Vote Yellow Brick Road Trip!

Remember that video I made from my trip to the Glore Psychiatric Museum? Well, it is currently posted on Watchblogvideos.com as part of a blog video contest!

Watch my video here!

Go visit the site and rate my video or leave a comment! Help me rack up some stars!

Roadtrip Philosophy - The Five Worst Types of Drivers

I obviously spend a lot of time on the road, something that I find to be an incredibly therapeutic experience. Nothing makes me happier than driving 75 miles an hour down an open stretch of highway listening to loud music, beating my steering wheel to the beat and smoking a cigarette.

But sometimes these moments of tranquil bliss are disturbed. Not by a guarded speed zone designed to trick the naive traveler, no I've long ago learned how to watch out for those. And not by the sudden change in weather conditions, though I didn't like sliding off the road the other day. No, my roadtrip serenity is more often disturbed by the other drivers. Here is my list of the top five worst kind of drivers.

1. The Talker - On one of my first roadtrips, I mentioned I was nearly hit by a car running a stop sign. Why did the driver run the stop sign? Apparently, she was taking such an important phone call she failed to notice the bright red octagon to her right or the car in the intersection. I do not answer my phone when I'm driving because I can always call the person back. I have yet to get a phone call so important I have to answer while I'm driving. Or maybe that says something about my own popularity.
   
   
2. The Texter - This is way more obnoxious than the Talker. While a person may be chatting on the phone, they still have one hand on the wheel and their eyes on the road. The Texter is using both hands to push buttons, staring at their cell phone and steering their car through traffic with their knees. I don't understand how people even do this or why!
   
   
3. The Surprise Lane Changer - This drives me nuts! I am a very courteous driver. I slow down to let people into my lane when they are merging onto the highway. I wait my turn at the stop sign. But I how can I let you in my lane if you don't freaking signal?! It is a simple warning to the other cars on the road but it is an important one.
   
   
4. The After Church Driver - People who tailgate and speed are manageable. I just move into the right lane and let them hurtle towards their own fiery, twisted metal endings. But the After Church Driver seems to enjoy slowing down traffic. Going 15 miles an hour in 35 speed zone, they will do anything to keep you behind them from slightly swerving out of their lane, signaling one way and then going another, or any other number of tricks to keep you from getting around them. I call them the After Church Driver because I encounter them most commonly on Sunday afternoons, often they are the elderly who haven't had their licenses taken away yet. But I'm on to them! I swear they know what they are doing and are just messing with us!
   
   
5. The After Bar Driver - I'm not going to judge anyone here, but I don't like being on the road with drunk drivers. They make me incredibly nervous because I can't predict what they are going to do. I have heard of people barreling the wrong way down a highway or T-boning a car at a stoplight...they just make me nervous! When I encounter them on Friday and Saturday nights, I stay several feet behind them so I can react to whatever they do. But if you have to talk, text or turn without signaling, at least do me a favor and don't drive drunk!

Those are, in my opinion, the five worst types of drivers. But feel free to add some of your own by commenting!

The Yellow Brick Road Trip Snowed In Adventures!

As I posted earlier, Kansas was struck by a snowstorm and I was trapped in my house. I wasn't able to go on my usual weekend road trip, but there were still some pretty interesting adventures!

First, my car got stuck in the driveway. Then my parents got stuck in the driveway! My mother managed to wave down a snowplow passing through the neighborhood. They were nice enough to stop and clear a path so my parents could get to the house. It was around one in the morning and once we had their car in the driveway, my parents and I grabbed some snow shovels and started digging my car out so I could go to work today. Even my father, who has had his fair share of crazy winters, says he's never seen anything like it before.

But the adventures didn't end there! Today, I went in the backyard with my dogs and discovered my neighbors tree and crashed into my yard! It had come up by the roots and fallen into my yard but was still being held up somewhat by our very strong wrought iron fence.



I had actually heard the tree fall the night before. There was a huge crash and the dogs went absolutely crazy barking at the backyard. But in the dark, I couldn't see anything and decided it must have been some falling snow. Only in the daylight could I see all the damage. But like my car getting stuck in the driveway, I couldn't help but laugh! What else are you going to do?

Needless to say, our mutt Brock Lee was thrilled with this new addition to his playground. He spent a half hour running through the branches and circling around the yard at full speed. For a while he attempted to tunnel through the snow but only succeeded in soaking himself completely in the melting snow.

Stay tuned for some more road trips! But for now, I hope you enjoy my home bound snow adventures!

Click here to see more pictures!

Roadtrip Memories - Remembering the Glore Psychiatric Museum while Snowed In

I'm snowed in! Today I was going on a yellow brick roadtrip to Planet Comic, the comic book convention in Overland Park, Kansas. But I didn't make it a full block before my car was skidding off the road. Don't get me wrong, several years in Chicago made me a great driver even in snow and ice. But this was just ridiculous! After a few minutes weighing my own mortality against meeting the Playmate who was the model for Red Sonja, I decided it was better to spend the day with comic book, a cup of coffee and reminiscing about past trips.

So I share with you a trippy little video I made from photographs of the Glore Psychiatric Museum, and in doing so discovered the proper use for techno music!

Enjoy everyone! Hopefully I'll be able to shovel my car out tomorrow.




SNOWED IN UPDATE: I tried to leave my house again to meet up with some friends. Last time I made it almost a block before the snow got too bad. Well this time I didn't make it out of the driveway! Yup, my car got stuck in the snow only a few feet after I pulled out of the garage. Looks like I'm not going anywhere for a while! But don't worry, I'll still be updating!

Roadtrip Philosophy - What is an Educated Vagabond?

I thought it was about time I explained why I call myself Kris the Educated Vagabond. I did not coin the term, it was actually coined by Bess. I have merely appropriated it as it applies to my life (and because she's much smarter and cleverer than me.)

I am a vagabond because I am an aimless traveler who never really settles down anywhere. In the last five years, I have never lived anywhere for over a year. I insisted on packing up and moving to a new part of town at the very least, although there have been two cross country moves and one international move in the mix. Most importantly - I have not been unpacked in five years. Seriously. I still have boxes in the basement I refuse to open because I'm just going to move again in a few months. I used to be able to fit everything in a couple bags, but over time and travels I have amassed a whole lot of crap I cannot bear to part with.

The educated part of my name is academic and spirtiual. I have traveled for educational opportunities around the country and the world. I have developed a love affair with the University of Edinburgh library and also amassed a couple of degrees. But it is also a desire to learn through traveling. No matter how much I read about a place, I learn more by going there and seeing for myself what is really going on. And I'm not done.

I am an educated vagabond because I'm always on the move, always looking for a new adventure, and most importantly always eager to learn more about the places I go and the people I meet.

So, are you an educated vagabond?

Historic Downtown Overland Park, KS

Since I spend so much time on the road, I thought it might be nice to take a very short trip to a place nearby. I pass the historic downtown area of Overland Park every day but I never really stop to look at it.

A little geographical explanation - the Kansas City metro area spreads across the Kansas and Missouri state border and includes several small cities, towns and suburbs. Overland Park, or the OP as it is commonly referred to, is in the south part of the metro area.

It was late Sunday afternoon and the streets were empty except for the occasional car passing through. There was no one in the Farmer's Market or eating in the restaurants along the street. It gave me a chance to observe that all of the historical monuments - the clocktower plaza and the statue of Overland Park founder William B. Strang, Jr. - are all new contributions. The historic downtown seems to be more of a modern embracing of the past but there doesn't seem to be much left of the past that they're embracing. The restaurant and buildings look newer, the only particularly ancient-looking building is the very retro Rio Movie Theater.

The first place I stopped along the historic street was the clocktower plaza, a large covered sitting area with a giant clocktower next to the Farmer's Market. I found it somewhat confusing in its architectural design. The sloping roofs seem to be more Eastern-inspired than an appropriate homage to Overland Park's actual sister city of Bietingheim-Bissingen, Germany.

A few steps away from the clocktower plaza is a large statue of William B. Strang, Jr, Overland Park's founder. Like the clocktower, this seems to be a belated homage to the past. The statue was erected in May 2006. The city founder and railroad magnate looks out of the empty streets sternly but blankly, like he is passively observing everything. He seems to be judging us as he is frozen with one foot forward, like he is ready to take action, but his face does not betray his motivation.

My visit to the Historic Downtown of Overland Park was a quiet trip, but I don't think I really gained anything "historical" about Overland Park from my visit. I plan to go back next month when the Farmer's Market is open, maybe a few people will make my next visit more interesting.

Total Travel Distance: 18 miles
Total Travel Time: 40 minutes
Soundtrack: "Sexless Demons and Scars" - Jack Off Jill

Roadtrip Philosophy - Vagabond vs. Hobo vs. Nomad

I call myself a vagabond, but how is that any different from being a hobo or a nomad? These terms are often used interchangably by travelers but I think there is a distinct difference. (And not just that I think vagabond sounds cooler, even though it does.)

The dictionary doesn't agree with me, however. They also use the terms interchangably. A vagabond is, "a person, usually without a permanent home, who wanders from place to place; nomad" or in less kind terms, "a carefree, worthless, or irresponsible person; rogue." Well, screw you too, Random House Dictionary of Random House, Inc.

I am not a nomad. A nomad is, "a member of a people or tribe that has no permanent abode but moves about from place to place, usually seasonally and often following a traditional route or circuit according to the state of the pasturage or food supply." I have no tradition to my travels, only a desire to other places. I have no tribe to accompany, only friends who sometimes tag along for the ride. The only real similarity between a vagabond and a nomad is our constant travels and moving from place to place. But the circumstances and meanings behind our wandering ways are completely different.

I am also not a hobo. The Random House Dictionary calls a hobo, "a tramp or vagrant" or "a migratory worker." I am none of those things. But I am mostly adament that I am not a hobo because there is a hobo culture that I am not a part of. The term "hobo" is derived from the phrase "homeward bound," and is based around a lifestyle with it's own social norms and even written language. If you are interested in learning more about the hobo cultue, I suggest you visit the National Hobo Museum website. You can learn about the museum, the hobo convention, and the meaning of different signs used along the way.

In conclusion: I am a vagabond, not a nomad or a hobo. Even if Random House Dictionary isn't clever enough to tell the difference.

The Celtic Ranch - Weston, MO

As Anna and I drove to St. Joseph, we passed a giant billboard for "The Celtic Ranch." We are both huge fans of Celtic culture and it seemed like an interesting detour. So on our way back, we decided to follow the signs to Weston, Missouri. We drove for several miles down a twisting two lane highway before we came to Main Street in downtown Weston where we found The Celtic Ranch.

It was not a ranch. Not by a long shot. In fact, it looked like the gift shop for the Celtic Ranch. The windows were full of St. Patrick's Day decoration and merchandise from leprechauns to four leaf clovers. We decided to go in and see what the Celtic Ranch was if it wasn't a ranch. The answer? A really cool gift shop. There was the usual cheap, green plastic merchandise but it was overshadowed by the works of artisans and craftsman. There were hand-made leather cuffs, silver pocket watches and even kilts available for rental or purchase. There were books of history and myth for both adults and children and several small capitulations to the Scottish (Slainte Mhor, suckers!) in the predominantly Irish establishment.

There is also a very nice cafe attached to the shop. I went to buy myself a coffee but was immediately distracted by free cake. Free cake! It was the shop owner's birthday and we were lucky enough to celebrate with them, if only by taking some of their cake.

We looked around Weston's main street for a little while after that, but there wasn't much to see. There were almost only antique shops and places to drink. I went into the Country Store to try and find a pack of cigarettes, but apparently "Country Store" means "Liquor Store with Fully Stocked Bar in the Back." I think daily life in Weston consists entirely of getting drunk and buying old things.

Roadtrip Music - "You Can Take the Girl Out of the Country, But Not the Red Out of Her Neck"

While on the road, Anna was eager to play with my iPod and to enjoy some good ol' country music. Apparently, her life in Chicago has lacked the twang we had back in Oklahoma. I was happy to oblige with an old playlist I made as an homage to my redneck youth.


"You Can Take the Girl Out of the Country, But Not the Red Out of Her Neck" Playlist

1. "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynard Skynard
2. "No Riders" - Shannon Curfman
3. "Redneck Woman" - Gretchen Wilson
4. "Hicktown" - Jason Aldean
5. "Broken and Ugly" - Beth Hart
6. "Sin Wagon" - Dixie Chicks
7. "Wild One" - Faith Hill
8. "Way Back Home" - The Wreckers
9. "I Go Back" - Kenny Chesney
10. "Not Ready to Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
11. "Red Dirt Road" - Brooks and Dunn
12. "My, Oh My" - The Wreckers
13. "How Do You Like Me Now?" - Toby Keith

Abraham Lincoln Traveling Exhibit - St. Joseph, MO

When we finished our tour of the Glore Psychiatric Museum, Anna and I decided to check out the Abraham Lincoln exhibit of the St. Joseph Museum.

Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America is a traveling exhibit featuring seven different stages. They are mostly hands-on (I particularly had fun playing with the Lincoln logs!)

The best part of the exhibit was playing dress up! You can try on a top hat and other apparel President Lincoln would have worn, then stand on a box to be closer to his height of 6 feet, four inches. Given that I am 5' 3", I'm pretty sure standing on that box with a top hat is as close as I will ever get to an impressive stature.

For those of a more feminine nature, you can try on Mary Todd Lincoln's clothing. Or you could watch others do it. The traveling exhibit includes a "Mrs. Lincoln's Closet" fashion show.

If you can't make it to St. Joseph to see the exhibit, it may be coming to you soon! Check out the exhibit's website to see if it will be making a stop in your town!

Click here to see more photos!