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Travelog for: Chance

Fredericktown, Missouri, USA - 8th March 2009

By: brilliantlyxx

Steph has informed me that I will be traveling and seeing the world.  Let me tell you, I was ecstatic to hear this.  I've been tired of sitting in her bedroom.  I need to stretch my legs and learn new things.
It might be nice if I tell you a bit about myself.  :)

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/ChanceTree2.jpg

My name is Chance and I'm a light brown monkey. I have velcro hands so that I can hang anywhere, which comes in handy when I climb trees (which I like to do). I LOVE candy, music, watching movies, exploring nature, and, of course, traveling. I love meeting new friends and other toys who are traveling as well. I am very polite and patient and hope to go to many different places.

Today was a normal day for me. 

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/ChancePiano.jpg
Steph and I played the piano.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/ChanceMcFly.jpg
And then I watched one of Steph's McFly DVDs with her.  Danny Jones and Dougie Poynter, aren't they something?  Maybe one day I'll get to go to one of their shows.  :D

And, of course, I climbed a tree (you saw the picture up there).  Steph is going to make me a tag and then she is going to try and find a host for me! I can't wait to see where I go. Maybe I'll go to China or New Zealand!

Travel List:
Pixiedustlady in North Carolina, USA (Had an awesome time! Thank you, Darcie!)
olgamaus in Germany. (Loved it here! Thanks for the fun, Katja!)
DeliciousJu in the UK. (Had a great time! Thank you for the T4 on the Beach and everything else, Julie!)
eilidhlive in Scotland.(Thanks Eilidh! I had a blast!)

* Posted Mar 9, 2009, 12:25 am Last edited Sep 14, 2010, 3:59 pm by brilliantlyxx [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Missouri, USA - 11th March 2009

By: brilliantlyxx

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/ChanceWithCandy.jpg

Hello world!
While Steph was away at classes today, I decided to raid the candy bowl on the counter.  Man, are those chocolates good!
I was also informed that I will soon be heading to visit Darcie in North Carolina. I can't wait for that trip, but before I go, Steph is taking me on a trip of her own. Tomorrow, we are heading to Branson, Missouri!

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/ChanceWaiting.jpg

I had to wait patiently while she packed and help her pick out what to wear.  I swear, I think she has too much stuff.  I don't know how I'll fit in there with all of it!  :thinking:

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/ChancePacked.jpg

Well, I'm all packed up and ready to go! Next update should be on Sunday when I get back!

* Posted Mar 12, 2009, 3:39 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Branson, Missouri, USA - 15th March 2009

By: brilliantlyxx

Whew! Finally back at home! What a trip, let me tell you! I'll try to divide this up a bit so that it will make sense.

My trip started on Thursday morning (March 12).  We left town at 8:00 AM and drove all the way to Branson.  A few ladies on the bus had bladders about the size of pennies and we had to take plenty of bathroom breaks, making a trip that should have only been four hours last for eight hours (we did stop to eat for an hour in Cuba, Missouri at a truck stop.  The food was icky).

We arrived in our room about 4:00 PM and were whisked off to Dixie Stampede.  We were on the South side, and we won (7 medals to the North's 4 medals)!!  There was plenty of amazing food to go around and our waiter Tim was a hoot.  He was a very funny man and if pictures were allowed to be taken inside, I would have begged to take a picture with him.

We did get a picture outside, though.
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/ChanceDixie.jpg.

That night, I spent a long time checking out the lights from my window.

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------------------------

The next day-Friday, March 13-I spent shopping with Steph.  We didn't do much, but she did let me take a picture with the Andy Williams sign! Man, does he have some nice blue eyes!  The sign looked a lot cooler at night when it was all lit up.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/DSCN0610.jpg

-------------------------

Saturday the 14th was our last full day in Branson.  We went down to an outdoor mall called The Landing, then Steph had to go back to the hotel so that we could be at Andy Williams's Moon River Theatre.  It was rainy, so Steph did not get me out to take pictures at The Landing, since she knows that I do not like the rain very much.  :stare:

Here I am inside, waiting for everything to start.

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-----------------------------

Today we had to get up at 6:30 AM, which Steph constantly complained about.  She's not a morning person like me.  :p  While she forced all of her things into her suitcase, I got to see this beautiful sunrise from our window.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/DSCN0622.jpg

The bus ride home did not take as long this time because we were told we were not going to stop a bunch for bathroom breaks  :D.  I'm so glad to be home, but tomorrow I'm off to visit Darcie in North Carolina! I cannot wait to see what all she has in store for me!

* Posted Mar 16, 2009, 3:57 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Fredericktown, Missouri, USA - 16th March 2009

By: brilliantlyxx

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j52/xchorusxromancex/TV/Chance/DSCN0629.jpg

I'm now on my way to visit Darcie!  Hope I arrive safetly and on time.  :D  I'll update my travelog soon!

* Posted Mar 16, 2009, 2:16 pm Last edited Mar 22, 2009, 9:49 pm by brilliantlyxx [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Richlands NC, USA - 22nd March 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

Hi Mom!
I have arrived in North Carolina!! I went down to Wilmington (town about an hour away)  last night to a car event.  Darcie has a 1955 Porsche Spyder that she takes to car club functions and shows.  We took photos but they accidentely got erased :(  BUT this weekend I am going to Fort Fisher to a big car show and will take more pics (more carefully).  Here I am with another TV named Casanova who is also visiting.  We are great friends and love to talk about our travels. I met Thumper the Pug dog and Daisy the Boston Terrier.  Here I am with Thumper getting a ride!!

I have been Googling and reading all about NC so I am going to give a history lesson to you about North Carolina!!!




North Carolina is bordered by South Carolina on the south, Georgia on the southwest, Tennessee on the west, Virginia on the north, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. The United States Census Bureau classifies North Carolina as a southern state in the subcategory of being one of the South Atlantic States.

North Carolina consists of three main geographic sections: the coastal plain, which occupies the eastern 45% of the state; the Piedmont region, which contains the middle 35%; and the Appalachian Mountains and foothills. The extreme eastern section of the state contains the Outer Banks, a string of sandy, narrow islands which form a barrier between the Atlantic Ocean and inland waterways. The Outer Banks form two sounds—Albemarle Sound in the north and Pamlico Sound in the south. They are the two largest landlocked sounds in the United States.

Immediately inland, the coastal plain is relatively flat, with rich soils ideal for growing tobacco, soybeans, melons, and cotton. The coastal plain is North Carolina's most rural section, with few large towns or cities. Agriculture remains an important industry. The major rivers of the coastal plain: the Neuse, Tar, Pamlico, and Cape Fear, tend to be slow-moving and wide.

The coastal plain transitions to the Piedmont region along the "fall line", a line which marks the elevation at which waterfalls first appear on streams and rivers. The Piedmont region of central North Carolina is the state's most urbanized and densely populated section - all five of the state's largest cities are located in the Piedmont. It consists of gently rolling countryside frequently broken by hills or low mountain ridges. A number of small, isolated, and deeply eroded mountain ranges and peaks are located in the Piedmont, including the Sauratown Mountains, Pilot Mountain, the Uwharrie Mountains, Crowder's Mountain, King's Pinnacle, the Brushy Mountains, and the South Mountains. The Piedmont ranges from about 300–400 feet (90–120 m) elevation in the east to over 1,000 feet (300 m) in the west. Due to the rapid population growth of the Piedmont, many of the farms and much of the rural countryside in this region is being replaced by suburbanization: shopping centers, housing developments, and large corporate office parks. Agriculture is steadily declining in importance in this region. The major rivers of the Piedmont, such as the Yadkin and Catawba, tend to be fast-flowing, shallow, and narrow.

The western section of the state is part of the Appalachian Mountain range. Among the subranges of the Appalachians located in the state are the Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Balsam Mountains, and the Black Mountains. The Black Mountains are the highest in the Eastern United States, and culminate in Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet (2,037 m).[3] It is the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Although agriculture remains important, tourism has become the dominant industry in the mountains. One agricultural pursuit which has prospered and grown in recent decades is the growing and selling of Christmas Trees. Due to the higher altitude of the mountains, the climate often differs markedly from the rest of the state. Winters in western North Carolina typically feature significant snowfall and subfreezing temperatures more akin to a midwestern state than a southern one.

North Carolina has 17 major river basins. Five of the state's river basins: the Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, French Broad, Watauga and New, are part of the Mississippi River Basin, which drains to the Gulf of Mexico. All the others flow to the Atlantic Ocean. Of the 17 basins, 11 originate within the state of North Carolina, but only four are contained entirely within the state's borders - the Cape Fear, Neuse, White Oak and Tar-Pamlico.[7]




The coastal plain is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean which keeps temperatures mild in winter and moderate in the summer. Daytime high temperatures on the coast average less than 89 °F (31.6 °C) during the summer. In the winter, the coast has the mildest temperatures in the state, with daytime temperatures rarely dropping below 40 °F (4.4 °C); the average daytime winter temperature in the coastal plain is usually in the mid-60's. Temperatures in the coastal plain rarely drop below freezing even at night. The coastal plain usually receives only one inch (2.5 cm) of snow and/or ice annually, and in some years there may be no snow or ice at all.

The Atlantic Ocean has less influence on the Piedmont region, and as a result the Piedmont has hotter summers and colder winters than the coast. Daytime highs in the Piedmont often average over 90 °F (32.2 °C) in the summer. While it is not common for temperatures to reach over 100 °F (37.8 °C) in North Carolina, when it happens, the highest temperatures are to be found in the lower areas of the Piedmont, especially around the city of Fayetteville. Additionally, the weaker influence of the Atlantic Ocean means that temperatures in the Piedmont often fluctuate more widely than the coast.

In the winter, the Piedmont is much less mild than the coast, with daytime temperatures that are usually in the mid 50's, and temperatures often drop below freezing at night. The region averages from 3–5 inches of snowfall annually in the Charlotte area to 6–8 inches in the Raleigh–Durham area. The Piedmont is especially notorious for sleet and freezing rain. It can be heavy enough in some storms to snarl traffic and collapse trees and power lines. Annual precipitation and humidity is lower in the Piedmont than either the mountains or the coast, but even at its lowest, the precipitation is a generous 40 in (102 cm) per year.

The Appalachian Mountains are the coolest area of the state, with daytime temperatures averaging in the low 40's and upper 30's for highs in the winter and often falling into the teens (−9 °C) or lower on winter nights. Relatively cool summers have temperatures rarely rising above 80 °F (26.7 °C). Snowfall in the mountains is usually 14–20 in (36–51 cm) per year, but it is often greater in the higher elevations. For example, during the Blizzard of 1993 more than 50 inches (130 cm) of snow fell on Mount Mitchell over a period of three days.

Severe weather occurs regularly in North Carolina. On average, the state receives a direct hit from a hurricane once a decade. Tropical storms arrive every 3 or 4 years. In some years, several hurricanes or tropical storms can directly strike the state or brush across the coastal areas. Only Florida and Louisiana are hit by hurricanes more often. Although many people believe that hurricanes menace only coastal areas, the rare hurricane which moves inland quickly enough can cause severe damage. In 1989 Hurricane Hugo caused heavy damage in Charlotte and even as far inland as the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern part of the state. On average, North Carolina has 50 days of thunderstorm activity per year, with some storms becoming severe enough to produce hail, flash floods, and damaging winds.

North Carolina averages fewer than 20 tornadoes per year. Many of these are produced by hurricanes or tropical storms along the coastal plain. Tornadoes from thunderstorms are a risk, especially in the eastern part of the state. The western piedmont is often protected by the mountains breaking storms up as they try to cross over them. The storms will often reform farther east. Also a weather feature known as "cold air damming" occurs in the western part of the state. This can also weaken storms but can also lead to major ice events in winter."[8]


North Carolina was originally inhabited by many different native peoples, including those of the ancient Mississippian culture established by 1000 A.D. in the Piedmont. Historically documented tribes included Cherokee, Tuscarora, Cheraw, Pamlico, Meherrin, Coree, Machapunga, Cape Fear Indians, Waxhaw, Saponi, Tutelo, Waccamaw, Coharie, and Catawba.

Spanish explorers traveling inland encountered the last of the Mississippian culture at Joara, near present-day Morganton. Records of Hernando de Soto attested to his meeting with them in 1540. In 1567 Captain Juan Pardo led an expedition into the interior of North Carolina on a journey to claim the area for the Spanish colony, as well as establish another route to protect silver mines in Mexico (the Spanish did not realize the distances involved.) Pardo made a winter base at Joara, which he renamed Cuenca. The expedition built Fort San Juan and left 30 men, while Pardo traveled further, establishing five other forts. He returned by a different route to Santa Elena on Parris Island, South Carolina, then a center of Spanish Florida. In the spring of 1568, natives killed all the soldiers and burned the six forts in the interior, including the one at Fort San Juan. The Spanish never returned to the interior to press their colonial claim, but this marked the first European attempt at colonization of the interior of what became the United States. A journal by Pardo's scribe Bandera and archaeological findings at Joara have confirmed the settlement.[9][10]


Sir Walter Raleigh returns to find the colony abandonedIn 1584, Elizabeth I, granted a charter to Sir Walter Raleigh, for whom the state capital is named, for land in present-day North Carolina (then Virginia).[11] Raleigh established two colonies on the coast in the late 1580s, both ending in failure. It was the second American territory the British attempted to colonize. The demise of one, the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke Island, remains one of the great mysteries of American history. Virginia Dare, the first English child to be born in North America, was born on Roanoke Island on August 18, 1587. Dare County is named for her.

Main article: Province of Carolina
As early as 1650, colonists from the Virginia colony moved into the area of Albemarle Sound. By 1663, King Charles II of England granted a charter to establish a new colony on the North American continent which generally established its borders. He named it Carolina in honor of his father Charles I.[12] By 1665, a second charter was issued to attempt to resolve territorial questions. In 1710, due to disputes over governance, the Carolina colony began to split into North Carolina and South Carolina. The latter became a crown colony in 1729.


Colonial Period and Revolutionary War
Main article: American Revolutionary War

Reconstructed royal governor's mansion Tryon Palace in New BernThe first permanent European settlers of North Carolina were British colonists who migrated south from Virginia, following a rapid growth of the colony and the subsequent shortage of available farmland. Nathaniel Batts was documented as one of the first of these Virginian migrants. He settled south of the Chowan River and east of the Great Dismal Swamp in 1655.[13] By 1663, this northeastern area of the Province of Carolina, known as the Albemarle Settlements, was undergoing full-scale British settlement.[14] During the same period, the English monarch Charles II gave the province to the Lords Proprietors, a group of noblemen who had helped restore Charles to the throne in 1660. The new province of "Carolina" was named in honor and memory of King Charles I (Latin: Carolus). In 1712, North Carolina became a separate colony. With the exception of the Earl Granville holdings, it became a royal colony seventeen years later.[15]

Differences in the settlement patterns of eastern and western North Carolina, or the low country and uplands, affected the political, economic, and social life of the state from the eighteenth until the twentieth century. The Tidewater in eastern North Carolina was settled chiefly by immigrants from England and the Scottish Highlands. The upcountry of western North Carolina was settled chiefly by Scots-Irish and German Protestants, the so-called "cohee". Arriving during the mid-to-late 18th century, the Scots-Irish from Ireland were the largest immigrant group before the Revolution. During the Revolutionary War, the English and Highland Scots of eastern North Carolina tended to remain loyal to the British Crown, because of longstanding business and personal connections with Great Britain. The Scots-Irish and German settlers of western North Carolina tended to favor American independence from Britain.

Most of the English colonists arrived as indentured servants, hiring themselves out as laborers for a fixed period to pay for their passage. In the early years the line between indentured servants and African slaves or laborers was fluid. Some Africans were allowed to earn their freedom before slavery became a lifelong status. Most of the free colored families formed in North Carolina before the Revolution were descended from relationships or marriages between free white women and enslaved or free African or African-American men. Many had migrated or were descendants of migrants from colonial Virginia.[16] As the flow of indentured laborers to the colony decreased with improving economic conditions in Great Britain, more slaves were imported and the state's restrictions on slavery hardened. The economy's growth and prosperity was based on slave labor, devoted first to the production of tobacco.

On April 12, 1776, the colony became the first to instruct its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence from the British crown, through the Halifax Resolves passed by the North Carolina Provincial Congress. The dates of both of these independence-related events are memorialized on the state flag and state seal.[17] Throughout the Revolutionary War, fierce guerilla warfare erupted between bands of pro-independence and pro-British colonists. In some cases the war was also an excuse to settle private grudges and rivalries. A major American victory in the war took place at King's Mountain along the North Carolina–South Carolina border. On October 7, 1780 a force of 1000 mountain men from western North Carolina (including what is today the State of Tennessee) overwhelmed a force of some 1000 British troops led by Major Patrick Ferguson. Most of the British soldiers in this battle were Carolinians who had remained loyal to the British Crown (they were called "Tories"). The American victory at Kings Mountain gave the advantage to colonists who favored American independence, and it prevented the British Army from recruiting new soldiers from the Tories.

The road to Yorktown and America's independence from Great Britain led through North Carolina. As the British Army moved north from victories in Charleston and Camden, South Carolina, the Southern Division of the Continental Army and local militia prepared to meet them. Following General Daniel Morgan's victory over the British Cavalry Commander Banastre Tarleton at the Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781, southern commander Nathanael Greene led British Lord Charles Cornwallis across the heartland of North Carolina, and away from Cornwallis's base of supply in Charleston, South Carolina. This campaign is known as "The Race to the Dan" or "The Race for the River."[15]

Generals Greene and Cornwallis finally met at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in present-day Greensboro on March 15, 1781. Although the British troops held the field at the end of the battle, their casualties at the hands of the numerically superior American Army were crippling. Following this "Pyhrric victory", Cornwallis chose to move to the Virginia coastline to get reinforcements, and to allow the Royal Navy to protect his battered army. This decision would result in Cornwallis's eventual defeat at Yorktown, Virginia later in 1781. The Patriots' victory there guaranteed American independence.


Antebellum Period
On November 21, 1789, North Carolina became the twelfth state to ratify the Constitution. In 1840, it completed the state capitol building in Raleigh, still standing today. Most of North Carolina's slave owners and large plantations were located in the eastern portion of the state. Although North Carolina's plantation system was smaller and less cohesive than those of Virginia, Georgia or South Carolina, there were significant numbers of planters concentrated in the counties around the port cities of Wilmington and Edenton, as well as suburban planters around the cities of Raleigh, Charlotte and Durham. Planters owning large estates wielded significant political and socio-economic power in antebellum North Carolina, often to the derision of the generally non-slave holding "yeoman" farmers of Western North Carolina. In mid-century, the state's rural and commercial areas were connected by the construction of a 129–mile (208 km) wooden plank road, known as a "farmer's railroad," from Fayetteville in the east to Bethania (northwest of Winston-Salem).[15]

In addition to slaves, there were a number of free people of color in the state. Most were descended from free African Americans who had migrated along with neighbors from Virginia during the eighteenth century. After the Revolution, Quakers and Mennonites worked to persuade slaveholders to free their slaves. Enough were inspired by their efforts and the language of men's rights, and arranged for manumission of their slaves. The number of free people of color rose in the first couple of decades after the Revolution.[18]

On October 25, 1836 construction began on the Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad[19] to connect the port city of Wilmington with the state capital of Raleigh. In 1849 the North Carolina Railroad was created by act of the legislature to extend that railroad west to Greensboro, High Point, and Charlotte. During the Civil War the Wilmington-to-Raleigh stretch of the railroad would be vital to the Confederate war effort; supplies shipped into Wilmington would be moved by rail through Raleigh to the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

During the antebellum period North Carolina was an overwhelmingly rural state, even by Southern standards. In 1860 only one North Carolina town, the port city of Wilmington, had a population of more than 10,000. Raleigh, the state capital, had barely more than 5,000 residents.

While slaveholding was slightly less concentrated than in some Southern states, according to the 1860 census, more than 330,000 people, or 33% of the population of 992,622 were enslaved African-Americans. They lived and worked chiefly on plantations in the eastern Tidewater. In addition, 30,463 free people of color lived in the state. They were also concentrated in the eastern coastal plain, especially at port cities such as Wilmington and New Bern where they had access to a variety of jobs. Free African Americans were allowed to vote until 1835, when the state rescinded their suffrage.


American Civil War
Main article: American Civil War
In 1860, North Carolina was a slave state, in which about one-third of the population of 992,622 were enslaved African Americans. This was a smaller proportion than many Southern states. In addition, the state had a substantial number of Free Negroes, just over 30,000.[20] The state did not vote to join the Confederacy until President Abraham Lincoln called on it to invade its sister-state, South Carolina, becoming the second to last state to join the Confederacy. North Carolina was the site of few battles, but it provided at least 125,000 troops to the Confederacy— far more than any other state. Approximately 40,000 of those troops never returned home, dying of disease, battlefield wounds, and starvation. Elected in 1862, Governor Zebulon Baird Vance tried to maintain state autonomy against Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Richmond.

Even after secession, some North Carolinians refused to support the Confederacy. This was particularly true of non-slave-owning farmers in the state's mountains and western Piedmont region. Some of these farmers remained neutral during the war, while some covertly supported the Union cause during the conflict. Approximately 2,000 North Carolinians from western North Carolina enlisted in the Union Army and fought for the North in the war, and two additional Union Army regiments were raised in the coastal areas of the state that were occupied by Union forces in 1862 and 1863. Even so, Confederate troops from all parts of North Carolina served in virtually all the major battles of the Army of Northern Virginia, the Confederacy's most famous army. The largest battle fought in North Carolina was at Bentonville, which was a futile attempt by Confederate General Joseph Johnston to slow Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's advance through the Carolinas in the spring of 1865.[15] In April 1865 after losing the Battle of Morrisville, Johnston surrendered to Sherman at Bennett Place, in what is today Durham, North Carolina. This was the last major Confederate Army to surrender. North Carolina's port city of Wilmington was the last Confederate port to fall to the Union. It fell in the spring of 1865 after the nearby Second Battle of Fort Fisher.


Bennett Place historic site in Durham, North Carolina.The first Confederate soldier to be killed in the Civil War was Private Henry Wyatt, a North Carolinian. He was killed in the Battle of Big Bethel in June 1861. At the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, the 26th North Carolina Regiment participated in Pickett/Pettigrew's Charge and advanced the farthest into the Northern lines of any Confederate regiment. During the Battle of Chickamauga the 58th North Carolina Regiment advanced farther than any other regiment on Snodgrass Hill to push back the remaining Union forces from the battlefield. At Appomattox Court House in Virginia in April 1865, the 75th North Carolina Regiment, a cavalry unit, fired the last shots of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War. For many years, North Carolinians proudly boasted that they had been "First at Bethel, Farthest at Gettysburg and Chickamauga, and Last at Appomattox."

Film studios are located in Shelby, Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem. Some of the best-known films and television shows filmed in the state include: All the Real Girls, Being There, Blue Velvet, Bull Durham, A Walk to Remember, Glory (film), The Color Purple, Cabin Fever, Super Mario Bros. (film), Cape Fear, Children of the Corn, The Crow, Dawson's Creek, Dirty Dancing, Evil Dead 2, The Fugitive, The Green Mile, Hannibal, The Last of the Mohicans, Nell, One Tree Hill, Patch Adams (film), Shallow Hal, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Leatherheads, Nights in Rodanthe and 28 Days. Half of Steven King's movies were filmed in North Carolina. The television show most associated with North Carolina is The Andy Griffith Show, which aired on CBS-TV from 1960 to 1968. The series is set in the fictional small town of Mayberry, North Carolina, and was based on the real-life town of Mount Airy, North Carolina, although it was filmed in California. Mount Airy is the hometown of actor Andy Griffith. The show is still popular in reruns and is frequently shown in syndication around the nation. North Carolina is also home to some of the Southeast's biggest film festivals, including the National Black Theatre Festival and the RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem, and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina.

The School of Filmmaking at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem is a unique arts conservatory that combines rigorous professional training with unparalleled facilities, equipment and resources. All Second, Third and Fourth Year productions are entered into film and video festivals worldwide, and several have won major awards, including the Student Academy Award, the Angelus Award and the Cine Eagle Award. The best Fourth Year productions are also screened on film in front of large industry audiences at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles in June each year. School of the Arts alumni have performed in or behind the scenes of Broadway shows, film, television and regional theatre, and are members of the world’s finest symphony orchestras and opera and dance companies. They have won or been nominated for all of the major awards in the entertainment industry, including Tony, Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and others. Some well-known alumni of the NCSA School of Drama are Jada Pinkett Smith, Mary-Louise Parker, Catherine Dent, and Tom Hulce.

Although North Carolina did not have a major-league professional sports franchise until the 1980s, the state has long been known as a hotbed of college basketball. Since the formation of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1953, the conference's North Carolina member schools have excelled in conference play. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), Duke University, and North Carolina State University are all located within 25 miles (40 km) of one another, creating fierce rivalries. Wake Forest University, another ACC member, is located less than 100 miles (160 km) to the west of these schools in Winston-Salem. UNC has won four NCAA national championships in basketball: 1957, 1982, 1993, and 2005. The Tar Heels also won a national-level championship in 1924, before the NCAA was created. Duke has won three NCAA championships: 1991, 1992, and 2001. NC State has won two: 1974 and 1983. The Duke-UNC basketball rivalry has been called one of the best rivalries in sports and the two schools are often contenders for the national title. In addition to the ACC schools, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte went to the NCAA's Final Four in 1977, and Davidson College near Charlotte went to the NCAA's "Elite Eight" in 1968, 1969, and 2008. In 2007 Barton College in Wilson won the NCAA Division II championship in men's basketball. Although basketball remains the dominant college sport in North Carolina, several schools have also enjoyed success in football and other sports. In 2005, 2006, and 2007 Appalachian State University won the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision championship; they are the first university to win the Division I Football Championship Subdivision championship three times in a row. Wake Forest University has also enjoyed substantial success in football; in 2007 they won the ACC football championship and participated in the 2007 Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. This was the first major bowl berth for a North Carolina-based team since Duke defeated Arkansas in the 1961 Cotton Bowl (game).


Recreation

The Blue Ridge Mountains of the Shining Rock Wilderness AreaDue to geography, rich history, and growing industry, North Carolina provides a large range of recreational activities from swimming at the beach[53] to skiing in the mountains. North Carolina offers fall colors, freshwater and saltwater fishing, hunting, birdwatching, agritourism, ATV trails, ballooning, rock climbing, biking, hiking, skiing, boating and sailing, camping, canoeing, caving (spelunking), gardens, and arboretums. North Carolina has theme parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, historic sites, lighthouses, elegant theaters, concert halls, and fine dining.[54]

North Carolinians enjoy outdoor recreation utilizing numerous local bike paths, 34 state parks, and 14 national parks which are the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site at Flat Rock, Croatan National Forest in Eastern North Carolina, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site at Manteo, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in Greensboro, Moores Creek National Battlefield near Currie, the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Old Salem National Historic Site in Winston-Salem, the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail, Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, Uwharrie National Forest.


Other information

Famous food and drinks from North Carolina

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)

2008 Lexington Barbecue FestivalA nationally-famous cuisine from North Carolina is pork barbecue. However, there are strong regional differences and rivalries over the sauces and method of preparation used in making the barbecue. Eastern North Carolina pork barbecue uses a vinegar-based sauce and the "whole hog" is cooked, thus using both white and dark meat. The "capital" of eastern Carolina barbecue is usually considered to be the town of Wilson, near Raleigh. Western North Carolina pork barbecue uses a ketchup and vinegar based sauce and only the pork shoulder (dark meat) is used. The "capital" of western Carolina barbecue is usually considered to be the Piedmont Triad town of Lexington, home of the Lexington Barbecue Festival which brings in over 100,000 visitors each October.

North Carolina is the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, first produced in 1890 in New Bern. Regional soft drinks created and still based in the state are Sun Drop and Cheerwine. Krispy Kreme, a popular chain of doughnut stores, was started in North Carolina; the company's headquarters are in Winston-Salem. Despite its name, the hot sauce Texas Pete was created in North Carolina; its headquarters are also in Winston-Salem. The Hardees fast-food chain was started in Rocky Mount. Another fast-food chain, Bojangles', was started in Charlotte, and has its corporate headquarters there. A popular North Carolina restaurant chain is Golden Corral. Started in 1973, the chain was founded in Fayetteville. Popular pickle brand Mount Olive Pickle Company was founded in Mount Olive in 1926. Cook Out, a popular fast food chain featuring burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes in a wide variety of flavors, was founded in Greensboro in 1989 and operates exclusively in North Carolina.


[edit] Ships named for the state
Several ships have been named for the state. Most famous is the USS North Carolina, a World War II battleship. The ship served in several battles against the forces of Imperial Japan in the Pacific theater during the war. Now decommissioned, it is part of the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in Wilmington. Another USS North Carolina, a nuclear attack submarine, was commissioned on May 3, 2008.[55]


Cardinal, North Carolina state bird
Strawberry, North Carolina state red berry
[edit] State symbols
Main article: North Carolina state symbols
State motto: Esse quam videri ("To be, rather than to seem") (1893)
State song: "The Old North State" (1927)
State flower: Dogwood (1941)
State bird: Cardinal (1943)
State colors: the red and blue of the N.C. and U.S. flags (1945)
State toast: The Tar Heel Toast (1957)
State tree: Pine (1963)
State shell: Scotch bonnet (1965)
State mammal: Eastern Gray Squirrel (1969)
State salt water fish: Red Drum (also known as the Channel bass) (1971)
State insect: European honey bee (1973)
State gemstone: Emerald (1973)
State reptile: Eastern Box Turtle (1979)
State rock: Granite (1979)
State beverage: Milk (1987)
State historical boat: Shad boat (1987)
State language: English (1987)
State dog: Plott Hound (1989)
State military academy: Oak Ridge Military Academy (1991)
State tartan: Carolina tartan (1991)[56]
State vegetable: Sweet potato (1995)
State red berry: Strawberry (2001)
State blue berry: Blueberry (2001)
State fruit: Scuppernong grape (2001)
State wildflower: Carolina Lily (2003)
State Christmas tree: Fraser Fir (2005)
State carnivorous plant: Venus Flytrap (2005)
State folk dance: Clogging (2005)
State popular dance: Shag (2005)
State freshwater trout: Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (2005)
State birthplace of traditional pottery: the Seagrove area (2005)

Hope you enjoyed your history lesson Mom!!

Love
Chance




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* Posted Mar 22, 2009, 2:57 pm Last edited Mar 22, 2009, 3:05 pm by Pixiedustlady [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Richlands, North Carolina, USA - 25th March 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

Hi Mom!!!

Last night me and another TV named Casanova hung out in the garage with Darcie's husband.  We worked hard on his race bike.  After we worked on the bike we started getting Darcie's Porsche Spyder ready for the big car show this weekend.  We wanted to make sure it was shiny and all ready to go on the trailer before we head off to Wilmington.  I am going on a *cruise* Friday night with all the old retro cars.  I will be cruising with Darcie and Casanova like they did back in the 1950's.  Here are some photos from last night.

Here I am with a *T* wrench getting to ready to change out a new set of racing forks and check the rebound on the suspension  ;) I have been learning a LOT about racebikes!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/P1010064.jpg


Here I am with Cassanova getting ready to do a once over on the Spyder.  I sure do like the car!!
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/P10100672.jpg


I told Casanova to put his seat belt on, and then I put mine on because I took the Spyder for a spin around the block! Darcie does not let ANYONE (and I do mean anyone lol) drive or touch the car!! I went really super fast!!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/P10100692.jpg

Here I am checking out the cool Banjo steering wheel.  Isnt it cool?

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Here we are with the Spyder's license plate, hey mom when I get a car I want my name on it too!!

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Well Mom I hope you liked my little update! The next time you hear from me will probably be on Monday.  We have the Cruise Friday night and then we are working at a Car show on Saturday and then we are taking the Spyder to a show on Sunday.  I will take LOTS of photos with the cool old cars!!

Monkey kisses,
Chance





* Posted Mar 25, 2009, 7:08 pm Last edited Mar 25, 2009, 7:19 pm by Pixiedustlady [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Kure Beach, North Carolina, USA - 28th March 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

hi Mom!!!!

Boy oh boy did I have fun this past weekend! I went down to Kure Beach for a big car show.  Me and Casanova  helped Darcie and Steve work all day long at the show.  Friday night we went on a cruise but it rained so I only have one photo from that.  I got a LOT of photos of us at the show!!!  After the show at Kure Beach we went to a show on Sunday in Wilmington.  Darcie entered the Spyder and it got first place in the class she was in!! The trophy is very nice and she also won $100.00!! anyways here are the events as they happened.  I think I need a fancy hot rod now!!


Here we are on the cruise inside Darcie's Spyder.  You can see a old yellow car in front of us.  We had fun cruisin' to the beach!

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After the cruise we had a party at the beach in a community building.  Here we are sitting at the table waiting for cake and ice cream!

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The next morning we got up at 6 am and went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then down to the show to start working.  Here we are with Darcie's car club's sign The Sun Coast Cruisers!!

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We got a little hungry so we wandered over to the Club's snack area..yum yum look at all the cake and cookies!!

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Darcie's husband was in charge of running the shuttle.  Here we are in the *Limo* Golf cart!!

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We went out with the judges and helped judge and got a closer look at the cars.  They had 150 cars show up for the show!! This is one of Darcie's favorites!! a 1967 Corvette!!!
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One good thing about helping out at the show, you get to do special stuff... like SIT in the Corvette!! here we are inside of it!

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Here we are on the grill of a 1957 Ford Fairlane!!
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Here we are with a 1947 Ford Tudor.  This car also won *Ladies Choice* and Best Ford.  The car was absolutley stunning!!

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Here we are inside the engine bay of a Muscle Car... a 1966 Chevy Camaro!!

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Here we are with a rare beach car.. the 1948 *Woody* the car has real wood on it!!

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The owner of the Woody let us get inside!!

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Here we are up on the roof of the Woody sitting on the Surf Board!! we are all ready for some Surfing time!!
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Here we are with a 1964 Galaxy!!! The owner let us sit on the car for the picture :)

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Next we posed with a 1940 General Motors Truck.  Isnt it cool!!!

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Here we are with a beautiful 1967 Mustang.

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Darcie says if you have a husband or boyfriend around to go get him to show him this next car... the very very very rare 1970 Shelby Cobra.  Darcie's husband (and the entire crowd) was very excited to see this super rare car!! They only made 104 of these!! Here we are up in the window with the sign.

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Here we are in front of the Shelby Mustang!
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Here we are in front of the license plate... as you can see on the front license plate,  the car came from the very famous Barrett/Jackson auction and the car was sold to this owner for $450,000!!!  The Barrett/Jackson auction is very hard to get on the sales floor and requires a letter of credit from your bank of $100,000 just to get in the door.  Darcie's dad went last year and loved it!! The next one is in Palm Beach, Florida and starts in a few days!!
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We had a long day but it was a lot of fun!! I hope you enjoyed the photos!!












* Posted Apr 1, 2009, 12:24 am [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Wilmington, NC, USA - 4th April 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

Hi Mom!
I just did a huge update and lost all the info :(  I will try to remember my post! Yesterday we went down to Wimington and rode in The Azalea festival! They had over 300 entries and had cars, clowns, floats, military marching bands, dancers, elephants, horses, Queens and Princesses.  We had to leave the house at 4:30 am to meet up with the other cars at 6:00 am.  Then we were in the holding area till it was our time to drive in the parade.  I had sooo much fun! Darcie took her Spyder down and was part of the Porsche club of America entry. We were with 13 Porsches and got to drive in front! The television station for the news was on hand and we got to be on TV!!!  We also got to take some photos with one of Darcies good friends who has a 1966 Camaro.  After the parade all the Porsches took off to a back country road and we went up to speeds of 100 miles an hour!! woohooo we were really flying! Then we went to lunch at one of the owners home and then we came home and took a nap.  Here is a little write up about the festival.  We sure did have a good time!!


The 62nd Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival will be held April 1-5, 2009 in the greater Wilmington area. The Festival is a celebration of Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes: a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern.

Since its inception in 1948, the Festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people. The Festival is a non-profit civic organization and this year is sponsored in substantial part by its four (4) major sponsors: Progress Energy, My Rewards, Wachovia Bank, and the Hilton Wilmington Riverside.

For more than 50 years, the folks of Southeastern North Carolina have been throwing the best party in the South and you're invited! There's something for everyone among our community's rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture.

Here is a photo of the pretty Southern Belles during the crowing of the Azelea Queen


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Here we are in Darcie's Spyder.  You can see all the other Porsches around the car. 

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0082.jpg<br>

Here we are lined up in front ready to drive out.  You can see all the Porsches behind us.
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Here we are sitting inside the Camaro

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Here we are sitting on top of the Camaro with a Toy Voyager sized model of the car!!

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Here we are on the hood.  We had fun watching the hood because the owner put hydrolics on it so it opens and closes by remote control!! hahaha<br>
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Darcie says sorry there is not a lot of photos of the other parade entries.  It was a bit hard to take photos with us because everything was constantely moving!! hope you enjoyed my trip mom!!

Love
Chance

* Posted Apr 5, 2009, 3:14 pm [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Richlands, North Carolina, USA - 12th April 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

Hi Mom!!!

Happy Easter!! I have had a super fun week! First of all I got to go to Marine Corps Air Station, New River where Darcie's husband works.  For security reasons I was not allowed to take very many photographs but I did sneak in a few :)  We were at MALS 29 which means Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron :) They fly the CH53 helicopter which is HUGE!! 

Here we are inside the office sitting on the safety helmets.  The Marines wear these when they are inspecting the helicopters.

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Here we are reading a Marine magazine.

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We snuck out on to the flight line to take some photos of the helicopters.  We want to go for a ride next time!!!

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The next day Darcie's husband took us to Britt Motorsports to shop for a new race bike for the upcoming racing season.  Me and Casanova went to the Motorcycle shop with them and then we went out to lunch at Red Robin.  Here we are with some of the bikes.  I think I want a bike now!!

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Here are the kind of bikes Darcie's husband rides.  These are the new 2009 Yamaha R1s.

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After the motorycle shop we went to Red Robin for lunch.  This is one of Darcie's favorite places to eat.  They have great hamburgers!

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Today we woke up and the Easter Bunny had come to the house! First we went on a egg hunt...we were hunting for Cadbury chocolate eggs that Darcie just LOVES!!  I had a few of them myself and I really liked them!

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Look we found two more!!
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Then around the corner hiding behind the table was our Easter Baskets!!

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We relaxed all day and then it was time to start cooking Easter Dinner.  Here we are with the fresh Honey Cornbread.

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Here we are making Darcie's famous Green Bean Casserole.

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Smashing up the cheese crackers for the Casserole.

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Then we made some Deviled eggs and put the Ham in the oven.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0120.jpg


Yum Dinner time!!

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After dinner we went over to the huge wall of DVDs to pick out a movie.

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We decided to watch Twilight (Again!)  ;) hahahaha it is  sooo good!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0122.jpg

Well mom I have been eating Easter Candy all day and I am full from my dinner and I just finished Twilight.  I am off to bed and hope you had a nice Easter!!

Monkey kisses,
Chance

* Posted Apr 13, 2009, 2:13 am Last edited Apr 15, 2009, 2:14 am by Pixiedustlady [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Kenansville, North Carolina, USA - 19th April 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

Hi Mom!!!

This weekend Darcie took us to the Eastern Carolina Auto Festival in Kenansville.  We got up early yesterday morning and drove the Spyder about 30 miles to the Duplin County Event Center.  We got to see lots of really cool cars and got to meet Stacey David who does a TV show on the Speed Channel.  The weather was hot and sunny and we had a really nice day!!

Here we are in the morning with our Program for the event.

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The car parked next to us was a 1957 Bel Air.  We loved the inside of the trunk so we hopped in to get out of the hot sun for a bit!!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0169.jpg


On the other side of us was a 1932 Buick.  We peaked inside only to see some BIG traveling toys!! We met the Teddy Bear and the Police Officer doll. I found out that these toys never leave the car and people had fun seeing them in the back seat.  We had fun listening to all their stories and where they have been in the car.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0170.jpg

Later that day we heard that Speed Racer was inside the event center.  Speed racer was a movie that came out awhile back and we had fun looking at the really cool stuff on the car.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0171.jpg

Here we are by the Speed Racer sign.
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0173.jpg

One thing you usually do not see at a car show is a Show Tractor hahaha! One man brought two of them for display.  This is a John Deere tractor and we are down by the front tire.
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0174.jpg

This coming up weekend we are going to the Mount Olive Pickle Festival.  Mount Olive is a famous pickle producer in North Carolina and they sell their famous pickles in all the grocery stores.  I will be sure to take photos of all the action! the biggest news is the weekend after that guess where I am going?  I am going to Atlanta, Georgia to see Darcie's favorite baseball team The Atlanta Braves!!!  We have tickets for Friday and Saturday and guess where we are sitting?  Friday night we have the seats right over the Braves Dugout (hard to get) so I will get to see the players really close!! Saturday we have even better tickets!! Darcie's husband found a way to get us tickets to the Suntrust club (this will NEVER happen again! haha)  This is a exclusive Suite that has a private entrance to Turner field, first class dining and big leather seats right behind home plate with flatscreen monitors for each seat! We will be 40 feet from homeplate  so we will be on TV all night.  I am really excited about the two games!!! GO BRAVES!!!

Monkey Kisses,
Chance

* Posted Apr 20, 2009, 2:41 pm Last edited Apr 20, 2009, 2:54 pm by Pixiedustlady [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Mt. Olive, North Carolina, USA - 25th April 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

Hi Mom!!!

Yesterday Darcie took me and Casanova to the North Carolina Pickle Festival!! The festival is held every year in Mount Olive.  Mount Olive is famous for their pickles.  Anyways we took Darcie's show car and entered the car show.  The weather was 89 degrees so I stayed under the umbrella most of the day to stay nice and cool.  Darcies's husband Steve took us out to go look at some of the cars.  We also met a giant Mt. Olive Pickle who just loved holding us for a photo.  Anyways here are the pictures!!

Here is me and Casanova with the Giant Pickle Man

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Here we are with Darcie's Dash Plaque.  These are given to everyone when you enter the show.  Darcie has a great collection of different ones from all the places she has taken her car.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0181.jpg


Here we are with a 1937 Phantom street rod.  Look at the pretty paint job!!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0192.jpg


We walked up to a crowd and look who was at the show!! Ronald McDonald from McDonalds restaurant!

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Here we are with a 1940s Oldsmobile Coupe.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0189.jpg

Here we are with Top Fuel racing dragster.  The owner has taken lots of photos with people but he told us this was his first time with a Bear and a Monkey!!  The sun was hitting us so we are a bit hard to see, but we are in the car in the owners  hand!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0188.jpg


Here we are looking at a Pro Stock modified Drag Car.  We think it would be fun to go race it down the road!!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0186.jpg

Here we are with a 1940 Chevy Truck.  We loved all the chrome!!

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Here we are with a 1940s Buick.  The day would of been perfect to go for a cruise with the top down.

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Well Mom hope you enjoyed all the photos.  We are packing up our bags to leave for Atlanta, Georgia which is about a 6 hour drive, to go watch the Atlanta Braves!!! I will take lots of pictures!!

Monkey hugs,
Chance







* Posted Apr 26, 2009, 3:12 pm Last edited Apr 26, 2009, 3:39 pm by Pixiedustlady [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Atlanta, Georgia , USA - 1st May 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

Hi Mom!!!!

I just got back from Atlanta, Georgia!! Boy oh Boy did I have the BEST time!! my buddy Casanova went along and now I see that I have to pack my bags again and leave for Germany! Well before I do that I want to show you what I did all weekend!!

Here we are all packed and ready to go!!

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After I loaded my suitcase we drove the truck for awhile on the back roads till we got to the freeway.

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Then we get comfy on Darcie's Braves sweatshirt and watch out the windows till we get to Georgia.

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We arrive at our hotel at night and we are hungry so we order some Chinese Food.

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After that we watch some Television then we go to bed.

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When I get up in the morning, Darcie pulls back our curtains on our room window and we cannot believe our eyes!! We are directly across the street from Turner Field!!

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We go next door to a fun baseball themed restaurant called The Bullpen.  But we are too early for food so we go on our adventure downtown!!

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We are going to go to the CNN Turner Broadcasting Company tour today!!! we are sooo excited!! This building is like a city inside of a City.  On the tour we go up the worlds longest escalator to the top of the building.  We get to see the Newsroom in action and watch them do live Newscasting.  Due to copyright laws I had to put my camara away during the tour, but we had sooo much fun!!

Here we are with our CNN tickets
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After the tour we went shopping for some Braves gear.....they had a Braves store right inside of the CNN building.

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Inside the store we meet a Braves Monkey and a Braves Bear! we take a photo with them and exchange stories about our travels.

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Here we are inside the CNN building.  Look how tall it is!!!!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0220.jpg


We take a break and get some lunch.  They had 15 different restaurants in the building but we went to our old favorite Taco Bell :)

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0221.jpg

We go to leave and take a neat photo of the college that is on the wall.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0222.jpg

Then we go outside to the BIG letters!!!

Can you guess what letter we are in??

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0224.jpg

Here is the entire view... can you see us down at the bottom?

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0223.jpg

We then start walking down to the World Of Coca Cola museum.  We see the long lines and about 4000000000000000000 people so we decide to go to the Georgia Aquarium (which is the largest in the world) and go see the fish.  Here we are though outside with Dr. Pemberton, the inventor of Coca Cola.\

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0227.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0228.jpg

We go in the aquarium and meet Nemo!!! He was sooo happy to hold us and get away from all the screaming kids who try to push him over and jump on him LOL

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0229.jpg

We walk around and visit all the fish and get to see the Baluga whales!!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0230.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0231.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0233-1.jpg

After the Aquarium we decide to go visit the Olympic Park.  Atlanta was host to the Olympics back in 1996.  The park was BEAUTIFUL!! They had a really neat fountain that was in shape of the Olympic rings and the water would *dance* to music.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0225.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0234.jpg

After the park we go back to the hotel for a quick nap.  It is ALMOST game time!!! We leave for Turner field and all we have to do is cross the street.  We stop at a barricade, if you look hard you can see the visiting teams bus parked in the back.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0235.jpg

Here we are finally!!!!!
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0236.jpg

We all go to the Chop House which is a really neat restaurant inside the park.  You can eat outside on a perfect day like today and watch batting practice.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0244.jpg

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After we eat we go take a nice photo of the field from the restaurant.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0242-1.jpg

Now it is time for us to go to our Dugout Seats!! Yep we are RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BRAVES DUGOUT!! we watch all the players get ready for the game.  People are very envious that a Monkey and Bear get to sit on the Dugout!!


http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0249.jpg

We cheer on the Braves all night and they beat the Houston Astros.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0250.jpg

Towards the end of the game it starts raining!!  The ground crew has to cover the field..look how fast they get it done!! we wait out the rain and then they finish playing and we jump up and down that they won!!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0264.jpg

The next day Darcie tells us we need to be on our best behavior.  We are going to a very exclusive once in a lifetime trip to The Sun Trust Club.  One season ticket for the entire year cost $48,000!!!  Darcie says now that she has been to the Club she will never be able to sit anyplace else!! HAHAHA we agree that we got super spoiled!!

We arrive at a private entrance to the ball park.  We are greeted and told to have a seat in the reception area while they check us in.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0278.jpg

We check in and go down to the fanciest club/five star restaurant/bar I have ever seen!! Here we are with top shelf Margaritas and gourmet food. It was soooo good! I made sure to put the menu in the photo as proof I was really there Mom!!  ;)


http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0279.jpg

We go outside and cannot believe our eyes.  We are seated in oversized leather seats and we are 40 feet from homeplate and right in front of the Braves on deck circle.  Here we are sitting on the wall in front of our seats.  Darcie's favorite Brave  is Yunel Escobar who plays short stop.  He looked at us when he was warming up to bat and gave a tiny smile to us :)


http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0282.jpg

Look it is the Braves third baseman Chipper Jones warming up to bat!!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0288.jpg

Here we are watching Dave Ross the catcher warm up to bat.  We have our own personal waiter that takes our order and gets us WHATEVER we want!!  We already ate inside but we are hungry again.  We order a pizza, hot wings, cracker jacks, popcorn, Hagen Daz ice cream and a few beers and keep watching the game. 

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0307.jpg


We watch as the pitcher strikes out another batter.  We yell things at the batter and try to distact him  :p

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0300.jpg

We go take a peak at the Braves dugout.  We have perfect view from our seats!

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0305.jpg

Because we were looking at the Dugout we miss a play..but guess what??? we have our OWN flat screen TV right in front of our seat with a 15 second delay so we never miss anything!!!
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww183/DarciesTVs/DSCN0299.jpg

We sit and watch the game and cheer on the Braves but they end up losing.  We go back to the hotel and go to bed and get up and leave the next morning for North Carolina.  I had the best time ever and I will never forget my trip and everything Darcie taught me about the Braves :)  wel mom I hope you like my last update.  I am going to go get my bags packed and I heard I am going to Germany now.  Talk to you soon Mom!!

Love Chance









* Posted May 4, 2009, 2:27 am Last edited May 4, 2009, 3:18 am by Pixiedustlady [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Richlands, North Carolina, USA - 4th May 2009

By: Pixiedustlady

Hi Mom!!

Darcie just took me to the airport.  I said my goodbyes and thanked her for such a fun time! I am now headed to visit Katja in Germany!!!  I will update when I arrive.

Love Chance

* Posted May 4, 2009, 2:30 pm [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Remscheid, Germany - 14th May 2009

By: olgamaus

Hi Mom,
I arrived in Germany yesterday. My envelope did not fit into my new host's mail slot, so the postman took me back to the post office. Katja had to pick me up there today.

Here I am! After work I had  a look out of Katja's bag. This is the city hall.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2121/3530294787_ca3e1850e2.jpg?v=0

We walked home than. It took us less than 10 minutes. The following photos were taken while we walked home. It's looking pretty here, lots of old houses.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/3530294861_e8bcf0f9c3.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3531110732_157d58ca14.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3406/3531110776_980ac6db8e.jpg?v=0

I am living in this street now.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3531110848_ff3aca39cc.jpg?v=0

We'll take a walk in the afternoon, Katja promised to me.

Bye
Chance

* Posted May 14, 2009, 3:27 pm [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


Remscheid, Germany - 14th May 2009

By: olgamaus

Hi Mom,

I am not the only ToyVoyager here. I already met Roo, the kangaroo, a witch named Gui with her cat Migui, Ewan E. Ewok and karlheinz, a cute teddy bear.

We took a first walk in the afternoon. Katja wanted to show us a bit of the vicinity of our current home. Katja told us that this part of the city was not destroyed in World War II, so you can find many pretty old houses here.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/3530842569_4632479dc0.jpg?v=0

We went to the Trasse des Werkzeugs  (Route of Tools) than. The Trasse des Werkzeugs is a lane for pedestrians and cyclists which was built on a closed railway track. It was sponsored by local tool producing companies. This lane is about 5 km long and is leading from the central station to the district Hasten. Along the route you can find signs which are showing the logos of the sponsors, also artwork.

The first one of those signs is showing the city arms of Remscheid.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3530843191_6c1d8395d2.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/3530843731_bac0ae08b9.jpg?v=0

Here you can see that this lane really was a railway track once.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2343/3530844323_3bb4f54fa1.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/3530850143_612326a05d.jpg?v=0

This is a bench made of a gigantic screw clamp.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3530869849_5cc3da554d.jpg?v=0

Here are the tracks still visible.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3530850225_d60cfe708a.jpg?v=0

We reached Hasten than.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2078/3530850315_ed8cce6704.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3530850367_8be466a234.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2394/3531664378_588c22d414.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/3530850447_0c9177c138.jpg?v=0

This beautiful Patrician villa contains a museum.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/3531664466_83805cc7ac.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2044/3531664534_9b2bcef5b0.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2422/3531664634_219fba1d11.jpg?v=0

On our way back home we walked through the municipal garden. They have a rose garden here. The roses are not blooming yet, In the background you can see a momorial, dedicated to the deads of several wars before World War I.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3578/3530862845_5daae48f42.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/3531676616_a105e38f41.jpg?v=0

The observatory is situated in the municipal park.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/3531664866_b9d5214fcd.jpg?v=0

That's all for today. I'm really tired now.

Bye
Chance

* Posted May 14, 2009, 8:16 pm [Quote] [View just this post] Go to the top of the page


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