Providence
Rhode Island
August 2012
Along our route to Jerimoth Hill, the highest point in the state of Rhode Island, we take a twenty-minute detour to see something you don’t see every day. Near the Ponkapoag Trail, or just north of the Thurbers Avenue interchange on Interstate 95, is a building that houses the former New England Pest Control Company. Now known as Big Blue Bug Solutions, you will find, contrary to the company’s mission but completely consistent with the name, a large and thriving termite on top of the building. In fact, a large and thriving big blue termite. This fella is 58 feet long, weighs nearly 4000 pounds and figures in at about 1000 times the size of a real, organic termite. This is one big blue bug! We’re talkin’ the crowned head of termitedom, if you ask me.
Nibbles Woodaway, as he has been named, is possibly the world’s most famous individual termite. He’s been in movies, on television and has appeared on the state’s lottery ticket. Nibbles has lived on this roof since 1980 but in 2002, after considerable wear, he required corrective surgery. During convalescence, he toured both Rhode Island and Massachusetts from the back of a flatbed truck. After that, back to the roof.
Lisa doesn’t much care for ants or ant-like creatures, but she was excited to see this mama.
To the north, Nibbles overlooks Cheaters Topless Bar. The building is the same color as Pepto-Bismol. I enthusiastically choose not to go inside the bar.
And while we’re here, do you know what is the termites’ favorite section of the orchestra?
— The woodwinds.
Do you know what is the termites’ favorite vocal group?
— The Carpenters.
Do you know where famous termites live?
— Hollywood.
This is Rhode Island. Nibbles is not the only state mascot. The Rhode Island “Official Family-Travel Ambassador” is none other than Mr Potato Head. You never know where you might see this six-foot tall celebrity promoting something touristy in Rhode Island as there are 37 official ambassador Mr Potato Heads throughout the state.
Other mascots in the Ocean State are a rooster (a Rhode Island red, of course,) Rhody the Ram (of the University of Rhode Island) and Scrotie — no kidding — the unofficial mascot of the Rhode Island School of Design. The rooster looks like a rooster, the ram looks like a ram and Scrotie looks like… a six-foot tall caped penis flanked at the bottom by a sack containing a double bulbous package. You know, like a scrotum. This Rhode Island Red, a rooster, is sometimes called… well… Cock-a-doodle-doo.