Half-Mind Weblog

There are a few hasher interviews in the queue, and I’ve been meaning to get to them. One of my favorite hashers, and a good friend as well, left Tucson for San Diego last week. I remembered today hers was one of the interviews I have on hand. What better reason to get back in the groove?

Bimbo by Day

I’ve known Bimbo by Day for eleven or twelve years now. I first hashed with her in San Diego. A year or two later she moved to Tucson and our gang’s been hashing with her every week since. Even so, for a long time we thought of her as a San Diego hasher. But last year, when she started talking seriously about moving back to San Diego, we suddenly started thinking of her as a Tucson hasher and realized how much we were going to miss her.

In addition to hashing and partying with Bimbo by Day, I’ve worked with her on various mismanagement planning committees, scouted and set more trails than I can remember, and for the past few years have been the religious adviser to the bicycle hash she founded and is grand master of, the Pedalfiles H3.

You know how in any hash there are four or five members who keep things going? Who can be counted on to hare, to come up with on-after ideas, to help organize special events? Bimbo by Day is one of those — all the more reason I’m going to miss her, along with every other Tucson hasher.

Bimbo, when & where was your first hash?

San Diego, California, in 1991. I hashed a few times then dropped out of sight when I got married and had two children. I began hashing again in 1997 and have been hashing regularly ever since.

How did you find the hash, or did the hash find you?

I had friends who told me about this drinking club with a running problem. I right away thought that was the thing for me!

How did you get your hash name?

I’m blonde, okay Bimbo . . . several things actually. There was already a Bimbo in San Diego and even though he no longer lived there, we could not name me the same thing. When asked what I am by day and night, I said Bimbo by Day and night . . . thus the name Bimbo by Day. When I started hashing in Tucson, the jHavelina H3 tried to name me but decided that Bimbo by Day was a most suitable name. North County H3 asked me if they could rename me 5 or 6 years ago as well. Bimbo by Day will always be my hash name.

When & where was your first away hash?

North-South Intercourse 1999 I think.

Where have you hashed?

Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Amsterdam, Switzerland, Spain, England, Scotland, Wales, Mexico, Canada and a few other places I’m sure I’m forgetting to mention plus several of US cities.

Are there places you haven’t hashed but would like to?

Italy. The Stockholm hashers had told me that the Milan Hash was exceptional. I think they are a credible source.

Are there places where you wouldn’t consider hashing?

No, I love a challenge!

If you could pick the location of a future InterHash, where would it be, and why?

Munich, Germany. I did the Oktoberfest hash several years ago and it’s a great city for hashing and for beer lovers. Life revolves around beer there so I think every hasher should visit Munich during their lifetime.

Do you have any favorite haring techniques?

Making sure hashers don’t get lost!

What’s the best thing that ever happened to you at a hash?

It’s all good!

What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you at a hash?

When hashers who have various opinions of things or other hashers cause drama within a hash.

What’s the most dangerous trail you’ve done?

Humpin’ Hash – Box Canyon north San Diego County.

What’s the most memorable trail you’ve done?

The two most memorable were the Iguana trail at IAH Puerto Vallarta and the trails at IAH2009 starting from the top of one of the ski lifts in Winter Park, Colorado. I smile every time I recall both of those trails. Just spectacular.

What’s your favorite hashing event?

InterAmericas Hash.

What’s been your most remarkable hashing experience?

Hashing in China with the Beijing Hash through the Temple of Heaven right after the Great Wall Marathon.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever used, or seen used, to mark trail?

Raisins and oatmeal.

Do you have an anthrax/mysterious white powder story?

When laying a trail in Oro Valley, Arizona, having a neighbor call the police because they saw white flour on the ground. The cop was cool about it when I explained I was laying a running trail with flour.

What do you most love about hashing? What keeps you coming back?

I love running of course but it’s all the great people that keeps me coming back. Most hashers are really genuine and truly love to have a good time.

What part of hashing could you do without (if anything)?

I’m not big on nudity anymore but it doesn’t bother me if others still want to go for it.

Have your attitudes toward hashing or hashers changed over the years?

No, can’t say they have. I try to keep an open mind.

Has hashing affected your personal or professional life (for good or ill)?

It’s enhanced my personal life because I’ve made so many friends that I associate with outside of doing a trail.

Do you tell everyone you meet about the hash, or only people you think might become good hashers?

I only mention it to those I think would make real hashers.

Is there anything you think all hashers should believe in?

That it’s all about the common good of hashers and all about having a good time together.

What do you think you’ve contributed to hashing?

I founded a hash in October 2006 so I’ve joined the ranks of being a Hash Founder.

What’s in your hashing future?

I hope to return back to California within a year or so. I also plan on attending IAH 2011, San Diego Red Dress and the Humpin’ Campout.

Did you enjoy reading this Half-Mind Interview? Click here for more!

Summer riding in southern Arizona is only for the hardcore, which probably explains the small turnout for today’s Harriers MC Mash. Or maybe the start was too hard to find. Whichever, Flying Booger, Wankers Aweigh, and Hot Legs met the hare, Humpin’ 1 Dalmatians, at El Guero Canelo on Oracle just north of Grant, where we ordered a breakfast burro. I was a concerned until they explained that “burro” was just another name for for “burrito.” I mean, I’ll eat anything, but a burro would have been a lot for just the four of us.

Humpin’ led us to Ina & Thornydale, where we regrouped at a car show in a strip mall parking lot. Plenty of cool cars to look at, and of course Wankers and Booger, being oldsters, got to bore the shit out of Humpin’ with tales of our automotive pasts. And Booger found a 1958 Ford, much like the one he drove when he was courting Pick’n'Flick, back in the day. Too cool.

Humpin’ next led us north to Marana, then south and west to Picture Rocks, where we attempted to regroup at the Horseshoe Bar. Unfortunately the Horseshoe’s owners had absconded and the place was closed, so we changed the regroup to Tiny’s, a popular biker bar on Ajo near Kinney. Redheaded Woodpecker caught up with us there, just in time for down-down. Not down-downs, just a down-down. But it was a good one!

We lined up hares for September (Wankers Aweigh), October (Flying Booger), and November (Redheaded Woodpecker). Perhaps with the return of cooler riding weather we’ll start getting bigger packs again. Anyway, the invitation is open to any hasher with a motorcycle, so come join us!

Some photos from this morning’s mash (click thumbnails to make them larger):

Start @ El Guero Canelo	Hot Legs, short bus
Booger's '58 Ford beater	On-Afters @ Tiny's

Check out this “official” list of RULES (!) for laying trail in Singapore.  This is a no-shitter, taken from the Hash House Harriers Singapore site.  Before you go to bed tonight, thank G for whatever freedoms you enjoy as a hasher and a hare — you could be hashing in Singapore!

Guidelines when setting a run in Singapore’s Nature Reserves and Parks.

• Hares must give at least 3 weeks notice to the GM’s if intending to set a run in a Nature Reserve.
• The GM’s are responsible for notifying National Parks of an intended run in their Reserves at least 2 weeks in advance, Individual members are not to have contact with National Parks.
• Only toilet paper is allowed at the Nature Reserves. Flour and chalk are not to be used under any circumstances.
• Paper should be laid conservatively and inconspicuously to the general public
• Hares are responsible to clear up the paper by the next day or the sweeper is to clear up the trail. (this is to be done irrespective of where the run is laid)
• Stick to the existing tracks (i.e. those clearly marked by the Npark) if you are laying runs in the Nature Reserves.
• Strictly NO CHOPPING of plants in the Nature Reserves
• No Creating or cutting a new path in the Nature Reserves
• No arrows to be drawn on the roads or anywhere else in the nature Reserves.
• Hares are accountable for their runs and if in the event a fine is imposed the hares will have to bear the cost. These fines are significant. (up to $500) Repeat offences will lead to even heavier fines and result in that Hash Chapter being banned from running in Nature Reserves for 6 months.
• Outside the Nature Reserves, use flour only on the ground and not on tree trunks..
• Labrador park, Sungei Buloh, Kent Ridge Park and Mount Faber are also managed by the Nparks, so be mindful when setting runs there.
• Maps of the Central Catchment area are appended below.

Nparks now have a contact for each Hash Chapter in Singapore (in most cases the GM) and will call up any chapter that breaches any of these rules and will ban the Chapter till the matter is resolved. A warning will also be issued to the chapter.

A fine will be imposed if a second breach is committed. The hares will have to bear the cost of the fine.

Hares will need to think even more carefully about their run sites and trails.

Hares will need to plan their run well in advance.

Sweepers will become increasingly important – for making sure all runners return safely and for picking up the paper.

Late comers to a run may find that there is no trail left to follow as the sweeper will have picked it up.

There is a need to consider alternative markings for the runs that can be easily removed eg ice cream sticks, or plastic markers. This is currently being looked at.

As a measure of goodwill and community service, we will hold a cleaning campaign in one of the Reserves or Parks at some stage during the year.

These guidelines have been agreed on by all Hash Chapters in Singapore in consultation with National Parks. We will keep you updated on any changes.

Thanks for your understanding!

Below the fold, if you dare to look at it: a map showing the extent of Singapore land covered by the above restrictions.

- Actually, Flying Booger’s cool with the rule that says you can’t chew gum!

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Using patented Half-Mind Quadroscopic TomorrowVision™ technology, Major Update peers into the future, seeing the shape of hash events to come.  And now, for the trip-planning convenience of road-tripping hashers everywhere, he presents those events in an easy-to-read calendar format!

To view the calendar, just click on the image or select the button labeled “Half-Mind Events,” then pick the weekend and hashing event that suits your fancy. We have campouts, bicycle hashes, red dress runs, pub crawls, on-oniversaries, nash hashes, and interhashes!

Do you know about upcoming hash events Major Update missed?  We wouldn’t be a bit surprised!  Please help the major out by selecting the button labeled “Submit Events” and sending a report.  On On, road warriors!

- Flying Booger wants to arm-wrestle Major Update for that classy bowtie.

What’s in Flying Booger’s goodie bag?  Why, it’s hashing . . . in the news!

SWP Strikes Again . . . in Delaware

What is SWP?  Oh, come on, you know what it is!

“Authorities shut down a three-quarter mile stretch of the Downtown Wilmington Riverwalk for about 45 minutes Saturday evening to investigate a mound of suspicious white powder, said Battalion Chief Sammy Flowers of the Wilmington Fire Department.”

Click here to read the rest . . . h/t to Earshot.

Jumper on Trail

From Tampa, this exciting link:

Man’s body found south of Clearwater Memorial Causeway Bridge

So?  Here’s the rest of the story, from Tampa hasher Casual Friday:

“Okay, I kid you not…I thought Wednesday’s hash that ran us THROUGH the Black Shriner’s parade was a bit over-the-top…until we hashed in Clearwater this past Sunday.  Trail took us across the Clearwater Memorial bridge (over it twice) and we had a jumper on trail!  Holy cow!  I haven’t seen that many rescue vehicles/boats/helicopters in a long time!  We ran through the vehicles on the bridge while they were looking for the body…it wasn’t a hasher…but perhaps we shouldn’t have put a decision point at the top of the bridge.”

Tired of Negative Stories About Hashing?

Here’s the cure for that, a great article from the Philippine Star:

“There’s something about the nature of tradition that holds a sense of esteem even through its routine and repetition. A culture’s tradition, grounded on history, is confined to its rules and becomes stronger and more significant the longer it stands. Even the seemingly strange and peculiar practices, tested over time, brandish this high regard. This is most probably why the Hash House Harriers, a “running group with a drinking problem” (or vice versa), came to establish itself around the world. Think: fitness, beer, environment trails and a human population of vast nationalities all in one. The unusual foundations of the Hash House Harriers combine physical fitness with beer drinking, small talk and ceremonies, interlaced with a string of rather kooky traditions. Yet they remain a strong network of good-humored and adventurous runners today even after many years.”

Click here to read the whole article . . . h/t to Boob-a-Lube.

- Damnit, Flying Booger could of sworn he had a couple of beers in his bag!

Just back from a great hashing weekend in Bisbee, Arizona, and the Howlin’ H3 Red Dress Run.

Pick’n'Flick and I wisely (or so we thought) elected not to stay at the hash hotel, instead holing up at the Copper Queen, a historic hotel four blocks down the hill from RDR HQ, The Inn at Castle Rock.* Everything in Bisbee is walking distance, actually, and it was a treat to park the car Friday afternoon and forget about it until Sunday morning, when it was time to drive back to Tucson.

We walked up the hill to the hash hotel and caught up with hashers we haven’t seen for a while, mainly friends from the Sierra Vista, Phoenix, and El Paso hashes, but we skipped the Friday night pub crawl in favor of a nice dinner on the Copper Queen’s terrace and an early bedtime. Later that night, we were awakened by whistles and shouts of “on on.” We should have realized the Copper Queen’s saloon would be one of the pub crawl stops!

We spend most of Saturday at the hash hotel visiting with friends, then took the walkers’ trail on the RDR later that afternoon. Our hares were The Lady in Red and Monk, who almost immediately took us up several flights of Bisbee’s famous stairs.** Halfway up it started to rain, but at the top of the stairs we were treated to a double rainbow, so it was worth it.

The hares and pack on the runners’ trail missed the planned beer check — like that never happens — and after some confusion, we all converged on Saint Elmo’s Saloon, where we ate dinner and held a spirited*** circle.

There was a scheduled hangover hash in Tombstone today — Sunday — but we elected to drive home instead because we missed our dog. I know, we’re pathetic. But we had a great weekend.

Here are a few photos. Click on any thumbnail to see the larger version posted at Photobucket:

• Copper Queen Hotel
• Pig eye house
• RDR sign in (Lady in Red, Bimbo)

Second row, left to right:

• Hash hotel, Inn at Castle Rock
• Castle Rock, street view
• Lady in Red, Flying Booger, Slippery Beaver

Third row, left to right:

• Group photo
• Group photo (detail)
• Waiting for hares away

Fourth row, left to right:

• Pick’n'Flick, TNT
• Up-up on Bisbee’s famous stairs
• Double rainbow over Castle Rock

*Until five or six years ago, The Inn at Castle Rock was the traditional RDR hash hotel. But then someone dropped a full keg of beer onto the tile floor in the lobby and the hash was evicted. This year, The Inn at Castle Rock has new owners, so we’re back (shhhh, nobody tell . . . oh, wait).
**Steep as shit.
***Loud as shit.

- Flying Booger hangs up his tutu for another year.

We’re not gonna have a bash in August, because we’re all going to Bisbee that weekend! Oh wait, that’s a different weekend! Okay, the bash is back on!

With this kind of buildup . . . and a 106-degree forecast . . . you wouldn’t think many bashers would show up. You (and by “you” I mean “me”) would be wrong. This was probably our best hot summer Sunday turnout ever: joining intrepid Grand Mattress and hare Bimbo by Day at the Fox & Hound in northwest Tucson were Yoda and Appendage, Citizen 69, Deep Dish, Zorro, Cock Stalker, Flying Booger and Pick’n'Flick, Green Flagger, and two virgins, Carol and Alicia.

In deference to the hot weather, Bimbo promised us a short trail, and she delivered. We rode from the Fox & Hound to the Old Father Inn, just four miles away, though if we’d followed Bimbo’s trail the distance would have been more like five miles. Bimbo’s turn-on-true-trail arrow was, according to Bimbo, “THIS BIG,” but we managed to ride right by it. Not all the pack made it to the Old Father Inn, though . . . Deep Dish and Pick’n'Flick decided to go find Bimbo’s elusive trail, and they did, and there was much rejoicing, and they didn’t show up at the beer check until the rest of us were leaving.

Photos (click for larger):

• The pack at the Fox & Hound
• Group grope!
• Beer check at Old Father Inn

For the return leg, two or three members elected to ride Bimbo’s trail backwards, but most of us rode with Bimbo straight back up Ina Road to the start, basking in blast-furnace heat as we cheerfully pedaled up the steep hill from the Cañada del Oro Wash to Foothills Mall, a climb of at least 2,000 feet . . . or was it 3,000?

On-afters were back at the Fox & Hound, where we were joined by auto-hashers Asshole in El Paso and Illegal Entry (the wankers). Blessings were given and songs were sung, with Zorro getting most of the honors for riding the outbound trail inbound and winding up DFL. The real stud of the day, as we all knew in our hearts, was Cock Stalker, who brought the two hot virgins.

Our leader, Bimbo by Day, announced that she’s moving to San Diego and will be our Grand Mattress no more. Tears were shed, with much wailing and gnashing of teeth, and I think someone even bought her a beer, but no amount of begging would persuade her to stay, so stand by for some changes in Pedalfiles mismanagement.

In the meantime, Cock Stalker agreed to hare next month’s bash, which will not be on our regular day, so pay attention, wankers: next month’s Pedalfiles bash will be on Sunday, 12 September, at 9:00AM. Start will be at The Buffet on 9th Street. Be there or be square, bashers!

Damn, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m gonna miss Bimbo. If it hadn’t been for her there wouldn’t be a bash in Tucson, and I think the best way we can thank her for all she’s done is to keep it going.

- Flying Booger has had it with these motherfucking hills on this motherfucking trail!

Recently an area hash published a Who’s Coming list for a weekend event.  The list contained hash names and real names.  I emailed the organizers, suggesting they delete the real names from the list, and they agreed to do it.

Why the concern?  Well . . .

Southern Arizona hashers have not experienced, thank Gispert, the witch hunts that have been carried out against our brother and sister hashers in southern California.  If you haven’t heard about these incidents, you can catch up with the news here:

• Witch Hunt in SoCal (Part I)
• Witch Hunt in SoCal (Part II)
• Outing Hashers

As I said, it hasn’t happened here.  But it could.

Members of a local hash (not the hash putting on the event mentioned earlier) recently stormed out of a pub after experiencing hostile and shitty service.  The pub says they left without paying a $95 bar tab.  The hashers involved say otherwise.  That’s not the point.  The point is what might happen if the owner of the pub is able to connect hash names with real names.

When it happened in San Diego, the vigilantes did what anyone would do — they Googled the names.  That led them to hash sites containing photos of nude hashers and descriptions of drunken parties, which they fed to gossip- and sensation-seeking local media outlets.  Google led stalkers to the house of one hashing couple, which they vandalized.

I’m retired and could care less if people are able to connect Flying Booger with Paul Woodford and find out where I live.  But just a few years ago I was a defense contractor, and before that an active duty military officer with a top secret security clearance, and I can understand why some hashers would not want their hashing activities connected with their real lives.

One of the reasons hashers adopted hash names was so they could write hash trashes that wouldn’t get them in trouble with wives and bosses.  It’s one thing to write about Flying Booger getting slapped for squeezing a harriette’s tit; it’s potentially troublesome to identify Flying Booger as Paul Woodford, because now Donna Woodford might find out about it.

Now that hash trashes (and who’s coming lists, and even membership rosters) are mostly online, anybody can get in our shit, not just wives and bosses.  Keeping hash names and real names separate is a sensible precaution, like keeping liquid oxygen separate from ammonium nitrate.  You put the two together, you’re asking for trouble.

– Flying Booger wants Pick’n'Flick to know that it was just one tit, and it was a long time ago!