Aug 2007
FREEDOM FRIES ON MY MIND.....
August/22/07
FREEDOM FRIES ON MY MIND.....
This trip came out of an ideal, albeit an idealistic ideal, that we could change the world. Silly perhaps, but throughout history stands taken by one or just a few have changed the course of the world. History also shows sometimes those few stand takers are also slaughtered, but what are you gonna do.
We are two people with a dog, a turtle, a borrowed bio-diesel car, and nothing left to lose. That said, I recall some years back having an epiphany while driving, we were having hard times at the time, and I was driving along when an old Janis Joplin song came on the radio and she uttered the words that changed my life forever - words I had heard a million times throughout my life, words of a song that never seemed to mean much before, but on this day they stopped me dead in my tracks-- "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose".
The weight of that statement suddenly became crystal clear, and I understood, and I have understood that statement even more keenly over the years. Still I question it, or perhaps I question the depths of the statement even more.
Is freedom, true freedom, only attainable at times of true hopelessness - the times when strong men crack?
Is freedom something that can only come when one releases ownership of all that they own?
I used to have a friend in High School who seemed so free, she did whatever, whenever, and she only carried a small bag of clothes along for the ride. My mother called her a "waif" and regarded her with disdain. She had no issue staying with people, borrowing stuff, and she always appeared quite fine with her hobo lifestyle, I always admired her for it.
I, on the other hand, was a worrier, I was practical. I was always trying to hold on to things that I did not have. I am not saying my friend did not have her share of hardships, but she always appeared aloof and carefree, and in deep enjoyment of each moment.
2007 has been a zinger of a year for me, for all of us really. We moved from Minnesota in March, leaving most of our belongings behind - and I don't mean dvds and clothes, I mean archives and our own books. We headed West to Los Angeles for opportunities, but those opportunities never really materialized like we planned, so we packed it up again and left from there.
This time it was our dog Cheyenne and our turtle Myrtle who made the biggest sacrifices - The dog's cushion and the turtle's tank were left behind for lack of space, our load got smaller again. I guess I can say we all got alot "free-er".
We traveled North to see if the SF Bay area would become our new home, but on the way there Shane and I began talking about what we really wanted, and what we really wanted was to do something different, something that we could really reach people with. We wanted to travel, we wanted to see how other people were feeling, because the folks in LA seemed pretty damn desperate, and the ones in Minnesota seemed awfully rigid.
San Francisco was great, but by the time we arrived we already knew that there was something else we had to do. We would travel for a year and create a document for the times we were living in and a "litmus test" for the future -- Hense, A YEAR AT THE WHEEL was born.
We turned and headed East to Chicago, our hometown, to visit with family and prepare for A YEAR AT THE WHEEL. Come what may this year, we are now as free as we can be! - Amy
This trip came out of an ideal, albeit an idealistic ideal, that we could change the world. Silly perhaps, but throughout history stands taken by one or just a few have changed the course of the world. History also shows sometimes those few stand takers are also slaughtered, but what are you gonna do.
We are two people with a dog, a turtle, a borrowed bio-diesel car, and nothing left to lose. That said, I recall some years back having an epiphany while driving, we were having hard times at the time, and I was driving along when an old Janis Joplin song came on the radio and she uttered the words that changed my life forever - words I had heard a million times throughout my life, words of a song that never seemed to mean much before, but on this day they stopped me dead in my tracks-- "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose".
The weight of that statement suddenly became crystal clear, and I understood, and I have understood that statement even more keenly over the years. Still I question it, or perhaps I question the depths of the statement even more.
Is freedom, true freedom, only attainable at times of true hopelessness - the times when strong men crack?
Is freedom something that can only come when one releases ownership of all that they own?
I used to have a friend in High School who seemed so free, she did whatever, whenever, and she only carried a small bag of clothes along for the ride. My mother called her a "waif" and regarded her with disdain. She had no issue staying with people, borrowing stuff, and she always appeared quite fine with her hobo lifestyle, I always admired her for it.
I, on the other hand, was a worrier, I was practical. I was always trying to hold on to things that I did not have. I am not saying my friend did not have her share of hardships, but she always appeared aloof and carefree, and in deep enjoyment of each moment.
2007 has been a zinger of a year for me, for all of us really. We moved from Minnesota in March, leaving most of our belongings behind - and I don't mean dvds and clothes, I mean archives and our own books. We headed West to Los Angeles for opportunities, but those opportunities never really materialized like we planned, so we packed it up again and left from there.
This time it was our dog Cheyenne and our turtle Myrtle who made the biggest sacrifices - The dog's cushion and the turtle's tank were left behind for lack of space, our load got smaller again. I guess I can say we all got alot "free-er".
We traveled North to see if the SF Bay area would become our new home, but on the way there Shane and I began talking about what we really wanted, and what we really wanted was to do something different, something that we could really reach people with. We wanted to travel, we wanted to see how other people were feeling, because the folks in LA seemed pretty damn desperate, and the ones in Minnesota seemed awfully rigid.
San Francisco was great, but by the time we arrived we already knew that there was something else we had to do. We would travel for a year and create a document for the times we were living in and a "litmus test" for the future -- Hense, A YEAR AT THE WHEEL was born.
We turned and headed East to Chicago, our hometown, to visit with family and prepare for A YEAR AT THE WHEEL. Come what may this year, we are now as free as we can be! - Amy
The Route
August/19/07
We have a preliminary map of our route. My goal was
to avoid the mountains in the winter or any place
that could be troublesome in certain months (yes, I
am practical to the max), so we will leave from
Chicago in November heading Southeast toward Florida,
and then West.
Shane's goals on the other hand are Mardi Gras and SXSW in Austin, he wants to go to the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota and Chiller Theatre in October. Somehow we have managed to make us both happy with this route.
Shane's goals on the other hand are Mardi Gras and SXSW in Austin, he wants to go to the Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota and Chiller Theatre in October. Somehow we have managed to make us both happy with this route.
Stuff we're using... as in equipment.
August/17/07
Here's what we're using for the audio/video presently
on A YEAR AT THE WHEEL. I'm getting rid of the SONY
in favor of a canon... the canon cameras seems to
work better with the MAC.
Another Sony issue is the Hard Disk Drive. I'm thinking it might be best to archive our footage on DV tape.
ANY suggestions as far as compact equipment would be appreciated.
Sony HDR-SR1
Gun Zoom Mic
Sunpak 37mm wide angle lens
Marantz PDM670
not pictured is the Canon ZR500 that Amy uses... great camera for the price.
As we replace our mics/mixing board/computer we'll post a complete list of equipment once we hit the road.
Another Sony issue is the Hard Disk Drive. I'm thinking it might be best to archive our footage on DV tape.
ANY suggestions as far as compact equipment would be appreciated.
Sony HDR-SR1
Gun Zoom Mic
Sunpak 37mm wide angle lens
Marantz PDM670
not pictured is the Canon ZR500 that Amy uses... great camera for the price.
As we replace our mics/mixing board/computer we'll post a complete list of equipment once we hit the road.
90 Days To The Starting Line
August/13/07
We are now less than 90 days out from the departure
date of our trip, so the busy part of planning is
over. Now comes the insane, crazy, non-stop, sleep
deprived, bone crushing days before we leave. This is
"Crunch Time", time for building the trip from the
foundations we have laid. There's a lot to consider
and a lot of details to figure.
From now on this website will updating regularly until
we leave, and daily while on the road, so always
refresh your browser for the newest version. You can
also subscribe to the RSS feeds to have new stuff
delivered right to your computer. It's easy to do--
like magic really!
We will be putting up maps and links of our route
soon. We'll be adding some new features, and we always
welcome to new ideas so please drop us an email if you
have a suggestion, 365@ayearatthewheel.com. If we are
missing something let us know.
date of our trip, so the busy part of planning is
over. Now comes the insane, crazy, non-stop, sleep
deprived, bone crushing days before we leave. This is
"Crunch Time", time for building the trip from the
foundations we have laid. There's a lot to consider
and a lot of details to figure.
From now on this website will updating regularly until
we leave, and daily while on the road, so always
refresh your browser for the newest version. You can
also subscribe to the RSS feeds to have new stuff
delivered right to your computer. It's easy to do--
like magic really!
We will be putting up maps and links of our route
soon. We'll be adding some new features, and we always
welcome to new ideas so please drop us an email if you
have a suggestion, 365@ayearatthewheel.com. If we are
missing something let us know.
Doug Stanhope, Mushrooms, Death Valley and a road trip is born.
August/07/07
What does Doug Stanhope's Death Valley get together
have to do with our year long road trip... let's just
say a little mushrooms in the desert go along way.
Tune into the Aug. 7th podcast for death valley
details and enjoy Amy's pictures of the trip.
http://www.dougstanhope.com/
http://www.standuprecords.com/
http://www.dougstanhope.com/
http://www.standuprecords.com/
Nov. 4th we start in CHICAGO!!!
August/02/07
Hey - Hey!
Looks like we've come to an agreement with Adam Curry, so A YEAR AT THE WHEEL starts in Chicago on November 4th 2007!!!
On Nov 4th, Me and Amy will be hosting a FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE benefit, more on that as it comes together.
On Nov 5th, THE A YEAR AT THE WHEEL/FREE TRINITY PROJECT will hold a press conference in Chicago. Adam Curry will be present.
Free food and drink for all members of the media... podcasters and new media THIS MEANS YOU! Contact us at: 365@ayearatthewheel.com for more info. - Shane
Looks like we've come to an agreement with Adam Curry, so A YEAR AT THE WHEEL starts in Chicago on November 4th 2007!!!
On Nov 4th, Me and Amy will be hosting a FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE benefit, more on that as it comes together.
On Nov 5th, THE A YEAR AT THE WHEEL/FREE TRINITY PROJECT will hold a press conference in Chicago. Adam Curry will be present.
Free food and drink for all members of the media... podcasters and new media THIS MEANS YOU! Contact us at: 365@ayearatthewheel.com for more info. - Shane
