Early season ball games can be like this, too. Some things in the city are definitely better in the summertime.
Cool that you got a chance to compare and taste why I described it as sui generis. After reading your post yesterday, I ended up at Al’s on Taylor at 11 a.m. because it had been a few months. I actually tried going to Patio about a half mile up the street to the west, but they were having trouble opening, as some guy with the register keys didn’t show up, so off to Al’s it was.
I have two supposedly secret “Al’s beef” recipes in my archives. (One of which seems to have disappeared from the internet, so I’m glad I saved it.) They both start out with normal Italian seasonings, but both also have turmeric, coriander, nutmeg, and allspice in them. The one I think is closer has a little bit of clove and cassia bark (cinnamon) in it. (This has long been suspected as one of Al’s “secret” ingredients.) So it is kind of like Italian meets Greek meets Turkish/Middle Eastern. I’ve heard it compared to Cincinnati chili by some in its spice mix, and I can definitely taste that, too, and that goes with your Greek description, as well. (Though I don’t think it’s quite as aggressive).
Trip took a hard right into a nightmare yesterday.
Woke up with immediate raging diarrhea and vomiting that lasted all day. Despire my attempts to rehydrate I couldn’t get water into as fast as it was coming out (I later learned I had lost about 25 pounds), and started cramping up so bad that I could barely move, and I called 911 and they brought me to the hospital where I was immediately triaged into ICU, as my heart was beating 170 per minute and my BP crashed to 95/50.
The doctors say I have a bacterial infection and they’re treating me with all-purpose antibiotics while they try to identify it. I’m on oxygen with about 10 IVs in me and a tube up my butt to drain the liter of disrrhea I’m continuing to produce every hour. From the sound of it I’m gonna be here until at least sometime this weekend, so the vacation is over and I’m gonna have to make arrangements for the hotel to store my stuff when they turn down the room tomorrow, and figure out when I can book a new flight home.
So anyway, Chicago was a greay experience except for when I nearly shat myself to death. I’ll have to do it again sometime, hopefully without the extended tour of Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Urrrrgh. Healing thoughts from a fellow Washatonian.
Wow, was enjoying your updates and very sorry to hear that you feel ill. Hope you have a speedy recovery and trying to get on track for going home goes as smoothly as possible.
If you need something picked up or assistance, one of us locals might be able to help out.
Totally. PM me if I can help out. I’m not in the city, but I’m not far.
Holy shit! Hoping for a quick recovery!
Smapti, I’m sorry to hear that and I wish you a quick recovery. Thanks for the guided tour. I enjoyed reading your comments.
Just to direct a helpful idea your way, it’s occurring to me that, during your journey home, if you’re in need of mild food, maybe those packets or tubs of microwavable rice would be a good option.
Ditto. I’m here in the city near Midway, but am downtown almost every day. If you need someone to store your stuff I can help.
Holy cow, what a nightmare, Smapti. It sounds like you’re in good hands, medical-wise, at least, but it’s certainly not the way you had intended on experiencing Chicago.
I hope you’re able to recover quickly, and get home.
Tritto? That’s not a word…
I’m near Union Station right now (until I have to leave at 4pm). And have an office where I could store stuff.
Dopers unite for a good cause.
The hotel is gonna pack up my stuff when they turn down the room tomorrow. If someone wants to PM me their real name, I’ll call them and let them know to expect you, and if you want to bring it to me at the hospital I can give you my room number. I don’t know if they’re charging me for packing and storing the bags, but if you have to pay anything I will reimburse you.
PM sent!
Dude, how ya doin? Is there an idea of where the infection came from? Inhaling shitty Chicago river water? Getting it in your eye? Questionable Doordash food safety beef sandwiches? Infectious museum sneezers?
How ya doin?
All they’ve determined so far is that it’s not c. difficicle. It seems like their lab has a lot of backlog to work through. My money’s on either e. coli or norovirus, considering that I don’t haven’t a fever despite having lost so much water.
It just hit me that the show ER took place in Chicago. It sounds like you’re getting the full County General experience.
When I told my mother what was going on, one of her first questions was “Are you in the hospital from ER?” 
I certainly feel like I’m getting the VIP treatment - I’ve had so many doctors, nurses, and specialists in and out of my room that I long ago lost track of names. I’m not looking forward to seeing the itemized bill, ut the yearly out-of-pocket cap on my heavily-subsided health insurance is a mere $1200, so I shouldn’t have to pay more than that.
Smapti, how are you now? Do you think you’re past the worst of it?
I’ll stop worrying when he’s able to post “Feeling great, and now I’m thinking that if it was those awesome Italian Beefs, it was worth it.”