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Back in the late 90’s and early 00’s, I spent much of my time at the Howland House and on the walkway in front of Bilbo’s.

Howland House is an MSU co-op, but not officially sponsered by the school.  It was the place to go for cheap rent, good drugs, and constant parties.  It was lovely, for the time.  Being there meant that I’d often be invited by some random person to some random party; usually local, usually rave-like.

Bilbos was where the pseudo-punks gathered.  I say ‘pseudo’ because half of them were posers.  Though they sincerely enjoyed the music, I found that their striving for the punk look/lifestyle was just silly and absolutely destroyed their credibility.  They certainly looked the part, and that was the problem.  Punks were gross, unbathed, and poorly clothed because they were generally without the financial means to be otherwise.  Most of the Bilbo-dwellers, however, were wealthy; not rich, by any means, but they generally hailed from nice parts of town and were still somewhat supported by their parents.  They looked the punk-part, but only because they put effort into fucking up their clothing and achieving that dirty punk look.  I am, by no means, a punk-aficionado, but anyone who puts so much effort into the fashion behind a musical genre is just too scene for me to take seriously.

I’m kind of ranting, here.  My apologies.

I hung out in front of Bilbos when I wasn’t at Howland House.  Hacky sack, break-dancing [trying to], and shooting the shit with other bored individuals was the usual, per day.  Being there meant that I’d often be invited by some random person to some random party; usually local, usually rave-like.

At the aforementioned parties, I’d bump into this girl, Kate.  Honestly, I pretty much brushed her off.  She was young and had a heightened level of enthusiam. I was knee-deep in my own cynicism and was never in the mood for such company.  While at an awkward barn-rave, I learned that she was dating the fellow that arranged it.  He was in a wheelchair and I thought it big of her to overlook such a thing.  I was still mostly focused on my small circle of asshole friends, but was intrigued by her.

Bilbos was replaced by a snooty, overpriced club that had MSU students convinced was something special; something bigger than East Lansing.  I fled the scene.

Howland House was becoming the focus of local law-enforcement.  Parties were being broken up within a couple of hours.  One can only find so many places to hide a nitrous tank.  I fled the scene.

It was the beginning of 2002.  I had just broken up with my fiance, moved to the other side of town, and started a new job.  I attended less parties, rarely showed up at the bars, and dated / befriended new people.  I stopped bumping into Kate, the intriguing girl that I had brushed off because of her enthusiam.

It’s 2005, now.  Almost 2006, in fact.  For the last couple of years I’ve fancied live shows at local venues.  I almost never attend large concerts anymore and have really fallen in love with a couple of the local acts.  I’ve also bumped into Kate, from time to time.  She’s a fan / friend of The Hard Lessons [great band].  Myspace, being the social-gluegun that it is, has displayed to me her profile as someone in my ‘extended network.’  Curious, I IM’d her.  We shot the shit a few times; kept in touch for a week or so.

We ended up at a Hard Lessons show, recently.  I jokingly flipped her off.  She took offense; she had not recognized me.  I explained who I was, that we had spoken a few times online.  She was indifferent.  Perhaps even a bit annoyed.  I remained friendly for a moment, asked her how she was, etc.  She responded, but still seemed to be irritated by me.  I said ‘We’re going to head up to the stage.  See you around.’

She totally brushed me off.

Karma’s funny.

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C******8: my fav movies usually involve giving me an excuse to bury my head in the shoulder of the person I’m watching with
C******8: I like the creepy stuff
dizzoknows: Like Glitter?

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