Archive for February, 2008
Awesome Delays
Feb 29th
Hey Team,
As per usual, that plan that I outlined the other day is nearly completely shot. I guess that’s what I get for trying something new.
“Okay, universe. I understand. It’s not my place to make plans. It wont happen again. I promise.”
But the good news is, those plans aren’t shot for any severely negative reasons. In fact, I just got word today that I’m going to be interviewed for a spot on CNN’s headline news on Tuesday. It wont air for a few weeks but definitely exciting none the less!
So now I’m trying to decide if it’s worth making a quick side trip to Florida to climb the lowest highest point in a state.
I’ll keep you kids posted.
I’m done.
Brett.
Maybe you’d like to buy me a slice of pie?
Thanks!
AKPC_IDS += "230,";
GSU Sampling
Feb 28th
Hey Team,
Yesterday morning when I pulled into Atlanta I found myself still having to finish a good portion of the podcast. Naturally I couldn’t work on it at the Greyhound station so I went for a walk to see if I could find a cozy office-of-the-day. (Preferably one with some hot tea. Turns out Atlanta isn’t nearly as warm as I had hoped it would be. I STILL got snowed on yesterday.)
About a mile from the station I found myself wandering through Georgia State University.
“Awesome. This many caffeinated kids in one place, there HAS to be a place to sit down and get some editing done.” I thought.
I approached the first two students I saw, two girls with backpacks and smiles. Can’t go wrong with smiling strangers.
“Excuse me. Do you know if there’s a coffee shop or a Starbucks nearby?” (I remember asking this verbatim because as soon as I said it I thought it was weird that in my head Starbucks was not the same as a coffee shop. Interesting.)
One stopped and thought the other continued to smile. “Um…yeeeaaaahh. I think…if you just go down this street here. Just here…” she pointed and looked me in the eye More >
TASTHIB – City Museum – St. Louis, MO [podcast]
Feb 27th
Hey Team,
On my last day in St. Louis I finally took everyone’s advice and checked out the City Museum, a magical land of wonder and recycled architecture.
Seriously guys, this place rocked. It’s made completely out of recycled products. People tear down a building or are looking to get rid of their private jet and these guys say, “Do you mind if we just turn that into something awesome instead of letting you throw it into the trash?”
Thanks to everyone that recommended that place. It was, in a word…Incredible. I doubt this podcast could ever do it justice. But here goes nothing.
Get the Flash Player to see the wordTube Media Player. var WT1_1 = { params : { wmode : "opaque", allowscriptaccess : "always", allownetworking : "all", allowfullscreen : "true"}, flashvars : { file : "http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amtrekker.com%2Findex.php%3Fxspf%3Dtrue%26id%3D23", volume : "80", bufferlength : "5", controlbar : "over", 'logo.hide' : "false", shuffle : "false", playlist : "bottom"}, attr : { id : "WT1", name : "WT1"}, start : function() { swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.amtrekker.com/wp-content/uploads/player.swf", "WT1_1", "437", "522", "9.0.0", false, this.flashvars, this.params , this.attr ); } } WT1_1.start();And here’s that youtube link!
I’m done.
Brett.
If you like the podcasts then don’t be scared of that donate button!
Thanks!
AKPC_IDS += "228,"; More >
Anti-Excitement
Feb 26th
Hey Team,
“The Plan” was delayed by a day, which I suppose, just goes to show how useful plans are in my hands. (i.e. not very) BUT besides that, things are progressing nicely. At 3:30 am my bus leaves Nashville for Atlanta where I’ll meet up with a guy that lives about an hour south of there to learn the family fun past time of moonshinery (I’m going to call that one a word too.)
There’s SO much stuff going on behind the scenes right now that it’s been tough to stay on top of everything (I am but one man) but I can assure you it’s all very exciting.
AND it looks like I’m not going to have to be frantically editing to get the new podcast up tomorrow. I know. What the heck is that all about?!
So here’s the little teaser. Tomorrow by 6pm PST there will be a new TASTHIB podcast featuring City Museum in St. Louis. No joke, one of the coolest places I’ve been so far on this epic journey. Right up there with Fort Gorges on the list of Awesome Stuff That Happens In Between. More on that tomorrow.
Other than that, not a lot of news today. More >
The Plan
Feb 25th
Hey Team,
Just a very quick update. I’ve been trying out this new “planning” thing. I don’t know how well it’s going (…and it seems to take a lot of time) but I think it’s just as much of a new experience as hang gliding or milking a cow and so it deserves it’s time in the sun too.
I’ve got to say though. So far…not a fan.
Here are my thoughts:
1. I’m going to be in southern Utah the second week in March to see what fly-fishing is like.
2. If I head west now I’ll end up there WAY too early.
3. There’s still plenty I need to cross off in the southeast.
4. So it makes sense to cross off as much as I can in the south over the next three weeks.
5. I THINK I can do #s 2, 14, 24, 28, 29, 34, 45 and maybe 12. But NONE of those are sure things so if you have any leads let me know.
6. I’m going to start this whirlwind tour of the south by heading to Atlanta tomorrow and hoping for some moonshine action.
Wish me luck.
See that was kind of like planning, right? At least I know which direction I’m More >
“Hey Kettle You’re Looking Kinda…Black”
Feb 24th
Hey Team,
I’ve never made any attempt at keeping secret the fact that Greyhound is my least favorite method of travel. There are some pretty unsavory characters rolling around those terminals.
When I was traveling to St. Louis I had the privilege of sharing the bus with an older man with a bushy white beard, a head just a little too small for his body and a persistent hacking cough. All in all, nothing out of the ordinary there.
BUT, as I was standing in line with the rest of the dregs of humanity today, getting ready to leave St. Louis (bound for Atlanta by way of Nashville), I look to my right and what should I see? A small old man with a bushy white beard, a head just a little too small for his body and a persistent hacking cough wearing the exact same clothes he was wearing three days ago! So naturally, I instantly looked down upon him as a dirty slob with no direction in life.
It was shortly after that when I realized I’d just called the kettle out for wearing a Mickey Mouse jacket.
I better go change my clothes.
I’m done.
Brett.
I know what would make you feel better!
Thanks!
AKPC_IDS += More >
Walk It Off
Feb 22nd
Hey Team,
I’ve recently discovered two very interesting and telling facts about the people living in this great country of ours.
1. NO ONE’S concept of “walking distance” is the same as mine.
And
2. NO ONE has any concept of distance. Period.
I explored the better part of St. Louis by foot today and for the most part it was great. There’s A LOT to look at here.
Nothing I can really cross off the list besides the geocaching but the architecture is AWESOME (yeah, I’m kind of a geek for design).
However, eventually came the time when I realized I had to find a bank or I was going to go hungry tonight. Sadly, it was already pretty late in the day. (I wish the following exchange were an isolated incident but sadly only the places and faces change.)
“Sorry we’re closed.”
“Is there another Bank of America nearby?”
“Not within walking distance.”
“How far is it?”
“You can’t walk there.”
“About how far is it?”
“Pretty far.”
“Pretty far as in, it’s in Nashville…or pretty far as in, I should take a bus.”
“*sigh* Jenn, how far away is the Jefferson and Gravois branch?”
“Two miles.”
“It’s two miles.” This she said with a tone that added, “SEE. Idiot. You can’t walk two miles. More >
I HATE
Feb 21st
Hey Team,
I’m sure there are a few of you out there that already know this but I don’t think I’ve ever written about it so most of you are probably in the dark. There are precious few things in this life that I would file under the category of “Things Brett Hates.” All in all I’m a pretty easygoing guy; I stay up beat. BUT the things that ARE on my list are things I HATE with a loathing red-hot passion.
Let me take a step back. Yesterday was a GREAT day. Period. Way up there on the list of great days even. I got to go to the diggnation live show.
I met some really interesting people and I’m staying with a great couchsurfing host in a very interesting city. There. Consider that a disclaimer.
Now. There are only four items on my list of things I hate. That means that only four things that I have come across on a regular basis in my short life are so putrid, so utterly intolerable, so loathsome that I have a difficult time even thinking about them. And it’s a testament to what a great day yesterday was to be able to STILL More >