Over the last couple of years, I have taken
several trips to Chicago. I enjoy dropping my kids off at my mom's and having a nice weekend alone with my wife, who used to live in Chicago and loves visiting her old hometown. In addition, one of my best friends moved there in 2005 and I like to go visit her on occasion. To the left is a picture of her and me at a reggae club on Clark, a couple of blocks away from Wrigley Field. Isn't she cute?Anyway, most of you who know me know that I am a social animal of the highest order. Given a choice, the most fun I can possibly have (sans kids) involves bullshiting with my friends at a pub or seeing a band play live. In other words, I like going out on the town, man....hitting and sticking my way through the rapture that is the club scene. The smell of Vodka red bulls, cigarettes (when they aren't banned), sweat, love, and loud music is a mega tonic for me and I really NEED to immerse myself in the pool of bar sensuality at least 3 or 4 times a month to remain sane.
Therefore you can only imagine how someone, like myself, who enjoys these things feels about a city like Chicago. Basically, it's like a steak lover devouring a Silver Butter Knife at Murray's. Chicago is the Big Mother Fuckin' Daddy of the bar and club scene. Every trip I have taken there over the last few years (on average three times a year) has been nothing short of spectacular and a large part of that is due to the night life there and the wonderfully friendly people. So, it comes with great disappointment and sadness that I must inform all of you that live in Minneapolis:
Our city is fucking lame.
Actually, lame is not harsh enough. The bar/club scene in Minneapolis is terribly appalling, terrifically tedious, and just outright awful. Why?
The people who live here are fucking lame.
Actually lame is not harsh enough. I hope I don't make too many enemies here but, citizens of the seven county Metro area, you bore me to tears. You have no energy, nothing interesting to talk about except your fucking cabin and golf. You are getting fatter by the day from sitting in front of the television watching NASCAR and eating Cheetos. The dumb ass little cliques that you all cling needfully to are sub human. In other words, you NEVER GO OUT!! What is the matter with all of you?
I think you need me to illustrate the difference between going out in Minneapolis and Chicago. It is my sincere hope that you will then understand my frustration.
Minneapolis
Mark calls up several of his friends for a night out on the town. None of them call him back because they are dicks. Mark then elects to go to a bar by himself. The first bar he goes into has three guys in fucking baseball caps talking about their lawn mowers. One guy discusses the lamentable chore of mowing both his lawn here in town and his lawn at the cabin. Super! An attempt to engage them in a conversation elicits a series of grunts and crooked looks from the three men. One of them then says to Mark, "You talk like a fag." Mark leaves.
He then goes into another bar which has no guys present at all but does have a couple of groups of girls in them. He tries to engage each of them in conversation only to have most of them bring up, rather quickly, the fact that they have boyfriends . Others look at him like he just shit his pants and the stink is wafting around him. Finally, he tries a bar with a band playing. The room is large and could probably handle 300 people. Mark sees four people there, probably friends of the band, dancing in the empty darkness.
It is 10pm on a Friday night.
Chicago
Mark calls up his friends in Chicago. All of them call him back and either agree to join him or say they have other plans. Mark stops at one of the eight thousand bars on Clark to have a quiet beer by himself before meeting with his friends. He sits at the bar. A basketball game is on TV and the other guys at the bar engage Mark in a hoops related conversation. I learn their names and hear about their lives. They play 16 inch softball in Grant Park. They work at various jobs around town, all of which are interesting, and have girlfriends except Chad who has a boyfriend.
Throughout the course of his stay at this bar, women come up to him. They ask him his name, inquire about his marital status, bullshit about bands, love, orgasms and life. Mark says his goodbyes and meets his friends at another bar on Clark. More drinking, laughing, goofing around, ass grabbing, and meeting new people are had at this bar. Everyone is outgoing and extremely friendly. We then go to another club to see a band where we pick up more people. They are all interested in what I have to say. I am interested in their stories.
Chicago
Mark calls up his friends in Chicago. All of them call him back and either agree to join him or say they have other plans. Mark stops at one of the eight thousand bars on Clark to have a quiet beer by himself before meeting with his friends. He sits at the bar. A basketball game is on TV and the other guys at the bar engage Mark in a hoops related conversation. I learn their names and hear about their lives. They play 16 inch softball in Grant Park. They work at various jobs around town, all of which are interesting, and have girlfriends except Chad who has a boyfriend. 
Throughout the course of his stay at this bar, women come up to him. They ask him his name, inquire about his marital status, bullshit about bands, love, orgasms and life. Mark says his goodbyes and meets his friends at another bar on Clark. More drinking, laughing, goofing around, ass grabbing, and meeting new people are had at this bar. Everyone is outgoing and extremely friendly. We then go to another club to see a band where we pick up more people. They are all interested in what I have to say. I am interested in their stories. It is 10pm on a Friday night.
Now can you see the difference?
People of Minneapolis (speaking specifically to the guys here): Put down your video game controller, go out to a bar and cut loose with your pals. Talk about life, sports, music...actually have a conversation with someone. Going out to a bar with your laptop and mulling over fantasy football picks is not what I am talking about. Do you have to go to your cabin every weekend? There is a whole city out there to enjoy, people to meet, and a culture to suck. Do you really want to spend your time in a fucking golf cart with man tits bouncing around through your stupid looking polo shirt?
And ladies, don't think you are immune to criticism either. I would humbly suggest to you that when you do go out to a bar or a club, please remove the giant pole that you have up your ass and separate yourself from your herd. I realize that our culture here in the Northwoods frowns upon people being friendly to one another but, good God, woman! The unhappiness you feel in your life can be directly traced to the fact that you don't take any risks and maybe...say...starting a conversation with a cool looking dude at a club might make you enjoy life a little more. Better yet, open up your little sewing circle and let some more chicks in. Check that catty bullshit at the door...life is too short.
I say all of these things out of tough love because, in the end, I really do love all of you but you are really letting me down. It's so obvious to me that most of your unhappiness stems from the fact that you have filled your life with meaningless bullcrap that takes you away from the social contact you need as a human being. You have so much potential to be much happier people than you are but you are squandering it by refusing to cut loose once a week and kick out the jams.
Stop being so fucking insular and realize that your experience on this planet is a human one and there are scores of people out there waiting to help you revel in it. There are scores of empty places in our fair city that are willing and anxiously waiting for you to decorate their establishments with the wonder that is you.
They are called bars. They are called clubs. And people go there to have fun.
So, enough with the staying-at-home-non-phone call-returning-when-I-call-you-up-to-go-out-bullshit! I know you have it in you. Get out, talk loud, and be proud.
And let me know where you will be at so we can hook up later.
People of Minneapolis (speaking specifically to the guys here): Put down your video game controller, go out to a bar and cut loose with your pals. Talk about life, sports, music...actually have a conversation with someone. Going out to a bar with your laptop and mulling over fantasy football picks is not what I am talking about. Do you have to go to your cabin every weekend? There is a whole city out there to enjoy, people to meet, and a culture to suck. Do you really want to spend your time in a fucking golf cart with man tits bouncing around through your stupid looking polo shirt?
And ladies, don't think you are immune to criticism either. I would humbly suggest to you that when you do go out to a bar or a club, please remove the giant pole that you have up your ass and separate yourself from your herd. I realize that our culture here in the Northwoods frowns upon people being friendly to one another but, good God, woman! The unhappiness you feel in your life can be directly traced to the fact that you don't take any risks and maybe...say...starting a conversation with a cool looking dude at a club might make you enjoy life a little more. Better yet, open up your little sewing circle and let some more chicks in. Check that catty bullshit at the door...life is too short.I say all of these things out of tough love because, in the end, I really do love all of you but you are really letting me down. It's so obvious to me that most of your unhappiness stems from the fact that you have filled your life with meaningless bullcrap that takes you away from the social contact you need as a human being. You have so much potential to be much happier people than you are but you are squandering it by refusing to cut loose once a week and kick out the jams.
Stop being so fucking insular and realize that your experience on this planet is a human one and there are scores of people out there waiting to help you revel in it. There are scores of empty places in our fair city that are willing and anxiously waiting for you to decorate their establishments with the wonder that is you.They are called bars. They are called clubs. And people go there to have fun.
So, enough with the staying-at-home-non-phone call-returning-when-I-call-you-up-to-go-out-bullshit! I know you have it in you. Get out, talk loud, and be proud.
And let me know where you will be at so we can hook up later.
23 comments:
Are you kidding? Is it really that bad up there? Wow. Empty bars? The last time I was in an empty bar as when I went to Joliet to visit my cousin.
Thank God we're not all like Mark! Not all of us are extroverts. Not all of us stay home all day and then crave excitement on the weekends. Some of us see too many people during the week and like to have some time on the weekends just to relax and reflect. For me, just because I'm not at a bar watching a band doesn't mean that I'm not with friends in the evenings or on weekends. It just means that I have interests other than loud music, smoking and drinking. That just doesn't challenge my intellect.
Easy solution, move back to Chicago! The people that don't call you back are not your friends.
Cliques and cattyness?
Let me count how many times Mark has called me to see what I've been doing over the last year? MMMM... none. Call the right people, get the right answer.
I would agree that Mpls is lame. I'm still on a quest to find a bar that replaces the old Blues Alley (now a strip club). That was a great venue. They even had a hammond B3 organ whirling up some fine smokey tunes.
I recently invited some out of town guests to the Dakota B+G. I was embarrased to find a talented group of Jazz musicians playing Showtunes! WTF!!!! Haven't people heard of Davis, Coltrane, or Blakely? When you advertise Jazz, please don't select your charts from Muzak.
I think there are decent establishments out there (mpls), but they are rare. No one I know will venture out to Delano to the Finnegans Irish Bar for an above average decent band led by Moses Oakland. They provide quite a show and all the people are cool. The negative? Delano is WEST of Maple Plain. Kindof a dangerous road trip when you add in the huge drinks the bartenders pour.
After seeing a musical with my wife last week, we decided to stop for a drink at some new trendy bar, Cosmos?, can't remember. Everybody was posing to be someone they weren't. After waiting for ten minutes not getting a drink, we decided we had had enough MN 'want to be culture and left'. I guess i'm more of the Basement Peanut Bar Pub goer (that one they closed in Dinkytown).
I hate to say i agree with Mark on the bar scene, however, if you talk like a Fag though, you can't blame the listeners.
Maybe we should pool our money and create our own slice of heaven bar in the Twin Cities? How hard could it be?
Since I’m not posting here much anymore I’ll make this post a long one.
Truth be told, I do know a lot of people around Minneapolis...I have a large group of people I know from volleyball, a group of guys I play softball with, a group of people I know from the gym, a group of people who I know from going to local concerts, a group of former co-workers I keep in touch with, with other people sprinkled in there somewhere.
I find it pretty easy to talk to people I don't know, especially when we have something in common. However, for the last several years I've noticed that it is really hard to make friends in Minnesota and I asked my friend Brenda C. about this. I had mentioned this before to other people as well and Brendawg told me "If you can make friends in Minnesota then you can make friends anywhere".
I always try to think of things I can do, ways I can be pro-active in getting out there making friends while avoiding generalizing large groups of people (the people who live in Minnesota). It's to the point where I feel comfortable agreeing with Mark that a lot of people who live in Minnesota who are in their late 20’s/early 30’s are lame. To avoid flames, that statement does not mean "everybody I've met thus far"...I have met some really great, interesting people who live here.
Therefore, I do have an observation about people...it's not Minnesota nice...try Minnesota ice. There are several factors at play here.
1. People in this state get married very young. I’ve met many 22 & 23 year old people who are either engaged or married. I don’t really understand why people are in such a hurry to grow up. In my opinion, this a contributing factor to the high divorce rate. In terms of women, their problem becomes that they never had a bad experience with a man to know what "bad" actually is because they got married young and insulated themselves from the dating world, therefore they may not have a point of reference to know what they really have. Twenty years later, the slap and tickle has no doubt worn off of their relationship...it’s been replaced with raising kids, mortgages, credit card debt, keeping up with the Jones’, aging parents who are becoming dependent/dying, and they long for a life full of romance and flowers. Check out the divorce forum on craigslist and read the postings by women that have been married for 10/12/20 years and how they are now "unhappy" as if being happy is an entitlement that allows them to cheat and pull the plug on their marriage.
In terms of men, getting married so young contributes to mid life crisis’ (an overused term IMO but it does exist). I say overused because a mid life crisis could very easily be defined as a time when a man who has been expected to do everything for others for their entire lives do a little something to make himself happy. It only ends up being a crisis for those who have been benefiting from all his sacrifices. A guy works hard all his life and is now able to afford a nice car and people around him have a fit about it.
My take - who ever gives up travelling, playing sports, shootin' big guns, lifting weights, chasing women, and guidin' rafts? Life's way too short...mid-life crisis's are for chumps who sold out their identities and quit doing the stuff they enjoyed doing at such a young age for the stuff that society says they are "supposed" to be doing. Drones.
So one party or the other ends up dumping their spouse for the bright, shiny new toy who makes them feel loved, not realizing their "solution" is a temporary one that will not solve their problem...it will end up creating even more drama for themselves and their families in the long run.
People see the single life all the time in the media and they get a sense of entitlement from it IMO. They start to think that their lives are boring or not as fantastic/exciting/etc as they see on tv or the movies and they feel they need to correct it somehow.
I was told by my friends Stu and Cindy up here that getting married so young is a Norwegian thing. You realize that when you venture out of this state. Talking to people who have friends in Florida or California and they will say that most people they know who are in their late 20's/early-to-mid 30's are mostly still single.
2. Many people you meet here have moved here from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. I've noticed that many of those people really haven't moved here yet because they go back to their home states every other weekend. Now I know that we live in a free country but maybe the reason why they're telling me that they don't know anybody up here is because they're never here because they leave town any chance they get. Iowa/North Dakota/Wisconsin is the past - move forward. You’ve lived in the twin cities for 8 years now...you don’t have to drive back to North Dakota every time someone from your hometown is having a birthday party.
3. I've met so many young, single people in this state who have no problem staying at home on their Saturday nights. Once in a while is OK but if offered, I would think that many young people would want to be out on the town doing something. 3 weeks ago I was helping my friend Uzi move into his new apartment in Bloomington. I know 2 other people who have apartments in the same complex he was moving into. Kristen is 24 years old and occupies the apartment right across from Uzi. We knocked on her door at 10pm when we arrived there and she was sleeping. 10:00 on a Friday night and a 25 year old is at home asleep. Then we went down the hall to visit Jeff. He was at home doing work for his job. Cmon people, it’s Friday night! I've even met 4 or 5 people who have told me "I've made my friends" as if they are done putting any effort into meeting new people. Lame.
4. I've met 20 or so people who have every summer weekend booked by the time April 30 hits their calendars. Lame. It’s not worth your time to attempt to plan anything with these people because their weekends through August are booked by the time April 30 hits. Spontaneous people aren’t they? What’s with the rigid schedule?
5. The people up here can be very cold. The first time I realized that was the first time I visited New Orleans in 2002. I had a Chicago Cubs shirt on and, in the bars we went to, many people asked me if I was from Chicago, asked me about Chicago sports, and talked to me in a very genuine way. Yvonne and I would walk into bars and the people that were in there would say "Hey, C'mon in!" and they chatted with us and were very friendly. In Chicago, after Cubs games we go to the Cubby Bear and people would see the Cardinals hat Mark was wearing and would talk to us about the game, ask us where we were from, etc. That just doesn't happen in Minneapolis.
Last Saturday night I went to a bar with a couple friends to watch the final four. While looking around, everyone there was in a group of 7 to 8 people they have probably known since they were 4 years old (Hey – at least they made it out of the house..I've also met several people up here who can't be dragged out of their house on a Saturday night to go do anything). The people I went to college with at Northern Illinois University were all from Chicago and they were constantly asking "Where are we going tonight"...."What's going on tonight"? Then you have dog owners who can’t stay out after the game because they have to jet home every 7 hours to let their dog out of the house. Why don’t you just have a baby? Then you have people like my roommate. He and his fiancé see each other once a week...on Saturday night. Their normal Saturday night routine is to sit at home on the couch and order a pizza. They never, ever go out anywhere and do anything. No effort is made to meet new people. None.
The volleyball community I played with in Illinois all went out to the same bar after Wednesday night league and after Saturday tournaments, we all sat at the same tables, we all drank together and we all knew each other. Up here, many people who play in leagues go home right after their games. If teams do grow a pair and actually go to the nearby bar for a beer, you walk in and you see 1 team sitting together over there, another team sitting over there on the other side of the bar, you get the picture.
It's all about complacency and I’m sure that all this that Mark and I are describing is happening in many other cities in this country as well. People have their routines and are reluctant to bring new things into the mix. Could even be an outright fear of change. Ask yourself how many people you've met who have undergone radical personal change - I guarantee it's a short list. I think it's some sort of outgrowth of high school mentality that, rather than grow out of it, people grow into it and it becomes something much more automatic - which to me is more stupid. Like people are still in their cliques just now, their cliques are defined by 21+ parameters which can easily translate to what is known and comfortable and again, that translates to complacency. Change does mean going outside your comfort zone. Sure, some situations are easier to judge than others but still...people are fiercely protective of their comfort zones they have built around themselves. Myself, I’m traveling to one of the most dangerous South American countries later on this year for vacation. The rest of the drones can fight the crowds in over-visited London or Vegas.
I'm so sick of hearing about how people have "busy lives" today. Whose choice is that? You don't have to be involved in a dozen different organizations all at once, and if you have kids, your kids don't have to be involved in a bunch of different activities all at once either. Moderation seems to be overlooked nowadays. We had an intern from Italy in town last summer named Claudio. I made it a point to hang out with him and bring him out on the town. While he was here he lived with the relatives of one of our co-workers. He told me he had the place to himself most of the time because the owners of the house were never there. During the week they would go straight from their daytime job to their part time night job. Weekends were usually spent doing a shift at the part time job and resting at home. What kind of a life is that? 80 hours a week? Drones.
For what anonymous said...to me, it’s not about being an extrovert. I’ll admit that part of it is about being on the same page as Mark and I. For example – we have one friend who is a great guy but doesn’t like to go out and socialize with other people. Hence, he will get invited to play volleyball or go to the cubs game but that’s about it (by his own choice). Speaking for myself, reflecting is what you do when you turn 60.
Many, many times since the year 2000 Mark sent out mass emails inviting 70 or so people to go downtown on a Saturday night for a couple drinks, dancing, and hanging out. I was there at most of those gatherings – we’d be lucky if 6 people would show up. Maybe you didn’t know Mark back so maybe the conclusions drawn in Marks statements or mine don’t apply to you...that doesn’t make the generalization inaccurate. I invited 40 co-workers at an old job to get together for a happy hour on my last day of that job...people I worked very closely with every day and got along very well with. 3 people showed up – I learned my lesson and I won’t bother anymore and if I invite someone out to go do something, anything and they say No all 3 times then I’m not going to bother inviting them anymore.
Truth be told - if it wasn't for the friends I hang out with in person, the fact that I am able to spend several weekends a summer fishing with my dad up here during his last few years alive and the fact that I have a good job right now that I really like - I would not be living here. I will advise people thinking of moving here to not do so. That's not to say that I'm not having a good time in the situation I find myself in here, I'm making the best of it...I just think it would be better somewhere else like Chicago where people are more open and make it a point to go out and do things. In my situation, moving to Chicago isn’t going to happen though from a logical point of view.
Okay, okay - I'm feeling totally guilty now for not calling you back about hitting the Turf Club on a Monday night. With that said, I have to totally agree with you. Been wondering about it myself - I can't seem to find many of my friends that want to just go hang out in a bar or club and seek out interesting conversation. Are we getting old? Or just boring?
I'm not ready to give up yet. I know there's more of us out there that need social interaction (well, and some of us still need a date once in a while). So Mark, don't give up on those of us that DO still want/need to hit the town on a regular basis. And I'll agree with the last post -- maybe we should pool our resources and create our own Chicago experience here in Lame Land.
(oh, and I'm on vacation this week, so I'll call to see when you're free!!)
Happy 40. Glad you had fun.
Third anonymous poster,
How can I call you if I don't know your name? If I have not called you in the last year to see what you are up to, then, yes, I am a dick. If you have my email, drop me a line, let me know who you are, and I will buy you a beer.
Nobody called me to go to Turf Club. And I love Turf! And not just the blue fescue or kentucky blue grass kind, either.
I think a person can be on one side or the other. But to be honest, you have to establish balance. You have to have time for kids, time for your relationship with your wife, and social time with friends. There was a half arsed article on Startribune.com that addresses the older woman crowd dumping their husbands. Just because you are married, doesn't mean you don't have to work and continue to develope the relationship. And then yes, there is always the 50+ hours of work and exercise, etc.
With kids, spontanaeity isn't a luxury. But as I say, give me three days or a week's notice and no problem, I'll be there.
Interesting how much spark this post has vs. the anti Bush documentation. I think, Mark, you've hit on something. Perhaps you should run with this one for a while. We can't do anything about bush until Nov '08. Politics is sensationalized until the next natural disaster occurs.
Cheers!
Wow! There are many social problems most of which include excessive consumption of alcohol, cigerattes, and drugs. More then 60% of Americans have a problem with alcohol. 90% of health issues people suffer from are from drinking alcohol and/or smoking cigerattes. Enjoy the bar scene.
I thought drinking red wine helped you live longer? I thought I read that somewhere, but I was kindof buzzed at the time.
Hey folks, love all the posts but could you please pick a name? If several of you post as anonymous, then I can't tell who is who and who is writing what.
You can make up a name if you like...you don't have to choose your own.
And when was the last time you called me up to do something. Huh. How many times have I called you up. (Yeah, you at least call back, eventually). Well have no hear, I am in Prague tonight and I am about ready to start painting the town. Bars and clubs everywhere here, and it is cheap.
Mark:
Maybe a change of scene is in order for you. If Minneapolis is so lame, move somewhere that isn't: Austin, Miami, San Diego...the list goes on.
You mentioned your wife briefly in your post. Does she get to be included in any of these adventures? While you are out in the "sensual" bar scene doing some "ass grabbing?"
Not to be overly harsh, and some of the other readers of the blog may not agree, but there does come a time in life where you need to move on from the bar scene. Next time you are out and about, take note of how many people in their mid-40's and older are present. The few that you see are in less than ideal health. Smoke and excessive drinking are an early death sentence! Your wife and kids deserve better.
Spending time with your family may not have the cachet and glamour of the club scene, but is a hell of a lot more rewarding. You aren't going to get a second chance to enjoy your children's childhoods. They need you there participating and enriching their lives, not glaring at them the next morning through hungover, bloodshot eyes.
Mark, you need to spend more time with your wife and kids!!!
Regarding the social problems mentioned above...addiction is for the weak minded.
Myself, I have a maximum of 2 beers when I am out and I don't smoke either (smoking is banned in most bars in the twin cities). To me, it's about being social.
Last year, several times I invited my entire softball team to go to Friday night twins games with my friend Scott and I. In June, 1 guy finally decided to join us for a game.
It is with great reluctance and a heavy heart that I must say that I actually agree with Mark. …yes, it’s the “seventh sign”.
A once shy friend of mine was an average Joe here in Mpls doing very marginal on the bar scene with meeting people but began traveling a lot for work. Not wanting to sit in a hotel room half the week, he’d venture out to the local establishments, and low and behold, people actually interacted. Women (or men) could be approached (usually) without them slapping him down from fear of being hit on (heaven forbid). It completely transformed his life. He’s since moved to San Diego and is a much more open person.
I can say that from living in various cities and abroad, that it is a city that has the most turnover (people moving in/out of) that produces the friendliest cultures for meeting new people. Minnesotan’s, although friendly, are too stuck in their groups that they’ve grown accustomed to and breaking away or letting others in just isn’t in the Minnesotan’s nature.
…but to be devil’s advocate…although one’s life is of course of one’s own making and I’ve been known to let my hair down from time to time, I can really appreciate the joys of doing absolutely nothing on the weekend. Solitude (or time w/ family) can be a blessed diversion from a stressful work life.
So much for the anonymous people picking a name...sigh...
Yes, my wife joins me in my adventures when I go out. Oddly, she goes out more than I do these days. We had a wonderful weekend in Chicago recently. I am not advocating replacing the time I spend with my kids with time at a bar. Typically, I spend 27 days a month with my family and 3 out at a bar or club. I think that is good thing and clearly balanced towards spending time with my kids. One of my points in my column is when I do go out those three times, I want there to be people out having fun and not being stuck up dicks. I don't get many chances to go out so when I do, people here need to fucking man up.
The problem I have is with the people that NEVER go out and are too wrapped up in the boring shit they do every day that they don't take time to cut loose...even if it is just for a happy hour. The point of my column was that people rarely venture outside of their cocoons to experience the joy that is humanity.
I don't want to move...I want to make Minneapolis a better place. It was great, at one time, and now everyone is really, really boring. And rude and unfriendly. I am sounding the call to change that.
This comment:
"there does come a time in life where you need to move on from the bar scene. Next time you are out and about, take note of how many people in their mid-40's and older are present."
is: a)completely false as I see people aged 21-80 at bars, restuarants, clubs listening to music; b)typical of someone who lives in Minneapolis or to put it simply, uptight; c)obviously someone has no understanding of what the bar and club scene is actually like due to a preconceived bias and/or negative and limited experiences in bars and clubs and d) someone who has decided they are now middle aged and should start scoping out funeral plots.
One of my friends told me a long time ago that since I live in the suburbs now and am 40 that I am officially a nerd. Who says? Dorks who never go out? Fuck that, I go see bands that have members who could be my children and they are wonderful.
I consider the whole human experience...family, going out with friends, school, work...to be experienced completely. To eliminate one of these things because "it's just that time in my life" is complete crap.
One more thing you could add to your diatribe...
In Chicago, most of the guys I know stay home and watch TV. They hate going out and think that socializing is women stuff. They do play video games as well. So any bar will have more women than men and those women that are single, like myself for example, need to be proactive if they want to meet anyone. I have met some great friends and a couple of nice boyfriends by just being the one to start a conversation and being friendly.
I feel sorry for you ladies in Minneapolis. If what Mark says is true, you will be unhappy for the rest of your lives.
You know, I just can quite put my finger on it, but for some reason, I always have the most fun . . .
when I leave town! Duh!!!
And, it's Chicago for Christ's sake!- not St Paul. You know why the drunks in Chicago are more fun?It's in their Irish and Polish blood!!!
So, to boil this all down then, let me rephrase your dozen paragraphs to one overriding point;
"I party in Chicago, and you guys suck, na, na, nanaa, na!"
Tough Love. Oh, and cute touch on the "except Chad, who has a boyfriend." You are so PC - wow.
Party on Garth! Grab some ass for me. Go Cards.
Isn't Anonymous a name? If used in the right context?
They should open up and legalize pot bars. That would get people out.
Let's go to Narrows Saloon, April 28th to see Reverend Raven. From the narrows saloon there is a link to the band for a taste. Chicago Blues!
So there! Now that this is on the minds of everyone, including those that refer to themselves as anonymous, we can meet to debate the merits of seeing good music and tipping a few drinks.
Cheers!
Why is it society's fault that a freak/psycho went into a building and masacred its inhabitants??? What has happened is an outrage and the families of the innocent are in my prayers. But why isn't there ever any accountability to the bastard that has done the harm??? Why aren't you swearing at him??? Why is he a victim of society??? You asked the question, why is USA so violent??? He is not an American. Why aren't you blaming his country instead of the USA. The Most Ridiculous Thing I have read so far on your blog.
You tell me where in the teachers contract it states that they are required to be on the look out for deranged psycho paths???? God, stop blaming everybody else for the bastards actions and HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE for the terrible deeds he has done. I have owned a gun for 12 years. NOT ONCE have I ever thought of using it on another human being. Because I value human life above all else. Maybe if we stopped killing our babies society would value human life too.
Okay after ranting I realized that the only news I have seen on the subject was a blurb late last night. So upon further review I stand corrected on a few of my comments. I entered this but it did not register so I am doing it again. If I show up twice I apologize.
Anyway, what I stand corrected in lack of facts is the following:
1. I did not know that he was marked as seriously disturbed from his creative writing assignments. If that is correct then yes the teachers/professors really dropped the ball by not informing the authorities earlier of pushing for serious mental health treatment.
2. The news (what I thought I heard anyway) was that he was from Korea and being educated here. I did not realize that he immigrated when he was 8 years old.
I still stand by what I said about lack of value in human life and that is a big part of the core problem.
Thank you for allowing me to express my opinions.
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