Farewell dear Ypsi

Alas friends and neighbors, at some point Tuesday or Wednesday my part in this grand experiment known as The Ypsi City Desk will end. Johnny is off with Mrs Johnny (who has already blazed a trail on ahead) to Jersey City New Jersey. As of early Friday morning my wagon heads east.

I came to this town one damned cold December 1st 1982. I hitchhiked down from sleepy Ortonville to register for classes at EMU and loved what I found here and set up shop. I remember almost being out of second chances when I came here, I also vividly remember sitting right outside of Pierce Hall on a cement bench, in a tiny little sitting area to keep out of the wind and cold that was whistling around me at 4 and 5 and then 6 am. It always made me feel good knowing I could always see the blinking red light on Pierce Hall out my bedroom window, the same blinking red light that flashed over my head that cold December morning. At some point you stake your claim and try to make good your life's dreams and aspirations and I've quite happily made mine here, in Ypsilanti. To my fellow Ypsi residents, there may be times for whatever reason you say "I hate this stupid town" or "This place sucks", I understand that, we all feel that way about our towns at some point. Just understand the next time you do say it, there's somebody out there who misses this great community. Somebody misses the rubber duck race, misses walking in the old days to Bowen Field House to watch an EMU basketball game, who misses our great parades, who misses Haabs or Sidetrack or Golden Wall or La Fiesta Mexicana. There's somebody out there who will miss the air shows at Willow Run, and miss lazy spring and summer nights fishing (with NO license mind you) at his secret spot with his buddy Cool Money.

Ypsilanti, you have been very good to me, I can never ever repay that debt. You have all had such a wonderful impact. So when somebody puts Ypsi down because it's not Ann Arbor, do me a favor, get in their grill. If you're an Eastern Michigan University athlete playing on a team having a bad year and you think to yourself "Nobody cares" that's simply not true. A lot of us DO care. We do care about you and your team whether you win lose or draw. Just keep plugging away for us. If you're one who thinks our city's financial situation is hopeless and you should give up, keep going. That's the thing I've learned about Ypsilanti, doing things the hard way if need be, using elbow grease has always gotten us by. Ypsilanti faced huge challenges helping win WWII and we face them again. Keep going friends, work harder, there's not a bone in my body that doesn't think Ypsilanti will rise above the money troubles we have now. We will, we're Ypsilanti.

While I may be leaving, understand I'll check in from time to time, and like I mentioned, you'll be in very good hands with John the Revelator, he's a top flight writer. I'm sure he'll do things different but that's ok too, Ypsilanti's never been scared of a change.

So long, farewell and adios Ypsilanti, you'll never have a bigger fan out there than Johnny Action Space Punk...

OK hepcats, the Ypsi City Desk has the new unreleased Beatles song NOW for you

Who woulda thunk a small potatoes blog could not only track it down but get it to you before it was released?!?!

Check it out HERE

Monday morning open thread

Johnny has nothing to rant about and no real news to hip you to. Whadda YOU got for us? Slander away.....

Sunday open thread for NFL, fall fun, the football games yesterday, or whatever

Feel free to speak your mind today. Anything you want.

Happy Birthday to, well, the Ypsi City Desk

We began this grand experiment one year ago today with just Johnny connecting to somebody's open wi-fi from under the Forest Street bridge over the Huron River where the original YCD office was. But spiders and bats not wanting us there chased us off to bigger and better things. We now have two interns and a giant office downtown. Not bad for a handful of dedicated readers, who we truly appreciate.

Thanks for reading, or, at least pretending to while looking at the pictures!

--Johnny

Oh yeah, Welcome back to school, we're adding some new links, like the Echo for example

That's right hipsters, cool kids and burners, we're adding the Eastern Echo to our links and since the Ypsi City Desk is nothing if not aware of what goes on in lecture halls, we'll be adding a link to flash games you can play on your laptops instead of paying attention in class. It's the least we can do...

Today is the FIVE year anniversary of the BLACKOUT, share your blackout stories

What were YOU doing when it hit? How did you cope?

Johnny ran down to the Keg when it happened and bought ice and batteries and then the entire neighborhood had one whopping 'empty the freezer and fridge of meat' BBQ. Then we got the telescope out and with no ambient lighting had a delightful look at Mars.

What's YOUR story?

Today we proudly add 'Loose Tea' to our links

Yet MORE good Ypsi writing. Sadly they found us before we found them but as soon as we did, we wanted to link to them.

Welcome Loose Tea!

Summer Saturday in Cool City open thread

Let's get outside and enjoy Ypsilanti on this fine summer day.

Saturday open thread

Johnny's got business out of town today, and a concert at the Pine Knob tonight. In the meantime feel free to vent or tell us who you are voting for in the local primaries.

See ya tonight with some commentary on the Elvis Costello and The Police show

Monday open thread

Johnny's down and out this morning, you feel free to take over and say what you want to....

One more batch of Art Fair 2008

And yet MORE Ann Arbor Art Fair images

Some Art Fair pics on this sweltering Friday morning

A hot walk around the Ann Arbor Art Fair Part 2

The McCain booth? Crickets. The Obama booth? People. Who knew?

A hot walk around the Ann Arbor Art Fair

Saturday open thread

Waaaaay too nice out to worry about blogging and or reporting. Let's do that parade thing again.

Scenes from the Ypsilanti Independence Day Parade 2008

Saturday open thread

We all have things to do today, if you have anything to say that comes to mind, tell us. Right now, Johnny's garden isn't gonna weed itself...

Friday morning open thread

Johnny's got business this morning (he's in negotiations to buy Westland) and the interns are on vacation.

Jibber Jabber