Eccentric-Ville

I have become much less surprised when I see a crazy person these days. Back before I broke out of my dome of repression (AKA Southeastern Minnesota) I would be completely fascinated by the fact that someone was talking to themselves or doing something completely off the wall. I think my numbness to this whole thing started when I took a job downtown and see the same weird, wait, let me do something a little more PC, eccentric people combing the streets like lice through a homeless man's beard. Panhandlers who ask for money to ride the bus (where exactly are you going, your job?), musicians who just bellow out the same thing over and over again on their out of tune instrument or those who say they are just passing through town and need some money to continue their journey (Minnesota would not be my top stop if i was road tripping or was a hippie) all bring something to the entertainment side of the city that few want to meet but won't soon forget. I have had my fair share of occurrences with these eccentrics and I always seem to land the cream of the crop. Those who have been with the blog for a while might remember the man in the wheelchair who asked me to stick a cigarette in his mouth, or the panhandler who asked for money so he could buy a cup of coffee (yeah, beg for luxuries asshole) but my latest run in with the crazy farm happened yesterday.

It was lunchtime and I had a mad craving for some south of the border food that only Taco Bell can bring. I see a lady standing in line that I have seen multiple times throughout the city preaching about the end of the world coming and yet no one is listening. She wears stocking caps in the summer and always has her makeup (yes even the eccentrics need to look good) done to resemble a snow princess with frozen eyes. Her face is about as blue as if you took a Smurf and stuck them in a blender. As she is ordering her meal, one double layer taco, she is raving about how she can't get enough of them and they are so good. (Really, I think only a crazy person would use the words "Taco Bell" and "good" in the same sentence unless you said "It is good to see that Taco Bell has stopped using rats in their food.") She moves on and I order my food and we both get our grub at about the same time (oh joy) so as I move to the soda machine I hear her saying to herself "America wasn't born in a day" over and over. My eyes get all big (as they should anytime you hear something so insightful) and I just stop and give her a look. Now those who know me pretty well can really agree that my expressions say a lot more than my mouth does so I can only imagine the look she got when she blasted out "...Satan worshiping, like those people in India." Oh shit, what the hell does that even mean? The girl behind me (sporting a kick ass Decemberists t-shirt I might add) said "only in downtown" and I laugh, agree and move on with my day.

So what is it about downtown that attracts all this "interesting" people? It seems like there is a giant magnet (I think it is under downtown Macy's (near the spot you found the poop in the bathroom Tom) that just forces them to colonize. Stiffer laws are trying to get passed to help with this issue but sometimes you can't help but laugh and be entertained.

-B.

P.S.- I have been asked by a few people how my project 1000 photos is going. Well, I'm lazy and have only shot something like 250 photos. I do have another couple, irk, make that a week left in the project and I leave for vacation on Saturday. I think I could possibly finish the project while I'm on holiday (I have always wanted to be English) but I don't think it will happen. Anyone going to argue 1000 photos in 60 days? :)

(thanks for listening to my inner thoughts)