When the weekend's all a blur of movies and Chicago expressways and cornfields and city sights and the only clear thing is her bedroom, it's impossible to recall it all in any kind of narrative form. So I spent the El ride to O'Hare jotting it all down while listening to BNL's Stunt as we rattled along the tracks away from the Windy City.

Arriving Friday afternoon and a girl in a white dress standing there at tiny Gate E4 to greet me with an airport hello, decidedly so much better than any airport goodbye. ... A drive out to the cornfields around Tinley Park, the tiny Disney-like town near the depot and the scary Irish pub where all the old farmers stared at us and drove us out to the more comfortable pizza joint across the street. ... BNL at the Tweeter Center � Ed in his "avante-gard bluegrass" getup, a shirt made better with the banjo accessory; Steve's thirsty shirt and "no one wants to see my naked breasts!" except Stewart ("I do!"); the medley that included Steve putting Stewart's ass on display ("I don't think you're ready for this jelly!"). ... Can't Hardly Wait ... Waking up slowly Saturday � the first of four such pleasant mornings and the scent of oranges in the shower. ... Out to Plainfield (more farms) through a Midwestern downpour that spawned a tornado out beyond Barb and Mike's house not long before we arrived. ... A relaxing afternoon talking with Mike and Barb at their house, Joe and Faye also there. Mike's live acoustic version of "Press Your Luck" and his friends song � "Every Daniel Jr. needs a father named Dan." ... "Mickey Mouse is not a mouse. He's Mickey Mouse." ... On to Goodbar to meet Casey's crowd, a fun day capped with drinks. ... Forrest Gump ... Relaxing Sunday morning, then downtown for lunch at Ed Debevic's where Wild Burp Hiccup served us, lamenting my New Jersey roots. "So how'd you two meet then?" "He picked me up at the airport," she said. Ate so much we got Chicagoed. ... Excalibur's featuring the living member of Milli Vanilli and advertising his appearance as "Formally of Milli Vannili" ... The 4:20 (yes) showing of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and the purchase of the soundtrack (because I got high). "Zoinks, yo!" ... Back out to Michigan Ave. and Water Tower Place and the tourists. ... A walk down around the lake and through the park to Navy Pier for lemonade and popcorn and the music we passed. ... Monday morning, Aug. 27, wake up slowly and $50 an hour for a later flight goes by fast, into the shower and on to the airport to leave, but not before a stop for a photo in the "Got Crabs?" shirt by Wrigley. Flight delayed 10-20 minutes because of a mechanical problem (missing "cover") and I fantasize at how wonderful it would be to be delayed to the point of having to stay another night. ... On the plane, a 2 1/2 hour wait to hear when Newark will reopen because of the storms and we return to the gate and I immediately switch to a Tuesday morning flight home and a night of bonus Casey time. ... Grocery shopping and high school mixed drinks (vodka and soda) before dinner at the high-class BW3 (wait service and plates). ... Hailing a cab just before the skies opened and getting soaked in the run to the door. ... A call to Bassett: "Oh no! It's the Powderpuff Girls!" "I hate when people do that. No D! It's Powerpuff!" ... Almost Famous then Sleepless In Seattle ... Sun comes up, it's Tuesday morning, early wakeup with it before the long El trip out to O'Hare ... "dano" scrawled in red marker on a lamp post near a Sun Times box at the corner of Diversey and Seminary on our walk to the train downtown. ... And it all feels more real now � like that first weekend was more reality than fantasy. Our relationship seems less like a dream � and more like a dream come true.

And now, for future reference, the BNL setlist from Tinley Park:

8/24/01 Tinley Park, IL - Tweeter Center

Kevin's Piano Solo
Never Do Anything
It's All Been Done
Old Apartment
Rolling in Pizza Rap
The Humour of the Situation
Falling for the First Time
Pinch Me
New York City Boy / Steve's 'Sexy' Hat
I Don't Get it Anymore (w/Craig - Proclaimers percussionist/lead singer)
Chasing Locusts
Alternative Girlfriend
Get In Line
Some Fantastic
Jim's Solo
One Week
Ed's Shirt
Too Little Too Late
Break Your Heart
Hair on Face Banter
Shoe Box
If I had $1,000,000
Tommorrow/BNL Rap

Encore 1
Make My Heart Fly (w/ Proclaimers)
Alcohol
Tonight is the Night I Fell Asleep at the Wheel
Slo-mo Exit

Encore 2
Wrap Your Arms Around Me
Brian Wilson