6/26 where I lay my head is home

So I made it here and it is pretty great. I love the scenery, the town, the proximity, the people. It's a bit easier to breathe here. The whole lonesome thing is getting to me a bit but it compliments being broke very well! I am broke because I just put down my deposit (2 months???) and first months rent. I got a place and it has a backyard with grass. 2 bedrooms (ya'll better come stay now) and a fireplace. I'm thrilled with it. I also got a job. It is with the MacKenzie Agency...a PR firm for food and beverage folk. The office is actually a house and there are a total of 6 people working there. Everyone is great and it is a jeans and polo shirt office enviorment. Everyone jokes around and I was made to fit in the second I got there. Again I am thrilled. One of my co-workers is around my age too and has a garage full of wine which I plan on (and already have to an extent) make a dent in.

Today I do the walk through for my new place.

Hope all is going well with everyone. Now that i'm a bit settled drop me an e-mail. Would love to know how everyone is....

6/21 I just want to see some palm trees

6/21 I just want to see some palm trees

Berkeley is wonderful though there are more homeless people here than anywhere I’ve ever been. And I must say my initial impression of this town, while fun, it is grasping onto an image that is no longer there. Sure there are amazing independent record and book stores, cool bars, and lots of interesting restaurants but the activism spirit that was once there I just didn’t feel or see it. Perhaps it is a shadow of its former self.

So I made it to California. I did it a bit faster than I first thought because of a job prospect. But I must say I haven’t felt rushed. I’ve done what I want when I’ve wanted and have enjoyed being by myself. The only constant is the road. Every day I see the road.

I had forgotten how much I love being on this earth. Truly I think I felt strangled in the city. Seeing the vast emptiness of this country of ours made me happy. I fell in love with New Mexico and Arizona and Nevada. The cacti and palm trees. I am happy to be here in California. The air is breezy and the sun is hot. The grass covering the hills is brown yet alive and content in its hue.

I got a better feeling for America in this past week and a half then in the three months it took me to go cross country last time. Perhaps in my solitary I was able to see things I could not have otherwise. Talked to people I would not have otherwise. While I miss everyone, I think perhaps it is my tendency to surround myself with people all the time. I forget to check in with myself and now that I’ve had time to I’m much better for it.

An amazing thing as well…I have been listening to The Grapes of Wrath as I travel and I must say this book is amazing. The landscape Steinbeck describes mirrors what I have been seeing through my window perfectly.

I have been listening mainly to rock. Classic rock mainly, but also folk and bluegrass.

Today I stop by Napa on my way to Santa Rosa. My new home.

“The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time.” –Abe Lincoln

Arizona pics...
http://public.fotki.com/NateMarvelle/old_albums/dovs/arizona

Nevada pics...
http://public.fotki.com/NateMarvelle/old_albums/dovs/nevada

Cali pics...
http://public.fotki.com/NateMarvelle/old_albums/dovs/cali/

now picture me...

6/18 The rhythm of the road

Today I drove 15 hrs. I watched as the lush green beauty of Tennessee slowly melted into the brown sparseness of New Mexico. I drove through Arkansas and Oklahoma and Texas (the panhandle) and wound up in New Mexico. It is odd for me having grown up in the East to find beauty in the emptiness of the Southwest but I love it none the less. I take comfort in the wide open plains.

The longer I drove the more my worries seemed to dissolve and melt into the road.

Also I must say living in Washington DC I was always worried about having a team named the Redskins however after driving through Oklahoma I realize this is just the tip of the ice burg. There are so many stereotypes on the billboards, in the gift shops, and on the radio. It’s a form of racism that somehow is accepted out here.


Memphis
There is a real America out there and it’s located on Beale Street. You won’t find it in any of the fancy bars, nightclubs, or even blues halls. Those are for the tourists— to portray a certain image. There are real people in our cities. They are in the park, on the streets, and behind the counters. These are the essence of a city. This is where the real wisdom is from. Like biker Dan who told me “you can never cross the same river twice.” Sure I’ve heard it before but never so simply with such conviction. He also had the habit of saying the phrase “down like Motown” quite a bit. Boy that rain sure was coming down…like Motown.

If you have Led Zepplin BBC sessions take it out. Disk 2 track 7…put it on at a loud volume. Picture yourself windows open, big smile, tearing through Arkansas. Now picture me...

6/15 Take me in and dry the rain

The rain has fallen every day and, if I may say, at the most inopportune times. Today it was as I had taken everything out from my car and began to repack, yesterday as I was about to beat Laura in croquet.

It also prevents camping out. So for now it’s a seedy Motel 6 and then a quick jaunt across the street to a pub called “Barley’s” to watch the ball game.

But let me go back. Bonnnarooooooooooooooooooo. Enough said. Despite the knee high mud, scorching sun, engulfing rains, and endless traffic, Laura and had an absolute amazing time. Why? Here’s a partial list:
Wilco- I used to be a hater but after seeing them live….wow…wow…wow…sorry Will I was wrong

Burning Spear- He is a reggae legend and has never had to sell out or go commercial to achieve this status. I got to thank him after the show. It was mind blowing!

Del McCourey/Doc Watson/Sam Bush- Seeing these bluegrass legends were great. The respect they were given from all of us in the audience was moving.

Gillian Welch- I will ALWAYS see her whenever she is anywhere close. She just killed me.

Femi Kuti- He is playing in DC soon. GO SEE HIM! What a performer.

Damien Rice- Very interesting performance. Almost Ben Harper esque. That is saying a lot coming from me.

Taj Mahal- He killed it. Hot blues cooled a burning day.

Praxis- Ok this is Bill Laswell (some super producer) on bass, Buckethead on guitar, and the drummer from Primus. It was awesome.

The Comedy Tent- It was air conditioned! And an easy crowd.

Orchestral Trey- Trey led a 30 piece orchestra switching between conducting and playing guitar. It was beautiful music to listen to as the sun went down. The breeze was blowing and Laura and I found a dry spot to stand.


After Bonnaroo we were stuck in Manchester for a night with a bad alternator but got on the road by 11. Then it was off to Lynchberg for some relaxation.

Today I sent Laura back home. She was great company and we had a blast together.



here are Tennessee pics...
http://public.fotki.com/NateMarvelle/old_albums/dovs/tennessee/

Wed. June 9th Nashville

Has anyone noticed that the only people taking vacations these days are over 60? Why is this? Well it’s obvious why it is, the question is WHY? Why must we wait till we are old and can barely walk to enjoy life?

Laura and I arrived yesterday in Nashville at our hotel/resort/convention center the Opryland. While the display of horticulture is impressive the whole place is just a bit too large for me. In fact upon first arriving I had to return to the car twice. Each time it took me over 30 minutes to get there and back.

Last night we went to the Grand Ole’ Opry. We saw some swanked out country stars swooning and crooning. I’ll say this upfront I hate country music but it is fascinating to watch this culture. Country music is the music that sells most in this country and part if that is surly because country musicians are so damn personable. They talk to the crowd, take pictures with the crowd, and express their gratitude so many times. Everything about their image is perfected. That’s why the Dixie Chicks caught so much slack, they went against the grain.


After that Laura and I retired to bed. We are both feeling sick. We watched the Pistons blow their lead and then I felt more sick.

Today we explore the real Nashville.

Thursday June 5, 2004 Before I leave

Sunscreen....check
Satchel of books....check
Heap of music....check

Ready to roll. This is not the description of my journey across America. This is America. This is DC to Tennesee, Tennesee to Texas, Texas to Arizona, and Arizonia to California.

I plan on placing my ear directly to the ground and hearing the heartbeat of the earth. If I can, I will tell you what it says, but I have a hunch you'll have to try for yourself. There is a definite start and for sure an end. The in between is where the adventure lies.


I was told if you follow your heart you touch the soul of the world.

Perhaps we can all give it a try.