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It’s not like I haven’t tried to be basic. I can rattle off dozens of different types of IPAs, I frequent brew pubs and craft beer fests, go to ironic ethnic festivals, and even take people up on bottomless mimosa brunches when the opportunity arises. We have Starbucks and pumpkin/mint-spiced (#teampumpkin) things, but the lines are long and my discretionary spending budget is already at an all-time low because I have a wedding in Denver, Nashville and Pittsburgh already on next year’s wedding season docket. I am a pretty damn good skier, but my outfit is my hunting camo because I prefer function over style, and where I live, this is not frowned on but strongly encouraged.
Frankly, being basic is difficult in my neck of the woods.
Some basic things like Instagram aren’t my style. The only pictures I take are of the #Munigolf places I go to that offer $25 18 holes and a beer (which can be found by following me on Twitter). I would rather put up pictures of my dogs sleeping with their mouth open or harassing the cats than put up an artfully crafted, free range dinner that would have been cheaper if I bought it at the restaurant. I hate Bloody Marys, scarves make me look like stupid and I passionately hate yoga (but not the pants).
That’s not to say I don’t have some basic tendencies, albeit my own take on it. I love farmer’s markets, even though I am usually in gym shorts or pajama pants rather than a Nordstrom fall collection ensemble. I’ve had quite a few pedicures, but only because caddying made my feet look like I’ve been Flintstoning myself around the town. I own a total of zero vests, not because I hate them but because I’m built like Spongebob and vests emphasize that. Like, being built like a barrel doesn’t lend itself to being basic. When your neck is 18.5 inches, finding clothing is pretty difficult. My 36×30 can be different at any of the basic dude kind of stores, but that’s not an issue because there are no outlet stores near me.
I never knew brunch was such a big thing. After writing for this site for eight months or so and seeing grand tales of brunch, menus, elaborate alcoholic breakfast drinks and the culture that goes along with brunch, I feel like I’m missing out.
Sure, I knew about mimosas, the wonderful creation that is chicken and waffles and those fancy items you see in upscale restaurants like soufflés, quinoas and quiches. Maybe where I live is a few years behind the times or people are a bit too country, but it’s just not a thing here. I actually never realized brunch was a big thing anywhere until recently because breakfast was king in my household.
When I was growing up, my dad would make breakfast on most Sundays. Bacon, eggs, blueberry pancakes, pork roll, waffles, the list goes on. Screwdriver or mimosa in hand, my dad would crush breakfast. People from my neighborhood would come over for some coffee and deliciously-made breakfast before whatever big game started that day. On vacations, it was the same thing– get up, big breakfast early, hit the beach and grill for dinner. I guess I was spoiled by having an Iron Chef for a father.
Sometimes I get jealous of all these stories, articles and tidbits of information regarding Uber. I had to look it up because where I live, we aren’t even legally able to have Uber. The taxi company holds an ironclad stranglehold on the “getting places to and from while in pursuit of intoxication” market. The cabs are always stained, dirty and smelly. I am not one to drink and drive, so that means bumming rides, having a DD or walking. The way I look at it, the 2.5 miles there is usually downhill and the 2.5 miles back will burn off some of the damage and give me some time to sober up. Plus, anything is better than riding in our nasty cabs with suspect drivers.
Maybe I am a victim of location, of the culture of my moderately-sized mountainous college town that is called home by many, many mountain hippies, or maybe I’m just not cut out to be basic. I’ve made peace with this, but I still enjoy a good seasonal and I owned L.L. Bean duck boots before they were a basic bro general issue. I have no idea how Tinder, Instagram or Uber works, and I’ve accepted that. I have no idea what quinoa is and kale was always the food my friend’s iguana, Godzilla, ate.
All I know is I can make a rippin’ fire and drink Yuengling around said fire like no one else, I make some pretty solid deer jerky and tailgate with the best of ’em. That’s the definition of “basic” where I come from. .
Image via YouTube
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Madoff
I specialize in damage control, being the drunkest at any and all functions and social assassination. Always appreciate a strong gif game. Follow me on Twitter. Sometimes I put up cool stuff about golfing at the local dirt tracks.
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I’m still not certain what being “basic” means but I do know I don’t want to be that.
“Basic” things are best enjoyed in moderation, one weekend a month is good enough for me.
Pork Roll is a breakfast staple. #Fact
Not having Uber sucks, but I live in a town without taxis. Rural PGP
Deer Jerky is pretty hard to come by in Southern California which is a bummer since it’s so damn good.
My deer jerky game is on fuego
I would proudly buy madoff brand deer jerky
I’m sure Madoff would love to send you some. I would bet he wouldn’t even mind if you began selling it. Even if you had a team of people beneath you selling it. Just send him some of the kick backs.
I haven’t had fuego deer jerky in a very long time unfortunately
Not having Uber in your town. PGP
You would have fit in just fine in the Idaho basic lifestyle.
Elk steaks, deer jerky, deer tacos…god do I miss those things; not even sure brunch makes up for it.
Nothing makes up for lack of elk steaks. Grilling my last package tonight. You and I should talk.
You ever feel like sending some to internet strangers in St. Louis, you let me know haha
I just made some. I’ll ask my friends that still have deer left and we may be able to do a trade for some Shafly.
I’d be more than happy to make that trade. I’ll even throw in some Urban Chestnut. If nothing else, St. Louis has the German brewing style down pat.
DM me on twitter. We can work something out. Gonna talk to my buddy’s that still have deer left.
Eating venison summer sausage for lunch, it’s fantastic. Need to take a trip back home with the Yeti soon to load up again.
I had a chicken ceasar salad from walmart…practically the same.
man, sometimes I think my “wump wump” dry sarcasm doesn’t come across in text format very well.
You should get a twitter
And this is exactly how I ended up back on twitter, except it was Shibby. One of these days I’ll even remember to check it more than once every two days so I can actually participate like the cool kids
Why?
Go to the twitter for the bantz (banter). Sometimes it’s just me, shibbs and Crash but we like to have a good time.
I’ll take it into consideration.
Never change! The less basic the better. I think a big reason we all (extremely justifiably) hate Todd’s girlfriend is her lack of originality, depth, and character- which you have in spades. She epitomizes basic and flits from trend to trend with no unique thought.
PS. Godzilla is such a rad name for a pet lizard. You’re friends sounds like he was bougie AF with his kale.
Depth for sure. The basic girl is drowning in the shallow end.
Trying to get into skiing (lived an hour from the Rockies for two snow seasons now) and I’ve probably dropped close to a grand on new but low-end clothing and gear; and I don’t even have my own SKIS yet! Would have just wore my old hunting camo but as much as I eat shit, I need a waterproof jacket, so I went with, not Helly Hansen, not Patagonia, but goddamn Columbia (like everything else outdoorsy I wear). Basic can get fuckin’ expensive.
Columbia makes excellent quality, never-go-out-of-style gear. I proudly rock my Columbia in basic infested DC. You do you sir.
That’s the idea. Same stuff, bigger cost. That way everyone know’s you “made it.”
Skis – buy used. Don’t skimp on boots.
Being born, raised, and going to school in small town KS, this article is the truth.
What do you consider small?
Graduated high school with 100 kids. On campus enrollment of my university was less than 1,000
Hah, my high school in NCK has 100 kids TOTAL in 9th – 12th grades on a GOOD year. Went to STATE though so I got to actually meet plenty of people that don’t consider jacking up their pickups with lift-kits “making it”.