Monthly Archives: July 2009

Idaho Is Full of Artists

The state of Idaho has a lot of farmland
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And because of this, the people there seem obsessed with tractors
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I was relieved to see some other artistic outlet for Idaho people other than tractors like….

a wooden man with ridiculously blue eyes

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an old woman with deformed hands and HUGE, saggy boobs,

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and a man with an “adult radio flyer” behind him

All three of these characters were part of….
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a piece of art centered around a John Deer Tractor

….which reminds of my first week on Summer Tour 2009 when I got to drive a tractor.
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(to see a link to the story where I drove a tractor and Dora drove a Star Wars plane, click here http://melaniehamlett.com/2009/07/08/this-one-is-de…atical-friends/

Best tractor art of Summer Tour 2009 ever!

Strange Elephant Museum (Part 2)

If you want to read this story in order, go back and read part one by clicking here:
http://melaniehamlett.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=2501

While Dora was in time-out in the car, I explored the inside of Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum.
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Not only were there bags of peanuts larger than picnic tables outside
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The screened-in porch was full of peanuts and peanut-related things as well

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and a globe

They even had a peanut mascot!
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The next two rooms had thousands of elephant items
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elephant toys, lamps, statues
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pajamas
jammies
you name it, Mr. Ed had it.

Mr. Ed was not a horse as I had imagined, but a jolly old man.
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He was in town selling lemonade snow cones that day and couldn’t be there. (no joke)

If you didn’t have time for his hour long video, you could read a quick personal letter from him to you
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I think the year he had on that piece of tape was wrong though.

After being at the museum for over two hours already, I realized I really had to go to the restroom.
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The only other option was the nasty porta-john out back
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Desperate times called for desperate measures.
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Luckily, no one caught me….if Dora had been there, she would have taddled on me for sure. Thank God she was in time-out.

I signed me and Dora’s names in the Visitor’s book
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then went shopping around the store for some fudge (Mr. Ed is a man of many talents and obsessions)

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The little boy standing in chocolates creeped me out
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and I wasn’t in the mood for a “cholesterol free, All American FUN Burger.”
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So I went to the Pez room.
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I thought about getting Dora a Star Trek pez since she’s obsessed with that show
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Then I came to my senses and remembered she was bad and didn’t deserve jack.

I was a little let down that Mr. Ed would sell rebel flags and playing cards at his store
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especially next to the Kazoos and wooden yo-yos

Then I saw the Abe Lincoln walking stick and felt better about him.
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Just as I rounded the corner, I came to this exciting sign

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I thought the whole museum was for kids until I saw this sign
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The magic mirror was just a stupid fun house mirror.
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I was really disappointed in Mr. Ed again

until I came to the room with pictures of Mr. Ed’s famous friends
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Shanaya Twain
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The ENTIRE cast of Archie Bunker
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and Bozo the Clown

While looking at an old photo of Mr. Ed, I saw this sign
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I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk to Santa in July

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.

Me: Santa, can you make an evil Pinata child into a cool person to hang out with?
Santa: If you sit on my lap five more minutes, I’ll do anything you want sweetie.

That’s when I realized Santa was grabbing my ass with his mutant Hulk hand
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and I got the hell out of there

In the car, Dora was needy as ever
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Dora: Did you buy any fudge Miss Melanie?

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Me: HA! You wish. I did buy some STAR WARS pez and it was DELICIOUS

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Dora: Oh.

Best day with dora in TIme-out on Summer Tour 2009 EVER!!!!

Truck Stop Religion

The second half of the Elephant Museum story is coming soon. I would like to use today’s intermission for a pop quiz

What seems out of place in this picture (besides the fact that it’s a gas station that looks like an office building)?

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This:
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Just another truck you might think????
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No. It’s a “Transport For Christ Mobile Chapel.”

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It’s equipped with a decent size chapel

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and Jesus Mudflaps

This is my favorite part of the truck though.

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Best truck stop church on Summer Tour 2009 EVER

By the way, this truck stop was located across the street from Noah’s Arc. If you haven’t seen that story yet, click
http://melaniehamlett.com/2009/07/14/2171/
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The Weirdest Elephant Museum Ever (part 1)

Dora was getting on my last nerve one morning on the road, so I pulled over as soon as I saw this comfy lounge chair. I needed to cool off before I ended up slapping her.
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Little did I know, I stopped at Mr.Ed’s,

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which was an “Elephant Museum, Candy Store, and Incredible Gift Shop”

I was out like a light in seconds. Anger and driving tend to induce narcoleptic attacks.
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While I was asleep, an elephant walked up behind me.

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It played in the pond

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along with the rubber duckie.

When I walked around it, I noticed the flowers around its neck

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and the sign near its leg

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I think he’s named after the Confederate General Lee (and famous car from The Dukes Of Hazzard)

I walked up the porch
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and found these signs.

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When I went into the woods, I found all kinds of stuff.

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Elephant stuff
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and random things like
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A Depressed Tree-Pig eating corn on the cob

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The Seven Dwarfs

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Boat/flower pots

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A Skeleton taking a crap in an outhouse

And Giraffes!
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When you look in the mirror, two giraffes kiss you
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I also found deer
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and cows
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or were they elephants?
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And then i found Dora riding a bull made of tires
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She also tried riding an elephant
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Me: Dora, you know how much you suck at riding animals. Remember that jack-a-lope? Why don’t you just sit back and watch a real pro.
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Me: Are you watching, Dora?
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Dora: Yes

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Just then, I discovered the Giant Talking and Blinking Albino Elephant
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When I went over to the ginormous bag of peanuts to feed the albino elephant, Dora disappeared.
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Dora: Look, a boat! I love boats

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Me: That’s it. You’re grounded. Go sit in the car.

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Dora: But I didn’t do any—
Me: Shut it.

Until Dora ruined it by being so rebellious, it was the BEST DAY at an Elephant Museum on Summer Tour 2009 EVER.

to be continued……….

Interesting Word Choice

The name of this place doesn’t make me want to go inside
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Jackson Hole, WY

Pop Quiz: What is this business pictured below?
a) T-shirt shop for tourists
b) Thrift Store
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Answer: a, T-shirt shop!
Jackson Hole, Wyoming

I can’t figure out what this place is exactly
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A place to buy tombstones for Hunters, or a store owned by a guy named Hunter
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If you figure it out, let me know.
Idaho Falls, ID

Is this a statement…
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or the name of a company?
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I still haven’t figured this one out.
Jackson Hole, WY

These names remind me of that day in California last year when I came across the worst company name EVER
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Some random exit off Interstate 10, Souther California

This was the best day of weird signs on Summer Tour 2009 EVER!

Having a Kid is Tough

Times like these, I really like Dora

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Then she has to wake up and ruin it.
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Dora: I have to use the bathroom

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Sometimes, if I ignore her, she’ll wait at least an hour to ask again

Two hours later
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Dora: I still have to use the bathroom

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Me: You went like five hours ago. Can’t you hold it?

The only gas station on this 80 mile stretch of road
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had no freak’n bathroom.
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The only other bathroom we came across was too confusing.
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So I made her just pop a squat on the road

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Even though Dora’s pretty high maintenance when it comes to using the bathroom, she’s even worse when I have to use the bathroom. She complains about sitting on the bathroom floor while I go pee.

Luckily, I came across this sign one day that gave me a brilliant idea
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until I saw the warning sign!

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I was both horrified and utterly confused by this sign. Better safe than sorry. I found a new place for her to sit.

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Dora: I don’t think I’m allowed to sit on this
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Me: You would snitch on me, wouldn’t you?
Dora: No, I just don’t think it’s safe. I might catch on fire…again
Me: Real funny, smarty pants. You know that 4th of July fire wasn’t my fault. Here, sit here then. You can stare at me while I pee.
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I noticed this sign behind her when she turned her head
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and my maternal instinct kicked in. That Koala Seat was a death trap for a girl with an arm that falls off all the time.
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So I came up with a new plan.
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She could just sit on the floor in her carrying bag.

The day I came up with this idea was the best potty break day of Summer Tour 2009 EVER!

If you missed the story where Dora caught on fire, click here
http://melaniehamlett.com/2009/07/06/1972

To see a post from previous travels that take place in strange bathrooms, click here http://melaniehamlett.com/2009/04/10/bathroom-adventures-and-beyond/

Two More Things Dora Sucks At

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Driving Horse-Drawn Carrgiages
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And acting
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I mean, who is more believable here?
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Me (even with the hat on, I don’t break character)

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Or Dora (who can’t seem to make any face other than that stupid smile)

Best Day of watching Dora suck at things on Summer Tour 2009 EVER!!!

Dora Really Sucks at Riding Jack-a-lopes

Dora and I went for a ride around WALL DRUG, South Dakota one day.

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ME: Dora, look at that pack of cute foreign dudes over there
Dora: I hope we see some lizards today.
Me: You would want to see something so stupid.

Just then, our Jack-a-Lope tried bucking us off.
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And Dora fell.

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Little Girl: Mommy, why is Dora with that lady?
Mom: Because that lady probably wants to be a Mommy like me, but can’t find a husband because she’s a tomboy. That’s why little girls should play with the dolls their Mommies buy them and not their brother’s dumptrucks, right Mackenzie?
Little Girl: Right, Mommy.

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Me (to Dora): Why do you have to embarass me everywhere we go? I mean, even a kid could ride a jack-a-lope

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Dora: But I am a kid.
Me: Shut it.

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After seeing hours and hours of nothing but this
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this

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this

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and this

I was relieved to finally come across this
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and more importantly, this
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Although Dora is smiling in this picture, she wasn’t too happy about this particular pit stop.
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Best pit stop of Summer Tour 2009 ever!

We Became Astronauts!

Dora and I came across the Bicycle and Space Museum in Sparta, Wisconsin one day.
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Although we don’t have much in common, Dora and I both have been wanting to be astronauts since we were kids.
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I have at least 20 years more of wanting to be an astronaut, so I deserved it more than her.

The Bicycle and Space Museum was full of
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antique bikes

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creepy manequins dressed up in ski and climbing gear

space related things
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and exercise equipment, like stationary bikes

Me: Dora, these bikes are amazing. I’d like to ride one. The museum won’t mind I”m sure
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Dora: I can’t see. You have my carrying bag facing the wrong way Miss.

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Dora: I’m afraid we’re gonna get in trouble for this.
Me: You’re so freak’n paranoid, Dora. It’s not like we’re riding the bikes. We’re just pretend-riding. No harm in that.
Dora: But –
Me: Shut it.

While pretend-riding the bike, I started to daydream about being an astronaut one day.
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Dora had the exact same dream
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We decided were gonna go for it. It takes a lot of training to become an astronaut.
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I let Dora do the studying for the both of us.

She became so knowledgable about space, she was asked to give a lesson at the museum.
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Because of all the candy in her pinata belly, she had a hard time standing straight on the podium.
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Lucky for her, the musuem electrician gave her a spot

Sure enough, Dora became a full-fledge astronaut!!!!
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She was sworn in as the first child astronaut ever!

Right before she was to take off, I had a little chat with her
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Me: Look Dora, I know you think you’re all that and a loaf of bread, but you just got lucky. You should bring me with you to space
Dora: But I could get in trouble for sneaking someone in the spacecraft

Me: Oh, I see how it is. I rescued you from being beaten to death with an umbrella at that bar (stay tuned for that story), but you don’t see anything wrong with ditching me for space. NOT COOL…..BTW, lose the space suit. That color looks stupid on you. It clashes with your mouth.
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Dora finally came to her sense and brought me along with her on the space mission.
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Everything was going well
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until we saw the astronaut mummy
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We came back to Earth right away

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and got the hell outta there

Despite almost getting murdered by a space mummy, it was the best day in Outer Space of Summer Tour 2009 EVER!!!!