Coolio and the Gang

So I've lived at home for a couple weeks now. It is interesting to say that aside from a few new strip malls and a Fareway, Norwalk has remained entirely the same.

The Iowa State Fair is going to be my topic for the day, and that is big, because it is early in the day. I have attended twice now this year and gotten my fill of large animals, varied industries, and of course what I lovingly refer to as the freak show. The freak show happens around 9pm when (most of) the families leave and the midway fills with carnies, drunk teenagers, drunk adults, and a myriad of fun hairstyles, clothing choices, lifestyles, et cetera. It is truly the best of the best of Iowa. I can only stop and wonder what immediate judgement people make about me when I pass them by at 11pm with a margarita in hand, oohing and ahhing at the fireworks.

Every year, for 11 days, the fair hosts free concerts, usually by area artists and sometimes by and up and comer who wants to hit it big. This year, we had Coolio. What is fabulous about watching a Coolio concert is realizing that he is most likely bridging his 40's (if he isn't already there) and has still decided that the best hairstyle would come volcano-ing out of his hat through a pre-cut hole. Also, Coolio takes his new rap VERY seriously, but still played the three Coolio songs that I knew when I was too young to be listening to my brothers' CDs. Anyways, the concert was fun, the rest of the night was enjoyable, I move on to the bar...

So Coolio walks into a bar....

I compliment him on his show and get ignored, which I thought rude and unnecessary. Strike 1. Coolio is enticed into entering the DJ booth and freestyling for a few minutes. Definitely awesome, but I've heard friends freestyle better than Coolio, no judgement, let the guy get his last 15 minutes. Coolio begins hitting on girls my age, that I know, and is successful. Strike 2. This time for the girls. I know we're from Iowa but have some pride and go get on Twista when he comes to Iowa City, at least he is still swinging from the coattails of his fame. THEN Coolio buys a shot for the bar (awesome) but only keeps the offer open for a few minutes, so when I arrived at the bar from the patio, I missed the free shot. That my friend is strike 3. You're out.

But all in all I like a few of his new songs, and will most likely try to find his saxophone playing cousin on youtube because he was amazing!

Life is good in the hood.