Arts Fest Day 1 & I'm All Stabbity Over It

So today is Arts Fest Day 1. Depends on how you look at it. I've been corrected saying that no, Arts Fest starts tomorrow, today is "kids day". Yes, it is the day of the art booths manned by youth that have made their own creations to sell. But, to me, its Arts Fest Day 1. There are booths filled with art, stands selling chicken on a stick and the bucket dumpers are in full action. I see nothing that says this isn't 100% Arts Fest. Sure, it may not be your kind of art, but honestly, some of the art pieces I see displayed on days 2+ are not exactly my kind of art, but that doesn't make it less art. And today's art has a little something extra thrown in, kid magic. And you can't buy it, you can't insert it into your grown up art unless the person who created it is a magical being (of which many are, but not all). There is heart and soul out there in those displays. And duct tape wallets! Unbelievable what these kids have created. I was proud and I'm not even their mom. But I get a little ummmm stabbity when people say this isn't really Arts Fest. Its like saying these kids aren't doing something that matters. "Welllllll" they'll start their crappy little explanation with. But lemme tell you saying a long drawn out "Wellllllll" in front of something totally negates whatever words will somehow be formed by your mouth and spewed in an effort to make yourself look less snooty. Its like saying "I don't mean to be rude..". Guess what, yes you do. Because if you have something to say you better believe that there is a way to say it without saying "I don't mean to be rude...".

So then I get to hear someone say, out loud, yes out loud "Look at all those freaks out there and their kids in bathing suits. What is wrong with all these people." Lady what is wrong with YOU. First of all, if you are seeing alllllll these people with kids in bathing suits I guess I'd wonder why I'm not out hunting the cool water feature that must be hiding somewhere, and yes I know where, but I'm just sayin'. 1. There are lots of kids out there, loads of 'em. 2. There are quite a few in bathing suits. 3. Its a freakishly hot and thick, humid, stifling day. 4. IT'S ARTS FEST (oh right, not til tomorrow). Conclusion: There is some sort of water thing somewhere. Which we all know is the uber cool and fun bucket dumpers. The assumption that all these parents out there are freaks and have something wrong with them is totally fucked up. Maybe it was the snotty tone. Maybe I'm just prone to stabbiness today. Whatever the reason I was irked. And so I did stand up, not literally, I stayed sitting, but I did say in a voice to be heard "I bet it has to do with the fact that they'll be playing in the bucket dumpers down in the CENTER of Arts Fest (oh right that's not til tomorrow, I mean the BEST DAY of Arts Fest, oh I'm still not getting it am I, I mean.....oh stfu its Arts Fest Day 1)" OK OK I said something more along the lines of "Oh the kids play in the bucket dumpers and misters they have set up down Allen. I take my kids every year. Its great fun." and continued to rant in my head.

And then the best. "Oh people better not be using our bathroom" (public bathroom btw) "Oh look. I just bet they're going to use OUR BATHROOM. This is so wrong. Unreal. I'd put money they went in OUR bathroom." (which happens to be public). Oh. My. Dear. [insert deity here]. Its not a flow of people. Its a couple, here and there. Usually a mom and kid. And if you didn't know the bathroom was here you wouldn't know how to find it so they know. There are no signs. We aren't turning into a truckstop. And FOR THE LOVE OF [insert deity here] would you PLEASE STFU. Its ARTS FEST. People have to pee (or other stuff). It happens. Can we PLEASE just be a little bit more, I dunno, nice. Its not like YOU have to clean it, [insert deity here] forbid. Its not like there is a line if you would have to pee. Just quit bitching just once today, please? *stabbity stabbity stabbity* And I may have said "What else is a mom with a kid supposed to do, have them pee on a tree?" OK, I didn't say the pee on a tree part. But I wanted to.

I guess what it comes down to is mindless bitching, by them, by me here. But why can't we let magic happen around us even if we don't take part. Why can't we be a little more understanding of people who need to use facilities. And really, why can't we all just get along. I'm from Pittsburgh and I was raised in a town that was better than than saying no, you can't use my bathroom, you are all freaks because you play in water and I'm sure as hell better than to say that a creation made with love and heart isn't art. We are all better than that, or should be. And you know what....so is this town. So I think we need to get all the duct tape wallet kids together with their rolls of lovely colored duct tape and let them go at the agents of chaos.