Dear Bet,
Thank you for the invitation. Unfortunately, I'm busy that night. Otherwise it sounds like fun, though. I don't go to clubs though, because even though I was made 40 years ago I look like I'm underage and don't have ID, to prove I'm really older.

Are you a Glenn Tilbrook fan? I think I look a little bit like him when he was young maybe and I remember you wrote me a couple of years ago and said you had a crush on me. Are we your type? (Or am I mixing you up with somebodyelse named Bet?)
Sincerely, Bud

Dearest Bud,
I am quite impressed with how well-travelled you are! And I'm equally impressed by the skills of your travelling companion, the photographer (who has set up one shot after another that is quite beautiful).

Is there any chance that you could pose for the camera in a fashion suitable for my family-oriented web site, Phoons? As a thank you, my web page including your photo would contain an enthusiastic reference and a link to your site of photos. You don't have to be anywhere special to do this pose--just the fact that it is *you* doing the "phoon" pose that you'll see on my web site is enough to bring joy to my audience. Perhaps you know the man behind Beans Around The World? His web page told me about you, and he has appeared on Phoons.com.
My warmest regards,
John, Silicon Valley, California

Dear John,
I'm very sorry, I can't 'phoon.' My legs and waist don't bend and my arms are made of prosthetic newspaper. If I could, I would, though, it looks like fun. I liked all the pictures of people 'phooning' from around the world. Why is it called that, do you know?
Sincerely, Bud

Hi Bud, it's me Bud!
I'm one of your biggest fans and I even have the same name as you Bud. I'm from Harbor City, which is a district of the city of Los Angeles, CA. I too am an avent traveler, and will be embarking on a month long journey to Australia and New Zealand. Anyway, I'd like to invite you to Los Angeles, where you will be more than welcome to spend your nights comforably stowed away underneath my bed or in your own private closet! The Los Angeles area is chock-full of various places to see and be photographed at, not to mention beautiful faces and friendly people! Let me know what you think, Bud!
Thanks for reading my letter, Bud,
Bud

Dear Bud,
Have fun on your trip. Have you seen the slide show of my trip there? I just heard that the big face at the Luna Park amusement park has been taken down and put into storage for a couple of months. I was in Los Angeles for a while last year but it was because I got mixed up changing planes and got stuck in the lost baggage cage. It was dark there so I didn't get to see much, though. Thank you for the kind invitation. I enjoyed your letter, thanks for writing. Bud is a great name!
Sincerely, Bud

Hi Bud!
I am traveling to Bosnia Herzegovina in July and would like to know if you would like to join me? I will be traveling with my partner John and we are doing my Ph.D. research - it would be great to have you along... you look like you would be up to the task of the challenges in a war torn country.
write to me
Sincerely,
Sarah

Dear Sarah,
Wow! That sounds really cool. What is there to see in Boznia? I know very little about that place because when I studied it in school it was Communist and that's all they told us about it.

I'm not worried about it being dangerous because I can patch bullet holes and stuff with a little fiberglas but I am worried about getting lost, though. I spent five days in the baggage storage room LAX when American Airlines lost me and that was NO fun.

What kind of research are you doing?
Sincerely, Bud

Hi Bud -
I am researching post-war reconstruction... basically how to re-build communities and towns after they have been ruined (intentionally) by conflict and warfare. I am going to Bosnia to select 3 case study villages and their reconstruction projects to add to my Ph.D. dissertation.
My boyfriend and I will be there for 4 weeks and then we are travelling through Italy, Spain, and France.
Sarah

Dear Sarah,
That sounds like it's very hard work. I hate it when people destroy stuff and hurt each other. It's really great that you want to help people fix the stuff they break after they get all mad at each other. If there were more people like you then I bet there would be less wars.

I haven't been to Spain or Italy. France is very nice. Bon Voyage.
Sincerely, Bud

Dear bud,
I write to you from texas and was wondering if you are you a real boy yet? Is Mr.Bakker your dad? Whos your biological mother. i hope these questions aren't too personal. best, nestor

Dear Nestor,
No, I'm not a real boy. I'm not sure I want to be a real boy, though. I like being who I am. And if I ever turned into a real boy I hope that, at least, wouldn't change. Mr. Bakker adopted me, I think makes him more special as a dad to me because it didn't just happen, he chose it. I'm not sure but I think that June the Hitchiking Mannequin might be my real mom. We sure have a lot in common anyway. Your questions weren't too personal.
Sincerely, Bud

This site is really creepy, just like those clowns with big red noses...
Danzerg

Dear Danzerg,
Gosh, I'm sorry you were creeped out. And I know it's even weirder to write to a fiberglas mannequin and have me write back. I promise I won't stalk you or anything. Unless you just happen to travel to all the places I'm visiting.
Sincerely, Bud

Hi Bud,
We just visited Luray Cavern....the tour guide mentioned that Luray was the 4th largest cavern in the USA. Do you know what #'s 1,2 and 3 are? Luray was beautiful! We live near Crystal Cave near Kutztown Pa....outside Reading. That is really nice too! Hope to hear from you!
Fran Klein

Dear Fran,
Luray is really nice. I liked it too. I'm glad they put in lights and stairs and stuff, though. I think visitors would get really muddy and bump their heads a lot, otherwise. I think Carlsbad Caverns and Mammoth Cave are bigger but I'm not sure about the other one. Sincerely, Bud

Was wondering...
Do you ever have problems with Zits or Crabs?
Matt

Dear Matt,
I never get zits but I did have termite ants once when I was in Botswana. I live in Baltimore where everybody loves to eat crabs. I think crabs are hard to eat, though, even though they taste good.
Sincerely, Bud

Dear Bud,
I've been thinking about you a lot lately, and think I may know someone who might be able to help you. I've got an old friend who is a Disney World Imagineer, and I think with a little patience on your part, could fit you with some electronic componets that would give you more of an audio-automatronic quality. Would you like this? It will give you a whole new outlook to life. Now, you could, to a limited degree at first, actually respond to those unpleasant stares or cruel comments by children. Consider what this would do for your image. We have the technology! I've done it, and haven't looked back since. Let me know.
Sincerely, Schmoid

Dear Schmoid,
I know I seem stiff but I think that is because I am shy. Probably what would happen is, your friend would do all this great complicated surgery and because I'm shy, I still wouldn't move much. Wouldn't that be a shame?

I don't mind it when children stare. It's okay, they're probably just curious. And I almost never hear cruel comments, really. If I did, I would just ignore them, though. I think if I reacted I'd just be letting on that I was hurt and I wouldn't want to give them the satisfaction.
Sincerely, Bud

>The atomic number of gold is 79 and its symbol is Au
>(from the Latin aurum). Bud looked around but couldn't
>find any.

How long did Bud look around for the gold?.....this place of yours is terrific keep up the good, knowledgeable, work
take care
willy e. boy

Dear Willy,
I looked around for about ten minutes. I know I should probably have looked longer if I really wanted to find any but I figured if 30,000 people had already been all over the Yukon then my chances weren't too good.

Thank you very much. I'll try to keep on traveling and sharing what I learn.
Sincerely, Bud

Well Bud,
We hope you are having a great festive season, and that the weather isn't to cold for you !!, today we had 24 degrees celsius here in Christchurch NZ that allows us about 15 minutes out in the sun before we get sunburnt. We still think about your visit earlier this year and enjoy the photos you took. Now don't eat to much over Christmas or you will need to get a larger suite sooner than you thought.
Lots of love Adriaan,Maree & Marie-Claire.

Dear Adriaan, Maree & Marie-Claire,
It sure is chilly today in the Northern Hemisphere. It is below 0 degrees celsius right now. I can stay out in the sun longer than you because I don't get sunburned. I do fade, though.

I had a wonderful time visiting and staying with you this past June. I think New Zealand is the most beautiful country I've ever been to. And the people were very friendly. I promise not to eat too much.
Sincerely, Bud

loved the site!
did the same trip with a rubber chicken...... I think our trip was slightly easier and cheaper - only one seat to pay for!!!
let me know if there's anything I can help with!
patte

Dear Patte,
Do you mean the rubber chicken flew in seat by himself? Where did you ride? Ha ha. It is always helpful to about good places to visit and where to stay when I get there. Where have you traveled? Have you been to places I haven't and what did you think of them?
Sincerely, Bud

Love your site - glad to see your trip to Fiji, NZ and Australia went well. Fiji was going through national/political unrest when we were there back in 1990 - but it was peaceful, we saw very few military personnel around, everyone was friendly and seemed at ease. I loved it there (Bula!).

Bud, I was wondering a few things. I notice you mention you used to be in retail clothing sales; how did you come to leave and decide to travel? Also, how much do you weigh and how tall are you (if that's not too personal a question)? And finally, do you have a travel buddy who accompanies you on these trips? Is s/he the one who rescued you from sales?

Anyhow, keep up the great site!
Sherri

Dear Sherri,
Bula! There was an attempted coup while I was in Fiji too. It was the most peaceful one I've ever been through, though. Actually, it's the only coup I've been through so I guess I can't really say.

I left retail sales because my hair was short. Lots of kids back then had long hair and I was too 'square.' I don't look that square anymore though. Funny how fashion goes around like that, huh? I'm about 60 inches (1.5 m) tall and weigh 16 lbs. (7.2 kilos).

I always travel with a friend. As a mannequin it is hard to travel by myself. I met the friend I travel with the most in a mannequin repair shop. While we were talking and stuff, I told him I wanted to see more of the world and he said okay.
Sincerely, Bud

Dearest Bud:
We would like to invite you to be our guest for our Guy Fawkes day celebrations. We celebrate on November 4, 2000.

Please do not be surprised that an outstanding fellow like you has not been invited as "guest of honour". As you may know that is a rther dangerous position for somone of your caliber to be in. A sort of "hot spot" we shall say.
Stop on by!
Conrad And Margaret

Dear Conrad and Margaret,
Thanks for your invitation. That's very nice. When I was sightseeing in London it was Guy Fawkes Day and some people tried to give me a penny. I thought it was pretty funny. I don't look anything like Guy Fawkes.
Sincerely, Bud

Well Tourist Bud I hope you can come. We can tell the difference between you and the guy and besides Harry Potter will be there too!
Conrad

Hey Bud, I just checked out all the photos of your recent journeys! What fun it looks like! Hope you enjoyed yourself!
Stephen

Dear Stephen,
Yes, it was a lot of fun. I had a great time. I met many interesting and friendly people, too. While I was in Fiji, their government was being held hostage but still everybody was relaxed and nice. I think more revolutions should be casual like that.
Sincerely, Bud