It’s almost like they are following me. Just to freak me out.May 17th, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
The number one reason I wanted a new (little) camera was so I could keep it in my bag with me at all times. But it goes even deeper then that. There was a specific picture I had wanted to get for a while now. I just never had a camera with me at the right moment.
That all changed yesterday.
Okay, before I show you the picture I had wanted to capture for months, I need to set the scene a little.
I walk a lot around downtown. I see a lot of crazy things. Nothing has been crazier then the two old guys that I always see. What’s so crazy about seeing a couple of old guys? The crazy part is that they are always in full cowboy gear. What’s so crazy about a couple of old guys dressed as cowboys? You don’t see a lot of cowboys in downtown Seattle. These two cowboys are dressed as if they are real cowboys. You know the kind that just got off work at the ranch rustlin’ sheep. No, these cowboys look like they work at a theme park, or are coming from a dress rehearsal for the stage version of Brokeback Mountain.
When I see them around downtown, I feel like I’m in a dream. They are so out of place. It’s almost spooky. I’ve been telling The King about them for a while now and he just rolls his eyes at me. I don’t think he understands just how dressed up they are. Or how old they are. I mean, these are old cowboys.
(Are you sensing how crazy I think this is?) (Good.)
Yesterday on my way into Sephora, I saw them. I got giddy. I grabbed for my camera in my bag. I turned the stroller around. I started to follow them. Unfortunately, they were about to cross the street.
I had to act fast.
See that girl on the left side of the picture? Yeah, that’s more like the type of person you see in downtown Seattle. Or even that skateboarder on the right. Nobody looks like my crazy old cowboys there in the middle.
Do you see this? Full cowboy regalia literally from head to toe. One of them is even missing a few fingers, which is the sure sign of a farming accident. Every farmer I grew up living by was missing a few fingers. (Those hay balers will get you.)
Am I the only person that is just totally intrigued by these two? The fact that I keep seeing them around downtown is even more intriguing. Where are they going? Where are they coming from? Maybe they are dressed up for their job. But then, where do they work? Are they in a play? Has Brokeback Mountain made its way to the stage?
Maybe next time I see them I should ask them. It’s probably a little nicer then chasing them around and taking pictures to post on the interweb.
City living
Frema
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:09 pm
You should approach them and tell them you want to write an article for a popular Web site called New to Us. Then you can post the interview on the site as your first interview with cowboys!
Keri
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:13 pm
This is HILARIOUS. One day, when I lived in Seattle, there was a guy dressed like a samuri (spelling?) -FULL OUTFIT (complete w/sword)- who proceeded to basically shut down the city b/c he was waving his sword at police. There was a standoff for hours.
I would probably follow them too. I would want to analyze them a bit.
Marriage-101
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Ha! They look, uh, authentic? But what in the world are they doing downtown all the time? You must talk to them.
Britt
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:29 pm
The finger thing is true. Cody’s Grandpa lost one in a farming accident.
You must talk to these cowboys!
janet
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:30 pm
I love that you stalked these guys down. It would be cool if you asked them about themselves, but I’d probably too weenie to do it myself.
Rachel
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Lol, it’s funny that you chased them down to take a picture! I like Frema’s idea for an interview!!!
HollowSquirrel
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:36 pm
You need to get close enough to see if they smell like farm.
nancypearlwannabe
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I’m so glad you caught these dudes on camera! I have to say though, this is far better than the “cowboy” I once saw in Times Square, wearing nothing but a 10-gallon hat, his gee-tar, and his tighty whities.
Emily
said,
May 17, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Oh, this is definitely intriguing. They look kind of homeless-like to me. Is that mean to say??
Laurel
said,
May 17, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Yes, I vote that you interview these guys for a special blog feature!
I also need to start taking stealth pictures on the street. There is a man in the neighborhood of my office who RIDES A SEGWAY wearing a FULL-ON SUIT.
One time, I saw him on the segway, in the rain, with an UMBRELLA. Priceless.
Neil Tennant
said,
May 17, 2007 at 7:03 pm
I’ve seen these 2 downtown the last couple of weeks too!! I’m usually walking full speed to the bus so I’ve never taken much time to ponder their appearance. I’ll make you a deal, next time I see them, if it’s not a completely wierd situation, I’ll stop them and ask them what’s up and report back to you.
MadMom
said,
May 17, 2007 at 7:14 pm
ha! Giddy up! that is amusing. half the reason I got a cell phone with the camera is to capture moments like this. sometimes you see something you have to photograph!
Christar
said,
May 17, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I was amazed when I went to Reno to see all the bums they have there. Seriously! We weren’t even there for 5 minutes, when there was this drunken bum stumbling all over the sidewalk and fell over and just mumbled to himself.
That was a little off the subject, but that’s the cloests I can relate, haha! You should talk to the cowboys and find out their story!
Kathleen
said,
May 17, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Ok, they aren’t the ones I’ve seen. I will have to figure out a way to show you the photo Brett took of the ones I’m thinking of. I’m totally keeping my eyes peeled, though.
And, just to share with the group, I was telling Isabel at lunch today (hee! I feel so special getting to have lunch with Isabel!) about the guy who used to walk around the Queen Anne neighborhood here in Seattle wearing an entire black military uniform and hat and marching like he was in a Nazi parade.
Also, the bird lady. Brett saw her on the bus a few weeks ago. She was barefoot and making birdcalls. And then we saw her on Sunday and she had a ROOSTER (yes, a real, live rooster) in her coat, or a sling thing — it was kind of hard to tell. Very, very bizarre. Welcome to Seattle, I guess…
angela
said,
May 17, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Coming from Kansas City, I suppose seeing cowboys walking around downtown isn’t all that weird. But in Seattle, I would never have guessed it!
Aimee
said,
May 17, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Uh, I’m more afraid of the girl with many layers.
Do the cowboys have twirly mustaches? I think those guys offered to make me biscuits and gravy one night at a rodeo when I was 19. LOL
SJ
said,
May 18, 2007 at 4:18 am
Very interesting to say the least….reminds me of a woman I see all the time around the Springs. I’m almost positive that she’s homeless. And maybe a little crazy to boot (not to be mean, but she is).
I agree with a few others, you must get closer!
Durga
said,
May 18, 2007 at 9:39 am
Isabel, please say hi to them find out there story. it’s all so funny.
Erika
said,
May 18, 2007 at 12:17 pm
It wouldn’t be so bad if the one guy didn’t have the bandanna around his neck…that is what makes them look totally out of place and movie-set-ish!
Stephanie
said,
May 18, 2007 at 1:49 pm
This is similar to the first time I saw a hooker. I am serious. Maybe I am sheltered, but this was only a year ago. I saw a 40ish woman who defined the words “rode hard and put away wet” eww, nasty just saying it. I was with the husband and we both just kept looking at her and looking at each other saying “is that really a hooker?” repeatedly. I never saw her again. I know he wouldn’t have believed me if he wasn’t with me.
Lindsey
said,
May 18, 2007 at 2:29 pm
That is crazy! It’s strange that they are always together too. I think next time you see them you should strike up a conversation. It would probably be really interesting and excellent blog material!
Bethiclaus
said,
May 18, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Dude! Your camera’s achieved it’s life’s purpose. What’s it going to do now?
Donut Shoppe
said,
May 18, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Howdy!!! Yes, seeing cowboys in DT Seattle is a strange sight especially if the Puyallup Fair isn’t going on… Plus, wrangling cattle in a city makes the garb look weirder than it actually is.
But that’s what makes the PNW more fun. Feeling liberated to wear anything regardless of gender makes the west coast more fun to frolic in and around, I guess.
On a different note, I surely don’t know who is in charge of choosing the CW shows. They definitely don’t enjoy the flair of intellectually stimulating and challenging shows.
… That or they only have 5 brain cells to share amongst themselves. Such a sorry state of affairs!
metalia
said,
May 18, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Um, I sort of love them. Also? I want to set them up with the identical old lady twins in my town WHO DRESS ALIKE (and are also always together).
Kathleen
said,
May 18, 2007 at 10:54 pm
DUDE!!! My co-worker Carly saw them today! And there were some other cowboys, young ones, wearing *spurs* who my other co-workers encountered in our building at lunch.
We all decided maybe there is a cowboy convention in town?
And also, I commented yesterday but it ate my comment — these aren’t the same ones I was thinking of. I will have to figure out a way to show you the photo Brett took of the other cowboys a few months ago…
Meg
said,
May 19, 2007 at 3:36 am
How odd! It would be very interesting to know what they are doing in Seattle dressed as cowboys. However, if it was me, I would never be able to ask them. BTW, I now have a blog of my own and need some advice. Stop by if you have a chance!
Alexa
said,
May 29, 2007 at 8:53 pm
OMG I used to work in Fisher Plaza and I saw these guys all the time! I never knew what the deal was but I always got a kick out of seeing them.
I’m working on the eastside now so I miss out on the freakshow culture of downtown.
hola, isabel » Blog Archive »
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May 30, 2007 at 5:04 pm
[…] This time I would be prepared. I got my new camera out of my bag and waited for the naked guy to head my way. Our friends also got their camera out and their camera phone. Three cameras would ensure us a good junk shot. […]
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June 5, 2007 at 3:45 pm
[…] What happens when there aren’t any mysterious bags in front of the local Sephora? Or cowboys crossing the streets of downtown Seattle? […]
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September 20, 2007 at 2:51 pm
[…] We’ve all benefited from the digital camera The King gave me for my birthday this year. I’ve been able to prove to the interweb that I see crazy things in downtown Seattle. Things like naked bike riders, out of place cowboys, and just plain crazies. This last week I’ve started to keep my camera, not just in my purse, but in my hand and ready to snap a picture of something. Anything. […]
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April 16, 2008 at 4:59 pm
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