Come On Feel the Illinoise

Awh :) Thanks for sharing. :D

Such an awesome story. Good luck to you guys. :)

@Wrighteous86: I'm from LA, born and raised, and it's a great city and all, but so flat and sprawling. There's absolutely no compactness to LA whatsoever, and not much of a real urban, metropolitan feel--only about 3 real skyscrapers in downtown, so the skyline's a bit meager. At night, from a distance, it's just this huge grid, sprawling endlessly in all directions. As an American, I'm a little ashamed to say I've never been to New York, or Chicago, or Boston, even though I've been to Paris, Rome, and London.

@Moreau_MD said:

@Wrighteous86: Just curious, but what would you have done if it turned out one of you had been bullshitting all this time. Like if you turned up and were like 4'2 or if she was really an 80 year old transsexual from Zimbabwe?

Well, she's 5'2 and I'm 6'2, so that was an... adjustment.

I get your point though. Basically, we slowly took steps. Typing, then gaming, then talking, then video. All of that lined up. It's pretty hard for an 80 yr old tranny Zimbabwean to find a girl that looks exactly like the girl in the pictures I had seen, with the appropriate accent, that knows all of the stories down pat, and convince her to go on video chat at random moments. So I knew that, at least appearance-wise, she was who she said she was, and that the person I saw was likely the person I was talking to. Unless this was some deeply disturbed, complex, Catfish-style shit she was playing, I figured I was in the clear.

There was still a risk that she was a con artist or looking to kill or rob me, but... I'm 26. I'm running out of time to do crazy shit without totally destroying my life. I figured that one or two crazy decisions every now and then makes life worth living, so I took a shot and hoped for the best. If she turned out to be something other than what she claimed, well, I had two weeks paid in England to do what I wanted, so it was win-win in my mind... y'know, as long as all of my internal organs STAYED internal.

As a guy who was in this exact position (girl from New Zealand, me from the South Side of Chicago), man these relationships are hard. You think it would get better when you get together, but in reality one of you will need to drop everything to go be with the other which causes other stressful issues. Oh, and then there is immigration. REALLY fun.

Having said that, good luck on your journey duders. It is totally worth the hassle for the right person.

@YoThatLimp: Do you mind if I ask you to elaborate a bit? How was it you met? How long have you been together? And who's taking the plunge to move? Sorry for all the questions (and I did hold back even more!) Wrighteous and I are just trying to figure out our future and how to go about things, so hearing from someone that's going through the same thing and what has or hasn't worked for them would be a massive help.

@Guided_By_Tigers said:

Come On Feel the Illinoise

You are late to that joke.

The whole album is about Illinois.

@DuskVamp said:

@YoThatLimp: Do you mind if I ask you to elaborate a bit? How was it you met? How long have you been together? And who's taking the plunge to move? Sorry for all the questions (and I did hold back even more!) Wrighteous and I are just trying to figure out our future and how to go about things, so hearing from someone that's going through the same thing and what has or hasn't worked for them would be a massive help.

PM going you way

@DuskVamp said:

@frankfartmouth said:

What?! No Six Flags?

We had Six Flags scheduled for our last week, but instead used that day to just relax around the house after 5 weeks of being non stop.

First of all I've really enjoyed reading these, thanks so much for sharing your fun! Second you did right skipping the glorified parking lot with rides in it...

[WARNING! WARNING! Amusement park and coaster nut rambling ahead! WARNING! WARNING!]

Having gone to 80 or so different Amusement Parks (or Fun Fairs -- Ooooh, look at me speaking a foreign language!) and having ridden 160 or so coasters I can (with as much assurance as possible [bearing in mind that everything is an opinion and that, yes, mine might be wrong for you]) say that I have yet to visit a Six Flags park that I'd choose to go back to again just for fun (yes, riding new coasters you haven't been on is "serious business"!), excepting The Great Escape in Lake George, NY since it has The Comet (my #1 favorite coaster).

Now I will admit that I'm a tad jaded when it comes to this stuff. However, Six Flags is pretty low down on the meter particularly in terms of the care and feeding of their rides (yes, it does make a difference). Do they run? Yep. Are they safe. Sure, Are they a shadow of their potential (wood coasters, in particular, suffer the most when maintained with a "Meh, it's good enough" attitude [though steel coasters can really box your ears when they go out of true])? Sadly, that one is an emphatic yes.

Now, I've been to places where it was even more "fun" (the tiny little places barely clinging to life, mostly), where you'd see the top of the steel wild mouse move fully 1 foot in each direction as the cars went around the turns (no, it's NOT supposed to do that), the wood coaster where we had to get out and help push it to the lift chain... but I think Six Flags makes enough that they should strive to do better than they do.

[END OF CRUSTY OLD MAN COASTER AND PARK RANT]

So... there. There are some good places around Chi town (and the rest of the US and England too). I'll happily point y'all (and anyone else) to them.

Chicago and improv duder here, you guys certainly picked a great show from Second City to check out, but I also recommend a lot of the other fine comedy joints around the city as well. I highly recommend checking out the free Wednesday Harold shows at iO - they do long form improvisation, which if you haven't seen before, will totally blow your minds and tickle your funny bones. Get there early to grab seats as it fills up fast.

Also, keep an eye out for any show Tim Robinson is in. That guy is absolutely hilarious, easily one of the best performers in the city. He's an old hat at Second City but tools around with Cook County Social Club (fantastic) as well as Waterbed and other small groups. He will almost certainly be famous one day, and you can say you saw him before that.

Lastly, also on Wednesday at iO is TJ and Dave, a fantastically brilliant two man show that has been going on forever. They are absolute masters at their craft and are a joy to watch perform.

You two look great together and those are some great pictures.

I actually live right next to Wrigley field, fun fact.

"Legendary Wrigley Field." As a southside Sox fan, big groan.

Chicago's great, so ir's nice to hear when visitors enjoy themelves.

@OldGuy: Thank you, I'm glad you've enjoyed reading them :) I have to admit though, apart from being exhausted and just wanting a relaxing weekend with Wrighteous, I am really not much of an adrenaline junkie. I'm a huge wuss when it comes to big rides, they just make me feel nauseous, even looking at them! And I'm definitely not a fan of long queues! Thank you though, I now know that if I ever get the urge to be violently thrown around til I vomit, I'll skip passed Six Flags.

Great job guys, I wish you more happiness!

@TheBostonPops: It was brilliant, I knew they would pick us out and they didn't disappoint! It was hilarious seeing Wrighteous squirm for a few minutes. I wish we knew about those other shows while we were there, we would have tried to go along. Hopefully they're still there next summer, or something equally as good, I definitely want to go to more comedy clubs.

@Dany said:

You two look great together and those are some great pictures.

I actually live right next to Wrigley field, fun fact.

Didn't you say in my other thread that you go to DePaul university too? We walked passed it a few times and I was saying to Wrighteous that it would be crazy if we bumped into you. I did wear my members tshirt downtown a couple times, but got no duder shout outs sadly.

@csl316: Haha yes, Wrighteous is a Sox fan too, he was't too upset at the Cubs dismal game. I loved it in Chicago, though maybe not walking around in over 100 degree heat. I can't wait to go back next summer.

@DuskVamp: Crowd interaction is one of the best parts of a good Second City revue. About three revues ago the interns used to help the cast out, as there was this one bit a cast member did as a TSA agent who knew everything about everyone - so he would futz about guessing stuff about audience members, but the interns would pick out someone from the audience using the ticket purchases and Google information about them, which the cast member would then memorize and recite amazingly on stage in front of everyone in an absolutely hilarious (and somewhat frightening moment) with the punch line: "THERE'S NO SECRECY ANYMORE, AHAHAHAHAHA" It was insane.

Certainly the free Harold shows will still be happening a year from now, as will TJ and Dave, but as I'm an active participant in the comedy scene here, feel free to send me a PM the next time you're in town and y'all are cruising for shows, I'll give you a heads up about what to see and maybe try to get you guys some Giant Bomb discounts or comps. Glad you had fun in our city!

Sweltering Chicago is right, I only leave my house for work and the bars. Too damn hot back in July. Oh and you two are adorable.

@DuskVamp said:

@TheBostonPops: It was brilliant, I knew they would pick us out and they didn't disappoint! It was hilarious seeing Wrighteous squirm for a few minutes. I wish we knew about those other shows while we were there, we would have tried to go along. Hopefully they're still there next summer, or something equally as good, I definitely want to go to more comedy clubs.

@Dany said:

You two look great together and those are some great pictures.

I actually live right next to Wrigley field, fun fact.

Didn't you say in my other thread that you go to DePaul university too? We walked passed it a few times and I was saying to Wrighteous that it would be crazy if we bumped into you. I did wear my members tshirt downtown a couple times, but got no duder shout outs sadly.

@csl316: Haha yes, Wrighteous is a Sox fan too, he was't too upset at the Cubs dismal game. I loved it in Chicago, though maybe not walking around in over 100 degree heat. I can't wait to go back next summer.

Oh that would have been awesome, lol. I was there over the summer, such a same I didn't get to meet you.

@TheBostonPops said:

Chicago and improv duder here, you guys certainly picked a great show from Second City to check out, but I also recommend a lot of the other fine comedy joints around the city as well.

I've lived in Chicago all my life and that was my first improv show. I knew I'd love it, I just never got around to it. Before that, I had only gone to see stand up. If you're in a show next summer, we'll have to go see you!

@csl316 said:

"Legendary Wrigley Field." As a southside Sox fan, big groan. Chicago's great, so ir's nice to hear when visitors enjoy themelves.

I'm right there with you man; Southsider.

@Dany said:

@DuskVamp said:

@Dany said:

You two look great together and those are some great pictures.

I actually live right next to Wrigley field, fun fact.

Didn't you say in my other thread that you go to DePaul university too? We walked passed it a few times and I was saying to Wrighteous that it would be crazy if we bumped into you. I did wear my members tshirt downtown a couple times, but got no duder shout outs sadly.

Oh that would have been awesome, lol. I was there over the summer, such a same I didn't get to meet you.

I work right down the street from the Art Institute, so we've probably crossed paths once or twice in the past. I've never met another GB fan outside of Dusk though. Next summer, we're planning a week or two in San Francisco, so maybe we'll try to meet up with @snide or @Vinny or @drewbert or someone at some point, and complete the circle of Giant Bomb love.

@CaptainTightPants said:

Darn it, now I'm hungry. Are segways really that easy to ride? They always look incredibly unstable whenever I see anyone with one. I don't trust 'em.

I should mention that the fact that the person who made the segway... died... on a segway.... I am not joking.

@DuskVamp said:

@OldGuy: I'll skip passed Six Flags.

@DuskVamp said:

We walked passed it a few times

Past.

Sorry, just a pet peeve.

@SlasherMan said:

@DuskVamp said:

@OldGuy: I'll skip passed Six Flags.

@DuskVamp said:

We walked passed it a few times

Past.

Sorry, just a pet peeve.

Maybe that's a British thing? Like the way that they call elevators "lifts." It's wacky! Cor Blimey!

@GalacticPunt said:

Maybe that's a British thing? Like the way that they call elevators "lifts." It's wacky! Cor Blimey!

Pretty sure that's not the case. It's just a relatively common grammatical mistake like typing "would of" instead of "would have", "there" instead of "they're", etc.

Anyway, there's no reason to linger on this. I just couldn't help pointing it out.

@Little_Socrates: I wasn't late to anything, I was referencing Sufjan Stevens dude.....I wasn't trying to just make that up as a joke.

Glad you enjoyed Chicago! You hit a lot of good places, especially Portillos. Too bad the Cubs lost, although unfortunately they are god awful this season. However, that is usually the case for most years.

I live down the street from a Portillos...may have to head up there for some food this weekend.

@Guided_By_Tigers said:

@Little_Socrates: I wasn't late to anything, I was referencing Sufjan Stevens dude.....I wasn't trying to just make that up as a joke.

Golden. :)

@Wrighteous86: You are a lucky duder, congrats on your duderationshipaversary.

@Humanity said:

@Wrighteous86: You are a lucky duder, congrats on your duderationshipaversary.

Trust me, I am well aware. I still can't believe how well it worked out, both with the random way we met, how well we click, and how she turned out to be a hot and beautiful girl, and not, like, Kessler in a wig or something.

This is such a cute story. I'm happy for the two of you! ^__^

@Wrighteous86: You never know, it could be Kessler in a ton of shrink wrap and a mask...waiting for the perfect time..

@Humanity said:

@Wrighteous86: You never know, it could be Kessler in a ton of shrink wrap and a mask...waiting for the perfect time..

That sounds like a sitcom in the making; some Hannah Montana-type shit.

@Wrighteous86: Who's that sexy lady and can I get her number?

err... I mean did you make that, or was that already in existence?

@pyromagnestir said:

@Wrighteous86: Who's that sexy lady and can I get her number?

err... I mean did you make that, or was that already in existence?

The Giant Bomb Makeover Thread

@DuskVamp: I had a massive smile on my face reading this.

I'm really happy for you both and congratz on keeping the long distance relationship going for over a year :D

Currently I'm in the same situation so it helps to read stories like this. Thanks Dusk for being so open and writing a blog about all the things you got up to on your trip.

Hopefully my girl will be coming over for a visit in January :)

@SlasherMan: Ah, sorry, that's always been something I get mixed up on.

@MightyDuck: I did like their Italian beef, though I have to admit I preferred Al's Italian beef more.

@X19: I'm glad you enjoyed it, there's more to come! Good luck in January! How long will she be coming for?

@DuskVamp: We're planning for a week. It's difficult as I'm sure you know, to get a time when we're both free. We both know that we can't really go any further until we meet face to face.

Looking forward to part 2.

Interesting story. Well I'm glad things worked out well for both of you. Hope you two have kids and a wonderful happy life together.