Tuesday, August 13, 2019

The Red Man


Well, this definitely counts among the stranger things I've found in a rubbish bin while walking the dog.

That is a life-sized fiberglass (I think?) mannequin with the head of, I don't know...Poseidon? And a jacket and tie. And no pants.


Olga was intrigued, but also scared.


The back view.

I sent Dave a photo of this object and he said, "Bring it home!" I replied, "It's as big as me!" Besides, he was joking, and I didn't really want it. There was a time in my college years when I would have leaped at the chance to have something as funky as a blood-red life-sized fiberglass Poseidon in my apartment, but those days have sadly passed. I think it would just scare me in the middle of the night. We left him in the bin.

I zipped down to Mayfair yesterday to see a little exhibit of Vivian Maier photographs at an art gallery there. I really like Maier's photography and there were some interesting shots, but I'd already seen much of it reproduced in the news articles about the exhibit. I felt like it almost wasn't worth the trouble to go. I did pick up a couple of interesting photography books, though, so that made the trip more worthwhile.

Oh, and yes, Dave did make it back from the states. He got here about 9 a.m., I think, and we looked at all the changes in the garden, and then he went to bed -- and slept until 4 p.m.! He got up, we had dinner, and I figured he'd slept so much he would have trouble sleeping at night -- but no, we went to bed at 10 p.m. or so and he slept soundly through the night. He's still asleep now, in fact. I don't know how he does it.

18 comments:

Linda Sue said...

when the first photo leaped out of my monitor I thought " oh please, take it home with you, Steve" Seeing Olga's reaction, I understand. But , OH, what a find! It would look amazing in your garden, and would thrill Mrs. Cravits. You find the BEST stuff!

crafty cat corner said...

Your posts make me laugh with all the things you fine. This has got to be the best yet, I love his bum, lol
Briony
x

David said...

Wow, what a strange thing to find in a bin! Don't you wish the "man," if that's what it is, could talk? And, yes, you were right - leave it there.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

The hoary marmot sleeps for between seven and eight months a year in hibernation. Perhaps Dave is related. What a prank it would have been if Dave had woken up to find the red man leering over him.

Ms. Moon said...

I know exactly what you mean- there were days when I, too, would have hauled that dang thing home and then wondered why in hell I'd done it until I finally got rid of it. It's just almost too good to pass up. I suppose there is something to be said for maturity.
I'm related to the hoary marmot too.

ellen abbott said...

I don't think I'd have dragged that thing home even in my wildest days. I'm glad my son didn't ever come across it though because he would have.

The Bug said...

If I'd brought it home it would have had to have a paint job - I am not about to have Poseidon/Satan in my house!

Red said...

Maybe I should start checking trash bins as you certainly find some interesting things. here we have carts and they are closed.

Edna B said...

I think the Red Man might have looked pretty good in your garden. Of course, he would need a new coat of paint. hahahaha. You find the funniest things! I love going on these walks with you and Olga. You have a wonderful day, hugs, Edna B.

Anonymous said...

Wow! That is the coolest big red man Poseidon I've ever seen!

Sharon said...

Oh my, that is a strange find! I don't blame Olga for being a bit scared. Dave's ability to sleep off the jet lag is amazing.

Colette said...

I applaud you for leaving that Red Man behind. Although there might have been use for him in the garden.

jenny_o said...

There's never any good garbage around here!

I can't believe I just said that.

e said...

Wow, all I ever find outside here is crap a la canine...Red Man would have been a conversation piece for your nosy neighbor...

Catalyst said...

Oh, I think it would do so well in your garden, scaring off those nasty foxes and other night critters. Or perhaps just outside your front door for Mrs. C to admire. Oh, a world of possibilities exist, Steve.

Marty said...

You'd think, being king of the seas and all, he'd have rated a pair of pants. . .

You reminded me of my madcap teenage time in London when I "liberated" a Cadbury chocolate ad and a tube map from the Underground, hiding them under a coat.
Kept them well into respectable adulthood.

Steve Reed said...

Linda Sue: I knew, of all people, you would get a kick out of this. I kind of wish I had kept it, honestly.

Briony: I agree! His bum is the best!

David: I'm sure he's got an interesting history. He was probably someone's student art project or something.

YP: Dave could very well be a hoary marmot. It would explain a lot.

Ms Moon: It's just SO BIZARRE. As I told Linda Sue, I kind of regret leaving it there, although I know I would have regretted bringing it home, too.

Ellen: Ha! I bet someone claimed it before the trash guys came.

Bug: I know. The red is off-putting. (Maybe he IS supposed to be satan? I didn't even think of that.)

Red: It's harder when you have to lift the lids -- I just peer inside open bins!

Edna: Can you imagine that thing in the garden? I bet we'd never get another bird or squirrel.

Robin: And just how many big red man Poseidons HAVE you seen? :)

Sharon: It really is amazing. He's like a dog. If he's not busy, he's asleep.

Colette: He might have made a good scarecrow. (Or scaresquirrel.)

Jenny-O: Ha! I bet there is, but you can't see it. :)

E: I could have hoisted him over the fence and left him in HER garden. Now THAT would have been funny.

Catalyst: I wouldn't want to scare off my foxes, but Mrs. K is another matter...

Marty: I had a friend as a teenager who stole a traffic barricade. She kept it in her closet for years, with the light blinking away. Hopefully no one drove into the pothole she un-barricaded. (Teenagers don't think about things like that.)

Beth Reed said...

Oh wow that red man is something else. Especially no pants lol. I bet that in the end you were glad to have left it in the bin. Just think that if you had hauled him home and Dave not let either you or it in the house and you had to haul it off again hee hee.

Welcome Home Dave. I am sorry I forgot to wish him a welcome home earlier. I hope that he had a good time here in the states. I do hope that it was cooler where he was at but sadly I think that we are all under heavy heat warnings.

I am off to read your next post. Oh and thank you explaining the pottery pieces.