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Walking in July.

Do you want to know what I did in July? I walked.

I got up early and ran on the elliptical before work. In the morning, I got off the train two stops early and walked the last mile to work. At night, I got off the train a stop or two early and walked home. I walked around the park, dodging the children and teenagers and adults hunting Pokemon. I walked around my neighborhood, winding down all the streets I’ve never before visited. I took six mile walks to other neighborhoods. I took ten mile walks along the lake.

Much to the chagrin of all of my competing friends on Fitbit, I walked.

My shadow while walking around Welles Park in Lincoln Square. Not playing Pokemon Go.

It’s all part of this newfound commitment to get back in shape, to lose weight, to feel better about myself. And, in many ways, it’s working. I’m losing weight (slowly, but surely), I’m feeling better, have more stamina, I think. But I’m also tired. Or, at least, tired enough that I don’t want to come home and do more work. Tired enough that sitting down to write something “profound” is the last thing on my mind.

Last month I blogged about the men’s Fourth of July eating contest but I never got around to the women. I still plan to, I swear, and soon. And I still plan to write about all those other things swimming around in my mind. I swear. And soon.

I just need to sit down for a moment.

In the meantime, here’s what I did in July that didn’t involve walking (though, really, most of it did anyways…)

Opening band at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

Frankster at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Cheering on the competitors at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island.

Amos Wengler performs at the July 4th hot dog eating contest.

Star Spangled Banner.

Bun boys squirt the crowd at the Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

Nathan’s donates hot dogs to the New York City Food Bank every Fourth of July.

Hot dog cake from Cake Boss at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

Eric Badlands Booker performs at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

Dancers at the hot dog eating contest pre-show.

Brooklyn Community Choir perform at the Fourth of July Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

George Shea introduces the annual July Fourth hot dog eating contest.

The bunnettes perform at Nathan’s hot dog eating contest.

Trampoline pre-show performance at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest at Coney Island.

Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet at the Nathan’s Famous July 4 hot dog eating contest.

Honoring new hot dog eating contest hall of famers.

Hold music ballet at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

Eric Badlands Booker performs at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest.

The hot dog eating contest judges.

Swearing in the judges for the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

Bun boys squirt the crowd at the Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

I was in New York for the first few days of July. I told you about that and the men’s hot dog eating contest. And I super swear I will share photos of the women soon. Here are a few more photos from the pre-show entertainment at the event.

Wacker Moles sing karaoke at Clark Street Karaoke in Wrigleyville

My softball team might have lost our second playoff game while I was on the plane home from New York, but we probably would have squashed all the other teams with our mad karaoke skills. Just sayin.

Square Roots Festival in Lincoln Square, Chicago.

I went to Square Roots Festival, which is one of my favorite festivals in Chicago and not just because it’s right outside my door. OK, so the fact that it takes place right outside my door is a good reason to love it. I probably wandered in and out five or six times over the course of the weekend alternating with going home to get shit done. But they have good music too, an eclectic mix of bluegrass, jazz, country, rock. And they have good food, like spicy fried chicken from Budlong. And they have good craft beer and cider. And they have kids bands too so I could force Heather and Jeremy to bring Maggie along for a morning even though Maggie totally didn’t get how to play tambourine.

No Chip Manicure

I got my first no-chip manicure, which I love because it makes my nails too strong to break and guards them against my teeth. But I hate because I’ve had it for three weeks and way too much nail is showing at the bottom now because I can’t afford to get one more than once a month because lets face it I can’t even afford to get one once a month.

Marriot Cancun Cooking Event at Chopping Block Lincoln Square

I went to a PR event for Marriott Cancun at the Chopping Block in Lincoln Square. We cooked enchiladas and Mexican rice and drunken beans and flan.

Townplace Suites Weber Grill grill off.

And I went to another PR event for Townplace Suites and Weber Grill and watched country stars battle in a pizza grill off.

Cruz Blanca in the West Loop, Chicago.

I had dinner with my friend Alyssa at Cruz Blanca and had pork tacos and guacamole and fruity beers and smoky beers…

Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago.

I went to Pitchfork Music Festival and saw BJ the Chicago Kid, Brian Wilson, and Sufjan Stevens.

Ryan Opera Center performs at Millennium Park.

I had a picnic and saw members of the Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera’s artist training program, perform music from Of Mice and Men at Millennium Park.