PB the Giraffe

Chicago 2010

2010-07-11T08:50:00.001-07:00

After being forgotten for far too long, my keepers finally remembered to take me with them to Chicago this past week...

Here I am trying to look as tall as the Hancock Tower

They wouldn't let me in the Chicago Theater citing the fact that patrons behind me wouldn't be able to see the stage. Hey, I could have taken my hat off!

Eye saw this I on Van Beuren Avenue

A pretty little fountain near the Art Institute. It was nice to be in the shade on such a hot day.

It does what it says on the wall. Several people commented on my handsomeness whilst I stood here.

That's the Cloud Gate sculpture behind me, otherwise known as the Bean. So this photo represents "PB & the Bean"

Me, being all reflective

"PB & the Bean 2: Back Off Boogaloo"

Me by the Pritzker Pavilion - it's groovy!

I found this piece of art near Millenium Park - perfect for me to paddle my feet in

Oak Street Beach - right in the middle of the bustling city! It was lovely.

I was taken to Navy Pier. That's the Chicago skyline behind me

These pirates arrrrrogantly threatened me. I reminded them how tall I was and they backed off.

Weeeeee........... I'm up on the big Ferris wheel!!

A walk for my owner, a mere few steps for me

The lovely Centennial fountain on the North shore of the river. Was very nice.

Where are we all going next?

The Olden Days

2009-03-24T05:05:00.000-07:00

In the olden days people used to use things like "public telephones" and "the postal service" to keep in contact with one another.

Here I am outside a pair of iconic "olde worlde" images from England!

Pilgrim House Chinese Restaurant 3/12/09

2009-03-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

It seems that all I'm doing this vacation is eating?....

Here I am at the most excellent Pilgrim House Chinese Restaurant in Southampton.

I don't know what everyone else was having, but here's my selection

Kuti's Indian Restaurant 3/9/09

2009-03-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

I was taken out for a curry at a posh Indian Restaurant!

Here, it looks suspiciously like I was being left as part of the tip?!

The waiter refused to take me, and instead rewarded me with a free liqueur

Overseas!

2009-03-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

Well, my carers paid to get me back. Bit upsetting really as the people who giraffenapped me treated me to a posher lifestyle than that I was used to!

Oh well....

To celebrate my freedom I was taken back to England for a deserved vacation. Here I am collecting my boarding pass at the Delta Airlines check-in desk.

Giraffenapped!!!!!!!!

2009-02-02T14:00:00.001-08:00

Oh no, I've been giraffenapped!!!...

I hope this ends well?!!

Epcot & a Disney Sea Cruise Dec 2008

2009-01-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

What a FANTASTIC treat I got for Christmas!!

My usual (quite cheap) carers let me go off on a very lovely Christmas holiday with their friends Christian & Michelle.

C & M are always swanning off somewhere luxurious and expensive somewhere in the world. This is because they are famous, totally posh and completely loaded with money.

First, the three of us went to Disney's Epcot Center in Florida. Here I am photographed at the world's most difficult golf course. Humans have to practise for months just to be able to pick up the HUGE heavy clubs!

This is me lining up to get on a ride called "Soarin". Disney describe it on their website like this... With the wind in your hair, glide 40 feet in the air as you look down upon the breathtaking vistas of Yosemite and redwood forests. Soar as high as your imagination over a world of wonders. Of course for someone as tall as me this really wasn't so much of a big deal.

We walked all around Epcot's World Showcase, stopping at the Moroccan area, where I sampled a beer. The rest of the day was a blur.

We boarded our cruise liner. Christian & Michelle bought me a Christmas Present! I opened it straight away. It was a DVD box set of the first three seasons of "Lost" and a knitted scarf. I hope the scarf is long enough?

We all went for a big posh meal, sitting - of course - at the Captain's table. Does the menu really suggest "Crappa" as a course? It's the first time I've been ordered to do that at the dining table. I still can't work out why we got thrown out of the restaurant?!

We stayed at Walt Disney's private island (I think he's in a freezer somewhere at the back of the 7-11) Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. It was very posh indeed, but overrun with mice. One in particular.

We played charades on the beach. Here I am impersonating the late Hollywood starlet Cyd Charisse. For a giraffe, I make a darned good peacock!

I got some sunbathing in. Whilst I was asleep someone buried me up to my neck in sand. That must have taken a LOT of digging!!

They never had any snorkels for me, but I went swimming for a while. It was okay until the lionfish turned up, then I got a little scared.

All in all it was a fabulous time!!

Sorrentos Pizza House Dec 2008

2009-01-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

My carers took me to my good friend Michelle's surprise birthday party in Cincinnati

It was at Sorrentos Pizza place. I'd never tried pizza before....

It's yummmmm!

This little boy told me he was a veterinarian. His bedside manner was terrible.

Boooooooooooo!

2008-12-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

My carers went to Detroit and visited the Motown Museum.

They left me behind and I didn't even get a lousy t-shirt.

Boooooooooooooooooo!

England Pt 6 (Winchester 24th October 2008)

2008-10-25T07:27:00.001-07:00

We spent a day in Winchester, which used to be the capital of England

Here I am with King Alfred - also known as Alfred the Great - there's not many people taller than me!

Here I am outside Winchester Cathedral. There's a great song about this place, but you have to be able to whistle to join in!

England Pt 5

2008-10-25T07:24:00.001-07:00

Whilst my carers visited their friends Simon & Lou, I caught up with some friends of my own, including "Tiny" who is on the left in the photo above

England Pt 4 (London October 17th/18th 2008)

2008-10-20T10:44:00.001-07:00

We went up to London last weekened and stayed with my friends Adrian & Dawn.

When we got there we went for a cruise up the Thames, starting near the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben!

This is the Mayor of London's office block. It looks like a crash helmet. The mayor, Boris Johnson, needs to wear a crash helmet. He's crazier than a box of frogs.

This is Tate Modern, the largest modern art gallery in the whole world. It's in a rebuilt power station on the South Bank of the river.

The Tower of London. Off with his head!

Tower Bridge. Yes, it had to open to let me through.

This is part of the City of London's skyline. That rocket about to take off is called the "Gherkin". My carers call it the pickle.

Back near Westminster on the other side of the river is the London Eye. The tallest ferris wheel in the whole of Europe. Maybe I should rent my neck out as a tourist attraction?

In the evening we went to a comedy club. I discovered that two bottles of wine makes me feel quite peculiar!

I did a quick stand-up routine. "My dog has no nose".... "how does he smell?" .... bloomin' terrible!" I'm here all week. Tapes and CD's are at the door.

England Pt 3 (Brighton October 14th/15th 2008)

2008-10-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

We went to Brighton for a couple of days. It's my carers' favourite place in the whole of England

Here's the East Pier which contains all kinds of entertainment and even a funfair! Cool!

This is sadly all that's left of the West Pier which has suffered a succession of bad fires over the years

Here I am waiting for a bus driver to take me up and down the seafront

On the seafront I met up with my old pal Kwyjibo the Crab. He told me that in this current economic crisis he's really feeling the pinch.

This is the rather funky looking Brighton Royal Pavilion. It was designed as an old English King's seaside residence apparently. Looks like the blueprint got wet or something?

I discovered how the cops in Brighton get drunk!

Here's just a few of the shops, restaurants and businesses that have opened up in the old deckchair storage arches underneath the promenade.

We stayed in a lovely little bed & breakfast place called Motel Schmotel. The proprietors were a very nice couple who even brought us our breakfast in bed! This is what was left of my own fry-up! I munched through organic sausages, bacon, eggs, home fries, mushrooms, tomatoes and more.

I'll stick my neck out and hope we go back to Brighton again very soon!

England Pt 2

2008-10-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here I am in Southampton's pedestrian precinct called "Above Bar". The castle-y looking building in the background is the "Bargate", part of the ancient city walls.

I had to dash away after this photo was taken in case that kid in the middle tried to grab me!

England Pt 1

2008-10-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

We got into England yesterday. We had an unscheduled stop in New York on the way. Sadly, there were no photographs as none of us were even let off the plane! Apparently something was broken that needed fixing.

We went to a pub today - the Toby Carvery - where we could have either their bargain £5 carvery 'buffet' (unlimited roast meats, roast spuds, gravy and lots of fresh veggies... and MASSIVE Yorkshire Puddings) or the £5 ploughman's lunch which comes with pickled onions, great big wedges of crusty bread and cheeses. The latter came with a 'free' pint of Stella Artois lager!

Because giraffes have big gastronomic needs, I had both.

Here I am with the carvery food...

... and... um... here I am with the free beer!

I like England so far!

Ann Arbor, Michigan (Sept 2008)

2008-10-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

We all went to see our friends Pete & Caroline who live near Ann Arbor in Michigan.

Whilst there we went to a what is known as a "brew pub" in the downtown district.

It was called Grizzly Peaks, although for some reason my carers kept referring to it as Gouty Pete's?

Here I am strolling through what I called "the forest of beer", trying to decide which *ahem* tree I should taste the fruit of!

This one is about right!

*hic!*

I don't know if the server was taking the mickey when he asked me if I'd like my beer in a longneck?

Exciting!!!

2008-10-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

I've been told that I'm going to England next week!

Must practise: Cor Blimey Guv'nor, strike a light, apples and pears, fish and chips....

My Abandonment

2008-08-06T05:40:00.001-07:00

I was anonymously sent this horrific photo earlier this week.

It must have been taken by the people who decided to abandon me at the Great American Ball Park back in June.

I do not know how I managed to breathe inside that dangerous blisterpack, but I am eternally grateful that my new carers, Steve & Lu, saved me from a fate worse than... well, than children playing with me.

And now I get to travel everywhere with them. I truly am a lucky PB!

I wish they'd hurry up and go somewhere else exciting

Devou Park, Covington, KY 08/02/08

2008-08-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to the amphitheatre in Devou Park in Covington. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra were giving a free performance of James Bond songs. We got there early to snag some good seats.

Which was just as well, because just 20 minutes later the place was filling up fast!

I had a very good view, the picnic we brought with us was lovely and the Orchestra sounded great... even if they did nothing from "The Man with the Golden Giraffe" or "Octogiraffey"

Great American Ball Park 07/27/08

2008-07-28T06:53:00.001-07:00

Psychiatrists say one should face one's demons in order to overcome them.

I did that this past weekend when I went back to the very place I was abandoned all those weeks ago - the Cincinnati Reds stadium.

It was scary - but I felt safe, as the carer who took me seemed to be surrounded by lots of people he knew

Plus - because we were sat high up in a place called "the bleachers, I couldn't see the Jumbotron, which would only have served to remind and frighten me

Because we couldn't see the Jumbotron - my carer bought really BAD seats off some dodgy scalper *heh heh* - some people in our group decided to act out their very own "Kiss Cam" during one of the innings.

I was very good luck for the Reds. They only lost 11-0.

Before the game, we all went to the Hofbrauhaus, where I downed this ENORMOUS German beer!

After the game, I helped my carer polish off this lemon sorbet from Cincinnati 'institution' Graeters Ice Cream

I think I could go to the ball park again?!!

Plymouth, MI 07/18/08

2008-07-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

This is me getting my groove on with hundreds of other people on a Friday night in Plymouth, Michigan's Kellogg Park listening to the Mass Transit Band for free!

Yes I am guarding the muffins. To make sure no children steal them.

Baltimore, MD 7

2008-07-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

We all went to the Science Center to watch U2-3D on a huge Imax screen. Here I am wearing my special goggles.

Baltimore, MD 6

2008-07-16T09:39:00.001-07:00

There was lots to do in the Inner Harbour. But boy look at that GIANT duck!!! Taller than a Giraffe ... he should be in a freakshow somewhere.

Baltimore, MD 5

2008-07-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

We took the Water Taxi out to Fort McHenry - I did however expect it to be a little bigger?!

Baltimore, MD 4

2008-07-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

This was a crappy restaurant. Nothing but water and crackers.

Baltimore, MD 3

2008-07-16T09:15:00.001-07:00

This just seemed somehow degrading to us long-necked creatures!

Baltimore, MD 2

2008-07-16T09:13:00.001-07:00

Baltimore's Inner Harbor was full of cool things

Baltimore, MD 1

2008-07-16T09:09:00.001-07:00

FIVE pillows. Two each for them and one for me. Cool!

Washington DC 17

2008-07-16T09:05:00.001-07:00

Our hotel had a pool!

Washington DC 16

2008-07-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

I was a bit concerned about going back to a baseball stadium - especially since I was initially abandoned at one - but the people at the Washington Nationals ground seemed quite friendly

Alexandria, VA 4

2008-07-16T08:54:00.001-07:00

*hic* You're my besht friend you are....... *burrrrrrrppppppp*

Alexandria, VA 3

2008-07-16T08:50:00.001-07:00

My carers treated me to FANTASTIC chips at Eamonn's Dublin Chipper in Alexandria's Old Town.

Alexandria, VA 2

2008-07-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

I am shaking soooooo much because I can't work out why ANYone would do this to a giraffe!

Alexandria, VA 1

2008-07-16T08:44:00.001-07:00

My carers spent their 10th Wedding Anniversary in beautiful Alexandria, Virginia. Just a short metro ride from downtown Washington. I went along for the ride!

Washington DC 15

2008-07-16T08:41:00.001-07:00

I took my chances and visited Chinatown

Washington DC 14

2008-07-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmm.....pointy!

Washington DC 13

2008-07-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Nom nom nom

Washington DC 12

2008-07-15T13:01:00.001-07:00

I went to see my mate Albert.

I had no idea he wrote that Big Audio Dynamite song "E=Mc2"

Washington DC 11

2008-07-15T12:54:00.001-07:00

It was very busy at the Lincoln Memorial.

Funny how so many people wanted to see a statue of a bloke sat on a toilet?!

Arlington Cemetery 2

2008-07-15T12:51:00.001-07:00

Until they suggested it, I'd never really considered the idea

Arlington Cemetery

2008-07-15T12:48:00.001-07:00

Where does it say "No Giraffes?"

Washington DC 10

2008-07-15T12:35:00.001-07:00

This bloke tried snatching me away.

My carers saved me from a nasty fate.

Washington DC 9

2008-07-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

All kinds of silly nonsense goes on here at the Capitol Building.

Apart from equal rights for Giraffes!

Washington DC 8

2008-07-15T12:27:00.001-07:00

The wine and nom noms at the National Museum of the American Indian were very agreeable.

Only the best for PB!

Washington DC 7

2008-07-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

One small step for man, one great gallop for giraffe!

Washington DC 6

2008-07-15T12:17:00.001-07:00

At this exhibit, a thermal-imaging camera checked everyone to see how hot or cold they are.

The darker the image, the hotter you are.

As you can see, I am VERY hot stuff!

Washington DC 5

2008-07-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

A big Roll-Royce Engine.

If it goes off I think that woman's hair will get a little messy?

Washington DC 4

2008-07-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here I am outside the Air & Space Museum.

I had lots of air and space up on that marble wall!

Washington DC 3

2008-07-15T12:00:00.001-07:00

Water - $2.25
Coke - $2.50
Jumbo Hot Dog - $3.75
Giraffe - Priceless!

Washington DC 2

2008-07-15T11:51:00.000-07:00

Here I am at the crypt for James Smithson, the bloke who started the Smithsonian museum collections.

I got thrown out by security. Maybe it was for necking?

Washington DC 1

2008-07-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

Here I am outside a large White House I saw in Washington DC.

I hope the person living there didn't mind that I took a poop on his lawn?