Enter World: exploring mediated cultures

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Changes in travel

When I moved from Florida to Seattle, and then on to Alaska, in 2001 I started a blog to keep my family and friends informed. We were in an accident the second day, and even though I took digital photos we had to go to Kinko’s to load them onto a computer and email them. Internet wasn’t common, there was no such thing as wifi or broadband. Our only hope of connecting was a local phone number for a dial up connection through one of our provider—but the catch was that we had to check for the numbers before we were in the location and write them down to bring with us.

Even after paying for time at the copy shop to get the photos up there, hosting was hard to find. The blog I was using didn’t offer space for photos, and when I tried to upload them to a site I had hosting space on my account was frozen for pulling it from an outside page.

Fast forward to my road trip out of Alaska, through the Yukon, into Portland and then across to Pittsburgh over six years later. Wifi or broadband in every hotel and most places we stop for coffee or food as well. Cell phone coverage through the entire trip, plus cell phones that send photos and videos and audio clips. GPS to find what city will have dinner and an available hotel room.

Wow, things are so much easier now. 

Friday, March 21, 2008

Move Update

Made it across the country just ahead of the bad storms for the most part. The day we left Colorado Springs we would have stopped if there was anywhere to stop, but lack of boarding prevented what would have been a silly move. Instead we spent three hours driving through thick fog and freezing rain, getting a little over 100 miles in that time. Lucky we kept moving though, because behind us was up to 12 inches of snow, required chains on the roads we passed through, and then flash flooding. What’s a little fog and freezing rain compared to being stuck for days?

Today I am going to look for a table and chairs to put in the room we are staying in since I have wifi but only my lap to work from. I also got a library card because they have nice big tables and wifi for members, so I can go hide down there in the quiet to work. But I’m not planning to be back to anything other than answering email until next week. It’s hectic with my parents up here, all of us living in a couple hostel rooms with a sink on our floor but the only toilet on the first floor and the kitchen and shower two doors down in another building with three other people living there ... 

Friday, March 14, 2008

A little slice of life on the road

The scenery changes the most in the West, here are some photos of the trip so far ...

I love the caged soda machines ...

Friday, February 22, 2008

Moving to Braddock, PA

Within the first day, we knew we were moving to Braddock.  There are so many energetic people there, taking on challenges and following or discovering dreams. It’s a hard place to be calm in. I’ve already signed myself up for a ton of projects. And what is equally exciting is that I was inspired to work on my concept paper revisions while I was there even though I am officially on leave right now.

We arrived during a happening week in town. We rolled in on Valentine’s Day and were invited to the Elks Club Valentine’s dinner. That night the cook made the first vegan dishes ever served there. (I hear the mayor got them to add veggie dogs to the standing menu also, and they are perhaps the only Elks Club in PA with such an offering.) We ended up applying for membership. It seems like it will be needed if we live there, not just for networking but also for a place to hang out in town.

Friday was a going away and birthday party at the gallery with a film screening. The films were made by a guy who is still in town, starting in 1979 and up into the 1990s I think. Saturday was a black history month celebration at the library and a dinner. Sundays are standing potluck dinners at the co-op, and we also had brunch at the mayor’s. Monday and Tuesday are a blur. One day we managed to make it into Pittsburgh and hit the Carnegie natural history and art museums.

We thought a large portion of our decision would be based on Pittsburgh, but other than knowing it is available Pittsburgh had little to do with everything we fell in love with in Braddock. My favorite part is that it is a place to live where you are free to do the things you want instead of the things you have to do. And the things people are choosing to do so far make all the difference.

Fossil Free Fuel
BraddockActiveArts

Thursday, January 10, 2008

On the perils of moving

It doesn’t seem like I’m in one place long enough to think any more. We still have not found a permanent place to live, and everything we own is boxed up in a storage unit. Last month we were back in Alaska, this month we moved into a new rental house. We have it for three months, during which time we hope to find a less expensive and more permanent residence where we can unpack all of our belongings. I’m also hoping that in this three months I will have the time to set up a working space where I can not only make a mad dash to check emails and keep up with work, but also unpack some books, review my notes, and get on with school. I really should have taken some time off from school this winter since I was unable to get to anything. But right now, I just want to bury myself in media pscyh.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

comprehensive exams

After a lot of juggling dates and resources, I finally submitted the first attempt at my comps. I’m excited to move back to the concept paper, finalize that, and feel like I’m moving ahead again. I had intended to submit the comps before Summer Session, but the house sold after three days and we were busy for months. We’re still in limbo, looking for a new home to settle into where I can unpack my ton of books. For now, having them all in storage has been a good excuse to start exploring some new areas, and I’ve started accumulating a new mini-library here.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

moving notes

No one seems to like people without addresses. The ultimate experience was trying to rent a storage unit (to store all of our homeless belongings) and being required to provide an address of residence to do so. And if I had an address of residence .... why would I need a storage unit for my belongings?