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Being outgoing has never been easy.  I do not have my father's gift for talking to anyone and getting a positive response.     

Dallas Texas 
Elm Street
Early 2000's

I'm more comfortable observing people.

People don't live up to expectations.   

It's a hard lesson to absorb.   We judge by appearances, which is iffy at best.  At first, we don't have much to go on, besides appearances, and people dress to impress, if they have the ability.  

Dallas, Texas
Pearl Street
Early 2000's
I believe this is a representation of Cthulhu, although I suppose it might just be a squid.
They used to pop up a lot downtown; but, I don't go downtown much these days.

What people leave behind, even trash, is much more telling of who they are.  Also, what brings them together says a lot.  Little bits of commerce will bring people together better than the parks and amenities designed to do so.  Not the big chains, not even Starbucks, does this so well as the food trucks and carts downtown, when the city allows such things.  

Dallas, Texas
Near Elm Street in front of El Centro College
Early 2000's
Passing out free samples of coffee to students and other people passing by.

Public art does attract people.  I don't see the same interactions that people have waiting for coffee or buying food.  One can hardly expect to only have food vendors in a city.  Looking at a morning yoga class in front of The Eyeball is a sight one does not see everyday, unless you are working across the street from that garden - I suppose. 

"The Eye"
Fiberglass Sculpture by Artist Tony Tasset
1600 Elm Street 
Dallas Texas
This enormous sculpture is accessible to the public.  It is in a garden, but I liked the pattern of the fence in front of the Eye,

I just wish people didn't leave so much trash behind.  Maybe if people had more time for a sit down lunch, we could cut down on disposable stuff.  What do people get for lunch, a half hour?  I'm thinking of the minimum wage people, the one's that get lunch breaks.  Oddly, manager types and professionals get one hour traditionally.  More time as the ladder increases.  Seems backwards to me.  The cheapest labor gets the least lunch break, while the most expensive labor gets an hour.  

I'm not outgoing.  I guess introvert describes me.  Maybe, I should just play to my strengths.   

Mental Meandering

 Today is July 6, 2021

Not much happening.  

Woke up - minor event as long as I don't have to deal with people. 

Started laundry today, so...grumpy is the best I can do.

Not a morning person.

My mind is not really occupied, laundry is kept simple.

and

I tend to think about random stuff.

Dealy Plaza

There is in Downtown Dallas, a log cabin.  It's said to be the cabin inhabited by the city founder.  Local history.

JFK Memorial

The white concrete monument to JFK, designed by Philip Johnson is close to the cabin, along with the court house as a few restaurants.  The area is, or was since its been a while, fairly lively during the day.  I wouldn't go there at night unless I had no choice.  Which is a pity, since this monument was designed to be seen at night. 

Old Red, Museum, Former County Courthouse
Made with red sandstone

This image is of the old Dallas County Courthouse.  It's been converted into a museum.  The new courthouse is modern and not very interesting to look at.

There are things to do in this part of my city; however, they are not that interesting to someone who has grown up here.  

Why is that?

First, I've seen all of this more than once.

Second, Cities are meant to be lived in and do business in.  

Tourism is only one type of business.  There are surrounding this area a school, a church, a lot of government bureaucrats and courts.  All of which are not active at night.  Thus, the restaurants that serve them, shut down at night. If people have no business (like being a tourist which I am not) in an area, they go somewhere else.  If I have business there, its something I am in a hurry to get done and leave.

Third, There were few residences in this part of Dallas and I can't afford the asking price.  

Although, to be fair, the city is making an effort to attract people into dwelling downtown.  Mainly, young upwardly mobile people.

Don't judge.  Who else can afford to live downtown?   

But, it takes generations to make cities livable and desirable.  

I don't believe that any amount of money or services will make a city instantly liveable.  That is just a start, necessary because everything needs a beginning.  In some ways, a city starts with fresh water, a cabin, and farmers needing someplace to sell extra food.  (cities are surrounded by farmland)

People never actually make decisions based on logic.  A basic course in sales techniques emphasises this.  Logic seems more suited to justifying what has been decided.  So all the amenities and advantages of a city mean nothing, if people don't want to be there.  

Cities are strange things to build, but that word (build) is not very accurate.

Cities can be seen as layers, like an oil painting by Turner.  He liked to use a scumbling technique where thin layers of oil paint make up the painting.  Each layer allows a little bit of of the under layer to show through.

"Landscape with Water" by JMW Turner (1775-1851)
As of 2022 in the Tate Museum, London

The effect is incredible, in Turner's works.  

One layers a city over generations, and a little bit shows through each layer.  The ultimate effect can be seen in cities that have thousands of years of history.  Dallas is not that old.  

So my musing for the day comes to an end.  Boredom leads to grandiose thoughts and consideration of a painting by Turner.  Now it is time for me to zone out while folding clothes.

BPowell July 6, 2021 A chain of thought post, or just mental meandering.