Originally uploaded by melepix
As there are only four states in the Union that I have not been to (I was mistaken about Wyoming, for those of you that I had told three states), I simply must get to see the rest of them. I need to visit Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Alaska. The great part about that particular list is that the first three share borders and a famous national park!
This summer I think I’m going to try to get out to Yellowstone which, though it is mostly in Wyoming, does extend over the state lines into Montana and Idaho as well. As long as a make a point to cross those lines and enter the other states, I’d only have one left.
Again, I’ll have to take a lot of pictures. Yellowstone is very photogenic (from what I’ve seen online, anyway), I just don’t know if I have the eye or the technique for that kind of photography. I’m not exceptionally good at color balancing and compensating for environmental conditions. We’ll see how it goes, though.
Actually, now that I think about it, it doesn’t matter if I take the photos well, as long as I take the photos. That’s why I have so few photographs of Hawaii. I wanted to take great photos, instead of just taking photos. If I never just got out there and snapped the shots I never would have captured Dark Water, which is still one of my two favorite photos ever. It was not an ideal day for photography, but if I didn’t go out on my island-wide photo tour, I never would have gotten it. Besides, Chimney Ruin just wouldn’t have made any sense on a sunny day.
I guess the old rule is true: Take 100 photos to get one great one. I’ve gotta get out and take more photos.
Which reminds me (as I segue right out of the LITDSTPTSOA topic and on into free association): I’m taking that trip to DC again this year for National History Day. My intent this year is to make excellent use of the time on the road to take six bajillion photos (Yes, that a real number… it’s more than “a whole bunch” and less than “an impossibly ridiculous amount”). While it certainly is not the case that Central Florida is without good photo subjects, it does not offer the kinds of photos I want to take. It’s too new and too sleek for my photographic tastes.
While I’m on the road, then, I may repeat many of the stops I made the first time. I definitely want to photograph DC, New York, and Scranton, and lots of all three. I might be convinced to make other detours as well, so drop me a line and I might just head out your way. The Northeast roadtrip, might segue straight into the Yellowstone trip, which would have me all over half the nation.
In fact… <clicks about Google Maps> from Scranton through Ohio to see Paul and Mel’s place, then down to Arkansas to see Dan, further down to San Angelo to see Paolucci (’cause God knows Pao doesn’t ever travel to visit anyone), then up through Vegas (Where I suspect Brandon and Isaac could join me) to Yellowstone with the expanded crew. That plan is straight-up genius!
Of course, the whole thing only works if I can take six hours of grad courses this summer, and all online. Then I can collect full GI Bill benefits, and do the work from anywhere in the country. I may also need to have some of my traveling companions read my texts to me while I drive (or drive while I read, but I prefer the other way).
Hmm. Now I have phone calls to make and emails to write.
MattLavery.SchemingMode(on)
6 responses so far ↓
1 alison_k // Feb 11, 2008 at 12:03
Hey there is this great thing called books on tape/CD/podcast you could do that as you travel.
2 mattlavery // Feb 12, 2008 at 4:27
That’s true, but what are the chances that the required reading for whatever class I’m taking in Curriculum and instruction is available in an audio format?
3 alison_k // Feb 12, 2008 at 19:22
Actually if you know where to look most publishers place all of their texts in audio form for the blind and dyslexic. You just have to know where to look for them and wait- oh that’s right the majority of the population that I work with us dyslexic and I know where to look:)
4 IsaacNagel // Feb 12, 2008 at 22:03
I would absolutely be willing to join you in Vegas, and Brandon and I have been discussing ways to handle the logistics.
5 mattlavery // Feb 23, 2008 at 6:37
By the way, for anyone who’s been watching the development of the “roadtrip across America” plans: The plans were pretty solid, looked like they would work well, and everyone seemed to be on board with it.
Then I did math.
As a math teacher, I recognize the importance of actually crunching numbers about stuff. As it turns out, I would have had to allocate about $3000 just to make the trip, for gas and lodging, and then I’d need to spend money to eat and to do stuff.
I think I’ll fly out to meet my friends in Vegas and rent a car for the “check off Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho” trip (which is three days, with a place to stay for free). Again, logic reigns…. who told it that it was allowed to do that?
6 alison_k // Feb 27, 2008 at 11:27
There you go being a responsible grown up again….
That whole logic thing can get in the way, but I guess it makes sense.
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