Comments on: Question of the Week: 80s http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/ where writers come to play Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:08:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Mike Olsen http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-13883 Mike Olsen Fri, 23 Mar 2007 18:38:02 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-13883 I was DJ'ing at Poseurs, working umbrella stands in OC, Maryland and graduating from GMU and getting my comission in the Infantry. I was DJ’ing at Poseurs, working umbrella stands in OC, Maryland and graduating from GMU and getting my comission in the Infantry.

]]> By: Lance Reynald http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4939 Lance Reynald Fri, 02 Feb 2007 17:28:31 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4939 Mattilda- that vintage store on M Street was Classic Clothing- 3 floors of mothballs and handbags. And yeah, all those things in DC were a lot of fun, though I don't think I'd ever go back. and, yes on the lunchboxes. Mattilda- that vintage store on M Street was Classic Clothing- 3 floors of mothballs and handbags.

And yeah, all those things in DC were a lot of fun, though I don’t think I’d ever go back.

and, yes on the lunchboxes.

]]> By: Tom Williams http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4934 Tom Williams Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:41:31 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4934 About the 80s. They get a bad rap. Thanks to those smarmy as hell I love the 80s shows, in which demi-celebrities reveal that no, they don't love the 80s, they sit around and think up snarky commentary about the 80s. What do I think about the 80s? Living in suburban Columbus, Ohio and a small college town in North Central Ohio. Playing basketball before the three point line. The Replacements. Husker Du. Soul Asylum (before they sold out). Public Enemy. And Jay Freaking McInerney, who will always be, for me, author of one of the greatest books ever. I'll go toe to toe with anyone who says different. Shoot, Carver was publishing in the 80s, John Edgar Wideman, too. Amy Hempel. Mary Robison. A fine decade. One I'm proud to have been thirteen through twenty four in. I only wish I didn't have that stupid ponytail. About the 80s. They get a bad rap. Thanks to those smarmy as hell I love the 80s shows, in which demi-celebrities reveal that no, they don’t love the 80s, they sit around and think up snarky commentary about the 80s. What do I think about the 80s? Living in suburban Columbus, Ohio and a small college town in North Central Ohio. Playing basketball before the three point line. The Replacements. Husker Du. Soul Asylum (before they sold out). Public Enemy. And Jay Freaking McInerney, who will always be, for me, author of one of the greatest books ever. I’ll go toe to toe with anyone who says different. Shoot, Carver was publishing in the 80s, John Edgar Wideman, too. Amy Hempel. Mary Robison. A fine decade. One I’m proud to have been thirteen through twenty four in. I only wish I didn’t have that stupid ponytail.

]]> By: Mark Bastable http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4917 Mark Bastable Fri, 02 Feb 2007 11:42:34 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4917 This is what I was doing in the eighties. (Accept the download - it's not rude and it's not dangerous. Which is ironic, because in the eighties I'd've loved to have been seen as being both of those.) http://tinyurl.com/2lhavv This is what I was doing in the eighties. (Accept the download - it’s not rude and it’s not dangerous. Which is ironic, because in the eighties I’d've loved to have been seen as being both of those.)

http://tinyurl.com/2lhavv

]]> By: mattilda http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4914 mattilda Fri, 02 Feb 2007 09:58:26 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4914 Ha --just re-reading this, by way underage I mean 15,16 -- 1 more detail: did the drug dealers really carry around lunch box purses with smiley faces on them? Ha –just re-reading this, by way underage I mean 15,16 — 1 more detail: did the drug dealers really carry around lunch box purses with smiley faces on them?

]]> By: mattilda http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4903 mattilda Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:39:30 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4903 Crazy! All these people from DC, I always try to forget DC. Fugazi, my friend Ellen and I would dress up for each other and drive all over town to find the Fugazi shows -- we didn't like to slam, we'd stand in the back together doing our own moves and everyone ignoring us -- the faggot and the Asian girl -- but we were styly. Sadly Beautiful by the Replacements, that was us. We went to Tracks with our fake IDs (yes, from a Electromaxx-- I would never have remembered that!), danced on the wooden dance floor on the roof near the volleyball court with sand. Later, I would go with Erik and nine or 10 girls to the Vault, our favorite part was when the bar closed but if you were in the know you went upstairs to the after-hours, we were way under age but you just wiped the markered X off your hand and drink as many cocktails as you wanted, La Da Dee La Da Da -- yes, Crystal Waters but we're talking the acid house mix, just la da la da la da la da la da-- DEEEEEEEE. Poseurs once I wore that sharkskin jacket from-- what was that vintage store in Georgetown? Unique Boutique? No, that was New York. Anyway, I never wore it again -- I felt too awkward. But the first warehouse parties in Adams Morgan, People Are Still Having Sex, Everybody Dance Now and I'd hide those songs in my underwear drawer because everyone knew only faggots listened to dance music, Fugazi was for the public or Minor Threat to be old-school. It's kind of fun to reminisce about days I generally just think of as awful because I was still trapped there, in my parents house, the legacy of their violence, their worldview, DC. Crazy! All these people from DC, I always try to forget DC. Fugazi, my friend Ellen and I would dress up for each other and drive all over town to find the Fugazi shows — we didn’t like to slam, we’d stand in the back together doing our own moves and everyone ignoring us — the faggot and the Asian girl — but we were styly. Sadly Beautiful by the Replacements, that was us. We went to Tracks with our fake IDs (yes, from a Electromaxx– I would never have remembered that!), danced on the wooden dance floor on the roof near the volleyball court with sand. Later, I would go with Erik and nine or 10 girls to the Vault, our favorite part was when the bar closed but if you were in the know you went upstairs to the after-hours, we were way under age but you just wiped the markered X off your hand and drink as many cocktails as you wanted, La Da Dee La Da Da — yes, Crystal Waters but we’re talking the acid house mix, just la da la da la da la da la da– DEEEEEEEE. Poseurs once I wore that sharkskin jacket from– what was that vintage store in Georgetown? Unique Boutique? No, that was New York. Anyway, I never wore it again — I felt too awkward. But the first warehouse parties in Adams Morgan, People Are Still Having Sex, Everybody Dance Now and I’d hide those songs in my underwear drawer because everyone knew only faggots listened to dance music, Fugazi was for the public or Minor Threat to be old-school.

It’s kind of fun to reminisce about days I generally just think of as awful because I was still trapped there, in my parents house, the legacy of their violence, their worldview, DC.

]]> By: Susan Henderson http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4883 Susan Henderson Fri, 02 Feb 2007 01:42:03 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4883 Wow, my fever just broke and I feel way, way better. I'm linking all of you tomorrow, and I'll have some 80s pictures, too. (Aimee, I can't find your cotton candy my little pony photo anywhere! I'm I too late?) Wow, my fever just broke and I feel way, way better. I’m linking all of you tomorrow, and I’ll have some 80s pictures, too.

(Aimee, I can’t find your cotton candy my little pony photo anywhere! I’m I too late?)

]]> By: Brent Robison http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4868 Brent Robison Thu, 01 Feb 2007 23:17:24 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4868 80s: death and rebirth. Death of my job-bound life in a conservative western city, rebirth as a self-employed New Yorker and aspiring fictionista. Death of a marriage, birth of a love. Death of my religion, birth of my spirit. I writhed and twisted and shifted shape while Boogie Street glittered and roared all around me. And the cycle goes on and on..... 80s: death and rebirth. Death of my job-bound life in a conservative western city, rebirth as a self-employed New Yorker and aspiring fictionista. Death of a marriage, birth of a love. Death of my religion, birth of my spirit.

I writhed and twisted and shifted shape while Boogie Street glittered and roared all around me.

And the cycle goes on and on…..

]]> By: Aimee http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4843 Aimee Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:14:43 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4843 I just posted a picture of me with cotton candy and me when I thought I was Madonna on my myspace. Better hurry if you want to see it and make fun of me...it won't be there long. I just posted a picture of me with cotton candy and me when I thought I was Madonna on my myspace. Better hurry if you want to see it and make fun of me…it won’t be there long.

]]> By: Paul A. Toth http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4840 Paul A. Toth Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:57:14 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/01/29/question-of-the-week-80s/#comment-4840 Physically, I was hanging out in the eighties' punk scene. Mentally, I was hanging out with William S. Burroughs in the fifties. Now that I remember it, I was split in time, half in the eighties, half in the fifties. But either way, I was "enjoying" *some* of the fruits of the eighties, i.e., no money but lots of cocaine, amongst other things. Who DID pay for all that cocaine? On another note, my podcast (see http://tothnews.libsyn.com/) features weekly readings by authors with print and/or online credits. Any format, genre, etc., is acceptable, and there are no restrictions of any kind. You can record your own reading, or I will do so over the phone. If interested, please send a bio to tothnews@aol.com. There is a backlog, but I will promptly respond and place you on the waiting list. Physically, I was hanging out in the eighties’ punk scene. Mentally, I was hanging out with William S. Burroughs in the fifties. Now that I remember it, I was split in time, half in the eighties, half in the fifties. But either way, I was “enjoying” *some* of the fruits of the eighties, i.e., no money but lots of cocaine, amongst other things. Who DID pay for all that cocaine?

On another note, my podcast (see http://tothnews.libsyn.com/) features weekly readings by authors with print and/or online credits. Any format, genre, etc., is acceptable, and there are no restrictions of any kind. You can record your own reading, or I will do so over the phone. If interested, please send a bio to tothnews@aol.com. There is a backlog, but I will promptly respond and place you on the waiting list.

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