My Friend Oscar Malhoa

His mother was Spanish, his father Portuguese

Though he never considered himself 

Either one of these

Always proclaimed himself an internationalist

Said he had no allegiance to any borders

Still, he held fast to a British passport

Said it was handy 

For getting out of most difficulties

I met him in an Internet cafe in Glasgow

Back when Internet cafes were a thing

He spoke English with an awful accent

Which was still better

Than my Portuguese or Spanish

"You don't speak real Spanish."

He once said 

"You speak a western bastardization of Spanish"

At least that's what I think he said

It may have been

"You speak a weird abomination of Spanish"

Dude was very hard to understand

National Western Stock Show Coors Western Art Show 2018

                                                            The work of Joe Paquet

A Day At The Stock Show

Cold Feet

Was it just a little apprehension, or was it outright dread?

Apparently, Kansas Itself Is A World Of Treasure

.A few days ago I wrote that a visit to the World of Treasures in Wichita, Kansas was one of the ten places within driving distance I wanted to visit this year.

That posting was evidently read by a few people living in Kansas, or had lived in Kansas at one time, and all of them emailed me ideas of other places that would be worth my while to visit in Kansas. 

Among  them are:

The Kaw Region Art Park near Topeka, Kansas, which features Truckhenge, Boathenge, and Beer Bottle City, all of which were created by Ron Lessman, at first as a response to a court order to clean up his property, which was strewn with old rusting trucks, buses, and the like.

The Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas. When a place boasts 2,500 Wizard of Oz related items on display, and has a restaurant nearby that goes by the name of Toto's Tacos, well, there's not much anyone can do to stop me from paying a visit.

Kracht's Castle Island near Junction City, Kansas. Built by Don Kracht on an island in a middle of a pond. Mr Kracht is a retired teacher, and apparently this Castle has been his labor of love since the late 1980's.

Strataca in Hutchinson, Kansas. This is an underground salt museum - as in, 650 feet underground. It is located in a salt mine and is the only salt mine in the U.S. that allows tourist access. So yeah, gotta go there.

The Garden Of Eden in Lucas, Kansas. Another retired teacher with a creative bent, Samuel Dinsmoor (1843 - 1932) lived in a rather large log cabin that he built out of limestone, not logs, and he surrounded that home with a sculpture garden that features over 200 concrete sculptures he created that pretty much spell out his beliefs as a member of the Populist movement, and his religious convictions.   

The Paul Boyer Museum of Animated Carvings in Belleville, Kansas. Paul Boyer was a man who created animated sculptures - hand carved wooden sculptures that feature motors and mechanics that make them move. He built them all by hand, from scratch. This is a must see.

Is That What You Really Think? Really?

I have been slowly forming the opinion that very, very few people actually ever think for themselves. 

In fact, I'm beginning to thing that very, very few people actually ever form an original opinion based upon a careful review of all the facts and an even more careful examination of every side of an issue.

Top Ten Odd Things Within Driving Distance That I Want To See This Year

Our Lady of the Rockies near Butte, Montana. The fourth largest statue in the United States, built to honor women everywhere, especially mothers. My Mom being the most important person in my life I feel it would be a pilgrimage of sorts.

National Rod and Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum in Afton, Oklahoma. Darryl Starbird built his first car of the future in the late 1950's. Since then he has built over 300 cars of the future, and most of them are on display at this museum, which is run by his wife Donna. I must pay them a visit.

The Museum of World Treasures in Wichita, Kansas. This is a relatively new museum, and it is in Kansas, which somewhat begs the question, "What could possibly be there that is worth driving clear across Kansas to see?" Well, for starters,there is an American Pop Culture gallery on the third floor that boasts the actual pitchfork carried by Ray Bolger when he was playing the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz.

The Enchanted Highway, south-western North Dakota. A few years ago I was told about this stretch of road near Regent, South Dakota that has been decorated with scrap metal sculptures created by an artist named Gary Greff. This is definitely something I would consider worthy of...a road trip.

The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. I've been wanting to see this building for as long as I've been back in the lower 48. It was built in the Moorish Revival style, and if the thought of a Moorish Revival building in the heart of South Dakota isn't enough to pique your curiosity, it's also filled with corn art - as in, art made from corn (and numerous other grains).

Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska. If it only had 350 antique cars on display, that would be enough of a draw. However, there are 50,000 items on display in 28 buildings, including airplanes, farm machinery, stage coaches, and even mounted sport fishing trophies. Who can resist that?

Teako Nunn's Giant Fiberglass Statues in Hatch, New Mexico. What can I say that the name of the place doesn't? Giant fiberglass statues. I'm in like Flynn.

The Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, Idaho. Do I have to mention anything other than the Potato Industry Hall of Fame? I didn't think so.

Hall of Heroes Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. How the H.E. double-toothpicks could I be expected to not make a trip to a place known as the "largest superhero memorabilia collection in the world"?

Ames Brothers Pyramid in Buford, Wyoming. A 60 foot tall pyramid built in the late 1880's in honor of two brothers who, through hook and crook, helped get the transcontinental railroad built. It's in the middle of nowhere, but that's only a couple of hours from my house, so I have to go see it.