Fiesta Movement Mission #5! Land Air & Sea: Adrenaline Edition!!

You must watch my video! And comment! And rate! :D It took me so long to edit...I love it!

Seth Beck & I went white water rafting, indoor skydiving, and drove on the Bristol Motor Speedway! It ruled the galaxy.

Video Update! Acorn Top Whistles

Traveling back to New England reminds me of things I used to do here as a kid!

Like use acorn tops as whistles.

Did you ever do that?

Video Update! Westport, NY Continued!

I came to Westport hoping to get some work done and...well...it worked! I completed my 5th Fiesta Movement Mission Video! Hopefully it'll be approved soon so that you can all see it. It took me about 14 hours to edit. Yikes! :)

Video Update! Westport, NY!

Last night I drove the Fiesta to Westport, NY! My dad's house is a place where I'm guaranteed to get some work done and get some sleep! After a good night's rest, I am working on finishing up my Fiesta Movement Mission Video for September - look for it in the next couple days!

Video Update! Massachusetts!!

I had the opportunity to stay with C.C. Chapman (http://cc-chapman.com) and his family last night! We had a blast!

History With Hilary: September 26

September 26, 2009 is the 235th birth anniversary of Johnny Appleseed!

Funny thing? His real name was John Chapman and I just happen to be staying with C.C. Chapman on this day! :D

Emily Explains It

After knowing each other for years online, I finally got to meet C.C. Chapman in person! I have the Fiesta Movement to thank for that. :D

He and his family agreed to be part of my Couch Surfing USA project... They are putting me up for the night and fed me a fantastic steak dinner! I also got to spend some quality time with his bright and creative kids - Emily & Dylan!

Emily has her own website Emily Explains It - check it out!

I got her to explain something for MY camera... :)



Thanks to the Chapman family for having me - it has been a blast!

Video Update! Concord, NH!

On Friday I drove the Fiesta from NYC to Concord, NH, where I hung out with my grandma and got some much needed sleep!

Bristol Motor Speedway!

Rafting isn't all that Fellow Fiesta Agent Seth Beck (aka @Fiestavus) and I got up to for our Adventure mission!

We also went to the Bristol Motor Speedway! My friend Jose Castillo (@thinkjose) does work for the speedway - takes videos of fans and gets them all riled up for the big events there! He invited us to the speedway in Bristol, TN - an opportunity you'd be crazy to pass up!

Jose put us in touch with Account Manager Graig Hoffman, and the two of them welcomed us and gave us the royal treatment! We had a tour, and got to drive on the track with the Fiesta! AND we got to go on Victory Lane!

It was a fantastic time - aside from getting married, my favorite experience thus far with the Fiesta Movement. Video coming soon, but here are some photos to tide you over. SO MANY MORE HERE!

Seth's Fiesta outside of Bristol Motor Speedway:


Seth Beck, Jose Castillo, Graig Hoffman, Hilary McHone:


Here I am with Seth:


Jose:


Seth:


Hilary:

Rafting the Upper Gauley!

Last Saturday, I went white water rafting on the Upper Gauley in West Virginia with fellow Fiesta Agent Seth Beck (aka @Fiestavus)!

This is a trip that I've been wanting to do for years. I had it planned in September of 2001, when I was living in NYC, but the events of 9/11 made it impossible to fly out for the trip. Every year I think of it, but this is the first time since then that I've had an opportunity to go!
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6178641904480645899
I love rafting and one of my goals is to raft all the best rivers in the world. I'm not a total daredevil - I like having organized trips with trained guides. But I am a huge fan of Class V+ rapids! I've been rafting in Colorado, Australia, New Zealand, and Costa Rica. More rivers in my future...

The trip we chose was the Double Upper Gauley. In September, there are dam releases, so the water is deep and fast. The upper part of the river is more exciting, so instead of doing the Upper AND Lower parts, we did the Upper two times in a row!

It was a lot of fun... Here are a few photos! (You can see more here!) My mission video is coming soon... :D

Seth:


Me:


Rafting:

Video Update! Lancaster, PA to Brooklyn, NY!

Had a nice morning and early afternoon! Then could barely move for several hours - so sleepy!

"Facebook Portraits" by Matt Held

Today my road trip brought me to New York City! I stopped in part to check out this show at Platform, which features paintings of me and Rick by Matt Held!
platform.denisebibrofineart.com
529 West 20th St. 4W
New York, NY 10011
212-647-7030

The show will be up until October 3 - go see it if you get a chance!

The paintings are part of Matt Held's Facebook Portraits series.

They can be purchased for $1800. (I wish we could afford ours!!)

Based on photos that Rick & I took for Christmas last year. :)






Check out more of Matt Held:
Web: http://heldstudios.com
Blog: http://portraitpainted.blogspot.com
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=45900815683
Fan page: http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Held/131739942626

History With Hilary: September 23

60 years ago today, The Boss was born. Happy Birthday to Bruce Springsteen!

Video Update! Johnson City, TN to Lancaster, PA!

Last night I stayed with Jose Castillo (@thinkjose) and his family in Johnson City, TN! This morning I left with the intention of getting to NYC, but decided to stop in Pennsylvania for the night...

If you want more info on Foamhenge, check this out!

For more info on Matt Held's NYC gallery show, go here!

More on the various things I saw today on the blog soon. :D

Ice Cream & Dip Dogs

Yesterday was the birthday of the ice cream cone, so as I was driving from West Virginia to Tennessee, I decided to look for a place to get a cone!

I got off the highway and drove several miles through a couple small towns and then BAM! There was the Dip Dog Stand right in front of me.



There were signs advertising ice cream all over, so I figured this was my spot.

I had to pee so badly, though! And they didn't have a restroom. I had no way of having a Dip Dog AND an ice cream cone AND keeping it all safe until I could find a restroom somewhere. (Not to mention a spot where I could take a self-portrait with my ice cream.)

I almost just left, but thought I should, at the very least, get a Dip Dog! After I ordered, the gentleman at the counter - Nathan - asked me if that was my Ford outside! Yup! I told him about it - he had seen them online and said that he had wanted to do that (get an advance copy of the Fiesta to drive around).

He gave me my bag with my Dip Dog (I still wasn't sure what it was going to be, but it was the thing to get, so why not?) and I headed out to the Fiesta. I took it out of the paper bag. It was a freshly made corn dog smothered in mustard. Yum!



I was attempting to take a photo of myself with my iPhone eating the thing when Nathan was outside my car window. It surprised me (and sometimes it's embarrassing to be caught taking photos of myself) so I jumped! I put my phone down and rolled down the window.

Nathan had a "got Dip Dogs?" bumper sticker and a pen for me! He said people take the bumper sticker and take pics all over the world and send them to them. Cool! So, of course, I had to get HIS photo with the Fiesta and the stand in the background.



I looked down to discover that I'd put my iPhone right down into a pile of mustard. Nathan got me some napkins and I cleaned it off before getting out of the car to take a few photos!





I still had to pee so badly that I could barely think straight. But after all this, I thought I should definitely get my ice cream there! Besides, they had a green apple soft serve which used lime green syrup - it matched the Fiesta!

So I went back in, got the ice cream, took a few photos, and was on my way.





It's always fun when you get off the highway and discover cool places!

If you're ever in Marion, VA, I highly suggest you visit the Dip Dog Stand for some yummy food and to meet some cool people - not to mention the free bumper sticker!

Dip Dog Stand
2035 Lee Hwy.
Marion, VA 24354
276-783-2698
http://www.dipdogs.com

Ramey Ford - Beckley, WV

After driving across the entire country, I got 2 miles away from my destination - the Ace campground in Oak Hill, WV, when I messed up my rim and got a flat tire!

The road was really rough - not wide enough for cars to pass each other on the pavement. Potholes and a drop on each side. I think most people in the area are ready for such conditions! What really added to the difficulty was that it was DARK!

So there I was on the side of the road. Luckily, Seth (my fellow Fiesta Agent and partner in crime on this month's Adventure mission) had already arrived at the campground and is super handy with such things! I called him up and he rescued me by putting on my spare! Poor Seth, though - he did it even though just that morning he had 7 stitches put in his finger!

While I was waiting for Seth, 5 cars stopped to ask me if I needed help. There's some southern hospitality, right there. I started feeling a little guilty turning them down when I knew Seth's finger was such a mess! Oh, well. :)

Anyway! The next day I dropped off the Fiesta at Ramey Ford in Beckley, WV! This gentleman, Michael Houchins, was so nice and took care of everything. When the work was done, he even drove my Fiesta to me! He told me that he thought Ford had a winner on its hands with the Fiesta and that it handled very well. He also mentioned that heads were turning as he drove it through town! He told me I was famous, as he'd seen me in a recent magazine that's put out by Ford. (I have to find that!)

Thanks so much to Mike and everyone at Ramey Ford for excellent service! I'm so happy to be back on the road!

History With Hilary: September 22

The birthday of the ice cream cone...

"September 22, 1903. Italo Marchiony emigrated from Italy in the late 800s and soon thereafter went into business in New York, NY with a pushcart dispensing lemon ice. Success soon led to a small fleet of pushcarts, and the inventive Marchiony was inspired to develop a cone, first made of paper, later of pastry, to hold the tasty delicacy. On September 22, 1903, his application for a patent for his new mold was filed, and US Patent No 746971 was issued to him December 15, 1903."

Yup. I got ice cream to match my car.

Video Update: Beckley, WV!

Talkin' about indoor skydiving, hearing about Seth Beck's drive from London to Mongolia, and a few laps around the track at Bristol Motor Speedway!

I love Adventure Month!!

History with Hilary: September 21

September 21 has been declared International Day of Peace by the United Nations!

History With Hilary: Update!

Lack of time & regular internet service has created a delay, but History With Hilary will be back soon!

Stay tuned!

:)

Video Updates: WV & NC

History with Hilary: September 16

It's National Play-Doh Day! In 1955 Joe McVicker took Play-Doh to an educational convention. The following year it was being sold commercially!

Note: This is super-cheap! And it now comes in like 20 colors! Go buy some for your kids! Or yourself! My 4 cans were $1.99 total at Target. :D

Video Update - Driving from Milwaukee, WI to Oak Hill, WV!

I had an awesome time with my friend Jimmy and his fam & friends last night in Milwaukee! I'm now driving to West Virginia to meet up with Seth Beck (AKA @Fiestavus) for our Adventure Mission for the Fiesta Movement! YAY!

Minneapolis Video Update!

(More History With Hilary coming soon!)

I had an awesome time in Minneapolis with my friend Sam's folks - Norm & Judy! Now it's off to Milwaukee, WI. I love Wisconsin.

A little video update on my trip!

Part 1: South Pasadena, CA to Salt Lake City, UT


Part 2: Salt Lake City, UT to Rapid City, SD

History with Hilary: September 15

On September 15, 1988, License to Drive (starring Corey Haim and Corey Feldman) opened...in Australia!

Oops. I had looked up the date on IMDB on my phone and missed the "Australia" header.

But...that makes it even sillier, yeah?

Apparently a 'memorable quote' from the movie is "An innocent girl, a harmless drive. What could possibly go wrong?"

:)

This was the first movie I ever saw by myself! I saw it in NYC while visiting my dad. But he was at work. He totally missed out! ;)

History With Hilary: September 14

On September 14, 1879, Margaret Sanger was born. Sanger was a birth control activist and founder of the American Birth Control League, which eventually became Planned Parenthood.

While living in NYC and working on the Lower East Side, she became aware of the number of women who were having illegal self-induced abortions because of unwanted pregnancies. Many of these self-induced abortions led to medical problems and even death. Sanger began learning about various contraceptives and illegally distributing information - at the time, this information was considered "obscene".

In 1916, Sanger opened the first family planning and birth control clinic in the United States. After being open 9 days, police raided it and Sanger served 30 days in prison.

Sanger believed that each woman should be "the absolute mistress of her own body". She fought for that right up until her death in 1966, at the age of 87.

We oughtta thank her.

Thank you to NYC Department of Health and fuseproject for sending me condoms for use in this photo! To find out more about NYC Condoms (which are distributed for free in New York City) go here!

History With Hilary: September 13

On September 13, 1976, "The Muppet Show" premiered. Eventually it was broadcast in more than 100 countries!

History With Hilary: September 12

"Jesse Owens (September 12, 1913 – March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 metres, the 200 metres, the long jump, and as part of the 4x100 meter relay team." (Wikipedia)

Take THAT, Hitler.

If I had Adidas running shoes, I would have used them. Adidas sponsored Owens - it was the first sponsorship for a male African-American athlete.

Bonus History With Hilary Photo!

The wrong info was posted on a website and I thought Margaret Hamilton (The Wicked Witch of the West) was born on September 12, 1902. But she was born on September 9, 1902!

So bonus photo for the 9th! :)

History With Hilary: September 11

On September 11, 1974, "Little House On the Prairie" (based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder) made its television debut!

Personal note: I remember in grade school we had "Book Day", when we'd dress up like our favorite characters. Lots of girls dressed as Laura Ingalls. Who did *I* dress as? Tom Sawyer.

History With Hilary: September 10

On September 10, 1954, Swanson sold their first TV Dinner!

The Swanson site is all retro and has some funny old ads on it. You should check it out!
www.swansonmeals.com/

Lady Liberty on Gothamist

Gothamist used my photo of the Statue of Liberty for today's post "Visit Lady Liberty After Dark"! Check out the post here.

History With Hilary: September 9

The Santa Monica Pier is celebrating it's 100th birthday today!
You can get more info on what's happening on their website: www.santamonicapier.org/centennial.html

I celebrated with some cotton candy. I meant to use the cotton candy in a photo, but before I knew it, I'd torn it open and started enjoying it. :)

History with Hilary: September 8

The first Miss America pageant was held on September 8, 1921!

History With Hilary: September 7

On September 7, 1981 "The People's Court" with Judge Wapner premiered on television!



Note: After taking this photo, I found that there are actually two dates listed for the premiere - the 7th and the 14th. If I can confirm it was the 14th, I'll have to re-do a photo for the 7th!

History With Hilary: September 6

On September 6, 1899, Elbridge Amos Stuart began processing evaporated milk - at the time, it was called "sterilized cream".

I used it to make this pumpkin pie.

According to Wikipedia:
"Stuart believed that there was value in sanitary milk at a time when fresh milk was neither universally available nor always drinkable. He believed that his product would soon join other staples on the grocer's shelves, such as salt and sugar. One of the most important things E.A. Stuart learned as a boy on his father's farm was that quality milk had to come from healthy cows. In order to have the best quality milk and milk production, he distributed purebred bulls to the farmers who were suppliers for his factory. The offspring from these bulls were better milk producers than the cows of the previous generation."

History With Hilary: September 5

If his friend Robert Ford hadn't shot him in the back of the head for the $10,000 reward, Jesse James would have turned 162 today.

History with Hilary: September 4

I changed the name. :)

To catch you up - I have a new photo series with an educational twist.



"On September 4,1882, four hundred electric lights came on in offices on Spruce, Wall, Nassau, and Pearl streets in lower Manhattan as Thomas Edison hooked up light bulbs to an underground cable carrying direct current electrical power. Edison had demonstrated his first incandescent light bulb in 1879."

This Day In History: September 3

Chung Yuan - or the Festival of Hungry Ghosts - is celebrated in China on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. This year, that falls on September 3!



What is the Festival of Hungry Ghosts?

"According to Chinese legend, during the seventh lunar month, the souls of the dead are released from purgatory to roam the Earth. Joss sticks are burnt in homes; prayers, food and 'ghost money' are offered to appease the ghosts. Market stallholders combine to hold celebrations to ensure that their businesses will prosper in the coming year. Wayang (Chinese street opera) and puppet shows are performed, and fruit and Chinese delicacies are offered to the spirits of the dead."

I hope they enjoyed my banana. :-/

This Day In History: September 2

On September 2, 1666, The Great Fire of London started.

Right now LA is dealing with their own fire!

This Day In History: September 1

I've started a new photo series called This Day In History! It will be ongoing and I'll do it as much as possible, but may not be EVERY day... You can keep up with the current photos through my Flickr set!



On September 1, 1979, the LA Court ordered Clayton Moore to stop wearing Lone Ranger mask.

According to Wikipedia:
"In 1979, the owner of the Ranger character, Jack Wrather, obtained a court order prohibiting Moore from making future appearances as The Lone Ranger. Wrather anticipated making a new film version of the story, and did not want the value of the character being undercut by Moore's appearances, nor anyone to think that the 65-year-old Moore would be playing the role in the new picture. This move proved to be a public relations disaster of the first order. Moore responded by changing his costume slightly and replacing the mask with similar-looking wraparound sunglasses, and then counter-sued Wrather. He eventually won the suit, and was able to resume his appearances in costume, which he continued to do until shortly before his death. For a time he worked in publicity tie-ins with the Texas Rangers baseball team. (Wrather's planned motion picture remake, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, was released in 1981 and was a critical and commercial failure.)"