People Are Strange When You're A Stranger

Ok, I promise that this is my last post on the KLAMS trip....but this one is not a weblog or journal...this one is about strangeness. The Doors did a song about it years ago and if you click on my word strangeness you can hear it.  The dictionary defines strange as: 

 strange (strnj)adj. strang·er, strang·est

1. Not previously known; unfamiliar.

2.

a. Out of the ordinary; unusual or striking.

b. Differing from the normal.

3. Not of one's own or a particular locality, environment, or kind; exotic.

4.

a. Reserved in manner; distant.

b. Not comfortable or at ease; constrained.

Synonyms of strange:   peculiar, odd, queer, quaint, outlandish, singular, eccentric, curious.  Ok...with that said for those of you who know me personally.....you know that I cover most of the synonyms myself.  At any given time I can be any of the above.  Yes, I will be the old woman who wears purple........but not with a red hat.  I want to be like this woman we saw in Toronto.  I want my hat to be a different shade of lavender and my skirt to be carmine colored....and I want to wear lavender flip flops when it is hot.  This lady made me want to get off the tour bus and take photos of her.  She was so striking......the lady with no face.  I wonder what kind of story her face would have told.

My second subject was a man crossing the street.  We were downtown....everyone was dressed fully....and yet....here he was....tats and all.  I have always had an issue with men being able to remove their shirts in public....yet, women can not.  I have also have a fascination with tats and what they say about a person.  I believe they are most artistic....but....for me....they are a form of pain and I am not going there....so I will enjoy them on other people....like this guy.

Throughout the tour of Tornonto we saw purple people, buskers (street musicians), tourists, spiderman,

and this strange little man.  Our bus was stopped at one of the scheduled places and standing outside of a building was this guy....and his Barbie doll.  Susan leaned forward from her seat and told me to grab the shot.....and I did more than that....I grabbed several shots....because this man was most interested in his Barbie doll and what was under her skirt. I have to admit that he kind of reminded me of someone I once met in Hazzard County, Kentucky and the fascination with what he was doing kept me focused on his actions.   He did not know anyone was watching....I was on the top of the bus....clicking away as he stood there.  Now...that was really strange.

Ok...I don't know about you....but Barbie doll man kind of worried me.  I love people watching.  I love looking at their expressions, body stance, speed of walk, position of hands/arms, I could sit for hours on a park bench and write forever.  I love creating what I think their story is in my mind.  Ok...I know ....I am strange.....but then....aren't we all?  Have a wonderful Friday.  I am excited....Kat and Brian are back from Moldova, an answer to this momma's prayers for a safe journey.

KLAMS 2012 - June 17th

Today is Father's Day and we are up early finishing up with packing and getting ready to say goodbye to Niagara Falls, Canada.  One last breakfast at the Space Ship, one last view of Horseshoe Falls, we stopped to check out the American Falls, and on to the airport in Buffalo.  At the Buffalo airport I got a text from Eric saying he had joined Kellyton Baptist Church today and rededicated his life to Christ.  What a wonderful Father's Day gift to me.  I called Frank once I had US service again.  He was eating Father's Day lunch with the King family.  We waited until it was time to board and then settled in for the two hour flight.  We landed 30 minutes earlier than expected, grabbed the car and hit I-85 headed home.  Susan is spending the night with me and we took Frank out for dinner at Gedney's.  The trip is one for the books....KLAMS 2013 - Mackinaw Bound.  I can't wait!

KLAMS 2012 - June 16th

Susan and I were up early and no one was stirring in the other room.  I have to have something on my stomach to take my medicine so we left a note and headed to the hotel cafe for some toast and coffee.  When we returned they were beginning to stir....but we had missed the Space Ship restaurants 1st Early Bird special.  We headed to IHOP for breakfast and for the first time in my life....after waiting for a table for 30 minutes....and 20 more minutes with no acknowledgement of our existance...we walked out and headed to the Space Ship for the 2nd 4.49 Early Bird Special.  It was worth it. It was worth it...we were seated immediately and in less than 5 minutes had coffee, had ordered, and were chatting about the days plans.  We hit an outlet across from our hotel and I bought an awesome new pair of shoes.....they would bite me in the but later in the day.  Today we are going to Toronto.  We took the hour drive to Toronto on the QEW and enjoyed the scenery again.  Once in Toronto it was time to find food again..we were planning on eating on a boat...but it was closed.  That is Flat Mary situated between Amanda and Linda.

We ended up eating lunch at a sports bar and then we decided to hop on a big red bus sightseeing tour.  That is always the best way to see the most of a town. There was a small issue with this...three of us paid...two didn't....two got off and got the car and met us at Casa Loma stop.  It was fun learning about the history of Canada, Toronto, music, etc. We saw the CN tower - the world's largest tower, Bata shoe museum - 12,000+ pairs of shoes from all over the world, Hockey Hall of Fame, St Lawrence Market, The Distillery, Railway Museum, Eaton Center, dundas Square, Harbourfront Center, Theater District, Club district, Chinatown, Kensington Market, Bloor-Yorkville, Queen's Park.  The tour guides were excellant.  Are you old enough that you can remember Joni Mitchell's song about "paving paradise and putting up a parking lot? "....well if you can....we saw where she wrote the song...and learned what it was written about.  I love these kinds of bus tours because you can hop off and on at any of their stops. 

We headed back to Niagara Falls and ate dinner at Johnny Rockets on the ground floor of the casino.  Tonight we want to see the lights on the falls.  I bought a red rolling suitcase to use to go home.  We drove by the falls one more time and headed back to the hotel, packed up what we did not need for tomorrow, I nursed a nasty blister, and believe me....tonight sleep was welcome.  I can't remember when I have been so tired.  Tomorrow we head back to reality and the states.