Archive for April, 2008
The Immortal Words of Lewis Carroll
Apr 9th
“You can have podcasts tomorrow or podcasts yesterday but never podcasts today.” – Through the Looking Glass
I think that’s how it went. He was a pretty progressive guy.
Point is: I let you guys down. Again. Between long bus rides and car rides and taxes it’s REALLY tough for one guy to make it all happen around here. My best doesn’t seem to be good enough this week but there WILL be a podcast. It’s just not going to be on time.
So keep your eyes peeled, wish me luck and send me a co-worker or eight. Quitting your job and living your dream is hard work!
I’m done.
Brett.
If you can’t provide a co-worker maybe you can find another way to help out…hint hint, wink wink.
Thanks!
AKPC_IDS += "274,";
Buses, Bums and Me
Apr 8th
Hey Team,
Time to get on the move again. It’ll take a few days but I’m headed back towards the east coast (hopefully to cross the last few things off the list that have to be done there). I’m sitting on a greyhound right now wishing I hadn’t bothered wasting my time with a shower this morning. I think I’m already dirtier than I was pre-shower.
You know that scene in every tween movie where the girl sprays perfume in the air and then walks through the cloud, head held high, to catch an even coat of fragrance? Yeah, it’s like that. Sadly, it’s less Calvin Klein and more Marmaduke (after rolling around in fetid bum blankets).
Ignoring whatever that smell is (I suspect the dude in front of me using a walkie talkie as a prop so he doesn’t look AS crazy as he would OFFICIALLY talking to himself. I haven’t heard anyone talk back.) there’s plenty of room at the seats for half a child to sit comfortably for half an hour OR one grown male to sit painfully uncomfortably for eleven hours. Luckily, I fit into the latter category.
At least there are guaranteed to be interesting people every single time you More >
The link to the CNN shindig
Apr 7th
Hey Team,
Real quick for those of you that missed out on it. Here’s the link to the CNN interview that aired this weekend. It was pretty good! At least, I was happy with it…but I’m a little biased. I loved seeing all the little snippets of fun stuff I’ve done over the last eight months and giggling to myself. They used a lot of great moments.
And it was AWESOME to see so many people from Team Amtrekker on there too! You guys all rocked and I couldn’t have done any of the stuff on the list without your help! Here’s hoping things continue to go as smoothly…who am I kidding? When do things ever go smoothly?
Well, here’s hopin’ anyway.
Wish me luck!
I’m going to go tour a couple wineries my CS host insisted I check out and then it’s off to the next adventure! Where and what will that be? I’ll let you know when I get there…
I’m done.
Brett.
Look how lonely that little yellow button looks! Doesn’t it just make you want to click it?
Thanks!
AKPC_IDS += "272,";
C’est La Vie
Apr 6th
Hey Team,
The generosity and diversity of Couch Surfers NEVER ceases to amaze me. Last night I got to watch the “News to Me” Amtrekker story from the comfort and warmth of an amazing Bed and Breakfast in Eugene (C’est La Vie Inn) before retiring to the Honeymoon Suite for one of the best sleeps I’ve had in weeks.
Granted its immediate competition was a brick wall outside a bus station and the bus itself…
Seriously though, this place is amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in such a swank pad (too much Tiki Bar TV I think) before. It’s a Queen Anne Victorian (the kind people always call doll houses when they’re painted bright colors) with some amazing decor. Not that I partook but my room had a Jacuzzi tub in the bedroom area and a small kitchen nook. Honestly, I’ve never even lived in a place as nice as this single room. (I don’t know why that surprises me…it’s not like I’ve lived in a lot of really nice places.)
I don’t know why I’m gushing so much. I guess I’m still just busy being blown away that someone would open up this kind of home to a stranger. I wish More >
What’s the Co-Motion?
Apr 5th
Hey Team,
The other day when I found myself in Boise I thought, “Geez. I’m so close to one of those things I’ve always wanted to see that somehow just didn’t make ‘the list.’” And I wondered silently to myself about whether I would be doing myself more of a disservice by chasing after a goal that wasn’t on the list or by ignoring something I REALLY wanted to do.
Eventually I decided this trip is all about “less talk, more action” and actually going out and doing those things you want to do instead of spending your whole life talking about it without ever taking that final step.
Bottom line: I HAD to go check out Co-Motion Cycles.
I’ve mentioned it several times now, both here and in the podcasts, but the one thing I REALLY miss from home (besides my family and In-N-Out Burger) is my bicycle. And although I LOVE my bike it was actually a compromise because I couldn’t afford my dream bike at the time (or now).
So, a craigslist rideshare with Francis the Web Designer/BMXer got me to Portland, OR at 2am to the stark realization that I didn’t have a place to stay that night. A problem I More >
Party People
Apr 4th
Hey Team,
I realize this is a terrible way to do this but I couldn’t figure out a simpler way to display these videos using the video player plugin my site is running on. SO sorry that the load times are going to SUCK for this page. I hope you enjoy the videos anyway!
This first one if from Alessia in Boston. She’s an Italian native (you may or may not be able to pick up on that in the video) and all around cool girl. I’ve never met her brother…he seems quiet.
[coolplayer]
http://www.amtrekker.com/wp-content/Party/Alessia.MPG
[/coolplayer]
The Totally Rad Show guys were a pretty important part of this adventure. Dan, the dude on the left, is the one that talked me into doing a video podcast in the first place. Otherwise most of you never would have even known I was traveling. Steve, in the back, is my go to guy whenever I hit a wall with my own meager FinalCut abilities and they were all the first folks to spread the word on this epic adventure. All great guys!
[coolplayer width="437" height="262"]
http://www.amtrekker.com/wp-content/Party/TRS.mov
[/coolplayer]
This classy guy has been a supporter since way back not just via donations but also plenty of moral support!
[coolplayer]
http://www.amtrekker.com/wp-content/Party/AmtrekkerWH.m4v
[/coolplayer]
I stayed with Amy for one or More >
#44 Fly-Fishing! [podcast]
Apr 3rd
Hey Team,
Welcome back to Wednesday! Nothing to say here except to warn you that I am kind of a fly-fishing stud now. Take a look at my first pond based lesson!
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%3D18", 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 the youtube link!
Thanks for watching everyone!
I’m done.
Brett.
Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll make a podcast. Donate to a man for fishing and he can make even more!
Thanks!
AKPC_IDS += "261,";
YOU’RE an April Fool! Jerk.
Apr 1st
Hey Team,
I get SO sick of knowing that EVERYTHING I read on the internet one day a year is going to be complete and total BS. Seriously guys, it’s not all that original. We all know it’s coming. If anything it just makes me assume that even the true stuff is a lie on April Fool’s Day.
Congratulations people. Way to go. You made a handful of people that can’t pay attention to the date think that you’ve sold your soul to a talking porcupine for a box of tic tacs.
I’d be so much more impressed if someone faked a bunch of people out on the fourth of July and then just before they walked off the nearest bridge to show their complete commitment to the ridiculous lie they shouted, “April Fool’s!”
It’s like Valentine’s Day. It’s so much more meaningful if you give the gift of suckering some poor sap when they least expect it.
At the very least I’d like to see some retaliatory April Fool’s happenings. How come no one ever gets knocked to the ground and has their shoes ripped off and thrown in the garbage disposal after telling someone their shoelaces are untied?
Man, this is kind of bitter. More >
