more later.

enjoy your short week.