"When overseas you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you're visiting."
~Clint Borgen
What do you think?
...when overseas...
"When overseas you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you're visiting."
~Clint Borgen
What do you think?
Happy Holidays!: Home...a piece of soul
"For more and more of us, home has really less to do with a piece of soil than, you could say, with a piece of soul."
~Pico Iyer
Happy Holidays! I hope wherever you are you are making wonderful memories with wonderful people and environments.
What do you think?
...with all your heart...
"Wheresoever you go... Go with all your heart."
~Confucius
What do you think?
...we must carry it within us...
"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
What do you think?
...no moment of delight like it...
"There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it"
~Charles Dudley Warner
What do you think?
...the two impulses in travel...
"The two impulses in travel are to get away from home, and the other is to pursue something - a landscape, people, an exotic place, certainly finding a place that you like or discovering something unusual is a very sustaining thing in travel."
~Paul Theroux
What do you think?
...the traveler is active...
"The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes 'sight-seeing'."
~Daniel J. Boorstin
What do you think?
...the real voyage of discovery...
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
~Marcel Proust
What do you think?
...a journey no one can take for us...
"We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us."
~Marcel Proust
What do you think?
News & Updates: Summer/Autumn
Where I Have Been...
I've been a little neglectful on here. Sorry about that. It's been a busy, busy year, folks. I've been trying to get some long-awaited projects going. If you haven't been checking out my sister blog, System Andromeda, you should definitely read my Quarterly Review post to see the result of the last few months.
One project that affects Ransomed Roads is the creation of a new photography website: Tricky Fish Photography.
I've you've been keeping up with my Ransomed Roads Instagram, you've seen some of my photos already. You can also follow my Tricky Fish Instagram.
I also did a little travel this year, both to the East Coast (family stuff) and to Las Vegas. But not enough...never enough.
Patreon
Now, the big news while I've been so busy is the creation of my Patreon page...and you can be a part of it! Patreon connects creatives with the audience that loves them. It allows them to engage more with each other through exclusive content on a membership-based platform for as little as $1/month. I love it. It means I get to keep creating, and you get to keep getting the benefit of that which I create. Note the orange button up on the right-hand side? Go check out my page, see what you think, and if you like what you see, if you like what I do here, I encourage you to become a patron. Remember, patrons will not only keep getting posts here, but they will also get exclusive and advanced content that is only on Patreon!
What's Next...
I'm deciding the direction I want Ransomed Roads to go in future. There are many things I'd like to do, and it's a matter of how those will fit in with all my other projects (seriously, if you haven't see what all I do, read that Quarterly Review post). For now, I can tell you that I plan on doing a new periodic (monthly?) series on here highlighting local sites and events in the Council Bluffs/Omaha Metro area. I still plan to chronicle my journey to financial and personal freedom building a tiny house. I'm tabling it until at least the start of next year while I work on other projects, but there will be a bunch of stuff on here once I get started (you can get even more news on my Patreon!). I'm hoping to get my Vegas posts out by the end of the year, and continue working on Summer of Color in the new year. For now, this is my last post until at least mid-November.
I hope everyone is having an excellent autumn (or spring, for my southern hemisphere readers!). Stay tuned and happy travels, fellow gypsies!
What do you think?
...the longest journey...
"The longest journey is the journey inward."
~Dag Hammarskjold
What do you think?
...everyday kindness goes a long way...
"The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in headlines."
~Charles Kuralt
What do you think?
...leave only footprints...
"Take only memories. Leave only footprints."
~Chief Seattle
What do you think?
...people don't take trips...
"People don't take trips, trips take people."
~John Steinbeck
What do you think?
...solitary reflection...
"One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more."
~Thomas Jefferson
What do you think?
...the power that crosses the white sea...
"Wonders are many, and none is more wonderful than the power that crosses the white sea, driven by the stormy wind, making a path under surges that threaten to engulf him."
~Sophocles
What do you think?
...leave only footprints...
"Take only memories. Leave only footprints."
~Chief Seattle
What do you think?
Vegas, Baby!
I got back from a trip to Vegas last week, finishing off an incredibly busy summer, and a wild year thus far. The latter half of the summer has been devoted to editing photos and preparing a new photography website. (Yes, it will have travel photos!) I'll be sharing more as I get into the fall, so start looking for more regular posting come October, and stay tuned for some pretty interesting developments along the way!
In the meantime, here's a little teaser:
What do you think?
In the meantime, here's a little teaser:
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| Hint: This is not in Paris. |
What do you think?
...embodying the Burn...
A Special Burning Man edition quote...
"Reminds me of my safari in Africa. Somebody forgot the corkscrew and for several days we had to live on nothing but food and water."
~W.C. Fields
What do you think?
...a piece of soul...
"For more and more of us, home has really less to do with a piece of soil than, you could say, with a piece of soul."
~Pico Iyer
What do you think?
...appreciating the journey...
"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow."
~Lin Yutang
What do you think?
...finding the right road...
"Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right road."
~Dag Hammarskjold
What do you think?
...do not travel without love...
"Never go on trips with anyone you do not love."
~Ernest Hemingway
What do you think?
...a dangerous business...
"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
~J.R.R. Tolkien
What do you think?
...it always rains on tents...
"It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds for the opportunity to rain on a tent."
~Dave Barry
What do you think?
The Journey Continues: Things on the Way
It's been a wild few weeks, and rest assured that there are more things in the works. I've got a big trip coming up in August, and I attended (part of) Tiny Fest Midwest back in June. There will be some posting on that. In the meantime, I'm in the midst of a couple of other projects:
- Prepping for Omaha Comic Con (O-Con), which is this weekend, and ironically held in Council Bluffs, IA, just across the river. I'm going as Domino from Deadpool 2. That means it's costume time, and I'm spending a lot of time working on mine. The word "all-consuming" comes to mind.
- The Totems 2018 Group Art Show is coming up, with opening reception happening the following weekend (the 20th). There'll be all kinds of artwork there, and I'll be putting a piece or two into the show, so it should be interesting. Here's the flyer:
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| Totems Opening Reception July 20th Runs July 20th - August 10th |
So, if you like totem spirits, local art, any kind of art, or just local stuff, and are in the Omaha Metro area the weekend of July 20th or any time up until August 10th, stop by the Harvest ArtSpace Gallery, and see some amazing pieces. Check out the Facebook page for more info.
In the meantime, stay tuned for some new stuff happening in August (maybe sooner), including the official launch of my Patreon page, as well as the start of my Tiny House adventures in the fall, and Happy Journeys!
What do you think? Share some of your adventures down below!
...are we not there yet?...
"I love to travel, but hate to arrive."
~Hernan Cortes
What do you think?
Apache Blessing
Apache Blessing
May the Sun bring you new by Day
May the Moon softly restore you by Night
May the Rain wash away your worries
May the Breeze blow new strength into your being
May you walk gently throughout the world
And know its beauty all the days of your life
What do you think?
...that which travels with me...
"For more and more of us, home has really less to do with a piece of soil than, you could say, with a piece of soul. If somebody suddenly asks me, 'Where's your home?' I think about my sweetheart or my closest friends or the songs that travel with me wherever I happen to be."
~Pico Iyer
What do you think?
...no fixed plans...
"A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."
~Lao Tzu
What do you think?
Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo: Asian Highland Opening
Recently, I got invited to the opening of the first phase of the new Asian Highlands exhibit at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. I went with my brother (who works there and extended the invite) and my friend Christina. We grabbed our cameras to get a few shots. Check it out!
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| Exhibit Entrance |
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| Red Panda |
SOC: The ATX Farewell Tour - Part III: Final Farewells
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| Andromeda Cv., Austin, That |
My last week in Austin was an amazing whirlwind of fun, exhaustion, and bittersweet moments. The previous posts have focused on what makes Austin Austin... that barely definable thing that makes this city weird, and on the Art of the city. This final post then, is about my last day and the people I was leaving behind. Enjoy.
Last Day / Mother's Day
My final day in Austin was Mother's Day. I had hoped for a peaceful jaunt about the city but, as always, the Universe had other plans. We had parted company with Jaya and were on our own for transportation. I had booked a reservation for a rental car, but the rental did not go through as planned, so we took a Car2Go instead.
Note:
If you've never taken one of these, it is an interesting experience. They are not terribly comfortable, being SmartCars, but they are incredibly useful for a town like Austin, which has a large population of people who travel via bike, bus, and foot.
Mom and I finally got underway for some "relaxing" nature time...of course, it was pretty hot. So the trek up to 360 point was a bit more taxing than either of us would have liked. But come on, that view:
SOC: The ATX Farewell Tour - Part II: Austin = Art
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| Sea Turtle [Seeking title & artist] |
If you've been checking things out so far, you've already read my "short" profile of Austin in a previous post. The Summer of Color (SOC) continues, then, with the main event for my final Austin revelries: touring art and history in Austin with my mom.
This part of the Austin Farewell Tour began with Mom's entrance via plane. She arrived, as always: pink outfit, purple (magenta, really) hair, and Supernatural-themed jewelry. Yep, this one belongs to me. I got my ticket claim right here.
After collecting bags and mandatory trips to the bathroom, we jetted outside to meet Jaya. I can't stress enough my appreciation to both my friends, BMFD - who allowed the use of his truck for us to jet around town - and Jaya - my dear brother who chauffeured us about. Without them, we could not have done nearly the amount of sight-seeing that we did. Mad love to you both, brothers.
The rest of the day passed in a whirlwind. We ran past where I'd been staying the last couple months, grabbing all my stuff and hot-footing it, through excruciating afternoon traffic, to our home for the next week: Chez Z (not to be confused with Chez Zee, the restaurant). The fun was just beginning...
Review: TravelJohn™ Disposable Urinals - Pragmatism Is In
"An Ode to Practicality in the Face of the Icky"
Summer is upon us: time of camping and festivals. I know you may not feel comfortable talking about this or even thinking about it, but it's something we all face when out at our favorite festival, road-tripping across the country, or trekking our favorite countryside. That's right: toilets. This dread topic is perhaps the most annoying and deromanticizing aspect of travel. Figuring out how you're going to *ahem* "relieve yourself" in those off-the-beaten-path excursions can kill the wanderlust mood like no other, but mastering this pragmatic process puts you in the upper echelons of "pro" travelers and makes your vacation time a breeze. So how do I do this? The TravelJohn™.
Oh, yes. It's time to "Review & Recommend."
First, story time (you can page down to "Pros & Cons" if you're in a hurry): I pee a lot in the night. Actually, I pee a lot all the time, because I have what I liken to the bladder of a toddler at a movie theater. This seems to be a common issue on my mom's side of the family. Back when I actually was a young child, I learned that road-tripping also meant bringing an empty jug along....just in case. This also applied to things such as camping, hiking/backpacking, and moving (which we did a lot).
Disturbing as some may find it, the "pee jug" was one of the best things about those times. Learning about something so fundamental as where and when I can stop to go to the bathroom, made me much better at planning ahead for trips, even a particularly hellish commute. I got good at things like checking the map for the next rest stop, planning drinks accordingly, avoiding peak drive times, and how to spy a good gas station toilet from the highway.
As such, I moved into adulthood without a general need for the pee jug, and it was retired.
That is until I started going to Burning Man.
Returning soon!
Hello, Dear Reader.
The year dawned busy for me, with illness, a new job, and a family emergency (recovery is in progress). I am catching up and will be back with you soon. Stay tuned for the next installment of the Summer of Color, as well as some posts about current events here in the Midwest.
The year dawned busy for me, with illness, a new job, and a family emergency (recovery is in progress). I am catching up and will be back with you soon. Stay tuned for the next installment of the Summer of Color, as well as some posts about current events here in the Midwest.
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| Train: On the road through a fog-soaked Missouri. We beat the snow storm that was scheduled for that night, and were treated to this amazing scenery. [Click for a better view] |
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