I felt a surge of joy as I returned from my afternoon stroll, clutching a bag of treasures that spoke to my inner child. They were not mere toys, but relics of a bygone era, when imagination ran wild and heroes came in all shapes and sizes. I had found them in a hidden gem of a store, tucked away in a corner of the city, where nostalgia reigned supreme and every shelf was an adventure.

The Basement, as it was aptly named, was more than a comic shop. It was a museum, a sanctuary, a playground for the curious and the passionate. The owner, Justyn, was a kindred spirit, who knew the stories and histories of every item in his vast collection. He was generous and fair, offering me a bargain for the eclectic ensemble I had picked out.

I laid them out on my desk, admiring their details and quirks. There were three Swamp Things, each five inches tall, with different expressions and poses. There was a Hammerhead figure from Star Wars, with his shifty eyes and weirdly shaped noggin. There was a Plastic Man from McDonald’s, with his bendy limbs and goofy goggles. There was a Spectre from Brave and the Bold, with his ghostly green cloak and eerie white glow. And there was a mini Ben Grimm, the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing, with his rocky skin and gruff attitude.

They were welcomed by Harold, a long time regular glyos carry-along creature. He was the guardian of the House of Pearls, and welcomed the newcomers with a friendly if unintelligible mumble as if to say: “You belong here. You are one of us.”

I smiled, feeling a connection with these misfits and oddballs. They reminded me of myself, of my love for the strange and the wonderful. They were not as popular or mainstream as some, but they had character and charm. They were not realistic or logical, but they had magic and mystery. They were not flesh and bone, but they had life and soul.

I felt grateful for finding them, for finding The Basement, for finding myself there. I felt happy for supporting a local business, for giving back to the community of which I have only recently joined.

#eelobrian #plasticman #swampthing #bengrimm #thething #spectre #hammerhead #momawnadon #alecholland #jimcorrigan #toystagram

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Journal Entry: July 10, 2023 (social distancing day 1214, new residence day 91)

The Greenway was my destination today, a ribbon of green that wound through the city, following the course of the Roanoke river. A refuge from the noise and bustle of the streets, a sanctuary for the creatures that made it their home. I joined them for an hour, walking among the geese that grazed on the grass or floated on the water. They paid me no mind, secure in their domain. I envied them their ease, their grace, their freedom. I took the opportunity to drop off the SpongeBob stone I picked up at a different point last time, and will look to see if it moves next visit.

The sun was high and hot, but not oppressive. A breeze caressed my skin, bringing relief and freshness. I looked up at the sky, a clear and brilliant blue, and then at the horizon, where the mountains rose like jagged teeth. They circled the city, enclosing it in a bowl of stone and earth. They were witnesses to its history, its triumphs and tragedies, its changes and challenges. They were guardians of its secrets, its dreams, its hopes.

I felt a connection to this place, this landscape, this moment. I walked with a steady pace, feeling the rhythm of my steps, the beat of my heart, the flow of my breath. I listened to the sounds of nature, the river’s murmur, the birds’ song, the rustle of leaves. I smelled the scent of life, the grass, the flowers, the earth. I smiled with gratitude, with joy, with peace. It was a simple but meaningful way to spend my afternoon. I’m glad I did it.

#roanokeva
#greenway #walkies #walkabout #geese #fish #bluejay

Um, Ollie’s?

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https://youtu.be/k4fdTKgGciM

Nice day today, visited the farmers market, got a lovely dozen doughnuts from @roanokecoffee (banana pudding, Arnold Palmer, peaches and cream, chocolate frosted, vanilla bites) also some pretzels and bagels from @blacksburgbagels and some peaches from @monkeysfreshfruitandveggies . the heat there about wiped me out.

Drove a bit, and came home for a rest and a nap.

We regathered with the family and had a nice spot of Chinese food followed by the final episode of Endeavour.

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#cryptidfamily #cryptid #doodles #roanokeva #localbusiness @leap4localfood

Mystery solved, the bug we saw last night is a banded tussock moth. It looks like a bit like a golden version of a rosy maple moth when it flies!

https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Banded-Tussock-Moth

Lucky for it, Pearl observed from the other side of the glass.

#backyardzoo #misspearl #bandedtussockmoth #catsofinstagram #mothsofinstagram #roanokeva

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Living up to her nickname of vapor. She seems to be everywhere and nowhere at once with the speed and energy of three ordinary maniac cats. Turn away from installing a light fixture for a moment and she is up the ladder evaluating the workmanship.

#misspearl #roanokeva #tabbycatsofinstagram #stripedcatsofinstagram #catsofinstagram @pearlsquirrel

Making the bed, having just showered after another long, way too hot walk. What is everyone else up to?

Journal Entry – July 5, 2023

Today I decided to take a walk along the Roanoke River Greenway, a scenic trail that follows the river for miles. It was a very hot day, with the temperature reaching 89 degrees Fahrenheit. I felt the sweat dripping from my forehead and arms as I walked, but I also enjoyed the breeze from the water and the shade from the trees. Thankfully, there was very little humidity and a decent amount of shade.

I saw a few geese swimming in the river, honking at each other and occasionally diving for food. They seemed to be having a good time, despite the heat. I wondered what they thought of the humans who shared their habitat.

As I continued walking, I spotted something colorful on a rock near the trail. It was a painted rock, one of those that people leave for others to find and enjoy. It had a cheerful shellacked spongebob sticker on it.I smiled and picked it up, feeling a surge of gratitude and happiness. It was the first painted rock that I had seen in a long time, and it brightened my day.

I decided to keep the rock as a souvenir of my walk, and also as a reminder of the kindness of strangers. I felt inspired to paint my own rock someday soon and leave it for someone else to find. Maybe I could make someone else’s day a little better, too.

After walking for about an hour, I returned home, feeling pretty much exhausted. I drank some water,  took a shower, and then collapsed on the couch. I was tired, but also satisfied with my walk. It was a good way to spend a summer day.

#cryptidfamily #roanokeva #walkies #doodles #cryptid #geese #backyardzoo #paintedrock #walkies #walkabout #greenway

The Salem Painted Pig is looking very patriotic this week! Last week it was pretty much painted solid silver. This little guy has been a tradition long since before I first visited. Sadly, it seems the hobby shop has since gone out of business, but they continue to keep an eye on it.

#salemva #paintedpig #salemtraditions #starsandstripes #seemsappropriate

Here are some pictures of the pig from ages past!