Gee-ology

April 24, 2015 by Bill Schroder in Ancient Rhinos, R Life Lessons | Leave a comment

Nature is always on the go, and often, so are the parts of the world. You hear a rumble, and wherever you were has decided to take off on an adventure. Sometimes the trip is short, sometimes lengthy. No telling.

As illustrated, sometimes one part of the RFamily is split up, just like the landscape. Everybody just has to make the best of things. Whereas the whole family had a developed “look” when the rift occurred, it doesn’t mean that things will stay that way. In less than no time, both sections of the family may morph. Communities have a way of transforming that can take our breath away. Adaptation: your Inner Rhino is flexible, but not predictable. Same thing with your Outer Rhino!

Pretty neat, when you think about it.

By the way, bear in mind that in the picture, there is no telling which part of the landscape has set sail. One of those point-of-view puzzlers.

On the Rocks

April 14, 2015 by Bill Schroder in Ancient Rhinos, R Life Lessons, R Outlook | Leave a comment

We do not recall the day when Humans came onto the R Radar. They scampered around, doing who-knew-what, and We let them have their day. In the trees, in the grass, into everything. A spirited crew. Nature comprehends its own goals, not We Rhinos.

To be clear, Rhinos had been around for 50 million years or so at that point, so We had developed a great many skills and sensibilities already.

But it turned out that Humans had a keen interest in Tools. You may not think of stones as tools, but when somebody hurls one at you, it gets noticed. It is called the Stone Age for a reason. Rocks were abundant, all over the place. Humans were drawn to them.

When a species is in its infancy, We must be patient. We went further than that and offered advice and support. We will never know where you Readers might be were it not for Rhino Guidance, will We?

You’re welcome.

GlobeTrotting

April 11, 2015 by Bill Schroder in Ancient Rhinos, R Life Lessons, Rhino Family | Leave a comment

Interestingly, when there is an Ice Age, much of the world’s water freezes, but does not melt. (Don’t ask why; We don’t know.) All that frozen water means there is less to fill the usual seas. So We can proceed from one part of the globe to another without either a boat or snorkeling equipment. No troublesome water, often for a Long Time.

You see here the happy Woolly Rhino, having gone from the mainland (A) to the island across the way (B). No wet ankles, just a whole new turf for investigation.

By the way, humans made many of the same trips as We did, following in our footsteps. Trailblazing, very Inner Rhino.

We have seen a lot of interesting places during the cycles of Ice Ages, which are always coming and going, as it turns out. That said, when things warm up and sea levels rise, We have been stranded in some picturesque locales. Curiosity is a mixed blessing, say We.

One wrinkle: Ice Ages are chilly, as you might expect from the title.

Hitting the Road

March 21, 2015 by Bill Schroder in R Life Lessons, R Outlook, Rhino Family | Leave a comment

Timing a Quest is easy: We’re getting biggish, and Mom is helping Us pack.

Quests are so entirely individual that there’s no point in trying to describe one. Specifics do not count. What matters is the journey itself, embracing experience as We go. We feel the urge, and We’re off.

Each of Us is companioned by Guides, and sometimes We will start out with some pals. But shortly, each of Us has a particular path, and heads off to investigate. We are not loners; We are visionaries.

The illustrated maze here can get you from Rhino to Radish, but the Radish is only a symbol. Where We are headed is to fully discovering our Inner Rhinos. Yes, even We Rhinos can polish up our acts. (Humility in action.)

If We go one way, that’s brilliant. If We go another, that’s brilliant too. It’s pretty much brilliant wherever We go. The whole business of a Quest is Brilliance!!

(The Path to Individuality: See 11/22/14) P141

Domestic Differences

March 5, 2015 by Bill Schroder in R Life Lessons, R Mindset, Rhino Family | 4 Comments

The only domestic situations We know about (first hand) are Mom & Tot. As the Tot starts the odyssey from Tothood to Youthhood-and-Beyond, things can get confusing. Mom’s authority is brought into question. Independence is always the result of lengthy negotiation on a two-way street.

The Youngster, seeking breathing space, can become obstreperous, also a pain in the neck. For some reason there is limited pleasure to be had from having one’s errors constantly addressed.

The resolution of these frictions almost always involves a lot of Harrumphing for both parties. Dramatic body-language solutions come into play. In the Wild, there are no doors to slam, so kicking up grass and snorting must substitute.

Fortunately, being vegetarians, Nature already made our teeth for grinding, if you see what We mean.

(see December 8, 2014)

Get Rugged

February 25, 2015 by Bill Schroder in R Life Lessons, R Mindset, Rhino Family | 2 Comments

Image is a big issue with Us, no doubt about it. Every feature of our makeup is reflected by scent, including Masculine Vigor. Each of Us guys wants to smell terrific. Actually, extra-terrific.

Masculine Vigor is a key factor in our sex lives; when a gal is shopping for a boyfriend, she wants to know all about what she is getting. Please to remember, she is signing up for a brief Liaison d’Amour, followed by 15 months of making a baby.

Male Rhinos don’t need to be charming or good providers. Once the Liaison is over, the stud is off to other business. That’s our system, and it works for Us. Our intimacies are physical and short-lived. Muchas Gracias and Adios.

Still, a guy has to make a dynamic first impression, nudging other suitors out of the way if necessary, as it often is. We like to call it “nudging”, but it is often more spirited than the term might imply. That phase of things has a “last-beast-standing” aspect to it. No joke.

We forgot to mention: When We guys are responding to the Call of the Wild, We are not sane.

“Mirror, Mirror, on the wall…

February 1, 2015 by Bill Schroder in Ancient Rhinos, Rhino Nifty | 2 Comments

Who’s the Biggest One of All?” We wouldn’t ask if We were not the answer, right? Right. Indricotheres! the largest land mammals that ever lived: Indricotheres!!!! 15 million years of success, give or take some million.

(Please recall that when We count to four We get unsure of ourselves. We are haphazard statisticians.)

We weighed in at about 16 tons, more or less or more, and stood 18 feet at the shoulder. The picture gives you the idea. No horns. We worked our way across Asia and Asia Minor, ambling around the seas that were popular Back Then. Eating whatever greens Nature provided. Dietary Flexibility: an R Family tradition.

We offer some Mongolian decor, to help you remember our stomping grounds. Indricotheres ‘retired’ 20 million years before the first Mongol picked up a paintbrush, but We needn’t get fussy… It’s the Big Picture, right?

but Not Forgotten

January 19, 2015 by Bill Schroder in Rhino Family, Rhino Nifty | Leave a comment

These two images represent the other odd-toed kin of our ancient family. They have moved along in the Sweep of Time.

Brontotheres were burly critters, browsing around. They had unique horns, oddly shaped like a nasal forklift. Some were quite big, some were less so. That’s how Nature uses Time, to try things out. They exited about 32 million years ago, after a 6 million year run (or so). Like We were counting… har, har.

Humans have only been around for 2 million years, so We can see that Brontotheres made their mark in the time they were allotted. Just to clarify, We are discussing Millions of Years here. A lot of Time. A whole lot.

Chilicotheres had a happy history, about as long as ours, though they departed 4 million years ago. They started out as We all did, lumpy and hard to tell apart. When they got their Call they developed long front limbs, shorter back ones. Very even tempered is how We recall them. One thing: their front hoofs changed into claws, though nobody can quite recall what they did with them. They lived just about everywhere, again, in a variety of sizes. 40 million years seem an impressive run, even to Us. A serious posthumous Bravo!

Applause always has its place in critter interaction.

Wild Animals

January 17, 2015 by Bill Schroder in R Outlook, Rhino Family, Your INNER Rhino | 3 Comments

Zoos are useful for acquainting people with Rhinos. Our zoo presence serves a serious purpose in raising Awareness. Beyond question, We need human backing and attention where We actually live. Human activity requires human intervention.

Nobody asks to live at the Zoo. The zookeepers are usually good people, doing everything to keep Us safe and healthy. We are well fed. Ultimately every element of every day is determined by the Zoo management. Neither Rhino nor Keeper imagines the situation is Natural, however attractive it may be.

We do not abandon RhinoHeart, living at the Zoo. We are Rhinos. We live with the conditions We face, wherever We are. Still, We were designed by Nature to be in the Wild, and We miss it when We are elsewhere.

We don’t know what to do about the situation either. We would sigh, but sighing is Not Rhino (NR).

Neither Kith nor Kin

January 16, 2015 by Bill Schroder in R Life Lessons, Rhino Family | 6 Comments

These animals are not relations, as We are often asked. They are pachyderms all right (as We are) which means “thick skin”. However, beyond that they have their own “Paths to Destiny”, with which We wish them luck. From a cool distance.

Elephants are bigger than We are, and Hippos are roughly the same size as some of our family. We (R), and they (h), come in a range of sizes.

We share turf in Africa, allowing one another space to function. We Rhinos are mainly soloists in our daily routines. Elephants parade about in herds, and Hippos are aquatic gangs or tribes or conglomerates or something.

In Asia there are no Hippos. Elephants there are more easy-going. Many do not serve themselves; they serve humans. What they make of that situation, We cannot say.

Is it possible that “Pachyderm” also means thin-skinned? All of Us are excitable. Especially them. We are artistic.

By the way, if you are green with envy, as We assume you well may be, get out some yarn and knitting needles. Knit one, purl two, whatever that means.

Your Inner Rhino

Category Archives: Rhino Family