Stolen shoes and fancy cars

Saturday morning I discovered my tennis shoes were stolen.  What a crappy thing for someone to do.  I was leaving them outside because the tred was picking up the gravel that lines our spot and I was sick of picking up little rocks in the Hideout.  They were on the lower shelf of the table that holds our grill.  The table, grill, another larger folding table, and our cooler are bike locked together, but the shoes were not secured.  I have noticed young men disrespectfully walking through our lot and I can only assume it was them.  So despite my zen perspective of this working-class neighborhood....whatever.  Did I mention we are moving next weekend?  I looked silly (according to Brother) wearing Sketchers with shorts when we went out on Saturday, but again...whatever.



Saturday was the Mesa Festival of the Arts and they featured many art cars that were amazing to look at and enjoy.  There was so much to see, like this Brass Van:


Funny thing is that I actually saw this one on Thursday when I got off of the train after my commute home. As I waited at the crosswalk this gem was waiting at the light!  I paused to take a picture and the driver leaned out the window and told me about the Art Festival and the art cars that would be featured there. 

I had read about the festival as well, but seeing this van sold me and I am so glad we went!  The driver told me the brass van was build by a relative of his and that it weighs 10,000 lbs - twice the manufactured weight.

Another favorite was this spiritually enlightened peace-mobile featuring moss, coins and religious iconography from around the world. 








Loud Queen music was blaring from this masterpiece with Freddy Mercury on top and the band in the rear.  The whole things was covered in rhinestones, old time pieces, and other bling.  It was so fun to examine all the way around.

Sister was a fan of the Owl Car: 

One of my favorites was the Camera Van....what a blast from the past! On a side not pictured there were screens playing videos of art cars.  Too cool (Yes, it is completely covered in obsolete photographic technology and we were all taking pictures of it with our smart phones...what a trip!).