tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89815234281092697072024-03-04T21:06:08.956-08:00the Misadventures of NRFNat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-87208018117084283862011-07-31T14:52:00.000-07:002011-07-31T15:04:36.029-07:00Reconstruction of the Inner SelfI never did fully fill out the final days of my trip last year. The reason behind that was Savannah taught me that sometimes the adventure should stay inside you - I have many stories to tell, and the ones after Savannah can be dear to me in many ways.<br />Strangely, it matters not.<br /><br />I am revitalizing this blog for a number of reasons:<br /><ol><li>I haven't had an internet journal (aside from this one that I created solely for last year's adventure) since LJ, which was about 6 years ago.</li><li>This blog is about my silly musings, happenings, learnings... these are things to share when I can - and the internet is a medium that allows it to live on (virtually) forever.</li><li>I need an outlet, so sue me ;)</li></ol>That being said, I have 6 cigarettes left.<br />Tomorrow night I go see Paul McCartney in Concert (Paul McCartney > Praxis). After just having seen Soundgarden not three weeks ago, I feel incredibly lucky to witness such awesome in such a small amount of time.<br />I think I want to quit. I've felt like complete crap, I've been doing a fair amount of shoving myself into people groups that while are effective for "having fun," it really isn't having fun in a way that's productive to me becoming a healthier person (There are far less groups of people who give me fun and adventure AND whom I feel that I am not ruining my body around, but they do exist.)<br /><br />Happy to be apparently hopping back on the MtG bandwagon. As long as I have people to play against, I'll likely be excited about this.<br /><br />Eagerly awaiting: concerts, finding my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Archivist-Magic-Gathering-Urzas-Legacy/dp/B0036I8B5Y">Archivist</a> (x2!), quitting, drinking more tea, getting the job at LUSH.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />-Nat FisherNat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-72093941804151264512010-07-06T09:04:00.000-07:002010-07-09T20:10:46.363-07:00Day 11 - Savannah (minus Liz Phalen) a.k.a. SavannadventureSo... Savannah, Georgia.<br /><br />And an uber-long delay in posting to the blog.<br />I'm trying guys. Really, I am.<br /><br />The beginning of my day was as bad, if not worse than my previous night there... it began with me and my 3 trips back to my car: as per usual, I'd left the tech (comp and cam, purse) for last. When I ran up for the last grouping of things, the card no longer worked on my door: and it was 6 minutes to check out.<br /><br />Angry Natalie was Angry.<br /><br />After rushing downstairs and explaining quickly and carefully that I would refuse to be charged for late time if they didn't get me back into my room fast enough, I got everything back out and to the car....<br /><br />...Where I was met with an infestation in the front passenger side floor of fire ants. Granted, at this particular moment I hadn't realized that they were fire ants - I figured that out after I'd spent about 10 minutes vacuuming them up at the gas station. 10 minutes, about 500 less ants, and 2 less dollars later, I started off towards Bonaventure Cemetery; I was livid.<br /><br />It was also incredibly hot. I began, after driving through town, to see the first saw palmettos :D<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs048.ash2/35748_1411824629057_1635774897_945290_2312115_n.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Soon after getting into the thick of the town, I pulled into a CVS to grab Raid. I found one for Ants and other bugs that smelled "Outdoors fresh" and bought a can of that as well as some ant traps, which I ended up using in the passenger side of the car to get the ants out of there. Thankfully after a couple hours (when I got out of the cemetery) it totally worked.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs078.snc4/35287_1411826949115_1635774897_945304_2409843_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><br />Bonaventure was GIGANTIC. I'm only throwing up a few shots here; the rest you can peruse at my Deviantart Site ( http://calenthrellii.deviantart.com ). It took me just over 2.5 hours to navigate about a third of it (while obviously taking pictures)... at that point I had to leave because I was overheated and had only slept about two and a half hours the night before - I think I had to pee, too. I'd parked outside of the cemetery so I had to do it all on foot and couldn't just leave to come back. At any rate, here are some of the shots I grabbed :)<br /><br />This next one if you can't read it, the one on the right with the flower underneath it is apparently a great grand niece of George Washington. cool.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs080.snc4/35386_1415470840210_1635774897_952919_3789630_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I probably sent this one to you if you are Ari or my Dad :) It was taken with my phone, and I think the foggy effect is awesome: it was super hot and I got that out of my purse, which apparently was much cooler than everywhere else, it gives a neat feeling :D<br /><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs201.snc3/20851_1415471080216_1635774897_952921_3829198_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />This particular statue/headstone is in a perfect area; it matches the trees so perfectly. Beauty IS Bonaventure.<br /><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs221.snc3/20851_1415471320222_1635774897_952927_8227693_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I love finding headstones with last names of popular authors :P<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs108.snc4/35748_1411824669058_1635774897_945291_1500308_n.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Large and pretty family plot:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs058.snc4/35287_1411826909114_1635774897_945303_2709399_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Some close-up textures that I saw quite a bit around that area:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs071.snc4/34924_1415723926537_1635774897_953390_7303664_n.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />I've never seen these in any other cemetery, but I love the planters beneath the headstone :D<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs031.ash2/34924_1415723966538_1635774897_953391_7893381_n.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />"Grim grinning ghosts come out to soc-ia-lize"<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs048.snc4/34769_1415724246545_1635774897_953394_393873_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Some veterans graves, on July 2nd.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs048.snc4/34769_1415724286546_1635774897_953395_7332135_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The map of the whole setup:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs051.snc4/34924_1415724006539_1635774897_953392_7890801_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Yeah, I forgot to mention that Liz (who I was supposed to be hanging with IN Savannah) told me last minute that she was called onto duty. I also know that Rob Thourson had started living out there. Whether both, either, or neither were true, it doesn't really matter. I made the best of what I could by myself and from the multiple things Liz told me I should go see (like the aforementioned/shown cemetery)<br /><br />She had also told me to see River Street. Thankfully on my way there... I came across <a href="http://www.moonriverbrewing.com/" moon="" river="" brewing="" company=""></a> which I couldn't place at the time, but remembered about 3 minutes later: I had seen them on a pretty decent Episode of Ghost Hunters. (cool!) Of course that meant I would later come back ;)<br /><br /><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs201.snc3/20851_1415471200219_1635774897_952924_3592948_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />So I went up and back along the Riverwalk, passing delicious smelling restaurants and touristy shops. I actually never bought anything in the shops, but meh. I did, however, see a sign at the <a href="http://www.kevinbarrys.com/"> Irish pub </a> for some live music later that night. I was like "that would be fun if I'm still awake later on" So eventually I made my way up to Moon River.<br /><br /><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs221.snc3/20851_1415471120217_1635774897_952922_7442378_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><object width="160" height="120"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1415752047240"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1415752047240" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs281.ash1/20851_1415471240220_1635774897_952925_8018405_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Here I met some neat people (a couple traveling from Miami to Chicago!), (saw absolutely no ghosties) Enjoyed two delectable ales, and a savory crab melt (omg I was in heaven) and later went on to go catch the live show :D<br /><br /><object width="160" height="120"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1411770307699"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1411770307699" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br />I got to bed fairly late that night due to my chatting, but in the morning awoke a little earlier to take some pics around town. Sadly the tours would have been a bit expensive for me to go on (it's one thing when you are going to ONLY Savannah, it's another when it's one of about 12 stops you're making)<br /><br />Here are some of those :)<br /><br />Apparently the most Haunted house in Savannah-I skipped it because tours were like 10 bucks. Sorrel-Weed.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs078.snc4/35287_1411827069118_1635774897_945307_3953397_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The First Girl Scout Headquarters :)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs058.snc4/35287_1411827149120_1635774897_945309_2799140_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The colors in Savannah houses around the squares are just magical.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs078.snc4/35287_1411827189121_1635774897_945310_6131923_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Hey - it's the 3rd oldest Synagogue in the US... in Savannah, GA.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs078.snc4/35287_1411827269123_1635774897_945312_7210803_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />You don't find the idiots who can't use colors together: you see that a lot in upper middle-class suburbs and wonder if the colorblind husband picked out the paint choices. Never in Savannah.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs147.snc4/36732_1411829669183_1635774897_945324_1585777_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The window frame work and the wrought iron fences here are breathtaking :) sorry for the car frames :(<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs038.ash2/35287_1411827229122_1635774897_945311_6846220_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I had a blast in this town, I would definitely like to visit it again, get to know it better.<br /><br />More later, next update: GA to NC / Charlotte, NC.<br /><br />Lesson learned in Savannah: <span style="font-size:180%;">Trust your heart.</span>Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-46778422953756863122010-07-06T06:28:00.000-07:002010-07-06T09:02:16.460-07:00Day 10 - Athens to Savannah<span style="font-size:130%;">Day 10: Athens to Savannah!</span><br /><br />Wow! Where have I been? The answer to that is this blog, but due to unforeseen adventuring, I haven't been able to get around to blogging *every day* as I would like to.<br /><br />Yikes.<br /><br />So, back when I was visiting Athens, I visited my Aunt and Uncle-I thought this shot was funny, Thomas Jefferson, just chilling in their drive (right before I left)<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs051.snc4/34931_1411822869013_1635774897_945272_3758623_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I also finally had the chance to experience my Aunt's store; which I will be posting a few shots from later on (that will go likely onto DeviantArt, not here) however, I won't completely leave you without showing you a piece of it - on my way to Waffle House (yay! I finally got to go) I took this picture of her store through the window. It's a Victorian house that is on the Register of Historic places. What a lovely building, inside and out! I will most definitely link to the better shots here, because this quick, not-looked at cropping of this isn't any right way to depict the store.<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs031.ash2/34931_1411822909014_1635774897_945273_1575247_n.jpg" width="275" /><br />I don't know that I've felt more at home in an alien place before in my life :)<br /><br />For those of you who don't know Waffle House, this is what they look like...<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs051.snc4/34931_1411822949015_1635774897_945274_2382348_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />It's definitely like a cheaper, tastier Denny's, I guess. I know that any time I'm "southerly" I try to eat at one now. I definitely grabbed some eggs and biscuits and gravy. Omnomnom.<br /><br />While I didn't spend enough time in Athens to accurately portray the town, I'll give a snippet of my thought: I drove along the Greek Row. Their frat and sorority houses are gorgeous out here; I'm envious in ways. I was never involved in Greek life - however, if it allowed me to live in a house like this, yeah I guess I am pretty jealous ;)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs071.snc4/34931_1411822989016_1635774897_945275_2129532_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />When I eventually started out a bit later, I began my journey to the Atlantic Coast and Savannah. Along the way I saw several scenes such as this:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs051.snc4/34931_1411823029017_1635774897_945276_2238683_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />The small thing to the side is a little place to buy peaches. As I don't live in a very "farmy" area, I don't see TOO many of these - I recall the place bragging about their muskmelons around Galesburg, IL - but hadn't seen too many again until I drove into Georgia, just past Athens. Peaches, Vidalia Onions - all fresh... I never pulled over, and I'm kind of regretting it... but I don't like peaches, and as much as I love onions, they aren't the kind of thing you sample alone in the car while driving -_-;<br /><br />Much of Georgia's geography involved scenes like this:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs051.snc4/34931_1411823109019_1635774897_945278_692594_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />I saw quite a few of those "southern pines" - anyone who knows about that type of tree can tell me all they wish. If not, I'll be looking it up when I get home :)<br /><br />Another thing I keep driving past and never stopping at is 'local eateries' - I just haven't been passing them when I'm hungry, so I never seem to be able to eat at hole-in-the-walls along the drive :/<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs088.snc4/35748_1411824349050_1635774897_945283_5457097_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />I don't really like Barbeque - but I'll bet if I had it at one of these places, I'd love it.<br /><br />I was hoping to see a lot more Americana like this:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs108.snc4/35748_1411824389051_1635774897_945284_260929_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />-but you have to learn to look in the right towns with significant time periods - this was one of 2 buildingside ads I saw so far.<br /><br />By far the most... interesting... building along the roadside:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs048.ash2/35748_1411824429052_1635774897_945285_6394507_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I also got to see a second rainbow (though I didn't catch any of the rainstorm :o )<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs088.snc4/35748_1411824469053_1635774897_945286_2401057_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I have been blessed with amazing sunsets - or I am finally outside to watch the duration of them since I've been on the road for the entirety of them most nights, not sure which :)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs108.snc4/35748_1411824509054_1635774897_945287_15777_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />As I neared Savannah, the dusk was quickly approaching and I was frightened by the fact that I hadn't realized when my gas light turned on. I only had about 275 miles so far on that tank, so I didn't have a whole lot left. I was worried I'd run out of gas - and that particular stretch of interstate was not very forgiving with respect to gas station placement.<br /><br />And finally, I found one.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs048.ash2/35748_1411824549055_1635774897_945288_6805094_n.jpg" width="275" /><br />It gave me a laugh, to boot. Thanks, El Cheapo.<br /><br />I arrived in Savannah and got everything up to my room by around 10:30 or 11. It was possibly the worst experience with a hotel that I've ever had. I didn't exactly want to try to move all my things again, so I didn't ask for a new room. If I knew I would get my money back though (and that I could find another room elsewhere) I would have left, for sure. So yeah - down with Microtels. -_-;<br /><br />They did NOT have TCM at this particular hotel so I was watching a lot of the Weather Channel - too grossed out and nervous to sleep for almost the entire night.<br />The Weather Channel, however, gave us all a typographical shoutout from back home. Also, hilarious last name...<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs048.ash2/35748_1411824589056_1635774897_945289_3796074_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Gosh that place was scary...<br /><object width="160" height="120"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1411875750335"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1411875750335" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br />and then... eventually I woke up in the morning to begin my Savannadventure.Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-19470061449300824252010-07-04T08:15:00.000-07:002010-07-04T08:58:09.931-07:00Days 10-12 Athens-Savannah-CharlotteThe Hampton Inn is being a little weird about letting me stay later. I'm sure this is due to the whole "hey it's the fourth" thing. <br /><br />In lieu of posting at the moment, I'll state that I'll come back and announce things to you when I find somewhere with internet access (free) at that I haven't fallen asleep at :(<br /><br />At any rate...<br /><br />More (hopefully) momentarily...Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-75988705342972673902010-07-01T05:57:00.000-07:002010-07-01T06:49:29.833-07:00Day 9: Atlanta to Athens/BogartYay!<br /><br />Yeah, you see it, NO PICTURES! That means a whole lot less work for me.<br /><br />As I'm typing this, I'm typing from Bogart, GA... another town that family lives in. This time, it's family from my Father's side: the Fishers. We're a goofy bunch (in a good way).<br /><br />At any rate - here I will note a few things.<br /><br />1) The driving that was bad... thankfully STAYED in Atlanta. After the traffic thinned out, mostly the bad driving that was left was by the hands and eyes of yours truly: slinking around as quickly as possible, staying alert and out of the way of the <a href="http://dps.georgia.gov/02/dps/home/0,2228,5635600,00.html;jsessionid=FD53926C037663122A24041051B70DD1">GSP</a>. They have blue lights :) Such a peculiar part of the South.<br /><br />2) I got scammed by a guy at a gas station. I bought some batteries. (a pack of 4 AAs) When I got to the next stoplight (probably about 2.5mi away) I opened them, noting the Arabic print on the back. Duly noted was the seemed cut into the package (as if they'd been resealed) and the tape used to fix the container up. I tried all of the batteries; they were so dead they didn't even turn the camera on long enough to get the "Change the batteries" message. This means that not only do I not have batteries still, but I am now also -$5.34. :(<br /><br />3)My family is hilarious and awesome. I feel completely awful for calling them the morning that I wanted to visit: it happened that way because I thought it was too late the other night at C^7--though when I stated this, my Uncle and Aunt were both telling me "You're family, family gets help at any time." And it was at that moment that I realized, it's really nice to have family (or anyone-but specifically in this case, family) that cares. This may have been a realization that I've already had, but I got hit in the face with it last night. Even though one cousin has a little girl and another one on the way, she made it out for dinner (was lovely to see them!). And my other cousin will be living in Vegas a good 2.5 weeks from now he should be fairly settled in with house stuff - so I got to see him before he left. teeheehee...<br /><br />4) On Jared and corn nuggets: So Jared told me about a few things in the car when I hung out with him. The first important one is this: he told me that he and his friend have been having this strange run of times where they somewhat impulsively go do something. His reasoning makes a lot of sense though: "I really kinda hate when you plan something, or think about it-and it doesn't happen or it takes forever to." He said that because of that, he and his pal say to do it then, (for example, food that they really have a craving for, perhaps) and then they really get things done a lot quicker. It is for this reason that I not only got more tasty fried okra (I think the only place I can get it around my house is at Cracker Barrel) but I got to try these things called corn nuggets. Are you ready for this? It's basically FRIED CREAMED CORN IN A HEAVENLY BITE SIZED SNACK. Wow. Favorite food from the trip so far? Probably the catfish. Favorite new food? Corn nuggets, for srs.<br /><br />5) Aunt Karen's store: I will not completely elaborate on my feelings about this just yet, suffice to say that seeing my Aunt's workspace/place and her AT work made me feel a little more excited about the field I'm going into. My Aunt is one of the blessed few who does what she enjoys for a living... so she essentially never has to work. I hope to post some pictures here later of the outside and inside of the store that she has. I get the most calm feeling from the store, and would that I could hang out in a place such as that more often: I felt completely at home (a feat that isn't even accomplished at my actual home). What a lovely time. More on that later.<br /><br /> Basically I'm going to hang with my Aunt today, take some pics (I might even get out to a thrift store or two... they are always better here than at home...) get my oil changed and then, on to SAVANNAH, GA!!! w00t!<br /><br /><3Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-65326486313576841832010-06-29T23:56:00.000-07:002010-06-30T04:50:01.834-07:00Days 8-9 Texas to Georgia<span style="font-size:130%;">Day 8: Texas to Mississippi</span><br /><br />So I left from Texas. It was hot.<br />And the storms? Because I was driving again, they also started back up. -_-;<br /><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs047.snc3/13453_1404610048697_1635774897_930705_4388278_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The land started morphing, it got kind of awesome. Texas has such a wide variety of geography - I saw only just a little bit of it, I tried to capture all that I thought was gorgeous:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs047.snc3/13453_1404610088698_1635774897_930706_4953360_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><br />I'd like to make a color scheme based around this: Texan Travels or something lame like that I'd probably call it. The first color schemes I created were in 1995; I used to use crayons to blend gradients and I distinctly remember "Jedi Forest Green" lol laaaame!! but yeah - Texan travels = pretty colors!<br /><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs047.snc3/13453_1404610128699_1635774897_930707_1900611_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Right before entering into Lousiana, you could tell you were about to:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs047.snc3/13453_1404610248702_1635774897_930710_8013992_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />It was in heavy traffic, when I first turned on Steve Martin's autobiography: bumper to bumper construction traffic right before Shreveport (but still in TX). At this moment, as shown here, I saw this occur about 12 times (am not exaggerating) and then it was hilarious. This is why they have pickup trucks Alllll over texas. Stupid trucks.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs047.snc3/13453_1404610328704_1635774897_930712_2389202_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Some more puffy clouds, almost like the ones from Galesburg:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs047.snc3/13453_1404610368705_1635774897_930713_5062838_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />In Shreveport (after crossing into Louisiana) I didn't have time to look for (and was too hungry to find) gumbo, so I just followed the signs to the catfish restaurant. It was a good idea, and quite possibly the best catfish I ever had. If you're ever in Shreveport... get that catfish. Also, the cheapest gas is by the Walmart, I paid 2.46/gal.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs067.snc3/13453_1404610448707_1635774897_930715_1252440_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Aaaand the storms followed me through Louisiana - and were the reason I saw almost none of the state... :(<br /><img src="http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs067.snc3/13453_1404610488708_1635774897_930716_1431637_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I find it important to note one thing that I couldn't possibly take a picture of - two things, come to think of it.<br /><br />1) Upon the last third of Louisiana, I definitely saw the moon rise: it was large and orange, and was the perfect "Bayou Moon" - you know, when that picturesque way of clouds parading across the moon's face as it rises through the night sky? You see it in Creature of the Black Lagoon type stories - or Scooby Doo? Yeah. It looked EXACTLY like that. I couldn't really get a picture because I didn't want to stop on the side of the road in a bayou. Talk about dangerous. :(<br /><br />2) You remember that old lady slug monster from Monsters, Inc.? Yes. I had the human version of her as the night shift at the Super 8 in Vicksburg, MS. She didn't take kindly to me being a respectable young lady, manners and all. I think maybe it's because I'm a Yankee. She even looked like she had one of those painted-on birthmarks, you know, like the French people used to do in the 1700s? Sadly she had no name tag, but I'll remember her as <span style="font-style: italic;">Dolores</span>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Day 9: Mississippi to Georgia</span><br /><br />In the morning, I was kinda tired, and lazily packing while talking to Lago online. I snapped this shot of my car to show you the colors of MS - I found strangely, that it was backwards of how I thought it would be. I thought Louisiana would be the prettiest state of the "Deep South" states, getting uglier the farther east I went - until GA, which I know is pretty. I was wrong, LA was ugly - and Mississippi and Alabama were pretty :D<br />I must have been one of the last people to leave. In retrospect, I should have left earlier, but I felt weird last night and couldn't sleep well. (kind of like tonight-I feel really jumpy and can't sleep :( I think I miss people from back home)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs066.ash2/36685_1405332546759_1635774897_932316_751483_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Hey Ari, remember my rap? This restaurant has the Fish & Fries, too, lawl<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs146.snc4/36685_1405332586760_1635774897_932317_6896256_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />So a lot of Mississippi had this type of ivy-growth on the plants that lined Interstate 20. Later, if I have time, I would like to look up the type of plant it is: it seems like a weed/parasitic plant.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs146.snc4/36685_1405332626761_1635774897_932318_3141713_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Got turned around by mislabeling on the GPS - but it turned me around well. Took a picture of the Jackson I wouldn't have seen if I hadn't accidentally made a wrong exit :)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs146.snc4/36685_1405332666762_1635774897_932319_3266288_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I stopped in Chunky, MS to get gas. Best town name ever. Well, next to Hideaway, Texas, that is.<br /><br />This next one is a horrible picture, but I didn't reshoot it: only for the story. This was the most gorgeous Rest stop I'd ever seen - and the man inside of it spoke exactly like Farmer Fran (or whatever his name was) from The Waterboy. I told the guy to have a nice day, and he grumbled something completely unintelligible back to me. I looked strangely at him for a moment and laughed and sort of agreed, and quickly escaped to my car. Hilarity had ensued.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs146.snc4/36685_1405332746764_1635774897_932321_4322261_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Alabama's hills are so pretty, and look like mountains in the distance :)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs146.snc4/36685_1405332786765_1635774897_932322_4734628_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs021.snc4/33392_1405333226776_1635774897_932324_3008416_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I traveled through the National Talladega Forest... cool? Woulda liked to walk in there...<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs001.ash2/33392_1405333266777_1635774897_932325_6410291_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />This next one was awful hard to get; sadly Atlanta has had the worst drivers yet in all of the states I've driven through. -_-; oh well. Neat ridge, though.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs001.ash2/33392_1405333306778_1635774897_932326_1064124_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />And so then I got to Bethany's place. It's in a warehouse. It's pretty sweet, there are 11 rooms here. No AC though, I am trying to get tired - it's just not happening (I think I'm scared to fall asleep in a warehouse. I'm such a pansy!!!)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">***To the "mommas" out there: It's entirely safe, we're in a gated circuit. The doors are shut and locked. I am safe until tomorrow...when I will venture back out to drive to Athens...***</span><br /><br /><br />I might go and sleep in my car, just because it smells like me and I'm pretty durned used to it anyway. I mean, there is full shower action which I will be using tomorrow morning, hopefully not bothering them :o And then in the morning (well, it will be in like 5 hours) I will call Uncle Ed/Aunt Karen and Jonathan - see if either one of them have any time to have lunch or dinner or something. Hugs, pictures - that sort of thing. Uncle Ed is my Dad's brother. (family from both sides!) Hopefully calling on them that day won't be too much of an imposition and/or nuisance. It's been difficult enough to roughly plot out where I'm going since Dad and I aren't going together - it's like, a bunch of things are kinda just thrown in and I've done a right terrible job of getting in touch with the people I was supposed to. -_-;<br /><br />If you are one of them and reading this, I apologize profusely.<br /><br />Lesson learned:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Not all Southerners like to give Southern Hospitality.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br />By the by... videos:<br /><br /><object width="160" height="120"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1405499950944"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1405499950944" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br />and of course<br /><br /><object width="160" height="120"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1405498670912"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1405498670912" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br />These are kind of unnecessary, but at the time, they seemed like a good idea.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >Until next time...</span>Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-38345692282325767272010-06-29T00:43:00.001-07:002010-06-29T23:59:06.442-07:00Days 5-7: Lake Worth and Azel, TXThe reason I initially planned this trip, if you'll recall, was to visit my Grandma Korto.<br /><br />I got to stay with her and her Shih-Tzu, JP in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Worth,_TX"> Lake Worth, TX </a>.<br /><br />As much as I'd like to blab about what went on in the area of not only Lake Worth, but also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azle,_Texas">Azle, TX</a> as well - it's family oriented. I'd rather speak of that to those who ask about it as opposed to sticking it onto the internet for everyone to look at.<br /><br />As I blab about the few pictures I'll show, I'll say this: I realized I wish I'd laid more time out for Texas. It was a learning experience in many ways, and I don't necessarily feel "full" yet.<br /><br />Below is George. This is one of the mini-cows ( <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereford_%28cattle%29"> info if you wish, regarding the cow breed </a><br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs037.snc4/34229_1404289080673_1635774897_929696_7935390_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />...TBC as soon as I get somewhere else that has wifi. I fell asleep again in front of the comp at mississippi. However, everything is uploaded (well, save for all of the D70 pics hahaha)<br /><br />**************<br /><br /><br />All righty. In Atlanta with Bethany and Ryan, who are kind enough so as to give me a place to lay my head (and internets to leech off of) this evening/morning. I got in late...<br /><br />...so here are the rest of 5-7 pics, and explanations along with them.<br /><br />This was a cool sign. I liked the logo; what can I say?<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs045.snc4/34623_1405330626711_1635774897_932312_3031071_n.jpg" width=400><br /><br /><br />At the Fort Worth Stockyards, I found a giant Chewbacca PEZ dispenser. I just thought it was cool so I took a picture... shots from the Stockyards, in addition to other shots that are with the D70... (I keep saying that. This blogging is more work than I thought that it would be)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs017.ash2/34229_1404289120674_1635774897_929697_2013070_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />This guy was hilarious... funny thing about the heat: it makes you kinda slow. If I had thought to do it, I would have totally had "my fortune read" by this guy, instead I just laughed and snapped a picture:<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs037.snc4/34229_1404289160675_1635774897_929698_4045103_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Lol: this was only funny because I'd already "met" Will Rogers at his hometown in Claremont, OK<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs037.snc4/34229_1404289200676_1635774897_929699_1354406_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />After we went to the stockyards, my Aunt and Uncle took us to <a href="http://www.joets.com/"> Joe T. Garcia's</a> a well-known local restaurant, which had some of the best food I'd had in quite some time: along with beautiful gardens. My cousin was right: all restaurants should be that cool. Here's a shot of one of the fountains there:<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs017.snc4/34229_1404289240677_1635774897_929700_6331569_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />These last couple shots are officially from the final day there, but whatever. Here is a shot of Grandma's dog, JP (stands for Jackpot)He really didn't like me taking photos of him. JP is pretty neat. He "talks" to grandma - I've only seen that in Boxers and Huskies, but he can say "I love you," better than any dog I've seen on you tube. Sadly, I couldn't get him to do it on my camera, so you're going to just have to take my word for it.<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs017.snc4/34229_1404289280678_1635774897_929701_5835040_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><br />This next shot is cool. This is me and Grandma Korto, AKA Nana. She's the reason I decided to leave on this trip in the first place. The rest of the trip kinda feels just like bland, boring driving and money blowing now. I'm sad. I miss her already.<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs017.snc4/34229_1404289320679_1635774897_929702_3116331_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br /><br />At any rate, Texas was beautiful, but horribly hot. Thankfully I'm in Atlanta, which, while LESS hot, is also MORE humid. From Texas, The Azle Kortokraxes gifted a Cactus to me, well-a few of them - and they are super special. In addition to being from their land, they have shells that used to belong to my Great Aunt Marge (who passed on about five years ago) - as well as three awesome fossils that they had found on their land as well. I'm toting the cactus in the seat behind me all the way back home to Illinois: Cacti are great, apparently I have to water it about once every 3 weeks (if it doesn't rain)...I'm excited to take care of it, as a wonderful memento of my time there.<br /><br />So... Texas was great. I hope to be able to visit again fairly soon. I don't want to wait another 9 years.<br /><br />On to the next, as <a href="http://www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com/">Grant and Jason</a> would say.Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-68160362171021570342010-06-29T00:37:00.000-07:002010-06-29T00:43:07.663-07:00Videos from Past DaysI'm going to pseudo spam link to the videos I didn't get to put up earlier.<br /><br /><br /><object width="160" height="120" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1404264640062" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1404264640062" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="160" height="120" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1404265520084" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1404265520084" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="160" height="120" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1404266280103" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1404266280103" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br />There are more to come.Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-58873384426362611212010-06-26T09:17:00.000-07:002010-06-26T10:21:03.859-07:00Days 3 and 4: On the Open Road, Illinois to Texas!<span style="font-size:130%;">Day 3: Illinois to Missouri.</span><br /><br />Driving is one of those things that makes you think. Later on (Day 5) Uncle Kurt called it "Windshield Time" - it's time where you get a lot of not talking to anyone else, thinking yourself, and basically being responsible for yourself.<br /><br />I feel as if just this part of the trip has made me a bigger person. Perhaps these pictures can sufficiently express that, maybe even along with the video .<br /><br />++as a side note, the video will be included at a shortly later date: my guess is, somewhere in Georgia++<br /><br />So I left North Henderson a little later than I had expected. I have learned that it's better to leave earlier in the morning to travel... but for that it's good to have had a good night's sleep, which I haven't seemed to be getting GREAT sleep or anything... but I'm getting ahead of myself.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">DISCLAIMER:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I wanted to be able to show you all as much of what I am seeing as I can. For that reason, I'm snapping quick shots (I'm not even looking through the viewfinder or anything, it's just set on auto) and I guarantee you, I'm being as safe as possible doing that. I'm sure that there is some law somewhere that tells you not to, but on the same hand, it's really not much different to me than drinking soda on the road. I just wanted to point that out before someone got all "Momma" on me telling me I shouldn't be taking pictures while driving. I KNOW I probably SHOULDN'T be, but I'm doing it as safely as possible. Thank you for any concern!</span><br /><br /><br />From North Henderson, IL, I took a few flies with me in the car. I think they finally left by the time I was going somewhere through Oklahoma. (which was a day later, btw)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs047.ash2/35700_1401119641439_1635774897_921134_4028560_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Illinois is a funny state... it's only pretty in the places I never hear of.<br /><br />I think I've been to Peoria twice in my life. This time I drove through it. The coolest thing of note was this building...<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs087.snc4/35700_1401119721441_1635774897_921136_7987455_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />And who could forget my Sarah Connor face?<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs107.snc4/35700_1401119761442_1635774897_921137_1951167_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />This is probably what I look like 60% of the time: those sunglasses are amazing, but they do horrible things to my peripheral vision: if the traffic ends up being 3 lanes, I don't like using them at all. Strange, that. Would that I could find a decent pair of sunglasses that both look cool AND are good for my vision...<br /><br /><br />I may have forgotten to mention that minus the time that we stopped over at the airport before we got to Florida four years ago, the last time I was in Missouri was when I was about six years old, maybe seven at most. Grandpa Fisher drove me out to see my Dad when Dad still lived in Columbia. Yeah that means it's been 19 years since I last drove on these streets... and I certainly wasn't behind the wheel...<br /><br />Here's St. Louis...<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs047.ash2/35700_1401119801443_1635774897_921138_8014090_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />You will note that the picture also has a billboard. the billboard, I noticed later while looking through my shots... is a Steak n Shake billboard. I can't even get away from the diabolical company when I drive 1,000 miles away.<br /><br />The trees and hills are much taller in Missouri. Dad put it as "it's like driving into Oz."<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs047.ash2/35700_1401119841444_1635774897_921139_3010528_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I am inclined to agree with him.<br /><br />...Save for the fact that Oz was never quite this humid and hot.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs107.snc4/35700_1401119881445_1635774897_921140_6413812_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Which isn't so bad, I suppose. I haven't been in heat for a good, long while. It really only got worse, though.<br /><br />Malcolm, you asked for a picture of my car: a full picture. Here ya go.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs087.snc4/35700_1401119921446_1635774897_921141_2257814_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />He's usually not this dirty, but Thomas Jefferson is running the long haul right now :)<br /><br />There was a wonderfully hazy sunset that evening - accompanied by a large front.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs087.snc4/35700_1401119961447_1635774897_921142_5143303_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The front, sadly, led to just a slight amount of heat lightning, and no water to cool us off (trumpet sad sound).<br /><br />I stayed that night--as you know--in Joplin, MO. Again, a video will be added here as soon as I'm able to get it onto the internets... It was a scarier town than I remember hearing about... and apparently more than Dad remembers as well.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Day 4: Missouri to Texas.<br /></span><br />It was nearly mid-day when I passed through Oklahoma. I had forgotten (which is sad) about the Trail of Tears, and that I would be driving through a fair amount of Indian country. While cool, is still sad. Oklahoma felt very lonesome, even through its large city.<br /><br />Much of the highway area looked like this:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs161.snc4/37403_1401126281605_1635774897_921148_2664024_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />And after paying four dollars for the toll there... I decided that I would drive the rest of the Oklahoma drive on non-toll roads. I'm not sure how much time or gas I wasted... but the rest of the country I drove through was sure pretty looking...<br /><br />I had to stop for gas. The first city that came up? Claremont. It's Will Rogers' hometown!!<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs161.snc4/37403_1401126321606_1635774897_921149_4847739_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I had to actually ask Dad if I was remembering Will Rogers correctly: as a cowboy, a singer, and a movie star. Dad said he was all of the above, and a pretty cool dude. I wish I could have stayed longer to learn a little more about him, but... thus is the way of the roadtrip.<br /><br /><br />Speaking of ways of roadtrips: I had entered finally, into an area that was kind of weird. For instance, buildings started becoming... stranger. An example?<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs181.snc4/37403_1401126361607_1635774897_921150_2057960_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />This Curves building is obviously a church. A beautiful little one, by the looks of it. But if you're going to purchase an old church for your business... wouldn't you take the cross down? It's misrepresentation, I feel. I thought I was approaching the town's first church or something... nope, just a women's workout center.<br /><br />I took this next shot just for my sister, Sarah:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs181.snc4/37403_1401126401608_1635774897_921151_7382616_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Here you go, dude. The birthplace of Hanson. the skyline of Tulsa, OK. Tulsa looked really broken down... at least the parts I drove through. Again, I wished I could have gotten out and seen some of the local area... but I had to book it!<br /><br />I had forgotten to mention this: Oklahoma reminds me in quite a few ways of Illinois: 1) they have a lot of grassland, a few more trees, and "watering holes" ... and actually, just as much construction. Missouri's roads were a welcome respite from having driven down the whole length of IL - but Oklahoma? It was driving through Illinois all over again, but prettier countryside and hotter... much, much, hotter.<br /><br />It began to look like a Western.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs181.snc4/37403_1401126441609_1635774897_921152_7176902_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />When I veered off and took the "non-toll" route, I drove through some pretty cool areas... that had buildings that looked kind of like this:<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs081.ash2/37403_1401126481610_1635774897_921153_6055257_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Sure enough, though, after the 20mile an hour tinytown, you would drive into the 65 mile an hour cowboy country :)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs161.snc4/37403_1401126561612_1635774897_921155_4997813_n.jpg" width="450" /><br /><br />I think that this is the first Land Oil Rig I ever did pass by (cool!)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs081.ash2/37403_1401126641614_1635774897_921157_7803044_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I then crossed into Texas.<br />Which, let me tell you, has better roads--but I'm convinced the drivers are worse than in Chicago.<br />No, really. They don't know how to drive on an Interstate. How frustrating.<br />They have the prettiest skies though :)<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs181.snc4/37403_1401126681615_1635774897_921158_880233_n.jpg" width="300" /><br /><br />Wait, oh that's why the skies were pretty: they were going to open up on us?<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs081.ash2/37403_1401126721616_1635774897_921159_665411_n.jpg" width="450" /><br /><br />Worst wasn't over yet...<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs161.snc4/37403_1401126761617_1635774897_921160_5300485_n.jpg" width="450" /><br /><br />Honestly, I'm surprised I actually made it to Grandma's. There was a time period in there where it was raining so hard I couldn't read the signs. It was at this point that I was extremely grateful for the lending of the Tom-Tom to me... because while I personally couldn't read the signs, the Tom-Tom still knew where I was and could direct me. It was some rough driving, that last two hours, but I got here!!<br /><br />And with a rainbow at the end, to boot!<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs161.snc4/37403_1401126801618_1635774897_921161_6326197_n.jpg" width="300" /><br /><br />So here I am in a little ol' area called Lake Worth, right outside of Fort Worth... I'm staying with my Awesome Grandma Kortokrax (my Mom's Mom) and her hilarious Shih-Tzu, JP.<br /><br />More to come!Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-25980855120585628522010-06-26T08:29:00.000-07:002010-06-26T09:17:42.325-07:00Day 2: North Henderson, IL // Amy, Steve & the GangTo all who have been actively watching, my utmost apologies and of course, heartfelt appreciation for taking the time to look even though I haven't been around.<br /><br />The second day in North Henderson was comprised of visits to other places (Alexis, IL where I got gas for 2.51/gal) (the house/farm Steve's grandfather used to live on) as well as hilarity and goofiness from Amy and I...<br /><br />One of the things we stated betwixt the two of us, was that it was great to be back in the company of someone who knew what the heck we were talking about. I get sick of re-explaining things to day-to-day people. Amy always knows - sometimes we just make faces and understand what we're saying. I think that's one of the qualifiers regarding if someone is your best friend or not :)<br /><br />Without any further adieu... some pics!<br />So first off in the day (after lunch, where we grilled out, and Amy and Steve showed me that baked beans on a hot dog are amazing) we got to another farm :D This farm had work horses, 2 silly dogs, some sheep, and metalworking tools/stuff.<br /><br />Here's Amy on a cool swing that Steve's grandfather made!<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs142.snc4/36481_1401117321381_1635774897_921127_4316790_n.jpg" width="300" /><br /><br />Remember those two silly dogs? I don't have a picture of Bart, but he totally looks like Sandy from Annie :) Murdock, however, looked like a mobile mop, and was awesome. I think he's a Cairn Terrier? Ha! He was stalking me around the farm... in a fun and playful way.<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs062.ash2/36481_1401117361382_1635774897_921128_2495141_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Amy told me to pick out a horseshoe for good luck: I must have very good luck, because we forgot to take them in, and she picked one out and I picked one out, and they're in my car hehehe (I will show you pictures of the forge and anvil when I get those posted - they were taken with the D-70, so they will be uploaded when I have a snidge more time and different internets... it's difficult to find time to post when I'm hanging with family I haven't seen for almost 10 years)<br /><br />However, we ended up going back to the farm I was staying with them at... and got to play with some of the animals. Everyone was in a good mood, despite the heat.<br /><br />The alpacas were actually coming up to me! ...Almost TOO close to get a picture, haha.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs142.snc4/36481_1401117401383_1635774897_921129_8145296_n.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Amy explained that the kittens are in a stage where they are learning how to play fight :) It made for some hilarious pictures.<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs062.ash2/36481_1401117441384_1635774897_921130_5090135_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />But the kittens and alpacas and pony (it was very difficult for me to get a good shot of April Buttercup, I'll try and find one between the two cameras) were not the only friends to spend the day with on the farm :)<br /><br />Have you been introduced yet to Charlie?<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs122.snc4/36481_1401117481385_1635774897_921131_6912966_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />I also call him: Charles-in-Charge, Sir Charles, or Big Dude.<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs142.snc4/36481_1401117521386_1635774897_921132_8144960_n.jpg" width="300" /><br /><br />Charlie is part-lab, part-great dane... and all AWESOME. He even poses for the camera!<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs062.ash2/36481_1401117561387_1635774897_921133_539517_n.jpg" width="300" /><br /><br />Later that night, Amy was kind enough to let me post the FIRST North Henderson post... I find that it's ultimately a lot easier to do it at the end of the day THAT day before I go to sleep... and I've also recently found that doesn't always happen the way you want it to, haha.<br /><br />So we hung out in the house for a bit, Amy made some iced Americanos for us (Amy decidedly makes the best coffee evar.) And she tried painting a cover for my sketch journal (which, for those of you who heard me say that and cared about it... which probably amounts to M@, ((haha)) No, I've not sketched yet - I SWEAR it's going to happen!!! hehe) but she didn't like the first version, and then she worked on the second version. Neither one of these did Amy like. She ended up stating "These paints just really suck," and I was like :( and then we laughed.<br /><br />I was thrilled (though I think I found this out the night before, but I could be wrong) to find that Amy and Steve both like the Lapsang Souchong - or Russian Caravan tea. Those of you who have had my presence accompanied by my "tea library" will remember it as the "campfire tea". I left them with a fair amount of it because everyone else who has tried it has hated it :( Tea needs love, just like peoples! I also left Amy with a tea I made for her that has: mugwort, pennyroyal, chamomile, peppermint, and hibiscus in it. I will likely need to re-calculate the percentages, but I think the flavors work well together. I made it 'specially for Amy and called it "The Brew of the Western Oracle" - kept a bit with myself so I remember what I put in there :) I miss having someone around who likes tea as much as I do. hehehe<br /><br />After the attempted painting, we went back to the trailer and were "cleaning stuff up" before Steve got back (we were gonna have steak! yay!) aaand... well, we decided on doing an art project together earlier the day before (at Blick) however, didn't have a whole lot of time... SO we painted our hands and made handprints, two each and then cut it in half so that we each got a handprint of the other AND our own print... and we're going to do an art trade with it, so we're going to work with the handprints and return them to eachother (I am so excited, I haven't done an art trade in forevers.. and definitely never one like this hehehe).<br /><br />After a tasty dinner, we were all kind of bushed - we hung out for a wee bit attempting to get Phantom Moon and/or the American Gods audiobook onto my computer (but with no avail) ... it was put onto my flash drive... but I think I left my flash drive there, lol (oh noes!) because it isn't my flash drive, it's Reid's. Dangit! Well, I'll figure it all out.<br /><br />I was very sad to leave, I loved hanging with all the animals, (I still want to take Cat Stevens, Jr. home, even if he is a bit of a spitfire...) and the obvious: hanging with my best friend :) I miss you, Amy, and it was fun, I have to come back soon, if you guys will allow it, haha.<br /><br />Lesson learned for Day 2:<br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:180%;">True friendship is one of the strongest bonds someone can have.</span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left">I'll catch you all momentarily, when I talk about Days 3 and 4...</div>Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-84175086560207708802010-06-24T08:19:00.000-07:002010-06-24T08:21:47.083-07:00Days 2-3 TO COME TONIGHT!Sorry I haven't been posting every night :(<br /><br />Rest assured that I am still quite well, and a ton more pictures are following. While I might not have posted on days 2 and 3, I'll post as if I did ;)<br /><br />This is just a quick shot from the hotel I stayed at in Joplin, MO. On to GRANDMA!<br /><br />... and Tulsa, which I've never been to :D<br /><br />Nat<br /><br />ps It's so neat being able to videochat with my sisters hehehe I'm such a nerdNat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-83892877857182238352010-06-22T18:08:00.000-07:002010-06-22T19:53:27.865-07:00Day 1: Destination: North Henderson, ILAlrighty. So, after craziness happened, and I finally got off to my start this morning, I spent my first day and night in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Henderson,_Illinois">North Henderson, IL </a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Craziness:</strong><br /></span><br />Remember how I showed you all my tech? Yeah, didn't get it all in the car ready to set up/test run it before I went to bed for 2.5 hours. That meant that while I woke up on time (5:40am) I actually left my house (after finalizing all of it) at around 8:50.<br /><br />Finalized car with tech:<br /><object width="160" height="120"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1398166647616"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1398166647616" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="160" height="120"></embed></object><br /><br />The dogs were completely confused. They always seem to know when you're leaving. :(<br />My dogs. Bad pics, but they are both mildly camera shy. I'll miss them!<br /><br /><img src="http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/173/b/8/dogs11_by_CalenthrellII.jpg" width="250" /> Sadie--> <img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs042.snc4/34445_1398140926973_1635774897_914125_1132850_n.jpg" width="250" /><br /><br />Finally, I got in the car, and went to the bank as well as Mc Donalds. I ran into Neftali (a coworker) which was strange (it was around 9 am or something) and he was waiting for his cousin.<br /><br />I was just happy McDonalds was still serving breakfast...<br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs062.snc4/34445_1398141006975_1635774897_914127_6708658_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Breakfast of champions: additionally I got a sausage biscuit (there is something very reminiscent of my childhood with pertinence towards McDonalds Orange Juice. Odd, that)which I saved the latter half for... for the farm dogs :D<br /><br />I actually stopped in DeKalb to pick up soda (vanilla coke zero AND the best soda ever: Canada Dry's green tea ginger-ale) but after I messed up by getting on the wrong road, I turned BACK around, and proceeded to pay this:<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs042.snc4/34445_1398141046976_1635774897_914128_6163094_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />Which I thought of as highway robbery... until I got to the next toll, which was $1.90 - as was the one after it. In addition to that, the final toll paid was also $1.90:<br /><br />I told the toll booth operator to have a great day, she seemed surprised and dropped my change in my hand. I had given her 2 dollars. As she said, "You too," I began to drive off and looked at the change. She had given me a penny. I got gypped out of 9 cents by an employee of the State of Illinois. Thankfully by tomorrow night at this time (roughly quarter to 9) I will be out of Illinois... at least for the following 2 and a half weeks.<br /><br />In the first 4 hours of my drive, I learned quite a bit. One, I-88 is kind of annoying. I also found out that no matter where you drive, people drive like idiots... and sadly, only about a fifth of the drivers on it actually know the correct "rules" of driving on an Interstate. Please don't stay in the passing lane for an extended time... and if you're going to, can you drive faster than the drivers in the right lane instead of matching their speed for four miles?<br />Something else I learned: most midwestern country roads are awesome. You can see storms coming from miles away... you can see how long your train is going to last when you're waiting for it, you can hear bugs in the summer, and it looks magical in the wintertime: a sea of white. One downside of some country roads, however, is gravel.<br />Looks gorgeous...<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs022.ash2/34445_1398141086977_1635774897_914129_8228404_n.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />But is somewhat dangerous, and kind of hard on non-trucklike vehicles.<br /><br />Thomas Jefferson (that's my car's name, for those of you who didn't know) handled it like a pro... albeit a very slow and cautious pro.<br /><br />Once I got into town and met with Amy, I was super excited, super tired, and we got to eat a super sandwich that Amy made before Steve ran off to work. Then Amy and I ran out to town (Galesburg) to visit the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.dickblick.com">Blick</a> outlet store. Sadly, there was nothing there. Fortunately, it was a good place to pick up just 4 drawing pencils: I guess I left mine at work :(<br /><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">*Julia, if you're reading this, please don't throw them out, they're in an orange Clinique clutch-sized container*<br /></div></span><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br />The good thing about that, is that I now have sketching pencils (what you thought this would<br />only be photos? Pish posh!! More on the sketching to follow at a later Posting.<br /><br />The weather was incredibly strange yesterday. I drove through a constant smattering of light drizzles. When I got into the Galesburg area, it seemed to clear up and get really, REALLY hot. I know now why my Grandmother was questioning my sanity for even trying this trip: it's HOT.<br /><br />This is especially true in my car. To conserve energy and gas, I usually don't run my AC unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary (i.e. really hot, but pouring outside, or in bumper-to-bumper traffic when really hot) I realized that I needed to keep all my electronics in a cool area when I wasn't using my car or they could get fried right quick. Mental note made, and kept to out here.<br /><br />Amy and I, upon leaving the art supply store, kind of stumbled upon an old and large cemetary in Galesburg. We took quite a few pics out there: I will link to those a bit later (probably in the next post) some interesting people it seemed: best name? <em>Victoria Snowball.</em> Don't believe me? Tune in for the next post, I'll show you visual evidence.<br /><br />After the muggy cemetary, the fronts began rolling in. We got ice cream at this this awesome place called <a href="http://www.bing.com/local/details.aspx?lid=YN280x5646871&qt=yp&what=lim" where="Galesburg%2c+Illinois&s_cid=ansPhBkYp02&mkt=en-us&q=lim's+galesburg+il"">Lim's Ice Cream Shoppe </a>. I had a double cone with Mackinac Island Fudge // Toasted Marshmallow... the last of my headache died with that cone, and Amy and I want to invent a potato chip waffle ice cream cone. om-nom-nom. We did a couple more runs: to Goodwill (I had to make sure I had another non-pants bottom, this heat is actually too hot for pants.) And we met with Steve at DQ. At this point, the clouds were totally mixing and beginning to make a crazy storm.<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs042.snc4/34445_1398141166979_1635774897_914130_5947815_n.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />We said Goodbye to Steve, ran to grab ice... I grabbed a picture of the sky. No really, it was super crazy and weird...<br /><br /><img src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs139.snc4/37300_1398181007975_1635774897_914196_4882114_n.jpg" width="500" /><br /><br />And then we went back and took MORE pictures, where Amy actually took an AMAZING shot of lightning (!!!!) I'll link to it when she has it posted :P<br /><br />The Galesburg Nikon D-70 shots will likely be submitted at DeviantArt and I'll just link to them, perhaps, I'm not sure. They aren't on this computer, and I'm almost done with this post, ha.<br /><br />We had an awesome rest of the night, fiddlin with photos, catching up on lives, reminiscing. Later on when Steve got home from work, Amy made us all some delicious chicken/broccoli/jasmine rice stir fry which was super-tasty and it hit the spot, followed by some strawberries (can you tell I'm a snidge hungry right now? hehehe) and because of the crazy rainstorms, Amy and I didn't quite camp "outside," but rather, moved the tent into the barn, where we were being attacked by cats throughout the evening (and the morning).<br /><br />Amy made an excellent point: in a place such as North Henderson, camping actually brings you closer to society than you would be in staying at your own home.<br /><br />The stars were still out, though. It's so beautiful to see stars all OVER the sky, like some painter had paint on a sheet, and "flapped" the sheet, sending billions of tiny droplets all over an inky canvas. I love the country :D<br /><br />Lesson learned and/or reminded of:<br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><blockquote><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>You can always make yourself warmer fairly easy... but making<br />yourself cooler is a much more meticulous and often unsuccessful<br />process.</em></span></blockquote></em></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;"></span>Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-12445055343175514852010-06-19T18:00:00.000-07:002010-06-20T01:04:19.478-07:00AAA is far superior to Mapquest.<img src="http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/170/f/6/gvjakflakMAP_by_CalenthrellII.jpg" /><br />^ Why AAA is awesome. This is the top page of the 79 page PDF that AAA made for me.<br /><br /><br />Shortly after finishing my finals, I'm starting to work on the comfort areas: the following pics should explain the ridiculousness of it all.<br /><br />Step one:<br />Physical comfort in the car:<br /><ul><li>butt pillows (I'ma need 'em)</li><li>Raspberries (he still, after 23 years, goes everywhere. makes for a good neck pillow sometimes)</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEQ2BVHzKFVWBQmgQMWcQC5g4Z5DMhOqt3u3uGVXMB9hSmogG19pl7TzZdFQ501k8umyeBNaHxQrHYJSMuLDX6cEuPovRmXCmdjXb7xvj_VAKJmQX8jkKtqqmoMrzhmfbZXY8mH4OXUV-/s1600/IMG_8281.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEQ2BVHzKFVWBQmgQMWcQC5g4Z5DMhOqt3u3uGVXMB9hSmogG19pl7TzZdFQ501k8umyeBNaHxQrHYJSMuLDX6cEuPovRmXCmdjXb7xvj_VAKJmQX8jkKtqqmoMrzhmfbZXY8mH4OXUV-/s320/IMG_8281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484686354324117170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wNRMXD55EmfiG9f__pQxorKKxNPbZzdwLJD0AINCsDFDbzxdmet9uR2IzPXp_n0MYpHJUQ7-YURIjJDHNPIEZ1k-FMq-CyLl5DpFSrWu5be91R0kjqiP2VgwUqBWhxHEfFF9bhB5sIAz/s1600/IMG_8285.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wNRMXD55EmfiG9f__pQxorKKxNPbZzdwLJD0AINCsDFDbzxdmet9uR2IzPXp_n0MYpHJUQ7-YURIjJDHNPIEZ1k-FMq-CyLl5DpFSrWu5be91R0kjqiP2VgwUqBWhxHEfFF9bhB5sIAz/s320/IMG_8285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484686363977399362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />copious amounts of hand sanitizer and lotion (One can never be too prepared, and my hands get bad in heat, strangely)<br /><br />This will lead us into the tech:<br />Dad insists I take his "car cooler" that hooks into the car lighter. He also says "I have this thing here too: you can bring the cooler into the hotels with you and plug it in there with this!"<br /><br /><img src="http://th04.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2010/170/7/b/carcooler_by_CalenthrellII.jpg" width="200" height="300/" /> <img src="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/170/0/6/wtfmat_by_CalenthrellII.jpg" width="300" /><br /><br />I feel like some kind of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Taylor_%28character%29">Tim-the-Toolman Taylor </a> aura ebbing from the appliances that are about to accompany me into Misadventure...<br /><br />...I was always more of an Al or Wilson girl...<br /><br />And am convinced I don't need this: normal coolers are totally all right with me. However, this cooler doesn't take ice. While less of a mess, how much energy is it stealing from the rest of the goodies that are making their way across a third of the US with me?<br /><br />Those goodies are:<br /><br />First and foremost, my babies.<br /><img src="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/170/e/7/compy_by_CalenthrellII.jpg" /> Victoria (sans case)<br /><br />(Reid's thought process: "Somafm... good girl. ...Hey, that's my flash drive!!" )<br /><br />Sadly, the camera doesn't have a name, but here it is (no case pictured here either, nor is the trusty power shot A 520 I've been using for 4 years, lol, it's taking the pictures!)<br /><img src="http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/170/9/4/camraramram_by_CalenthrellII.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />and of course, the rest of the ridiculousness:<br /><img src="http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/170/6/d/STUFF_by_CalenthrellII.jpg" /><br />In which we find (from left top):<br /><ul><li> the "Stretcher" for the car lighter: allows me two additional spaces for other car lighter plugs</li></ul><ul><li> the detector (for you, Aunt Cathy) - which will be using one of the stretcher slots.</li><li>the Tom-Tom (graciously lent by Ari - thank you ^_^)</li><li>What? My phone is TOTALLY tech...</li><li>That middle contraption that kind of looks like a thermometer? Yeah, that's my favorite tech item: it's the only thing out there minus the phone that's actually mine. It used to go with my iPod before it was stolen. <span style="font-style: italic;">Uber cool fact about it:</span> it can plug into ANY headphone jack, and use its audio. This means I can listen to Stargate SG-1 episodes (on DVD via the laptop) and X-Files episodes - or if I'm feeling really ridiculous, I'll listen to the extended Fellowship of the Ring or something--ON MY CAR SPEAKERS. Why? <span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Because I can.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">The thing hanging off the right side of the picture is the USB link for my cameras. This will be used almost constantly, it's like an IV</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Last, but most certainly not least:<span style="font-weight: bold;"> The Power Inverter</span> *adds Toolman grunts* This allows me to use a car lighter plug... and get two electrical outlets in return. This powers the laptop (which powers the Tom-Tom) and the phone.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />I want to explain all this because I find it quite ridiculous. But I think it's a little goofy all around that I am pushing more than 48 hours of driving in a three-week time span. It NEEDS to be goofy. Plus, how can I keep in touch with all the friends and family that I love? And how else would you see my pictures? :D I think this particular post teaches me the first lesson before I get on the road:</span><br /></span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: right; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><blockquote><div style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"> I couldn't live without technology at this particular crossroads in my life, regardless of how much of an anachronism I might consider myself.</span></blockquote></span><br /></div></blockquote></div><img src="http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/170/b/9/anachronismsmsmsms_by_CalenthrellII.jpg" align="right" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">As a post script: please don't be alarmed if either of the following things should occur:</span><br /></span> <ol><li style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">My father rises to internet stardom for his spectacular rap duet with <a href="http://www.markgormley.com/">Mark Gormley</a> and no, they aren't dopplegangers.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">My sister Sarah makes billions of dollars off the "Pants Club"... a club. For pants.</span></span><br /></li></ol>Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8981523428109269707.post-92043432899013923482010-06-19T00:32:00.000-07:002010-06-19T02:25:42.135-07:00The Lengthiest Introduction this Side of the MississippiFor those of you who don't already know, I'm planning on taking this insanely ridiculous road trip... by myself.<br /><br />The original reason was to see my grandmother, whom I've not been in company with for about five years. I suppose that means I should definitely get out there and visit with her. I knew that my best friend Amy was along the way about four hours South of me; and that I'd have to stop by and see her :)<br /><br />I also realized that I'm getting older, and quickly approaching that time period where I can't automatically request three weeks off of work in order to fraternize with family members I haven't seen (unless something drastic such as their passing is occurring...) So, at the age of 26, I begin what I'd like to think of as a 'late-bloomer's coming of age ritual'<br /><br />I won't state that it came to me in a dream, but rather that simply, I feel that this road trip will teach me much about life, family, music, photography, America, the open road, penny-pinching, and above all... myself. My <span style="font-style: italic;">true</span> self, that is.<br /><br />For starters, I recently made this crazy purchase of this laptop - so that I may easily:<br /><ul><li>document my journeying</li><li>import my photos in near-real time</li><li>find out where in Hades I might be floundering about (Mississippi, I'm looking in your direction)</li><li>talk to my sisters via VIDEO (zomg <span style="font-style: italic;">Spaceship Earth</span> was right!!!) and/or friends of mine who want to keep updated on where I'm at :)</li></ul><br />Knowing that, keep in mind those who continue to read along for my future postings will undoubtedly bear witness to as much of what I am seeing as I can relate to you in: photos, the written word, and-as always-links to inane BS that I find pertinent at the time.<br /><br />Secondly: I am not going on this trip alone by choice. Originally after I visited Gram and other Korto kin out in Texas, I was going to meet up with my father and we were going to tour some of New Orleans. It's a city I've always wanted to see: something that seems oddly familiar, that perhaps I <span style="font-style: italic;">DID </span>see in dreams ;) But... that didn't happen. Dad had a multitude of doctor's appointments and random household minutiae that sadly took him from the obvious craziness that is his firstborn.<br /><br /><br /><br />It is with that premise that I lead you into my first blogged misadventure. (And quite possibly one of the longest)<br /><br />I knew that I had already taken the time off of work, that three weeks' worth of me being out of the house, out of school... was definitely three weeks that I wasn't going to throw away. I figured at this point, "Well, I <span style="font-style: italic;">am</span> going to be 'down South,' I should probably check in with other family I have," which meant my cousin Jon. Jon's from my Dad's side of the family, and about the coolest cousin I could ever ask for. The crappy thing about Jon is that he lives so far away; would that I could live closer just to hang with him - I feel he's the type of guy I could learn from. He's based in Athens. I didn't realize that Athens would be as far East as it was (I've flown there, and that tends to cloud your sense of direction if you aren't actually paying attention to your latitudinal and longitudinal location).<br /><br />So I moved my mind's pushpin from New Orleans, LA to Athens, GA. (Jon still isn't fully aware of this, and my tentative itinerary calls for me to actually get there in about a week & a half. Oh, Natalie)<br /><br />I had planned to do some ghost hunting in New Orleans and surrounding area (What what? <a href="http://www.myrtlesplantation.com/">Myrtles Plantation</a>? Awww it woulda been neat :D) However, remember, I'm skipping that. Though I seemed to remember something strange about Georgia: oh yes--Savannah is also there: a city that is relatively close to a friend of mine from high school. She's awesome, and a Marine, and has been telling me I need to get my rear down there to take pictures and hang with her. ...Savannah is also well known for some ghostly rumors, tee hee hee. Well, so hey - Athens and Savannah in Georgia, family, and friends - and lo, a tertiary point in the trip was laid. (Cool.)<br /><br />At this point, I was like "whoa, I'm really doing this," and knew I needed the laptop.<br />After settling on the Toshiba A505, settling for a decent price for everything it came with, I am quite pleased with my purchase a week afterwards.<br /><br />I then (during the horrid finals crunch which I am still, at this moment, putting off because I'm so sick of this right now) decided that I needed to figure out the rest of this beast.<br />If you've been keeping track:<br /><ol><li>Amy</li><li>Gram + Fam</li><li>Jon + Fam</li><li>Liz and Ghosties</li></ol>Oh boy. That puts me quite a ways-away from Mount Prospect. So how do I get back if I, at that point, am on the Eastern coast of the US? Easiest answer?<br /><br />SEE MORE OF THE EASTERN US.<br /><br />So I go north: towards Pennsylvania. Why? Well, it has a lot of good people and cool things there.<br /><br />Specifically, more ghost hunting and a heckuva lot of history. It would also be yet another of the original 13 colonies to drive through *wink-wink*<br /><br />I have a couple friends who live out there: however, it has been difficult to reach one of them, and somewhat awkward for me to figure out how to reach him without tacking on another 450 miles to the already seemingly infinite travel plans.<br /><br />Upon looking at Pennsylvania, I knew of one thing I had to see: Gettysburg. Silly, I know. It's hard to be a civil war history buff when you live in Illinois, don't have much access to travel, and most of what you find out is directly from books... so I don't consider myself a buff - but I do have a great love for the period of time when we were such a young, impetuous nation: like now, but we didn't have our head up our backside yet. I am thrilled to see the battleground, to walk upon the soil where the blood that spilled helped cultivate a country of epic proportions. And of course, to read whatever they have there and take it all in.<br /><br />I then thought of a couple other places I knew I wanted to at least drive through. One being Centralia. For those of you who aren't familiar, I am giving you the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centralia,_Pennsylvania">Wiki-link</a> so that you may get an un-opinionated source. I will leave it to the readers' mind as to why I want to visit this locale. Yes I will play it safe; No, I am not going at dark, And yes, I'm sticking to the "normal" roads.<br /><br />I also realized that on the way to PA, I go scarily close to Washington D.C. This, of course, means that I need to make a stop.<br /><br />This is not to visit our current President: I am generally closer to him than most of the country, being so close to Chicago. I want to see the Smithsonian :D Yes, that's right. More history, and for free! Totally DON'T want to stay in D.C. though; it just seems scary. I hear bad things about it, etc etc. So that means I have decided to stay in Fredricksburg (between Richmond, VA and the Capitol). I picked this town due to its cheap prices at the local Days Inn (which has WiFi and an outdoor pool) AS WELL AS the 4 Civil War battlefields to go check out as well.<br /><br />Needless to say, I am thrilled.<br /><br />Basically, I get to add a couple more points of stay time, as this area seems as if it's going to take a couple days to wade through :)<br /><br />And this means more book time, as well as "study" time for working on the pictures, there's a side project I'm working on for Dad, talking to people I miss, and of course, perusing the local history and eateries (well... the cheap ones, anyway).<br /><br />I hope I don't stay away for too long.<br /><br />Stay tuned:<br />ETD is Monday morning, 6 am.<br /><br />As a side note, the following blogs will NOT be this long. If you've put up with me this far, I commend you and congratulate your future reading, as I am convinced that it will be far more intriguing ;)<br /><br />As I will remain, now and always:<br />-searching for the truth-Nat Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07004407471108643405noreply@blogger.com2