Charlotte

Charlotte as I was to find out is the banking capital of the LOFCF. It had something to do with all the money in the old days coming through the South. All the national banks have their head offices here, along with the artifacts of such a presence. There is the Bank of LOFCF Stadium, Bank of LOFCF this and that, not to mention the two tallest buildings in Charlotte branded as such. I wouldn't be surpised to see a bank of LOFCF Child Care Center and Animal Minding Complex. Charlotte is also the current base for fellow Merrowvistian Henry, LeeAnne and thier lap dog who's name escapes me (In further corrospondance with Henry the dog's name is Elvis).

A number of different things happened whilst I was in Charlotte. Steve Irwin passed away, home brew beer was brewed (or at least attempted), I saw Russel Crowe's costume and associated paraphernalia from Gladiator (not to mention Helle Berry's catsuit costume from the critacilly panned Cat Women). I was given a cook's tour of the Charlotte and the surrounding area by Henry. Yes, Charlotte had it all (well alot of stuff to do with banks anyway).

I had the good fortune of heading out to Henry's grandfathers hunting lodge in South Carolina to pick up some equipment for brewing of the aforementoned home brew. I've never been to a hunting lodge before, though have to admit was not all to suprised to see various taxidermies of animals lining the walls and floor and quite possibly the cealing. In Texas I've heard they place a set of long horns above the mantle place. A 14 point (one point per point on horns) buck hung above the lodge mantle. It was a pretty amazing place. After riding around the property in the poorer cousin of the Mule checking out the dam and surrounds we headed back up Charlotte way.

Henry's car was fitted out with a satalitte radio on a pay to use network. The same network on which Howard Stern now pedals his wears. Howard Stern I'm sure is well known to you all. He had his own TV show for a bit as well as been Americas foremost "shock jock". Anyway the day we were listeneing he had a best of series or most requested reel thing happening one of the reels was that of a lady who calmed to "channel" Underdog during her "performances" of the cartoon character in which she "danced" for lack of better word. Underdog (the cartoon character) not the women is now been turned into a big budget LOFCF movie. Been as ignorant of LOFCF pop culture underdog didn't ring anybell although I'm told that he is very popular in the states hence there making a movie. The lady who likes to be referred to with her her real name or "underdog" detesting on several occasions Stern and so coworkers calling her "Under Dog Lady". The interview turned into farce with Underdog only willing to communicate with Stern through "knock once for yes knock twice for no". Apparently Underdog blames Stern for all the hecking and noterity she achieved through been on Sterns show and in her subsequent dancing routines. This made for an entertaining listening. I wouldn't be surpised if footage of Underdog lady fully decked and dancing has not made it onto UTube yet.
Stern I found to be a really intelligent guy making a reational and resoable comments on a number of subjects.

Also on the trip back to Henry's and Leanne's place we stopped off to get some drinks and food. As I recall it was a fairly hot day. I stumbled upon a bag of chocolate encrusted mini donuts. I lived off that chocolate coated puffed doughy goodness stuff for like the next two days. Oddely enough I've yet to find an Australian equivelent.

Down the road from Henry's place was an Apocolystic church, the first church I had seen with actual red neon lighting I think maybe they took the whole fire and brinstone motif just a little to far. The Apocolystic take on the bible is apparently more the the world is going to end not like in a couple of billions years, like now so repent, repent, repent. I think thier probably onto something, more so with the world ending bit or at least the way we know it. The question is, is change (be it swift and all encompassing and in the form of the world ending) such a bad thing? Good thing? Or is the water a little murky? I would wager murky, and really depends on the circumstances. On the subject of the world ending Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth is well worth a look.

Back on the subject of the animate red neon sign I think they may be onto something. I really should have taken a picture of it.

The home brew by the time I left for the train station was stuggling (or more correctly the yeast) after all the efforts in the pervious days, which was going to require repitching. Let's hope the efforts weren't in vain.