Hocking Hills Weekend

This weekend was great. Jerry, myself and 11 other friends gathered at Hocking Hills this weekend. We rented a lodge called the Hopping Turtle. It was very nicely decorated and on a beautiful piece of land high up on a hill. The lodge had a hot tub, fireplace, deck and tipi. Jerry and I arrived late Friday afternoon and immediately began cooking. We made sauteed portobello mushrooms for an appetizer, the entree was shrimp and scallop marinara sauce with angel hair pasta and fresh shredded parmesan cheese, roasted pear and stilton cheese salad, and julienned vegetables. We served pinot noir with dinner and offered tiramisu for dessert and then a taste of port after.

We all enjoyed a relaxing night in the hot tub and turned in by midnight. On Saturday morning, some people set out for a hike on the Conkle's Hollow rim trail and others went geocaching. They found 6 caches in only a couple of hours. After geocaching and hiking everyone returned to the lodge for lunch. About 8 of us went back to Conkle's Hollow for rope play and the others enjoyed the lodge, soaking in the hot tub, napping, watching movies.

The hike to our best rappel cliff was beautiful. Snow was still everywhere there, it was pretty cold and the ground was frozen and covered with ice. The leaves, grass, moss, rocks, every surface was like glass. It was interesting trying to scramble to the top of the cliff line with our gear, the steep slope was so icy. Finally up top, we were glad to be there. Werner, Dana and Jerry set about the rigging. They rigged one rope at the highest point, about 110 feet. The other rope was rigged at about 70 feet. Dana's girlfriend, Melissa rappelled for the first time and did so with enjoyment and courage. I didn't rappel but climbed a couple of times.

Saturday night we had Indian food for dinner and it was very good. I enjoyed it and I find the Indian flavors tasty and a break from daily dining. A bunch of us soaked in the hot tub Saturday night in a sleet storm. Jerry didn't feel well and opted to watch some tv. The next day we checked out Old Man's Cave and Rock House. The ice was so thick and heavy, it was difficult, if not dangerous, to get around. We headed back in the early afternoon and stopped at a pizza joint to have some late lunch. I had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed Jerry's company so much. He is an amazing man.

Huh?

In 1986, the World Dwarf-throwing Championships were held in Australia. The USA was not represented, which may weaken the claim that the sport originated in the United States. The undisputed world champions who still currently hold the record were Team GB from London, England Danny Blue, Roy Merrin and Lenny The Giant.

The current proven world record for the longest throw is held by a man known only as Cuddles, a member of the group referred to as The Oddballs with a throw of 12 feet 9 inches. However, there have been many claims of over 14 feet. The longest throw yet to be proven is believed to have reached 15 feet 2 inches by a man from Topeka, Kansas named Reese Lang. The female record-holder, Lucey Normosbuthol, hails from Sweden and entered the record books with an amazing throw of 11 feet 11 inches.

Challenges to the legality of dwarf tossing
Dwarf Tossing is widely considered to be offensive to the dignity of dwarfs. As a consequence, various legislators have considered banning it. Such moves have attracted criticism from proponents of the sport and some who think that these prohibitions deny a possible source of income for dwarfs.

In Ontario, Canada, the Dwarf Tossing Ban Act, 2003 (Bill 97 2003) tabled by Windsor MPP Sandra Pupatello was enacted, with penalties of a fine of not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both. This was in response to a dwarf tossing contest that was held at Leopard's Lounge in Windsor Ontario featuring a performer by the name of "Tripod". Interestingly, the Act does not define the terms "dwarf" or "dwarf tossing". As a result, some normal-sized people have entered into dwarf-tossing contests, calling themselves a "dwarf" despite 6-foot-plus statures (Amigo's in Ottawa, Chilly Willy in Toronto).

For J

Imagine these verses are me,

and I am with you;

I hold you in the circle of my fire.

Come into me,

and time and space will vanish,

You and I alone, joined in the flames.

There is a special room

where I am with you;

I fold myself inside and

hear your heartbeat.

Is it echoing off the limestone walls?

Or resounding deep inside my soul?

You become my skin,

my self, my world,

Till I go back to sleep in lonely darkness.

So we defeat the miles and months between us;

We make love in our hearts if not in touch.

You are more to me in hope and passion

Than any man who brushes by my day.