Welcome, ladies and gents! Recently, Hershey has discovered a more efficient way to communicate to his followers--Facebook!
The massive social media site first captured Hershey's attention when I, his most trusted companion, was caught creating a page for the little guy. After a minor temper tantrum (Hershey's a bit of an old soul, and a little behind when it comes to technology), I persuaded Hershey to give Facebook a chance. After grumbling about its many not-awesome features ("many" being the key word), Hershey begrudgingly admitted that it would be much easier not to have to write extended posts on a website that nearly no one has seen. Nearly.
Turns out that despite his old-soul ignorance when it comes to technology's advances, Hershey's no old dog--he learned Facebook faster than the time it takes to Google search "adorable kittens" (which is approximately 0.24 seconds).
So, now that Hershey is a newly converted Facebook aficionado, he'd like you to like his page! It's easy enough to remember, as long as you remember Hershey's name:
Among other things, I have decided that if I ever received a small stuffed giraffe, I would name him Ghirardelli, and he and Hershey would either be rivals or best friends. Or siblings. I haven't decided.
Plans for Hershey the Hedgehog are as follows:
1. Staying, sadly, where we are for the time being. Hersey's toes are itching to scurry somewhere else, but unfortunately, scurrying for his human companion requires a little more planning than that. And part of that planning is having the funds for it. If you feel like making donations, please email me at charisirene@gmail.com to let me know, and I shall give you some information regarding the matter. Since it's highly unlikely that a little girl and hedgehog's dream to travel the world before the age of 30 will be supported by complete strangers who may or may not read my blog, I am not expecting actual emails.
2. The Plans (which, currently, are going to cost me the little that I have saved up and more): Next January, Hersh
ey and I are headed to Asia.
Yeah, you heard me. And not just the very outreaches of the place--we're going to China, home of that delicious food we all crave on Friday nights, people who are all at least a foot or two shorter than me, and the possibility of eating dogs--or worse. Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. Yes, I am aware that not all of these are in China. I did learn some geography in class.
3. England: Please don't think I'm kidding. Immediately after my 3-week trip to the hugely populated area of Asia (yeah, I know that doesn't really cover it--I'm running out of descriptives for China and surrounding areas), I will be heading to England for a semester.
An. Entire. Semester.
Hershey is crying of excitement. This is a dream come true for us.
I have been dreaming of going to England since I was 5 or younger-- Hershey has been dreaming of it since we met. There is an unfortunate amount hanging in the balance, but I have high hopes. During the 3-week Spring Break I receive, Hershey and I will see if we can manage a trip to Ireland, Italy, France, and Greece. I'm not sure where we'll be on the way, but I can guarantee there will be traveling and writing.
Of course, it's difficult to say if it's working on such a small chap, but he is! Sorry it's been so long--I owe you three whole posts! Hershey hasn't been on the move all that much lately. This hedgehog has been getting his kicks on at home instead!
That's right, Kenpo's the word, and pain is the result. No, really, it gets you really sore, really fast.
As is told in this lovely P90X introduction video, Kenpo's the way to go if you want to get your heart rate up and improve your kicking and punching. Hershey and I enjoy a full hour of stretching, jabbing, crossing, and clawing, all while improving our own self-defense skills. Not to say that I wouldn't feel safe with Hershey as my companion, but you know, since Hershey and I are a team, it's only fair that we both do some of the fighting.
But P90X isn't just Kenpo, of course. Kenpo's just what we've been doing recently. P90X is a full workout program designed with YOU in mind. Yeah, you. As in the one who has been sitting at a computer blogging all day.
Aw, man, that's me, isn't it?
Anyway, while Hershey and I get our kicks on, go ahead and ask someone about P90X. There are dozens of websites available for you to find workout programs to do once you've bought the program, and if you're really looking for hard-core results, there's a diet available as well! If you stick with the whole program, results are guaranteed! I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me.
Well, back to massaging sore muscles...until Thursday!
So it's been about a week and a half since our return from the USA's good ol' neighbor. Hershey was excited to have been able to watch the World Cup in a quaint little pub during the break between the wedding and the reception, and his traveling companion was excited to excited to see lots and lots of family.
It's an unusual thing to drive into another country; Hershey and and his companion got into a spot of trouble for having their camera out at the border, but after deleting the only picture of the word "Canada," the security guard let us be. Our passports were out, and in a few minutes, we were in. There wasn't a lot of time to see things in good old Canada. At most, I got a couple of pictures of French words at McDonald's, and the rest were at the bar. This was only the first trip to Canada, though, and soon, we will have bundles of touristy photos in Canada! That won't be for a while though. In the meantime, we'd like to thank John for starring in our photos.
We'll see you Thursday with a few more adventures tucked up our sleeves.
That’s right. This weekend, Hershey and I are on our way to grand old Canada. Yes, I still have to resist the urge to say “eh” at the end of every sentence, complete with a question mark.
So here are a few fun facts about Canada to entertain you while we get some great touristy pictures where we’ll be in good old Canadia. Hershey wants to include thirteen, which reflects how many provinces and territories there are in Canada.
1. Canada is the largest producer of natural uranium in the world. So if you’re putting together some serious science projects, don’t insult the Canadians...eh?
2. Canada also contains what might be, in regards to footprint, the largest mountain in the world. Located a mere few miles outside of Alaska in the Yukon Territory, Mt. Logan is 19,551 ft high and still growing! It’s the largest non-volcanic mountain in the world—it’s height is due to tectonics.
3. Canada boasts seventeen Nobel Prize winners. The US has three hundred and twelve.
4. The name Canada came from “Kanata,” which is Iroquois and Huron for “village.” Well, that’s original.
5. Alberta, Canada, is probably one of the only places in the world that is completely rat-free.
6. Canada’s national animal is the beaver (TREES! *nom nom nom*).
7. Canadians eat more macaroni and cheese than anyone else on earth. So if all my college friends decide to get healthy, Kraft will still be in business.
8. Canada’s education was heavily influenced by (guess who? No, not the French, silly) Great Britain. Hence, it’s “z” is pronounced “zed,” and they maintain their honour and colours by throwing a “u” in.
9. Canada claims a lot of our Hollywood actors, directors, and musicians. To name a few? Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, who starred in the Notebook. Jim Carrey, known for his comedic expressions. Celine Dion? Yup. Canadian. Not to mention Michael Buble and Justin Bieber. I still chuckle over his “German? We don’t say that here,” comment.
10. Want some space? Canada’s population density is 3 people per square kilometer. Not only that, but according to the United Nations Human Development Index, Canadians have the highest quality of life.
11. Ontario, which is where Hershey and I are headed, hosts the Niagara Falls, the largest city (Toronto), and the nation’s capital (Ottawa).
12. Every winter, Quebec builds their Ice Hotel (Hotel de Glace) out of 400 tons of ice and 12,000 tons of snow. Every summer, they let it melt, then rebuild it. Personally, I feel like someone ought to mention how inefficient that is.
13. Maybe Bieber isn't the best example, but Canadians are smart! They invented the baseball glove, basketball, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, the telephone, cable TV, CPR dummies, and the electron microscope.
And in case those thirteen facts aren’t enough, I’m providing two lovely renditions of O Canada, Canada’s national anthem, by Canada’s own Celine Dion and Classified, the band.
Hershey and I hope you enjoyed learning about Our Great Neighbor, good old Canada!
Until next Thursday!
-Hershey the Hedgehog & Co.
Hershey thanks his sources for all information on Canada, videos, and others:
As I mentioned before, Hershey is my traveling companion. One thing, however, that we are required to do while we are out of town is take touristy photos. That's right—so get out your bunny ears and start clicking away, because nothing is more classic than a silly photo in front of some big world monument or a unique cultural spot.
In the photo to your left, you see a photograph of Hershey in a car during a road trip to Austin, Texas. Those are Fiona’s own two fingers giving him bunny ears, an aforementioned friend who we can never thank enough. Hershey is making a statement with this photo. Hershey wants you to know that it’s okay to be a little silly in your photos. The point is to record good memories, not to look like a movie star. In fact, it’s always a little better to look more natural in your photos, else no one thinks you really enjoyed the trip.
Have fun! Relax! While these aren’t Hershey’s mottos, they are something to remember when on vacation. If you have a camera, take as many pictures as you can—you won’t regret it. Hershey knows this. Which is why we can have a photo blog today—because Hershey takes as many pictures as possible. Hershey knows it’s always nice to look back at where you’ve been and reminisce.
So don’t be afraid to pose awkwardly in front of the Ponce de Leon or the Eifel Tower. No one cares what you look like compared to the Big Ben—all they really care about is that you’ve been there and have the evidence to prove it. Enjoy your vacation, Hershey says.
Next week, we will explore the beginnings of a trip to good ol’ Canada! Hershey the Hedgehog will inform you of some fun facts about Canada and more specifically, Ontario. Until next Thursday!
Ever been to an art museum? Hershey has. Here, Hershey has had the opportunity to see things through a different set of eyes, with a different perspective. Hershey didn’t like everything he saw here at this art museum in Austin, Texas, but it didn’t take him long to realize that art wasn’t about being liked or disliked. It was about opening the mind up to something from someone else’s heart.
There are dozens and dozens of ways to describe art. It really isn’t quite that easy to pin down. When it comes to the essence, art is about expression. It’s about showing people something. Sometimes, it’s something they’ve seen before. Sometimes it’s something easy to make. Sometimes, it’s complex and hard to understand. Sometimes it has a point to make. But always, and I mean always, there is something to see. There is something.
Hershey loves art. This little hedgehog knows that art isn’t all about being photographed—it’s about doing your own thing.
So Hershey wants to inspire you today. This is his little work of art, this blog, and it’s time for you to make yours. Write a story. Take a photo. Paint something. Draw something. Make up a dance. Sing something. Because no matter what you do, whether you make something good or bad, simple or complex, ugly or beautiful, it is always something that you have done.
And that’s how Hershey sees art.
Photos taken in the Austin Museum of Art in Austin, Texas.
