After the parade, we headed off to just do some random exploring. As we turned a corner downtown we found ourselves behind one of the most amazing art cars. We decided to follow this mobile wonder to see if it might stop somewhere for more photo-ops. Well we ended up at a place south of downtown. This is the home of the organization that facilitates the Art Car Parade and oversees the Beer Can House. It is a non-profit housed across the street from outsider art site "The Orange Show". This place defies all description (and logic for that matter). It was created and completed single handedly by Jefferson Davis McKissack. The outdoor 3,000 square foot environment is maze like in design and includes an oasis, a wishing well, a pond, a stage, a museum, a gift shop, and several upper decks. It is constructed of concrete, brick, steel and found objects including gears, tiles, wagon wheels, mannequins, tractor seats and statuettes. Mr. McKissack fully expected this to be a tourist attraction to rival the Alamo and Houston Astrodome - just not meant to be. He died within a year of it's completion; heartbroken that people were not beating down his door.
The art car, "The Atomic Dog" is actually about five years old. It was created by a high school teacher and her students. It is pretty famous and is now owned by the organization. It is crazy fun and it would take many hours to look at the various adornments and sculptural add-ons. And, this thing runs and just drove right through downtown Houston with cops seemingly amused and unconcerned with legal road worthiness.
Then...... in what is fast becoming a pattern, we experienced yet another interaction with our travel companion, The Angel of Surreality. Here's another thing to add to our cave tour with the little people and sharing a history museum with Buddhist monks.
I had taken many photos in and around The Orange Show. There was a strange sense that we had once again stumbled our way into opportunity. The building and office was actually closed due to the parade but we just happened to show up as they opened it for a special group.
Then...... I look over and there about five feet away stands Larry the Cable Guy - the comedian from the Blue Collar Comedy tour. He caught my eye and we walked toward each other with hands out. I said "I thought that was you." (lame I know but I was a bit surprised). Then he said "I thought that was you." Har. Then he put his arm around me (in a very manly country friendly non-gay - not there's anything wrong with that - good ole boy way) as we chatted for quite some time about the parade and the Orange Show site and checked out The Atomic Dog. Very friendly guy. I was so wishing Susan would get a photo but alas she was unaware and still in the maze of the building.
It turns out he was there to shoot a segment of his TV show "Only in America". It was going to cover the parade and Mr. McKissack's creation. There were local VIPS mixed in with the production crew and techs. Only after talking to a few folks did we put together all the pieces of our lucky timing. The funny thing is that the film people thought I was with the art organization and the arts people thought I was with the film people. Guess my new Art Car Museum hat and Glore Museum Shirt made me look "arty official." Larry too must have thought I was more than an accidental tourist. All were friendly and included us regardless of our non-celebrity status. We hung around for well over an hour and ate it all up. Again we just walked blindly into another memorable scenarios. Wowie! Zowie!
We "Got 'er done." - Rodney and Susan
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