"Oh, so you were the one who let the dogs out?"

Big Time Stuff. Punk Rock, Birthday Party, Bonding, Fun. It seems as if I've just made everything into a proper noun. SWEET! So I will try and recap just about everything that occurred on Saturday. So I gots maself up pretty dang early... like 7:15 I believe. I had to get all pretty and smelling fresh with my summer lotion. I had a date with the Punk Rock Flea Market and I wasn't about to go without staying classy. So I was lookin' good and feelin' fine when Kelsey got me so we could ride the train together with Chrissy. Well, when I hopped in Kelsuh's sweet ride, we noticed that our outfits were pretty much the same. A high waisted patterned skirt with a flimsy black tank. But it was all good. And the ride to Woodcrest was fabulous, we both filled one another in on hopeful situations and goals. But we had to wait like forever for Chrissuh to get her ass to the train station cause her car kept stalling :/ But she eventually arrived and all was good. OHhh except for the fact that Chrissy was wearing a high waisted skirt and a small top.... BAHAHA! We were triplets, a blond, a red head and a brunette! It was slightly embarrassing only cause Kelsey was prepared to change into purple acid washed jeans prior to knowing the three of us would look just about the exact same! But still, it was cute. So the train happened and the walking to the flea market happened after as well. It took like 20ish minutes from the train to arrive at our destination, the Starlight Ballroom. We had to walk through gunk and goop and stop for Chrissuh to get some cash monaaays. But we arrived around 10, so we made pretty good time. Chrissy's cousin Brittany met up with us too. She is such a cute girl and I absolutely adored hearing her stories about telling different boys off! She's my kinda lady :)

So anyway, the flea market. Well, as per usual, it was hot as balls. The venue that it's held at isn't exceptionally tiny. But when you cram tables upon tables and leave about 5 feet in between each aisle and then stuff about 300 people in, the hot just seems to explode from every which way. You got loud tattoos and sweaty mohawks bouncing off of poorly dressed mannequins and clothes racks. I noticed that after being in the flea market for about 20 minutes, the people didn't really tend to "bump" into each other anymore, ya know? Everyone was so summer loved (sweattttttyy) that you would kinda just slide off of the guy standing next to you to make your way to the next table set up. Gross. But anyway. My first order of business at the flea market?... the dresses! Last summer, I found my favorite dress at the flea market for $8. It's handmade and beautiful and blue and white and it feels like a paper napkin so it's also a dress that comes in handy when I spill things! But I couldn't find a dress that was cheap like my Bounty Dress :) or one with a print that I would consider putting on! So the Womyn (that's what we're called...women with a y. We're also art kidz, but that's besides the point) split up and went our separate ways in search of good buys. I looked through the shoes, found nuffin. I looked through the necklaces and earrings, found a hell of a lot but decided that $25 for fancy, unique jewelry was too much out of my wallet for the day. POOP. So I skipped that part and went looking elsewhere in the flea market. Looked through cds, records and films. My favorite part was the street art tables that were set up. I really appreciate anyone who feels it is necessary to sell their creations to others, but I didn't buy any. As much as I loved the artwork of pen and ink antelope and cityscapes, I couldn't dish out 35 bucks to buy it. Almost two hours later, the Womyn were ready to leave the sweaty goodness of the market. I ended up with a copy of Franny and Zooey by Salinger that is vintage out the ass! as well as this small over the shoulder navajo inspired woven bag. And I got about 10 free posters that are soooo well worth it. I've already cut them up and put them around my room. sooo great. So even though I thought we were done punking and fleaing, we weren't. You'll see.

So the four of us left to walk around Chinatown for a little bit. Chrissuh and Brittany wanted bubble tea and Kelsey and I were dehydrated. All the while, I was waiting for Brandon and his friends to meet me some place in Phila (preferably the flea market and preferably like 30 minutes before this point when I was telling him to come so we could reunite) So us girls stayed in China for a good while drinking bubble tea and talking about life and then B-dawg told me his location was proximal to the flea. SOO long story short, we walked back. And after becoming sweaty and frizzy again, we found each other. I had no idea that when Brandon was telling me he was with friends, that one of the friends was Doug from school! Well his old school now, cause he's not a college man anymore! BUT STILL! That was a pleasant surprise but I wish Ryan had come (I mishhh you gurl!) So I stayed around those boys for a good while to catch up and talk and mingle and lalala. Points of interest: Brandon, you have an unhealthy obsession with Will Smith. But I am glad you bought one of his movies in case you were in a pickle getting out of the ghetto and were forced to whip out the movie and show the locals you come in peace! Also, good job on the recognition of the many hip hipsters as well as the concrete definition that you displayed to Kelsey and I. So after more introductions and fun words being exchanged, I think we all decided to see each other again, which I can support 103%. I am always down for super reunions especially with people like Brandon and Doug and Ryan (you're hanging out with me soon, Ryan. NO CHOICE! also, I think you're reading this cause you told me you stalk me. I stalk you too. <3)

So that's pretty much it. For the flea market at least. We left afterwards, met up with Noam the Great and rode back with him, Stina, Katie and Sam. I forget how amazing Noam is until we actually hang out. I know he's only 15, almost 16, but he is seriously one of the coolest people in the world. Last time I was with him was over winter break when I was being Miss Trembla (the y got cut off my last name for 4 of the 5 field experience teaching name tag days!) and the entire time we talked about stupid things. This time on the train, he and I spoke about how people confuse him for Rick Moranis, probably because now that Noam's hair is blond and blue and super short, they're very similar. We also talked about art teacher Rocky and how he looks when exiting a pool. Noam thinks he looks like a wet deer. I probably agree. I loved the train ride back because I noticed a lot of people were smiling at what we were saying to each other. Guess strangers think we're funny. The after train was great...like 5 hours after. I went with Stina and Kelsey to this boy's house that went to Lenape with us. It was a joint birthday party for Katie and him. Kels, Stina and I were the only white kids there and Stina isn't even white...she's greek! Everyone else was Asian and way smarter than I'll ever be. At one point Kelsey made a remark to Stina and I that Brian the birthday boy's sister was in her math class senior year. The girl is a junior in high school. What the hell does that tell you? That we're not that smart! bahaha :) Anyway, it was a lot of fun even without knowing people. The Womyn kinda separated ourselves from the party to bring our blue drinks outside and talk about life situations again. We had a lot of blue drinks. That was the plus to being there, everything was paid for and real! And then later I basically hated life. Let me paint you a pretty picture. So it's like midnight and it's starting to rain. No biggie...but then it starts to pour. And lightning. And the three of us have to get home. So we leave around 1 regardless of the mess outside. And we're running through puddles, I'm sloshing through rivers of rain water in my porous jellies :/ at least the water goes right through. And it was interesting to hyrdroplane while my feet were in my shoes! But anyway, all is good, just soggy when Stina and I are driving back to my house. We're cranking up the Aerosmith, belting out how we don't wanna miss a thing. Then as I'm home and I get out of her car, my phone falls on the seat. I pick it up to return it to my bag but I realize that my wallet and chapstick are both missing. NOT GOOD. I look on the floor of the car, I look in the backseat, Stina searches her side. And we get nothing. At this point I'm not interested in the fact that it's raining and that I could be struck by lightning. I really didn't give a shit. I get out of the car, get down on my hands and knees in the pouring rain to search under the steats. At this point my white dress is completely drenched (haha, hey boys!) I found loads of old wrappers and pennies and gross car junk, but NO WALLET! So soaking wet from head to toe, I go inside my house and call every asian kid that I don't know to search the house for my wallet. Nobody finds it and I was about 3 inches from bawling. Anyway, I decide to look out the window just for the hell of it. I see a sliver of white and figure that I'm already drenched and pissed, who the hell cares, I wanna see what is in the street. Good news, I found my wallet and my burt's bees submerged in a puddle at the bottom of my driveway :) hahahaha woops. Moral of the story, no more blue drinks for me and I'm going to try not to tip my bag upside down anymore! Now, I'm just giving it time so my social security card can flatten out once again! That was not good, but as soon as I found it, Christina and I spent about 10 minutes just flat out laughing over the phone at how in the morning, we can call each other just to laugh at this stupid, soggy situation!

So that's pretty much it. I did say that the weekend would be pretty epic, didn't I? I am so pleased with how everything turned out. I had hopes of getting a lot more from the flea market that involved possibly a dress and sunglasses, but that didn't happen. I still had one hell of a good time and I'm really glad I went. It was worth it. And now I have an old, beat up Franny and Zooey and this itchy bag that I'll wear more in the winter. And I have great bonding experiences with friends from here that I wasn't sure I'd feel comfortable with as much anymore. But boy was I wrong. My art kidz were there to advise me, drag me, pick me up, stay by my side, comfort me and hold my hand. So tanks gurls! And I got to see Brandon and surprisingly Doug, which was bitchin'. I hadn't seen them since May 15 and it was beginning to get a little unsatisfactory. Now we have sort of made plans and I am a happy gopher. Also, while waiting for the train, I found out that Sam, this really awesome chick that was with us, let the dogs out. After all these years of wondering, tossing and turning in my sleep. I'm gonna call up the Baha Men and let them know that Sam indeed did let the dogs out!

This flier does not coorespond with the Philadelphia flea market, but I thought it was incredible and too good to pass up! It is beautiful.

One flew over the mockingbird's cradle and into the heart of a nation

The most creative task I've done in the past two weeks? Paint and then repaint my nails. Well that was before yesterday of course. I've been lacking the inspiration I need to think outside of the box. It's not like I haven't picked up my sharpie or my 2B pencil, it's just every time I do that, I end up drawing nothing worth my time and I just feel like throwing it away. I'm not interested in drawing still life anymore. Goodbye fruit and flower arrangements....hello everything else! But about the inspiration, yeah. The Philadelphia trip was more or less a concrete way to get me in that artsy mood once again. Yesterday, the Sandra, the Miguel, the Miguel's friend Wendell and I all found ourselves in the hustle and bustle of Philly. I was not expecting to go into the day meeting so many new people. I'd have to say everything about yesterday (besides almost getting hit by a car on multiple occasions and the $36 parking ticket) was premium. Remember when I said a longggg time ago that what I was most excited for in the coming years was human interaction? Well I sure as hell got what I wanted :)

So after introducing myself to Wendell, the four of us cruised up and down South Street bopping from thrift store to outlandish thrift store. While bopping, we found some pretty satisfactory bumper stickers that related mostly to the lack of Jesus' approval in certain situations as well as Girl Power! We saw lots of good stuff, like bikes (I NEED A BANANA SEAT BIKE ASAP) and $3 shoes that were probably clogged with athlete's foot....I'm just sayin'. And on our travels, there were too many (is that possible?) dreadlocked men. I'm not complaining though...just sayin'. Wanna know the best part? Miguel and Wendell were hit on by two lovely ladies working the street. BAHAHA! Just kidding. The 18 year olds weren't working the street, but they were named Barbie and Caramel and they definitely wanted the two boys, fo sho. But for about 15 minutes, the six of us exchanged everything save for our social security numbers! I'm happy that the Barbie/Caramel interaction happened, but I'm more happy that they thought Miguel was 23! hahahahaha, oh man.

We went into stupid places to get tattoos and then the "boy shop." Nothing was purchased from the squishy store besides a ridiculously unnecessary bumper sticker. And no body art was performed though Sandra wanted her lip tattooed. After we were done there, or maybe before, we had another super sonic meeting. Two really cool guys came up to us to tell us that if Outkast and TV on the Radio produced an offspring, that the man standing in front of us would be the result! They describe themselves as folk-hop and are strongly influenced by Biggie and Bob Dylan. wth...that's awesome! It was more awesome when the blondish guy thought Sandra's name was Zelda and he then proceeded to grab her shoulders and yell "I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU ALL MY LIFE!" :) it was the greatest moment in a long time. The singers are called Lee G & Delon. It's like rappy but there are sweet ass beats in the background, and sweet baby jesus, they included Joanna Newsom on three different tracks. Normally rap isn't my cup o' tea, but it isn't purely rap. It's like happy rap that I can understand! So after Joanna's weird voice appeared in the background, they had us sold at that point plus Lee G (who reminds me sooo much of someone, just can't fuckin place it!) is very familiar with Sandra's Buddy Wakefield. We bought the cd and listened to it for a while. They were very awesome people and I TOTES wouldn't mind attending a show of Lee G & Delon's. Plus, they're pretty local and that's greattttt.

More meetings! YES. Well, we went to Art Museum to pay tribute to Rocky's steps and take photographs. Wendell and Miguel showed off in front of the ladies to see who could climb to the top of the huge fountain across the street. Wendell can, and he can also make a fool of himself pretending to blow the statue. :/ There were some skateboarding boys and some foreign ladies in green jeans who thought when we asked them to take a picture of how cute we all are together, that they could take ten minutes to find the right angle and background for us! It was adorable, however. And then after that, we went to these bitchin' sculpture thingers that were massive monopoly pieces and falling dominos! THIS WAS THE BEST INTERACTION!.... okay so there were a gaggle of young children near our picture taking extravaganza. About six miniature people all under the age of 5 I would say. A precious little girl, I'm sure she's just learning to walk, smiled and gave me the cutest googly eyes. Her brother, or friend, a very young one was playing with little army men. When I was squatting down (number 1 mistake) he let the army men cascade down from my shoulder to my arm to my hand to my kneecap to the pavement. So I would take the army men and do the same to him, just to be friendly, ya know? That was all fine. Until he started staring at my shirt, and what happened to be filling my shirt at the moment. He began stuffing the little plastic men with automatic guns down his shirt, still while keeping one hell of a gaze at my goods. Guess what he tried to get me to do next? Ohhh, that's right, stuff the army men down my shirt too. :/ So his mom told him he was "fresh" and I reassured her that it should be comforting that he acts this way, in about 15 years, the kid'll be set! She didn't really care for that...but it's not like I really give a shit...I mean her kid was trying to feel me up! And he couldn't have been more than 2 and a half. But the precious young thang who is just learning how to take steps makes an appearance again in this whole interaction deal. She had a fork wrapped in plastic, probably from some fast food joint and she was chewing on the plastic. And as she did this she started waddling on over to me. So I held out my hand in an attempt to free her from her plastic restraint. Instead, the penguin found it's way over to my outstretched hand and licked my palm. So basically in a matter of about 10 minutes, a 2 year old tried to touch my boobs and a 10 month old licked me. And as they were all departing, the frisky boy shook my hand, but didn't really care to look me in the eyes....I think you probably know where he was looking.

That pretty much was the day. All of the interactions that I had with new people, even if I didn't get their names. I met peers, artists, babies, the homeless, the wealthy, the bronze (shout out to you Rockyyy). It was great and not even thirty minutes from home. I'm excited to meet more people! This weekend coming up should be premium for multiple reasons, but mostly because it's the Punk Rock Flea Market. That means Philadelphia again, and cool things to buy and friends and love and sunglasses and earrings and love and friends and fun and fleas. Can't wait. I'll update about the goodness probs on Monday. And there better be something good worth blaaging about. If you get ma drift :)

ooh, I never told y'all what I did with my inspiration. Well when the four of us were boppin and hoppin through weird stores, I picked up some awesome fliers/postcard/advertisements and such. And they're above my door frame. There is a cow that I cut out from the tattoo place, a kid that looks like his face was made into a rug, flowery things and stupid things all above my door. No biggie, but it's something new in my room. And that's what counts.