While digging around the internet as I usually do while procrastinating on my homework projects that I need to do for my final week of semester classes, I came across Piano Across America. It's something deeply inspiring that I can connect with in a bunch of ways, and it has begun to re-fuel my passion for a cross country road trip that I've been dreaming about for so many years.
Even though I cannot play the piano like this guy does, it's awesome seeing someone have the balls to travel around, spreading his love of music on the streets, and simply seeing the world and meeting new people.... all with a piano.
Ever since I was in Junior High, I've wanted to take a similar journey around the United States, but since I have a passion for history, I would love to go on the road and spread a message of preserving history and getting people to learn history, all the while going to the most interesting places, finding historical places, and meeting people and learning their own stories. I would love to combine my love of photography, history, and journalism, and use all three of those on the road and record what I find. It's why I've come to call this blog, The Curious Blogger.
Over the years, I've come across people online who have done cross country road trips who have a message, just like Dotan Negrin, who's simply living his dream of playing a piano around the country.
All one has to do is get out there and follow the road.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
History along the wayside
When it comes to history, it never seems to be all that far away, especially on a road trip. The past just tends to linger there, either in the form of a museum or a historical marker, awaiting the next curious soul to seek out whatever stories that is there. Also, it just tends to pop out of nowhere, when you plan on being elsewhere.
I was reminded of this as I drove down to Evansville, Indiana for a few days. While waiting at a stoplight in Terre Haute, Indiana, I glanced over at this historical marker that was sitting along the edge of the road, right in front of a gas station. That got me even more curious to see what the sign was commemorating - "The Birthplace of the Coke-Cola Bottle." Now that's something I would never have known about, nor would have thought about on a random day while heading off someplace else.
And so, history keeps marching onwards. I'll have more stuff in the coming days - especially after spending a day in Nashville, Tennessee to see the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as a few shots of downtown and the state capitol building.
I was reminded of this as I drove down to Evansville, Indiana for a few days. While waiting at a stoplight in Terre Haute, Indiana, I glanced over at this historical marker that was sitting along the edge of the road, right in front of a gas station. That got me even more curious to see what the sign was commemorating - "The Birthplace of the Coke-Cola Bottle." Now that's something I would never have known about, nor would have thought about on a random day while heading off someplace else.
And so, history keeps marching onwards. I'll have more stuff in the coming days - especially after spending a day in Nashville, Tennessee to see the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as a few shots of downtown and the state capitol building.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Words That Inspire Me (Some Must Reads)
I love books as you can imagine. I judge a mall or shopping complex by what bookstore it has..... and it if doesn't have one, then I want to get out of there as soon as possible. Even if I am just clothes shopping.
Over the years, I've stumbled upon some pretty cool authors and their books that I couldn't put down and truly enjoyed. So, here is a list of a few of my top favorites.
Over the years, I've stumbled upon some pretty cool authors and their books that I couldn't put down and truly enjoyed. So, here is a list of a few of my top favorites.
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Kerouac is one of my personal favorites, especially with his unique writing style. When I discovered that he wrote On the Road by hand, all on this massive scroll without any spaces between the words, he was truly my hero. Since reading On the Road, I found several of his journals and it helped inspire me to start keeping a journal and doing whatever it took to keep working on my craft of writing. One of the many reasons why I've started this blog.
Kerouac is one of my personal favorites, especially with his unique writing style. When I discovered that he wrote On the Road by hand, all on this massive scroll without any spaces between the words, he was truly my hero. Since reading On the Road, I found several of his journals and it helped inspire me to start keeping a journal and doing whatever it took to keep working on my craft of writing. One of the many reasons why I've started this blog.
Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
I remember reading a very short story that was part of the book in a high school English class of mine, and just reading the short story wasn't enough. I couldn't find this book anywhere, and then while combing through this old and dusty used bookshop (which has now long been closed), I came across an old copy of the book by strange happenstance. It's now one of my favorites, since Anderson has created an entire town and each chapter centers upon a different person in the town, mostly surrounding the one main character.
I remember reading a very short story that was part of the book in a high school English class of mine, and just reading the short story wasn't enough. I couldn't find this book anywhere, and then while combing through this old and dusty used bookshop (which has now long been closed), I came across an old copy of the book by strange happenstance. It's now one of my favorites, since Anderson has created an entire town and each chapter centers upon a different person in the town, mostly surrounding the one main character.
Into the Wild by Jon Kraukauer
I feel very strongly for this book because I feel like I can truly connect to what Chris McCandless felt about the world around him and life in general. I sometimes have this urge to go out and explore the world like he did.... except, I have no desire to head up into the vast Alaskan wilds to live off the land. I'm more of an armchair traveler and I don't like to take risks, so maybe that's why I deeply enjoyed the book - he went out and actually did something, despite dying in the process. Also, I was inspired by Kraukauer, for his journalistic talent in being able to trace where McCandless was. His work inspires me to try to become that sort of writer/journalist.
Anything written by Bill Bryson
I first came across Bill Bryson's work before I headed off to Iowa back in 2003. He's originally from there and he wrote a bit about the state, and from the hilarious stuff he had said about how they drove, that was my stereotype when me and my parents drove to Des Moines to check out the college campus that I was hoping to go to. Ever since coming across someone who had their blinker turned on and driving super slow in the right lane while on the interstate, I couldn't help but enjoy the work of Bill Bryson, a humorous and enjoyable writer.
The poetry of Galway Kinnell
I took a poetry course at my community college, once again, just for the heck of it, and had to watch this ridiculously boring interview documentary in which a bunch of poets were put together and talked about the written word and whatnot. Of the people that were featured, I held a special interest for Kinnell and his work.I can't really explain it, but his work is very interesting to read and simply, it reminds me of some of my work.
Rivertown and Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler
I was seeking a new travel writer to follow and came across Hessler's work in National Geographic. Soon after reading about Hessler's time in China, I've been hooked on the country. It's now on the top of my list of other countries that I'd like to one day visit.
Books by Steven King
How can one not be into King's books?! Especially the following books that are filled with classic short stories written by the master himself:
- Four Past Midnight (four short stories, all very intense and fun reads - especially The Longoliers, which was made into a TV miniseries back in the 1990's.
- Different Seasons (four short stories, three of which were brilliant, especially since they became movies - Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, and The Body (which was renamed Stand by Me for the movie).
- Under the Dome (a massive novel that totally reminds me of the Simpsons movie where Springfield is comically put under a glass dome. Yet, this story is more dramatic, thrilling and a true page turner.)
The works of John Steinbeck
Just like Kerouac, I'm really into how Steinbeck writes. One thing to remember when reading some of his work though, you have to keep an open mind when reading it, since it tends to get a little deep. Obviously, some Grapes of Wrath and Mice and Men are major sellers, but I liked a few of his other stuff even more. Be sure to check out his following works that are my most favorite:
- About Ed Ricketts found in Log from the Sea of Cortez ( I didn't even read the book, just the little chapter that was all about Ed Ricketts)
- Tortilla Flat
- The Pastures of Heaven
- To a God Unknown
- Travels with Charley - (this is an interesting read, since it's a non-fiction account of his travels, and I found it curious to get his perspective on the world at the time, from politics to the mass market world that we now live in. One thing to note while reading this book, is that Steinbeck was very ill during the course of his roadtrip and his wife was worried about him dying at any moment, due to a heart condition he was suffering from.
Just like Kerouac, I'm really into how Steinbeck writes. One thing to remember when reading some of his work though, you have to keep an open mind when reading it, since it tends to get a little deep. Obviously, some Grapes of Wrath and Mice and Men are major sellers, but I liked a few of his other stuff even more. Be sure to check out his following works that are my most favorite:
- About Ed Ricketts found in Log from the Sea of Cortez ( I didn't even read the book, just the little chapter that was all about Ed Ricketts)
- Tortilla Flat
- The Pastures of Heaven
- To a God Unknown
- Travels with Charley - (this is an interesting read, since it's a non-fiction account of his travels, and I found it curious to get his perspective on the world at the time, from politics to the mass market world that we now live in. One thing to note while reading this book, is that Steinbeck was very ill during the course of his roadtrip and his wife was worried about him dying at any moment, due to a heart condition he was suffering from.
The Best American Travel Writing Series
Due to my obsession with travel writing, this is my favorite book series, which comes out every year and features about a dozen travel writers and their best travel writing piece that was published in a magazine the year before. It's how I've been able to find more travel narratives by travel writers to read.
The poetry of WH Auden
Here's another poet that I discovered by accident when I took my just for fun poetry course at my community college.
A Hell of a Place to Lose a Cow - Tim Brookes
This was my very first travel narrative that I ever read, all due to reading a small sampling of it out of a National Geographic magazine. Been obsessed with reading travel narratives ever since.
J. Maarten Troost
I came across his work a while back and suddenly became fascinated with his work, since he is on par with how Bill Bryson writes, but a lot funnier. He currently only has three books out, all of which I read in a matter of a few short weeks, and hoping he's in the process of writing another one.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Roadtrippin' on Memories
Just recently went on a small vacation to southern Indiana. The trip sure was an adventure, considering I live on the outskirts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it took about 8 hours to drive all the way down to the southern tip of Indiana.
The trip reminded me of some of the summer road trips I've gone on in the past. My parents used to take me and my brother to places here and there when we were younger. They stopped after we got older; considering we complained about being in the car alot and my brother can truly be annoying when he's not in the mood to do something. Most of my summer road trip memories are during the early part of my life, the 1990's and mid-2000's.
I vaguely remember touring a fairly big chuck of the American South in the very early 90's (or at least, what I felt was a large part of it and it's hard to remember if it was all one trip or several..... childhood memories tend to blur together). I remember going to Booneville, Mississippi to visit my aunt and her son, who had graduated from high school. All I can remember from that trip was being sick during that trip and feeling pretty miserable, since I wasn't used to the summer heat and humidity. The town was one of those old true southern towns that was divided along racial lines, the train tracks being the dividing line and if you didn't know your way around, you'd know it without even having to ask. That trip was truly something, because we were also able to visit the nearby Shiloh National Military Park, which was a Civil War Battlefield way back when. I think it was one of the places that helped spark my interest even further into that era of America history. Another place that truly sparked my curiosity was able to see and walk around space rockets and military aircraft at the U.S. Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, Alabama, where we stopped to visit my uncle who was stationed there for the military.
Another fond memory that I have of family road trips, was when we went on an all out Lincoln hunt for some reason I don't recall now.... by going to Springfield, Illinois to visit a bunch of Abraham Lincoln sites in the area, toured Amish country, and even went to the state fair. My favorite part of that was going to Lincoln's grave and rubbing the big Abe statue's nose that is in front of the monument.... which is a tradition I'm told for all. Me and my wife Chenon went to the fairly recently built Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum a few years ago when she tagged along to one of my journalism conferences. That truly ended my Lincoln hunt for all things Lincoln...... nah, I'm sure there's still plenty of hunting..... since a massive, and heavily rumored to be ugly, Lincoln statue that's still out there to be photographed by me. I've already come across his deathbed that I happened upon by complete accident while touring the Chicago History Museum, which was a fine surprise by me. So, judging from experience, digging up Lincoln memories will be continuing on.
One of my biggest regrets is not going on road trips on my own, or with college friends. I lived in Des Moines, Iowa for two whole years without really seeing much of anything. It's a truly sad fact considering that I have always had a desire to see the American West. The farthest I ever got was to the Omaha Zoo....... and that trip wasn't anything worthwhile.......
One crazy adventure did come out of my time in Iowa though, during a very boring and uneventful weekend. I decided to lend my car to a lovesick girl and her roommate, since practically I was the only person on campus that didn't have a life and was actually still on campus. So, because I didn't have anything better to do, and no desire to actually let someone borrow my car, I went along for the ride to the other side of Iowa..... to some small, out of the way village way up someplace I don't recall now. We drove into the evening, just so this lovesick girl could spend a couple of hours with her boyfriend at some park and not feel so heartsick anymore. I vaguely remember being totally ok with the idea just to see if I could date the girl's roommate, but that wasn't meant to be, since a few minutes into the car ride, I discovered that my own roommate had just recently started dating her already..... but all the same, a good adventure all the same. I was promised a batch of chocolate chip cookies and gas money for this very worthwhile trip.... I got the cookies, which I vaguely recall were not the best, and I don't think I even got any money for it as promised. But, all the same, a good adventure that I like to recall from time to time. Especially since I didn't have to do all the driving.
Simply looking forward to the next great road trip..... wherever that road may lead to.....
The trip reminded me of some of the summer road trips I've gone on in the past. My parents used to take me and my brother to places here and there when we were younger. They stopped after we got older; considering we complained about being in the car alot and my brother can truly be annoying when he's not in the mood to do something. Most of my summer road trip memories are during the early part of my life, the 1990's and mid-2000's.
I vaguely remember touring a fairly big chuck of the American South in the very early 90's (or at least, what I felt was a large part of it and it's hard to remember if it was all one trip or several..... childhood memories tend to blur together). I remember going to Booneville, Mississippi to visit my aunt and her son, who had graduated from high school. All I can remember from that trip was being sick during that trip and feeling pretty miserable, since I wasn't used to the summer heat and humidity. The town was one of those old true southern towns that was divided along racial lines, the train tracks being the dividing line and if you didn't know your way around, you'd know it without even having to ask. That trip was truly something, because we were also able to visit the nearby Shiloh National Military Park, which was a Civil War Battlefield way back when. I think it was one of the places that helped spark my interest even further into that era of America history. Another place that truly sparked my curiosity was able to see and walk around space rockets and military aircraft at the U.S. Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, Alabama, where we stopped to visit my uncle who was stationed there for the military.
Another fond memory that I have of family road trips, was when we went on an all out Lincoln hunt for some reason I don't recall now.... by going to Springfield, Illinois to visit a bunch of Abraham Lincoln sites in the area, toured Amish country, and even went to the state fair. My favorite part of that was going to Lincoln's grave and rubbing the big Abe statue's nose that is in front of the monument.... which is a tradition I'm told for all. Me and my wife Chenon went to the fairly recently built Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum a few years ago when she tagged along to one of my journalism conferences. That truly ended my Lincoln hunt for all things Lincoln...... nah, I'm sure there's still plenty of hunting..... since a massive, and heavily rumored to be ugly, Lincoln statue that's still out there to be photographed by me. I've already come across his deathbed that I happened upon by complete accident while touring the Chicago History Museum, which was a fine surprise by me. So, judging from experience, digging up Lincoln memories will be continuing on.
One of my biggest regrets is not going on road trips on my own, or with college friends. I lived in Des Moines, Iowa for two whole years without really seeing much of anything. It's a truly sad fact considering that I have always had a desire to see the American West. The farthest I ever got was to the Omaha Zoo....... and that trip wasn't anything worthwhile.......
One crazy adventure did come out of my time in Iowa though, during a very boring and uneventful weekend. I decided to lend my car to a lovesick girl and her roommate, since practically I was the only person on campus that didn't have a life and was actually still on campus. So, because I didn't have anything better to do, and no desire to actually let someone borrow my car, I went along for the ride to the other side of Iowa..... to some small, out of the way village way up someplace I don't recall now. We drove into the evening, just so this lovesick girl could spend a couple of hours with her boyfriend at some park and not feel so heartsick anymore. I vaguely remember being totally ok with the idea just to see if I could date the girl's roommate, but that wasn't meant to be, since a few minutes into the car ride, I discovered that my own roommate had just recently started dating her already..... but all the same, a good adventure all the same. I was promised a batch of chocolate chip cookies and gas money for this very worthwhile trip.... I got the cookies, which I vaguely recall were not the best, and I don't think I even got any money for it as promised. But, all the same, a good adventure that I like to recall from time to time. Especially since I didn't have to do all the driving.
Simply looking forward to the next great road trip..... wherever that road may lead to.....
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