Jimbo Elephant, Orange, NSW, Australia

sararingham
sara.ringham@gmail.com

Posted Dec 27, 2007, 5:24 am
Hello! My name is Jimbo Elephant. I'm still at home in Orange, New South Wales but I'm sure excited to get on my journey.

My mom bought me today and will be sad to see me go away from her but she knows that I'll be okay while people host me and show me around the world. I'm very excited to see the world, but I know when I get home I'll get a lot of cuddles from mom as she'll have missed me. I hope to get nice people to host me and to show me the nice sights that their countries have to offer and I sure can't wait to see the snow as well.

It's very hot where I am right now, and it'll be nice to be somewhere cool, as I've heard it's Winter in some parts of the world right now. Awesome!

Here's a picture of me today, my mom put me in the leaves of the rose bush out front but was sure to not get me pricked at all by the thorns. I think I look nice in this photo, what do you think?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/saragoescrazy3/jimbotheelephant.jpg

I'll be hanging out with mom for a bit longer until I start my travels! I hope to visit everyone soon!
sararingham
sara.ringham@gmail.com

Posted Jan 3, 2008, 1:16 pm
I'm excited to start my travels. Tomorrow I'll be heading on my way to Hawaii - I'll be traveling around the United States, Canada, Cuba and then even Argentina before going off to Europe, Asia and possibly even South Africa. :-) I'm very excited to start my journey and meet new and exciting people and places all over the world.

Here are a few photos from this week that we're taken of me around the house, things that I'll miss, besides my mom of course - she doesn't like having her picture taken... ;-)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/saragoescrazy3/jimbo_birds.jpg
Here's me with my mom's finches, she has quite a few and they're all beautiful and curious, I've heard them since I got adopted and I've really grown to love their songs...

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/saragoescrazy3/jimbo_fish.jpg
Here's me today with the fish tank, my mom and dad love to breed fish as a new hobby of theirs and yesterday I got to watch them scramble around as one of the fish was having babies, they we're able to save 15 babies from one lot. THATS A LOT!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/saragoescrazy3/jimbo_xmastree.jpg
Me with the Christmas tree, sometimes I wonder why people don't keep these beautiful decorations up all year, they're so cool looking, sadly we don't have real trees like they do in America as much - but I hope to see those real Christmas trees (still in the ground obviously since Christmas is over), they're so pretty, and quite prickly my mom has told me...

But I'm about off to Hawaii - I'll be spending a few weeks there before being shipped off to the continental United States. So exciting as while I'm up there so will my mom for a holiday. But my stay will be quite a bit longer. I can't wait to see the ocean for the first time which will be obvious I'll see a lot of the Pacific Ocean while I'm in Hawaii, how exciting! Hopefully my host will be able to post lots of pictures on my throughout my journey throughout the world, I want a lot to show my mom as I know she's worried about me. ;-)

Here I am, about to go, see you in Hawaii!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/saragoescrazy3/jimbo_envelope.jpg

PS. Did you notice my new shirt? It has toyvoyagers on the front and it says my ID and my name on the back, I really love it - I think it looks fitting on me, what do you guys think?

Bye bye for now! Jimbo
acaciakoa


Posted Jan 17, 2008, 7:30 pm
Hi Mom,

I arrived at Poong's house on Monday at around 4 PM and I'm safe don't worry about me. :D

Koa is very nice to me.  He loves me so much.  He keeps talking to me, asking me how it was back in Australia.

Poong is very busy these days she has to clean up the house and make sure everything is nice and ready for her friends.  They will be visiting her on Tuesday.  So I'm glad I will get to meet them.  B) 

I went to do errands with her on Wednesday into town.  The town is called Hilo, very nice and mellow.  People here are very friendly and laid back.  Ponng said it's the opposite of New York. 

Hawaii is such a paradise.  Look mom, very tropical. I love it here.


We have to get Koa to school so here I was in the car with Koa.

Then we went to Hilo, shopping.  They have farmers market on Wednesday.  We parked here in front of this shop.


Then we go to the library.  Look !! it's me in front of the building hehe. 

I was looking at the book and help Poong decide which ones to get for Koa.

They still have Christmas theme decoration inside.  I love it.  So cute. 

There is very warm, breezy area with a little garden inside.  I was sitting here chillin. 

After this we went to have lunch and then pick Koa up from school.  Then we went home.  Poong made me a pasta dish - so yummy.  Then I watched TV with Koa.  I get along so well with him and I'm glad I have someone to play with.  No long after that it was time for bed and Koa had to go to sleep because he had to go to school the next day.  So I think it would be a good idea if I do that too.  I have a lot of things to do too. :)  Poong writes a lot of postcards and I think I'll help her pick some cards to send for people (for tags and swaps).  She said don't worry she will take a good care of me and she really is doing that.  I'm so glad I get to be her in Hawaii.  I better go for now, Mom.  I will say hi again whenever I can.  I miss you and I love you. xoxo

Jimbo



acaciakoa


Posted Feb 3, 2008, 2:00 am
Hi Mom,
It's me.  Sorry I've been out of touch for awhile.  I know you must be worried.  I'm fine.  I've been traveling places around the island.  It's so great.  I'll tell you where I've been.

Poong's friend landed on Tuesday night (Jan 21st).  We picked him up and then went to have some nice Japanese dinner together - so yummy.  :p  Then they were hang out for awhile and catching up.

The next day (Jan 22nd) we went to Hilo to see some interesting sights.  It was coconut island.  I loved it there, so nice and breezy.  We grabbed some bento along the way and had lunch there.  It was like a picnic. 

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/coco2.jpg

There are a lot of coconut trees.  I just love them.  It's been a great experience for me. 

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/coco3.jpg

me again :D

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/coco4.jpg

look we were in town but have this nice view and the ocean right here.  wow.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/coco1.jpg

we walked along the path there, it was so nice.  They did a great job with the landscape there.  I love it.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/coco5.jpg

Then we walked to the Japanese Garden across the street.  My god, I love this grass.  So nice to sit on and the garden is just so relaxing. 

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/jg3.jpg

Here I am on this thing.  Poong said it looked interesting.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/jg1.jpg

here you can see the landscape behind me.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/jg2.jpg

Then after awhile it was raining so we have to run into the building nearby to avoid getting wet.  We were alright though.  After that we picked Koa up at school and then chilled out at the house. 

acaciakoa


Posted Feb 3, 2008, 2:33 am
The next day we went to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  We started very early.  We were on the road by 6:30 AM and stopped to buy a couple things on the way.  It was a 50 minutes drive from the house.

Here we were at the park.  I love the air up there. 

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v7.jpg

Here I was.. with the tree.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v1.jpg

I went to the information center ..

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v3.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v4.jpg

I wanted to see lava but they said right now we can't cos we can't reach where it's flowing.  I was a bit sad but ok.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v5.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v6.jpg

oohh how exciting..

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v8.jpg

This is the replica of the rain forest they have there for us to see.  Koa was pressing some button to hear some birds and other animals.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v9.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v10.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v11.jpg

After that we went to see the crater.  I was so blown away by the view.  It's breath taking.  Mom look !!  I was there to see the craters. 

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v13.jpg

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/v14.jpg


After that we drove along another craters.  You can't imagine the view, so awesome !! I really love this trip.  :D 

Then we bought some souvenirs and postcards.  Then we went home.  It was a long day.  We are all tired.

I will tell you about my trip to the beach tomorrow Mom.  Don't worry.  I am fine and I hope you are too. 

Miss you,
Jimbo

acaciakoa


Posted Feb 6, 2008, 12:26 am
Hi Mom,
It's me again.  I'll tell you what we've been up to.  The next day we went to Hapuna Beach Park which is like 100 + miles from the house.  It was such a long trip.  It was great fun.  Here, pic of me with the Pacific Ocean.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/visitthebeach2.jpg

another one

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/visitthebeach.jpg

The water is crystal clear and fresh.  I love the waves, so nice.  I can just play and chill there forever. :)

We went home in the afternoon.  Another great day. :)

The next day we took Poong's friend out to The Macadamia Nut Factory. "Mauna Loa".  They have all kinds of samples :P so yummy.  I love it.

Here's the pic of me in front of the shop.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/maunaloa1.jpg

After that we went on to University of Hawaii at Hilo and hang out there for awhile.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj189/acaciakoa/uh.jpg

Then we went home.

This is the last day for me in Hawaii.  Poong's friend will be leaving tomorrow and Poong will send me to California.  Koa seems sad knowing that I will be on my way.  I know I will miss him too but I'm happy and excited to go to California. 

I kissed Koa and Poong goodbye.  Poong said I'll be fine on my journey, and there is nothing to worry about.  I said thanks for being a good host and I love Hawaii.  :)

See you in California, Mom. Miss you.

Love,
Jimbo



redchick623


Posted Feb 7, 2008, 3:12 am
Hi mom!

I arrived at Alaina’s house last night!!! Wow what a trip that was … the mailman was a little rough with me. I am here safe though.  :rolleyes:

I haven’t really done much today … just been sitting around hanging out with Alaina’s collection of frogs. Alaina has been keeping me on her dresser so I stay safe from her dog Kelly (Kelly might mistaken me for one of her toys). I was pretty freaked out earlier … Kelly was eyeing me all day long while Alaina was at school. But don’t worry I will be okay.  :(

So I am pretty excited. Tomorrow, Amy, Alaina’s roommate, is going to take me to work with her. She works as an animal trainer for the San Diego Wild Animal Park!!! Amy said she would let me ride on a camel’s back!!!! I am so excited. On Saturday Alaina was going to take me back there and take me to see real live elephants!!! I have always wanted to see real ones!  :p

Anyhow, just wanted to let you know that I was safe and that I am looking forward to having fun here is San Diego with Alaina!!! I miss you!  :D

PS Alaina took some pics of me earlier, but photobucket is down right now and she doesnt know how to resize pictures to make them smaller ... so she said she would post them later (Maybe you can give her a hint on a free program that is easy to learn and use)

edit ... pics as promised =)

I'm here!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/pics/IMG_1705.jpg

me, kelly and amy
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/pics/IMG_1709.jpg

me hanging with my new frog friends
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/pics/IMG_1710.jpg

peak-a-boo!!!
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/pics/IMG_1711.jpg
redchick623


Posted Feb 10, 2008, 11:22 pm
Hi mom!

What what a time Alaina has had with uploading pics ... !!!!
Anyhow yesterday I had a blast!!!! We went to the San Diego Wild Animal Park and I was able to meet many interesting new animals ... I even was able to see real elephants ...

here's some pics....

in the car ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1723.jpg

parking ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1721-1.jpg

paying $9 to park!!!

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1722-1.jpg

see the birds behind me?

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1725-1.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1724.jpg

Alaina and me in front of a fake elephant ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1727.jpg

the meerekats

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1729.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1730.jpg

flamingos
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1728.jpg

birds ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1737.jpg

gorillas
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1741.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1747.jpg

wow sure made me feel small ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1749.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1748.jpg

on to Amy's show ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1750.jpg

and behind the scenes to meet the animals Amy works with ...

Soloman the camel
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1793.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1794.jpg

Alaina got to hold a fox ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1786.jpg

me kickin it with the Zebra
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1797.jpg

then we went on a journey through Africa ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1817.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1814.jpg

I hid when I saw the lions

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1828.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1833.jpg

then ....

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1837.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1836.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1835.jpg

...yes real elephants!!! Wow

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1821.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1818.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1858.jpg

what a day ...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1861.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h282/adespars/animal/IMG_1862.jpg


edit: Alaina just realized there are a few pics missing so she'll get the others up soon =)
joyous_trouble


Posted Mar 5, 2008, 10:38 pm
Dear Mom,
Greetings from fabulous Las Vegas. The trip was not too rough, but it was pretty warm in the post box.

Have already met Frogger and his mommy, they have a Sara too, but she is taking a nap, I will meet her later. I also met, micksangels, who takes Frogger on her trips sometimes. They said they are thinking about taking a trip to the Hoover Dam, which sounds very exciting, and I promise to get lots of pictures.

Oh and mom, guess what, they have a real Christmas tree growing in the back yard, but it is not decorated. It is almost 8 years old.

Here are a few pictures of me and Frogger hanging out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6524.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6523.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6522.jpg
joyous_trouble


Posted Mar 22, 2008, 7:57 pm
Hey mum, we went to Red Rock Canyon. It was really cool, and literally in some places!

We had a good deal of fun while we were there, I was amused to note that the smaller human, who was carrying me, seemed to be a better hiker than the larger human with the camera, micksangel. She was afraid of the drop off's though, and who can rightly blame her?
joyous_trouble


Posted Mar 22, 2008, 8:24 pm
We went to the Springs Preserve today and it was quite neat. We only visited the playground, but what sights there were to see there!

Mammoth bones!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6585.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6584.jpg

Giant Birds, I thought they might eat us!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6583.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6582.jpg

And a giant butterfly, though where it finds flowers big enough to eat from, I'll never know!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6581.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6580.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v350/JoyousTrouble/100_6579.jpg

wourpet


Posted Apr 1, 2008, 5:42 am
Today I arrived in Grand Junction Colorado with my buddy Frogger who came with me from Las Vegas.

It was a pleasant trip and didn't take very long at all.  It was nice having company for the journey.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3009.jpg

After we arrived I decided this might be some type of TV hostel We met Coney, he's just back from Iraq and is supposed to be in Ft Bragg but he missed his plane. He's a soldier in the US Army. Lucky-Ducky lives here but he has been visiting a host in Porvoo Finland for the past 8 months and just arrived home.  Candy Cotton is also from Australia and was missing but was recently recovered and will visit here for awhile before being re-united with her mentor.  Mittens was also lost but is also back traveling and lives in Florida.  She doesn't have a travel plan yet and will visit here while wourpet tries to contact her owner.  I am here for my first stop on the USA TV Trail.  I think it should be fun with such a big group. 

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3011.jpg
wourpet


Posted Apr 10, 2008, 9:05 pm


I haven't really done much since I got here.  The other TVs and I are mostly hanging around the house because its been cold and windy outside.  Wourpet said if it rains she'll let me out to play in some puddles for awhile as long as I don't nibble on the new flowers.
Today my host was having an anniversary and we each got some carrot cake -- with a carrot on top.


http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3021.jpg


After that I took a quick walk outside and met Charlie -- he was very friendly and gave me a big smooch.  Maybe he was tasting my carrot cake.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3017.jpg
wourpet


Posted Apr 10, 2008, 9:11 pm
Today I went for quite a long walk around the yard.  Its still cool but its spring and I found lots of new flowers opening up.  I didn't pull any of them or nibble on them at all.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3020.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3016.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3014.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3015.jpg

There were flowers in the orchard too and wourpet allowed me to climb in the trees.


http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3018.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3019.jpg
wourpet


Posted Apr 20, 2008, 6:51 am
The weather has stayed rather cool so we haven't gone out much but today I got to go for a ride in the truck.  Wourpet even gave me my very own chair to sit in so I would be secure and able to see through the windsheild.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3025.jpg
We drove around town and I watched for fresh signs of spring and tender new leaves.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3026.jpg
Even though it was cloudy I could still see the mountains all around the valley.
wourpet


Posted Apr 20, 2008, 6:54 am
Well here's the whole lot of us.  It was a great day outside so we have been out loading twigs and leaves into the wagon.  Once we get some piled in wourpet lets us all hop in and have a ride.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3034.jpg
Its been very windy so the spring cleanup is taking forever because the twigs keep blowing off the trees.  But that means more wagon rides so bye -- gotta get back out ther.
joyous_trouble


Posted Apr 27, 2008, 4:59 am
Better late than never, right! So here are a few more pictures from my visit to Las Vegas:

On Easter morning I helped hide eggs!

Then we did battle!

Then I hung round with some of Froggers pals.

Then Frogger took me round the back garden to see the Christmas tree that was planted many years ago, though it's a little sad looking.

And here is one of the lioness' at the MGM Grand Hotel.

Frogger and I sporting our new shirts, mine should be in the mail soonish.
wourpet


Posted Apr 28, 2008, 1:40 am
Today my buddy Frogger and I went out to explore the back yard.  We found a huge raging river when we stopped on the bridge and decided to follow it upstream.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3111.jpg

The river stretched out for a long way in the distance.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3112.jpg

We found several interesting waypoints.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3113.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3114.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3115.jpg

At the top of the river we came to a huge waterfall and rapids. 

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3116.jpg

The Wourpet found us and took us up above the falls to see where the water was coming from.  She told us this is for irrigation of the yard and garden and the trees in the orchard.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3117.jpg

We thought that was pretty cool and then we went all the way back down stream and sat on the bank and watched the water go by.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3118.jpg

I am thinking we might build a raft.




wourpet


Posted Apr 28, 2008, 1:52 am
Today a new Toy Voyager arrived from California.  Snuffles has been traveling to some cool places and he had a journal with all of his adventures.  There were lots of very interesitng pictures that he showed us.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3086.jpg

Afterwards Wourpet took a picture of all of us together because Mittens and Coney are both leaving tomorrow.  Mittens is going to Russia.  Coney is going back to Ft Bragg to do some more training in the Army and then he is going to Afghanistan.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_3084.jpg
carlissa


Posted May 7, 2008, 3:12 am

Hi Mom! 

I'm in Miami!  It's a very warm 83°F/28°C here today.  My host picked me up at the post office and then we went to take her daughter to Emerald Acres Stable where she keeps her horse.  I met lots of the barn animals.

Here is Tigger:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2472670380_2dcfed910a.jpg

Here I am with American Pie:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/2472670534_0b07fd0c97.jpg

Then I went to see the miniature donkeys:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/2472670660_8406233c93.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3212/2472671098_a64e8205b5.jpg

Lucky, my host's horse, came to see the donkey:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2471847067_05462a0a41.jpg

Lastly, I went to visit Spencer, the pig:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/2471847421_07db7d52c3.jpg

After touring the barn, my host brought me to her house where I  am now.  I've had a busy day today, so I better get some rest.  Bye for now!

carlissa


Posted May 8, 2008, 10:24 pm
I met Ossa today and she invited me to dinner and a movie!

We had Cuban-style picadillo and rice for dinner:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2476153937_8a459c01e1.jpg

After dinner, we watched The Golden Compass:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2476154195_8f8e9d9f9b.jpg

We enjoyed the movie very much!  Afterwards, Ossa introduced me to Snowshoe, the cat and we had a nice chat:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2134/2476154291_44aed1f45f.jpg

carlissa


Posted May 10, 2008, 5:46 pm
Decker the lion arrived today from Russia!  We visited with him outside and shared some cookies.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2228/2480077519_8d2d76fe87.jpg
carlissa


Posted May 11, 2008, 2:08 pm
Today is Mother's Day!  We got up early to make banana pancakes for our host.

First, we gathered all the ingredients that we will need:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2226/2482323013_c5cb35a35e.jpg

We mixed up the batter and then cooked the pancakes in a pan.  The pancakes turned out to be very delicious!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2483137902_e651f9236a.jpg

Happy Mother's Day!

carlissa


Posted May 12, 2008, 6:33 pm
This afternoon, Decker and I went to Emerald Acres Stable with our host and her daughters.  I had already been there, but I had told Decker about all the animals there and he wanted me to introduce him to some of them.

Here we are with Tigger:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2183/2487140234_95ca2daa3a.jpg

carlissa


Posted May 12, 2008, 6:40 pm
Decker, Ossa, and I went for a bike ride around the neighborhood with our host.

Here we are in the basket of the bike:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2162/2487139638_6cf321a1d7.jpg

We rode around for awhile, then we came to a pretty little fountain:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/2486322157_35b75a0eee.jpg


carlissa


Posted May 14, 2008, 4:26 am
Today I went to see downtown Miami!  My host's daughter has jury duty, so we dropped her off at the courthouse and then we went to Bayfront Park.

I didn't know there were so many tall buildings in Miami!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/2490661275_57cdebaa72.jpg

Here I am with Decker, Ossa, and Jadzia Tam enjoying the sunshine and pretty view:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2111/2490517123_81372b61ac.jpg

I saw a stature of Christopher Columbus. 
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2491375852_1497f15c1d.jpg

And I saw a boat in Biscayne Bay:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2491333970_2e28fcc63d.jpg

On the way home, Decker and I sat on the dashboard so we could see all the traffic and big buildings on Biscayne Blvd:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2490517809_b47dd7d8b9.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2212/2491334222_e6f9a349e6.jpg
carlissa


Posted May 16, 2008, 1:15 pm
Decker and I made some freshly squeezed Florida orange juice this morning!  Decker gathered up all the oranges while I used the juicer.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2496253333_b97c351af8.jpg


Yum, there is nothing better than fresh orange juice in the morning!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/2497079510_d2104be4f1.jpg

carlissa


Posted May 23, 2008, 2:00 am
I went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull this afternoon with Ossa, Dilbert, and HitchaRideDooey.  We all enjoyed the movie - lots of action Indy style,  Soviet agents, creepy skeletons, and cute ground hogs!

After the movie, we met this girl who was playing outside of the theater:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2514283057_ab939ae7d8.jpg

carlissa


Posted May 31, 2008, 10:11 pm
Today was a busy day!  I am leaving today to go to Oregon! 

But before I leave, my host has to return some books to the library, so I helped her gather up the books.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2539775722_1156540610.jpg

Then we drove to the library.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/2539776322_5a327e8e7a.jpg

After we went to the library, I saw some postcards in the Postal & Parcel store.  I asked my host if I could get one to mail home, and she said yes!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2539776492_b55bc97fda.jpg


After I bought the postcard, we went home so I could fill out the postcard.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/2539776640_0bca01423b.jpg

I then climbed into my mailing package and I'm now on my way to Oregon!

magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Jul 12, 2008, 10:25 pm
I have finaly arrived in California! Appearently Izzy's mail is slow, will have to complain to the post office about this! So first thing we did when I arrived was go to the giant super furniture store IKEA! We ate and walked around for hours, and guess what? the batteries died on the camera! Bummer! I will promptly smack this new host for you mom. :)
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Jul 23, 2008, 6:59 pm
Today Izzy to us voyagers to the river again to go bike riding with pollunga, another host here on TV's. It was so pretty, the hosts rode their bikes and us voyagers watched from the basket. We saw a deer and a rooster on our ride! It was so peacefull.

Then we went with Izzy to pollunga's house. She has a very nice house and lots of cute animals! We fed her kitty a graham cracker! After playing on the cat's big cat tree we were tired and went home.
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Jul 25, 2008, 6:47 pm
Today I traveled with Izzy and the other voyagers down the coast of California to Watsonville, home of wonderfull produce and a fantastic GOAT SHOW! Izzy raises and shows African pygmy goats, and we went with her to a breed show. The fair grounds where we camped we nice, and had a voyager sized train (but it wasnt running)

There was also a big horse arena, but I was to busy with the goat show and making sure Izzy won to watch the horses. To bad. Izzy says tomarrow we get to go to the mystery spot! shounds mysteriose!!!

Before bed I got to meet a big stinky boy goat named DC. He was very nice!!!
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Jul 30, 2008, 6:28 pm
Today The other voyagers and I got up REALLY early (wow, 7:30 am! lol) To get ready to go see the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot! It was very foggy but the fog moved up into a cloud, so then it was just overcast. We drove through watsonville wich is known for growing yummy fruits and vegi's, I even saw Rasberries growing on the vines!

Finally we got to Santa Cruz and the mystery spot was very crowded, so bad Izzy had trouble getting pictures. But we waited in line, and took the tour! There is a neat old cabin right on the "mystery" and it leans really bad, and made me feel dizzy. Everyone was leaning at an angle, and it was alot of fun. No one knows why the spot makes you lean, and the tree's lean, and the shack lean.... scary!
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Jul 30, 2008, 6:32 pm
We headed back to camp, loaded up the goats and started to head home, when Izzy realized we didnt have any pictures on the beach! Sp we stopped off highway 1 inbetween Moss Landing and Sea Cliff and I got to see the California Coast!!

Then we headed home, so tired
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Jul 30, 2008, 6:37 pm
Today I helped Izzy throw a party for her friends Birthday. We went out to Folsom lake for some lake fun!

But we got there and- hey, wheres the lake? It turns out in January they thought we would get more rain, and they drained the lake so it wouldnt flood the houses, but we didnt get anymore rain! So the lake is very empty. That means more beach!
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Jul 30, 2008, 6:45 pm
Izzy decided to ride her bike out to her animals pasture today and we got to ride!! I got to meet Dusty the horse and some nice sheep. We then had a snacka nd headed home.
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Aug 17, 2008, 6:19 pm
Today Izzy drove myself and the other voyagers up to Truckee, a little mountain town to see her aunt. It is really beautiful here!! We went down to the river and played in the water with Izzy's dog Piper. He's a cute little Corgi.

Then We went into town aned found a lawn gnome being hualed away by some locals so we decided to head back and get some sleep.
Michele_one_L


Posted Aug 20, 2008, 12:55 am
I arrived in New York today! The time difference is hard to deal with so I'm off to take a nap. I'll update again soon.


magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Aug 20, 2008, 4:10 am
Izzy's internet went down just in time for her to not tell everyone that the other voyagers and I get to drove 900 miles with her to Tuscon! We got up at 4:00 am this morning and drove for 14 hours down California, through bakersfeild, Las Angeles and all then over into Arizona through Pheonix then finaly, 50 miles from Mexico, to Tuscon! this is exciting, and Im whopped!
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Aug 20, 2008, 4:16 am
Today we went to see the "Tour De Fat" which is a bicycle parade sponsered by the Fat Tire beer company. their were all sorts of crazy bikes! It was alot of fun!

We then headed home because we have a big trip coming up!
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Aug 20, 2008, 4:42 am
This morning I woke up to a wonderful sight! A gorgiose hotel and desert outside the window! There are huge cactus and tumble weeds and sage brush and all sorts of neat things!

Izzy grabbed us up and drove about 15 minutes down the road and we found the "Old Tuscom Studio's" where they used to shoot John Wayne Cowboy movies! We didn't go in, Izzy didnt have enough money for entry there and the other place she wants to go, but we got out pictures with a real movie camera!

Hi MOM!!!
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Aug 20, 2008, 5:10 am
As we continued on through the desert, Izzy told us Voyagers that we were getting to go to the Arizona-Senora Desert Museum.

The museum is an amazing place. Its really a big zoo full of the native plants and animals with a huge re-created cave with gems and rock formations, trails, fossils and of course, great animals! There was so much we spent 4 hours wondering around in the heat, with lots of water of course!

it was 115f degrees today! Wow thats hot!
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Aug 21, 2008, 11:38 pm
Today we got up early again to see more of Tucson. Izzy heard they have a pretty good Zoo, and since she loves animals we thought it woulf be fun to go. The Zoo was so exciting! I see Giraffe's and Elephants and Polar Bears and all sorts of stuff! then we played on a fake tortaise shell and wondered around a bit more.

At lunch time Izzy said it was time to hit another museum!
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Aug 21, 2008, 11:54 pm
We left the zoo in search of our next museum. Izzy seemed REALLY excited! We jumped on the freeway a bit, and got lost in town, but then we pulled up to..

The PIMA Air and Space Musuem! It was so cool! There is over 3 acres with over 300 planes and spaceships and 4 hangers! We walked all over that place, in and out of hangers, talking to Docents and drinking alot of water because its over 110 degrees today. I even got to see mars!

Then we headed back to the hotel exaghsted
magickzzl
guardianicewolf@hotmail.com

Posted Aug 22, 2008, 12:14 am
Today is our last day in Tucson. Izzy got up early again and we headed out down the roag just a little bit to the International Wildlife Museum. Its a neat natural history museum where we learned about lots of kinds of animals and saw lots of stuffed creatures.

After a few hours of that we headed back to take one last sunbath by the pool and say goodbye to the beautiful hotel and all the nice staff. Then we headed out for another 14 hour drive across the desert then california. While it was still light we saw a neat storm way out across the Mojave Desert.
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 1, 2008, 9:30 pm
Today we visited the Fort Stanwix Monument. It was very interesting to see and to learn the history of it.
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 1, 2008, 9:58 pm
Today I arrived in NY and it's good to be here. I have to say there's a different vibe here on the East coast. Humm....I think I could get used to it though. Upon my arrival I met Cool Jules, Moley, Sussy Greenfeet and Hinz + Kunz[tv].
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 1, 2008, 10:14 pm
Once we entered the fort there was a young man in tradition clothing who asked us if we wanted to watch a short film about the Fort. Of course we wanted to!
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 1, 2008, 10:25 pm
We learned a lot about the history of Fort Stanwix during our visit. Our host said she learned a lot as well. Too bad they weren't doing a reenactment this weekend. That would have been cool....
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 1, 2008, 11:01 pm
Today we took a short (1.5 hours) trip to Schenectady, NY to pick up Michele's sister. She wanted to come to Rome for a few days before school starts. When we got to Michele's step father's home we saw that he had a swimming pool......We all wanted to go swimming but Michele said that we didn't have the time.  :( She said maybe next time. Oh well it was worth a try.
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 2, 2008, 11:34 pm
Today a new TV arrived! We were all excited to see who it was.....It was Vicky Mouseham. She is a shopaholic and proud of it! I think her and our host will get along just fine.  :rolleyes:
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 3, 2008, 12:04 am
This evening we took a ride to Syracuse, NY. Our host was having an item held at the Yankee Candle in the mall so she had to go pick it up. But first we had to go to the gas station, then we hit the road. Syracuse is about 45 minutes to an hour from Rome so the ride was a little long and boring. We had to pay the toll before we could get off the Interstate.
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 3, 2008, 12:21 am
Today another TV arrived! We were excited to see a new face. Everyone tried to guess as to who it might be....no one got it right.  :rolleyes: It was none other than Crocs!
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 5, 2008, 2:46 pm
This evening we went to the drive in. Michele said that the drive in was closing for the season on Monday, September 1st and that we had better go before then. Tonight it was a tripe feature although we only stayed for two movies. First we saw Kung Fu Panda then we saw Wall E. It was so much fun!!!
Michele_one_L


Posted Sep 5, 2008, 3:06 pm
Today was my last day in NY! I have to continue my journey on the USA TVT. I said goodbye to all of the friends I've met. They wished me well....
wmphimu


Posted Sep 7, 2008, 9:16 pm
Hello from Virginia! After I left New York, I decided I would take a quick nap. Well, I guess an elephant nap is longer than my flight, because I was woken up by a whole lot of noise! It was Fllama and Plaid Moose, welcoming me to Virginia!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1708.jpg
I'm so happy to be here! Here we all are - I'm already having fun!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1709.jpg
wmphimu


Posted Sep 7, 2008, 9:18 pm
Hi Mommy! Just a quick note to let you know that I am ok! You might have seen Fairfax on the news - Tropical Storm Hanna hit here yesterday, and our neighborhood got hit hard. The lake by Mara's house flooded, and the bottom part of the street was evacuated - so our street made the news! We are all fine - Mara's house is totally dry - and I spent the day watching the storm from the window!!
wmphimu


Posted Sep 10, 2008, 3:32 am
After all the excitement of the tropical storm, we have been taking it easy here. But today, a package arrived. Mara let us open it...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/pkg1.jpg
...and out popped Ebba!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/pkg2.jpg
What fun to have a new visitor!
wmphimu


Posted Sep 11, 2008, 4:46 pm
Hello! Mara had a bunch of errands to run today, so we hopped in her bag and went along! :) First stop was the post office to say goodbye to Fllama and send him on his next adventure:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1727.jpg
Then we went to Target - it's a huge store, and since it's close to where I am staying, Mara goes a lot!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1735.jpg
After a few more stops, we were all hungry, so Mara took us out to lunch at Boston Market:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1730.jpg
Here I am eating my lunch - yummy!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1733.jpg
wmphimu


Posted Sep 14, 2008, 3:12 am
Hello! It was a beautiful day here today (it's been raining a LOT lately), so we all headed to Old Town Alexandria for the Festival of the Arts - a big arts fest in the streets of Old Town. Old Town is where George Washington grew up, and is not only a historic area but a really neat place with shops and restaurants. Here I am walking around the arts festival...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/af1.jpg
There was lots of cool art, but the steel sculptures were our favorites. Of course, I liked the elephant sculpture the best!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/art2.jpg
While we were walking around, we took a break at the fountains in Old Town - look how beautiful it was out today!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/sq1.jpg
Afterwards, we walked down to the waterfront. Alexandria is near Washington DC on the Potomac River. Here I am in front of the Potomac:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/pr1.jpg
And here I am in front of the Torpedo Factory:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/tf3-1.jpg
It used to be used to make torpedoes (you could probably have figured that out!), but now it is an artist colony! What an amazing day!
wmphimu


Posted Sep 28, 2008, 2:56 am
I've been getting a good sense of what day to day life is like here in Virginia. Mara has let me tag along a lot, and it's been nice to see where she lives. So, here are a few pictures of where I've been this week...
We started the week off going to the new library. It just opened a few months ago, and it's really nice. Here I am in the front:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/book3-1.jpg
And here I am looking for a book!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/book2-2.jpg
In the middle of the week I went with Mara to Let's Dish. It's a meal preparation place - you go and you make a bunch of dinners for the month that go in the freezer. Here I am in front:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/ld1.jpg
And here I am helping out by making chicken parmesan!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/letsdish1.jpg
Today it was raining really hard, so we sat in the car while Mara's husband ran into the store to get stuff for her rabbits (can you tell how hard it was raining from the picture??)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/errands.jpg
Thankfully, the rain stopped long enough for us to get some lunch. We went to a popular place called Noodles & Company where Mara and I shared Wisconsin Mac & Cheese (they are famous for it!) Yum-O!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/mc1.jpg
wmphimu


Posted Oct 1, 2008, 11:30 pm
Shana Tovah! That means Happy New Year in Hebrew! This week we celebrated Rosh Hashana - the Jewish New Year - and I helped! Here I am helping to set the table for a family dinner...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1768.jpg
And here we all are putting a cover on the round challah that Mara's family ate!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1771.jpg
And I celebrated the new year the traditional way - eating apples dipped in honey! Yum!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1773.jpg
wmphimu


Posted Oct 7, 2008, 6:42 pm
Hello! Over the weekend, a new Toy Voyager arrived! I helped to open up her package and welcome her to the United States!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1791.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1792.jpg
Her name is Pebbels, and she is a very nice tiger! She showed us her travel journal - it was fun to look at it and see all the cool places that she has been!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1793.jpg
wmphimu


Posted Oct 7, 2008, 6:43 pm
My host and her husband play softball on the weekends. So a few of us hopped into Mara's bag to check it out! Here I am at the field before the game...
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1789.jpg
And here we are in the bleachers cheering them on!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1787.jpg
wmphimu


Posted Oct 12, 2008, 2:11 am
What a beautiful day it was here today! It's nearly the middle of October, but it was sunny and 70 degrees out! So we headed into Fairfax City for the Fall Festival, a big fair with lots of arts & crafts, food, and activities for kids. Mara says that there are lots of fairs like this here in the fall - each town has one! Here I am on one of the streets looking at the crafts booths:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1794.jpg
I also got to see some of the history of Fairfax. Here I am in front of the courthouse:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1803.jpg
It was built in 1800 - here is a plaque that explains the history:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1809.jpg
And here I am (still in front of the courthouse) on one of the Civil War cannons!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/101_1798.jpg
wmphimu


Posted Oct 14, 2008, 1:55 am
I have had a great trip to Virginia! But I am leaving in the morning to my next host. So as I am getting packed tonight, I also said my goodbyes. First I said goodbye to Mara's bunnies - even though I am an elephant (and don't speak too much rabbit!), we have become good friends!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/jimbo.jpg
Then I said goodbye to my Toy Voyager friends.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/wmphimu/P1010903.jpg
I have had a good visit, and am excited for my next adventure!
Pixiedustlady


Posted Oct 27, 2008, 8:06 pm
Hi Mom!! I arrived today in Richlands, North Carolina!  Im so glad to be out of that envelope! I am so excited to be here and have met the other toys that are being hosted by Darcie and the big news is that the World Series is on right now!! The other toys are all rooting for the Tampa Rays to win!! Darcie is a big Atlanta Braves fan and I just missed getting to go to a game, baseball season is now over till spring time.  Tampa has GOT to win tonight to stay in the playoffs, we are going to all watch the game and in a few more days is Halloween!!! Im going to help pass out candy to all the kids that come.  I will be taking photos later on tonight, right now I am going to go take a nap.  Im nice and safe and just wanted to let you know how I am doing. 
Pixiedustlady


Posted Oct 29, 2008, 2:53 pm
Hi mom!! I took some photos last night! I know it is nice and warm back in Australia but last night was really super cold here!! We made a nice fire and sat in front of it while watching movies.  I also got to meet the two dogs that live in the house.  Daisy is the Boston Terrier and Thumper is the Pug.  I have to stay off the ground because Thumper LOVES toys and will try to carry me around in her mouth so I am up with the other toys at all times  :D  Last night I was suppose to watch The World Series but it was cancelled AGAIN due to rain.  We will be watching it on the big flat screen TV tonight and cheering on the Rays.  I also got to meet all the non traveling toys that live in the house, their are A LOT of bears that live here!! everyone is very friendly and Im having a fantastic time!!
Pixiedustlady


Posted Nov 1, 2008, 3:34 pm
Hi Mom!! A few nights ago the Philadelphia Phillies won the world series! Me and the other toys all watched and it was sooo exciting to see the team at the end of the game because they were sooo happy!! Last night was Halloween! I handed out candy and I also ate some Butterfingers, Paydays, Crunch bars and my new favorite Whoppers!!  It was very cold so Darcie made a fire for us to sit in front of and stay nice and cozy.  I saw lots and lots of kids in costumes.  I saw lots of scary ones with light up masks and also lots of Disney costumes like Cinderella and Sully from Monsters Inc.  Halloween is really fun!!
Pixiedustlady


Posted Nov 13, 2008, 12:02 am
Hi Mom!
Im sorry that I do not have photos of me for todays trip.  Darcie brought her camara but many parts of the base are off limits to photographs and movie camaras... some of these photos were taken secretly LOL  I got to go to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.  I had a lot of fun and got to see tanks, LAVs, Hummers and lots of Marines. I also got to see *building 1* and that is where the General of the base works (see photo below)  I drove down to a area called Montford Point and got to see a Marine museum of old uniforms and historical photos of when the base first opened. Darcie go told to put her camara away so we have no museum photos.  I got REALLY lucky because it was the Marine Corps Birthday so I got to see the Marine Corps silent drill team!! I was very excited watching them do drill moves with their dress blues on and spinning the rifles! Check out the photos!  I am suppose to go to Marine Corps Air Station, New River sometime soon (when the weather will cooperate, its been raining everyday!) Darcies husband works at the Air Station but he is deployed right now.  I heard I get to sit in a helicopter when I go to the air station!!  anyways here are a few photos of the area and again sorry I could not sneak into the photos today.



Pixiedustlady


Posted Dec 3, 2008, 3:24 pm
I had a great Thanksgiving with Darcie and the other toys.  We had fun watching movies and eating lots of food and watching the Macys Thanksgiving day parade.  I also got to drive Darcie's new car!!! I have never seen a collector car like this before! I sure would love to bring it home and take it  out on the racetrack!! This is a 1955 Porsche Spyder, the same car James Dean had.  The car lives in the garage and basically gets wiped down and pampered while the other two daily driving cars have to sit outside hahaha.  I had fun racing it to the gas station!! I just found out I am booked on Delta airlines to British Columbia, Canada... I had a great time in the Ole'South and now I have to run to go pack my bags! see you later mom!!
AbbyB


Posted Dec 17, 2008, 10:47 pm
Hi Mom, I have arrived in Canada!

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/abbystoyvoyagers/Jimbo%20Elephant/December-17-2008-016.jpg
AbbyB


Posted Dec 22, 2008, 8:51 pm
This is the view down Abby's street.  If it wasn't snowing you would see mountains in the distance.  It snowed all day and it is supposed to snow two more times this week.

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/abbystoyvoyagers/Jimbo%20Elephant/December-21-2008-007.jpg
AbbyB


Posted Dec 22, 2008, 9:07 pm
Abby's family went to see Santa today!  There was a lineup, else Abby would have asked Santa to pose with me.

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/abbystoyvoyagers/Jimbo%20Elephant/December-21-2008-016.jpg
AbbyB


Posted Dec 25, 2008, 6:46 am
Things are nearly ready for Christmas at Abby's household; all we need now is Santa to come visit.  Abby's family didn't have room for a real tree this year, but they had this nice toyvoyager-sized one!

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/abbystoyvoyagers/Jimbo%20Elephant/December-24-2008-003.jpg

Christmas isn't here yet, but it is back home, so Merry Christmas!
AbbyB


Posted Jan 5, 2009, 7:27 am
It's Christmas!  We got chocolate as a gift!

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/abbystoyvoyagers/Jimbo%20Elephant/December-25-2008-027.jpg

I also listened to the Queen's message at noon.

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/abbystoyvoyagers/Jimbo%20Elephant/December-25-2008-019.jpg
AbbyB


Posted Jan 7, 2009, 12:54 am
Today Jimbo left for San Francisco with the help of a very nice man at the post office.  Hopefully he'll make it there by Friday!
AlyssaPandaEyes


Posted Jan 14, 2009, 10:39 am
Hi Mom!
I made it, wow!  That was a long journey from BC, I almost didn't make it to San Francisco in time to get my ticket on the Hope Train.    Good thing my hosts are always late!
Here I am arriving at the Post Office in Point Reyes Station.  My hosts said they just couldn't wait to open my parcel until they got home.  I was glad to get out and breathe.  And meet new friends!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/3196482718_1faf15fe79_o.jpg
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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/3195639971_6f7f1d299e_o.jpg

Here I am with Jim, the Postmaster.  He was funny!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3195616671_9eb5785344_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3195616807_85419b097c_o.jpg

Here I am with some fellow voyagers who live at the Post Office.  They're not catalogued ToyVoyagers like I am, they got lost by someone at the Post Office.  I hope they find a way to travel the world like I did!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/3196461860_4f03258e24_o.jpg

My hosts live on the coast, by the Pacific Ocean, near San Francisco.  It is soooo beautiful here.  My hosts said they needed to run some errands in Petaluma before they headed out on the Hope Train for Obama's Inauguration in DC.  I got to come along for the ride!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3195617295_3cb4555399_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/3195617455_1d31d1595a_o.jpg
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Then we discussed our route, and I pointed my trunk to where I was...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/3196462918_ddeb233af0_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3195618415_a3bf765d52_o.jpg
Then we went to a Mexican restaurant.  My hosts said that some people reading this blog might not have seen a Mexican restaurant before so they took a photo of the menu.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/3195618595_6962f23fbd_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/3195618783_f5d0e545b0_o.jpg

I had Guacamole and Chips and Salsa.  Mmmm!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/3196463522_db8e7747ff_o.jpg

A bit too much Mexican food, haha!  So yummy.  Don't worry mom, I didn't have the beer, that was my host's relative.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3195619085_7e35bd1758_o.jpg

After that we went to what my hosts told me would be the first of MANY trips to Starbucks.  I thought it would be a fun idea to get a photo with all the baristas at all the Starbucks on my Hope Train adventure, so here are the first girls.  They were so sweet, and they let me sit on the cups!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3383/3195619237_6812c3158f_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/3196484948_9cf0b7c38e_o.jpg
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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/3195641061_4c8ce6d453_o.jpg

And then I got a super awesome surprise when I met a fellow countryman - this is Doug from Australia.  He even pulled a 2 dollar Australian coin out of my ear to prove it!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/3195619345_8d56eee651_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/3195619515_d8bdd8cc26_o.jpg

I finally got to go to my new home and rest while my hosts packed their stuff.  I got to meet my awesome new friends - Moffie (the puppy), Ian (the monkey), Pepe (the mouse) and Yogurt (the red puppy).  We are all traveling on the Hope Train together, we're so excited.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/3195641401_40f1d7b8f9_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/3195644903_c0cfb946cd.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3196490652_7c19ba2e49_o.jpg

We finally set off, when we left I got to see the beautiful view from my host's street.  This is the bay at Bolinas, California....isn't it so idyllic?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3506/3195631695_46231b1aef_o.jpg

On our way out of town we went to Mythic Pizza, in the Lower Haight district of San Francisco.  My hosts said they wanted to come here because this is where they were when they found out Obama had won the election.  Plus they have REALLY good pizza...California style.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3195646457_03fb973058_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3196478546_a7e4a42984_o.jpg

Then we went to another Starbucks (I told you!) in the Castro district of San Francisco, my hosts said that it's the best Starbucks in the city because the gay men are very fussy about their drinks.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/3195634719_202a8da218_o.jpg

That's all for now mom, we're driving down Highway 5 towards Bakersfield, hopefully we'll see Arizona and New Mexico tomorrow.  It's really late so I'm gonna go to bed now.
AlyssaPandaEyes


Posted Jan 14, 2009, 9:40 pm
Hi Mom!
Wow, I'm having so much fun.  We just stopped at a fruit stand where we got really yummy fresh oranges and nuts.  They had fudge samples which were the best I'd ever tasted, but my hosts said we're watching our weight so we just got fruit.  We just passed through Bakersfield (it was really boring), now we're driving through Mojave.  My hosts told me that in the 90s there was a phone booth in the middle of the desert called the Mojave Desert Phone Booth.  It was an internet phenomenon (like the hamster dance), and people would come from all over to visit the phone booth in the middle of nowhere, and people from all over the world would call it.  Until the government took it down.
It's really hot here, and the sun is shining...but there is a cold snap in the midwest so I think I'll be seeing snow soon - maybe even later today!
We passed a lot of those trees like they have on the cover of the album The Joshua Tree by U2, and also lots of wind mills which help power California in an environmentally safe way!


AlyssaPandaEyes


Posted Jan 20, 2009, 2:12 am
Hi Mom!

Just wanted to let you know that my host has TONS of photos to help me upload soon, but we're soooo busy getting ready for the big day tomorrow.  We're so excited and we're going to post all about our adventures soon.

GOBAMA!

Love,

Jimbo
arasmi
irun4fun2005@yahoo.com

Posted Aug 18, 2009, 9:06 am
Hi mom!!

Just wanted to do a quick update for you and let you know that I arrived in Long Beach!

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5445_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5450_resize.jpg

I met Sara's dog Kika
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5456_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5451_resize.jpg

As well as the other voyagers Sara is hosting
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5448_resize.jpg

I made it just in time for Sara's trip tomorrow to Catalina island.  *phew*

Hope to show you lots of cool pictures!

Until then!


arasmi
irun4fun2005@yahoo.com

Posted Aug 20, 2009, 10:11 am
Hi mom!
So on tuesday Sara took a day vacation to near by Catalina Island.  She hadn't been there in 5 years! Not since her senior year of High School...because she used to have summer cross country camp there every school year.

So here I am at the landing.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5457_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5458_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5462_resize.jpg

Here's our boat...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5460_resize.jpg

And here we go!!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5464_resize.jpg

In the background to the right you can kind of see the Queen Mary...Sara took a close up shot but the boat was moving around a bit so the picture is kind of cut in half...sorry about that :/

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5465_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5466_resize.jpg

Here's a lighthouse...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5467_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5468_resize.jpg

And here's Parker's Lighthouse which is a restaurant.  Sara had her 22nd birthday dinner there about a week ago.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5469_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5470_resize.jpg

Here is the Long Beach Arena painted by the famous seascape artist Wyland
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5471_resize.jpg

Here's a big boat... it was a Cheveron oil tanker boat.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5472_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5473_resize.jpg

It was going to be a sunny day so we had to make sure we had sun glasses...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5474_resize.jpg

We finally made it to the island! and it looks like this is a stop for a cruise ship as well.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5477_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5475_resize.jpg
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http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5518_resize.jpg

We woke up early so we could take the early boat to Catalina and have breakfast there. And what a breakfast! Sara was eager to have some chocolate chip pancakes that she used to have every summer she went to the island.  You can see them smothered with melted chocolate chips heehee.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5481_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5482_resize.jpg

Now that we were all fed it was time to explore the island.
There are two major ways to get around this tiny place...either you walk or...you take a golf cart!! It's such a small town (Avalon that is...it's the ONLY town on Catalina) that cars are much too big to have on the island so everyone drives a golf cart!

You see them back there?

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5484_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5485_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5486_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5487_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5488_resize.jpg

We found a whole army of carts for tourists to rent!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5515_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5516_resize.jpg

We had fun playing around with the carts...now back to exploring!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5489_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5491_resize.jpg
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http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5493_resize.jpg

The building in the background to the right is the island casino.  Not sure if there is a real casino in there but they do have a movie theater in there. (It only plays one movie though haha)
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5494_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5503_resize.jpg

Palm trees galore on the island
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5505_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5495_resize.jpg

 
A pretty fountain...Sara used to run from the school down to the fountain every morning during camp and stretch by it before her big runs.  The longest run of the camp that she only did one year was 11 miles long! (and amongst those crazy hills no less!!) Needless to say...once was enough for her haha.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5500_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5501_resize.jpg

We found this silly guy by the best ice cream shop on the island...Big Olafs.  Back when Sara used to come there used to be tons of these Buffalo statues all over the place painted all different patterns and colors...seems this one is the last of its kind :[
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5497_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5498_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5499_resize.jpg

The day went by too quickly! Sara had alot of fun swimming and paddleboarding and eating. But we had to make sure we caught the last boat of the day or else we'd be stuck on the island over night! So here are some last pictures of the day...

A seal statue...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5512_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5513_resize.jpg

That house on top with the conical roof is Holly Hill house...the story is that a man had it built for a woman he loved...but he took too long to build it so she married another man. Sad right? it is currently a private home.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5514_resize.jpg

some beach volleyball players
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5517_resize.jpg

And here we are at the dock!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5519_resize.jpg

People fish right off it...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5520_resize.jpg

Now to wait in line for the boat
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5522_resize.jpg

Such a lovely day...glad to be back home :]

Had a fun time mom! Write again soon!!



arasmi
irun4fun2005@yahoo.com

Posted Sep 8, 2009, 7:57 pm
Today we went to Universal Studios Hollywood.  We got lucky that it wasn't as hot as it has been the past few weeks.

here we are in the line to get to the parking. A lot of people had the same idea as us to come here for the holiday!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5524_resize.jpg

Whoo! We made it in...here is the famous universal globe at the enterance of the park.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5527_resize.jpg

And here is a statue in the park ...you see that statue to the far right? That's an actual person!! He looked just like the other statues there haha
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5528_resize.jpg

Here is the first attraction we went to...I was too scared to look so i stayed in the backpack for this part.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5530_resize.jpg

When we got out we met Vin Diesel!!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5532_resize.jpg

Just kidding...but we did get to see the cars from the movies "The Fast and The Furious" here is the one Vin drove.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5533_resize.jpg

Oh but look Matt Damon!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5534_resize.jpg
oh no...just a fake...haha...he was there to show props for "The Bourne" series.

Here we are at "The Simpsons Ride"
The Simpsons are a big cartoon here in the States.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5537_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5539_resize.jpg
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http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5541_resize.jpg

I'm afraid we were much too short to ride the ride :[

Next we went on the Studio tour of the backlot
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5546_resize.jpg
This is a building in a part of the lot called "Old Mexico" they have rain effects here and a fake flood...but i didn't want to get wet so we didn't take a picture
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5545_resize.jpg
This is a famous courtyard that has been used in many old horror films.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5550_resize.jpg
This is a fake subway set that we were in...we got trapped and there was a big earthquake in there! It was all fake of course but it was scary!!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5551_resize.jpg

The tour was fun...and as we walked around we found the capsule from the movie "Apollo 13"
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5552_resize.jpg

And look! Tom Hanks!Heehee
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5553_resize.jpg

We rode the Jurassic Park Ride
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5555_resize.jpg
and the Mummy Ride
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5554_resize.jpg
And watched the "Waterworld" show
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5556_resize.jpg

Bye bye Universal Studios! Sara got a year pass so maybe we'll be back again soon :p
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5559_resize.jpg
arasmi
irun4fun2005@yahoo.com

Posted Oct 3, 2009, 9:12 am
Hi Mom!
Sara took us along to her work last week.  (She meant to do this update sooner but her computer was acting up).  She wasn't too happy to have to go into work on a Saturday but she figured since no one else was around it would be a good time to show us around.

This is her desk...she gets two screens! It helps out when she's working...her friend has three screens at his desk! wow!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5580_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5581_resize.jpg

We decided to help Sara out with her work.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5582_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5583_resize.jpg

Speaking of work...look at all the work Sara's friend has to get done...wow! That's alot of files!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5586_resize.jpg

We decided to play with the scanner haha...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5587_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5588_resize.jpg

Alot of files means alot of file cabinets...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5589_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5590_resize.jpg

And we mean ALOT of files...this is the file room...it only holds a fraction of the files that get processed within a week...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5591_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5592_resize.jpg

After all that hard work its time to hit the break room!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5593_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5594_resize.jpg
from the break room you can see the planes land at LAX...you can kind of see the airport in the background
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5599_resize.jpg

Hmm...which snack should i get from the machine??
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5595_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5596_resize.jpg

we decided to get some coffee instead...yum!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5600_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5601_resize.jpg

After that we went home to rest...it's the weekend after all! :D

arasmi
irun4fun2005@yahoo.com

Posted Jan 18, 2010, 4:42 am
Hi mom!!
Sorry it's been a loooooong time since I've updated you on my travels.  Sara has been quite busy with school and working among other things.  But she finally got some vacation time last year and went to New York for New Years and took me along! Here are some pictures from my travels...enjoy!!

Me with all the luggage...there were 3 bags per person and 4 people = alot of luggage!!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5614_resize.jpg

Here I am on the plane...a little nervous but very excited!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5615_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5616_resize.jpg

We've made it! Here's a picture of me outside JFK airport waiting for a taxi (in the rain i might add :p )
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5617_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5618_resize.jpg

The next day we decided to explore the neighborhood. And look what I found...SNOW!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5620_resize.jpg

Uh oh...its not a crime to take a picture with snow is it??
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5620b_resize.jpg

Walking down NY streets you can find anything...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5621_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5621b_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5622_resize.jpg

We decide to take the subway for a nice dinner in Little Italy
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5624_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5625_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5629_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5627_resize.jpg
ok see that blurry green spot in the picture? directly beneath it is the Empire State building with red and green lights...here's a zoomed up picture.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5628_resize.jpg

We decide to walk off our dinner and find ourselves in Chinatown (literally next door to Little Italy haha)
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5632_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5631_resize.jpg

A little ways further is a cool arch thingy near the entrance to cross the Hudson bridge. (This arch looks pretty much like the arch in Washington Square park by NYU which has been featured in a lot of movies)
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5634_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5636_resize.jpg

From here you can barely see the Chrysler building its the tiny peak of white light in the background
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5639_resize.jpg
Zoomed in...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5640_resize.jpg

On our way back to the apt we stayed out we decided to check out Times Square.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5644_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5645_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5646_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5647_resize.jpg

Well Mom...it was a pretty hectic first day...better get some rest cuz we're going to Philadelphia in 2 days!
arasmi
irun4fun2005@yahoo.com

Posted Jan 18, 2010, 4:58 am
Hey Mom!
Are you a big Seinfeld fan? Well, Sara is and she was excited to have breakfast here...
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5648_resize.jpg
It's the outside of the diner in Seinfeld! but the inside is nothing like on TV...silly Sara she thought it would be the same but of course that would have had to been a set.

after breakfast we decided to visit the Central Park zoo...
check out the sleeping polar bear behind me!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5655_resize.jpg
ooooo...really close!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5653_resize.jpg
check out this cool snow leopard! It was like it knew it was having its picture taken and posed for us :]
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5663_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5662_resize.jpg

after the zoo we stopped by the Times Square Alliance for some tourist info.  Here is a wall where people can right their hopes and dreams for 2010 on a piece of confetti and then when the ball drops the confetti gets dropped on the crowd. And look!!! THE ACTUAL TIMES SQUARE NEW YEARS BALL!!!!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5667_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5669_resize.jpg

Well Sara later went back to the apt because her cold had gotten worse and she ended up spending the next day and a half in bed :[ but luckily she was well enough to go to Philadelphia! Pictures in the next post!
arasmi
irun4fun2005@yahoo.com

Posted Jan 24, 2010, 7:34 am
Hi Mom!
Sorry it took a while to get the rest of these pictures up...Photobucket was being a pain.  But like I said...here is me in Philly...enjoy!!

On the Amtrak...it was about an hr ride from NY to Philly on the train
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5670_resize.jpg

and here is the Philly Train Station (Penn Station its called)
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5671_resize.jpg

Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell were right down the street from the station so naturally we took a peek :]
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5674_resize.jpg
see the crack? they say it was a hairline crack and then when they tried to fix it it made it worse :/ 
and here is where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed (Independence Hall)
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5676_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5691_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5695_resize.jpg
That seat in the background? George Washington sat in it...for what? I can't remember LOL sorry mom...I was never really good on history lessons :/

We later took a horse carriage ride around and saw a bunch of different historical buildings
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5680_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5681_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5677_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5683_resize.jpg
The home of James Madisons wife
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5682_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5684_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5685_resize.jpg

after all the sight seeing we got hungry of course...and you can't go to Philly without having a Philly cheesesteak.  And we got the "world's best" at Geno's...yum!!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5705_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5701_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5704_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5706_resize.jpg

then before we left back for NY we found a little park and took a picture with a famous LOVE statue
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5711_resize.jpg
Philly City Hall across the way
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5709_resize.jpg

that's it for our Philly day trip!!
Tomorrow is New Years Eve....yay!
arasmi
irun4fun2005@yahoo.com

Posted Jan 24, 2010, 8:07 am
New Years Eve in NY.
We first decided to watch Chicago before waiting in Times Square to see the Ball drop.  Look! Ashlee Simpson is the lead!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5725_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5726_resize.jpg

our view of the ball from where we were waiting. we waited about 6 hrs in the snow for the ball to drop haha...and this was as close as we could get...not that close but closer than when Sara went 2 yrs ago...she was way back out by Central Park!
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5738_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5740_resize.jpg
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb317/yeahlikecarlos/IMGP5736_resize.jpg

You can see the ball in green in that last picture.  It was an amazing trip.  Hope you enjoyed the pictures!
sararingham
sara.ringham@gmail.com

Posted Mar 27, 2010, 2:17 pm
I've finally arrived back home! After nearly 2 years of traveling I think it's time for me to have a rest! <3 Happy to be home though after so long! I've missed you mom!

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