Road Poet’s Michigan Travelblog

So now that year 2 is upon us, I thought it might be time to change things up a bit.

I’m getting pretty sick of all the national news media slamming on Michigan. Companies are closing at record pace, unemployment is through the roof, foreclosures are becoming the norm, people are fleeing-seeking jobs in other states, and the overall mood about Michigan appears rather glum. But damnit I love Michigan! I’ve lived here all my life and I’ll be damned if the capitalists, politicians, and media will chase me out.

I’m determined to keep Michigan alive!

So this year as I travel around Michigan and share my sometimes humorous, sometimes down right absurd experiences–the focus will be on the people and places of Michigan that make this state so damn great!

That’s right—we’re bringing Michigan back! And I’m not above embellishing my stories a bit to keep you entertained. All I ask in return is that you reconsider everything you’re hearing about how our state is plummeting, and consider spending some of your green on the places and businesses that make Michigan the incredible state that it is!!!

I have no idea what experiences this year holds, where I will go next, or even what I’ll do when I get there. If you have any suggestions send them along.

And for those who missed last year here’s a very brief recap of some of its high (& low) points: suicidal bats, karma bugs, wild turkeys, getting chased by an entire church congregation, fudgies, the professional disc golf association’s world championship, taking a private jet to D.C., almost getting kicked off the private jet before even boarding the darned thing, rejection letters, fear, fear, and more fear, and oh yeah–living in a van.

Obviously I left a ton out from last year……….stay tuned for this year’s adventures……….

When Hair-do’s Become Chastity Belts

Just when you think it’s safe to begin forgetting about what started this whole traveling gig – SURPRISE!

I met with Joyce today and we looked through the few items she found, mostly pictures of her and Mary when they were little . Those fake colored rosy-cheeked pictures freak me out. I’m not sure why, but it makes me think of Little House on The Prairie. Anyway I got to se what Mary looked like as she entered her teen years. Let’s just say no matter how cute teenage girls may have been back then, their hairdo’s must’ve worked like chastity belts.

It was great putting a face to Mary, and she and Joyce look like they could’ve been sisters rather than cousins. After meeting with Joyce for about two hours, she casually mentioned that someone named Tom was coming to visit her tomorrow. WHAT! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

She wasn’t, and apparently tomorrow I get to meet Mary’s son Tom. All that detective research work I’ve been doing is finally paying off. Yeah right. As you can probably imagine I’m as excited as a porcupine in balloon popping contest. I can’t believe, though that she told me almost en passant. I feel like such a pawn (Sorry – I couldn’t resist).

So sing away Annie “The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there’ll be Tom.”

I haven’t been able to fall asleep so I’m up hawking invisible internet beams outside the local library. I love libraries!

P. S. – Have you hugged your plant today. O Cactus!, My Cactus! OUCH!

peace.

Submitting Poetry

I’ve been spending more time writing and revising my poetry lately, something that I completely pushed aside years ago. Finally deciding to focus on my writing has allowed me to become more serious about my poetry.

Writing poetry for me is hard to describe, it’s as if I set myself aside and write in another self. I enjoy the process incredibly, but it also comes with warnings. My mind realy appears to go somewhere elser when I write. The main reason I quit writing many years ago (including eventually throwing out almost my complete body of work) was that I couldn’t trust myself in that mind. The thing about me that I love most, my mind, is also the thing that scares me the most.

Well, I’ve decided it’s time to write again, and today I decided to take a step forward and begin submitting my poetry for publication in literary magazines. It often takes quite a while to hear back from these journals, but I’ll update all responses (rejections and submissions) here as they happen.

I may also begin working on producing and self-publishing a chapbook of my poetry, so I’ll update anything new in that department as it happens as well.

peace

I’ve Got A Secret

So when I was leaving Waynesburg the other day I thought I came up with a great idea that I’ll call: No maps and no main roads.

And I did just that. For as long as I coud take it I drove on backroads with no particular care for time or place, no urgency to be anywhere other than where I was. Well back to back days of backroads was enough for me. I saw a lot of backyards, empty lots, overgrown areas, etc.

Nothing new to report about the trip and nothing new to report on Artie for two days, so I guess it’s the right time to talk about one of my other motives for taking this trip. Just between us, here’s my little secret: I feel like I’m in a transition stage of life, a time to choose betwen two paths. One path is to continue taking English grad classes in Mt. Pleasant which invovles very little uncertainty. Basically I’d take classes for another year or two and complete an MA degree. The other path involves a bit more uncertainty, a bit more change, a bit more faith.

The other path involves leaving Michigan, where I’ve lived my whole life and where my family lives. It involves making a decision to dedicate my life to writing, therefore attending a university which offers an MFA degree. This often considered terminal degree would allow me a greater chance of acquiring a job dedicated to writing, such as teaching. Changing states and schools wouldn’t happen until fall 2009, but greater changes would happen more quickly. Changes such as devoting my time more to reading and writing, allowing my decisions to be made with regards to what is best for my (and others’) writing, and focusing on publishing my poetry.

As I write this I have already decided on path #2 and have begun researching MFA programs around the country. I’ve also started changing my routine a little already. Upon awakening I spend an hour reading before starting my day. I set aside specific time each day to write. I also make certain to read the poetry of others each day as well.

Since I’ve made this decision one thought resonates in my mind every day: “I feel more like myself.”

I pray we all feel more like ourselves today. peace

You don’t sleep in that thing do you?

Two days ago I moved into the van and thus, yes, I do sleep in that thing.

Initial observations:

1) It gets really warm when the morning sun hits the van. – I hope to alleviate some of the heat by covering the windows with reflectix. Today I also bought two battery-powered fans that should help the air flow a bit.

2) No matter how well enclosed the van seems to be, there’s always one mosquito who camped out in the van all day long just waiting for his prey (my ear lobes) to get comfortable, before attacking. So I need to mount a flyswatter within quick draw range of my bed.

3) I really, really take running water / plumbing for granted. So far I’ve been lucky to have a shower and bathrooms at my disposal, but that will be changing after tomorrow. I do have a solar shower and an emergency toilet just in case.

4) Some of the greatest people in the world live in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan – yeah friends!

5) It’s amazing how quickly such a small space can become cluttered. And while I’m on that, it’s also amazing how i can forget where things are in such a small space. Did I mention how small of a living space it is yet?

Updates: The van got new tires today – Yeah!, Even though I’m typing on it right now the laptop still isn’t repaired – Boo, Tomorrow I leave on the trip – Yeah!.

Daily Kudos: Friends – for the love and laughter; Tim Horton’s – for a good cup of warm brown drink and for the invisible internet signal traveling to my laptop.

peace.

Last Night In My Bed

Tomorrow I move out of the house I was renting and into the 1988 GMC Vandura. Today was filled with packing and moving, and tomorrow will be filled with the same + cleaning.

OK – now it’s starting to sink in – I’ve been preparing for a few months and we’ll see just how well I prepared for this excursion. Today I got a reminder that no matter how well I follow the boyscout credo, life will still happen. Today life happened in two distinct surprises: 1) The side door on the van didn’t want to shut – I had to play with the door’s innards for a few minutes before it would latch shut & 2) When I went to start my laptop the power button snapped & I had to wiggle it for a few to get it turned on (please don’t read into that last statement).

Anyway I’m excited to start the adventure, I feel like I’ve put so much on hold just waiting for it to get here. And now it’s here.

Many have asked if I have a specific route I’m planning and all I can say is we’ll see where the search for ‘Artie’ takes me. I’m sure wherever I happen to go, I’ll be following the road to happy destiny. And perhaps I’ll meet some of you along the way.

On an entirely different note: With all my recent contemplation of love I think it’s fitting that I end tonight by telling the one whose heart God, the Creator, has for mine that I miss her already. I love you very much, wherever you are. Sleep well.

peace.

1 Week To Go

It still hasn’t completely sunk in that in one week I’ll be leaving. Even sooner, in 4 days, my lease is up and I move into the – still nameless – van.

A loneliness is settling in the house as we begin the slow procession of moving possessions to square storage units larger than my new ‘mobile’ home.

The official 1 week to go – to do list:

1. Finalize van interior modifications, 2. Separate possessions into 2 categories: Van vs. Storage, 3. Pack said possessions, 4. Purchase new van tires, 5. Watch ‘Into The Wild’ one more time, 6. Get friends’ mailing addresses, 7. Everything else I can’t think of right now.

FYI: Although I’ve been trying to dig up info on anyone who might have known ‘Artie,’ I’ve as yet had no new leads. The plan is still to start in Ohio. So I guess that means that next week I’ll be dwelling in Ohio. More to come, hopefully.

peace. 

Worry Free

When I first started this blog I mentioned I would be making some big changes in my life in order to live my calling: seeking, writing, helping others, and learning how to love.

I have finally walked away from the business that I co-owned with my best friend. He will be continuing the business and I pray that he be blessed with abundance both in his life and in his work.

Several months ago God began telling me it was time to stop hiding and move on. It was apparent that my exuberance for the work had left and my heart was no longer in it. Of course I tried to hang on long after that was first shown, but alas I have let go. And so it goes.

peace.

8 weeks out

Time has a way of creeping up on a man.

When I originally decided to do this way back in January there was no way of knowing just how much preparation I’d have done by now. I’ve spent many late hours searching the internet for items, groups, and information (of which I’ve found plenty). Mainly I’ve been researching places to go, how travellers budget, and how others have rigged up their vehicles.

I’ve stumbled upon a subculture of people who live in their vehicles ‘full-time,’ freegans, Slab City California, vandwellers, and many helpful forums.

I’m also beginning to understand that living ‘full-time’ in a vehicle is going to be more than just an experiment of living within a closed space. Through reading the blogs of others who are current vandwellers and boondockers, I’m seeing that most of life’s issues become magnified or exaggerated. I’m also learning that normal everyday occurences like showering, brushing your teeth, and going to the bathroom can become adventures all by themselves.

Against the long of the short of it all is that my naivete is beginning to show through. I’m excited to learn all of the other things about ‘full-timing’ that I don’t yet know. 8 weeks from today is my target leave date, and I hope to learn much more by then.

peace.

The Decision

I’ve made my share of questionable decisions in this life, and only time will tell if what I’m preparing to embark on is the latest one.

I have decided to spend this summer driving around the country, living in a vehicle.

There are some who will probably question this decision, but have faith that I am making this decision with a sound mind.

peace.