The High Liner,

Reliable Street, Iowa Railroad Historical Museum, Boone, Friday, April 21 at 5 p.m., $45-275

Ames’s Reliable Street has an incredibly special event planned this month, and it’s going to take place on a train. Grab your friends or fly solo to the High Liner, a two hour train ride showcasing local art, music and talent. Local featured artists include Siricasso, Max Ramirez, It’s Kai, The Stewardesses, Vella, Lindsay Nissen are more. Be sure to get to the Iowa Railroad Historical Museum early, as the train will leave promptly at 5 p.m.

Explore Ames!

Saturday, April 15 at 9 a.m. Great Gardening: Methods & Materials, Reiman Gardens, Ames, $17-27

Saturday, April 15 at 10 a.m. The Writers Lab, Dog-Eared Books, Ames, Free

Monday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. Annie, Stephens Auditorium, Ames, $35-89

Wednesday, April 19 at 6 p.m.

Puzzlepalooza Jigsaw Puzzle Competition, Alluvial Brewing, Ames, $40

Thursday, April 20 at 8 p.m. Tinsley Ellis and Marcia Ball, The M-Shop, Ames, $30-35

Saturday, April 22 at 8 p.m. Kainalu, The M-Shop, $15-20

Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Off the Map: Stories of Iowa Abandoned and Disappearing Towns, Ames Public Library, Free

Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. The Goldfinch Room: Ryne Doughty and Royce Johns, Stephens Auditorium, $15

Thursday, April 27 at 8 p.m. Music Walk, Downtown Ames, Free

Thursday, April 27 at 8 p.m. LANNDS, The M-Shop, $10-15

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Festival, Hoyt Sherman

Place, Des Moines, Saturday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m., $20-35 This year’s annual all-Iowa music festival, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be taking place at Hoyt Sherman Place and will feature seven local musicians. The Envy Corps, a Des Moines indie rock band that’s been playing since the early 2000s is headlining the fest. Don’t miss them as they plan to play their debut album, Dwell, in full with a string section, to celebrate its 15th anniversary. B.Well, Annalibera, Geneviève Salamone, James Tutson, EleanorGrace, Lani are also in this year’s lineup. GDP is presented by the Des Moines Music Coalition and Little Village

Musical Marvels

Friday, April 7 at 8 p.m. Dazy, xBk Live, Des Moines, $10

Saturday, April 8 at 7 p.m. Abbie and the Sawyers Album Release, xBk Live, $15-20

Saturday, April 8 at 9 p.m. Love is Love, Platform, Des Moines, $10

Sunday, April 9 at 5 p.m. Hardcore & Thrash Easter Show, Lefty’s Live Music, Des Moines, $10

Tuesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. The Cactus Blossoms, xBk Live, $15

Friday, April 14 at 7 p.m. The Grand Marquis, Noce, Des Moines, $18-45

Friday, April 14 at 9 p.m.

Professional Music Showcase w/ South 35, Other Brothers, The Crust, Gas Lamp, Des Moines, $5

Saturday, April 15 at 7 p.m. Spencer Crandall, Wooly’s, $15

Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Gina Chavez, Temple Theater, Des Moines, $20-45

Saturday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. Boris & The Joy and The Burning Sons, Gas Lamp, $12

Saturday, April 15 at 9:30 p.m. GDP After Party, Carl’s Place, Des Moines, Free

Sunday, April 16 at 7 p.m. Halen Album Release w/Andrew Hoyt, xBk Live, $12

Wednesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. Bendigo Fletcher, Gas Lamp, Des Moines, $15-18

LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM

Thursday, April 20 at 8 p.m. The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, xBk Live, $15

Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m. NOLA Jazz Band, Noce, $18-45

Friday, April 21 at 8 p.m. Mae Simpson, xBk Live, $12

Friday, April 21 at 9 p.m. Americature w/MORE CHEESE, Joint Pain, Bigby Woods, The Sleepover, The Getaways, Gas Lamp, $10

Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. All Things Considered, Wooly’s, Des Moines, $25

Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. Twen w/Mr. Softheart, xBk Live, $12

Saturday, April 22 at 10 p.m. N0Ne (CH)iLLeR! Album Release, Teehee’s Comedy Club, Des Moines, $15

Saturday and Sunday, April 22-23 DM Symphony: April in Paris, Des Moines Civic Center, $15-70

Sunday, April 23 at 2 p.m. Original Mind, Caspe Terrace, Waukee, $30

Monday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. Chris Botti, Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines, $45-75

Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Mustard Service w/ Treesreach, xBk Live, $15

Wednesday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. Black Flag, Gas Lamp, $25-30

Thursday, April 27 at 8 p.m. Ghost Funk Orchestra w/Rudy De Anda, xBk Live, $15

Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. Damien Jurado, Lefty’s Live Music, $20

Friday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. Benny Benack III Quartet, Temple Theater, $48.50-78.50

Saturday, April 29 at 7 p.m. Saxophonist Adam Larson, Noce, $20-45

Saturday, April 29 at 8 p.m. Widow7 EP Release Show, xBk Live, $14-15

Sunday, April 30 at 6 p.m. The HIRS Collective, Teehee’s Comedy Club, Des Moines, $10

Friday, May 5 at 8 p.m. Chastity Brown & Sawyer Fredericks, xBk Live, $15-40

Dear Kiki, I’m a sexual obsessive. I think about sex constantly, am pretty constantly horny, and have obsessive thoughts about having sex with most people I come in contact with. It can be scary sometimes when I have intrusive thoughts that are illegal or harmful, but I’m dealing with that bit in therapy. The question, though, is this: I feel like I can come across as off-putting to people because I’m thinking about them sexually as I interact with them. I know they’re intrusive thoughts and aren’t real manifestations of desire, but it feels like it can warp my ability to communicate, despite that. I’m in a happy relationship and I don’t think I want to open it up or anything, but what’s the best way to be sure I’m not creeping people out without having to explain my condition?

Dear Obsessive, The good news is this: People, by and large, think far more about themselves morning, the coworker who grabs coffee the same time you do every day. Those encounters are trickier, aren’t they?

Although the same principles are in play as before (really! no one cares!), repeated exposure can make you feel more, well, exposed. Even with that, though, your perception is probably out of whack with reality. You can never be “sure” that you’re “not creeping people out,” because you can’t get inside their heads. But the more you worry about it, the less organic and natural your interactions will be.

Easier said than done, of course. But if you’re working with your therapist to draw boundaries, maintain a sense of right and wrong, and develop techniques to mitigate your intrusive thoughts, that’s really the best anyone can ask. You say you’re in a happy relationship; maybe you can ask your partner to offer an exterior view of how you behave socially.

The question of whether people find you than about others. Unless you’re inserting an inordinate amount of Freudian slips into these casual conversations—or, of course, engaging in sexual harassment, for which there’s no excuse—it’s unlikely that most people will care or even notice that you’re struggling with this while you chat.

We’re all awkward in one way or another, so chances are others are far more concerned with how they’re coming across to you than vice versa. Or, if they’re like me, they’ll feel relieved when you seem a little “off-putting,” because it takes away the pressure for the social interaction to go perfectly on their end.

It’s easy to look around and assume everyone’s got their shit together except you. But in reality, we’re all just isolated balls of weird bouncing into and off of one another, trying to make it through each day without a story embarrassing enough that it becomes an anecdote.

The less-good news is, not every social interaction is superficial. For every bank teller and grocery store clerk, chances are there’s a different swathe of people who you’re slightly more familiar with: the neighbor you wave to every

“off-putting” is ultimately on them, not you. It’s not our job as humans to achieve or even aspire to perfection in our interactions. We can only be kind, patient and respectful.

You certainly have no obligation to reveal your personal mental health history. Ever.

—xoxo, Kiki