Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Blockin' Up The Scenery/Breakin' My Mind


The Fair was a blast. Plenty to do. And plenty to look at. Being in an unfamiliar environment forces me to look around and see things I ordinarily wouldn't. So I had some fun in Great Falls reading signs. These three represent the range of opinions and activities available at the Fair -- from goofy to spooky.

Two I didn't get pictures of because we passed them too quickly:

Picture this in your mind. A squat cinderblock building with a gorgeous maroon awning. Two large storefront type windows flanking the front entrance in the middle of the building. Left window says in gold writing reminiscent of filigree: Piazza del Torgilia (I think I'm mangling the spelling of the last name, but you get the idea.) Right window says in a blocky sans serif, stressed font: Incontinent Supply's. Forgetting the mangled spelling and use of the possessive, consider the irony of the juxtaposition of the elevated place name and the resignation implied by the manner in which the actual use of the place is announced. Then, I have to love Incontinent Supplies. Will they soil your other supplies if allowed to mingle? Do they need training? Do they literally supply incontinents, like an escort service, only with incontinents. But I can't imagine there's much call for this service, unless there's a movement among incontinents to embrace rather than fight the problem -- and seek out others for self-acceptance and companionship. (I don't mean to make light of incontinence. It can be a degrading condition and I empathize with those who suffer from it. I'm just making fun of the sign.)

Another I didn't get a picture of: Universal Semen Sales. Now, this makes sense. It's in Great Falls, the tip of Montana's Golden Triangle which produces grain and beef. But what really brings on the questions in my mind is the vat immediately adjacent to the back door of the place, with a spigot at the bottom. Do they sell it by the quart?

Yes, I've been called a binge thinker. Recently.

6 comments:

Sharon Hurlbut said...

Universal Semen Sales - I think there's a story in there somewhere, Anne. Sounds like the Fair was a great time!

Are you going to home school again this year? We're trying to pack everything we can into these last three weeks, including our own State Fair.

k1tchenwitch said...

by the quart ~ ewww! almost as gross as that brie joke you made a while back (which I plan on never letting you forget) ;)

Anne Bauer said...

Yes, it looks like we are going to homeschool again. I wish I knew deep in my guts it was the right thing to do, but I remain somewhat ambivalent about the social aspect.

Garlic puffs with brie, anyone?

k1tchenwitch said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNE!!
Hope it's a great one, old woman. :)
~t

Stephanie said...

I'm just adding my reaction to the semen sales....yuck!

Anne Bauer said...

Thanks, T -- and the same to you, my fellow Virgo -- but what the hell were you doing up at that hour???

Sorry about the EEEEWWWWW factor, Steph.