I made a LinkedIn. Felt sort of awkard, but I think its going to be ok.
www.linkedin.com/pub/james-andrew-ridley/19/31b/a29
What's next? Twitter?! Oh hell no. You don't want to follow me, and I don't want you to follow me either.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Texas.
Where did I leave off last? Oh right ... cross country ... last time I got us all the way through New Mexico. Where does that leave us for this post? Oh right, TEXAS. Texas is its own country, half our trip was driving through Texas. Ok, that is a little bit of an exaggeration, but it certainly felt like that. We finished New Mexico with Roswell and drove directly East on some highway who's particular number I forget. Our first destination was the Fort Worth / Dallas area where we had some friends to stay with. We only spent an afternoon in Fort Worth, but it was definitely TEXAS. Belt buckles, steak, cowboy boots and ... and well ... cows. We decided our sole destination within Fort Worth would be the Old Stockades. Did not disappoint. It provided for some fantastic photo opportunities and some new sites. We did not try the steak. I sort of regret that.
I don't normally post pictures of my significant other in my blog, but this one came out so well. How could I not?
Those are serious cows. Totally the Triceratops of modern mammals.
After Fort Worth we were off to the Peoples Republic of Austin. I really have to take a moment to mention that this was really a miserable drive. Texans drive a lot like Californians, except their highways are only 2 lanes, and they have a tendency to drive over sized diesel trucks that are lifted as if they are mud trucks. They also like to do what I coined "The Texas Ass Ride". Not so fun at 75mph, and yes, that name was meant to be ironic.
Anyways. Austin is awesome, ok, Austin was overrated, but I still found it awesome. I don't know. I guess my expectations of Austin were just too high. I doubt its really the live music capital of the world, but it might just be the bar capital of the world. Holy crap they have a lot of bars, and each one has live music! I have a feeling we missed Austin's awesome peak by a decade or two. However. I really did dig a lot of the people that we met there. I also really loved the outdoors activities in Austin. Barton Spring is amazing. Red Bud Island along the Colorado is great. Loved swimming there hanging out with the locals. We had great food in Austin, and definitely had some good beer.
Alright, let us follow this up with some touristy pictures taken by a tourist, aka me.
In front of the Daniel Johnston mural.
This is but one of Austin's phallic signs.
Barton Springs. A must visit. Beware the lettuce.
At some show we stumbled into awkwardly on a rainy 90 degree night. No, that is not Barney.
The Texas state capitol. How did Austin get so liberal while being the Texas state capitol?! I will never know. Rick Perry must live beyond the city limits.
Anyways, that is it for tonight. I have at least two more parts to this cross country extravaganza. Is this all filler to fill in until I start shooting a brand new project here in NYC?! Kinda!!
Those are serious cows. Totally the Triceratops of modern mammals.
I don't think it gets much more Texas than this shot.After Fort Worth we were off to the Peoples Republic of Austin. I really have to take a moment to mention that this was really a miserable drive. Texans drive a lot like Californians, except their highways are only 2 lanes, and they have a tendency to drive over sized diesel trucks that are lifted as if they are mud trucks. They also like to do what I coined "The Texas Ass Ride". Not so fun at 75mph, and yes, that name was meant to be ironic.
Anyways. Austin is awesome, ok, Austin was overrated, but I still found it awesome. I don't know. I guess my expectations of Austin were just too high. I doubt its really the live music capital of the world, but it might just be the bar capital of the world. Holy crap they have a lot of bars, and each one has live music! I have a feeling we missed Austin's awesome peak by a decade or two. However. I really did dig a lot of the people that we met there. I also really loved the outdoors activities in Austin. Barton Spring is amazing. Red Bud Island along the Colorado is great. Loved swimming there hanging out with the locals. We had great food in Austin, and definitely had some good beer.
Alright, let us follow this up with some touristy pictures taken by a tourist, aka me.
In front of the Daniel Johnston mural.
This is but one of Austin's phallic signs.
Barton Springs. A must visit. Beware the lettuce.
At some show we stumbled into awkwardly on a rainy 90 degree night. No, that is not Barney.
The Texas state capitol. How did Austin get so liberal while being the Texas state capitol?! I will never know. Rick Perry must live beyond the city limits.
Anyways, that is it for tonight. I have at least two more parts to this cross country extravaganza. Is this all filler to fill in until I start shooting a brand new project here in NYC?! Kinda!!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Cross Country Part 1
I have been living in NYC now for a little over two months. We left California May 1st, and arrived in Long Island on the 15th. We found jobs, and found an apartment we could actually afford in Manhattan. Not that we are in a hip and cool part of the city, but its the same size as our old apartment in Long Beach! We sold the car, so we are stuck here.
Driving cross country was an amazing experience. It is something that I feel everyone should do at some point in their lives. It is part of growing up in the United States. It is a must do.
We drove through the southern part of the states, and we visted a lot of cities and towns along the way. Tuscon, Tombstone, Las Cruces, Roswell, Fort Worth, Austin, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Memphis, and Nashville were all major stops for us. I took well over two thousand photos, and so did she. We have had a lot to go through!
I am getting a little angsty, so I am going to skip the writing and go straight to some photos. Actually, I think I am just hungry. Pizza time. Brb. Alright, three pieces later, I am a happier camper. I think its time to post some pics and go wander around town.
A cemetery outside of Tuscon.
Tombstone Arizona. Tombstone was pretty awesome. I am big on cheesy road side attractions. I can't get enough of em.
Roswell New Mexico. Odd little town. I highly recommend eating at the Cowboy Cafe, and partaking in every single cheesy alien thing you can find. When else in your life will you do that again? Never. Unless you go back to Roswell ...
Driving cross country was an amazing experience. It is something that I feel everyone should do at some point in their lives. It is part of growing up in the United States. It is a must do.
We drove through the southern part of the states, and we visted a lot of cities and towns along the way. Tuscon, Tombstone, Las Cruces, Roswell, Fort Worth, Austin, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Memphis, and Nashville were all major stops for us. I took well over two thousand photos, and so did she. We have had a lot to go through!
I am getting a little angsty, so I am going to skip the writing and go straight to some photos. Actually, I think I am just hungry. Pizza time. Brb. Alright, three pieces later, I am a happier camper. I think its time to post some pics and go wander around town.
Leaving California we had to make a stopover at Slab City and Salvation Mountain. The rumors are true, Lenard Knight is now in a home. There is a co-op of people from Slab City that are maintaining his mountain. I wish Lenard the best, he is a truly special man with a lot of love in his heart.
Sunset in Arizona just outside of Tuscon.
A cemetery outside of Tuscon.
Tombstone Arizona. Tombstone was pretty awesome. I am big on cheesy road side attractions. I can't get enough of em.
Roswell New Mexico. Odd little town. I highly recommend eating at the Cowboy Cafe, and partaking in every single cheesy alien thing you can find. When else in your life will you do that again? Never. Unless you go back to Roswell ...
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