Tom Ping

TOM PING BEHIND THE BAMBOO CURTAIN

2010-10-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

As a native of Taiwan Mr. Ping's mother tongue is Mandarin so he always feels quite at home in China. Tom wants to extend a warm and heartfelt thank you to the White family for letting him tag along (again!) on their family vacation china.

One of the first things Tom did in China was worship at a church for westerners in Beijing. Toooo-toooooot!

He saw a real live Chinese Panda Bear. Tom had only ever seen them on take-out menus from Chinese Restaurants so this was quite a thrill for him. He had always wondered if they were fictional creatures like unicorns, trolls or eskimoes and was truly amazed to actually see one of the rare creatures in the flesh.

Of course, Tom went to see the Great Wall. Here is the eastern extreme of the wall where it meets the sea. Simply amazing!

Tom peeked out through a window in the wall with Emily and Seth, on the lookout for Mongol hordes, but was disappointed only to find tourists.

Emily and Joel with Tom Ping. Tooo-tooooooot!

Tom Ping is quite the connoisseur of Chinese Food, or as Chinese people call it... "food."

Yummy.

Looks like his eyes were bigger than his stomach.

He did not like the prawns though. Blech! Tastes like cat food, he told me. Toooot!

Although Tom is also quite nimble-limbed he is not being faster than a human because his legs are too short. Chinese signs are hilarious. Thanks to Josh and Emily for sneaking Tom through customs.

TOM JUST STARED AND STARED...IT WAS EMBARASSING.

2009-11-04T22:38:00.000-08:00

"Mr. Richards, would you be so kind as to pose with my toy?"

"Did you make this toy?"

"Uh...no."

CLICK

OUR INTREPID TRAVELER WENT TO UGANDA AND ALONG THE WAY MADE STOPS IN SOUTH KOREA, CHINA, INDIA, AND ETHIOPIA!!!

2009-10-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah...Tom's friend, Emily, tagged along as well.

These are some choice shots of Tom in South Korea's Incheon International Airport.

During his layover in New Delhi, Tom read the newspaper. He likes to keep current on world events, don't ya know?

Tom, who travels incessantly, is something of a connoisseur when it comes to airplane food. He ranked this particular meal among the top in his experience.

Tom loved Uganda. Here he is next to the nile river!!! Did you know that the source of the nile is in Uganda?
It was a real thrill for Tom to see a real live Giraffe.

Tom especially loved Emily's brother-in-law, Jared White, and appreciated the important work he is doing with Invisible Children. It was a surprise to me when I learned that he altered his will upon returning to the United States to leave all of his earthly wealth ($0.17, a button and a werther's original just slightly used but still in its original wrapper) to Invisible Children upon the unfortunate occasion of his death.

Gulu, Uganda.

Despite being careful to always sleep under mosquito netting, Tom still came down with Malaria. Poor Tom!

Here is Tom blasting away on his horn directly into the ear of Emily's Father-in-Law, Joel White. Joel and his wife Chris live in Beijing, China!

Here is Tom later in the trip kicking back in the White's beijing apartment. As a native of Taiwan, Tom has mixed feelings about China, but enjoyed his stay there nonetheless.

Beijing from the White's window.

Many thanks to Emily White for letting Mr. Ping hi-jack her trip. Tom loves the Whites!!!

TOM IS ON ASSIGNMENT!

2009-09-25T23:16:00.000-07:00

Check back in a few weeks to learn if he survived.

TOM RIDES THE MARANATHA RAPIDS IN A BARREL...WELL...ER...IN A PEANUT BUTTER JAR!

2009-08-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Tom suffered a romantic setback this week, and such was his overwhelming melancholy that I suspect that he actually hoped that this stunt would fail. I begged him to postpone this latest adventure until his outlook on life improved, but he shrugged me off and pressed on with his ill-advised plans. Inspired in no small part by Annie Edson Taylor, who on October 4, 1901 became the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel Tom ping claimed to have been planning this adventure for quite some time. The whole thing struck me as hasty and suicidal.

Here's Tom standing atop his jar in front of the mighty falls.

Then Tom declared "enough pictures!" and with one last heroic toot on his horn he allowed me to lower him into his jar. The question weighing heavy on all of our minds was if that jar would double as his coffin.

I'm sorry this video is sideways. Perhaps you could pick up your laptop and hold it sideways.

TOM PING ACCOMPANIED THE BOYS STAFF ON THEIR SECOND ANNUAL EXCURSION TO HOLLYWOOD

2009-08-17T14:44:00.000-07:00

Kevin, Dominik, Lucas and, of course, Nathanael were gracious enough to permit him access to their getaway.

Too-ta-toooooooooot!

As a musician, Tom, credits the Beatles as one of his greatest inspirations. This was a thrilling moment for Mr. Ping. He also wanted to be photographed on Michael Jackson's star, but the crowd at that location was too much for our dimunitive friend.

Tom! Watch out!!!

Tom's friends, Kevin and Lucas chilling out at the beach.

Tom's new friend, Dominik, is from Germany. He had never set foot in the Pacific Ocean before.

Tom is brave, even brash, but he knows better than to venture too close to the pounding surf. Thanks guys for the adventure. Thanks also to Nathanael for serving as Mr. Ping's photographer for the outing.

TOM PING HAS MADE HIS FIRST TELEVISION APPEARANCE!!!

2009-06-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Whites, who are not only really good friends of ours but also the owners of the Idyllwild Inn and talent scouts extraordinaire, Tom Ping has made his first television appearance in a commercial for a local NBC affiliate. If I may quote Josh White, "I don't know what it is...Tom Ping just has 'it.' That indefinable 'it.' Do you know what I mean? He just has a certain animal magnetism... in a word he's 'sexy.' I just had to have him in my commercial."

Watch this commercial and see for yourself. Between 36-39 Tom Ping appears in the background just north of Josh White's right elbow on the lower portion of the sign that hangs below the main sign. He's all the way to the right, next to the chain. He kind of appears as a little cirlcle near the base of the chain. Tom Ping was concerned that they might make him do a nude scene, but that didn't come up so he was relieved. It has been a dream of Tom's for a long time to work with Manny on a project like this.

(The quote above attributed to Josh White may not have actually been uttered by Josh White, but I am confident that it does, in fact, accurately reflect his feelings toward Tom Ping.)

CAPTAIN PING AND HIS INTREPID CREW "SHOOT THE PIPE"

2009-03-07T21:59:00.000-08:00

Bowden and Lucy helped me make Tom Ping's boat, THE GOOSE, for his latest adventure.

Here is Captain Ping with his crew- Santa Claus, Gadget, and a Gunslinger.

That hole is the entrance to over 600 feet of pitch black terror and raging water.

The crew took shelter inside the cabin, and then it was time to shove off.

Good luck, Tom!

We waited at the other end for a long time, but Tom Ping and his crew didn't appear.

I had no choice but to mount a rescue mission and thus I set out into the pipe to rescue Captain Ping and his crew.

I sloshed nearly the entire length of the pipe before finding their vessel hopelessley hung up on a rock. I set them free and with a feeble toot on his horn our courageous adventurer led his crew back into the swriling torrent.

Much to everyone's relief they emerged safe and victorious at the other end of the pipe.

Captain Ping aboard his vessel, THE GOOSE.

I KNOW YOU'RE ALL HANKERING FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE WITH OUR INTREPID FRIEND, TOM PING...

2009-02-22T23:03:00.000-08:00

...and I apologize for the four months of silence. In truth, Mr. Ping has been dealing with some fairly serious personal problems, which he is not inclined to discuss publicly. Even if he were so inclined his lawyers have advised him not to. So please, no questions.

You'll be excited to know though that Tom is back on his feet and planning the most daring adventure of his career. We'll keep you posted.

2008-11-04T10:47:00.000-08:00

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! TOM IS BACK!!!

2008-09-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

He had a scare though. When I left him last Tuesday there were three sugar baskets, but when I retrieved him this morning one was missing and the other two had been knocked around. Tom was lying flat on his back, knocked out cold. But when I called to him he gave a little feeble toot on his horn and staggered out from behind the sugar baskets. I can't believe that someone actually bought one of those sugar baskets, and I agree with Lisa who theorizes that somebody probably bumped into them or something. In any event, my heart skipped a beat when I saw them all mixed up, but I was relieved to find Tom layed out behind the last one. Whew! Close call!
Nicely done Mr. Ping. Now lets start planning the next adventure!
It's good to have you back. I was worried about you!

YOUR MISSION IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT...

2008-09-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

Tom is going to hide out for a week in Fairway Market. I'll retrieve him next Tuesday.
We have had our eye on these Easter "Sugar Baskets" for years, and they aren't exactly flying off the shelves. Tom thought it would be a perfect spot to hide out and spy on their operation. I hope nobody suddenly gets a hankering for a Sugar Basket. That would seriously compromise the mission.

I'll see you next Tuesday, Tom. I love you.

HE'S TOMPING AT THE BIT FOR A NEW ADVENTURE!!!

2008-09-03T10:31:00.001-07:00

TOM ALMOST DIED TWICE TODAY, BUT FOR A COURAGEOUS ADVENTURER LIKE MR. PING THAT'S ABOUT PAR FOR THE COURSE.

2008-09-01T20:40:00.000-07:00

It all started when Tom lingered too long with the dirty dishes by Norman (For years and years Camp Maranatha's dishwasher has been called "Norman.")

He was accidentally snatched up by Nathanael Peck, and soon found himself on a tray full of dirty dishes, which was headed right for Norman!

Not knowing that Tom Ping was trapped inside, Ryane Salazar, activated Norman, which assaulted Tom Ping with a barrage of chemicals super heated to 180 degrees.

Nathanael heard somebody screaming from inside Norman, but there was nothing anybody could do.

Tom came out of it alright, and he doesn't blame Nathanael for what happened.

After lunch, keith caught a big Gopher Snake on the center grass. We all went down to look at it.

Tom fell in.

Look out TOM!!!!
Keith saved the day before the snake could harm our intrepid adventurer.

DURING THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF TOM ACCOMPANIED THE HUTCHINS TO LAS VEGAS, A DODGERS GAME, MEXICO, SEATTLE, ALASKA AND THE CANADIAN YUKON

2008-08-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

The world's largest thermometer.

This is Lisa Leslie of WNBA fame.
Penny Towler- the first woman to make a shot in the WNBA.

Dodgers game. Tom Ping is a Pirates fan oddly enough.

PRINCE RUPERT

2008-08-31T22:15:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite picture from the Hutchins' vacation. Tom loved meeting a real live Mounty. Until Prince Rupert he thought they were a mythical being like fairies, trolls and eskimoes. Tom just stared and stared. It was embarassing.

SKAGWAY

2008-08-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

KETCHICAN

2008-08-31T21:54:00.000-07:00

JUNEAU, AK

2008-08-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

TOM IN SEATLLE, WA

2008-08-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

Nothing says Seattle like Starbucks.

Mummified remains.

The space needle.
The troll under the freeway overpass.

Underground Seattle.
The skyline.

CYNDI HUTCHINS TOOK TOM PING WITH HER ON A CRUISE TO MEXICO

2008-08-31T21:28:00.001-07:00

Tom with his new friend, Cyndi.

TOM!!!

Thanks for the memories Cyndi!!!

ROCKIN' OUT IN THE LAND OF THE VIKINGS

2008-06-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

CAMPING AT HURKEY CREEK

2008-05-31T23:05:00.000-07:00

TOM'S MISSION TO NORWAY

2008-05-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

Lisa Richard was kind enough to let Tom tag along on her trip to Norway. Thanks Lisa!!! It meant a lot to Tom.

Ahhh, the fjords!!!

Tom even got to see the King and Queen (dead center of the photo).

Without passport or papers, Tom slipped into Denmark as well. Let's just hope Mr. Ping never uses his stealth for evil.

Kirk Cameron

2008-05-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

*Special thanks to my intrepid friend Lisa for asking Kirk Cameron to pose with Tom!!!