Blogs from Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, North America

Hello all, It has been over two months since my last blog. Sorry if I've kept any of you waiting (or, I suppose, sorry to all of you who were like "Oh thank God he stopped bugging me with all those emails"). Hopefully there are very few of your in the latter camp. And also I apologize but I do not have any pictures really worth posting in this blog, but I promise I will have a couple for the next one. Side note: my coworkers, watching me write this blog, are jealous that I haven't ever given them a shout out in my blog...so this one is for you, Jeff Melando (even though I gave you a shout out months ago) and this one is for you Dan Thompson, AKA my second boss...happy now? :) ... read more

I'm sitting on my bedroom floor next to my bed because the bed is now covered with stacks of possible clothing items to pack. I have the last wash going in the laundry room. So, I'm starting this blog to try and keep track of what really goes through my mind as I take a trip for fun. This is the first trip I am taking with my best friend and roommate, Hayley. That's a good thing because it means that Hayley is excited. When Hayley is excited, I'm excited. It also means that despite the rainy weather waiting for us in Amsterdam, we will still have a wonderful time because we are taken out of our normal lives to a place where we can't touch them. At least, I have great hopes that we will ... read more

Sooooo Excited!! June 23rd is fast approaching. Mom's packing for China, so I have to do the same too. I really wish Facebook wasn't blocked in China. *sigh* Oh well, gotta try something new out. ... read more

JUNE 2, 2011 City official name :Charlotte Founded date : Location :North Carolina State Elavation :? ft (? m) Area :Approximately ? square miles (? km²). Facts :Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424 , making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009 population of 1,745,524. The Charlotte metropolitan area is part of a wider thirteen-county labor market region or combined statistical area with a 2009 estimated population of 2,389,763. Residents of Charlotte are referred to as "Charlotteans". Charlotte has b... read more

Monday May 30 - Charlotte Morning entry: Happy Memorial Day to all. I've been up since about 8 Eastern Time repacking and putting stuff in my truck. I'll try and have only my suitcase and ice chest to load up tomorrow. I'm planning on heading North to Danville, Virginia tomorrow. It is about 150 miles from Charlotte. Danville was where the Confederacy set up a temporary capital after abandoning Richmond. I'll probably get there tomorrow and check it out and the next day go to Appomattox Court House and then to Richmond where hopefully there is room at the Intown Suites. If I can get a room at Intown Suites I will rent it for the week. If not then I'll have to adjust to the greater expense of staying elsewhere, or maybe camp some to ... read more

Charlotte May 24 - May 29 Friday May 27 Charlotte I arrived here on Tuesday and here it is Friday!!? How did that happen. I feel like I just got here last night. It has been a busy week. Tuesday I visited with my relatives and just settled in. I was pretty tired from a very full day. I hadn't realized it but I had driven 236 miles from Smokey Mountains National Park to Charlotte. And a good portion of that was on some of the most wearing on man and machine kind of road I have ever driven on. Heaven to bikers and sports car drivers but hard on 3/4 ton trucks. Wednesday was wash day.....nuff said. On Thursday I took a stab at exploring downtown Charlotte. It was interesting but there was some kind ... read more

The South, as a whole, worships the past. Historic sites, historic houses, and historic reenactments are everywhere. Most of these have a curious feature: They remember events either before 1865 or after 1940. There is a reason for this. The years in between were very painful; a seemingly unending stream of economic misery, political corruption, and social repression. The region was first run as a virtual colony of the northern states, and then as the fiefdom of a conservative elite (many former Confederate officials). This willing blindness is very unfortunate, because the events of those days have had long after effects, many of which are still felt. The Museum of t... read more

Last week I was able to go for a short visit to North Carolina. What fun!! Maggie is growing up so much and it was fun to interact with her. One morning she got up and looked out the window and said "Mr. Sun! It's your turn." She's so grown up and as Jason left for work one day she yelled "Make sure you have a healthy breakfast." Here are a few pictures and videos to share. Sara and I were also able to do some furniture shopping as I need some new things to fill empty spaces in the new house. It's an overwhelming task and it will probably surprise us all what we end up with. Here are some of the things I liked.... read more