Ft. Wayne, Indiana
November 2006

"Mad" Anthony Wayne

My Host Is: Mike K.

Next: The Mayor of Carmel

It was a quick trip over from Ohio to Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Along the way, Tikiyaki Jr. and I had a chance to get to know one another better. I wasn't aware that Tikiyaki Jr. is an aspiring writer.

In an effort to further Tikiyaki Jrs aspirations, he will be telling you about our visit to Ft. Wayne from his perspective. Take it away little tiki pal...

I have to admit, this was my first real "photo shoot" and Mike of Michael's Photography showed us how pro photographers like him do it.

We had a makeup artist and everything! She said I had great skin tone....must be my Hawaiian ancestry. I told her I use linseed oil to keep my skin nice and soft. She said..."Great, I'll think about using that the next time I work with Pinocchio or need to refinish a coffee table."

"Smile, Bud!" I kept making goofy faces at Bud to make him laugh. No problem there, he's always laughing at me anyway.

The photographer had some lame techno music playing to get us in the "right mood". Yick! That kinda music is unacceptable...

Being that we're not models from Europe, I politely asked him if we could put in the Mixed CD Tikiyaki Sr. gave me for the trip. Mike agreed and popped the CD in. We jammed to some KISS, Led Zep, Sabbath, and some Beatles, which made us smile...

...like THIS.... CHEEEEEEZZZEEEE!!! I'm one handsome Tiki, huh?

We met up with a new friend today, ICY from the Komets hockey club in Ft. Wayne. www.komets.com Icy showed us around downtown Fort Wayne. (The Komets are 5 time UHL League Champions and folks in Indiana take hockey real seriously.)

I'm not sure what kind of bird ICY is, but, man he sure loves hockey. That's all he talked about. I got a nice education about the sport. Being that I'm from Hawaii and all, we don't see ice very often, so
hockey isn't exactly the sport we played in PE class. I'm more familiar with kayaking and fishing.

Bud and I told him all about living in "paradise". ICY said his idea of "Paradise" is a KOMETS game and unlimited beer...Hey, whatever floats yer boat, there, ICY.

Downtown Ft. Wayne. (Hey, isn't Axl Rose from Indiana?) (February 6th, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana...I think the people of the Land of Lincoln probably don't consider Axl quite as important as General Wayne and President Lincoln. Just guessin.)

Here we are in front of some official looking building. Don't we look stately?

We went to see the statue of the General for whom Fort Wayne was named, General " Mad" Anthony Wayne.

"Mad" Anthony Wayne....What's Anthony so mad at? I asked ICY, but he didn't know. He started talking about hockey again. Somehow it always comes back to hockey.

Note the pretty colors on the trees. I was told that in the fall, the leaves change colors, then fall off the trees. That doesn't happen much in Hawaii....only coconuts fall off the trees, which is much more dangerous. I've had a few close calls with that.

I have a buddy back on da islands who's a little "not right in the head" after being under the wrong tree at the wrong time...poor guy...I'll take falling leaves any day!

From there we went to see the Sunbeam Bread Loaf that has slices of bread falling out of it. It has been doing this for years according to ICY.

Man, this big sign is makin' me hungry! I wanna jump up there, grab 2 slices and make a giant Peanut Butter and Poi Sandwich. MMMMM......

We also got to play in leaves, something we don't do in Puna. This is the second time we've been photographed in a pile of leaves....very comfortable....I could fall asleep in here.

However, if these were coconuts, we'd be chowin' down on some ONO grinds right now....

On the way home Bud got to DRIVE. He kept looking over his shoulder and saying "This is Fun!" while he was driving.

Fun for HIM maybe, but this scared the heck outta me. You know, old guys driving, and all....

Bud managed to get us home in one piece, but I must admit, both me and Mike white knuckeled it all the way home.

Hey, BUD....Yellow light means "Proceed with Caution", not "Go VERY fast!", and stopping is NOT optional on a red light!

We got to Mike's and warmed up by the fire! It is 30 degrees outside here!

People think I'm worried about fire, but Tikiyaki Sr sprayed me with some fire retardant stuff
before the trip, AND I'm made of some really hard wood. Besides, the heat from a little fireplace fire is nothin' compared to the stuff Madame Pele comes up with. Now THAT'S hot!

Still, I get a little nervous in these situations....

Anyway, Mahalo Mike and ICY for a great visit to Ft Wayne.

(Photos: Mike K. / Dialogue: Jim B. & Tony V. & Mike K.)