This pig has been keeping watch outside the main entrance of our building since Friday. This is totally normal, right? Right?
What is this, you ask?
I recently wrote about one of my main concerns as a writer, which is feeling at home in my surroundings. I’ve struggled with this since moving to the Queen City six years ago. I love our flat, and our building; if the whole thing could be picked up and moved somewhere else, my contentment would shine forth like a lighthouse beacon. I know that I am guilty of focusing on what I wish I could change about our neighborhood, even as I am faced with all that there is to enjoy in this weird little corner of town. Mr. Enormous Pig has reminded me of some of the perks of living in the CW. They are:
- Sharing a building with an unusual museum (thus, Mr. EP).
Come closer.
- The best (and wackiest) mural of George Washington you will ever see.
- The ability to get chili at 3:00 in the morning, and the simultaneous people watching opportunity.
- A giant gorilla hanging off the side of a costume shop building.
- People watching. Oh, the people watching.
- The beautiful park across the street (visible from all of our windows), especially the dough boy statue that was dedicated just post-war.
- The handsome architecture of this neighborhood is truly impressive, even if many of the buildings are derelict or down-right abandoned.
- The city salt barn directly across the street. Not only is it an easy landmark for guests, it is absurdly fun to watch news crews swarm the premises at the slightest indication of snow. Also, it looks like a voluptuous breast. At least a C-cup.
- I love being surrounded by manufacturing businesses and a sea of trees. This area is not very residential, but is intensely lush.
- The minimum-security jail behind the park (also constantly on view from our windows). It sits on the site of an old workhouse, razed many decades ago. Only the stunning stone wall remains. A jail in the neighborhood means that the streets are very well patrolled. Even though some people think the CW is sketchy, it actually means that we have the lowest crime rate in the city.
- Diversity, diversity, diversity.
Looking out our wall of windows, nine stretching full-height in a salute to the ceiling, I see colour and character; zest and life; dirt and beauty. It’s always interesting. A writer could do worse than to have so much at hand.
Don’t look into his eyes, or you will turn to stone.
Belly of the beast.
*This is a quote from George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
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Strange to find a pig outside your apartment. We moved to Memphis, after living in Cincinnati, after growing up in New York, and each transition was strange. Hopefully things will improve for you. Actually, I’m dying to know what the pig is for.
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It was very odd, even given where we live. The American Sign Museum has been in Cincinnati for awhile, but very recently relocated to our building after several years of remodeling. All manner of huge vintage signs have been popping up in our back parking lot since 2009, from Big Boy to Arby’s and dozens of others. I don’t actually dislike living here; there are just other cities I would rather live. I also wish our neighborhood had more businesses, which is my biggest gripe. No coffee shop even.
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I got stuck in a suburb and can’t walk to anything. I understand about other cities. We don’t have a coffee shop close by either.Seems the least they could do for us! You probably can get great photos without leaving home of the stuff popping up around you! Good luck with it all.
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Thank you! Camp Washington is very much not a suburb, is very close to downtown. Both of which I love. I just wish I could walk to places other than 2 chili parlors, a costume shop, 2 gas stations…I feel like I am missing out on something almost the same as if I was in a suburb, so I feel your pain.
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Your neighbourhood sounds fantastic! As for the Giant Pig – and I cannot emphasize this enough in a WordPress comment box – I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.
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Our area is definitely different! I’ve seen some very strange things in the 5 years we have lived in this building. The pig is awesome, and has many, many equally interesting friends.
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Another nice post today thanks. I really enjoyed reading it very much. Have a great day.
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Thank you.
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Feel free to stop by anytime!
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Thank you very much.
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Lighthouse bacon?
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Haha! I may only be responding now, but this comment made my morning.
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Many of my mornings have been made by bacon.
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I hate the smell of bacon in the morning. No lie. It turns my stomach.
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No me. Croissants fired in bacon fat, then stuffed with the bacon. That’s my dream breakfast.
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I was strictly veg for a decade. Never liked bacon before, always hated the smell. Now I like bacon (but only when it has been baked, not fried, like it should be) but still hate the smell. Egad, it sickens me. That and the smell (and taste) of coffee. Nasty.
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I’m a five cups of espresso a day guy.
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I cannot drink coffee of any type or in any form. I still try from time to time. Not for me, apparently. I stick to tea.
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I often think about having tea when I’ve had too much coffee, but then I need several whiskies just to help me make up my mind. By then, it’s a moot point.
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I love two of those things (sometimes together) and coffee ain’t one.
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You bring your neighborhod to life. So fun.
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Thank you! It’s all part of my new attitude/program of trying to truly enjoy where I live, even if I don’t love it as much as I would like.
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That pig is epic! Love it. 😀
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Isn’t it, though? He’s gone back to whence he came (our back parking lot) but it was fun having him out front. I laughed every time I walked outside.
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We have several pig sculpture in my town outside of BBQ pits. They are hideously wonderful! I love them. 😀
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That’s awesome. This one was apparently a one-off but we don’t know for what. It’s definitely interesting sharing space with a sign museum!
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Bean’s Pat:: Daily Diversion https://onetrackmuse.com/ One big, odd pig. What’s up in your neighborhood. Blog pick of the day from this wondering wanderer.
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Thank you so much! I often wonder what’s up in my neighborhood and I have lived here for five years…
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