So for now, some observations about the trip:
~~Bikers are almost as common as the cottonwood trees' fuzzies that have been blizzarding down regularly from Northern Ohio through most of New York. At one point, seven cop cars were lined up along the highway, lights rotating, with cops waving motorists to keep on goin', don't slow down to look, nothin' goin' on here, as they had three bikers pulled over who did not seem to think this was nothin'. No such escort for the fuzzies.
~~I would like to get a bumper sticker the length and width of my rear bumper, large capital letters preferably in day-glo colors, that would read (the timid should avert their eyes after the ellipses) "STAY RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS . . . ASSHOLE" This basic rule of drivers ed seems to be universally ignored by drivers across the country, though it gets a bit more frustrating on the autobahn of the US, the New York tollway. At 80 mph, I was routinely passed, but I must recommend the trip. Rolling hills, lush forests, wide skies, relatively sparse traffic--though with the caveat of the wished-for bumper sticker.
~~I felt absolutely Lilliputian for a good stretch of the road today: gargantuan, fast-moving clouds of various shades of gray billowing up over the horizon and spreading across the sky while the background of higher streaks of whiter clouds provided a sense of a dome under which the tiny cars with their incredulous occupants sped in the opposite direction far, far below.
~~Best CDs to sing to: Eric Clapton (from Unplugged), some of Carol King's songs from the Tapestry album, and one of Cathie Ryan's CDs; worst CD to try to sing to: Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits (I can sort of follow on "Me and Bobby Magee"). Saddest, but great to listen to if you like to have a chance to cry about all your failed romances: most of Dusty Springfield's tunes.
~~Great weather most of the trip. Poured almost all day today, and it's raining still. A view of the ocean from the dining hall. My roommate Jacky is from Boise State and Director of the Lit program there. She provided decorating tips for rearranging the two twin beds and desks in each of our bedrooms so now each is now spacious and comfortable. I think this bodes well . . .
~~I would like to get a bumper sticker the length and width of my rear bumper, large capital letters preferably in day-glo colors, that would read (the timid should avert their eyes after the ellipses) "STAY RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS . . . ASSHOLE" This basic rule of drivers ed seems to be universally ignored by drivers across the country, though it gets a bit more frustrating on the autobahn of the US, the New York tollway. At 80 mph, I was routinely passed, but I must recommend the trip. Rolling hills, lush forests, wide skies, relatively sparse traffic--though with the caveat of the wished-for bumper sticker.
~~I felt absolutely Lilliputian for a good stretch of the road today: gargantuan, fast-moving clouds of various shades of gray billowing up over the horizon and spreading across the sky while the background of higher streaks of whiter clouds provided a sense of a dome under which the tiny cars with their incredulous occupants sped in the opposite direction far, far below.
~~Best CDs to sing to: Eric Clapton (from Unplugged), some of Carol King's songs from the Tapestry album, and one of Cathie Ryan's CDs; worst CD to try to sing to: Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits (I can sort of follow on "Me and Bobby Magee"). Saddest, but great to listen to if you like to have a chance to cry about all your failed romances: most of Dusty Springfield's tunes.
~~Great weather most of the trip. Poured almost all day today, and it's raining still. A view of the ocean from the dining hall. My roommate Jacky is from Boise State and Director of the Lit program there. She provided decorating tips for rearranging the two twin beds and desks in each of our bedrooms so now each is now spacious and comfortable. I think this bodes well . . .
Tomorrow: meeting the other "scholars" (or so my name tag says). And meeting at George (the elder) Bush's Library for a reception later in the day; apparently, the former President has an office there and has been known to show up unannounced. If you'd like me to pass along any messages, let me know.
A note on the title of this blog. I'm not sure what I'm in search of. I'm ostensibly in Biddeford for a five-week NEH seminar to learn about law in the liberal arts undergraduate education. But I was also thinking on the way over that it's a chance for me to see what five weeks is like where all I have to do is focus on a very limited number of things, in a place where I've never been before, at a time when my "babies" seem glad to see me go (actually, I take that back; the cat seemed a little sad). So who knows what I'll be finding--perhaps it's what I think I'm in search of. I'll keep ya' posted . . . .
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