Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
a moment of doubt
not gonna lie, starting to second guess my decision to come down to Florida...the past week has tested me to no ends..
the lack of a job, friends, cash, and the feeling that i am under foot staying with close friends is starting to get me down. i have to admit that i lied to myself in order to get myself here...i let myself believe that i would have no problem finding a job when i arrived....in retrospect, this was a bad idea, and not at all being honest to myself.
i have spent the past 2-3 weeks pounding the pavement quite diligently filling out applications everywhere i could and trying very hard to get noticed above all the other people desperately looking for employment. shit is hard here...especially right now...seems as though i have arrived right in the middle of the down season around here...i got here when everyone else seems to have left...which is not making it easy to find a job...i keep hearing "we wont be hiring for the winter season for another couple weeks" over and over again, and my patience is wearing thin...
i also miss everyone in michigan terribly. my son, my mother, and the full circle especially. i find myself thinking of everyone quite a bit.
i hate feeling like i have made a mistake...maybe i just am getting discouraged that things have not worked out the way i was hoping they would...maybe i have to suck it up and make it work, somehow....i got myself here, now it's time to make something happen...but what happens if i cant make something happen...what happens if i got all this all wrong...what happens if somewhere, i made a wrong turn..
it's hard to not feel lost sometimes. I just hope that the path presents itself once again....and soon...because i hate feeling like this.
i am sure everything will happen exactly how it should...it usually does.....i just have to get right with it.
the lack of a job, friends, cash, and the feeling that i am under foot staying with close friends is starting to get me down. i have to admit that i lied to myself in order to get myself here...i let myself believe that i would have no problem finding a job when i arrived....in retrospect, this was a bad idea, and not at all being honest to myself.
i have spent the past 2-3 weeks pounding the pavement quite diligently filling out applications everywhere i could and trying very hard to get noticed above all the other people desperately looking for employment. shit is hard here...especially right now...seems as though i have arrived right in the middle of the down season around here...i got here when everyone else seems to have left...which is not making it easy to find a job...i keep hearing "we wont be hiring for the winter season for another couple weeks" over and over again, and my patience is wearing thin...
i also miss everyone in michigan terribly. my son, my mother, and the full circle especially. i find myself thinking of everyone quite a bit.
i hate feeling like i have made a mistake...maybe i just am getting discouraged that things have not worked out the way i was hoping they would...maybe i have to suck it up and make it work, somehow....i got myself here, now it's time to make something happen...but what happens if i cant make something happen...what happens if i got all this all wrong...what happens if somewhere, i made a wrong turn..
it's hard to not feel lost sometimes. I just hope that the path presents itself once again....and soon...because i hate feeling like this.
i am sure everything will happen exactly how it should...it usually does.....i just have to get right with it.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
The amazing place that is Florida
HOLY SHIT IT'S HOT HERE!!
I mean it. It's a "wall of heat that burns your skin as soon as you step out of the blessed thing that is Air Conditioning" kind of hot around here. And the Moisture in the air (to steal Greg's analogy) is like "having a seven foot linebacker leaning on your shoulders all day, just kind of saying 'hey buddy, how ya doin'?" ALL DAY.
But, those two grievances out of the way.....there is absolutely nothing bad to say about this place that is Ft. Myers, Florida. As a matter of fact, there is nothing that is not amazing around here. It is such a latitude change from anywhere I have ever traveled. Everything is new to me, I fucking love it. I still find myself just looking around, trying to soak it all in.
Last weekend, I had a great time as Greg, Judy, and Cari (Greg's girlfriend) showed me around the area. Greg introduced me to Downtown Ft. Myers, Ft Myers Beach, Captiva Beach, The Mucky Duck Restaurant (where Jude works), and many a bar along the way (the Hideaway is a great place, as is The Buddha). On Captiva Beach I witnessed the greatest sunset I have seen in at least 13 years. It was the second time that people on the beach actually applauded the sun as it finally dropped below the horizon. That moment reminded me that I had made the right decision in coming to Florida.
I mean it. It's a "wall of heat that burns your skin as soon as you step out of the blessed thing that is Air Conditioning" kind of hot around here. And the Moisture in the air (to steal Greg's analogy) is like "having a seven foot linebacker leaning on your shoulders all day, just kind of saying 'hey buddy, how ya doin'?" ALL DAY.
But, those two grievances out of the way.....there is absolutely nothing bad to say about this place that is Ft. Myers, Florida. As a matter of fact, there is nothing that is not amazing around here. It is such a latitude change from anywhere I have ever traveled. Everything is new to me, I fucking love it. I still find myself just looking around, trying to soak it all in.
Last weekend, I had a great time as Greg, Judy, and Cari (Greg's girlfriend) showed me around the area. Greg introduced me to Downtown Ft. Myers, Ft Myers Beach, Captiva Beach, The Mucky Duck Restaurant (where Jude works), and many a bar along the way (the Hideaway is a great place, as is The Buddha). On Captiva Beach I witnessed the greatest sunset I have seen in at least 13 years. It was the second time that people on the beach actually applauded the sun as it finally dropped below the horizon. That moment reminded me that I had made the right decision in coming to Florida.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
I am so happy. This journey and this destination were brilliant ideas. I havent stopped to write as much as I thought I would, but in all honesty, it has been hard to stop to write along the way...I was just having to much fun being in new places, meeting new people and constantly feeling like the new guy in town....because I was.
After I found myself at Cody Lake campgrounds, I had a chance to reevaluate what I might do from there..I spent two nights there, and enjoyed my time there very much. It was nice to have a chance to relax abit. I decided to take a train to my next destination: Lexington, KY where I had arranged to stay with my good friend Tom McCleese's Grandfather and his Cousin Paul.
I had an amazing time in Kentucky. That part of the country is truly amazing. The rolling hills and the rich, deep history that extends back to the beginning of our country fascinates me to no ends.
Tom's Pawpaw and his Cousin Paul were very kind to allow me to crash for several days as I saw the sights and arranged my next move. After talking to Paul and his friend Nick, I decided to take a flight from Lexington into Ft Myers, FL. They had informed me of an airline that offered cheap flights into Florida, and at that point, my road cash was seemingly disappearing day by day...so I decided to just get there as opposed to spending alot more time, and money, to get there..
flying is cool....blah blah blah blah.....
(I really do enjoy flying, but whatever I would write would just come off either all "it's so amazing, flying through the clouds, and all the people look like ants, and they even let me into the cockpit to take pictures, and it was so awesome".....or......it would come off all "fuck airliners for their offensive use of fossil fuels")
I took me alot less time than I had originally planned, but I think I really got exactly what I needed to from the whole trip to Florida. I saw alot of great places, met alot of very kind and generous people, and pushed myself a little bit to do something I have always told myself that I would do again, travel.
Next Posting....FLORIDA BITCHES!!!!!!
THIS.PLACE.IS.AMAZING.
much love.,
KCL
After I found myself at Cody Lake campgrounds, I had a chance to reevaluate what I might do from there..I spent two nights there, and enjoyed my time there very much. It was nice to have a chance to relax abit. I decided to take a train to my next destination: Lexington, KY where I had arranged to stay with my good friend Tom McCleese's Grandfather and his Cousin Paul.
I had an amazing time in Kentucky. That part of the country is truly amazing. The rolling hills and the rich, deep history that extends back to the beginning of our country fascinates me to no ends.
Tom's Pawpaw and his Cousin Paul were very kind to allow me to crash for several days as I saw the sights and arranged my next move. After talking to Paul and his friend Nick, I decided to take a flight from Lexington into Ft Myers, FL. They had informed me of an airline that offered cheap flights into Florida, and at that point, my road cash was seemingly disappearing day by day...so I decided to just get there as opposed to spending alot more time, and money, to get there..
flying is cool....blah blah blah blah.....
(I really do enjoy flying, but whatever I would write would just come off either all "it's so amazing, flying through the clouds, and all the people look like ants, and they even let me into the cockpit to take pictures, and it was so awesome".....or......it would come off all "fuck airliners for their offensive use of fossil fuels")
I took me alot less time than I had originally planned, but I think I really got exactly what I needed to from the whole trip to Florida. I saw alot of great places, met alot of very kind and generous people, and pushed myself a little bit to do something I have always told myself that I would do again, travel.
Next Posting....FLORIDA BITCHES!!!!!!
THIS.PLACE.IS.AMAZING.
much love.,
KCL
Sunday, July 31, 2011
after packing up my gear at van buren state park, i headed towrds Findlay, OH to try to find another camping spot for the next night...i got to findlay right around 4pm and biked around town a bit, snapping some pictures of the local sights, and grabbing a bite to eat at Wilson's , which was reccomended by a local as having good cheap food...the place was a bit odd i found, and felt more like a cafeteria than a diner, but the coneydog and fries were awesome and i had a great conversation about traveling with one of the patrons...shortly thereafter i found a great coffeeshop with wifi where i grabbed a red eye and hung out for awhile as i tried to find my next spot to pitch my tent.
i spent that night in a campground just north of findlay called shadylake campgrounds, and let me tell you what the name suited the place...i did manage to talk to owner of the establishment into giving me a discounted price, as i would be leaving first thing in the morning, and also talked him into selling me a couple natty lights to help me fall asleep. the place was not maintained at all it seemed and was filled with the variety of people that made me not want to leave my tent, as i had alot of gear that i was afraid may not be there when i returned..so i stayed in the tent all night, which i dont believe was a big loss as the campgrounds werent very much to look at in the first place...
leaving shadylakes the next morning i biked through findlay once again as i made my way towards Lima, OH for the next leg of the journey...this days biking was not as easy as the others had been previously...it seems as thought my body is not what it used to be and that my back was not agreeing with the weight of my backpack very much at all..i took my time to get to lima, and stopped at many a place on the way...i stopped at a farm , where a younger looking man was washing his John Deere tractor for a show he was going to the following day...i asked if i could bother him for some cold tap water to fill my wtaer bottles with, as i hadnt seen too many places up until that point..the man's name was josh and he was very kind and talkative and was more than happy to fill my water bottles. random encounters like that is what roadtripping is all about in my book, strangers doing kind things for strangers. after talking with josh for awhile and resting, i got back on the road and headed towards Pandora, OH which was on the way to lima..
in pandora, i stopped at a grocery store/gas station right on route 12 which was about 10 miles away from lima..
thats where i met rick morrison...
he saw me in front of the store resting and munching on some lunch and asked where i was heading...as it turns out, he passed me earlier that moring in findlay and felt as though there was a reason we had run into eachother again...he was a very religious man as i came to find out and sat and talked to me for quite some time as i rested. we atlked about a great deal of things, mostly pertaining to his faith and belief in jesus christ as his saviour...
he insisted on giving me twenty dollars, he said god put him there with me for a reason, and that he would never forget our encounter..i told him i couldnt take his money but thanked him very much for the thought..but rick was quite insistant..so , sheepishly and very thankfully i accepted his gift...he was a very good man with an amazing heart and i dont think that i will forget him anytime soon...i snapped his picture, as i had been doing with mostly everyone that i encountered along the way and gave him my name so he could find me online and follow along with my travels and snag the photo i took of him. after thanking him once again and giving him a nice man hug, i made my way down the road towards lima...
just before reaching lima, i saw a garage/mechanic shop open and decided to see if i could fill my water bottles once again...the owner of the garage was working on his son's truck with his son and was very kind and offered me a two liter of water which he kept in his fridge, this was very kind...i sat there talking to them for at least a half hour before i thanked them and made my way to lima.
about four miles south of lima , there is a campground called cody lake...this place is heaven.
i rode my bike into the driveway and walked to the office where i met the owner of the campgrounds, beth...she was a very cool woman who had bought the place from here parents in the late 90's from her parents, who had established the place in '72.
as soon as i enetered the campgrounds, i knew i was in the right spot...there were families everywhere and kids were swimming in the lake having a great time...everyone there was very friendly and welcoming.
i spent that night in a campground just north of findlay called shadylake campgrounds, and let me tell you what the name suited the place...i did manage to talk to owner of the establishment into giving me a discounted price, as i would be leaving first thing in the morning, and also talked him into selling me a couple natty lights to help me fall asleep. the place was not maintained at all it seemed and was filled with the variety of people that made me not want to leave my tent, as i had alot of gear that i was afraid may not be there when i returned..so i stayed in the tent all night, which i dont believe was a big loss as the campgrounds werent very much to look at in the first place...
leaving shadylakes the next morning i biked through findlay once again as i made my way towards Lima, OH for the next leg of the journey...this days biking was not as easy as the others had been previously...it seems as thought my body is not what it used to be and that my back was not agreeing with the weight of my backpack very much at all..i took my time to get to lima, and stopped at many a place on the way...i stopped at a farm , where a younger looking man was washing his John Deere tractor for a show he was going to the following day...i asked if i could bother him for some cold tap water to fill my wtaer bottles with, as i hadnt seen too many places up until that point..the man's name was josh and he was very kind and talkative and was more than happy to fill my water bottles. random encounters like that is what roadtripping is all about in my book, strangers doing kind things for strangers. after talking with josh for awhile and resting, i got back on the road and headed towards Pandora, OH which was on the way to lima..
in pandora, i stopped at a grocery store/gas station right on route 12 which was about 10 miles away from lima..
thats where i met rick morrison...
he saw me in front of the store resting and munching on some lunch and asked where i was heading...as it turns out, he passed me earlier that moring in findlay and felt as though there was a reason we had run into eachother again...he was a very religious man as i came to find out and sat and talked to me for quite some time as i rested. we atlked about a great deal of things, mostly pertaining to his faith and belief in jesus christ as his saviour...
he insisted on giving me twenty dollars, he said god put him there with me for a reason, and that he would never forget our encounter..i told him i couldnt take his money but thanked him very much for the thought..but rick was quite insistant..so , sheepishly and very thankfully i accepted his gift...he was a very good man with an amazing heart and i dont think that i will forget him anytime soon...i snapped his picture, as i had been doing with mostly everyone that i encountered along the way and gave him my name so he could find me online and follow along with my travels and snag the photo i took of him. after thanking him once again and giving him a nice man hug, i made my way down the road towards lima...
just before reaching lima, i saw a garage/mechanic shop open and decided to see if i could fill my water bottles once again...the owner of the garage was working on his son's truck with his son and was very kind and offered me a two liter of water which he kept in his fridge, this was very kind...i sat there talking to them for at least a half hour before i thanked them and made my way to lima.
about four miles south of lima , there is a campground called cody lake...this place is heaven.
i rode my bike into the driveway and walked to the office where i met the owner of the campgrounds, beth...she was a very cool woman who had bought the place from here parents in the late 90's from her parents, who had established the place in '72.
as soon as i enetered the campgrounds, i knew i was in the right spot...there were families everywhere and kids were swimming in the lake having a great time...everyone there was very friendly and welcoming.
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Great American Quest!!!!!!!
well, im doing this! left wyandotte around 11am or so weds and arrived in toledo ohio right around 4pm where My good friend Fred Mundt came by to pick me up for the night..Fred and his wife , Kristy, were very gracious in accepting me for the night and showing me around town...toledo is a pretty cool place, Fred and i drove around downtown toledo til around 4am weds night...we had such a good time. it was very nice meeting his wife and his amazingly adorable daughter Riley, who is a very willing model i came to find out...
upon waking up thursday, Fred and i decided to do some more sightseeing around town during the day...he drove me all around the toledo area as we caught up and had some great conversations. sometimes, it doesnt matter how much time has passed between friends...things just pick up right where they left off. Fred has a great family and life in toledo, and i was very thankful and happy to share that with him while i was there.
after Fred and i toured around town a little bit more , he had to get to work...so i started getting my things gathered and packed up, when he told me he was going to take me as far as bowling green, so that my days bike ride wouldnt be that bad, which helped tremendously, a half hour car ride is a two to three hour bike ride, so any rides i can muster are always appreciated greatly.
upon arriving into the van buren state park just south of bowling green, i discovered a family camping next to my site with several horses whom i quickly struck up a friendship with...Rick, Tina and Britney Brand were traveling around with their horses and enjoying riding them around the state of ohio..they were very kind to invite me to hang out over a campfire later that night...an offer that i definitely accepted...when traveling, i find that i talk to as many people as i possibly can. i like the interaction...and, most of the time i find some extremely good people in doing so...i enjoyed a very nice night with the Brand Family over a couple beers and a nice campfire...it was a great night.
upon waking up, the sounds of rain and nature overtook me...it was amazing. there is alot to be said of being amongst the elements of nature, at least for me there is...i started to get myself together and woken up, and was invited over to the Brand Family campsite to enjoy a nice cooked breakfast and some very appreciated coffee(as i only brought tea bags with me, coffee is too much hassle when you are travelling unfortunately, so that seriously made my day.) we all enjoyed a very nice morning with french toast and ham and some great conversations. the rain eventually passed us by for the moment and the sun and the sounds of nature resumed...and i started to head towards Lima, my destination for day 3 of the great american quest.
more to come as time passes......much love, as always!
upon waking up thursday, Fred and i decided to do some more sightseeing around town during the day...he drove me all around the toledo area as we caught up and had some great conversations. sometimes, it doesnt matter how much time has passed between friends...things just pick up right where they left off. Fred has a great family and life in toledo, and i was very thankful and happy to share that with him while i was there.
after Fred and i toured around town a little bit more , he had to get to work...so i started getting my things gathered and packed up, when he told me he was going to take me as far as bowling green, so that my days bike ride wouldnt be that bad, which helped tremendously, a half hour car ride is a two to three hour bike ride, so any rides i can muster are always appreciated greatly.
upon arriving into the van buren state park just south of bowling green, i discovered a family camping next to my site with several horses whom i quickly struck up a friendship with...Rick, Tina and Britney Brand were traveling around with their horses and enjoying riding them around the state of ohio..they were very kind to invite me to hang out over a campfire later that night...an offer that i definitely accepted...when traveling, i find that i talk to as many people as i possibly can. i like the interaction...and, most of the time i find some extremely good people in doing so...i enjoyed a very nice night with the Brand Family over a couple beers and a nice campfire...it was a great night.
upon waking up, the sounds of rain and nature overtook me...it was amazing. there is alot to be said of being amongst the elements of nature, at least for me there is...i started to get myself together and woken up, and was invited over to the Brand Family campsite to enjoy a nice cooked breakfast and some very appreciated coffee(as i only brought tea bags with me, coffee is too much hassle when you are travelling unfortunately, so that seriously made my day.) we all enjoyed a very nice morning with french toast and ham and some great conversations. the rain eventually passed us by for the moment and the sun and the sounds of nature resumed...and i started to head towards Lima, my destination for day 3 of the great american quest.
more to come as time passes......much love, as always!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
video blog 7-19-2011
link to the FaceBook invite for the get-together at
My Place Bar and Grill
Friday , July 22nd 2011:
Friday, July 15, 2011
ok, Blog time....
So, for those who do not know, I am displaying my artwork and photography at The Grind Coffeeshop (in Wyandotte on Biddle Ave) for the Art Fair this year. I am very happy to be doing so, it has taken me 20+ years to get comfortable with the idea of showing it publicly, and as well - to be confident enough in my work to be able to do so. I am very proud of the work I have on display and feel as though it is an excellent representation of my creative endeavors. If you haven't already, please come down and take a look and let me know what you think, as I am very eager to get feedback on it all.
Also, a recent development has made it possible to have my artwork and photography on display all year round at The Grind Coffeeshop. It will also be available for sale year round. The work there may rotate as time goes by and as things get purchased...so pop in from time to time to get the best coffee and espresso in town, and take a gander on the walls for my stuff.
Here are some pics of what is currently up on the walls at The Grind:
So, for those who do not know, I am displaying my artwork and photography at The Grind Coffeeshop (in Wyandotte on Biddle Ave) for the Art Fair this year. I am very happy to be doing so, it has taken me 20+ years to get comfortable with the idea of showing it publicly, and as well - to be confident enough in my work to be able to do so. I am very proud of the work I have on display and feel as though it is an excellent representation of my creative endeavors. If you haven't already, please come down and take a look and let me know what you think, as I am very eager to get feedback on it all.
Also, a recent development has made it possible to have my artwork and photography on display all year round at The Grind Coffeeshop. It will also be available for sale year round. The work there may rotate as time goes by and as things get purchased...so pop in from time to time to get the best coffee and espresso in town, and take a gander on the walls for my stuff.
Here are some pics of what is currently up on the walls at The Grind:
(SOLD!!!)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
blog 6-29-2011
In this world, we have so many things fighting to control everything we do, everything we think, every emotion we feel. From the religions to the governments, the media and the entertainment....the people who have a desire to control and manipulate us for their own gains fight hand and tooth to control us all. And these people range from Presidents and Popes, business CEO's and economic advisers, newscasters and marketing strategists, to everyday people like you or me...those people who strive to be one of those in control, and fall in line to the programs, world views and systems that instigate a 'get everything you can, while you can...and don't worry too much about the next guy' mentality. But you can't necessarily blame them for their behavior...they are just trying to win the game that they have been presented with as life. The world seems to reward this type of behavior.
But that doesn't mean that you have to fall into it if you don't want to.
We all have the choice to make our own worlds by what we do and what we say and the places and the people we chose to surround ourselves with. The world is what the world is, and we can only control what we chose to look at and the way we chose look at it. We all make our own lives. No matter what anyone tells you, we are all gods. We are all the gods of our own lives...to say anything otherwise belittles us all. We all make the decisions that constitute our lives and get us wherever we find ourselves to be. Now, that is not to say that many things won't influence our decisions (faith, outside uncontrollable situations, other people's actions, etc)...but ultimately to say that anyone or anything else is responsible for your actions and/or your decisions is nothing more than to say that you are a slave, at the whim of an outside force, and I, for one, do not favor that opinion in the fucking slightest.
Live your life. This is the best advice that I could ever give my son. Live your life and don't fucking ever let anyone tell you how to do it any differently than you would chose. That is what freedom is. We all know what is best for us, most times...and the mistakes that we will always make along the way teach us to better live and to make better decisions.
Go with what your heart tells you, and never allow anyone to make you do otherwise.
...that's what I am doing. Because talk is only good for so long...and then you have to start doing.
But that doesn't mean that you have to fall into it if you don't want to.
We all have the choice to make our own worlds by what we do and what we say and the places and the people we chose to surround ourselves with. The world is what the world is, and we can only control what we chose to look at and the way we chose look at it. We all make our own lives. No matter what anyone tells you, we are all gods. We are all the gods of our own lives...to say anything otherwise belittles us all. We all make the decisions that constitute our lives and get us wherever we find ourselves to be. Now, that is not to say that many things won't influence our decisions (faith, outside uncontrollable situations, other people's actions, etc)...but ultimately to say that anyone or anything else is responsible for your actions and/or your decisions is nothing more than to say that you are a slave, at the whim of an outside force, and I, for one, do not favor that opinion in the fucking slightest.
Live your life. This is the best advice that I could ever give my son. Live your life and don't fucking ever let anyone tell you how to do it any differently than you would chose. That is what freedom is. We all know what is best for us, most times...and the mistakes that we will always make along the way teach us to better live and to make better decisions.
Go with what your heart tells you, and never allow anyone to make you do otherwise.
...that's what I am doing. Because talk is only good for so long...and then you have to start doing.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
video blog 6-18-2011
made a video blog today. here it is....with some afterthoughts to accompany it...
ok first off, i watch this and i think "why am i doing this?" i mean, shit...i don't think of myself as anyone special, first off. i don't know why i feel the need to post shit like this...i mean, who the hell am i that people would watch this? wtf?!?
ok, now getting beyond that....
something i really wanted to mention but forgot to, was that a big part of wanting to do something like this is that, hopefully, i might be able to capitalize on it somehow, through trying to sell my photographs and possibly compile a book through the course of my travels....the main reason for this is so that i can leave something for my son. so that i can be everything that i always tell my son to be, and if all goes well, leave something for him as a legacy of sorts...i hope that makes sense.
as parents, we tell our children they can be anything they want to be, that they can do anything they want to do. we give them so much optimism and inspiration, as parents....but few of us really follow through with this as adults. it is the same message our parents taught us.
i am very thankful for the upbringing that my mother gave me. she made me the person i am now. she gave me all the right ingredients for me to be at the point that i am. i love her for that. she was strong enough as a parent to allow for a free, if not somewhat outside the box, thinker to grow up and truly follow what it is his heart tells him he should do.
as with everything in my life, i just go with it.
that's all i got tonight...hope the day treated you kindly and that life is smiling on you excessively.
much love
-kcl
ok first off, i watch this and i think "why am i doing this?" i mean, shit...i don't think of myself as anyone special, first off. i don't know why i feel the need to post shit like this...i mean, who the hell am i that people would watch this? wtf?!?
ok, now getting beyond that....
something i really wanted to mention but forgot to, was that a big part of wanting to do something like this is that, hopefully, i might be able to capitalize on it somehow, through trying to sell my photographs and possibly compile a book through the course of my travels....the main reason for this is so that i can leave something for my son. so that i can be everything that i always tell my son to be, and if all goes well, leave something for him as a legacy of sorts...i hope that makes sense.
as parents, we tell our children they can be anything they want to be, that they can do anything they want to do. we give them so much optimism and inspiration, as parents....but few of us really follow through with this as adults. it is the same message our parents taught us.
i am very thankful for the upbringing that my mother gave me. she made me the person i am now. she gave me all the right ingredients for me to be at the point that i am. i love her for that. she was strong enough as a parent to allow for a free, if not somewhat outside the box, thinker to grow up and truly follow what it is his heart tells him he should do.
as with everything in my life, i just go with it.
that's all i got tonight...hope the day treated you kindly and that life is smiling on you excessively.
much love
-kcl
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Google Mapping is fun
A friend of mine Google Mapped the walking and bicycling routes from here to Florida, just to get an idea of how crazy my idea is....to our surprise:
Biking:
Little Miami Scenic Trail
1,327 mi
4 days and 20 hours (nonstop bicycling)Walking:
US-27 S
1,244 mi
16 days 23 hours (nonstop walking).........now, these figures do not account for sleeping, eating, and in general 'walking around taking pictures time'...but, hell...if I were to bike on my journey around the country, I figure it might take about a month or so to get myself down there....maybe about five weeks...that would give me time to get from place to place, take my time and see the sights.....and take alot of pictures along the way.
Another good friend suggested that I treat it like a job , and bike from 7am to 3 or 4pm Monday through Friday , which was a good idea as a rough plan, but I also will allow myself plenty of time as I need it, to stop and enjoy my surroundings and meet some of the locals along the way. That's really what this is all about, the journey. It isn't a race. There is no schedule after I leave. I will be able to do whatever I want, with nothing to hold me back or to alter my path in any way other than what I see fit.
In the month or so, I will be going on several 'warm up' journeys to see what kind of crazy shit I am getting myself into. The first will be something relatively close...like Toledo or something...Toledo should take me around 4-5 hours to get to if google maps is in the least bit accurate. That should be a good warm up. 46 miles. That doesn't really sound like very much at all now that I am looking at it, but it will be a good run, if all goes well.
After making the Toledo trip, I am thinking I may take a week and bike west to Chicago to visit family as a second 'warm up' trip. Google Maps says it is 1,244 mi, which it says will take me 1 day and 1 hour to travel. I figure it will take me three days to get there...but that's with 8 hours of biking a day, which may or may not be feasible. The Toledo trip will be a good measure of my pace and stamina....I will go from there....
-kcl
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
is it weird that i am seriously considering actually walking or riding a bike around the country? i dont want to fly, or drive....i guess a train is an idea...as is a bus (well, lets be honest..a bus isnt really an option...fuck that shiot, buses suck ass)...but, the more i think about it, the more i really just want to walk or bike to wherever i might want to find myself next...is that crazy?
i guess i have always had this image of me just kind of roaming around, following my feet wherever they take me...in my mind, the journey is really what it's all about, more than the destination...when you reach your destination, thats when you 'lull'...thats when you settle....thats when the journey is over.
i dont want to settle. i dont want to 'lull' anymore.....i want to keep moving....i want the journey to never end. i never want to get to used to one place again...i want the feeling of 'newness' to fill my life as much as possible. i want to see and experience everything and everywhere. i want to meet everyone. i want to talk to them and hear their stories, and share their smiles. i want to take pictures of the world and everyone in it. i want to go to places nobody has ever been. i dont want to have a home. i dont want to have a place to hang my hat. i dont want an over abundance of things and objects that weigh me down. i dont want 20 pairs of jeans. i dont need 100 tshirts with beer logos on them. i dont need three computers. i dont need all this shit.
i just need to keep waking up.......and to feed myself from time to time....
...and i can do that anywhere i find myself.
and no matter what anyone tells you...life is different depending on where you find yourself....and i want to experience it all. i want to feel like the new kid in town over and over and over again. i want to polish myself up all nice like and re-introduce myself to the world.......
...i cant wait.
in all honesty...i may not last the rest of the summer....there are so many moments recently, now that i have concretely decided that this is what i am going to do, where i have wondered why i am waiting....why dont i just pack a bag and go tomorrow?
we'll see.....
..stay tuned...lol.
-kcl
i guess i have always had this image of me just kind of roaming around, following my feet wherever they take me...in my mind, the journey is really what it's all about, more than the destination...when you reach your destination, thats when you 'lull'...thats when you settle....thats when the journey is over.
i dont want to settle. i dont want to 'lull' anymore.....i want to keep moving....i want the journey to never end. i never want to get to used to one place again...i want the feeling of 'newness' to fill my life as much as possible. i want to see and experience everything and everywhere. i want to meet everyone. i want to talk to them and hear their stories, and share their smiles. i want to take pictures of the world and everyone in it. i want to go to places nobody has ever been. i dont want to have a home. i dont want to have a place to hang my hat. i dont want an over abundance of things and objects that weigh me down. i dont want 20 pairs of jeans. i dont need 100 tshirts with beer logos on them. i dont need three computers. i dont need all this shit.
i just need to keep waking up.......and to feed myself from time to time....
...and i can do that anywhere i find myself.
and no matter what anyone tells you...life is different depending on where you find yourself....and i want to experience it all. i want to feel like the new kid in town over and over and over again. i want to polish myself up all nice like and re-introduce myself to the world.......
...i cant wait.
in all honesty...i may not last the rest of the summer....there are so many moments recently, now that i have concretely decided that this is what i am going to do, where i have wondered why i am waiting....why dont i just pack a bag and go tomorrow?
we'll see.....
..stay tuned...lol.
-kcl
Good Morning, and Happy Saturday to you.
decided to make a little playlist for this saturday morning's blog post...a collection of good morning type music to start the day...enjoy.
ben harper - burn one down (live)
led zeppelin - traveling riverside blues
dave matthews and tim reynolds - two step (live at radio city)
the pack a.d. - making gestures
counting crows - anna begins
the eels - things grandchildren should know
enjoy.
much love.
-kcl
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
What's new in the life of Kelly?
(I guess quite a bit, depending on what you already know...I suppose I will just start writing and see what comes out...)
So, I have been pretty down recently...for many reasons. I am finding it very hard to find my place in the world as an individual. Especially given my disdain for most of the things that the masses seem to find important. Above that, however, I am just not very happy these days. I have been trying figure it out...I am conflicted in what I feel as though I should do about it.
The situation is basically this, I am feeling as though I want to take off...I have been feeling to weighted down by everything and have contemplated selling everything I can't carry with me, and just taking off to some, as of now, unknown location, or maybe just travel around from place to place from season to season..
Yellowstone has popped into my head alot recently. I always told myself I would go back. I would love to, and this time I would take a shit ton of pictures (as the first two summers I went, I have very few images of at all unfortunately).
As I started thinking about where I might go, I thought "Shit, where WOULDN'T I go?"
.....all the places I always told myself I would go one day...or go back to..
I still think about it. I am thinking about right now.
I get "itchy" sometimes...when I have spent too much time in one place...like I should go somewhere else, and check it out there for awhile. I really enjoy change. I used to love being the new kid when I was younger and had to change schools. I would love to throw myself into any new surroundings and have to make it work. I loved being able to start over. I was in five different school districts, I got used to starting over. I kind of liked it.
So, yeah there is that....
and then there is this:
I have decided to resign from my freelancing photographer position at Wyandotte.Patch.com.
It was and unfortunate decision that I felt I had to make, and, to my knowledge, there aren't any hard feelings on either side. I thoroughly enjoyed the majority of my work with the website (except for the sports shit, fuck that...never again!) and may continue to post images from time to time on the site.
So , there's that....
Hmmmmm....what else.....Oh yeah....
Art Show @ The Grind during the Wyandotte Art Fair....mostly photgraphs and multi media pieces involving photography...I will not be posting images of any of the stuff to be shown at that time, so the only way to see it will be to physically see it...so I hope you do...
yeah, so thats all I feel like writing right now...but that kind off catches you all up on the world of kelly. I hope life is smiling upon you and the days are treating you kindly.
So, I have been pretty down recently...for many reasons. I am finding it very hard to find my place in the world as an individual. Especially given my disdain for most of the things that the masses seem to find important. Above that, however, I am just not very happy these days. I have been trying figure it out...I am conflicted in what I feel as though I should do about it.
The situation is basically this, I am feeling as though I want to take off...I have been feeling to weighted down by everything and have contemplated selling everything I can't carry with me, and just taking off to some, as of now, unknown location, or maybe just travel around from place to place from season to season..
Yellowstone has popped into my head alot recently. I always told myself I would go back. I would love to, and this time I would take a shit ton of pictures (as the first two summers I went, I have very few images of at all unfortunately).
As I started thinking about where I might go, I thought "Shit, where WOULDN'T I go?"
.....all the places I always told myself I would go one day...or go back to..
I still think about it. I am thinking about right now.
I get "itchy" sometimes...when I have spent too much time in one place...like I should go somewhere else, and check it out there for awhile. I really enjoy change. I used to love being the new kid when I was younger and had to change schools. I would love to throw myself into any new surroundings and have to make it work. I loved being able to start over. I was in five different school districts, I got used to starting over. I kind of liked it.
So, yeah there is that....
and then there is this:
I have decided to resign from my freelancing photographer position at Wyandotte.Patch.com.
It was and unfortunate decision that I felt I had to make, and, to my knowledge, there aren't any hard feelings on either side. I thoroughly enjoyed the majority of my work with the website (except for the sports shit, fuck that...never again!) and may continue to post images from time to time on the site.
So , there's that....
Hmmmmm....what else.....Oh yeah....
Art Show @ The Grind during the Wyandotte Art Fair....mostly photgraphs and multi media pieces involving photography...I will not be posting images of any of the stuff to be shown at that time, so the only way to see it will be to physically see it...so I hope you do...
yeah, so thats all I feel like writing right now...but that kind off catches you all up on the world of kelly. I hope life is smiling upon you and the days are treating you kindly.
much love.
-kcl
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Here are the stats on you guys as of lately....
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