One inescapable fact of road trippin’ is the frequentation of public restrooms. Unlike other public places, public restrooms aren’t regulated by a central authority that provides oversight on matters such as cleanliness, sanitation and ensuring that the rolls are never empty. Fortunately, most places do a stand-up job keeping their restrooms clean and fresh smelling. Some are so cared for – murals, furniture, flowers, real towels and good lighting – that it’s almost difficult to leave them.
On the other hand, public restrooms sometimes serve as snapshots of humanity at its worst, so far as men are concerned. I… Continue Reading Monthly Archives: June 2010
Bathroom Instructions for Men
One inescapable fact of road trippin’ is the frequentation of public restrooms. Unlike other public places, public restrooms aren’t regulated by a central authority that provides oversight on matters such as cleanliness, sanitation and ensuring that the rolls are never empty. Fortunately, most places do a stand-up job keeping their restrooms clean and fresh smelling. Some are so cared for – murals, furniture, flowers, real towels and good lighting – that it’s almost difficult to leave them.
On the other hand, public restrooms sometimes serve as snapshots of humanity at its worst, so far as men are concerned. I… Continue Reading Cigs, Texts and Heartbreak at the Mercury
Madison, WI – It’s amazing what you can learn about people in the course of smoking a single cigarette. Like this guy, Shawn, for example, who sprang from the Mercury Lounge steps upon seeing us light-up. “I’ll give you a dollar for one,” he pleaded. He needed one badly, he explained.
My friend gave him a smoke. She declined his dollar so he told us a story instead. “Thank you,” he said, emphatically. “I’m hurting so bad right now.”
I thought he was tripping or nauseous or something. His eyes were watery and he grimaced as he retook his… Continue Reading Sconnies and Their Brats
Madison, WI – Twice a year, tens of thousands of people descend on Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center to gorge themselves on brats – high-fat pork sausage stuffed with spices inside an intestinal casing. Sconnies go bonkers for brats. So much so that over the course of the last four days, 209,376 of them were consumed on Willow Island alone, a new record.
Welcome to Bratfest, held eight days annually over Memorial and Labor Day Weekend.
Being from Wisconsin, I understand the love affair with brats. Boil them in beer, char them on the grill, then eat… Continue Reading 
Old Friend Hunting