Everything I saw and did during my absolutely amazing trip to my hometown, Chicago (gets kinda emotional at one part, small warning for those who don't like that shit. Also kinda pic heavy)

"HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute" (hondoyota) 08/06/2019 at 15:45 • Filed to: Chicago is myyyyyyyyy kiiiiiind of townnnnnn

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First off: our “JDM” Suburban rental. Very powerful and big. Problem is it was kinda uncomfortable and bumpy on Illinois’ shitty roads.

We haven’t seen half the people we did since 3 years ago, all my friends (once little 7th grade kids like I was then) now have jobs, cars, lives, etc. It was a pretty huge shock. It’s still pretty cool though, we also met up with my cousin who used to be antisocial and is now a die-hard car person who dailys a G35X and has a project manual Accord. I also met up with my uncle, I didn’t get to see his other cars sadly due to us meeting at a restaurant, but I did get to see his new 300S:

Before we met up with him, we went hiking at Starved Rock and went off the trail, as always. We discovered a strange beach thing and didn’t get any poison ivy rashes thankfully. Here’s some pics from that too:

No pics for this part (which is the depressing part). The day we landed I met up with a small group of old friends. I saw one a couple times not long ago, but the rest I haven’t seen for 3 years. One of those friends was a girl I’ve been good friends with for 10 years, and at one point we were a “thing”, as the kids call it. Our other friends wouldn’t let us forget those days and kept teasing us, which was fine and we’d just go along with it, until they left us two alone. We talked about the past, the present, the future and everything we missed and we were just thinking about life and it was good until I looked her in the eyes and we both realized how much we missed each other. We got closer and then the group busted out of the window and said “AYYYYEEEEEE LOOK AT EM” and then we just laughed it off and went along with their games. Afterwards at 11pm, it was time to go. Her friend left and my other two friends were in the backyard, and we were alone in the cul de sac and she was closer to her house and we said bye but as we walked away, we both looked back. We froze, walked slowly up to each other, met in the middle of the circle and kissed (cue kindergarten-age child noise of “EWWWWW”) and held each other for a minute and before we parted she whispered, “please come back soon, Antonio”. I wish I never left, but as far as career and opportunities go I’m better off in Florida. I just wish I didn’t have to compromise this time. Oh well. Nothing I can do about it, I’m done hurting myself over people I can’t have no matter what the reason. Le sigh.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yeah, we also went to Lollapalooza on its first day to see The Strokes live after listening to their music our whole lives. It was really cool to see then in the flesh and know the words to all their songs. My phone and arms were dying so I only got video of the first two songs (Heart In a Cage and You Only Live Once), but the way they opened by walking out with background music, dimming the lights, going silent besides a lone guitar note and then epicly throwing the silence into the beginning of Heart In a Cage was just really cool to watch. Here’s the video from that again, taken by yours truly:

I will definitely save money to go again sometime. The experience was great. After all this, on Sunday we went to my cousin’s house. This cousin was usually all quiet and emo and didn’t like us much, but now he’s super into cars and was all happy and talking a lot. I’ve literally talked to him once before that day and in that day alone I’ve talked to him more than we’ve talked in our whole lives. It was really cool though, he knows a lot and I’m seeing he’s become a lot friendlier and it’s good. No pics because my phone was dying.

Finally, yesterday: we woke up and went to see my sister and her car-loving friend one last time for lunch, and then hit up the Planetarium to get pictures of the water and skyline and the building itself. Here they are:

Not the Skyline you were probably thinking of

The SEAT Leon Cupra I posted yesterday, seent on our way to the city

The Planetarium, looking a bit dustier than I remember

This was pretty alarming. When we last visited, the water was 3 feet below the end of the concrete. Now it’s flooding over it....yikes

Afterwards, it was time to go. We drove back to Midway to drop off the Suburban and board our flight back to hell—I mean, Florida. My phone died on the plane, but as we were landing I looked out onto the land of Florida, only to see two fires miles apart. Yep, we were definitely back in Florida. This concluded another great trip to the state and city I love. I can’t wait to go back next year.

Pardon me what the fuck

Also, I wanted to meet up with Oppos in the area but my schedule was way too busy and we didn’t even get to see some of our long time old friends either. Sorry about that, hopefully I have more time next trip to spend with y’all.

i86hotdogs > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 15:53

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If you don’t mind me asking, where in Chicago did you grow up? I grew up just outside of O’h a re. 

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > i86hotdogs 08/06/2019 at 15:55

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Born Englewood (yikes) then immediately moved to Bolingbrook/Plainfield. We had it pretty good until I realized we're living off my grandparents who then screwed us over. Currently stuck in Poinciana, Florida.

USUSGTO > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:00

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I can relate to your ex perience since

- I spent a week in a big city (atlanta) with a GMC Yokon XL rental. Only, I loved our rental,. maybe because we own an antiquated Navigator L.  

- I fly 8-12 times a month and majority is southwest.

- I work in O&G and higher prices are nice! lol. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:01

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Invite her to come hang out in  Florida for a while?

i86hotdogs > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:01

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Nice! A southsider!

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/06/2019 at 16:05

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Oh you already know I did. Problem is, she has a job and her parents are of the very strict breed

E90M3 > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:06

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As far as the emotional part, you might just have to let it go. It sucks, but while you’re on your parents dime you can’t control where you live. I get it, it sucks, but dwelling on the “ what ifs” isn’t good. Also, almost no one from my life at your age is still in my life at all. People change, move away, etc. I am still very good friends with two of my high school friends, but we spent all four years in high school together. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:09

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Does she have a good job? Maybe you could arrange for her to stay with a female friend of yours in Florida for a week or two sometime (maybe this winter) . Maybe she’ll like it. Maybe she’s ready for a change...

Sorry to press it, but seems like you two clearly like and miss each other.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > E90M3 08/06/2019 at 16:12

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I’ve lived in a different state from her for 3 years and have known her for 10 years so I think I’d know her when I’m older too. The what ifs were mostly in the moment, I’ve already let it go but obviously it still sucks. Another thing...my parents didn’t want to leave Illinois either. It’s because we were li ving in our grandparents' house that we had to move because they didn't like us and decided to screw us over. We didn't have the money to buy a house because my dad got really sick and we emptied our funds to basically make sure he didn't die, so we ended up moving in with them here and only now we have gotten enough money to live on our own. We would have moved back but Illinois' cost of living is ridiculous now, with taxes and whatnot. Plus, there are better opportunities for us kids here as well as weather (no cold or snow for my parents to deal with). But as far as she goes, I'll just have to see how the cookie crumbles but my mentality is if it doesn't work, then so be it. But it definitely would be nice if it worked somehow.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/06/2019 at 16:16

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She is a gymnast and works after practice at her gym, lol. We're still 16 and our parents don't really allow that kind of stuff but I am going back next year so there's that. Her parents, though strict, actually like me somewhat so we'd see how that goes too. When we're older and have more freedom we'll see what happens. As for now we're just living our lives and going with the flow.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:26

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Life is funny and crazy and weird. Sure sounds like it sucks being so far away from this girl – but don’t lose all hope. Live your life, let her live hers and try to stay in touch. Sounds like you have thus far, and you’re both still young – just know that when you are both totally grown up and out on your own a lot that just seems completely impossible might actually work out. In the meantime you might both date other people, may even end up with those people – but sounds like you’re good friends regardless, so no reason to let that die. If something works out years down the road, great, and you’ll have that much more of a foundation to base that relationship on. And if not, you’ll both still have a friend you’ve known practically all your lives.

vicali > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:27

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Dude, you are 16, enjoy the ride..

Looks like a good trip though.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:27

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I forgot how young you are - sorry . If it’s meant to happen , it will.

Write her a letter every once in a while. On paper, with a pen, with a stamp and everything. Seriously.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/06/2019 at 16:37

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It's all good, but we're not far from being adults. And as for the letter thing, we text every day so I'm sure she'd get a kick out of it just showing up one day and hopefully completing a conversation we were texting about if I time it correctly. Either I do that or a really heartfelt out of the blue one...good idea

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 08/06/2019 at 16:38

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This is my exact mindset about all this. 

CaptDale - is secretly British > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:40

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Life is crazy and sucks sometimes. But other parts are good so gotta roll with the punches I guess. Sounds like an overall great trip though.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > USUSGTO 08/06/2019 at 16:51

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Nice.

vicali > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/06/2019 at 16:57

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Seconded, Do this...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/06/2019 at 16:58

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I’ve learned a few things in my 41 years. =) 

AdverseMartyr > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/07/2019 at 09:16

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I was just in Illinois a couple of weeks ago visiting friends (I’m from Peoria, originally). I can attest that nothing is going to handle the potholes on the roads there. Stretches of 55 heading south were impossible for changing lanes as the craters at the seam would blow tires out for certain. I think at one point it was unsafe to cross the center line for almost a mile, and then the ‘safe’ area was a high, rough section of asphalt patches just tossed down by the shovelful without any attempt at tamping them down.

It’s like the state wants everyone to ruin their tires and suspensions.

And then there were the dead raccoons everywhere. It reminded me of a zombie apocalypse movie.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > AdverseMartyr 08/07/2019 at 09:47

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I heard taxes went up to pay for the roads to be fixed. Didn't believe it, but when I went on 127th by my old neighborhood/house they were actually doing lots of road work. Hopefully that spreads everywhere and fast.

AdverseMartyr > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/07/2019 at 09:54

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LOL. I’m pretty sure all that’s going to stay in Chicago. I haven’t been back for 3 years, but the roads near Peoria are in about the same condition they have always been. Granted some of the county roads were getting oiled & chipped, but they weren’t fixing anything beforehand.

The roads still had the same cracks making them bumpy, just with a thin layer of stuff over the top so you could pretend it was new, but the ride was still horrible.

All the state road construction I saw was the same projects that I have driven past for the entire 25 years I have had a license to drive. I assume they are some sort of money laundering scheme as they have always been “under construction. ”  

E90M3 > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute 08/07/2019 at 12:28

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I guess what I was really trying to say, coming from a realest point of view, is that you don’t want to hold out hopes for her. You’re young and we all change as we grow older, plus distance puts a strain on any relationship . You might be able to keep in touch, but it’s not the same as seeing each other every single days. I’ve know people in long distance relationships  and it takes a toll on them. Stay in touch, but don’t let it get in the way of any potential relationship.