making a push for my, well...

"friends" Ian and Sean. I haven't met them yet, but we'll just call them friends anyway! They have 24 days left to raise the final funds they need to finish up the One Week Job Documentary.

Me? I have about the same amount of time until I have no pennies left. It'll really be a bummer if lack of funds made me give up my chocolate habit. I'm working on a potential job at a bait shop in Seward, AK that I'll be able to work during the 2010 Salmon Derby 8/14-8/22. Now how fun would it be to make a few bucks working during that event?

Go One Week Job fundraising! Go bait shop job!

dear mother nature; any way we could negotiate on some northern weather issues?

I't makes me happy that I have friends and family in so many great places that I get to spend time and stay with. I'm now sitting on a porch swing sipping coffee at my friends house in Chicago after my morning run along the lake with the city skyline in perfect view. Absolutely love it here. I've visited quite a bit in the few years she's lived here in the Windy City. Chicago has been my favorite city in the U.S since my first visit back in 2001. If it weren't so cold here, I'd have moved here in a heartbeat then. I'm beginning to think I'm going to have to buck up, buy some wintery clothes and get my shovel ready. Automatically eliminating the Chicago's NY's, Boston's etc. of the country based on snow and frigid temperatures has been Ok for me this far, but I'm missing out on living in some killer places. So what to do when you really hate the cold? I mean really hate it.

As I trek along to reach this goal of mine, share time with people I love, and scope out my next potential stopping point to reside, I try not to think about how crabby I'd be with 3 feet of snow somewhere in January. Instead I daydream of of the vibrance and energy of a new city, the new food I'll get to try , the new friends and community of people I'll make, the work I'll do and the next new phase of life. We'll see if this works. I know my little sis, among many of you are reading this right now are laughing at me knowing that I'll be cussing at the sign of temperatures below 50. (You're right. I will be. I'll also likely call you, complain, then ask you to brainstorm how we can make a yearly 3 week vacation to South America possible so I can make it through the cold without insanity setting in.) Taking the good with the bad, maybe I'll be able to trade the warm winter weather of a southern city, for the cold snow of a northern one with a bit of grace. (Ok, ok- insert laugh here, I'm not sure "grace" has ever described me...) It's feeling like it's time to switch it up and at least try though. I look forward to seeing what happens and how my tolerance level develops for extreme weather. So many incredible places to live, so few years of 1 life.

Ok, I'm off to the train downtown to meet Al and explore the city. Maybe we'll go shopping for some boots and gloves...

highways, honking truckers, and hundreds of miles

Oh what a day! I love blasting down the road. I stopped in Cleveland for a bit- what a cool little city. More on that later. For now this photo from my last pit stop/rest stop. I just couldn't walk by it. I'm all about some rich food, and the "I shouldn't eat this but I'm going to anyway" stuff, mixed in with the healthy, but is this ad supposed to make me want to eat this? I hate to be all "EW!!! Gross!- But, UGH. GROSS.

amen sisters!

I snapped this on my last day in Upstate NY. A perfectly fitting motto for this trip. As soon as I read this I laughed to myself and thought if my friends were alive, this is how they'd be living and exactly what they'd write.

Every little step on my journey tells me I'm going in the right direction. Thanks M and B. I know you're with me every step of the way.

welcome to ohio!

I know they say you shouldn't use your cell phone and drive, but how else would I be able to snap photos like this?



It sure is a great sunny summer day for driving today!

bye bye east coast

Helloooooo Midwest!

Canada I will see you shortly!

meet gary

Gary is my friends dad. He is one of the kindest, most genuine, insightful and accepting people I have ever known. He and his lovely and equally wonderful wife Jeanne, have been loving, accepting and welcoming me into their home for the past 13 years every summer as if I were their own child. My cottage time is so sacred and has always been the favorite few days of my summers.

After a dinner on the patio overlooking the gorgeous lake the other night, Gary asked me if I wanted to go fishing with him. He hadn't caught anything worth keeping all summer until that point and thought I might be able to bring him some luck, so off we went. He caught a tiny fish pretty quickly but nothing after that. We joked about a hex on the boat or something as there have always been trout a plenty in years past. Fish or not, it was worth going out as the company was great as always and I even got to drive the boat home. Here's a photo of Fisherman Gary. (By the way since our outing the other night He's broken the hex and reeled in a 6-pounder!):



I also snapped this photo of the shore room as we were speeding away in the boat the other night. This was an addition to the cottage a couple of years ago for Gary's 70th birthday. I get to sleep there when I visit now. One word to describe waking up in that room? Heaven.



There are many reasons I love coming to the lake, but the biggest is the time I get with my friend Patrick and his incredible parents. Over the years I have learned so much from them even though they probably would never know they were teaching. I've learned about acceptance, love, joy and being grateful. I've been inspired to be more open and give more of myself. This family exudes light, life and love more than I could ever describe. Their overall positive energy is a force to be reckoned with and they have that magnetic way that just makes you want to be around them as much as possible. They are the purest beings and a few of my absolute favorite ones on the planet. Each summer as I pull up the long steep road away from them, I feel completely full and peaceful.

As my time at the lake comes to an end now, I already dream of boat rides, quiet dock time, dinners on the patio, listening to the lapping of the water, the lessons, and all the true conversation over the sunset shores with this family. Thank you Patrick, Jeanne and Gary for every moment of our time together and every ounce of love you continue to give me and everyone around you.

gulp...help? ideas?

So as days fly by and I fill my gas tank, the bank account gets smaller and smaller. This was to be expected. I will be beating feet from NY state to Chicago on Monday and be in that area until about 8/3. After 8/3 I am done visiting with friends and family and zooming for the tougher part of my trek.

My donations page is hearing nothing but crickets chirping since I've left VA and in my networking efforts so far, I have not had any offers to pick up work along my route to Alaska.

It's time to ask for help. (UGH. I freaking hate this part.)

Anyone have ideas? Need a babysitter/summer nanny, farmhand, stagehand, waitress, cleaning lady, circus freak? If so I'm your girl and I'm mobile. Please contact me. Not that I'd refuse a "real" job, but until I complete my Alaska goal I'm not looking for anything long-term. Of course during this summer resumes are going out, connections are being made and places are being scoped for my next home after September. Right now I'm focused on making it to my 50th state and I've got to figure out a way to make it happen. I'm a month away from selling my car on Craigslist, staying in a notel motel wherever I am at the time and working at the local IHOP. I'm not too proud to do that and will if it comes to that, but before I do have to do that I'm asking for ideas from you all to suggest some ways I can generate funds for the road.

For whatever reason, NYC is still pulling on my soul for my next home. We shall see. I am fortunate enough to have an offer from fantastic friends to stay in Brooklyn for free until I could find a place of my own and other friends who say they could hook me up with a job in a snap. (I know, awesome right?!) It wouldn't suck by any means to head to NYC now and start making my next life, but it would suck to fail at this goal of mine and not leave all options open for other cities I pass through in my travels as I wanted to. (I guess if I have to sell my car to make this all work in a month at least I'll be prepped to go to NYC where I would have to sell it anyway...)

I don't believe in begging for $ or being a free-loader. That's not what I'm trying to do here. I do believe in working my ass off for what I want. I'm looking for work and within reason will do just about anything to reach my goal. For those of you who have so generously donated previously because it's within your means- thank you so much, this has helped tremendously. Those of you who can't donate, I completely understand and that is more than totally fine as your words and notes of encouragement have meant everything to me. Perhaps you all would be so kind as to pass my name onto a friend or someone you know who might be looking for an extra hand with something so I can earn a few bucks?

If you know me in all my independence and stubbornness, you know I'd rather bleed out of my eyeballs than ask for help. I mean it makes me feel weird and uncomfortable when a boy want to pay for a date for pete's sake. All pride aside right now; Any ideas or help out there?

Shit happens and life is life so if this all goes from Blue Lollipop Road; The adventures of a girl who goes on the road to reach a goal and inspire others to travel and try new things, to Diane's Blue Lollipop Road was not planned perfectly and was pathetically underfunded, so she's slingin' pancakes at that local IHOP in Bismarck until she can figure something out- so be it. It might actually even make for a funny blog. I'm just sort of hoping I don't have to find out whether It'd be funny or not.

Thoughts?

could you, would you anywhere?

(I have officially passed 600 posts. YIPPEE!!)

Last week thanks to a friend who took me, I was at the Hotel Ganzevoort sipping cosmos among the hot, trendy crowd with spectacular views of the city as I sported a sassy black dress and sky high heels.

Last night thanks to a different friend who took me, I was at the Grassroots Festival sipping a Heineken, among the hippie, free-lovin' crowd with spectacular views of people dancing in fields as I sported a flowy dress with flip flops.

(I had some fun hamming it up):



I'm bummed I didn't get any photos of RG and I at Hotel Gansevoort last week, but here's Patrick and I last night goofing off at the festival between bands, on our way to shake it to Arrested Development:



Thanks guys! Both were so fun, fun, fun. From pish-posh with bathroom attendants to dirt fields with porta potties.

I love life's potpourri.

kids, be nice and share

Now that I've finally come out of the stone ages and into 2010 with Facebook and Twitter, I've heard from many of you I never would have otherwise. It's been fun and interesting to hear about what you are all up to and what you think of the blog. Problem is, I have quickly formed a habit of communicating back and forth via FB. If you so kindly want to stay in touch, give opinions about my writing, photos, subjects or other, while I'm on the road for this trip- might you mind leaving comments here instead of FB? It'd be nice to share conversations, helpful travel info., etc. with others too. As usual, any and all comments are welcome, good, bad and ugly, along with cool places you might think I'd like to check out or any other randomness. It's a free for all, so babble away.

This journey is more and more fun as days pass and I'm thankful I've got awesome people virtually riding along!

always biting off...

As I sit here on this peaceful morning sipping my coffee and munching on my multigrain toast, 9 days into my trip- I decide I better finally look at a map and driving directions to Alaska from where I am in Upstate New York. Two words come to mind as the lake laps, the sun shines, and the breeze blows perfectly...

HOLY SHIT.

No I have not looked at a map for more than 30 seconds since I "planned" this trip. Yes, I know that AK is clear across the country and up through Canada Yes, I know that before taking on this challenge, perhaps I should've actually understood how far I'd be going. I didn't. All I did was calculate that it was going to cost me at least $700 worth of gas to drive my route. It's too late to turn around now and I don't want to, but my am I going to have a lot more figuring out to do than I ever expected. (I have a tendency to jump then think. Blissful ignorance. No wonder why people get frustrated with me and stubborn has always been one of the top 3 words Mom uses when describing me.)

I now know that it's a simple 10 hours from where I am to Chicago. No problem. That'll be done in a day and a snap of a finger for me. From there though, it's 34 hours straight driving to get to Seattle before going on the final leg to AK. Seattle to AK? Gulp...two days straight driving. It takes a lot for me to feel daunted, but I have to admit the holy shit and oh craps are running through my head now. I suppose because reaching this goal of mine was in the category of travel, and I love travel, I've instinctually had the; Pshaw! Cakewalk! Easy for me!- attitude. Sitting here now, I'm hitting a bit of the "wall" (like the one when you're running a marathon, see mile 25 and think you're done because you're delirious, until it registers that indeed it is 26.2 miles to completion, not 25.2 and you want to scream- are you effin kidding me?! You want me to keep running?!) Push push push and get it done or drop.

Oh the wall.

After my engagement break-up a while back when I was a pile of train wreck disaster, a friend had said to me:

"This is when you either become that crazy old lady who lives alone on the side of a mountain in a log cabin to never come down, or you kick it into high gear, tear it up and own your life. It's your choice Diane."

I keep the above quote in mind, in those moments when I am exhausted, broke and wondering why the hell I am such a blissful idiot sometimes to do what I do. I'll be channeling the spirit of my lost friends I am honoring and figuring it out as I make my way to Alaska and beyond. Perhaps this trip is meant for me to learn than place where you jump with a parachute. I'm already feeling like a different person since I left my starting point. I can't explain it but it's pretty amazing, it's as if I'm getting to know myself and seeing my personal limits. Maybe I'm finally going to get to that place where I'll start using those things they call baby steps. If this trip has already transformed me as it has by only day 9, I know without a doubt that it was the right decision and time for me to take this journey.

Here's to tearing it up but starting to recognize balance too.

less is more

A friend sent me a link to this video about Jay Shafer and his tiny house Tumbleweed a week or so ago. I have read about and seen him before. I think his little abode is fantastic. I just moved out of a 430 sq. foot apartment that I often felt wasteful in as I only ever used about half the space if that. I could easily live in one of Jay's houses. It's so freeing to not own tons of stuff (mentally and financially.) I have always been a minimalist, but the older I get, the even less I want. Take this trip for example; I packed smart (or so I thought) and didn't stuff my car to the gills, but I still brought too much. Granted I have only been gone 8 days, but I have gone from suburbs with houses, the big city with studio apartments, to country with cabin. (Think the variety of clothes, bags, shoes, cameras, maps, etc. I'd use in those three different spots.) I've probably only used about 20% of what I brought. It seems as if we all look at what we actually used on a regular basis and kept only the quality stuff/favorites and only kept those things, we'd all have less clutter, more loot for other things and far less stress in our days.

Years ago when I was traveling with an old boyfriend, our car and all belongings were stolen and we were stranded in Vancouver. After the initial shock of pissed off and oh my god what are we going to do without our stuff, we realized no one just shot us to get our car and reality was; PHEW! I've said from then on that at one point in life or another, everyone should get all their stuff stolen. When you realize you're still standing there with all limbs attached and the people you love there with you- the stuff becomes so unimportant.

I suppose the point of this is after watching that video, I'm inspired to have even less than I already do and I'd like to encourage everyone to go through those drawers and closets and start getting rid! Pile up all the crap you don't need, have a yard sale or sell it on Craigslist. (If anyone needs detailed tricks and tips on this please let me know. I don't have many talents, but I am a pro at selling things these ways after doing it a million times myself.) You'll be blown away at the amount of money you can make and what you can get rid of. Take the money and pay an extra mortgage payment, a couple extra credit card payments, or grab a few people you love and treat them away for the weekend to spend time together. I promise you'll never miss that extra cutting board or 96th piece of Tupperware. (Who ever really has that many leftovers anyway?)

Thanks for the clip BW!

you know you're...

...wholly enjoying your days, relaxing, and loving time with good company when you haven't charged your cell phone in 3 days and you sill have plenty of battery power.

It's amazing how good it feel to put that thing away sometimes.

each summer i love you more

View from after dinner on the porch last night:



...and from my bed waking up this morning:



If you've never been to Upstate, NY/Finger Lakes area, think about this place for your next family summer vaca. 13 years of coming every summer and it continues to be my favorite place on the planet. I cherish my every minute here each summer and often wonder why this area is not completely overloaded with people. It's like the best kept secret in the country for lake time...

oh how to thank you

There will be many more like this, but to add a few from my first week on the road:

Gabi and Phil
RG
Traci M.
Sam and Bryan
Melissa P.
Sarah the amazing intern

THANK YOU for the beds, couches, the treats, the time, the catching up and so much more. Your time and generosity truly mean everything to me. In fact, I had such a great time in and around NYC that I can't stop thinking of moving there. You guys are GOOD! I'll be back very very soon...