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Walking around Ashland: Barbie warning, the monkey tree and zombies

Sep 092011

So many things I could post, I feel… like. My. Head… is going to…

My head imploding

implode. Oops, too late.

The masked mannequin

I went on a very long walk this afternoon along the Ashland city trail that runs from the railroad district all the way to the east end of town. Along the trail I found this gem I really have to share:

Masked mannequin with note
On the right side of the head’s neck is a “tattoo” drawn in pen that looks vaguely like a woman’s head.

Written on the piece of paper at the base is:

“All your Barbie
are belong to
us!”

Since I don’t have a Barbie, this does not really affect me, but some of you out may want to take the appropriate precautions.

The Monkey Tree

Just a few doors down the street from us is this sweet tree with dozens of stuffed monkeys hanging on its branches. It’s fun to look up and keep seeing more and more hidden behind the leaves.

The signs hung on the tree trunk are there because someone stole a large monkey from the tree and the owner is asking for its return.
Stealing a stuffed monkey? Really? Sheesh!

Zombie Warning!

Of course the cutesy little stuffed monkeys were just a distraction from what’s really on my mind. Zombies.

I haven’t really given them much thought, and don’t quite get the current zombie “craze.” But, I think we can all agree that this picture gives clear evidence that at least one zombie is loose somewhere in or around Ashland.

I don’t know. Does it even makes sense for a zombie to have broken out of a mausoleum in the middle of Mt. View Cemetery? Maybe some other kind of undead?

It would be good to know what we’re dealing with here.

Coming up soon:

Possibly the coolest headstone ever!

Portraits of Random, Is that really ME?

Random 6 Responses »

Sep 022011

Do you ever look at pictures of yourself and wonder if that’s how you really looked?

When I was in grade school, we did this project:

Silhouette picture

I remember nothing of the process, it was too long ago. It looks like I stood in front of black construction paper while someone sprayed fake snow at my head to create an outline.

It seems as if I I would remember being sprayed in my left eye with some toxic goo.

Whatever, even though the origin of this is lost in my memory, I noticed it again the last time I was at Mom’s house and took some pictures of it. Since the picture is behind glass, it wasn’t ideal photo conditions.

For some reason, this silhouette has more impact on me than looking at photos from that same time. Intellectually, I know that’s my silhouette, but I still think it’s amazing to think that the now-me was once the me-who-blocked-toxic-goo-from-hitting-construction-paper.

This image is easier to understand, partly because it was taken only a week ago, but also because the shadow is only a placeholder for me and I can fill in the gaps. Then again, I didn’t realize my legs were so disproportionately long compared to my body.

Maybe this is a more accurate portrait:

It certainly seems to convey the way my mind works sometimes.

What about you? What do you think about when you see old pictures of yourself?

Have you ever found a true portrait of who you are?

Welcome to Random Says…

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Aug 082011

I read that the first post in a blog usually sucks, so I decided to get it over with.

Call me Random. For some reason, I’ve always liked the idea of the word ‘random’ used for a name – ever since I first read Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny. (You can read more about me on the About Random page.)

But enough about me. Let’s talk about this first post thing. It’s been lurking in my head (and on my hard drive) for over a week, yet only now am I getting it posted.

You see, I’m a procrastinator, so the process of getting this post to this point went something like this:

[Random has a conversation with himself…]

Random1: Hey, if the first post usually sucks anyway, I’ll just put some quick thing up and get it out of the way.

Random2: Right. Except… don’t you want us to make a good first impression?

Random1: Well, that’s true, I suppose. But no, I like the idea of the first post sucking! It’s really very freeing!

Random2: Uh-huh. So, do you mean we should make it really suck? Like over the top, go for it kind of thing?

Random1: Ha ha, that’d be fun!

Random2: But, do we want to set that kind of precedent?

[Grows distracted by cats. Stops writing for the day. Word count: 0]

Distracting demon cat being all distracting. Plus, fuzzy.

[Several days pass. I’m busy unpacking and setting up our new house. Tuesday arrives.]

Random1: Finally! I have my computer hooked up. We have internet. I’ve got time to take a break and get that first post cranked out.

Random2: Good idea! Where were we? Oh yeah, sucky first post.

Random1: You know, we’re in the middle of this move to a new city in a new state. Why don’t I write about that?

Random2: True, lots of stuff to write about there. Oh! We can post photos of Ashland! Hm, too bad we haven’t had time to take any yet.

Random1: Well, next time I take a break, I’ll grab the camera.

[A couple days pass. During that time I often think of the first post. I remember I need to take some pictures. I make a mental note. Then I think, first I should synchronize the photos between my two computers. More days pass. Word count: 0]

Random1: This is ridiculous! It’s Sunday night and I want to get going by tomorrow. Start on a Monday. It’s a good starting day. It can be the first “Story Start Monday!”

Random2: Oh, good point, yeah! Let’s read what we have so far. [reads through what had been written] Oh, this is no good.

Random1: Fine, then I’ll just write something random!

Random2: Great! But, will you do both a first post and a Story Start?

Random1: (sighs)

[Begins typing this sucky first post…]

Random2: Maybe add a photo?

Random1: A photo of what? Nothing goes with… Fine, here you go:

Who knows what direction this blog will go?