Open Mike Night

Mike Budziakowski

I know what you’re thinking.  For the record, no, I am not attempting to change my direction in life and become a columnist—nor a writer or blogger, for that matter. Instead I’m grasping the opportunity to break away from the mold and exercise, even if for a limited amount of time, both sides of my brain. 

For the past ten months, I’ve had to endure the monotonous daily grind as an MBA candidate.  I’m not saying that it hasn’t been worth the $50,000 to receive a sheet of paper that bestows credibility to my personal set of self-proclaimed skills.  Actually, in that respect it has.  I’ve been auspiciously exposed to a wide array of interesting characters, cultures, and backgrounds.  For this reason I wanted to express my gratitude by writing the lifestyle section of this newspaper.

I don’t want to come off as pompous, but on a bi-weekly basis I will be your voice in today’s fashion, entertainment, and a guide in self-expression.  With limited experience, I will attempt to utilize my personal intuition to recreate and describe my encounters and observations around our joyful little town of Midland.  With a population of just over 41,000, Midland provides many cultural opportunities in fields ranging from music and theatre to science and the arts. Stop laughing—it really does.  With big heavyweights like Dow Chemical and Dow Corning calling Midland home, it’s no wonder that this town has transformed into one of the most desired living locations in Michigan. Stop laughing—I’m serious.

I’m going to dip myself into the local cuisines, eateries, and social festivals and events so that I may truly experience everything that there is to offer in this community and its beautiful surroundings.  I will look into the latest fashion trends and faux pas so that all my readers will have the opportunity to get a straight guy’s *cough, cough* point of view.  Probably not a good idea to go shopping immediately after reading my articles; you may get a cramp. Let it sink in before taking my advice. Not all of us can pull off capris. 

Let me be your petri dish. I want to leave this town pregnant with all the joys and wonders it has to offer.  Before I master business I will master Midland, and you will be taken for a ride only Keanu Reeves can appreciate. Buckle up; its open Mike night. Until next time, wink.