For my regular readers, you are aware that I am currently living in Kansas. It isn't as bad as many of you might imagine. OR...depending on the quality of your imagination, maybe it is. Either way, after 21 moves, this is where I landed (for now) and I rather like it here.
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| Is this how people think Kansas looks? |
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| A picture of Kansas without a tornado in the sky. |
I think a certain movie and it's implications on how people view Kansas is interesting (bizarre). The Chamber of Commerce reports that the NUMBER ONE question they are asked by people not familiar with Kansas is "Is it anything like the Wizard of Oz?" I find this incredulous that people are that...I am struggling for a word...but stupid comes to mind.
The original book written by L. Frank Baum, came off the presses on May 17th, 1900. Over the years it was mostly equated as a children's book but there have been numerous theories that take alternate views.
One of the more prevalent theories being that the book was a satirical writing taking aim at the politics of the time. L. Frank Baum's mother-in-law, a suffragette of the era, Matilda Joslyn Gage, encouraged him to write his stories down. In every one of Baum's stories the protagonist was female. There are a number of veiled references in the books to the author's views on feminism.
As for me, I think it is a cute story. Upon a recent visit to the OZ Museum,...yes, there is one and ...yes I went there,....I am sure there were under lying messages within the books but for me...they are just fun stories.
Which...or should I say "witch" brings me to the point of my post today....having some fun with the "Wizard of Oz:. Frankly, it's my duty, as a Kansan, to work the Oz theme into my blog on a regular basis. So far I have done a pretty good job of it.
My latest "pull out an Oz theme"....came as a result of me following a blog challenge. Nickey and Mike over at the blog We Work For Cheese, started a 30 Day Photography Challenge. I don't tend to join in photography challenges as I prefer to use clip art and drawings to illustrate most of my posts. I do, however, post various graphics in their comment section from time to time, to tie into "whatever they are photographing that day".
A few days ago, the theme was "Steel". After giving it some thought...very little actually, I came up with the idea of this:
Thought Number Two: My version of "When Dorothy Met the Tin Man".
As Dorothy approached the forest clearing,
The faintest squeaking, she kept hearing.
Following the barely whispered "squeeaakk",
She left her path to take a peek.
At the base of a ponderous tree,
a rusting man she came to see,
I kid you not!..I do not lie*
a rusting metal-man, she spied.
*OK, just to be clear..I do lie. I lie like a rug but in this case...I am, totally, telling the truth.
Dorothy, being extremely bright,
quickly sized up the Tin Man's plight.
Within her purse, she had oils and potions.
Kansas girls carry tons of lotions.*
*Sorry, again, I have to clarify. We carry a crap load of skin cream as Kansas girls hands are like sandpaper.
Within moments of Dorothy's care,
the Tin Man's words spewed into the air.
"What the HELL?" The metal man cried.
"What kind of idiot altered my hide???"
A much better choice over tin would be brass!
The tinsmith obviously had his head up his ass.
Even monkeys get brass for their balls, so I'm told.*
Getting less than monkey balls seems rather cold.
*Cold as in the old adage, Freezing the balls off a brass monkey.
He could of used steel, if he he had half a brain.
The galvanized type would have withstood the rain.
The stainless type would have remained ever shiny.
The joker that did this, had his head up his hiney!
I know you are doubting this version, I'm telling.
But it's the truth...the Tin Man was yelling.
Yelling obscenities and words that were BAD.
Years standing rusted had left him quite mad.
The movie cleaned it up nicely, to make it PG.
It's all about ratings, I am sure you can see.
The smithy got sued for his poor choice of tin.
The Gold Man is now sporting the results of his win.*
*The current skin he is in....is 24 carat...Tin/Gold Man's Personal Injury lawyer did a great job.
If you don't believe my version of this be sure to contact the Gold Man.
I would tell you to have the witch verify it but alas, she can't take your calls.
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16 comments:
You've added a fun twist to the Wizard of Oz story. Very clever and a fun read. Because of you, I will try and alter my opinion of Kansas.
You are so creative that it is amazing! I love your story of the tin man.
Here's your click.........................
Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby
haha.. Dare I ask what your current opinion is??? Are you one of those that we exist in only black and white? You didn't ask any stupid questions of the Chamber of Commerce did you? I am probably better off not knowing, huh?
Aren't you such a sweetie? You're the best! (I'll be over to visit your site shortly)
Cheryl:
I've never been to Kansas, but if it's filled with wonderful people like you it must be a great place.
CC
As a resident of San Diego, a city that ranks in the top ten in population in the United States yet still gets left off most maps by people who assume that just including Los Angeles is good enough to get the job done, I can totally relate to your feelings about Kansas.
Ahhh, Chatterbox, you are making me blush!
I used to travel to San Diego a few times each year to do corporate training classes. I LOVE San Diego. Your city deserves to be on all maps with a big gold star next to it.
This made me think of all those silly people who think we have kangaroos hoping around our city streets.....................of course Kansas isn't anything like it was in the wizard of oz it is an old movie but somepeople are silly and don't think about things like that........
What fun you are having with "Oz" LOL I love your poem and the little * notes make it perfectly Cheryl :)
Clicks!
--Trina
Hi Cheryl,
I love your illustrations! It's curious that other people would think that Kansas hasn't changed with the rest of the world... of course it's not just farm land like it was in the ?50's?
Clicks for you!
Wolf
Thanks, Trina! Hope things stay quiet out there so you can get ready to leave on your trip.
Thanks, Wolf, I enjoy doing the illistrations. It's funny how people get an perception and it sticks.
I was relieved to see that you and Trina are ok. Hopefully the weather will improve and you can get on with your trip.
You are absolutely right. Australia is a prime example of how people have huge misconceptions about a place. I think people just get a certain idea in mind and have no reason to change it.
Ah, there's nothing quite like iambic pentameter. Love your illustrations, Cheryl. What do you use to do them (I mean are they hand drawn or computer drawn or what? Just curious. I was going to say I've never been to Kansas but many years ago on a coast to coast flight, my plane had to make an emergency landing there. The total time on the ground was walking to another plane.
Clicks, Bud
P.S. - If you have a minute, stop by for my annual creepy Halloween story tomorrow.
Thanks, Bud. I hand draw a basic cartoon then scan it into my computer. I use GIMP or PhotoShop to draw in the details and color them. Once I have my character such as Reporter Cheryl, I use Publisher to drop in clipart, accessories, the callout bubbles and my cats...oh and their accessories. It's getting to be a fun challenge to find hats for them.
I, too, have been in a few places only to see the airport. Kansas City is a fun place to visit if only to see the Plaza lights and eat some Kansas City Barbeque. If you and Muri are ever flying cross country plan on a long layover. I know some people with a pretty big house that love to have guests.
Of course, I will be over to your site. I am there every day.
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