since i ain't gonna be on the computer friday night (which is rare for me, eheh), i may as well get this outta the way before i totally forget:


halloween will mark the 2 year anniversary of movin into my apartment, as well as livin in minneapolis. when i first moved here to minnesota i wasn't too sure of what to expect, save for what folks told me: mostly all they told me is how cold it gets up here. welp, not even a month after i arrived here, winter started up. my first winter here wuz the worst one i've been in ev-er, it snowed like crazy and it was super-cold. you'd only be outside for 5 minutes and you'd turn into a human popsicle almost instantly. uggg.

also, i was afraid of how big the twin cities would be, in comparison to des moines; i lived in st. paul for a few months while i wuz in job corps, since the campus is over there. st. paul wuz the smaller/quieter of the two cities, and i couldn't stand it. it's a lot like des moines, only a bit worse. that, and the state capitol building looks so dull compared to des moines's capitol building. minneapolis is a lot like des moines as well--even moreso than st. paul--save there's more stuff to do here, it's a bit bigger and a lot dirtier. some of the things i noticed/found out when i first found my way around here:

1. the bus system here rox compared to the mta back home; buses run on sundays and holidays, and transfers are free!

2. hennepin avenue is cool, yet it does not smell cool durin the summer months (on humid, breezy days it smells like a urination convention came to town).

3. uptown is cool--the first, like, 20 times you go over there. after that it gets really boring. that, and you gotta swim through tons of folks who are from the suburbs and shoppin for crap. when i first moved here i wuz in uptown like everyday/every chance i could be there. nowadays i'm only there to go to the record show and tatters, for the most part.

4. the joy that is shinder's! candy! comix! issues of mojo!!! iceberg slim novels!

when i wuz done with my studies at job corps and was ready to go apartment-hunting, i demanded that i get an apartment here in minneapolis. all my teachers wanted me to get an apartment in st. paul cuz the rent's cheaper over there and a bunch of other chit, but i was just like, "fuck no, i ain't livin in st. paul! minneapolis is closer to home too('tis--only 5 hours away), i don't wanna be too far away from my dad!" i lucked out and found this dinky studio apartment here downtown, which is within walking distance of my job and close to everything: places to eat, a bus line, places to shop (but not to grocery shop, unfortunately...grr)...and blocks away from first avenue.

it's messed-up, man: here i am, this little prince dork and i wind up in an apartment by a nightclub that's one of the main meccas of princedom to most die-hard fans. i'll be damned.

i remember postin on the org that i moved up here...damn near every single day, i'd be gettin orgnotes or people would see me postin here and ask me the same shit:

"have you seen prince anywhere in the city?"

"have you been to first avenue? what's it like, is it still like it was in 'purple rain'?"

"do you/have you gone to paisley park?"

and of course, the ominous cooings of, "ohhh, i wish i lived there!! it must be so much fun!!!" truth be told, if you or somebody you know thinks like the above, for the love of all that is cool do not move here just for that. this is not a friggin purple paradise. if you move here solely for that purpose, you gon' be disappointed. really, really quick.

basically, minneapolis is a lot like never leavin des moines. just another midwestern metropolis, y'know. 'cept it has a lot more artsy stuff, liquor stores and strip clubs.

goodtimes.

does that mean you do or don't like it?

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

i love it here! that's just some of my takes on life here...

Wow that is long!

2the9s said:

i know.

that was cool. i Njoyed reading that. i have been in the Twin Cities and U R right, it is another Mid-Western City. Xcept 4 more liquor stores, strip clubs and artsy stuff. but I really Njoyed my time there. brought back memories reading Ur post.


PEACE N B WiLD!!!

Nice post. Sounds like "sound" advice. Glad you are doing well there.

Of course, if you move to Mpls, you get to be by Me and Handclaps, and Violett and CarrieMpls and sometimes MinnepolisGenious and so many other rockstar orgers!

endorphin74 said:

the only reason any of you should move here!

That was really great Dansa! Very good reading.

thanks 4 sharing

when i think of minneapolis

all i invision is prince

and music

one day i'll journey there

until then,

lavenderlove

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

too funny. that was my experience when I visited MPLS for the first time, in Nov 1996. I thought it would be this incredible Purple Mecca where I could talk 2 anyone about Prince!!!

And while it wasn't all that, I did really like it!!! Getting over what I wanted it to be, I found it to be a great city, and I've been back several times. Ironically, I've always gone for Prince related callings, but found plenty outside of that realm to make me happy!

Great story, Dansa!!! Thanks 4 sharing!

Nice perspective... Thank you...

And congratulations!