Strange People

This power point presentation was sent to me by one of my loyal blog followers, Katrina, who lives in Australia. She sent it to me in response to my Wal-Martians Part Deux blog. Thanks for sharing Katrina!

Strangepeople

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Wal-Martians "Part Deux"

We have all seen people parading about in public who are completely clueless when it comes to dressing themselves. I’m not sure if they just don’t care, or if they actually think they are being fashionable, but I see more fashion faux pas today, than I ever saw growing up. When I was a teenager, I never would have worn a midriff shirt if I had one ounce of skin hanging out over my jeans, but in today’s world it has become the norm to have, not just a little skin, but large amounts hanging out everywhere (fashion term: “muffin top”). The well known fashion term, Plumber’s crack, used to be a reserved style for plumbers only, but that too has become commonplace. In Wal-Mart stores across the country, the plumber’s crack has actually become a ravine, and is sported by both men and women alike. To think that back in 2008, the mayor of Riviera Beach, Florida, Reverend Thomas Masters wanted to outlaw the baggy pants trend in Rivera Beach. I think that craze was tame compared to the atrocities we’ve all witnessed in Wal-Mart. He should take a trip through there and arrest some of those crazy Wal-Martians. The following are just a few common sense rules that people need to follow when going out in public:

1. Do not expose your private parts. That’s why they are referred to as “private” because no one else needs or wants to see all that while they’re buying their meat and veggies. I’m not a prude by any means, but there is a time and place for everything. Even though Wal-Mart has become the place to show off one’s strange, we don’t need to see some stuff.
2. Look in the mirror before heading out on the town. If bits and pieces are hanging out, tuck ‘em back in.
3. Baggy pants that hang off a guy’s butt are for losers, and they look ridiculous. What’s up with that anyway?
4. Make sure clothing fits properly. It has been proven that tight fitting clothing can cause health problems.

There are things that just don’t need to be displayed in public, need I say more?

UFOs, Do They Exist?

How come people who claim they have seen a flying saucer, can never take a decent photo or video of it??? It is so annoying to go to a website that supposedly has the latest UFO sightings and see a smudge on a photo, foggy lights in the distance, or watch a video of some guy, who sounds like he’s been smoking a lot of dope, watch zippy flying lights on the horizon (yes, those are flairs). Whenever there is a newscast with a sound bite saying something like, “A crowd of people saw an unidentified flying object in the sky over New Hampshire—News at 11,” I always have to look. I am usually disappointed though, because no one has ever taken a good photo or video that looks like an actual space ship; the kind you would see in the movies Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. or Independence Day.

I am not saying that I don’t believe them because, really, I am one of those eternal wishful thinkers who hope to see the day when NASA finds life out there beyond our galaxy. However, I still have a healthy amount of skepticism that this will happen. For instance, how come some people see alien space ships and others have never seen one? There are some who claim they have actually been kidnapped by aliens. Isn’t it odd that these alleged aliens pick and choose whom they appear to? What makes “alien spotting” people so special? Supposedly there are many things in this world that go unexplained, and the possibility that life forms from other worlds have visited earth is not impossible, but to date no one has been able to convince me into believing it. The stories are entertaining though, aren’t they?

Marty and I at the Green Market at the new waterfront on Flagler in West Palm Beach.

Bizarre Travel Mishap

Webhands1, one of my blog followers, invited me over today (2-20-11) for homemade Tres Leche cake and coffee. While I was there, she agreed to be interviewed regarding a bizarre travel mishap that happened when, at 16 years of age, she took a trip to Europe with a high school tour and ended up coming home scarred for life. She had briefly mentioned this scar in one of the comments she left on my tattoo posting, and I was interested in her story.

She said the trip overseas started off great. She toured England and France, and was having a blast. There was no drinking age in Europe, and the students were actually permitted to “sample” alcohol while they were touring. Webhands1 stated that there were girls from all over the United States, so she was also able to meet new people, and was having the time of her life. However, when the tour went to Greece, the fun abruptly ended.

Apparently, she took this trip during some hostile times in Athens (1984), and so many of the girls’ parents made them come home because they were worried for their safety. Webhands1’s parents let her stay. The first night she was in Greece, all the girls who remained were partying and having a good time in the hotel room. There were two girls from Louisiana who had been sampling a little too much libation throughout the trip. They had also been stealing pieces of artwork from each hotel to bring home as souvenirs. This night, as these girls walked by Webhand1’s hotel room, they noticed on her hotel room wall, a large, beautiful painting of a gondolier. Webhands1 was in the bathroom, so they asked her roomies if they could take it, and were given the go ahead. As they were taking the picture off the wall, Webhands1 was walking out of the bathroom at the same time. In a series of unfortunate events, the girls lost their balance in their drunken state, driving the glass picture deep into Webhands1’s right thigh.

Webhands1 was rushed to a small hospital in Greece where no one spoke any English, including the doctor who sewed up her leg. He kept saying “plastique, plastique” so she knew he had to do plastic surgery, but could not comprehend anything else he was saying. The doctor had to sew up her thigh from the inside out, putting in hundreds of stitches. Webhands1 said that the doctor’s extreme concentration was causing him to sweat profusely, and she was sure some of the perspiration got into her wound. When she got back to the United States, the doctor who followed up on her leg wound said that the picture came very close to her femoral artery, and she was lucky to be alive. She says that to this day there is a single, black hair that grows out of the center of the scar, and even though she plucks it out, the hair grows back. She believes that this hair is part of the doctor’s DNA that got into her wound that day; a little reminder of her accident in Greece 26 years ago.

Everyday people have accidents while they are traveling, but this one was particularly odd and therefore earned a place on my blog site. Besides, who could turn down tres leche cake? I am also interested in hearing about others who have had things happen to them while traveling abroad or even in the U.S. and what the outcomes were. Do you have a travel story to tell?

The Wellington Witch Shops at Wal-Mart

There are a couple of witches who frequent Wal-Mart on Belvedere Road in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. I’ve seen them both myself. My daughter, husband and a few of my friends have seen these witches too. They are very strange looking women who do their grocery shopping there, attracting stares from all the customers.

The one that I have seen on several occasions dresses in a long, dark, forest green dress with a green, pointed hat. Her shoes curl up at the toes and her sleeves are striped. I’ve never seen anyone quite like her. I first saw her a few years back in the month of September. I know it was September because I thought to myself, “It’s a little early for Halloween, isn’t it?” It seemed like a joke, or as if the shoppers may have been on Candid Camera. However, this lady never cracked a smile, despite all the adults and kids giggling and pointing at her. She wears the same outfit each time I see her, and I wonder if she has a closet full of green witches dresses hanging neatly, with curly toed shoes all in a row on the floor. I even took a picture of her once, but I think she put a spell on it, as it miraculously vanished from my computer when I sat down to write this post.

There is another infamous witch, called the Wellington Witch who also visits the Royal Palm Beach Wal-Mart. I’ve seen this one too. She looks more like the traditional witch though, dressed entirely in black with a funny black hat. She actually wears what looks like black, combat boots. The Wellington Witch has been frequently seen in the Wellington/Royal Palm Beach area. She even has a Myspace page. People have taken her picture while she’s shopping and posted it on the Internet. The Buzz 103.1 radio station even posted a podcast all about this lady. Everyone says she is creepy, but I’m not afraid of her. In fact, the next time I see her in Wal-Mart, I may just introduce myself. What would you do if you came face to face with the Wellington Witch?

Weird Lady on Bus

Not much to blog on here, because the video says it all. I guess her hair was bothering her?? Ok... Embracing our strange is one thing, but I would have to move my seat a few down from this one.

Angelina

One of my favorite actresses is Angelina Jolie. The reason is, she comes across as a very strong woman, someone who is courageous and won’t let anyone take advantage of her. She is not afraid to be herself and takes on controversy with grace. Yes, she has been described as strange, odd, weird and just plain bizarre, but she holds herself with such poise that she can get away with it. Her charity work is phenomenal, a fact no one would dispute. I still like to go see all her movies despite some of the weird publicity she has garnered.

Angelina has been rumored to have some unique and eccentric quirks that have gained her a lot of notoriety. She is not only well known for her excellent acting, but also for acting out in most bizarre ways. For example, at her first wedding she allegedly wore black leather pants and a white blouse with her husband’s name scrawled on the back in her own blood. I have searched extensively for a wedding photo, but have been unable to find any photos to corroborate this story so, as far as I’m concerned, it’s Urban Legend. Her second marriage to Billy Bob Thornton was also a bit strange in that she supposedly wore a necklace, containing a vial of his blood. He also wore one containing her blood. However, the Huntington Post did an interview with Angelina where she explained the story behind those necklaces, stating that they were not “vials” of blood. She has been accused of husband stealing, but no one really knows how she ended up with Brad Pitt. Only Jennifer, Angelina and Brad know for sure what happened. Angelina claims to this day that Brad did not cheat on Jennifer. Even if he had, in my opinion, it’s none of anyone’s business. Her father, Jon Voight, has referred to her in the past as mentally unstable, but he may not have any room to talk about that. There were even rumors she may have had a romantic relationship with her own brother, which both have vehemently denied. In Hollywood it is difficult to separate truth from fiction, and because there are always two sides to a story, I choose not to fully believe any of these reports. Sometimes it’s better not to know all that garbage about celebrities because it kind of destroys the "glam and glitter" that give movies and television that special appeal.

Most of her movies are fantastic, having just the right combination of intrigue, mystery, and action with some anger thrown in. These movies suck you in and it is almost impossible not to keep watching. They are definitely in the “I don’t want to get up to use the restroom” category. My favorites include the Tomb Raider movies, Salt, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Girl Interrupted and Wanted. I still have not seen “The Tourist” but that one is next on my list because it also has my favorite actor, Johnny Depp. The two of them together will probably make “The Tourist” another blockbuster.

No matter what people think about Angelina Jolie, she does a lot of charity work and has a big heart. She has been named Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. She has visited and donated her time to many refugee camps all over the world and even adopted several refugee children. She also donates millions of dollars to many humanitarian efforts. If more people volunteered their time and donated their money like she does, it could go a long way in fighting our world’s starving masses.

There is so much more to Angelina Jolie than just a beautiful face. She is an award winning actress who has been recognized for her work in several blockbuster movies; an excellent example of someone who genuinely cares about people who live in poverty; and has character. She is not afraid to be herself despite coming off as strange. I suppose some of the negative publicity that she has received is the price she pays for having everything going for her, and being one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. I, for one, hope she continues to do well.

Body Art

Tattoos are trendy in today’s world, but most people do not realize the stigma they could be putting on themselves when donning some of the larger tattoos.  In my opinion, it is our right in life to be individual and unique, but at what price?  I grew up in a time when people who had tattoos were shunned.  If you had a tattoo and you had not been in the military, it was presumed you were either an ex con or trash.  It was not considered proper or lady like for a woman to be inked. Although tattoos seem more acceptable today, many people still look down on those who have decided to wear their ink proudly.   Tattoos can be tastefully done and are actually a great way to express one’s self as long as the person getting it puts some careful thought into what they are doing. After all, this type of art is a permanent mark on the skin and must be lived with for a long time following the final prick of the tattoo artist’s needle.
    I am a 45-year-old woman who decided about 10 years ago that I wanted to get a tattoo.  I had been married since I was 18 and when I got divorced, I had befriended someone with a variety of tattoos. I had never had a friend with tattoos before and was fascinated with the idea of getting one myself.  Being an artist, I could totally appreciate the artwork that he had on his arms and it started me thinking about what kind of design I would want.  My divorce was a big turning point in my life, and this seemed like a good way to make it memorable.  I started sketching things that I thought would look pretty or cool, and came up with a Celtic star design.  After perfecting the design (one that was small enough to hide under clothing when necessary), I took it to a high school friend, Tom, who had opened up his own tattoo studio.  He put my design onto a screen that projected it onto my right hip.  He drew around the design, and then proceeded to tattoo me.  The only way I can describe the feeling is that it is like someone burning you with a hot needle, but the pain is brief.  It didn’t take long and I had a piece of art on my body that I had made special, just for me.  There were artists at the shop who of course could have done a much better job than I did, but I just wanted to make it myself, so Tom was nice enough to let me do that.  I liked it so much that I made another design of a moon, sun and stars, about the size of a silver dollar, and had Tom tattoo that design onto my right shoulder blade.  I have been happy with these very small, what I call tasteful, tattoos for years now and do not regret my decision, even though they have aged and faded over time.  I am not aware of anyone judging me for my decision either. It is art, and the artists who work in these shops create some tattoos that are absolutely gorgeous. 
    While I am a proponent of people getting tattoos, I do believe that a person would need to use good judgment when deciding to do this.  What I mean is that I do not believe the professional world is fully on board with the idea of tattooed people representing their businesses.  Those who have tats on their faces, necks or hands are really limiting themselves for any future careers so, with that in mind, if your goal is to become a tattoo artist, then ink to your heart’s content.  However, if you plan on a career in banking, government, medicine or some other white collar environment, it would probably not be smart to have a dragon tattooed to the side of your neck.  Overly tattooed workers tend to scare the customers because a large part of the population still thinks of these people as “bad” or trashy. Many who do not approve of this art form, like some of the elderly, baby boomers, religious people, or straight-laced conservatives may have preconceived ideas of someone with tattoos and have a hard time accepting them.  
    It is equally as important to choose the right design for a tattoo, as Johnny Depp can attest to.   Many years ago when he was engaged to Winona Ryder, he tattooed the words “Winona Forever” on his right arm.  When they broke up, he obviously disliked the idea of having her name on his arm so much that he chose to change the tattoo.  It now says “Wino Forever.”  Johnny did not use good judgment.
    I would say a majority of today’s ink donning individuals are good hearted, friendly, dependable and professional people.  More of them are getting tattoos and also accepting people who have them, but we still have a long way to go before tattoos are the norm in society.  For those who are thinking about getting one, consider the stigma that could be placed on you first.  Are you brave enough to not care what others think?  For those who don’t like people with tattoos or judge them in a negative way for having them, think about why you don’t like them.  Then toss that thought out and accept that individuality is what makes this world great.  Lastly, consider your design choice because you will be living with it until you are old and saggy. There is nothing uglier than a droopy rose.

Freakish Cat Woman

Jocelyn Wildenstein is odd.  She is so strange, in fact, that I could not help but write about her in my “Odd is not Contagious” blog.  This woman definitely embraces her strange, and loves the attention that she gets from her plastic surgery that went awry.  What I think happened here is that she was married to a very wealthy man who wanted a trophy wife, and when she began to show her age, she decided it was time to get a little nip tuck.  Jocelyn became addicted to plastic surgery like so many women do, and because she had so many surgeries, her face started taking on a mind of its own.  Her face now looks ridiculous with a cat like appearance.  I have to give this lady credit though, because she turned something bad into something good by accepting what had happened to her and still being proud of her looks despite looking like a freak.  She is hugely famous and still rich beyond her Wildenstein’s dreams (like my pun?)  This just goes to show that beauty really is only skin-deep and we can all learn something from Jocelyn.  The main lesson is: Don’t worry so much about outward appearances, but rather how you make others feel.  This lady is obviously doing something right. 

Roach Smuggling

This is an extremely bizarre story, where a man who actually makes a living selling exotic cockroaches was arrested for smuggling them into the United States; Florida to be specific. His name is Derek Rader and his illegal, odd roach fetish, coupled with his greed, has now introduced a plethora of non-native roaches to Florida, because when they arrested him, the roaches disappeared. "Investigators said he is not cooperating and they have no idea what happened to all the roaches he brought into Florida." 

I, for one, am not happy about this as I have a cockroach phobia.  Whenever I see one I scream bloody murder and jump around like a freak, especially if I see a palmetto bug.  They literally make my skin crawl.  Personally, I am glad law enforcement officials are going after this guy criminally because apparently his little roach collecting escapade could cause a bug infestation like Florida’s never seen before.  If you think Florida has roaches now, just wait.  What do you think about this? Do you think Mr. Rader should be charged with a felony?