As a single working mom, the amount of time I get to spend with my daughter is limited to weekends, and even the weekends are often limited to a day and a night, if either of us wishes to have a social life, which we both do. That’s really tough because we love each other and have fun together and each helps the other make sense out of life. I know it’s the quality of time spent together more than the amount, but most of our time spent together is quality time – it just would be nice to have more of it.
So we had last night and today together. We were both kind of tired last night – she was a little quiet, so we just hung and watched Jersey Shore and Ghost Adventures. She stretched out on God’s Cat. I took a bath. As I say, a quiet night. Today, upon rising, we ate and then talked about life and compromises and how to live with difficult people and right/wrong conundrums and all sorts of things for an hour or more. I think we both felt like we got a lot of value from our talk. Each time we have one of those really good talks, we seem to understand one another better. So, no, this is NOT how to annoy your teenager. Or at least not how to annoy mine. We’re getting to that. Trust me.
Wanting to go out but not being sure what we wanted to do, we decided to hit Longmont and the flea markets. It’s a pretty good flea market town, and we like its Main Street. So off we headed. Our first stop was where we got God’s Cat, and we had been contemplating a second, but fortunately for my wallet, this flea market was closed on Sundays. Across the highway, however, in their old location, was another flea market, with a parking lot sale going on. Unfortunately, I did not realize the extent of the parking lot sale until I had actually placed my truck in the middle of the parking lot sale. At that point, I realized that there was no place to park because there was a sale in the parking lot (see how I’m not picking up on the parking lot sale concept) and I had two choices: run over people in their booths or squeeze between the cones indicating that I’m where I shouldn’t be. As Kelsea can tell you, I have extensive experience with putting my vehicle where it shouldn’t be. The people at Home Depot and at Camp Lejeune Marine Base can vouch for this as well. We made as graceful an exit as possible and parked far away, hoping not to be recognized when we approached on foot.
We love flea markets. We poked around to our heart’s content and found some things that were too expensive but too wonderful, such as PorkChop the metal boar:
An old freezer that had a buckle latch as opposed to an actual handle, and was in mint condition:
China cats were nestled in the corners of your grandmother’s couch, staring at you psychotically for all eternity:
We both agreed that we would have to leave the house and never return were this to arrive at our door:
I revelled in a totally inappropriate sock monkey:
Made all the more inappropriate by its tag:
As we exited, we encountered a life-sized nutcracker:
Kelsea looked askance at me when I said that you could fit a baby’s head in there.
We headed down to Main Street, and though most of the shops were closed on Sundays, because clearly any money spent on Sunday in Longmont should be going to the church, we did enjoy our window shopping experience. We were also greeted by two gentlemen occupying a bench, who asked us if they could buy a cigarette from us, and when we said no, asked us for money to buy cigarettes, leading us to wonder how they intended to pay us for cigarettes had we had them to sell.
I wanted to share some of the interesting signs and displays from Main Street with you:

I believe the torso on the right has a club foot. Who would do that to a (half a) mannequin? And both are going to wind up with yeast infections from wearing their jeans too tight.
A very clever window display for men’s clothing:
Longmont has lots of free and easily accessible public parking and numerous small public art installations:
We did find Barbed Wire Books to be open. It claims to be the largest used bookstore in Longmont, and one we hadn’t yet visited, so we went in. I picked up a couple of mysteries.
Kelsea told me she was hungry enough to eat me, so we made our final stop The Pumphouse. The burgers were good and they had misters (those things that spray mist, not men – and when I say “not men”, I don’t mean that they don’t spray men, they WILL spray men, but men is not what they spray – oh, never mind) above the patio diners that sprayed just enough to cool, but not enough to dampen. Kelsea shared with me her most recent app acquisition:
And so, we headed for home.
Now, you may be wondering about the “how to annoy my teenager” part of the day. Well, that comes into play when I share with you what we bought at the flea market.
We found her a new army jacket from either the WWII or Korea era – I can’t tell which, but it’s in excellent shape, was only $10, and was a medic’s coat, so she is totally thrilled with that. But sorry, no image.
We found a small $2 sign for the kitchen. It’s a reminder for me of a) how to cook, and b) how to live:
I discovered a 1960’s Ouija Board. Previously, I have refused to have a Ouija Board in the house – perhaps because my Mother was so strongly opposed to them – but when I saw this one, I knew that it was the perfect time for it to arrive in my life.
And last, but so totally not least, I found Him. I had been in the booth where He was before, and didn’t even see Him, but when I walked in again, He immediately caught my eye, and it was all over. I had to have Him.
And this is where I began to annoy my teenager. She found Him terrifying. Their initial meeting went something like this:
Me: Look! I found the coolest thing ever!
Her: GAH! What IS that?
Me: I don’t know. Isn’t it awesome?
Her: NO! You are NOT buying that.
Me: But He wants to come home with you. Here, hold Him.
Her: Get that thing away from me.
Clearly, they did not have immediate chemistry. So the rest of our afternoon played out along similar lines.
Me: He likes you. He’s looking at you.
Her: Well, make Him stop.
Me: Sorry, I can’t do that. He does what He pleases.
Her: Mom, you’re sick.
Her: I’m hungry. Let’s go get a burger.
Me: Okay. He likes burgers too. And He thinks you’re pretty.
Her: Mom, STOP IT.
Me: What? I’m just saying.
She offered to carry Him on her lap if she could keep the truck windows open, but I’m smarter than that.
He was apparently all the rage in the 1950s, with numerous other incarnations, and was highly collectible among housewives of the day. Can you imagine coming home after a hard day at the office and being confronted by multiple versions of Him? Kelsea would rather stick her head in a garbage disposal.
So I will keep Him until I sell Him on Ebay, or tire of annoying her, whichever comes first – and I think we know which one that will be.
I am so looking forward to the coming months with my daughter.
26 comments
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August 28, 2011 at 9:47 pm
thesinglecell
Well, I’m with Kelsea. He’s creepy. Chucky creepy. She’s too young to know who Chucky is, probably. But He’s Chucky creepy. And so’s the Ouija board. And the sock monkey is… what the hell kind of flea market was this? 😉
August 28, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Seasweetie
Actually, she totally knows Chucky. She’s probably watched every horror movie ever made. You know, my beau just asked the same essental question, “Where IS this place?” And he wants the sock monkey, so a trip back is definitely warrented.
August 28, 2011 at 9:48 pm
photokunstler
Burn the Ouija board. Seriously. Honestly.
Kelsey has “Jersday” where she will sit in front of the tube with friends and do, well, at 21.9, anything she wants. She was born in NJ, but thankfully raised in Canada. Wait. I was raised in NJ. Do I behave like those people on television? Did I? No comment.
Looks like a fun flea market! I’d have gone for the sock money.
August 28, 2011 at 10:09 pm
Seasweetie
That’s what my Mother would have said too, Patty. Not sure why I think this one appeared at the right time for the right reason. But it sounds like you might have a tale or two to tell? And I cannot imagine ANYONE behaving like those folks on Jersey Shore. It kind of riles me to know that Snooki makes about 8 times more than I do.
And yes, I will be returning for the sock monkey. Even though I find them incredibly creepy.
August 28, 2011 at 10:16 pm
photokunstler
I have stories. I’ve heard stories. Not a healthy portal to open if you’re moving forward in this earth incarnation. There are always entities very happy to suck you back down to their level. You don’t need that. See if, when you burn it, you hear screams or see faces.
It does suck that Snookie, who appears to be a sheeple more than a people, upsets the balance of logic and sanity – how COULD she earn more than you do? Weird.
I do totally miss the days of embarrassing my girls. Now I think they take pity on me (especially lately, since they hold my hand, well, mostly Kelsey)… maybe because they see me as getting old they give me more leeway? Ugh, nasty thought!
August 28, 2011 at 10:16 pm
photokunstler
And tell your beau that I had dibs on the sock monkey! 🙂
August 28, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Seasweetie
Maybe we’ll bring it to the Abacos in the spring and you two can fight it out. Though I suspect that Truffles might be the ultimate victor.
August 28, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Seasweetie
That’s interesting, Patty, since I’ve been dabbling in the paranormal realms lately. I will ruminate on your words, as I consider you a wise woman. Now Snooki, on the other hand….
And I can’t imagine that your girls think of you as getting old. I never ever thought of my Mother that way. And she was still revelling in embarassing me up until the very end…
August 28, 2011 at 10:34 pm
photokunstler
Good. Ruminate well. 🙂
It is an entry point for spirits, and positive spirits are quiet busy with their own evolution and education. Only negative spirits looking for an opening to do some big mischief are available. They can’t offer you anything you’d want…
I imagine my girls thought I was old when I was 40. Ha! We will see.
And I plan to embarrass them forever, but as they become more tolerant it is less fun.
Truffles might love a well-endowed sock monkey! Ha!
August 29, 2011 at 7:16 am
Cin
As a practicing Wiccan… I have to agree with your pal. Ouijas are not… the best divination tool out there. I’d personally never use one. They are a channeling tool and thus things can poke about. And I’ve heard about more icky spirits then good using them to play games with people.
However, they are cool to look at and I’m told if one protects themselves properly they are ok, but they make me all heeby jeeby.
I think it would be a fun prop for some neat macro photos of the letters and things, so you could play around with that. 🙂 maybe thats why you found it.
Tarot cards, runes and things like that are a “safe” for lack of a better term divination tool. No channeling, just figuring out what things mean 🙂
But, do what feels right to you!
August 29, 2011 at 10:24 am
Seasweetie
Interesting, Cin – I wonder why I’m drawn to it now, since I’ve been so opposed to it for so long? I’ve got a lot of “activity” going on lately, but nothing bad, and I am learning to protecct myself better every day. All my smart spiritual friends can’t be wrong. Perhaps for now, I will just use it as a beautiful prop. And I’ll dust off my Tarot cards, as Kelsea has been asking for a reading.
August 29, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Cin
Well lots of reasons maybe.
1. Just buying it has led to a long interesting conversation and is opening your mind to other ideas.
2. Having it has got you thinking about using your tarot cards again
3. If spirits do want to contact you, perhaps they led you to it as a sign, doesn’t mean you need to use it, but maybe it will just let you be more aware.
4. Maybe your brain just thought it looked cool.
🙂
August 29, 2011 at 10:30 am
Seasweetie
Maybe you just need to step up the pitch of embarassment!
August 28, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Cin
yay for fleamarket finds! The doll is both creepy and cute. I think its the lack of hands…
August 29, 2011 at 10:28 am
Seasweetie
Perhaps so. I am politically incorrect and compare Him to a thalidomide baby.
August 29, 2011 at 8:59 am
SuziCate
Now those are some really cool and whacky finds, but I must say Pork Chop is my favorite!
August 29, 2011 at 9:51 am
Seasweetie
I know! He’d have been the perfect BFF for Homer, who you can see if you look for my post titled Auctions and Alpacas. Glad you are okay.
August 29, 2011 at 2:32 pm
slpmartin
Quite an array of things for sale there….and some very different indeed.
August 29, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Teresita Abad Doebley
Flea markets are always fun–I LOVE them and like the doll too! Wouldn’t mind having that funky freezer wither! What a good day–and I do remember that doll from the 50s!!
August 29, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Seasweetie
That is awesome that you remember Him! I was trying to find out some history, fact or ANYTHING about Him online last night, but so far I’ve come up empty-handed. If you know any tidbits, please do share!
August 29, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Seasweetie
And had I not just picked up an amazing-awesome similar model freezer with turquoise insides for $50 bucks when I moved into the Bungalow, I might have done the same!
August 30, 2011 at 10:23 am
pegoleg
Sounds like the best deal of the day was all the time you got to spend with your daughter. Whether quality time or boring time, that’s the best thing you can do for a kid, in my never-to-be-humble opinion.
I love the pig.
August 30, 2011 at 7:32 pm
E-bro
I have to agree with some of your comboxers here – you’d be better off without the Ouija board in the house. Just because we feel drawn to something at a particular time doesn’t mean it’s right or good for us. Sometimes we’re drawn because something outside us is doing the drawing – and that may not be good. Our mother was right about that one. Besides, when the Pagans and the Catholics you know (and I’m ironically qualified to weigh in from both perspectives) both think those things are bad news, that’s worth thinking about! C’mon – what say you toss that thing? You’ve got a new start and a new house. Why clutter up it’s aether with something like that?
August 30, 2011 at 8:51 pm
Seasweetie
I’m so glad you weighed in, E-Bro. I’m still considering (you know me, ruminating like our father), but I’m taking it all under advisement. I miss and love you.
September 3, 2011 at 11:10 pm
delana42
So, I am forth generation witch and when I was young I never thought having that Ouija board was anything but silly. Later, when I found out the truth of my heritage, it seems perfectly natural that we had it. Weird.
Fun would be had by all, such a silly board, scares people, weird.
September 4, 2011 at 7:28 am
Seasweetie
Just one more thing for us to talk about, delana42!