Friday, September 19, 2008

You Love This Town, Even if That Doesn't Ring True

Thanks for everyone's kind words and I'm doing much better today. Sometimes I just have to spew shit on the page in order to figure it out and try to fix it. You'll be happy to know that all my lightbulbs have been changed (which, unfortunately is NOT a euphemism for anything fun) and my shoes are picked up.

So, today I had the dorkiest idea ever. Me? Shocking, I know. But it was beautiful outside and I happened to bring my camera, so I thought you might want to go for my lunchtime walk with me and see some stuff that I passed on my way around town. When it's nice out, I cruise the same little route everyday. We're going to start with this first photo. It's the door stop to the building where I do all of my extremely important pushing of papers.

I didn't take photos of the beginning of my walk, because I had to get my guts up. It's kind of weird to go around and snap photos of mundane shit. You never know how people are going to react. I just had to warm up to it.

The picture above is of a guy people call Sexual Robbie because of the name of a band he was in in the nineties. He seems to be playing guitar by himself these days.

This is a forgotten dinosaur on a bench between the playground and the library in beautiful downtown Iowa City.

Here are some chairs and behind them, some tables all lined up in front of that one restaurant across from the library. Sorry, but the name escapes me now.

We've turned the corner now and we're cruising along Linn Street. The building to your left is the library. Our public library is pretty damn cool, if I do say so myself.

Here's a guy putting up flyers for some band that's going to play in some bar at some point. I'm sure it will be covered by another flyer by the end of the day.

We're on our way back to work now. I only get a half hour for lunch, so I can't take you any further. We'll just follow the girl with "Iowa" written across her ass. I still don't quite get the point of having something written across one's butt. Is it really just so that everyone will take a closer look? Because if that's it, it totally works. Even when I don't want to, I have to read whatever is in front of me.

We're crossing the street and heading to the Pentacrest, which is the main campus. As you can see, we still have twelve seconds, so it's not like we have to run before the light changes or anything.

This sidewalk leads to McBride Hall. I never had any classes there, but I used to take my girls to the free natural history museum when they were younger.

Also, I really like those boots that the girl walking ahead of me is wearing.

We're getting very close to my office now. There's always someone reading on these steps when the weather's nice.

As you've probably noticed, our school colors are black and gold. These buses that you see are free to anyone. My girls used to love to ride around on them when they were little. That's one thing about this town, it's pretty easy to be poor in. Believe me, I'm an expert.

This is the walkway that was named after the woman who was shot by Gang Lu in 1991.

This sign is mounted on a rock in front of the building where I work.

And finally, we're inside. Sadly, lunch is over and I have to go answer phones and vent about the callers after I hang-up and ask the guy who sits behind me how his favorite planet is and hear him answer, "My anus is just fine, Churlita. Thanks for asking"

Now, run along and quit following me. I've got shit to do. Oh, and don't forget to have a great weekend too.

18 comments:

rel said...

Churlita,
Thanks for the stroll around your neck of the woods.
I don't know why people advertise on their asses either but I'm OK with it! :-)rel

Anonymous said...

hey that was fun...Iowa city has the countdown crosswalks like Cleveland does.

I always enjoy seeing people run across the street when the pressure of being timed is presented to them. Its like if they don't make it across before "1" a giant steamroller type vehicle will squish them, the ground will open up and swallow them, or snipers will shoot at them from on high. Its funny.

You could probably gallery the "forgotten dinosaur" photo and sell it for big bucks. There is a deeper meaning to it.

dmarks said...

Poor lonely dinosaur. That is why they went extinct: they got abandoned on park benches.

Glad you are feeling better!

Susan said...

I want those boots! Maybe I should move to that part of the world because I need somewhere it's easier to be poor in. I've decided being poor in a small town is about the hardest because you hit the whole "only one grocery store, one place to get your car fixed, one place to drink" so they can jack up the prices all they like.

You have a great weekend too!!

Minyo said...

Thanks for the walk. I'm not a fan of words on butts. Hopefully it's not something my girls will want someday. I refuse to buy those shirts that say "princess" too.

The museum of natural history is cool. My husband likes the musk ox display (his favorite animal). I know, it's kinda weird :)

Tara said...

Aww, poor dinosaur! That's cute and sad at the same time. Makes me want to either pick it up or put a cover over it so it doesn't get cold. Goofy, I know. I like stuffed animals.

Anonymous said...

wow, gorgeous. I want to come to Iowa and eat on cheap pizza night sometime.

booda baby said...

Thanks! Waaayyy cheaper than flying back (which was almost done this last week. There are some amazing deals lately. Suspiciously amazing.)

I sold my first cheap engagement ring with its itsy bitsy diamonds to that jewelry store. I thought it'd be good to pay rent.

laura b. said...

That was a great post, taking us on your lunch walk! Iowa City looks a great place to live. I know you joke about it, but it is, right? :-)

MrManuel said...

That was a fun photo post. I wish I just carried my camera around. Kind of hard when it is so big.

FYI - I use to have that exact stuffed dinosaur!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the tour, Churlita. I wish I had the opportunity to make it down there when I was in Cedar Rapids, but with the chaos of the floods, I wasn't going anywhere.

Poptart said...

I LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs. Hairy Woman said...

it's nice to see your neck of the woods.. But didn't you get any shots of Sarah Palin the other day.. they were doing some campaigning in your area..

Chance said...

Nice tour. Glad you're feeling peppier. Believe me, I'd rather be in your shoes, with money worries but two great daughters, than the other way arounf.

Attractive ladies of age with stuff written on their butts can just barely justify it to me, but I cannot fathom why people put those pants on their little girls. That's so creepy.

minijonb said...

pretty damn fine town you have there. i knew there was a good reason we let you kids into the Big Ten.
=;-)

David Ano said...

I like that picture of the guy putting up fliers. I was wondering if I could use it as a photo reference for an illustration that I would like to submit to a book once finished. Do I have your permission to use the image?

Churlita said...

Sure. Have at it.

David Ano said...

I finished the illustration, can I e-mail it to you? my e-mail is david(dot)ano at gmail (dot) com