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Let Us Go Then, You and I
With apologies to T.S. Eliot, June is the cruelest month. The endless parade of ugly bridesmaid dresses, juvenile bachelorette-party antics, tiny fat-free bridal-shower sandwiches--it's enough to push a girl past mere envy and into outright rebellion. So rather than listening to another sorority sister explain the differences between ivory, eggshell, and parchment, I decided to embrace my future and seek out the Twin Cities' spinster culture.
The mission of the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir is, to quote conductor Thomas Rossin, "to confront young people with Jesus Christ." And as everyone knows, young people need to be confronted with something, lest they end up like those pregnant, crack-smoking, shoplifting, flag-burning teens on The Maury Povich Show. The apple-cheeked, uniformed, 16- to 18-year-old members of the MASLC, clutching one another's hands (even the boys) and rushing the aisles to spontaneously embrace spectators during an exuberant rendition of "Jesus Loves the Little Children," seem more likely to sew a flag for the veterans' home Fourth of July celebration than to burn one.
And the Wednesday-night crowd at Golden Valley's Calvary Lutheran Church definitely approves: There's no clutching of purses and pepper sprays in the presence of these adolescents. Lovely septuagenarians, decked out in Easter-egg-color knit pantsuits, ornate gold-rimmed glasses with tinted lenses, Mardi Gras-style necklaces, and Easy Spirit wedges chuckle lovingly at a song-and-dance number about Zaccheus the Tax Collector and murmur excitedly when Rossin announces that famed hymn composer and upstanding Lutheran Leland Sateren is in the crowd. By intermission the cherubic cantors for Christ have received not one, but two standing ovations.
HOW, THE OLD joke goes, do you get an 80-year-old woman to utter the F-word? By getting the woman next to her to yell BINGO! Yes, every culture has its seedy underbelly, its bastard sons and daughters, and many of them have turned out this Thursday for evening bingo at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake. Though the players range in age from about 20 (a hyperactive young woman who proudly informs me of a $17 win she had last month) to about 90 (a gentleman who has surrounded his cards and dauber with various sacred bingo idols), it is the senior women who give this game class. Although Mystic Lake offers computers to aid in bingo scorekeeping, these women kick it old-school, tracking their numbers with the help of only a few carefully selected daubers and their lucky articles of clothing. (First prize: a jean jacket embroidered with the words "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" and an image of the actual wheel).
Tonight the machine that blows the bingo balls around in their Plexiglas box is on the fritz. The tension is thicker than three-day-old Postum, and tempers are short. When the bingo caller--an anxious-looking average white guy who looks as though he is ready to administer an O-64 suppository to the hapless maintenance man--takes longer than usual to announce the next number, the regulars (easy to spot by the homemade dauber caddies in colors to match their shoes) commence an angry drum roll on the tables that quickly crescendoes through the Celebrity Bingo Palace.
Late-night bingo was to have commenced at 10:00, and it's nearly 11:00; those who haven't fared so well in the evening round are becoming disgruntled. After a four-minute break between numbers, a diminutive sixtysomething woman is on the verge of cracking. Leaping out of her chair and leaning across the table, she screams, "Use the Bonanza machine!"
Her cry draws nods and applause from her fellow competitors, but the Bonanza machine--presumably the other Plexiglas box that occupies the bingo stage--remains dormant. A regular (red shoes, red dauber caddy) turns to the $17 winner and her boyfriend and snaps, "You boys shouldn't stick around--there's not gonna be any late-night bingo," and I begin to fear the worst: cross-generational bingo mayhem. When the voice comes over the loudspeaker, confirming Red Shoes' suspicions, I hear the swell of angry voices, but I don't stop to see the carnage.
EVERYBODY KNOWS A Cat Lady. Or at least, everyone has an image of a Cat Lady--that is, an older, childless woman who dresses her feline companions in costumes and makes them reenact the Civil War and lets them eat liver pâté from Waterford crystal and other related nonsense. The third annual Basic Black Championship Cat Show, held over the weekend at the Veterans Memorial Community Center in Inver Grove Heights, promises to be Cat Lady Mecca.
In fact, a minivan in the parking lot bears South Dakota license plates that read "CAT LADY." (Another set proclaims "HLY CT," which I assume expresses a similar sentiment in a more cryptic fashion.) There's even Waterford crystal, in the form of the Fancy Feast Cup, the ultimate prize, to be presented to the Best in Show. There are, unfortunately, no costumes, though several humans have donned fancy silk dresses and pearls, and one male judge has, in a roomful of Persians on the hottest day of the year, decided on an all-black ensemble.
The myth of feline devotion is further shattered by the presence of a Cat Man--a distinguished gentleman who proudly clutches his prized companion while tooling around the hall in a motorized wheelchair. The rest of the men in attendance appear to be of the--pardon the expression--pussy-whipped variety: fetching brushes and toy mice for their wives, and holding their hands during the emotionally intense judging sessions. "It's so exciting," one Cat Lady whispers to an onlooker, then chokes back tears when her entry ignores the judge's feather during the all-important test for playfulness.
The kitty-pageant circuit appears to be as cliquey as a country club; those whose cats rest in plain cages or zip-up bags huddle outside around the ashtrays while others gather haughtily near their row of pet-pleasure centers. I feel the excitement is contagious, until I realize it's just my Claritin wearing off and I run outside to seek refuge from the dander zone. Though the dowager underground may have its allure, it can indeed prove perilous for those without the worldliness and life experience to successfully navigate its back streets.
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In the online game Subspace (aka Continuum): A repel.
I was under attack and fired off all my repels.
بواسطة MonteZuma أغسطس/آب 26, 2004
Representative; or a friend, beddren and etc.
"Your my rep"
بواسطة UrbanAssault ديسمبر/كانون الأَوّل 6, 2002
another way to say "representatives," people representing how cool one may be.
A hot girl walks into the room and Justin starts hitting on her. The hot girl seems flattered and flirts back. Justin's friend, Josiah, would be able to say "dude you get REPS."
بواسطة asbaby إبريل/نَيْسان 28, 2011
REP iz as same as tha word RAP, sounds
like the same, Gst different "spelling"
like the same, Gst different "spelling"
its time fo` me to rep this place ...
بواسطة saywhaaat ديسمبر/كانون الأَوّل 11, 2003

subset: commoncrawl


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Over at Commonweal, Grant Gallicho does a masterful examination of conservative angst about Pope Francis. Let's hope Pope Francis is aware of this kind of opposition. It is not limited to a few cultural commentators at conservative websites.
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Always get our lowest fares
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Our environment, community, and people
Alaska Airlines remains focused on improving both passenger comfort and our fuel efficiency. We maintain a young, operational fleet of 147 Boeing 737 aircraft, with an average age of 9.6 years, and 52 Bombardier Q400 aircraft with an average age of 8.3 years.
Alaska Airlines aircraft liveries feature a blue Alaska logo on the sides and an image of a Native Alaskan on the tail, which attests to the airline's strong heritage of service to and involvement in Alaskan communities.


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Dr. Charis Thompson
Medical Director
Dr. Charis Thompson
Medical Director
There are several local environmental risks endemic in our metropolitan area. Because of our mild winters, year-round prevention against fleas/heartworms and intestinal parasites is critically important. Our suburban living allows for great experiences for our pets to interact with each other and the community in many ways, but also contributes to the spread of diseases at parks, neighborhood common grounds, pet-friendly businesses, and sidewalks. Local wildlife has thrived in our area, and Lyme disease (spread by deer ticks) and Leptospirosis (spread by water contaminated by wild animals), among other risks, are widespread. Our comprehensive prevention, testing and vaccine protocols are designed to protect your family and your pets alike.
New to VCA?Try a Free First Exam
Each of our doctors are trained in using our laser surgery equipment that helps to promote quicker recovery times for your pets. We are advocates in pain management for all surgical procedures.
We are also an AAHA-accredited hospital, and passed our most recent inspection with exceptional ratings.
We offer early drop-off times during the week to help those who commute to the Washington, DC, area to work.
If you aren't sure if we offer a specific service that's important to you, please ask us. If we don't already offer it, we can refer you to one of our sister animal hospitals in the area or to one of our veterinary hospitals.
The friendly, professional staff at VCA Chancellor Animal Hospital is made up of dedicated individuals who have made it their mission to help pets live long, healthy lives. To be true to this mission, the hospital team relies on several individuals, each equally important in helping us deliver the best patient and client experience for both you and your pet.
And if things get complicated, we are fortunate to have access to the nation's largest network of VCA veterinarians and board-certified specialists. In a word: TEAMWORK!
Teamwork is a constant in our daily practice. From check-in to check-out, our team of pet lovers works cohesively to create a warm and welcoming experience for both you and your pet.
Stop by any time! We want you to be a part of our VCA Chancellor family!
Dr. Schroetter graduated from Ohio State Veterinary College in 1985 after only three years in undergrad at Ohio State University. She originally...Read Full Biography
Dr. Matthew Baechtel, a Virginia native, did his undergraduate work at the University of Virginia. Afterwards, he attended and graduated from the...Read Full Biography
Sincere Thank You
On Saturday, October 22nd, this beautiful boy threw a clot- he was in extreme pain and unable to move his back legs. I called Chancellor literally two minutes before closing- without hesitation they told us to come. We knew there was likely nothing they could do, but we didn't want him to suffer. The staff was wonderful. Although I'm sure they we're anxious to call it a day, they did not make us feel rushed. They were gentle and compassionate with us and our boy as they eased his suffering and helped him cross. You have our sincere gratitude for going the extra mile for us during such a difficult time.
To enroll in VCA CareClub®, call us at
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what i do to combat hair loss is use minoxidil and also topical copper peptide.
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The Third Age
Robert L. Rubinstein
EDITORS' INTRODUCTION Rubinstein focuses his attention on the interval of the Third Age, the span of years between retirement age and the advent of ageimposed limitations. This is a time when adequate resources, adequate health, and few responsibilities provide a context for self-fulfillment, freedom, and purposeful engagement. How long the Third Age lasts varies among individuals, but it is likely to last several years and can extend for two decades or even longer. To be sure, not everyone who is an appropriate age has the health and the financial security that make the Third Age's freedoms possible. But those who had stable careers, even in blue-collar work, are very likely to meet the financial requisites of Third Age membership.
Rubinstein notes that those entering the Third Age will find little guidance regarding the merits and deficiencies of alternative ways of designing their lives. The Third Age is still too new to have attracted the attention of the mythmakers and model-providers of our society: our dramatists, novelists, and filmmakers.
The Third Age makes available many alternative core commitments: continued work, perhaps in a new field, in a different role, or for fewer hours; unpaid work for institutions and causes; travel; golf; visits to the children and grandchildren; or just living quietly: staying at home, with occasional get-togethers with friends and kin. To