with the good comes the bad.

things that i see every day in philadelphia: students walking to class, music performers lingering in the street, the occasional fist fight or screaming match, and unfortunately, homeless people.

it is tragic that although this city can be viewed as so beautiful, it still has its downsides. there are some people here who have worked hard and made their lives full of luxury. there are students here striving to earn a degree and make something of themselves. and then there are the less fortunate: those who cannot compare to the lucky ones. the homeless people make amends by living in the streets. whereas most of us sleep in a comfy bed in an air-conditioned or heated room, these people find comfort in a cardboard box with a few newspapers to keep warm.

it is heartbreaking to think that such an issue exists all over the world, and here in philly. thousands of people are existing without homes, raising their families with no shelter. i know there are those who pretend to be homeless in an attempt to earn extra money from a passerby. but then there are those who actually maintain this lifestyle. there are groups out there to help homeless people. but the problem is not becoming smaller. homelessness is a well-known issue. it occurs all over. so what can be done to eliminate the problem? what do you think causes the problem? do people become homeless because they simply do not care to make a living? are there homeless people who once had a home and could not pay for it? so many thoughts come to mind. and since the issue of homelessness is a big one, there are many websites to its dedication in philadelphia.

Project Home is a great websited devoted to homelessness in philadelphia. it claims that there are about 4,000 homeless people here in philly (living in shelters or on the street). most of them are african americans in their twenties, thirties, and forties. sadly, one third of the amount of homeless people in philly are children. since most shelters close in the winter, this is when most people are forced to make a living outside. the site also claims that the reasons most people are homeless are due to an inability to pay for a house or health care, or because of mental illness/substance abuse/domestic violence. Project Home is a site devoted to end homelessness in philly.

Philly IMC also gives information about homelessness in philly. although this website is more focused on how viewers can make a change in the issue. there are articles listed to "help educate the inspire the political will for change." the site acknowledges the fact that homelessness is rising here in the city, and there should be something we can all do to alter that.


both sites touch upon an issue here that is devastating: homelessness. i believe in philly however. as you can tell, i know it has its magic and liveliness. but with the good, one must accept the bad. and after we have accepted the bad, it is our duty to change it and make it better. yes, homelessness exists. but as citizens of the city, we should do all we can to let those people enjoy the same luckiness here that we do.

oxox

philly's got the magic.

do you wanna know something i love about philly?

that you can experience anything here. and in all honestly, if you are going to experience anything ... do it here.  if you are going to go through heartbreak, happiness, misery, excitement, withdrawl, or anything else you can possibly feel as a person, i highly suggest you do so in the lovely city of philadelphia.

there is just something about this place. like it exaggerates everything and makes it.. real. at home in the suburbs life is just blah. yes i go through sadness and happiness and everything in between, but it is just so different here. philly has character. as you walk down broad street with the cool breeze blowing through your hair, you realize that your bad break up isn't so bad after all. that the news you just heard about your family... will be okay. everything will be okay.

because here you are, in the city of brotherly love. where the skyline and the people and the magic just lingers everywhere. philly makes you happy to be alive. regardless of the circumstances. your mind may be on something else, but as long as your heart is here... you are in good hands. :)

oxox

philly + bike-riding + your naked body

there are certain things that people do every day. things that are so simple, they become a daily routine. make breakfast, do homework, go to class, tie one's shoes, etc.

and then there are things that people do naked. shower, skinny-dip, bike ride.

bike ride?

yes. there are people who actually ride their bike... in public... completely in the nude. and where else would such a crazy action take place than in the city of brotherly love itself? this blog is dedicated to insane happenings that take place in philly every day. i feel as though thousands of people partaking in a naked bike ride for all to see, surely falls under this category.

"At least one thousand cyclists participated in the second annual Philadelphia Naked Bike Ride from Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park to The Piazza at Schmidt's in Northern Liberties. The Naked Bike Ride is held to bring awareness to issues such as the environment, body image, and peace."

what an amazing way to promote body image. and i really mean that. my roommate had told me about this race that takes place last year. and i immediately became intrigued. who in their right mind would cycle throughout philadelphia with their goodies dangling for all to see? these couragous, environmental happy, body loving, peaceful people. and i envy them. they don't give a damn who sees their private parts; they are satisfied with themselves just the way they are. and you can tell by the pictures posted in the link below. they are careless. happy. free.

it just goes to show how interesting philly can be. the naked bike ride is not an unusual occurance. those who live here may appreciate me saying this. only in philly will you not be surprised if you are walking to class and a herd of naked bike riders go by. only in philly will it be a daily part of your day to walk outside and find all your neighbors gathering around for an intense unannounced block party. only in philly will you expect some of the more dangerous things such as shootings and drugs and robberies to be normal.

but it's okay. it's what i love about this place. give me a city full of antics and lunatics any day over the suburbs. there is life here. excitement. wonder. just walk out your door and you will find enough entertainment to fill your day.

it is here in the city of brotherly love, that a naked bike ride will take place. where people who are so care-free, independent, and loving all gather to promote a great self-body image, something many are without. philly is not only filled with people who do crazy things, but people who have a great cause while doing them.

and that is why philly, you are too kind. oxox


philly naked bike ride   <<< check it out, here is the link to pictures of bikers!

the beginning

my name is katie killian, and i am quite new to the "blogging" experience. granted, i have been accustomed to facebook for the past three years, but this blog is different; it is refreshing. as opposed to posting pictures of my social life, statuses about the insane things my friends and i get in, and comments about downright plain drama... i can pour my heart out about something close to me. and what that is, is none other than the city of philadelphia. i moved to this city two years ago, my freshmen year of college to attend temple university. and what i was in for ... would be nothing other than fantastic.

"philly, you are too kind" will be devoted to my life here in philly. what i see, smell, taste, hear, and even touch. everything that fills my senses on a daily basis, making my veins fill with excitement. philly is an amazing place. there are things that i have seen here that i never would have imagined in my lifetime. there are events that fill my day that i would trade for no other: my college campus, shopping stores and boutiques, center city, south street, cute restaurants, public transportation, and the beautiful sightseeing.

philly is a place like no other. this blog will allow you to see philly as i do.

oxox philly