In my desperation for contact with kindred spirits, I joined Meetup.com with the idea of finding a social group in my community that I could join.
You punch in your zip-code and you’re presented with a bunch of categories to click on.
There’s arts and culture, fitness, career, health and wellness, hobbies and crafts, etc.
It wasn’t long before I realized that I don’t like to do anything! It came to me like a bolt of lightening, even though you’d think I would know myself by now.
Hiking, no. Goddess Women, no. Yoga at sunrise, nope. Watercolor, no. Spiritual living, beginning motorcycle, exploring pubs, paper crafts, games, improv, no no no.
THERE I S NOTHING ON EARTH I WANT TO DO.
I complained to my husband and I complained on Facebook. Where’s the stuff I like? What about sitting around complaining? Where are the people who enjoy that? I can’t be the only one, right?
So a couple of days ago, I went to my own group called “Wandering around Nordstrom,” and talked to a beautiful young Russian emigre who works in cosmetics. She was willing to help me look for a product whose name I forgot by a brand I wasn’t sure about. She had beautiful long hair and a nice accent that she let me try to imitate. I fucking loved her!
We admitted to being kind of isolated in our new communities. So I told her about my effort to find a social group. She had tried that, too. We mused about forming a group to talk about fashion and hair. I added complaining and she was down for that too.
Feeling inspired, I went home and began to start a new group at Meetup. I was pretty happy with my description of ‘Fashion, Hair, and Complaining’, and clicked on ‘finish.’
They wanted $9.99 a month to list my group. Deal-breaker.
Somehow, that ruins it for me. That would be like buying friends, almost. I can’t stoop that low, even though I’ve stooped much lower on countless occasions. But still. I logged out in disgust.
Now they’ve sent me an offer to start a group at half-price.
Are they testing my principles? Or just trying to see how cheap I am?
Please advise.
‘Fashion, Hair and Complaining’
Isn’t that this blog?
That’s why I keep coming back.
Forget the whole damn thing! You have your “Fashion, Hair & Complaining” group right here. Alright, it’s true that, as a scruffy and sometimes rather smelly old Brit, I’m not too hot on fashion. Also, as a man whose haircut takes 1min-35secs (I just sit in the chair and tell the lady ‘No2 all over’ and she uses a sort of mini hedge-trimmer) I am not very qualified as a hair specialist. However, as a grumpy old git of Olympian standards I can and do complain constantly, loudly about almost everything.
So, Big Sis, just stay right here and let your adoring public do the rest.
So funny. Worth it just to see who signs up – great social experiment! I have thought of starting a weekly group called Curmudgeon’s Corner. So fun!
Hahaha!!! We’re kindred spirits. Too bad we’re on different coasts. XO
I say do it…it’s half the price of a glass of wine…you may be surprised! Give it a few months! I love bitching, moaning, fashion and hair!!! Count me in!
why don’t you just call me more often? or ever even?
Geez all I know is that I would love to be friends with you. And feel like I already am because of your great blogs. Hideous Denim cheers me up every time I read it…….
k8 – Ha, well, thakn you for sticking with me!
David Duff – You are the best. As you know. I’m just starved for in-the-flesh companionship. Would you mind crossing the ocean?
suzanne meyers – I would attend your group, and I would add misanthropy if you let me.
Miranda- Waaah.
Dj – You think?
annemarie – Good advice. But I need your physical presence as well.
Jane Bentley – Oh good! thank you! Glad to hear!
Yes, forgot! I agree misanthropy, ennui and jadedness (a word?)
I’m in a meetup book group that SHOULD be called A bunch of divorced middle-aged whining women and one guy in his thirties.
Mary Liz – Hahahahahahahahaha!
I am looking for friends but I cannot be a half price friend. Sorry.
I’ll join that group. It would be via Skype, but I love the idea.
Funny I had the exact same experience. I am also an isolated Russian emigre who enjoys hair fashion and complaining and failed at Meetup and thought of starting a similar group. Yeah, this comment is years late. I have been reading your blog for years. It’s like you write everything I think if I was clever enough to verbalize my thoughts with the same wit and clarity.