Comments on: This is my Myspace-style confessional cathartic observational humor post

By: Cedric

Cedric — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 04:12:11 +0000

Yeah, probably not… wait, who reads this blog?

By: shea

shea — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 02:39:21 +0000

wait a second–does amy know about all of this make-out gossip?

by the way, des moines was ranked the no. 50 in cities to live.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 19:08:50 +0000

I agree with most of the above. I wish I could have made out with your cute friends, too. And I am feeling pretty good about Des Moines actually changing. I can’t even count the number of times somebody’s proposed a scheme only to have it get stuck with the city council for years, pared back to a much smaller plan, and then half-done. I think developers are finally being realistic and realizing that they can’t put together a huge plan, have it ready within two years, and make some area of the city completely turn around. Hopefully they’ll figure out how to put some mid and low cost housing in too, I’m worried by all the high-priced condos.

Seeing people walk around Gray’s Lake is great when I can remember the number of years it was hardly used or was a mudhole after the flood. The new things that seem to be working downtown — the gateway park on the west side of downtown, the performing arts center, the new library, the new science center, some parts of the east village — they’re all a lot more gradual and don’t involve all the pieces falling into place at once.

I wish more companies had the incentive to build downtown. As it is, they just get a bunch of tax breaks, cheap property, and willing employees out in the suburbs. Even though I wasn’t in love with my job at the time, working downtown was great. I could walk to more places for lunch than we end up going to now, and it usually didn’t take more than five minutes.

Now I’m just ranting. Anyway, the best way to not be bored is to move on to something completely different every once in a while. Even in a small city it’s funny how many people never do anything outside of their immediate area and the interests they already have.

By: Cedric

Cedric — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 18:54:16 +0000

I will get engaged and then get “cold feet” with like five girls in a row if that gives us an excuse to rent a bus

By: derek

derek — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 18:21:48 +0000

haha, for real. the IHOP by my house isn’t even 24 hours. not that i like IHOP… i don’t like perkins or village in either, but at 3am that shit rules.

i also like the laid backness of des moines… but sometimes i need a night of insanity. it would be nice if more entertainment made it downtown (i.e. a couple good clubs like aura/crush). because then a cab would only cost like $12 instead of like $25.

maybe i will just have a bachelor party every couple months.

By: Cedric

Cedric — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 14:09:58 +0000

I know what you meant, and it’s true. I think when I said “give up,” what I meant was not to give up on improvements like the arena and the downtown bridge. Actually, I’m really looking forward to the new library and park. The thing that annoys me is when developers just steal their ideas from other cities. Des Moines has its own laid-back charm, I don’t think we need to aspire to be just like Minneapolis or just like Chicago. It would be nice if something stayed open past 11, though.

By: derek

derek — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 14:00:43 +0000

“it will never be chicago, but it can always be better.”
note: i did not mean better than chicago – i meant better than des moines is currently.

By: derek

derek — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:59:58 +0000

i think making des moines better is not a bad idea. with all the lofts/apts being built downtown, maybe it will bring more entertainment in the city – instead of in west des moines.

it will never be chicago, but it can always be better. and it is becoming better: wells fargo arena, new roads, beautifying, that big ol walking path through the city that will have that amazing bridge, downtown ice skating rink.

i guess for real clubbing and skyskrapers though… i’ll have to keep visiting bigger cities.