(Offtopic) RETURN OF THE 6'2" CHEETAH!
Rindimo
ALL??!! <jk> Well, I made this E-mail offtopic... because... that's
exactly what it is. I figured I have experienced far too much to just
sit here, and not tell everyone what I learned. <takes some more
aspirin> Bear with me now, I'm a little tired, but I figured I might as
well tell now before I begin forgetting even more stuff. Also... I may
tend to just ramble incohesively about some things... but bear with me,
there's some neat stuff in this posting...
BTW... I'm NOT accident prone....
First, my journey began at four in the morning-- something I don't
normally wake up at... unless I were to eat a bunch of White Castle, or
Krystal burgers previously for lunch... Anyway, Believe it or not...
I drove 680 miles all the way to Hot Springs Arkansas-- Boyhood home of
President Bill Clinton Himself-- WIthout one mishap! Ugh. I even saw
Clinton's little house he lived in. I kind of regretted I didn't cover
the yard with Toilet paper. But I digress...
Everything I've ever heard concerning America's highways was that
Florida's were some of the worse. I know there are worse places out
there in the world... They're called Mississipi, and Louisianna. <jk>
Honestly... I've driven dirt roads that were in better shape than these
highways I rode down. I know, I know.. they weren't THE main
highways... ANd that there really are worse places... but it's gotta
be tough to beat some of these few streches of road.
Aside from my car chasis getting a beating... I noticed that the
farther inland I went... the more the scenery changed. We went from
Possums in Florida... to Armadillo roadkill in Arkansas. =) Yummy...
But there was other differrences out there... Consider trees: All
florida has are Pine trees, and palm trees. There's a few Oak tree
species... But not so much as pine. Out in Arkansas, not only is the
altitude greatly diversified... but there are all these beautiful
deciduous trees out there: Maple, Birch, Oak... Beautiful trees that
don't have a hint of turpentine... It was a wonderful change.
However... My car is a four cylinder... a rather small one at that.
And in One Hundred Eleven degree Fahreinheit <sp?> weather... My
airconditioning was renderred moot. Funny thing is... My overdrive gear
was jammed... so I was stuck in Third gear the whole way there. Don't
worry... The mechanic said that that was all right to do... Even with
all those incredibly steep hills...
I guess I might as well mention some of the interesting towns I saw on
the way there... In Mississippi, there is a city called Yazoo. No
lie. Alabama has Pascagoula. And here's a neat one for Duma... if he's
still out there. Guess what, Cheetah fans? THere's a town out in
Arkansas called Dumas. I wonder if that's the correct plural form of
the swahili word for "Cheetah"? Oh well...
Another thing, I just HAVE to mention... is an addition for those who
do those silly "You might be a ____ IF..." type deals. Here it goes:
"You know you're in Arkansas WHEN--
--You see a sign that says: 'Vote Skippy Leek for School Board
Administrator.'"
Well Skippy, I hope you win... But maybe changing your name might help
you out a bit when you run for president... (I'm not making that
"Skippy" thing up, BTW...)
Heh... To tell the truth... there isn't much differrence between
where I live, and Arkansas. Where I've been... both towns are old, and
show it a bit. There are people that have just as many cars in their
front yards as they do over here in my neck of the woods. Same thing
goes with old boats. Beer and Cigarettes take up all the display space
in every gas station... you're lucky to find a pack of lifesavers in
there. Which reminds me... I was going to buy those little nestle
chocolate balls... where they have a little plastic Disney character
inside. I was hoping to find Simba... but then I rememberred the
expiration date... and well... there went my will for chocolate...
poor simba. =)
Another thing I learned in Arkansas... Is they are A LOT higher above
sea level than this Florida cheetah's pridelands... So it was soon
revealed to me when-- on top of a mountain-- I ran up 21 stories of
stairs to race the elevator on this sight-seeing tower. The elevator
won. I actually beat the friends I was racing. Another thing I
learned, was after doing something like that... It is wise to NOT chug
a can of cold, Lipton Brisk Tea. Don't believe what the commercials say
about that stuff. SO not only was I on the verge of passing out... I
was also trying to hold down my lunch. Did I mention I did this in One
hundred Twelve degree (Fahreinheit <sp?>) weather? In the hot, burning
sun?
Here's the closest I can tell you about what it feels like to pass
out: First, you are sorta sleepy. For me... my breath was rapid and
shallow. What the world appeared to my oxygen deprived eyes was kind of
interesting. It was like the static from a television screen... only
without the white part. put that over an ordinary picture... and make
the picture appear in only hues of red, and purple. Viola! I almost
puked, almost passed out... and there wasn't a single drop of alcohol
around. PUH! ANd people take drugs for this??!!
Well... despite all the fun... it was neat where we were staying. Our
family friends have their parents living next door on this nice,
secluded plot of land. Their parents were on vacation themselves, so we
got their house. =) Free room and board. Unfortuneately, no cable
TV... My mom's friends had three sons, and two daughters. I especially
enjoyed hanging out with the guys. It was as if we were almost
brothers. The funny thing was, that I was the only one that could at
least grow some facial hair. They were envious of that... because they
were two to four years older than me. Heh. Furry Cheetah...
Both their daughters were into music... and one of them let me play
her Saxophone. There's more to this little instance... but it needs to
be told later. =)
Well... it was no TLKoB... but I went to a play. Way out in the middle
of the woods, is an outdoor "coloseum". It was a little christian show
that did a spin on the prodical son parable. It dealt with people
dressed as ants, and other little insect things in this show entitled
"Ants' Hillvania" I had to admit, it was very cute, and humorous. But
the thing that started something... was Bruce (the Family friend. THe
dad of the three sons.)-- who saw some of my pictures in my artpad...
challenged me to draw the "CommandANT" (the Ant Leader) from memory.
Well... at 1:00 in the morning... I did a pencil sketch of him. I then
colored him with colored pencil in the morning. I know a certain Saint
Sauve` has done this with TLKoB... I believe... ;) I wish I could have
scanned the picture into my computer.... But Bruce was so amazed over
it, he had me frame it, and wrap it up for-- Tom. THe CommandANT was
apparently, some close friend of theirs. So he has a Charles Barta
Original. =) Everyone loved it. THey weren't the only ones surprised
about it.
I guess it just goes to show, a good artist is his worst critic. I
thought I did a so-so job. Guess where he hanged the picture? It
wasn't the mantle above the fire place... But his desk was right next
to it. =) By now... all the cast of the play has seen it... He kept
showing everybody.
Tom has a Cabinet shop near his house. and every friday, he cleans it
up, and sets up the sound equipment for The Jesus Coffee House. Every
Friday, him and his boys... and anyone else who can play an
instrument... will come to his little coffee place to play christian
songs. other people come to listen in, and have a good ol' time. This
is where the saxophone part comes in. Once Tom learned I not only knew
how to draw... but could play the Sax... Guess where I was? COme on,
guess.
I was in the middle of the stage, right in the front. Thank goodness
most of the time all they do is just "Jam". I can hold my own, when I
play by ear, and know what key everyone is in... It's sheet music
that'll do me in. I haven't read any in years...
I haven't had that much fun in a long time! I even wore my fedorah,
and sunglasses to look like one of the Blues Brothers! =) Yet again...
people kept complimenting me on how I've done. Didn't they hear the way
I played off my mistakes? Perhaps they took pity, because I had to use
telephone wire for a strap to hang the sax from my neck. Thank
goodness, this was a little backwoods place. It actually sorta went
with the place... Ah well... the plot thickens...
When TOm saw my picture of him... He was ecstatic. He wanted to see
some other pictures I had done. (The First time I saw Tom WAS in the
play. I relied on my MEMORY to draw him... Okay, stop laughing...) Most
of you have seen some of my work... I do better with the furry kind,
instead of people. But anyway... The pictures were at Bruce's house.
So... since everyone was going to the coffee shop... Me and one of
Bruce's boys ran back to his house to get them.
After playing with the Band started by Tom's two sons, "Sodium
Chloride" ("We are the Salt of the earth..." that's where they got it.)
I then showed Tom my pictures...
Previously, I've told the list (or SOMEONE) the story how in seventh
grade, my artpad was snatched, passed around, and I was ridiculed.
Then, last semester in College, my artpad was snatched, passed around,
and I was praised. NOW... my art was passed around... AND I GOT AN
OFFER!!! =)
Apparently... all Arkansas has for artists.. are those realistic
impressionist poops floating around over there. There's a need for
people with my talent, an others similar to it over there, I guess. =)
So soon, the Shadow Hawks Martial Artists will have a mascot at last.
To tell the truth... I don't even care if I get paid... To learn with
this opportunity will be enough. =)
The trip home was uneventful... except NOW it finally cooled down...
sheesh! I was going to participate in a paintball war, and it was
called off due to the heat. Here, I was finally getting the chance...
and it cools off on the way home. Oy.
It was sort of neat, though. Upon returning back to our land, our
parched "pridelands" had Lightning, and RAIN! It was just like Simba's
return! Only, we didn't have to kill Scar...
So here I am, a little tired, but by far, extremely happy that I went
on a whim with my mom. =) Not only was it a beautiful place out
there... but the people were of a beautiful sort themselves. I never
felt such hospitality in my life. It was as if everyone were old
friends or something. =)
Still... Home is by far, one of the best places to go to, too. =)
And so here I am... I'll try to reply to anything noteworthy... But
bear with me here. =)
God Bless you all!
-Rindimo
P.S. Yeah, it may not be politically correct, but hey, at least I'm
blessing you. ;)
--
The Tiger is made to kill and hunt,
The Lion too, but more towards fight.
The Leopards and Jaguars were made to climb,
And Cheetahs made for earthly flight.
But there is one creature of forgotten lore:
Shrouded in mystery, be that it's trade,
Of other virtues, it has all four-
Respect the Puma, and what God made.
-Rindimo
E-mail Address: Rin...@bellsouth.net
*If you can read this, then I am still
an eligible bachelor!*
Founder (and only member) of: The L.O.S.T.- C.A.U.S.E.
(League Of Simplistic Technology- Causing All Unforseen Solutions
Evident)
K.I.S.S.: Keep It Simple, Stupid. (Long neglected scientific
principle)
kee...@juno.com
writes:
> BTW... I'm NOT accident prone....
Ummm... Yeah. Sure. ;)
>I drove 680 miles all the way to Hot Springs Arkansas-- Boyhood >home
of President Bill Clinton Himself-- WIthout one mishap!
Except the name of the town. Clinton grew up in Hope, AR. He was BORN
in Hot Springs, but his family moved within a few months.
>Ugh. I even saw Clinton's little house he lived in.
.was born in.
>still out there. Guess what, Cheetah fans? THere's a town out in
>Arkansas called Dumas. I wonder if that's the correct plural form >of
the swahili word for "Cheetah"? Oh well...
Actually, the Swahili plural for 'duma' is, just, 'duma'.. Sort of like
sheep and sheep in English.
>thought I did a so-so job. Guess where he hanged the picture? It
They hanged the picture?? Was that a critique of your art skills, or
their opinion of the actor?! j/k, we know you mean 'hung'..
> The trip home was uneventful... except NOW it finally >cooled
down... sheesh!
The weather will do that to you EVERY TIME.
Glad you had a good time!
------------------------------------------------------
Keenath (kee...@juno.com)
The Universe contains everything, and nothing. There is very
little everything, and more nothing than anyone can imagine.
- Terry Pratchett
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