LINDA RICE ----camel corner I've always loved camels because they remind me of harps. The Dromedary camel, that is. It has one harmonic curve "hump". Just remember the letter D for Dromedary (one hump) and the letter B for Bactrian--a two humped camel from Asia. Before I get to all the news I just wanted to give you some facts about camels. Dromedarily speaking: "I can go eight days without any water-I may lose 225 pounds waiting for water. When I do find an oasis I can drink up to 27 gallons in just 10 minutes! I can gain 225 pounds in one trip to the water fountain. Incidentally, my hump is not water-it is full of FAT and weighs about 80 pounds. If I don't eat my hump starts to shrink, and soon it tips to one side. People have been known to call me 'tipsy'. I love to eat almost anything-I will eat my master's clothes, tent, pieces of rope, a tasty leather bridle, shoes, and my favorite- a good thorny cactus. I have special muscles in my nose that close part way, so the sand stays out and I have just enough air to breathe. I have very long eyelashes that God gave me an inner eyelid that automatically wipes the sand off my eyeball like a windshield wiper. I have sand-shoes, too, my two long bony toes have a tough piece of skin stretched between them. My hooves are wide, but they stretch and get wider when I step down on them so I don't sink into the soft sand." Now I must mention that there are many Bible verses containing references to CAMELS. Actually, the camel is a sinbearer in the Bible. When it says in Genesis 24:64 that "Rebekah lighted off the camel" it does not mean that she was smoking! Did you know that Job had 3,000 camels? The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon Job's camels, and carried them away. Job had a rough time! The best news of the year 2000 is that Willis Rice was made an honorary member of The International Order Of Camel Jockeys. I have his certificate in my desk. We attended the third annual Camel races in Benicia, California in July and I'm glad to report that Willis won his race once again on the camel, Saddum. Pictures to follow. This first picture is Saddum giving his best shot at a snarly growl. He needs to brush his 34 sharp teeth! The camel pictured here tends to have a pug nose just like mine. We both have pulchritude! Paca wanted to kiss me, so I puckered for the camera! The camel pictured here got all frothed up after the race in Virginia City, Nevada. I hope the trainer backed off! This picture was taken in Israel. I nicknamed the camel "Mopey". A grown-up camel weighs about 1,542 pounds. The winner of the first camel race I ever witnessed. She is a Camelus dromedarius Arabian camel. She is good tempered, patient, and intelligent. Here I am feeding a carrot to my favorite camel. Here is Willis riding Saddum-July 2000 I always wear my pearls to the camel races. Right now I'm working on a "Camel" Suite (an instrumental composition consisting of a succession of dances in the same or related keys) for small electroharp, twenty-five kazoos, nose flute, and shower hose. (To imitate the camel growl) If you write me a letter and ask for "God's Amazing Camel" I'll be sure and send you the tract. TO ORDER CDs and Cassettes call 1-916-834-4277. Linda Rice Productions P.O. Box 1306 Bodega Bay, CA 94923 Or E-mail Us At: info@gospelharp.com