TALL Magazine August issue

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JENNIE FINCH LO O KS TO GREECE FOR GOLD

TOP HOTELS F O R TALL PEOPLE JUST I N TIME F O R VACATION! CANDICE O LS E N AND H E R DIVINE DESIGN

HIS & HERS FASHIONS STAR WARS’ CHEWBACCA POKER PRO EVELY N N G & more!

$4.95 U.S. $5.95 Canada/Mexico

Display through Labor Day

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table of contents JULY - AUGUST 2004

volume 1 | number 3

tall tales 10

Top Hotels for Tall Travelers A special report We compiled a list of some of the top national and international hotels that cater to tall guests like you.

Shannon Hurst Lane and TALL magazine

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Candice Olson Divine inspiration She is just shy of 6’, but one thing she isn’t shy of is dispensing some good design advice. Need help with your bachelor pad or the new mansion on the hill you just bought? Ask Candice. We did!

M. L. Zambrana

Jennie Finch The belle of the ball The 6’1” fastpitch softball player is a good, allAmerican girl: She’s happily in love, is tight with her family, adores her dogs, and can pitch a softball past you faster than you can say, “What was that?”

TALL magazine catches up with her for an exclusive interview before she heads over to Greece and vies for an Olympic gold medal.

Everard Strong

No matter how intently Jennie stares at page 5, it continues to ignore her.

10 short stories 38

Peter Mayhew

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Evelyn Ng

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Chasing Down Grizzlies

Inside the furry mind of Star Wars’ 7’3” Chewbacca.

by TALL magazine

She will take your money, but you won’t care.

Everard Strong For 5’10” Dr. Mehren, it’s just another day at the zoo.

Dr. Mehren

small talk 6

The View Up Here

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Top Culture

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Tall Teen Talk

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The Hopeful Romantic

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Tall Things Considered

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Watch Your Back

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Exercise & Fitness

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Dive-in!

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2004 Olympics

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The Dressing Room

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What Suits Him this Summer?

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Accessorize!

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Tall Mall

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World’s Tallest

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Advertiser Directory

Physical exertion. Is it worth it?

Long John Baldry, wine paintings, and tall bridges.

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Revealing the secret formula for Self Confidence.

Keeping your love life on cloud nine.

Sky chairs, cures for cancer, and very, very big beds.

Keeping your spine in line.

Lifting weights can gain you weight.

For tall people, a pool could be the best place to go.

A list of who to look up to this August in Greece.

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Summer looks for men, women, and teens.

A Q&A with style guy Steve Brinkman.

Hot rods, pink hats, and red purses.

Resources for your lifestyle.

The Fountain Hill fountain.

Mike Werling’s Size Matters The real reason D.B. Cooper jumped from that plane. www.tallmagazine.com

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photo by kelly huber

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the view up here

6 feet, 9 inches above ground

Publisher/Editor Everard G. Strong

editor@tallmagazine.com

Associate Publisher

it’s a love / hate thing t’s Tuesday. Which means it’s Leg Day. I do not like Leg Day. Let’s clarify: Leg Day does not refer to some “Jamaican Me Crazy” hot legs contest they’re having down at the local dive.

Nope. Leg Day refers to the days when I focus on working out my legs at the local gym. I spend an hour torturing my lower limbs through such nefarious exercises as quads, squats, hamstring curls, heel raises, lunges and other treacherous contortions, the gory details of which I will spare the public. My legs, in return, thank me by gradually transforming themselves into quivering masses of rubber. I would love to say that I paid them back by soaking them in the tub, but being 6’9”, I’ve found that at no matter what angle I try to sit, roughly only 20% of my body would be covered at any one time by water.

The funny thing is I love going to the gym.

During college I had some friends who persuaded me to start working out with them, and I started noticing the changes that come with an exercise routine — better posture, bigger muscles, weight gain (and the right kind of gain at that), and a brighter attitude. And, most important, I found that not only could I eat a lot more, but because of my increased muscle mass, I had to eat more.

Due to a marriage and this crazy notion of starting a magazine, however, I have not stepped foot in a gym for over eight months.

It's amazing what can happen to your body in eight months. Aches and pains that were gone while I was in the gym started popping up again (as did that spare tire I kept around my waist): my back started bothering me, my knees were complaining.

But I’m back in the gym, and thanks to a trainer, am on a course back to fitness. I forcibly put myself on a five-day-a-week regimen, knowing it was the best way to get back into the routine of it.

What does all this possibly have to do with TALL magazine? The 2004 Olympics will kick off in Athens, Greece, on August 11. (The official

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opening ceremony is on August 13, but there are soccer games planned for the 11th and 12th).

During the next 19 days the world will see some of the finest athletes strive not only against other opponents’ best efforts but also against their own personal best.

As much as I may moan and groan about an hour or two I spend in the gym, I can not imagine the demands — physical, mental, and emotional — that are placed on the bodies, souls, and minds of these athletes as they prepare themselves for these events.

Our last couple of issues featured Olympic hopefuls, but in this issue, we take a closer look at the athletes, and salute those in our community who are at this moment preparing themselves in some way for these life-changing events.

While you’re watching the Games, take a look at our other cool stories, features, and photos between the different events. For all Star Wars fans past and present, we have a great exclusive interview with 7’2” Peter Mayhew, best know to us as that affable Wookiee Chewbacca.

Need some divine design inspiration? HGTV’s own Candice Olson is here to give you her 6’ insight. And if you are looking for a DIY project, we’ve got one for you.

Find out why poker has been called “America’s newest favorite sport.” When we talked to 5’11” professional poker player Evelyn Ng, we could see why.

And of course we have fashion photos, health and fitness advice, travel tips (top 10 hotels for tall folks), style advice, tall zoo tales, and all that other good stuff.

It was fun putting this issue together, so we hope you enjoy it too. Thanks for reading TALL magazine, and please, support our advertisers.

Sincerely,

Christina Strong

cstrong@tallmagazine.com

TALL sales Advertising Sales Inquiries Peter Roehm Everard Strong

proehm@tallmagazine.com sales@tallmagazine.com

TALL editorial Contributing Editors Dr. Torsten Stein

drstein@tallmagazine.com

Fashion Editor Betty Johnson

fashion@tallmagazine.com

Teen Talk Al. T Toode

teentalk@tallmagazine.com

Contributors Kathy Witt, Mike Werling, M.L. Zambrana, Dr. Mehren, Dr. Paul Kennedy, Kevin Martin, Kelly Huber, C. Kirk, and some odd interns (very odd).

Want to be an intern? editor@tallmagazine.com

Story Submissions: TALL magazine welcomes and encourages story ideas from its readers ... this means you!

Send queries or completed manuscripts to the address below. Please enclose a selfaddressed, stamped envelope and contact information. All materials submitted without a stamped envelope will be considered property of TALL magazine.

Subscription Information: TALL magazine is printed and distributed six times a year. Individual copies are $4.95 (U.S.).

Subscriptions are $24.95, and can be ordered by sending payment (checks or money orders) to: TALL magazine #474 360 Grand Ave. Oakland, CA 94606 You can subscribe via credit card or electronic transfer (Paypal) through our web site, www.tallmagazine.com Donations are encouraged and accepted.

For Canadian addresses, add $10. European rate is $69.95 (in U.S. funds).

Legal Blah Blah: All material contained herein is protected by federal copyright law and cannot be duplicated or distributed, in whole or in part, without express permission of the publisher. So don’t.

Copyright 2004 Big E Productions.

Number 1, Volume 3. July - August 2004.

TALL magazine, 360 Grand Ave. #474 Oakland, CA 94610.

The TALL logo is a registered trademark of Big E Productions, Inc., 2004.

Distribution:

Everard Strong, editor@tallmagazine.com

TALL magazine is distributed by subscription and newsstand through IPD, Media Solutions, Kent Distribution, Small Changes and others.

Interested in distributing TALL magazine?

Contact us at editor@tallmagazine.com.

5 minutes could mean 50 bucks!

To grow TALL magazine, we could use your input, and we’re not above bribing you to do so. Fill out the following short questionnaire and mail it to us; your 37-cent stamp might win you $50.00! The back of this page is even pre-adressed for your convenience.

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Sex: M F Height: __________________________ Age: ______________ Zip Code: _______________________________________ Marital Status: Married Single Divorced Average Household Income: $ _________________________________ Are you a member of Tall Clubs International? Y N College Education: none 2YR 4YR +4YR Occupation: _____________________________________________ WOMEN: Dress size: _________________________ Pant size: __________________________ Shirt size: __________________________ Shoe size: __________________________

MEN:

Waist size: _________________________ Inseam size: ______________________ Shirt sleeve size: _________________ Shoe size: __________________________

1. What do you like best in TALL magazine? ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

4. How did you find TALL magazine? (a) I’m a subscriber (b) I ordered a copy (c) newsstand 5. Which of the following magazines do you read?

Vogue Glamour In Style Figure Weight Watchers GQ Men’s Journal Cosmo Maxim/FHM Vanity Fair Other: ___________________________________________ 6. Would you pay for a subscription to a newsletter geared specifically toward tall women? Y N 7. Where do you buy most of your clothes? _______________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 8. Have you ever used one of the following online dating services? (Put an “X” by the ones you have used) Lavalife Tallpersonals.com TALLmagazine.com match.com americansingles.com Yahoo personals Other:___________________________

2. What do you like least in TALL magazine? ___________________________________________________________________________ 9. How much (roughly) do you spend on clothes every ___________________________________________________________________________ three months? ______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 10. About what percent of your clothes are bought 3. What would you like to see more of? online? ______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ That’s it! Thanks so much and good luck! ___________________________________________________________________________

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top culture

for those of higher social stature TALL DRINK OF WINE ’3” painter Thomas Arvid has several new paintings available. If you don’t recognize the name, you might recognize his artwork. Known for his incredibly photo-realistic paintings involving wine, wine glasses, and paraphernalia involved with the enjoyment of wine. Amazingly, the man is self-taught.

“My art is about so much more than wine,” he says. “The paintings, like wine, are about celebration, sharing a moment and an experience with another person.

My pieces are successful when I evoke an emotion, memory, or thought that the viewer wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. Wine and art are vehicles to communicate the pleasure of human experience.”

See all his new work, including limited edition signed lithographs and original oil paintings, at www.winepaintings.com.

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TALL BRIDGE TO CROSS he Millau Bridge, which will span the River Tam in the Massif Central Mountains in France will be completed by the end of the year.

When its pylons and giant suspension cables are put into place, the structure will stand higher than the Eiffel Tower (coincidentally, the same company who build the Eiffel Tower is also building the bridge), with the highest pillar standing just over 1,115’ tall. The bridge will carry vehicles across a 1.5 mile valley at a height of over 880 feet. The bridge, a joint effort between the French and the British, will cost approximately $300 million (U.S.).

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TALL BRIDGE, PART II ack in 1999, several English, American, and Cuban musicians got together in Havana, Cuba for a week-long collaboration. Along with performers like Gladys Knight, Jimmy Buffet, Peter Frampton, and Bonnie Raitt, such musical giants as 6’7” R&B sensation Montell Jordan and 6’5” Mic Fleetwood joined in.

A DVD of these “Bridge to Havana” ses-

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6’7” Long John Baldry will be rocking Norway this August. sions, along with concert footage, will be appearing on shelves this fall, with half of the profits being donated to Puentes Cubanos, a Miami-based program to assist Cubans living in the United States.

TALL SONGS TO SING reader sent us a heads up on the band Feo Y Loco (Ugly and Crazy), a Houston-based rock and blues trio combining a firm sense of wackiness with some foot-tapping guitar chords. According to their bio, “lead singer Tom is nearly 7’ tall with a shoe size to match, giving him the title of ‘tallest lead singer in the world.’ He likes to give away glow in the dark ants at concerts. A man of mystery, he once toyed with the idea of becoming the world’s tallest transvestite, but decided against it when he found out what they get for a pair of size 17 ladies pumps.” Find out more about

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these boys at www.feoyloco.com. We have warned you.

TALL BLUES TO PLAY egendary blues guitarist Long John Baldry, who stands 6’7”, has been slowing down his touring schedule, so whenever you have a chance to see this talented guitarist, get on out and do so. If you are a blues fan and looking for a great summer vacation destination, head to Norway for their Notodden Blues Festival, happening August 5 through 8. Along with Long John, you can rock to the sounds of Jeff Healy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and tons more bands. Take a look at the whole list at www.bluesfest.no.

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Have some news to share? Send items to editor@tallmagazine.com.

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on the road a travelin’ we will go

An essential guide of top U.S. and international hotels that welcome and cater to their taller guests.

by Shannon Hurst Lane and TALL magazine TALL 10

Photo courtesy of the Cypress Hotel, Cupertino, California

top hotels for tall travelers

on the road

ave you ever had to sleep in a fetal position because there was a footboard on the hotel bed? Have you ever bruised your forehead or busted your nose in the shower?

What about ducking under the doorframe or having to bend over to reach your toiletries? These are some of the trials and travails of being a tall traveler. Fortunately, the hotel industry is becoming sensitive to the tall traveler, with more and more hotels offering higher accommodations without the higher prices. We have gathered a list of the top hotels that knowingly cater to the taller crowd.

For a hotel to be considered tall-friendly, TALL magazine put together a list of conditions and items that should be included with the room: • Longer beds. A minimum of a king-size bed is a must-have for any room that declares itself a “tall room.”

• Taller doorframes. Now we realize that most hotels are not going to retrofit the architecture of the hotel and resize individual doorframes for their tall rooms. But some hotels, as part of their basic floor plan, have taller than average door frames.

• Higher showerheads. This feature should be a no-brainer for any hotel trying to figure out how to accommodate tall travelers.

Easy to install, it’s that extra touch that makes the difference between an ordinary stay and a pleasurable stay.

• Higher bathroom ceilings. Some hotels actually have you step up into the bathroom, and anybody over 6’4” can’t stand up straight inside them. Not a very pleasurable experience. Note: this also goes for bathrooms where there’s a raised tub, so once you step into it, the 7’ ceiling now becomes a 6’5” ceiling.

• Higher toilets. If you are spending your hard-earned money at a hotel that touts having “tall rooms,” a raised toilet should be part of the plan. It’s not a necessity, but it’s a nice luxury.

• Higher counters. This is an often overlooked detail when remodeling hotel rooms for taller guests. When a guest has to kneel on the floor to use the sink and mirror, something’s not right.

• Longer bathrobes. This again separates an ordinary stay from a pleasant stay. Customers will come back for pleasant stays.

• Taller furniture. A room might have the long bed, the showerheads, and even the bathrobes. Now the hotel should go all out and bring in some oversized mirrors, a taller desk, and some taller chairs, all of which can be had for very little investment at the local IKEA or most discount furniture stores.

Not every hotel we mention is going to have each one of the above listed items and conditions, but each participant will have several of these in their favor. Also, please note that hotels can change their arrangements at any time, and just because they have tall rooms, they are not necessarily setting those aside only for tall

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travelers who happen to walk through their doors. In other words, call first.

And now, without further ado, onto the list!

Argonaut Hotel 495 Jefferson Street at Hyde Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA 94109 www.argonauthotel.com Reservations: 800 790 1415

his little-known hotel is situated right on San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf, so you’re within walking distance to all of the excitement and gastronomical delights that have made the city a tourist mecca. The Argonaut, a converted factory, offers a tasteful nautical theme throughout its tall rooms. Rates run from $149-$359 per night. This newly opened boutique hotel is sure to become a favorite once the word gets out.

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Cypress Hotel 10050 S. DeAnza Blvd.

Cupertino, CA, 95014 www.thecypresshotel.com Reservations: 800 499 1408

uilt in 2002, this Silicon Valley hotel is reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa with its exotic, warm, and inviting colors.

These tall rooms are a dream for the savvy business traveler who happens to be tall. The dot-com craze may be over, but there are still plenty of things to do in and around Silicon Valley. If you are a selfprofessed computer geek, you have to check out San Jose’s Tech Museum. Hockey fans can enjoy an evening with the Sharks, and water lovers can head to Half Moon Bay for a day at the beach.

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Hotel Monaco – Chicago 225 North Wabash Chicago, IL 60601 www.monaco-chicago.com Reservations: 866 610 0081

uilt in 1812, this eclectic French-deco inspired hotel is near the center of downtown Chicago. Citysearch.com has dubbed it the most romantic hotel in Chicago. These pet-friendly accommodations even offer treats for Fido or Fifi in the room’s mini-bar. If you have to leave Fido behind, a complimentary goldfish can be provided as a companion during your stay. You can’t leave Chicago without walking down the Magnificent Mile. If you happen to be in town on a Sunday morning, go down to the House of Blues for an inspirational breakfast buffet complete with live gospel singing.

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The Palm Hotel’s spacious NBA suites offer extra-long beds.

Hotel Monaco – Denver 1717 Champa Street at 17th Denver, CO 80202 www.monaco-denver.com Reservations: 800 990 1303

sage. During Mardi Gras, a $25 parade pass offers you bleacher access right in front of the hotel. Catch some beads (and very little Zzzzsss) on the main parade route. Off-the-rack room rates run from $138-$324 per night, depending on current events.

ocated in downtown Denver, this hotel is as Bohemian as the rest of the Monaco hotels, with the welcoming lobby decorated in elegant trappings. If you’re a ski nut, take note: the hotel offers a Colorado Ski Package in winter that includes accommodations, tickets for the ski train to Winter Park, $20 in “snow dough,” and a welcome basket complete with water bottles, energy bars, Chap stick, and sunscreen. (A ski tip from the pros here at TALL magazine: go down the hill, and when you see a tree, turn.)

Hotel Monaco – Salt Lake City 15 West 200 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 www.monaco-saltlakecity.com Reservations: 800 805 1801

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Hotel Monaco – New Orleans 333 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70130 www.monaco-neworleans.com Reservations: 866 685 8359

f you don’t know why New Orleans is called the Big Easy … you haven’t been to New Orleans. Located on St. Charles Street, with easy access to the French Quarter, tall rooms are available at the standard room rate at this height-friendly hotel. Voodoo dolls in the room’s mini-bar add a special touch. After sticking the doll full of pins (provided in the sewing kit), enjoy the evening wine tasting in the hotel lobby along with a complimentary chair mas-

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requent travelers rave about this boutique hotel, calling it the hippest hotel in Salt Lake City. Plush, French-inspired eclectic décor greets you in the main lobby, seducing you to linger just a little bit longer. Leopard-print bathrobes that are long enough to fall below the Tall Traveler’s knees can be found in the closets of these tall rooms. The faux fur bed throws make for extra comfort on the extra long beds. Located within walking distance of Temple Square, the Monaco Salt Lake City is a trendsetter in this traditional-style city. Room rates run from $99-$199. If you have the time, take a stroll through the Hogle Zoo, home to over 1,100 animals from around the world.

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Hotel Monaco - Washington DC 700 F Street NW Washington DC, 20004 www.monaco-dc.com Reservations: 800 649 1202

on the road he hotel’s Monte Carlo Tall Rooms are heaven for the tall traveler, with the ceilings in this historic 1939 Tariff Building measuring 15’ high. The neoclassic furnishings make for an elegant stay while in the Capitol city. Although the showerheads may be high, the water pressure is low. Room rates run from $269-$899. If you have a few minutes to spare, walk on down to the newly installed WWII memorial for some quiet introspection.

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The Mayfair House Hotel 3000 Florida Avenue Coconut Grove (Miami), FL 33133 www.mayfairhousehotel.com Reservations: 305 441 0000

isiting NBA players often call the Mayfair House Hotel home during their stay in Miami, and none of them have complained so far. To better serve these and other tall travelers, the Mayfair Hotel has begun renovations and will offer designated Tall Rooms. The hotel will also continue to offer hot tubs on the balconies of all rooms. If you’ve never been to Coconut Grove, with its world-famous beaches, nightclubs, golf courses, and shopping centers, start planning your next trip for that destination.

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The Palms Casino Resort 4321 W. Flamingo Road Las Vegas, NV 89103 www.palms.com Reservations: 1-866-942-7770

he Palms Casino is owned by the Maloof family, who also own the Sacramento Kings basketball team, so it would make sense that their hotel would cater to basketball players. The Palms offers 22 NBA Suites to accommodate the tall traveler.

These rooms offer extra long beds, oversized furnishings, higher showerheads, and oversized tubs. The doorframes are higher also, so there will be no “ducking” at this hot spot in Sin City. NBA Junior Suites can be had starting at $179 per night on weekdays.

While you’re there, visit Rain in the Desert, and Ghostbar, two of the most popular nightspots in town, or catch the breakfast buffet for $5.99.

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Walt Disney World Resorts http://disneyworld.disney.go.com

he Walt Disney Company doesn’t have “Tall Rooms” per se, but they do work to accommodate their tall guests. A Disney representative told TALL magazine that if a tall traveler would like an extra long bed in his or her room, Disney would absorb the cost of renting the longer bed and have it set up in the room by your arrival time. Disney hotel tip: the newer resorts offer higher doorframes.

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Haus Am See Hotel and Restaurant South road 14 02785 Olbersdorf, Germany www.haus-am-see.com

picturesque little hotel on the edge of the Zittauer lake and mountains. They have a couple of “apartments” with bigger and longer beds.

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Hotel Paba Via Cavour 266 Rome, Italy www.hotelpaba.com

ccording to their site, “All Paba Hotel rooms are equipped with oversized beds, a private shower box, air conditioning, direct telephone line, TV set, radio, minibar, kettle, safe, hairdryer, and more.” All roads lead to Rome, and all the roads in Rome lead to the very small, but very luxurious, Hotel Paba.

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The front lobby in the Pacific Palisades Hotel welcomes guests.

CANADA Pacific Palisades Hotel and Spa 1277 Robson Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6E 1C4 www.pacificpalisadeshotel.com Reservations: 604 688 0461

ocated on popular Robson Street, this former apartment building has been converted into an affordable hip hotel. Don’t let the lime green walls scare you away; tall travelers can rest easy in the extra long beds with down comforters and pillows.

If you’ve never been to Vancouver, British Columbia, be warned: surrounded by snow-capped mountains on one end and the clear blue sea on the other, it has been called one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Don’t leave without visiting Victoria Island.

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INTERNATIONAL Art Deco Hotel Montana Adligenswilerstrasse 22 6002 Luzern, Switzerland www.hotel-montana.ch

ccording to a recent press release, the hotel has made available several rooms with 7’2” beds and other amenities geared toward taller travelers. The hotel is located on a hill overlooking the beautiful Lake Lucerne and the surrounding city.

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Hotel Quintessence Dresden High Shrubs Market 1 01108 Dresden, Germany www.hotel-quintessenz.de

hree separate levels of room comfort to choose from. Upon request, they will replace the normal bed with a special 7’2” long bed (for any level room you reserve).

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La Bergere Statiionsstraat 420 6221 BR, Maastricht, Netherlands www.la-bergere.com

ome of the tallest population in the world, Holland is also one of the quirkiest countries, where old country meets the avant garde head-on. The famous La Bergere accommodates both of these conventions, with rooms that are tall friendly but very chic as well. They boast a bedroom designed by Italian maestro Minotti, choices of water beds or double beds, and even a pet goldfish for the duration of your stay. They will also pump pure oxygen into your room. (How’s that for room service?)

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The Lighthouse Reef Resort The Lighthouse Reef Belize www.scubabelize.com

heir suites feature extra-long full beds and a vanity bath. This resort is literally a splash away from the world famous Barrier Reef, the Atolls, and the Great Blue Hole. To the owners of the Lighthouse Reef Resort: We really really really like your resort and promise that if you put us up for a night or two we will write the most glorious review your resort has ever seen. Swear it!

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TALL TRAVELING TIPS 1. When booking an airline ticket, request (nicely) an exit row or bulkhead seat.

2. If you’re on a long cross-country or overseas trip, take a walk up and down the aisles every half hour.

3. When booking a hotel room, ask first for a tall room, then a California King bed. As a last resort, make sure the bed does not have a footboard.

4. A lot of hotel chains carry extra-long bed (these usually measure around 6’8” to 7’, but you HAVE to request them in advance.

5. Send us postcards!

TALL magazine 360 Grand Ave. #474 Oakland CA 94610

newborn to 48 months

apparel for tall children playwear • sleepwear special occasions • accessories

www.jungle-babies.com

Omayad Hotel 1 Brazil Av., Damascus, Syria www.omayad-hotel.com

oundproof, large dorsopedic and special extra-long beds, trouser press, minibar, smoke detector, fitness equipment (in room on request), connecting rooms, private balcony (most rooms), and more.

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The Schloss Hotel August - Böckstiegel - Straße 10 01326 Dresden, Germany www.schlosshotel-pillnitz.de

he hotel, privately owned and run by the Zepp family, is located in the castle grounds of Pillnitz Castle, the picturesque former residence of the kings of Saxony, in Saxony’s capital, Dresden.

The hotel has two rooms with 7’2” long beds. This hotel is very popular with many tall Europeans.

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The Sshaftesbury Hotel 65-73 Shaftesbury Avenue Piccadilly, London, W1D 6EX www.shaftesburyhotel.co.uk

he bedrooms are climate-controlled and have King Size beds.

The suites all benefit from mood-lit 4-poster beds (wink wink), and the restaurant buffets are constantly flowing.

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Did we miss one?

his list is neither final nor finite. If we left out your favorite tallfriendly lodging, contact us at editor@tallmagazine.com (write “tall hotels” in the subject line) and give us the name and location and why they should be included in our next list. Happy travels!

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teen tall talk

by Al T. Toode

Dr. Toode, I have a problem I really hope you can help me with. I am very much a shy person. But because I’m tall (6’5”), it seems like everyone in my school wants to talk to me. I try to talk to these guys in my class, but it’s really hard, and so people think I’m stuck up because I won’t talk to them. My school also puts on these really great plays too and I want to try out for them, but I’ve walked out on that stage after school when it was empty, and the idea of being up there and talking to a whole audience makes me start sweating! Oh, I’m a sophomore too. Can you give me some help?

— Charlie P. Charlie, believe it was the great actor Alec Guinness (best known to your generation as the guy who played Obi Wan Kenobi), who said that he was, at 80 years of age, still afraid to go out on stage. But it was the use of that fear that helped him be a great actor. (Then again, maybe it was Alec Baldwin, I’m not quite sure.)

It sounds like what you need is a special secret formula called False Confidence.

There’s a saying that says if you can’t make it, fake it. We’re going to show you how.

Don't worry, this won’t screw with your head. In fact, if you keep practicing these methods, you will actually become selfconfident. And then world, watch out!

Whenever you think you might be near a situation that will involve some sort of public speaking (being in high school, this might mean daily), do the following.

1. Go to the restroom, stand in front of the mirror, and take in a deep breath.

Count to 10 and let it out slowly. Do it again, but exhale even slower. Again.

2. If you find yourself alone, open your mouth as if you’re going to let out a big scream, and breathe out with the same effort, but not making any noise (a silent scream). This might take some practice.

3. Splash some cold water on your face and around your neck.

4. Stand up straight and look yourself in the eyes. Who is that amazing guy in the mirror looking back at you?

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5. Get on out of there and let people meet this amazing person.

6. When in a group of people, smile. A lot. (However, don’t smile all the time, or people will wonder what’s wrong with you.)

7. Listen more than you talk.

Everybody loves someone who listens (this is one of those BIG RULES that you will hear throughout your life, so start practicing it now.)

8. My mother once gave me this golden rule when you are out on a date: “All you have to do is nod and smile at her and act amazed by everything she says and does.”

Trust me, it works.

9. Don’t give lengthy answers to questions. Start off easy and slowly by making brief, but intelligent comments (especially if your voice sounds shaky). Believe me, more people will listen to a man who can say many things with few words than to a guy who talks and talks but goes nowhere.

10. Ask questions, even if you already know the answer. See point 7.

11. You don’t have to take sides if an argument ensues. “I really don't know enough about that yet to make a final decision,” is a reasonable response.

12. If you feel yourself getting sweaty, head back to the restroom and cool off.

13. Put that smile back on and get back out there. You’re doing great!

14. Don’t feel that you have to start a conversation. See what everyone else is talking about.

15. When you speak with someone, look them in the eye, if only briefly. In this way you are acknowledging them and showing them respect.

Follow these easy steps and guidelines, and you’ll be a leading actor in no time (both on a stage in front of hundreds of people or talking with your friends during lunch hour). Let us know how things turn out for you, and break a leg!

Have a question? E-mail us at teentalk@tallmagazine.com.

PIMPLE PREVENTION nless you were been born with perfect genes, acne is a condition that affects almost everyone at some time in their lives. However, there are some things you can do keep your skin clear: 1. Don’t pick, pop or squeeze, or otherwise mess with your skin. Squeezing blemishes or whiteheads can lead to infection or scarring. It almost always makes the acne you have worse.

2. Wash your pillowcase often and always use clean face towels. Dirty towels and pillowcases can harbor bacteria and germs that can make acne worse.

3. Be sure to pull your hair away from your skin when you sleep.

4. Try to shower as soon as possible after your workout since sweat combined with skin oils can trap dirt and bacteria in your pores, causing nasty breakouts.

5. Don’t go to bed with makeup on. It can clog your pores and cause breakouts.

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6. Make sure to clean cosmetic brushes regularly in soapy water and throw out old, contaminated makeup.

7. Use topical treatments anywhere that you tend to get breakouts — don’t just spot-treat existing pimples. The pore-clogging process happens two to three weeks before any blemish becomes visible on the skin.

8. Exercising regularly can help reduce stress and it increases blood circulation and oxygen penetration to the skin, which may help to prevent acne.

9. Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day to help detoxify the body from the inside out.

(Article and photo provided by aracontent.com)

the hopeful romantic keeping your love life on cloud nine

To Hopeful Romantic: I am giving up on looking for love. I am a 6’1” healthy, 32 year-old woman and am sick and tired of dating guys who either have a thing for tall chicks (ugh!), are rebounding from a divorce, or are complete dorks who still play videogames and have no plans to grow up anytime soon.

- Too Old to Play Games Dear TOL, Just wait till you me the guy who’s playing video games because he’s going through a divorce, and won’t date anybody because he only dates tall chicks and hasn’t found one yet. Until he meets you. Talk about “Ugh.” To Hopeful Romantic: I think this whole online dating is a big scam to try and steal single peoples’ money. I’ve signed on to a couple of them and met only three people through these services. One of the women was about to go through a divorce, another was hinting at marriage after our second date, and the third ended up not looking anything like she did online.

I was looking at those 15-minute dating services where at least I would have the chance to meet these women face to face. Though how

ROMANTIC MOVIE RENTAL SUGGESTIONS A Knight's Tale Pretty Woman Moonstruck Far and Away City of Angels Ghost Untamed Heart When Harry Met Sally Message In a Bottle Breakfast at Tiffany’s Ladyhawke A Walk to Remember Tortilla Soup The Princess Bride TALL 18

much can you tell about someone in 15 minutes?

- No Time for Love Dear NTL, According to the “experts,” you make a judgement call about a person in as little as 30 seconds after first meeting them. So the question for you is, what does one do for the next fourteen and a half minutes? I say bring an Etch-a-Sketch along just in case.

You can turn the left and right dial while she turns the up and down dial. Let her shake it when you’re done.

To Hopeful Romantic: I don’t get it. Why do tall guys date shorter girls? I’ve seen so many guys who must be at least 6’5” or taller walking around with these 5’5” and shorter gals? I want to run up to the man and say “What about me? Am I too tall for you?” Just think about it: he wouldn’t have to bend down to kiss me, we wouldn’t look that odd in public, and we could do “other things” closer together. Is there a conspiracy against tall women?

- Too Tall for Love Dear TTL, Just this past weekend I was walking along the beach when I espied this giant of a man walking hand in hand with a gal that I would put at maybe 5’3”. His arm didn’t reach all the way down so she walked with her arm up and out a bit to accommodate him. Deep in conversation, she would nonetheless steal a smile his way every couple of steps. Meanwhile the adoring downward gaze of his eyes looked like they would set her pretty curls on fire.

I was about to run up to him, poke a finger at his chest and say “Hey, go find love at your own eye level, buster” but instead I adjusted my headphones and switched the metal detector back on. It was a big beach and I had yet to find more than a couple dollars worth of earrings and ankle bracelets.

Hopeful Romantic is written by a love expert who is an expert only in the sense that he has, at several times in his life, fallen in love. Which we thinks makes him a pretty good expert.

Have love problems?

Hopefulromantic@tallmagazine.com

GIFT GIVING ired of giving her roses and chocolates all the time? Want to show that your creativity does go beyond the neighborhood convenience store (and your neighbor’s rose garden)?

Here are some unique gift ideas that will impress her enough to forgive you to make up for the bug that crawled out of that one rose and down her blouse. Yeah, that one.

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1. Message in a Bottle www.timelessmessage.com Choose a bottle, choose from one of their pre-written messages (warning: incredibly cheesy poetry ahead), or write your own, and they do all the rest. Depending on the bottle, you can drop around $85.00.

2. Caricature Portrait www.personalcreations.com For around $80 you can give these caricature artists another reason to tell their mom that all those years were worth it, and look at where they are now.

3. Her own Bobble Head www.whoopassenterprises.com This might be the most original gift you might ever give her. You submit a photo to them and this company will create a custom bobble head just for you (or her). Starting around $39.95.

Q: How is dating like looking for tall clothes?

A: It’s hard to find something in your size.

Introducing TALL magazine’s

TALL Personals Service • Free to post and browse ads!

• Post your favorite picture/s.

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Online at www.tallmagazine.com/TALL_personals.html

tall things considered We came. We saw. We bought stuff.

SERENITY e have a giant poster-sized version of this photo on a wall opposite our cubes. (We playfully refer to the milk cartons that we sit on as “cubes.” It makes our days go by faster.) Everyday at noon, we sit in a circle and stare at it for the rest of the lunch hour.

We have thought up a story about him. His name is Jerry, and he’s a freelance writer for one of those ecotourism magazines. He is sitting somewhere in the rain forests of Malaysia and is about to send off a story to

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his editor describing his discovery of a new tribe of people who are all incredibly healthy, and old, thanks to a local herb that had also heretofore been unknown to Western science, but seems to repel all known diseases. Jerry will probably win a Pulitzer for his story.

We are really envious of Jerry.

The Skychair is adjustable to any height (shown with optional footrest). Jerry not included. $100 and up. www.skychair.com

THIS CD HAS BEEN PROVEN TO FIGHT CANCER peaking of repelling diseases, though not FDA approved yet, trials have shown that if you buy this CD and listen to it, you will actually be fighting cancer. And you can enjoy some cool music while doing so.

Chuck Navasky, the mastermind behind the One Less Tear organization, has personally seen the devastation cancer causes on a person and his family, having survived the removal of a stage-three tumor on his vocal chords.

A music-loving man at heart, Chuck has gathered many of his musical friends together to help raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. There are 16 songs on this disc, with tracks provided by such noteworthy names as Dale Russel, Tony Curtis, Kevin Sharp, L.C. Greenwood, Ken Griffey Sr., Vince Neil (Motley Crue), Olivia Newton-John, the country band Ricochet, and more. Enjoyable yet touchy songs, such as the track “Save,” will have you grabbing a beer, while “Angel for Sarah” will have you grabbing for the Kleenex. Interspersed throughout are personal anecdotes from the performers.

Only $10.00. Only at www.onelesstear.com.

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TALL 20

SOMETHING FOR THE KIDS lthough most of this book’s readers won’t exceed fourteen years of age, we found this title to be quite the page turner.

Most of the book profiles tall people throughout history, giving a lot of detailed information about these folks.

We read about 7’7” William Parsons, who served as bodyguard to King James I, 7’11” Anna Swan, and a host of others. A worthwhile book for all those young kids who have to stand at the back for each class photo session.

Trivia: Author Elaine Landau also wrote Joined at Birth: The Lives of Conjoined Twins, and Short Stature, From Folklore to Fact. Kind of kooky, no? www.scholasticlibrary.com

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THE SUPREME ULTRA KING easuring a whopping 10’ x 9’ (that’s 90 square feet of bed), you do not fit this bed into your room; you fit your room around this bed. Believe it or not, this is the mediumsized bed that the Custom Bed Source carries. Their largest, the Extreme Ultra King (we like the sound of that), measures a full 12’ x 10’. That’s the total size of our bedroom!

Thankfully, Debbie Rhodes, the brains behind the bed’s design, created it so that there are actually two sections to the mattress, and each can fit through most doorways and stairs.

With that much mattress room, you are guaranteed never to have frostbitten feet or sore calves because your legs are hang-

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ing over the edge. Several designs are available to choose from, along with a wide array of headboards and custom covers, pillows, and sheets to match.

They will not only deliver the bed, but will set it up for you, along with any customizations you requested, anywhere in the United States and Canada. Due to the many options, prices vary, but the mattresses are guaranteed for 10 years.

Think of it this way, whenever the TALL magazine staff comes to visit, we can all sleep on the same bed. Just imagine the pillow fights! www.ultraking.com

www.tallmagazine.com

21 TALL

TALL 22

watch your back

by Dr. Torsten Stein

I am 6’8” and 42 years old.

I used to be a wrestler in high-school. Back then I was only 6'6" and skinny, but very muscular.

This changed and I am about 300 lbs. now. I own my own dry-cleaning store so I am on my feet a lot; I also have to do a lot of reaching. Even though the laundry isn't too heavy, I feel a strain on the small of my back whenever I lift it. I want to start doing the right thing for my back before it gets worse. Any hints and tips for me?

Joe S., Mt. Horeb, WI

Q:

Thanks for some background information on your life and what could have caused certain problems in your spine. Because a lot of back problems are the result of an accumulation of years of misuse, it’s almost impossible to find an exact reason for your back problems.

Looking forward, however, let’s look at some tips and techniques you can start implementing in your everyday life that will give your back a break and put your spine on the road to recovery.

Please note: your spine is a piece of very delicate and intricate machinery. If your discomfort is limiting your movement to the point where you can hardly stand up or walk without considerable pain or effort, or if you are experiencing continuous aches, I strongly urge you to see a medical professional. While many family doctors may be able to help you, take the time and effort to seek out someone who specializes in the spinal and lumbar regions, whether he be a chiropractor, physical therapist, or a sports therapy professional. You wouldn’t trust your car to a lawn-mower repairman, right? So don’t trust your back to just anybody.

A:

Back-saving techniques: 1. Lifting. When lifting heavy objects

(like laundry), use your legs, and not your back, to support the weight. Your leg muscles are bigger and much stronger than the muscles in the small of your back.

How to properly lift using your legs: Get as close to the object as possi-

ble (minimize as much reaching as possible) and stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees while keeping your back straight. Once you grip the object, keep the same posture, but raise yourself using your legs.

It helps to not look down while attempting to pick up the object — look straight ahead and concentrate on using your thigh muscles instead of your lower back.

2. Talking on the phone. Talking on the phone can cause neck and back problems over time. The main thing here is “over time.” Just because you cradle the phone between your ear and shoulder doesn’t mean you’re going to get a neck problem, but long-time odds aren’t in your favor. If you need to move around a lot and still talk on the phone, invest in a head-set system. Same advice goes for wireless phones. They even have wireless headsets now too.

3. Taking breaks. Whatever kind of job you’re doing, whether sitting behind a desk or walking around, take a breaks on a regular basis; ideally you should stretch and move around every 30 minutes or so. The best destination for your break should be the office water cooler or kitchen. (If you don’t have access to water on your job, bring bottled water with you.) Fill up your glass or mug with water, drink it down, and fill ‘er up again. Many aches and pains disappear when one stays hydrated. Water flushes toxins out of your system and also re-hydrates the disks in your spine.

If you work in an office where the air is re-circulated, drinking water is even more important, as the atmosphere in which you are working is usually very dry.

4. Getting proper sleep. I’m sure it’s been drilled into your head that you need at least seven hours of sleep a night. But what you probably haven’t heard (or heard enough), is that you need to make sure the snoozing you get is restful sleep.

To maximize your Zzzzs (and to help your body realign itself while you sleep), do what babies do, sleep on your side, in the fetal position. Insert a small pillow www.tallmagazine.com

between your knees to prevent your hips from getting twisted out of whack.

Sleeping on your back is okay, as long as you don’t snore too loudly and wake up your partner or the neighbors.

Try to avoid sleeping on your belly, since this turns your neck to one side for the whole night. This also puts more pressure on your spine.

5. Stepping out (or in). One of the big causes of back injury — especially for tall people — is the way we get in and out of a car. Because most cars are often pretty small and low to the ground, tall people are inclined to duck, go in headfirst, and “snake” behind the steering wheel.

Because we’re not bending our knees properly when we do this (and it’s very hard to bend your knees at all when doing this maneuver), we end up putting extra pressure on our lower backs.

The right way to enter a vehicle is to go in butt-first, and back your behind onto the driver seat before moving both legs — as a unit, not individually — behind the steering wheel.

A small pillow in the small of your back or one of those ergonomic seat cushions will do wonders for keeping the lumbar curve alive.

Speaking of cars, pay attention to your posture as you’re driving. Are both hands on the wheel? Is your left elbow resting on the driver’s side door handle?

Do you drive with your left hand while your right arm is up on the seat back? Do you find your torso leaning left or right?

These can all aggravate your spine.

6. Take out your wallet. Money may or may not be the root of all evil, but a wallet in your back pocket may be the root of a lot of your lower back pain. It’s a common oversight, but symptoms have been relieved, sometimes instantly, by the removal of one’s wallet.

Hope these tips help!

Have questions about your lower back, neck, lumbar region? Want to know how to keep your spine in line? Dr. Stein can be reached at DrStein@tallmagazine.com.

23 TALL

exercise

Advice for your body

I have begun working out again for about 8 weeks now, using a personal trainer. I have gained about ten pounds since I started my new fitness program. My girlfriend says that I look more muscular since I began my new program, but how do I know if that weight gain is from an increased muscle mass or something else? At 6’5”, how much weight can I reasonably expect to gain?

- John P., Westfield, NJ

Q:

Photograph by David J Lissy

A:

Congratulations on getting back on track with a fitness program! Let’s keep at it and make it a regular part of your lifestyle.

When you are on a fitness program and you gain weight, what we are really looking for is gaining lean body mass (muscle); we want to gain muscle while losing fat.

Before beginning any fitness program that includes strength training (and every good fitness program should include strength training), it is a good idea to have a body composition analysis or assessment. Your personal trainer should have provided you with this assessment before you began to train; the tests are easy to perform and results are instant.

A body composition analysis (BCA) is used to establish how much of the body’s scale weight is muscle and how much is fat weight. There are many methods that can accomplish this, but the most com-

TALL 24

mon method is a skin fold assessment test using what is known as a skin fold caliper.

With this device (one of which is shown in the photo), the thickness of a person’s skin fold is measured at specific body regions and, based upon age, is compared to a chart compiled from thousands of tests using an underwater weighing technique. (The underwater technique is the most accurate, but for obvious reasons — they involve the use of a big tank of water — are the most difficult to accomplish). The chart will indicate what percentage of the body is fat weight and what percentage of the body is lean body mass (or muscle).

This is also why “scale weight” is not always the best way to determine if weight gain — or weight loss — is actually occurring. For example, your weight gain may have been due to fat weight gain or even a gain in water weight, which is very common. If your girlfriend thinks that you appear more muscular, the gain may well be, and hopefully is, lean body mass. But only a body composition test will accurately determine this. Ask your personal trainer to do a body composition analysis right now (any certified personal trainer should be trained in this technique) so that you have a baseline measurement as you move forward.

To answer the second part of your question, fat weight is easier to gain than lean body mass as you might expect (although there are some individuals that due to a genetic gift can eat a horse and still stay slim and trim). With respect to lean body mass, if you are on a workout program that provides you with necessary

recovery time — not to mention sufficient levels of workout intensity — along with a nutritional diet to accompany the workout, the weight gain that you mentioned in your question could, indeed, be more muscle.

The good news for taller individuals is that a larger bone structure will, in general, produce a lean body mass weight gain that is higher than average (although genetics are always at work and may limit some to smaller gains than others).

Remember: the more muscle that one gains, the more fat will be lost over time due to a natural (and permanent) increase in metabolic rate (the rate at which one burns calories). Therefore, it is very possible to gain five pounds of lean body mass, while losing five pounds of fat weight at the same time. The results of this gain/loss would be invisible to you, as you would see the same scale weight. But you would possess a leaner and more fit body. This is why, as stated above, scale weight alone is not the best measure of success in any weight management program whether it be weight loss or weight gain. This goes for women as well as men!

Keep up the good work and periodically have your personal trainer or fitness specialist assess your body composition to determine if your gains are calorie burning muscle or less desirable fat weight. As you now know, there is a difference.

Dr. Paul Kennedy is the author of Be Fit, Stay Fit (Blue River Press, 2002), and the host of Be Fit, Stay Fit America, a nationally syndicated television show. Visit him online at www.befitstayfit.com.

exercise

DIVE IN! Photograph by Marin Pernter

This summer, the pool could be the best place to go for a healthy body.

ohn Compton’s backyard is beautiful by any measure.

Heirloom and native plants fringe an emerald carpet of lawn. Roses, both old and new, scent the air. Tucked in next to some oak leaf hydrangeas, there’s a small and beautiful swim-in-place pool. Exercise is just a splash away, and the wet venue fits in beautifully with this home’s garden.

Compton decided to get a swim-in-place pool after seeing an ad in an airplane magazine. “I love to swim; that’s mainly what I do for exercise. The thing is, we didn’t want to give up much of our garden for a pool. This is perfect.”

Google “water exercise” on your computer, and the 5.1 million hits you're likely to get on any given day offer a hint as to its current — and growing — popularity.

For tall people, aquatic exercise makes even more sense. If there’s one thing that holds true for most gyms: whether you’re a tall man or woman, most of the equipment — from the cardio machines to the weight benches — are not made with taller people in mind. We have to adjust our posture or range of motion in ways that in some cases visibly decreases the amount of benefit we would otherwise receive from this equipment. A pool, on the other hand, fits any body size and any body mass and provides enough of a natural resistance most of us couldn’t get in a gym.

Aquatic exercise is most definitely growing in popularity within the fitness industry, says Dr. Bob Keith, a nutritionist and fitness expert at Auburn University. “In past years, water exercise was done mostly by older adults, but now people of all ages are working out in the pool.” Dr. Keith cites a growing list of in-water exercises — water walking, deep-water running, kickboxing, cardio/toning, circuit training, yoga and tai chi, in addition to the traditional lap-swimming — that work to tone, strengthen, and boost metabolism, and are great for taller bodies. Here’s why:

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• Water provides both buoyancy and support for your body.

When you are up to your neck in water, you only need to support 10 percent of your weight. When exercising in waist-high water, you still only need to support 50 percent of your body’s weight.

There’s very little, if any, jarring and pounding of body joints, bones and muscles that can occur with land-based workouts. Plus, you are less likely to experience aches and soreness following a workout in the water.

• According to aquatic-exercise experts, water provides about 12 times the resistance of air. This is smooth, continuous resistance that will promote increased muscular endurance and tone. You will see quicker results when exercising in the water, compared with the same exercise routine on land.

• Water exercise can improve flexibility without putting too much pressure on your joints. The effects of gravity are lessened when you’re in water, so these joints can move more easily through a wide range of motion. This helps to improve long-term flexibility — it’s especially important as we age.

• During a wet workout, the water continually cools the body, making the exercise routine more comfortable and enjoyable.

If you have the room and cashflow, we heartily encourage you to buy the Olympic-size pool, and then invite all of the TALL magazine staff to help you break it in. If you don’t look at less expensive alternatives like a swim-in-place pool. If you are land- or cashstrapped, chances are there’s a YMCA or neighborhood pool in your area.

For us tall folk, the pool could very well be the best place to exercise. So grab your Speedos and your oversized towels, and submerge yourself in liquid goodness.

For more information on swim-in-place pools, check out Endless Pools and SwimEx.

www.tallmagazine.com

25 TALL

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anadian Candice Olson is the host of the 30minute interior design show “Divine Design,” a program that brings viewers into the homes of regular families desperately in need of her fresh interior design ideas.

Through Olson’s guidance — and the aid of a design assistant, carpenter, painter, and electrician — a drab, uninspiring room is transformed into a contemporary, comfortable living space.

Candice Olson worked on her Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary, where she also played volleyball for the Canadian National Team. She went on to graduate from the School of Interior Design at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario.

Candice established her own design practice, Candice Olson Design, in 1994; that same year, she also purchased and renovated a derelict downtown house. Based on her results, she was selected as the winner of the annual design contest for Canadian House and Home Magazine. A onetime appearance on the CityTV home renovation program “CityLine” led to a regular guest expert spot, where Olson first offered design advice to television viewers.

“Divine Design” debuted on the W Network in the fall of 2002, and became a part of the HGTV (Home and Garden Television) line-up a year later. The program now airs in more than 80 million homes across Canada and the United States. Aside from her work on “Divine Design,” Olson also submits regular design articles to the Toronto Globe and Mail newspaper.

Olson is married and lives in Canada. In September 2003, she gave birth to a baby girl, Pyper Jean.

She took some time out from her busy schedule to sit down with TALL magazine and answer questions about her height, her career, and her views on interior design.

A Touch of the

Divine

Candice Olson, the (almost) 6’ host of HGTV’s “Divine Design,” doles out her heavenly inspirations.

by M.L. Zambrana

www.tallmagazine.com

27 TALL

TALL magazine: First the obvious question: how tall are you?

CANDICE OLSON: Just shy of 6’.

TM: How tall are your mom and dad?

CO: Mom is 5’8”, Dad is 6’7”.

TM: How tall is your spouse?

CO: My spouse is 6’2”.

TM: Did you prefer to date short or tall men?

CO: A tall man was a bonus, but I never let that be a deciding fac-

tor. When I was a kid lamenting how short all the guys were, my very frank mother would always say, “They’re pretty much all the same height horizontally.” I tend to agree.

TM: At what age did you reach your current height?

CO: I was always mistaken for the teacher in my class photo. I

reached this height when I turned 12.

TM: How was it growing up as a tall girl?

CO: I was very athletic; my height was a definite asset in sports,

except in gymnastics, where I eventually outgrew the uneven bars and had to give up my dreams of being the world’s first 6’ female Olympic gymnast.

TM: How do you think it is different being a tall woman as opposed to being a tall man?

CO: When pants are too short on a tall man, it’s just plain goofy; a

tall woman can call them capris!

TM: Has your height given you any back problems, especially during your pregnancy?

CO: Most of my height is in my waist and torso so back problems

are an issue, but it was great for my pregnancy; the 60 pounds I gained were stretched across about 60 miles.

TM: Where do you shop for your clothes and shoes?

CO: I find clothes and shoe shopping to be really frustrating; most

of the tall-sized clothing and shoe stores I have come across make maternity clothing seem like high fashion. Generally I try to shop early in the season, so I don’t have to Tai Bo someone for the last pair of size 11 sandals. And when I find something that fits (shoes, pants, or jackets), I snap one up in every color! It’s really the biggest drag to being tall.

TM: Where were you born and raised?

CO: I was born in Kenora, Ontario.

TM: How did you begin your career in interior design?

CO: I received my Bachelor of Applied Arts in Interior Design

from Ryerson University, Toronto. When I graduated from Ryerson, I worked in retail and hospitality design for a few years

TALL 28

CANDICE OLSON’S TOP FIVE DESIGN TIPS: 1. Never live with anything too precious.

2. If it feels good, do it!

3. I’m all for doing-it-yourself, but professionals can make or break a job.

4. Really look at how you live in a space before renovating or redecorating. It is really easy to get sucked into a magazine or a showroom look that is totally not suited to the way you live.

5. Every year or two, take everything out of a room and put back, piece by piece, the components that are really important to the space. It is amazing how much extra stuff we acquire over the years. Edit, edit, edit!

before starting my own company.

A local TV show had seen a project that I had won an award for and they had me give a tour through it for their viewers on the air.

I was then hired on as their design expert for a weekly interior design show. A few years ago, I was approached by the W Network and Fusion Television to develop a show that showcased the unique way I work and the fun that I have doing it, and “Divine Design” was born!

TM: What new design trends do you see emerging onto the scene?

CO: The movement is towards eclecticism. People are tired of

being pigeon-holed into one particular style — French Country, Victorian, Modern — because in their pure form these styles are tiring, boring, and stagnant, and don’t allow you to grow and evolve within a space.

My clients are searching for a look that is based on quality classics mixed in with fashion-forward accessories that keep the look current, casual, and contemporary but not “trendy.” They want a look that is truly a personal reflection of them and that does not appear as if has been done by a designer.

TM: Which ones should be retired permanently?

CO: Dried flower arrangements need to go to that big design grave-

yard in the sky. I’d also like people to understand that color has a place in contemporary environments, and I’m not talking beige instead of white.

TM: Say there’s a 6’7” guy living in a smallish apartment or studio. How can he open up this small space so he doesn’t feel so claustrophobic?

CO: Large floor mirrors placed adjacent to a window visually

extend the room. Recessed halogen or track lighting placed about 16” from perimeter walls visually pushes the walls out. Dark colors don’t make a room small, contrast does. Try wrapping a room in similar shades and intensities of colour so that the walls, trim, and ceiling do not contrast with each other. Edit furniture and accessories to create a simplified room with less visual contrast and clutter.

TM: What are some types of houseplants that bachelors can use in their decorating?

CO: The bachelors that I know would say the plants you dry and

smoke, but that’s probably not what you’re looking for! Everyone can do with a 7’ uplit palm tree to add some life to a bare corner.

TM: What are some of your favorite television shows?

for more information www.divinedesign.tv (official show site) www.wnetwork.com/divinedesign (W Network site)

TALL 29

CO: As a guilty pleasure, I enjoy “American Idol.” I also watch “6 Feet Under,” and “Scrubs.”

TM: Which design shows do you like to watch, and which ones kind of miss the mark?

CO: I like “Monster Home,” but I have no idea how those people

live in the houses afterwards. There are some design shows where the designers take themselves and spaces too seriously; this is interior design, not the cure for cancer.

TM: When not working on your show, what hobbies, interests, or sports do you enjoy?

CO: I enjoy skiing, biking, anything outdoors, really. I like to keep

a balance between, career, family, and friends.

TM: Are there any causes close to your heart?

CO: I’m a huge animal lover.

TM: What sage wisdom will you pass on to your children?

CO: You only feel accomplishment by overcoming something that

is difficult. TALL

Jennie Finch has been called the greatest fastpitch softball pitcher in the sport today.

This August, she will have the chance to prove it.

The woman wearing the number 27 jersey for the U.S. Softball team does not cuss. “Never. Not even once,” confesses Jennie. “That’s one of those things that once you start, it would be very hard to stop, so I just never started.”

The same cannot be said for the batters who have to swing against her. Though we don’t have audio-taped proof, we’re certain more than a few expletives have left a batter’s mouth as another one of Jennie’s famous Risers smacks into the catcher’s mitt and the bat swings harmlessly through the air. Again.

TALL 30

The Belle of the Ball

by TALL magazine

www.tallmagazine.com

31 TALL

A

fter all, the 6’1”, golden-haired woman they’re batting against isn’t just any old softball pitcher. She’s 24-year old Jennie Finch, a woman who has pitched strikes against major league baseball players with her signature Riser ball. Her pitch has been clocked at 71 miles per hour. (The average speed of a major league baseball pitch is 73 miles per hour.)

A woman who in 2001 finished her NCAA school season with a still-valid record 32-0 winning streak. So honestly, what kind of a chance does one have?

Jennie still holds the NCAA record with 60 consecutive wins over three seasons when she pitched for the University of Arizona. “My goal is to never lose,” she says. “That may seem unrealistic, but I’m going to try.” Her mettle will be tested this August as she travels to Greece along with her teammates to battle the best softball players competing countries have to offer in the 2004 Olympics.

Though fiercely competitive, Jennie Finch is a genuinely nice person, a family girl (her father is her pitching coach, and a relative runs her web site), and a team player. Though the spotlight is shining brightly on her, Jennie deflects as much of it as possible so others around her may also be illuminated.

Though her talent shines through on its own, it is supported by her natural good looks. ESPN’s voters recently ousted long-time tennis player Anna Kournikova out of the top slot of the network’s Most Attractive Female Athlete list, electing that honor to Jennie Finch instead. Unlike Anna, Jennie does not overtly draw attention to her physical features, wanting people to focus on her game, not on what she’s wearing (or, in Anna’s case, not wearing).

TALL magazine had a chance to catch up with Jennie before she got too caught up in her pre-Olympic preparations.

TM: How many guys come up to you and bet that they can hit a home run against you?

JF: A lot. But for 99.9 percent of them, I can’t get them to actually

TALL magazine: Have you ever been told you throw like a girl?

JENNIE FINCH: No! In elementary school I would always win the

TM: How does attitude affect a good softball player?

JF: A good softball player must have a good attitude. Softball is a

softball toss in the school olympics.

TM: How long have you been playing softball?

JF: Since 1985, when I was five.

team sport, and having a good attitude plays a big part in your team having success. Softball is a game of failure: if you fail seven or less times out of 10 at the plate hitting, you’re considered a good hitter.

It’s a game of learning from your mistakes and making adjustments.

TM: How has your pitching style developed over the years?

JF: My father (Doug Finch) is my pitching coach. He has developed

TM: Who were the biggest influences on your game?

JF: My father and mother are the backbone of my career. They sac-

my style over the years working closely with Dr. Sheri Warner, a biomechanist.

up other pitches.

rificed so much to get me where I am. Past softball players like Dot Richardson, Joan Joyce, and Michelle Smith helped get softball where it is today. These women, along with others like Lisa Fernandez, Leah O’Brien-Amico, and Crystl Bustos, all of whom are still playing, have created these opportunities that are out there today for my teammates and me.

TM: What’s the fastest you’ve clocked your pitch at?

JF: 71 miles per hour.

TM: How good would you be without a good catcher?

JF: A catcher is the other half of the battery; a catcher can be the

TM: Do you critique your performance after a game?

JF: I critique every outing, every time I take the mound. I can

difference between making a great pitcher and a good pitcher. It is such a thrill throwing to the catchers on the USA team. Catchers don’t get enough credit for what they do.

TM: Which of your pitches do you consider the most effective?

JF: My Riser ball. It helps change the hitter’s eye level and helps set

always improve, and I try to learn from each outing that I have.

TALL 32

step into the box.

TM: You once said: “You don’t have to be a girl, you can be an athlete.” Do you think times have changed that athletes of both sexes are judged on a more even playing field, or do you still sense a lot of bias against you?

JF: I feel society is now accepting of female athletes; it’s cool to be a

woman and an athlete; muscle on a woman is beautiful now. As female athletes, we have to appreciate where society is going, but I still think we have to break down more barriers to get there.

TM: What is your greatest fear when you step out onto that pitcher’s mound?

JF: I try not to focus on fear. When you focus on fear and failing,

that is when you fail. When I take the mound, I am focusing first on my strengths as a pitcher, and then I focus on that hitter’s weaknesses, not her strengths. I have to be confident and trust in my defense behind me when I take the mound.

TM: Do you have any regrets about your softball career?

JF: My freshman year at Arizona, I was really timid going into col-

lege. I thought it was a different game, but it wasn’t. Once I learned that, my game went back to normal. I wouldn’t change it though, because it helped me learn and move on. I believe I was better my sophomore, junior, and senior years due to me struggling a bit my freshman year.

Cont’d on page 34

Men step to the plate thinking, “C’mon, how hard can she throw?”

After I pitch, they’re like, “She throw’s hard!”

www.tallmagazine.com

33 TALL

TM: Who is your favorite softball player?

JF: My favorite softball player is one of my best and dearest friends,

Toni Mascarenas.

TM: What has been the biggest thrill of your life so far?

JF: Meeting my future husband Casey Daigle [a 6’5” pitcher for the

TM: Describe, in three words each, yourself, your mother, and your father.

JF: a. myself: Outgoing, determined, and competitive.

b. my mother: Loving, caring, and sensitive. c. my father: Fun, outgoing, passionate.

Arizona Diamondbacks], and sharing such a great career and life with my family and friends.

TM: How much pressure is there on you and other athletes to get sponsorships in your sport?

JF: I wouldn’t say there is “pressure” out there to get sponsorships,

TM: What are the three top things you immediately look for as a batter approaches the plate?

JF: First, I look at the hitter and examine her swing, and see what

but sponsorships lead to money, and we all aren’t working; softball is our job. I do have wonderful partnerships with several companies including Mizuno, Bolle, The Finchwindmill, and The Heatsleeve.

plane she swings on. Second, I look at her stance in the box and where she is located in the box. Third, I look at her weight distribution before, during, and after her swing.

TM: Describe a typical day in the life of Jennie Finch.

JF: A typical day would be: waking up around 7:30 in the morning

TM: You’ve pitched against professional baseball players.

What was their assumption before your first pitch? What was their reaction after?

JF: I think they step to the plate thinking, “C’mon, how hard can

and eating breakfast before heading to the gym. At the gym I work on cardio and I weight train. Then I would grab lunch and head out to the softball field to practice until the evening. After practice I would get some dinner then relax with family or friends.

she throw? I think I have a chance.” After I pitch though, then they’re more like, “Man, she throws hard!” Or maybe, “She makes the ball move!”

TM: How old were you when you reached your current height of 6’1”?

JF: I was 18 when I reached 6’1”.

TM: Going into the 2004 Olympics, which teams do you see as your biggest competition? How are you preparing for these games?

JF: Going into Athens, I feel our biggest competition will be our-

TM: Are you comfortable with your body? Is there anything you would change?

JF: I am comfortable with my body, though I would love to have a

six-pack ... one day (sigh).

selves. If we go in and play like we are capable of, we will walk away with a gold medal. We are on a vigorous training program, where we are in conditioning six days a week, and weightlifting three days a week. On top of all that physical exercise, we have to get out to the field and practice softball too.

Shania Twain, and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” by Pat Benatar.

TM: What’s the worst thing a coach ever told you?

JF: When I was 11 years old and on a 12 & under team, the coach

TM: When no one’s looking, Jennie Finch loves to eat ______.

JF: Dessert ... even when people are looking!

told me, “You will never pitch a championship game, because it’s not your time to shine.”

TM: What song makes you want to close all the curtains in your home and dance and sing out loud?

JF: “We Are The Champions,” by Queen, “Any Man of Mine,” by

TM: Why are you wearing the number 27 on your uniform?

JF: My parents started dating on the 27th, it was their “number.”

TM: Okay, so what was the best thing a coach ever told you?

JF: “Every morning when you wake up, think of what your oppo-

So I decided to wear it, and have been wearing it since I was 10.

nents are doing, and what are you doing to prepare yourself to win.”

I was also told, “You are not only a great softball player, but a great person.”

TM: What makes Jennie Finch giggle?

JF: I am usually laughing at myself for doing something silly!

TM: You’ve become a media darling and were voted by ESPN as one of the most attractive female athletes. Do you ever think the attention on you is a bit ... silly?

JF: I do think the attention on me can get a bit silly at times. I have

17 other teammates doing the exact same thing as I do, all putting in the same hours that I do. I love being part of a team, playing a team sport, and sharing that camaraderie with one another.

TALL 34

TM: What should people know about Jennie Finch?

JF: God has blessed me with so much; I am living His plan that He

has set out for me.

TM: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10? 10,000 years?

JF: In 5 years hopefully on the medal stand again, winning another

gold medal. In 10 years, I will hopefully be raising three children.

In 10,000 years, resting up in heaven! TALL

the

2004

who’s

Olympics

who*

*the TALL version

Come August 13, over eight billion pairs of eyes will be trained on Athens, Greece, as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad commence. This being TALL magazine, we decided to provide a preview that was better suited for our readers.

• According to the earliest records, the first ancient Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. on the plains of Olympia, Greece. For almost 12 centuries, the games were held ever four years, until the Roman Emperor Theodosius shut them down because the celebrations were too pagan for his liking.

• During the first 13 Olympiads, the only event was a 200-yard foot race. Later on the games added jumping, discus throw, javelin throw, and wrestling.

• Thanks to the French historian Pierre de Coubertin, the I Olympiad was held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. It featured 245 male athletes representing 14 countries. They participated in 12 track and field events.

• The 2004 Olympic Games will host approximately 10,500 athletes from 199 participating countries, competing in 28 officially sanctioned Olympic events.

Cont’d on page 36

www.tallmagazine.com

35 TALL

U.S. TALL Olympians to Watch ARCHERY (MEN) Richard Johnson - 6’3” Jason McKittrich - 6’2”

FUN FACT: Richard “Butch” Johnson is a three-time Olympic Team member, having competed in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Games.

Richard holds the record for 18-arrow match, 36-arrow finals total, and indoor 12-arrow watch. (We don’t know what those mean either, but it sounds impressive.)

BADMINTON Kevin Han - 6’2”

BASKETBALL (WOMEN) Sue Bird - 5’9” Swin Cash - 6’2” Tamika Catchings - 6’0” Lisa Leslie - 6’5” DeLisha Milton-Jones - 6’1” Katie Smith - 5’11” Sherly Swoopes - 6’0” Diana Taurasi - 6’0” Tina Thompson - 6’2” BASKETBALL (MEN) Ray Allen - 6’5” Elton Brand - 6’8” Kobe Bryant - 6’8” Nick Collison - 6’9” Karl Malone - 6’9”

FUN FACT: Tim Duncan was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1998.

H started playing basketball because Hurricane Hugo destroyed his St. Croix, Virgin Islands local pool and ruined his swimming career. (Way to go Hugo! Umm ...

Well, sort of.)

Tim Duncan - 7’0” Richard Jefferson - 6’7” Jason Kidd - 6’4” Tracy McGrady - 6’8” Jermaine O’Neal - 6’11” BOXING (MEN) DeAndrey Abron - 6’3” Devin Vargas - 6’2” CANOE/KAYAK (WOMEN) Ruth Nortje - 5’11”

FUN FACT: Ruth Nortje’s favorite food is ice cream. Her favorite movie is Ben Hur. It’s true! (We bet it would be Up the Creek.)

CYCLING (WOMEN) Deirdre Demet-Barry - 5’9” CYCLING (MEN) George Hincapie - 6’3” Gideon Massie - 6’3” Martie Northstein - 6’2” FENCING (MEN) Eric Hansen - 6’2” JUDO (MEN) Brian Olson - 6’3” ROWING (MEN) Garrett Klugh - 6’3” Bryan Volpenhein - 6’3”

TALL 36

SAILING (WOMEN) Lisa Wennerstrom - 5’10” SAILING (MEN) Mark Reynolds - 6’3” SOCCER (MEN) Brad Friedel - 6’4”

FUN FACT: Brad Friedel is the second most capped goalkeeper in U.S National Team History. Yea! We wish we were capped. We think.

SOFTBALL (WOMEN) Jennie Finch - 6’1” Keira Goerl - 5’10” Lori Harrigan - 6’1” Taira Mims - 5’10” Stacey Nureman - 6’0” Leah O-Brien Amico - 5’9” Natasha Watley - 5’10” SWIMMING (WOMEN) Amanda Beard - 5’9” Lindsay Benko - 6’1” Haley Cope - 5’11”

FUN FACT: Haley has a cat named “Montgomery Clift the Squeaker.” She also enjoys “hair bands” like Ratt. Haley, you rock!

Mary DeScenza - 5’9” Margaret Hoelzer - 5’11” Kristy Kowal - 6’1” Jenny Thompson - 5’10” Dara Torres - 5’11”

FUN FACT: According to Garrett, he’s a “pretty normal guy and an average athlete that was too dumb to quit when I kept losing.”

Thanks for those inspirational words, Garrett!

TALL ETC. Fashion for Tall Women www.talletc.com SWIMMING (MEN) Ian Crocker - 6’4” Anthony Ervin - 6’3” Gary Hall, Jr. - 6’6”

FUN FACT: Gary restored a purple VW Microbus with a silver top that won first prize at Bug-O-Rama XIX. Dude, we so want to hang out with you!

Klete Keller - 6’6” Lenny Krayzelburg - 6’2” Tom Malchow - 6’6” Michael Phelps - 6’8” Chris Thompson - 6’5” Dara Torres - 5’11” TAEKWONDO (WOMEN) Simona Hradil - 5’9” Diana Lopez - 5’10” Sanaz Shahbazi - 5’9” TENNIS (WOMEN) Lindsey Davenport - 6’2.5” Serena Williams - 5’10” Venus Williams - 6’0”

Walter Davis - 6’2” John Davis - 6’2” Lance Deal - 6’2” John Godina - 6’4” Jeff Hartwig - 6’8” Matt Hemingway - 6’7”

FUN FACT: Matt can half-squat 670 pounds. (We can barely lift the bar!)

Timothy Mack - 6’2” Derek Miles - 6’3” Tom Pappas - 6’4” Miguel Pale - 6’2” Adam Setliff - 6’4” Savante Stringfellow - 6’3” Angelo Taylor - 6’2” Kevin Toth - 6’4” Hunter Kemper - 6’3” VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN) Annett Buckner-Davis 5’11”

FUN FACT: Annett’s advice for the beach: “Play dirty and be ready for anything.”

Errr ... Thanks Annett!?

TENNIS (MEN) Bob Bryan - 6’4” Mike Bryan - 6’3” Andy Roddick - 6’2”

Jenny Johnson-Jordan - 5’10” Misty May - 5’9” Kerri Walsh - 6’3” Elaine Youngs - 6’0

TRACK AND FIELD (WOMEN) Amy Acuff - 6’2”

FUN FACT: Amy Acuff’s grandfather’s second cousin was famed country music legend Roy Acuff!

VOLLEYBALL (MEN) Dain Blanton - 6’3” Eric Fonoimoana - 6’3” Dax Holdren - 6’3” Jeff Nygaard - 6’8” Kevin Wong - 6’3”

Michelle Collins - 5’10” Dawn Ellerbe - 6’2” Kristin Kuehl - 6’1” Anna Norgren-Mahon - 5’11” Suzy Powell - 5’11” Tisha Waller - 6’0”

WATER POLO (WOMEN) Ellen Estes - 6’0” Jacqueline Frank - 5’11” Ericka Lorenz - 5’10” Heather Moody - 6’0” Heather Petri - 5’11”

TRACK AND FIELD (MEN) Jamie Beyer - 6’5” Ramon Clay - 6’2” Charles Clinger - 6’9”

WATER POLO (MEN) Ryan Bailey - 6’5” Dan Klatt - 6’5” Wolf Wigo - 6’3”

www.tallmagazine.com

Eight stores across the nation for women lucky enough to be tall.

Tall Etc. features a wide selection of career and casual clothing for all ages.

New items arrive every month that reflect the current fashion trends of the season, so visit often or shop on-line.

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37 TALL

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“Let the Wookiee Win” - Han Solo

T

he furry, lovable Wookiee known as Chewbacca (or “Chewie” to his close friends) has become ingrained in our popular culture. Dogs have been named after him, songs have been sung about his exploits, and hundreds of thousands of shaggy dolls created in his likeness have been hugged by toddlers as they drifted off into interplanetary dream world. MTV went so far as to award Chewbacca a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.

We were first introduced to the 7’3” Chewbacca in director George Lucas’ seminal 1977 Star Wars (whose real title is actually Episode IV: A New Hope), the movie that started it all. As Han Solo’s co-pilot aboard the Millennium Falcon (“the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy”), he helped rescue a princess and assisted in the destruction of an evil empire.

We followed his intergalactic exploits through 1980’s Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) and 1983’s Return of the Jedi (VI). Through each adventure we could always count on Chewbacca to be the strong, stoic one, loyal to his partner above all, but fiercely protective of his friends.

More than 10 years after Return of the Jedi, George Lucas switched on the lightsabers once more, working on a trilogy of prequels (1999’s Episode I: The Phantom Menace and 2002’s Episode II: Attack of the Clones), with the third and final installment, Episode III (as yet untitled), scheduled for a May 19, 2005 release. Our favorite wookie has been absent from Episode’s I and II, but thankfully will be returning to a galaxy far, far away in Episode III. Behind the mohair and shag carpeting stands Peter Mayhew, who has embodied the character of Chewbacca since its inception. A nurse who fell into acting by accident, he owes much of his living to his hairy alter ego, making appearances at the various conferences, doing promotional work for the Star Wars series, and just being Chewbacca whenever the moment calls for it.

We caught up with Peter during a lull in the production of the new movie. As much as we begged, cajoled, and even tried to bribe Peter, he wouldn’tt give away much about his role in Episode III. Rats! He did, however, give us some insight into his character, what it’s like working with a director like George Lucas, and his true feelings about Christmas TV specials.

TM: We are “first” introduced to your character in the upcoming Episode III. Can you give us a glimpse of what you’ll be doing, what the backstory will be?

PM: No. TM: Oh well, we tried. How did the filming of Episode III compare to episodes IV, V, and VI as far as Lucas, the cast and crew, and the story in general are concerned?

PM: My first thoughts were, “My, how things have changed!” It

TALL 38

was truly wonderful to watch some of the filming. George is the same though; I think he’s still wearing the same flannel shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers that he wore on the first Star Wars set.

TALL MAGAZINE: How did George Lucas first describe the character of Chewbacca to you?

PETER MAYHEW: I was in George Lucas’s office looking at the

character boards as I was waiting to meet with George. I saw the Darth Vader character on one side of the board, with 6’ 7” written by it. I thought to myself, “Well, that can’t be the character.” The other end of the character board showed Chewie at 8’ with a question mark beside it. I knew that would be my character. At that time he looked a bit like a neanderthal man with Bermuda shorts and a vest. (For you true Star Wars fans, it was a Ralph MacQuarrie sketch.)

TM: What was your reaction when you first glanced in a mirror and saw Chewbacca staring back at you?

PM: The costume was a real transformation, and I realized I was

going to have to make this character work. I was on the set really fast and doing it before I had much chance to reflect. I walk funny anyway (I bend at the knees) and that seemed to be what they were looking for Chewie. The flexibility of the costume enhanced the way that I moved, making it more pronounced.

TM: The Star Wars series has always relied heavily on special effects. Back in 1977, was it hard for you and the rest of the cast to act against a blue screen, with details added in later?

PM: Though that technique is being used more and more today, at

the time, we worked very hard to get everyone looking in the right direction; we were given constant instructions about what was going on around us because all we saw were the cameras and technicians around us.

TM: How did you and Harrison Ford get along during the shooting of the first movie?

PM: It was Harrison that gave me the nickname of Chewie. We got

along just fine; Harrison is a very pleasant and focused actor and we were both doing our jobs as best we could.

TM: How about interacting with the rest of the actors?

PM: I was a quiet person at the time and was very curious about

the goings on around the set. I got along fine with all of them but didn't interact a whole lot.

TM: When you first signed up to do Chewbacca, did you think the movie had potential or was it just an interesting job?

PM: I didn't see any of the potential until the movie was actually

Through the eyes of a Wookie A glimpse at Chewbacca’s 7’3” human alter-ego, Peter Mayhew

by Everard G Strong www.tallmagazine.com

39 TALL

“Chewie was Han Solo’s conscience.” the sequel, Empire Strikes Back?

PM: Well, we had a new director and a history together. I was a lot

more confident in what we were doing and what was expected of our characters. It was a good feeling.

TM: What about Return of the Jedi?

PM: It felt like it was the end of a run. While everything went well,

I felt sad that it was over.

TM: What was your reaction when you first saw David Prowse (Darth Vader) in full costume?

PM: I was grateful to be Chewie. All the leather and vinyl and wool

on his suit looked hotter than mine.

TM: Do you still keep in touch with any of the other actors?

PM: I keep in touch with many of the actors from Star Wars as I see

them often on the convention circuit. I have many lifetime friends, including Kenny Baker, who was in the R2D2 unit. We have similar problems in life; Kenny is only 3’8”, he doesn’t fit in an airplane seat either, has trouble finding clothes that fit, and other challenges that must be overcome. put together. But with people like Alec Guinness (Obi Wan Kenobi) and Peter Cushing (Grand Moff Tarkin) in the movie, there had to be potential there.

TM: At first glance, did the whole idea behind Chewbacca seem a bit odd at first?

PM: At first maybe a little, but as the story unfolded and I began to

realize that Chewie was Han Solo’s conscience, I warmed up to the character a lot.

TM: Being a tall guy, which set was the most troublesome for you and why?

PM: When I had Threepio on my back, going in and out of the

[Millennium] Falcon ramp while escaping Cloud City I hit my head on the set, but I don’t think they used the footage. I eventually passed out that day from dehydration, but was back on set on Monday.

TM: When you signed on to do the Star Wars Christmas Special, were you thinking, “Hmmm … this might be a bit too much”?

PM: I might think that now, but at the time, I had no idea what to expect. Life happens, sometimes you win, and sometimes you do the [Star Wars] Christmas Special.

TM: Are you under a lifelong contract with George Lucas to play the Wookiee?

PM: Interesting question; the answer is yes, and no. Not technically,

but, well, I’ll always be Chewbacca.

TM: Star Wars fans or Trekkies?

PM: Even though there is a lot of overlap, Star Wars fans are better,

more educated, happier, and generally have fresher minty breath.

TM: Tell us about a memorable time on the set of the first Star Wars movie set.

PM: In the cantina scene, when I walked in and saw all those crazy

TM: How old were you when you reached your full height?

PM: About 21.

alien characters I was shocked at first. But then I realized that I must fit right in! It was also the first time I met Sir Alec Guinness, and that was a proud moment indeed.

TM: Was growing up tall tough on you physically or emotionally?

PM: I was very shy and had to watch myself on the playground as I

TM: With the success of Star Wars IV (A New Hope), what changes did you feel and sense in regards to the movie itself, George, and the other actors, as you showed up for work on

was more likely to hurt someone accidentally. I wasn’t the smartest kid in class and I had trouble manipulating small objects as my hands were too big to fit most things. It was frustrating and I had to try to make the best of it.

TALL 40

“Life happens.

Sometimes you win, and sometimes you do the [Star Wars] Christmas Special.”

- Peter Mayhew TM: Where do you buy your shoes?

PM: Shoes are always a problem. I prefer to just use the boxes! No-

body really makes a shoe that will actually fit me; I would need a 17H, but since they don’t exist, I make do. I outgrew shoes from the shelf in England when I was a teenager, so I went barefoot a lot.

Eventually, the health service there had shoes made for me that were heavy and cumbersome. To those who can’t find shoes, I sympathize.

TM: Being 7’3”, do you have any custom cabinetry or furniture that you had built to your dimensions?

PM: Well, I do make furniture; it’s my hobby. But the world on top

of the cabinets belongs to me (it’s my special place to hide my chocolates from the girls).

TM: What’s next for you?

PM: Stay tuned ...

TM: Words of wisdom for budding actors and actresses?

PM: If anybody can find a specialty agent, let me know.

TM: Words of wisdom for any tall teenager that is really not liking his or her body at this moment?

PM: Being tall will have advantages down the road; make the most

of any that you find. Remember to stand tall and be who you are, you’re special.

For more information on Peter, including conventions he will be appearing at, go to his official web site, www.petermayhew.com. For complete Star Wars information, go to www.starwars.com. A special thank you to LucasFilms for permission to use their photos. TALL www.tallmagazine.com

41 TALL

Brains, Beauty, and Big Bets: 6’ professional poker player Evelyn Ng has them all (and a pair of Aces!)

by Everard G Strong

TALL 42

here is no one game of poker. Countless variations of games — 7-card stud, 5-card draw, Baseball, Follow the Queen, to name but a fraction of them — have been created from the standard 52 card deck (54 cards if you count the two Jokers as wild cards). Some of them, like Baseball and In Between the Sheets, rely mostly on luck, and are of little value to a true card player. Other games, like 5- and 7-card draw, rely on skill in many ways more than luck. In fact, for any true poker player, luck is an enemy; it is the ability of calculating odds, reading your opponents “tells” (physical tics that give away their cards), and mastering the art of the “bluff” (letting your opponents think you have a better hand than you do) that decides the winning hand. For these players, luck should have little or nothing to do with what happens during a game.

Once viewed as an immoral game played by ne’er do wells, cheats, and con artists, and relegated to garages, smoky dens of iniquity or Las Vegas’ seedier casinos, poker has, almost overnight, become a mainstream activity practiced by all levels, and both sexes, of society.

Binnion’s Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas has been hosting the World Series of Poker for over 34 years. This year’s prize? $5 million dollars. It has been called the world’s richest sporting event. The World Poker Tournament, featured weekly on the Travel Channel, hosts tournaments around the country and the world. Evelyn Ng has been an ongoing participant in the WPT, and has won her share of accolades. She talked with TALL magazine while lounging besides a Las Vegas pool, hours away from another big game.

T

TALL MAGAZINE: You were inducted to the world of poker in Toronto’s underground card rooms. How close were these poker rooms to those featured in the movie Rounders?

EVELYN NG: It’s not as dirty and seedy as the movie Rounders

depicts it, (especially if you’re not cheating). I’ve run across a couple people who got caught cheating, but generally poker is a pretty fair game.

TM: Why do you consider Texas Hold ‘em to be the best form of poker?

EN: In the introduction to David Sklansky’s Hold ‘em Poker for

Advanced Players (Two Plus Two Publishing, 2003), player Ray Zee says in the introduction, “Texas hold ‘em is hard … yet the game appears deceptively simple.” And that’s one of the appeals; it’s such an easy game to learn that in a day or two people think they have the game completely figured out. But the game is made up of so many small details that it could take forever to learn; people who have played all their lives are still learning. It’s also a very dramatic game. The change of a card can mean the difference of millions of dollars.

TM: How do you keep yourself emotionally distant from what’s going on at the table?

EN: It’s conditioning and keeping focused on that when it comes

down to it, you are playing a game involving luck, so you have to expect those downswings where you are going to get a bad run, and you’re going to have to prepare yourself for those times.

TM: What visual clues are you looking for when someone sits down across from you at a card table?

EN: I look at the way they dress, how they stack their chips, their

dexterity at shuffling and dealing cards, and how they hold their cards; all those visual cues tell me if they’ve sat down at a poker table several times or if this is your first time. I also notice how they speak — if they’re educated, how old they may be. Any hints I can find to how that person plays.

TM: How do you think being a woman affects how the other players view you and your talents?

EN: When I first started playing there weren’t that many other

women poker players, so I was much more of an anomaly. But now, thanks to the televised tournaments raising the popularity of poker, women at card tables are a lot more common, and everybody’s more used to it.

If anything it’s an advantage to be a woman because men underestimate women. But there’s no physical ability that a man has that would make them superior, so being a woman might actually help.

TM: What books should I be reading to better my game?

EN: Doyle Bronson’s Super System, and almost all of the books by

David Sklansky.

TM: What’s the difference between playing poker online, and good ol’ fashioned face-to-face poker?

EN: I play online poker quite a bit. In dealing with people and try-

ing to read their tells, I’m definitely giving up an edge [by playing online]. But there’s added benefits to playing online; you can get a lot more hands in. In a casino I can get maybe sixty hands an hour, while online I can get close to three hundred.

TM: You play for pots that could buy houses (or loose them).

How do you keep that from affecting your game?

EN: In a tournament, you have to distance yourself from how much

money is being played; you can’t consider the actual poker chips as cash in your pocket, because it doesn’t mean anything until you get the prize money. So you view tournament chips different than you would chips during a live game.

In general, poker players can’t let the money affect them. You have to consider how many bets you’re winning, and most important, make sure you have enough money to keep playing. Because there’s nothing worse as a poker player than not having enough money to play. You have to make sure you have enough of a bankroll to keep yourself in the game.

TM: According to the odds, in the long run a good poker player will always outplay a bad player. Is the key then to have a large enough bankroll to sustain yourself for that “long run”?

EN: Yeah. Money management skills are the most important skills

for a poker player. There are a lot of phenomenal poker players, but if they can’t afford to keep themselves in the game, their skills are just wasted. cont’d on page 44

www.tallmagazine.com

43 TALL

In the World Series, we’re playing six levels, and each level is 100 minutes. So that’s six 100-minute levels with breaks in between.

There are some days where you start in a tournament at noon, and the structure is such that you have to play down to a certain number of players, it can go very late into the night. I’ve had to go for fifteen hours in one day, and then come back the next day and complete the tournament.

TM: What’s next for Evelyn Ng? EN: I wouldn’t mind doing something more creative, like writing a

book or a screenplay; doing something bigger and better.

TM: What are some mistakes a lot of novices often make?

EN: I think the main one is that they don’t know how to adjust.

If they’re used to only one style of playing against a certain kind of player, they need to adjust to different pot limits, tournamentstyle playing, and a different environment. They need to be able to change gears. The second would be underestimating their opponents.

TM: What’s your favorite casino to play at?

EN: Bellagio, bar none. It’s the nicest casino to play poker in. If

you’ve gone to the Horseshoe and then to the Bellagio, it’s like night and day. Actually, you know what? The Bellagio is the fanciest place, but as for atmosphere, I prefer to play at the Mirage. It’s more comfortable, like being in someone’s living room or basement.

It’s more intimate, less noisy, and better to concentrate.

TM: You are very fashion oriented. Any thoughts about designing clothes for tall women?

EN: When I was younger I considered being a fashion designer, so

maybe I could consider doing that again. I would like some form of creative outlet.

TM: Being 6’, where do you find a lot of your clothes?

I find stuff if I look hard enough, and I spend a lot of time looking. TALL To find out more about Evelyn Ng, check out her personal web site, www.evybabee.com. To find out more about the World Poker Tour, click out www.worldpokertour.com. To find out more about poker in general, head on out to www.pokermag.com.

TM: Poker players are becoming the new rock stars. How are you adjusting to this new level of notoriety?

EN: My life hasn’t changed that much outside of a casino. Very

rarely do I get recognized outside of the casino. A couple of times I’ve been stopped and asked if I was that person they saw on TV, but generally I only get recognized at poker tables. But I try to stay the same person.

The celebrity status is weird. This is all so new and foreign to poker players, but then everyone has been waiting for this day. We all hoped for this day to come, and now that it’s here, it’s changed a lot of people; it’s gotten to some players’ heads a bit too much.

TM: Do you see a lot more people coming into these games now?

EN: I went to the Bellagio the other night to play some live games,

and I was shocked because I looked at the top section, and I saw all these young faces. Usually it’s the same people you saw five years ago there today; but all of a sudden I’m seeing all these young people I haven’t seen before.

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TM: You play in several televised tournaments. What goes on behind the scenes?

EN: You only see the highlights when you watch it on TV; there’s

way more that goes into a tournament than the two hours you see. The World Series of Poker is seven days long. Depending on what tournament you’re playing in, each is structured differently.

TALL 44

model: shelley b. height: 6’4” inseam: 40”

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So are your customers.

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Whether in TALL magazine, online at www.tallmagazine.com, or both, we have a variety of options to fit your message, your audience, and your budget.

You will not find a better, more direct method to reach your tall customers than with TALL magazine.

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45 TALL

“Hot child in the city, running wild and looking pretty” - Nick Gilder Low rise is still here, but the trend is starting to fade a bit.

The tummy gap for ladies is more of a peek than a bare stomach. Straps are in, even if they are thin.

Denim capris: Levi’s Silver Brand.

Beverly's Casual Shop, Hot Springs, AK. $46.00 www.beverlyshop.com Denim jacket: Fitted stretch denim jacket. The GAP, $64.00. www.thegap.com White Camisole: Target. $9.99. www.target.com Model: Kathryn Kelly Height: 6’1”

TALL 46

fashion

“Hot town, summer in the city” - J.Sebastian/S.Boone/M.Sebastian The streets are buzzing with the tones of summer, and the tones we're talking about are oranges, blues and rusts! As summer heats up, the springy tones fade into deep, hot shades for both men and women.

Men’s shirt: Cubavera. 30% rayon, 70& polyester.

Casual Male, $38. www.casualmale.com.

www.tallmagazine.com

47 TALL

fashion

Ladies, feminine is back and lace is not just for under your outfit anymore! Make your summer sizzle by using a lace cami to accent a simple pair of jeans.

Pink lace cami: Design Elevations www.designelevations.com (Inset) Black lace top: Tall Couture www.tallcouture.com

TALL 48

fashion

Men, consider texture and print, which for some men may be a walk on the wild side. In summer, wild prints are acceptable. Guys, don't forget to accessorize! You need sun protection for your eyes, and you'll want to move to a slimmer style wallet since your fabrics won't be as heavy.

Red palm tree shirt: Cubavera. 30% rayon, 70& polyester.

Casual Male, $38. www.casualmale.com.

(Inset) Lost Civilization shirt: Luau Sportswear. 100% silk. $69.99. www.oceanthings.com www.tallmagazine.com

49 TALL

You’ll be hard pressed this summer to find a blouse or shirt with sleeves. But in the cool evenings, a linen blazer can be very versatile.

Backless sari: Design Elevations. www.designelevations.com Linen blazer: Land’s End. www.landsend.com TALL 50

fashion

“Baby, there is nothing like the summertime.”

- Beyonce Knowles Embellishment can take a boring outfit to the top of the charts.

Don’t forget zippers — they aren’t just working Joes anymore, they want to have fun!

Zipper pants: Tall Couture www.tallcouture.com

www.tallmagazine.com

51 TALL

the fitting room for men, women, and teens

What Suits Him This Summer? othing against you guys, but the whole “casual Friday” look has been fading as fast as most of our internet stock dropped last year. It’s back to business as usual, which means it’s time to fold those Dockers away for the weekend, and invest in some suits, dress shirts, ties, and some slacks.

Now we are humble enough here to realize we don’t know everything, and somethings should be left to the experts. This is why we brought in Steve Brinkman, author of The Men’s Clothing Guide: How and Where to Buy the Best Men’s Clothing in America (Dapper Press), to give us tall guys some pointers on dressing up.

N

TALL MAGAZINE: How far down should a good pair of pants go?

STEVE BRINKMAN: There should be a slight vertical crease, or “break” in the trouser, as they fall on your shoe tops in the front, and should be between a quarter- and half-inch from the floor in the back at the heel.

It is very important that a tall man have a good (visible) break in his trousers. Pants that are hemmed too high (“high water”) look particularly ridiculous on a taller gentleman, and emphasize his height in the wrong way.

TM: Should the pants be resting on the hips or above or below them?

SB: As a general rule, men these days prefer lower waisted slackswhich rest on the hips. This is a function of a person's individual body type, and whether he has a short or long rise (distance from crotch to waist), and is high or low waisted.

Taller men will tend to have a longer rise, and be high waisted, so it

TALL 52

would they could get away with pants slightly above the hips, but not much. Higher waisted slacks would again emphasize height in an unflattering way.

TM: What three colored suits should every man's wardrobe contain?

SB: I'm assuming you mean colors.

If not- e-mail me back. I think charcoal and khaki are essential, because they look good with everything and on everyone. I would then choose one more color that flatters individual’s individual palette — his hair, eyes, and complexion. (I have a chart in my book that addresses this). If they’re tall, dark, and handsome, a medium brown or olive

color might work. Navy or lighter grays work well for brown-haired, blue-eyed guys with medium complexions.

Black works for everybody, but in some settings can be too somber, and more of an evening color.

TM: What’s the best material for a summer suit?

SB: For work dress, a tropical wool works best. Linen is always good for summer evenings. In some areas of the country — particularly the humid areas of the Deep South, linen is almost de rigueur. If you don't like the wrinkles, try a linen blend.

Find out more at Steve’s web site, www.mensspecialtyretail.com.

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1. Your own custom hot rod, just the way you like it. Starting at $85,000. www.hotrodsandhorsepower.com 2. Pink cabby’s hat. Fashion Bug. $10. www.fashionbug.com 3. Pepsi Edge. Half the calories, sugar, and carbohydrates. www.pepsi.com 4. Zippo handbag from its Italia line. www.zippobags.com 5. Sonos Digital Music System. Control music from anywhere in the house via wireless remote. $499. www.sonos.com 6. VTV-101 wearable TV Watch. $185. www.nhjapan.com www.tallmagazine.com

53 TALL

the fitting room for men, women, and teens

Style Guide

Q:

When I became a mom, I bought a basic black suit to cover up some of the extra weight I put on during my pregnancy. I want to break out of my “Boring Betsy” look, but I’m not ready for a thong. Do you have any suggestions?

Color! First of all, the idea that black takes pounds off is ridiculous. Color and texture can do a much better job of drawing attention away from areas you don’t want them and to areas you want to accentuate. Use color, it’s your friend.

Style is also important. I love the dress style because it camouflages a world of imperfections and lets us be flirty and feminine. The surplus suit (which looks like a partial wrap) also accentuates the positive while down playing problem areas. Be sure to measure for length in the suit, so that it doesn't cut and pull, or you will spend all your sun time adjusting instead of playing.

Even men could do with a bit of color in their beach scene. Men, there is nothing wrong with prints!

A:

Photo courtesy of Lane Bryant

STRETCH YOUR WARDROBE It’s all about versatility.

Stretch your wardrobe budget by choosing outfits that will work for you, in more ways than one!

Look for dresses that can, with a tug here or a pull there, be worn in a completely different style, extending this item’s usefulness considerably!

Q: A:

I agree with your tailor.

Shoulder pads help to frame the blouse or jacket on your shoulders, so that the fabric drapes correctly across your body. A clean line will be created from your shoulder to your wrist.

Your entire body will appear more statuesque. Men can benefit from pads as well, and they can be concealed in the jacket by a good seamstress.

Photo courtesy Rochester Clothing

TALL 54

Attention retailers and wholesalers: Do you have apparel and accessories that cater to tall men, women, and teens? Show us what you got! Send us some more information at fashion@tallmagazine.com.

Photo courtesy of Tall Couture

My tailor recently suggested that I insert shoulder pads in my jackets and blouses. Is this important?

tall stars

fashion

readers show their best side

STORE SPOTLIGHT Get to know your retailers

This issue we find out more about

Tall Couture

Pretty as a Picture Meet 13 year-old Kaye. According to her mother Melanie, “Kaye is 6’ tall, and probably not done growing.

“We bought her dress at a local outlet mall in Las Vegas, at a store called Windsor. The dress was $84.00 (more than I wanted to spend for an 8th grade dance, but it was a perfect fit.)

We spent the next two weeks trying to find nice flat shoes to wear with it ... not possible!”

Thank’s for the great photo Kaye!

Send us a photo of yourself wearing the newest outfit you purchased, including all the info (your height, where you bought it, etc..), and send it to us at TALL magazine, 360 Grand Ave., #474, Oakland, CA 94610. You could win $25 worth of TALL stuff!

Electronic photos must be at least 300 DPI. Unless you include a self-stamped, self-addressed envelope, all materials are non refundable. No guarantee is made of inclusion.

Final decision rests on what mood our cat Rabbit happens to be in that day. Cat treats might help sway her decision.

www.tallmagazine.com

1. Store name: Tall Couture 2. Store motto: ”True fashion … for tall women, by tall women” 3. Where is Tall Couture located? Katonah, about 45 minutes north of New York City.

4. When was it founded? The company was established in September 2002. We launch the web site in May 2003.

5. By whom? Jennifer Caputo & Rebecca Caputo Carreras.

6. How tall are you (and any other owners)? Rebecca is 6’, Jennifer is 6’1/2”.

7. Why did you start this store? We struggled all our lives with the search for tall clothing. When we did find anything, it was never remotely fashionable. During the “grunge” era we wore men’s clothing, but when fashion started to make a comeback in the mid 90’s we were at a loss. That was when we started discussing the idea that would become Tall Couture.

8. How long between idea of the store and your grand opening? We talked about forming a tall clothing business since the late 80’s when we both crossed that 5’8” invisible line where even tall clothes don’t fit. It wasn’t until online shopping came into existence that we started seriously considering a web site. Even catalogs can’t compete with online shopping when it comes to allowing a small company to offer unique clothing in a timely manner.

9. The tallest customer you’ve sold to? We had one young woman who was 6’4” who couldn’t find any pants that fit her until she ordered from our site. Our longest pair was kind of an accident … the manufacturer graded the length up for larger sizes, with the XL ending up with a 40” inseam.

10. What sets you apart from others? Style. We work with contemporary designers whose clothing is showing up in magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, In Style, Elle Girl, and of course, Tall Magazine; on television shows like “Oprah,” “Live with Regis & Kelly,” and “Soulfood”; and, on celebrities like Debra Messing, Halle Berry, Mya, and Celine Dion.

We work with these designers to adjust their fit especially for tall women, and we don't just throw on a couple of extra inches at the hem.

We make adjustments to where the natural waist falls, where the pockets sit, where the buttons close on blouses, etc. Most styles (with the exception of denim) are available in tall sizes exclusively at Tall Couture.

12. Any famous or near famous customers? Not so far as we know, but we hope Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron take notice!

13. Aspect of your business you most pride yourself on?

Customer Service: We take time to answer every e-mail & phone call personally. We hand wrap every order and include a personal note. Tall women have been ignored by retailers too long. We want them to feel special, to know someone is listening.

14. Plans for the next year: We plan to expand our offerings to include sweaters, active wear, and maternity, and to expand our size range to include larger sizes.

15. Words to live by? Nelson Mandela, “We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.”

16. Web site: www.tallcouture.com

55 TALL

Chasing Down Grizzlies For 5’10” veterinarian Dr. Mehren, hunting down two dangerous and recently escaped grizzly bears was just another day at the zoo.

by Dr. Kay Mehren ack when I worked at the Toronto Zoo, I was the only veterinarian on duty one day. I was also supposed to cover the job of one of the administrators, and so I had anticipated a chance to catch up on some paperwork.

“Ten-Ninety-Eight!” blared over my walkie-talkie, jolting me instantly back into veterinary mode. An animal had escaped. As I soon found out, two animals had in fact escaped: Our two grizzly bears Choqua and Cochise had taken advantage of a mistake made by a keeper and escaped

B

TALL 56

from their outdoor pen into a large field adjacent to their area.

Weighing in at roughly 1,000 pounds, a full-grown grizzly bear can easily tear open a car, a tent, a house door, or a zoo guest with one swipe of its long, sharp, strong claws. Choqua, the female, was a “svelte” 600 pounds. And she had, on her own, recently learned a new trick.

Once a week for a month we’d used a tranquilizer dart to anesthetize Choqua and treat a chronic skin infection on the back of her neck. The fifth time we had fol-

lowed the same routine as before and were watching what we thought was a bear slowly succumbing to the dart’s anesthetic. I prodded her gently with a broomstick, nudging her hide and paws to make sure she was under. I looked around the service area where my staff and I were standing, and saw the bucket of fish thawing for the bears' evening meal. I took a fish, about a foot long, from the bucket and walked back to the bars which separated me from the huge, evidently sleeping creature. I carefully tossed the fish into the enclosure, a few

“Immediately the supposedly unconscious bear stood up, with no stagger and no disorientation whatsoever, and gobbled down the fish!” feet in front of Choqua’s nose.

Immediately she stood up, with no stagger and no disorientation whatsoever, and gobbled down the fish.

She had given a great acting performance! She had repeated each of the steps she’d gone through on the four previous times when I’d darted her, taking the same amount of time, moving in the same way, and finally pretending to be completely unconscious.

Realizing the dangers her newfound skill might present, I immediately radioed to security to have the walkways in the area blocked so no zoo visitors would be in any potential danger. I then radioed my assistants, who were working in the zoo hospital, and told them to get the long-range dart rifle and other immobilization equipment, and to load darts with a very potent drug combination that we reserve for exactly these situations.

I made another call to zoo security and assigned one of the officers to get the .458 Magnum Winchester. We keep this weapon on hand for back-up use — if a dangerous animal escapes and there seems no way to recapture it. I hoped that we wouldn't need to use the big gun, but I was glad it was there and in the hands of a trained marksman.

I arrived at the animal hospital and climbed into our van and headed out to where the escapees might be. Two grizzlies in a field surrounded by dense brush, trees, and a steep slope down to the river; and one of the bears good at pretending to have been knocked out by our drugs!

We sped to the best possible spot above the field, where one of the keepers who’d been there when the bears had escaped

gave us a rough idea of where they were.

The bears were frolicking together, racing around the open field and then going off into the brush where we could hear them crashing about. We got the van into position and I took my place atop it, one of my assistants handing me the dart rifle and both darts.

I confess that I enjoyed watching the bears' antics for several extra minutes, but the time had come.

As the bears came back into the open field, about 80 yards away, I fired at Cochise. A direct hit! He jumped and ran off into the bush. Confused by her partner's rapid departure, Choqua paused just long enough for me to reload the rifle and take a shot. Another good hit, but the dart bounced out almost immediately.

When a dart bounces there is no way to know how much of the drug has been administered, if any.

My stomach churned and I broke out in a sweat as my old friend Choqua, the actress, ran into the brush.

There was nothing to do but go in after them. I reloaded the dart rifle with another bear-sized dose.

Cautiously following the noise of breaking twigs, our search party — animal care staff, the security officer with his big-game rifle, my technician, and me — moved carefully through the dense brush.

The hunt for Cochise was, thankfully, brief, as we spotted him lying in a clearing after only a few minutes of bush stalking.

He’d selected the center of a large patch of poison ivy as his resting place.

We carefully approached him, ready to run away at the slightest motion on his part. But the big bear wasn’t acting. And www.tallmagazine.com

so the bunch of us rolled his inert mass on to a large net, and we dragged him back to his enclosure where he’d awaken with faint memories of his brief freedom in the big field.

That half of the job finished, we continued our search for Choqua. Rustling branches gave us an idea of her location, but it was impossible to see her or to get an impression of her level of awareness. After what seemed like hours of hot, sweaty, concentrated searching, broken by a startled pause each time we heard Choqua moving again, the animal care supervisor softly called that he’d found her.

Joining him on hands and knees under a stand of sumac, I was able to make out a large, distant lump of dark fur. Choqua was visible only from ground level, where the bush was slightly less dense. I edged forward carefully on my belly, keeping the dart rifle at the ready. The security officer followed me, walking. The bush was too dense to allow him to bring the big rifle to his shoulder to fire, but the presence was somewhat comforting.

Choqua hadn’t moved since she had been spotted. About ten yards from her, I reached a spot where I could take a relatively clear shot under the bushes. But which direction was she facing? Was she finally asleep from the first dart, or resting, perhaps even waiting for us? And how might she react to being darted again?

With no way to determine the answer to any of these questions I quietly brought the rifle to my shoulder as I lay under the sumac. I was happy, in retrospect, that I was too busy at that moment to recall Ernest Hemingway’s short story, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.

57 TALL

Missing something?

I fired.

The dart hit fur.

She jumped up and with a speed that belied her girth, thankfully ran away from, rather than toward us. After she had gone perhaps ten yards, she went down again.

This made me as certain as I dared be that she’d been at least partially drugged by my first hit.

We waited for about ten minutes, by which time even the second hit on its own would have taken effect. I crawled forward through the brush, having traded the dart rifle for a long stick, but with the security officer still right behind me and ready to shoot if necessary.

I stopped a few feet away from the unmoving bear. I reached out and, holding my breath, poked her in several places.

No response. I exhaled with a relieved sigh.

But, whereas Cochise had “considerately” gone down in a relatively open area, Choqua was asleep amidst bushes. I crawled forward and tied a muzzle around her jaws, and placed a towel over her eyes.

And then all of us grabbed whatever part of the bear we could — fur, neck, paws, front and back, and dragged her to a more open place where the cargo net was waiting. We rolled her onto the net and hauled her back to her house.

I administered the antidote to each of the bears, watched for them to awaken, then drove back to the animal hospital

where I got a new uniform and went to the shower, hoping that I could wash the poison ivy's nastiness off of me. Then, with a new, clean uniform, I returned back to the office in which I’d planned to spend a tranquil day.

That night my husband asked me about how my day had gone. We’d determined, from the beginning of my zoo career, that it was better for us if I didn't tell him what I expected to do that day. It wouldn't do him any good, while he worked at his own, non-zoo job, to know that I was going to work with a cobra or an ostrich or a hippo or any of the hundreds of other species at the zoo. We tell each other the truth, but not always the whole truth, and certainly not the theoretical truth. Anyway, how could I have known in advance that I’d be hunting two Grizzlies in thick underbrush... and poison ivy?

As always, he was delighted to hear about my successful adventures, because they were over and done with, and I was home and ready for dinner. TALL Dr. Mehren, who stands 5’10”, has recently retired from her work, begun in 1974, as veterinarian at the Toronto Zoo. She is a recognized specialist in zoo and wildlife medicine, and chairs the Credentials Committee of the specialty board at the the American College of Zoological Medicine. She also sits on the Animal Welfare Committee of the Canadian Association of Veterinary Medicine.

Don’t worry, back issues of TALL magazine are still available.

Order your copies online today!

Now available in PDF format! www.tallmagazine.com

TALL 58

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world’s tallest putting things in perspective

fountain hill’s fountain, arizona Claim to fame: World’s tallest fountain.

Highest water plume: 560 feet, though normal operations only push water 300 feet.

First opened: December 15, 1970.

Gallons of water: When the fountain is fully operational, three 600-horsepower turbine pumps deliver nearly 7,000 gallons of water per minute through an 18inch nozzle.

Operating Intervals: Depending on the season, the fountain sprays at the top of every hour for 15 minutes.

Hours of Operation: 10 AM - 9 PM Special Occasions: On St. Patrick’s Day, the water turns green.

Wind factor: If winds are faster than 12 miles per hour, the fountain automatically shuts off.

Nozzle weight: About seven tons.

Electricity used: 48,000 volts.

Water jet: Unlike most jets produced by water fountains, the Fountain Hill nozzle projects a hollow cylinder of high-pressure water, six inches in diameter, with air being drawn into the column's open center to mix with the water.

he world’s tallest fountain sits in the middle of Fountain Hills Lake.

Fountain Hills Lake is a manmade effluent storage and evaporation system used to process reclaimed water.

Fountain Hills, the community that holds the title to the fountain, sits on what used to be Arizona’s largest cattle ranch. Robert P. McCulloch, the developer behind the community, brought in Charles Wood Jr., the same man who designed Disneyland, to design Fountain Hills, (without all the kiddie rides, we presume).

You can find out more at www.fountainhillsguide.com.

T photo by allen johnson (aj-photo.com) TALL 60

size matters (cont’d from page 62) to want to talk to me, which has its positives and negatives. It’s unfortunate because once I get my oversized carcass squeezed into my seat, my lips are usually the only things that can move. (I could pass the time calling auction bids.) While the rest of my body atrophies from lack of movement — and blood clots race to form — my lips have the freedom to work themselves into tremendous shape.

But no one wants to talk to me, which brings us to the positive aspect of people not striking up conversations with me: I’m not all that fond of people. I shouldn’t be that general because that’s not entirely true. I like people. I’m just not all that fond of dumb people, but until a person opens his mouth there is no way of telling, so it’s probably just as well no one speaks to me.

Especially frustrating for me, or any tall

person, is that moment when it comes time to put down the tray table. It’s actually more like a tray lean-to. The woman next to me has her tray table down and her legs crossed — underneath it with room for a pillow — as I’m struggling to find a way to get my legs situated so my tray can come down fully. It can’t. As the flight attendant asks me whether I want chicken, beef, or vegetarian (never tasted one), I study the Everest-like slope of the tray, realizing that the only way my drink and food are going to rest on it is to suspend the laws of gravity as we know them.

Everybody would be a little lighter, so I doubt there would be much of a fight.

“Thank you,” I say to the attendant.

“Do you have anything light? Helium maybe.”

In the end, I should opt for a couple beers, liquid lunch, but to do that brings

about the ugly specter of having to use … the lavatory. The one time I used the plane lavatory, when I was a heavier man, I had to hold the door shut with one hand and hold you know what with the other. I always tell myself that I can wait it out no matter how long the flight is. Australia?

No problem. Yeah, until the turbulence sets in and shakes my bladder around like it’s a 98-pound weakling in a rugby players’ scrum. Next time I’ll just pack a parachute in my carry-on luggage and make like D.B. Cooper, minus the bomb threat.

Maybe he’ll loan me some money. Think about it the next time you have to fly. I’ll save you a tree. “Geronimo-ooooooh.

That’s the stuff.”

Mike Werling lives and writes in the shadow of Colorado’s tallest mountains. He can be reached at sizematterz@msn.com.

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61 TALL

size matters

by Mike Werling

TALL flight 398, now boarding ardine Airlines flight 199 departing for somewhere else now being crammed full. People who need assistance and those with children may now board. Tall people can take these last few moments before boarding to enjoy the legroom you have, or re-think this flying thing entirely. Thank you.”

Maybe that’s not what normal-sized folks hear when they fly, but when that questionably gendered — and sometimes understandable — voice crackles out of the “loud speaker” (surely Watson heard Bell more clearly than we hear airline personnel), we tall folks inhale deeply. Then we quickly exhale, lest we not fit on the plane, and consign ourselves to our fate, much like Cubs fans in October, and men on Valentine’s Day. I look down at my ticket (the stain from a tear drop slightly smudging the seat number), hoping against all hope that the flight time will only last 12 minutes, stretch my legs for the final time before my destination, and repeat the flying mantra: “Act short, think thin.”

Unfortunately, mantras are like tall jockeys, unilingual translators, dishabiliophobic strippers, and ithyphallophobic gigolos (look ‘em up): They don’t work.

That means my seat, when I find it, has the same Lollipop Guild proportions it had before I repeated my mantra. (Receiving the serenade Dorothy got would at least make the crammed quarters more bearable.) Nothing can make that space any less restrictive, and nothing — short of an extended stay in a Middle Eastern prison or a foot massage from a bear trap — can make me any less 6’6” tall.

Walking past the lavatory reminds me not to drink too much while in flight. The fear of using that facility is enough to make tall people, especially tall folks with some width, hold it in until their urethras ache and their eyes turn yellow.

S

TALL 62

Not wanting to use the lavatory makes some people do crazy things. Folks think the infamous skyjacker D.B. Cooper, who stood 6’3” or so, parachuted out of that Northwest Orient Airlines 727 into the frozen darkness of the Pacific Northwest sky in 1971 to make off with the $200,000 he ransomed with a bomb threat. A plausible theory to be sure, but he really needed to pee, didn’t want to use the plane’s bathroom, and knew that the next bathroom he saw would be surrounded by FBI agents.

Who can blame him for jumping out of a perfectly safe airplane? Go in the wondrous expanse of the Washington state forest, go in the maddening confinement of an airliner’s lavatory, or go in a lockup with his wrists cinched behind his back in some federal handcuffs? Tough choice. Plus, guys, well, we understand.

Planes are not comfortable for most people, but the small percentage of us who stand 6’2” or taller lay especially prostrate at the feet of the almighty dollar worshiped

by airline executives (and other executives, to be sure, but the CEO of Starbucks or IBM doesn’t cause physical discomfort to vertical overachievers).

One could always purchase a first-class ticket to avoid the coach-class cramp, but, contrary to published studies, my height hasn’t afforded me that luxury by shooting me to the top of my company’s top-earning hierarchy. So it is coach for me, and I sit there singing to myself, “We represent the Lolli…”.

“Can I bring you a pillow, sir?” The nice flight attendant asks.

“There was one here. I think it is already wedged in my…”. A look of concern crosses her countenance at what I may say next. “No, thank you. I don’t feel like smothering anybody…yet.”

Pillowless and resigned to my fate, I “settle” in for the flight. I must put off a bad vibe or look very scary when I fly, I’m not sure which, because nobody ever seems Cont’d on page 61