October 28, 1995
The last couple of days have been relatively sedate. Dino took me around Chicago on the back of his motorcycle. I was in awe! Dino live near the gay part of Chicago. As he jokingly puts it “gay boys on one side, lesbos on the other.” I’ve been spending my days lounging around and I’m ready to GET ON IT!
I saw Beverly and Betty here. They are both going to school at the U of Chicago. Crazy girls – dramatic.
I think I’m losing it. I feel like I need more excitement. I think I’ve got some mental barrier which is inhibiting me from letting loose completely. I don’t think it’s so much of what people will think of me -but how to enjoy myself. Do I feel free? Interesting question, I don’t feel it completely in my heart. I need to take a bigger chance at something in my life. Travels may solve part of my feeling, but I need something more. What makes me feel ultimately blissful? Perhaps I’ll never know. Desire to live on the edge and be extreme. Not for the sake of perception, but a drive to do more. Ok, idle talk. But there’s definitely a difference between stupidity and extremity. Maybe all I want to do is be able to tell a good story. So my life is a story. What am I worried about?
October 25, 1995
I made it to Chicago, finally. Though I probably shouldn’t have rushed. The last 6 days I spent in Madison, WI. Now THAT is a college town. Living with 8 girls is a pain in the ass! I don’t see how girls can live with girls.
Now I’m in Chicago crashing with Dino. But for some odd reason I’m feeling like I’m trying too hard. Possibly intimidated?? I think what it is, is the whole aspect of being back among a city. Since I’ve left Alaska, I’ve hardly watched the stars where it seemed like I did it everyday in Alaska. Perhaps it’s just the attitude of people. Last night we went to watch a guitarist, MelvinTaylor [at Rose's]. He’s probably the best guitarist I’ve ever seen or heard Dino was not joking that when his fingers moved you could barely see them, blur. The other people I was with were just sort of there. No big thing.
October 17, 1995
I left Menomonie and went back to Hudson. Watched a Green Bay Packers game on TV. I think the excitement everyone brings to their home team is amazing. The Pckers won and it made everyone’s day. To top it off Minnesota lost. That made everyone’s day that much better.
After the game Todd took me bow hunting. BOW HUNTING!? We got all camo-ed up – war paint and everything! We walked into the woods and Todd set up a tree-stand for me. We were about 15 feet off the groung. We were up there for about 2 ½ hours. No deer, but we did see some wild turkeys. We heard them rustling in the bushes and I got so excited to see Todd shoot a buck, but just turkeys. Later that night we went spot lighting. These guys really get into hunting. I can see the thrill.
The last couple of days I’ve been helping Sparky re-tile his parents garage. We started off sitting in his hot tub drinking coffee.
October 14, 1995
I’ve been in Wisconsin a little over a week and I’ve had a fantastic time. The first night, I drove into Hudson and gave Chad a call, got his phone number in Stout – Menomonie, WI so I cruised over and he took me out.
Then I spent the weekend in Hudson, I drove in with Chad. I spent the night at his parents. They have a gorgeous house and they raise Arabians. I can’t believe I’ve been here this long.
Anyway, the next night I spent at the Blaise’s. Everyone here is extremely friendly. I can’t believe how genuinely nice and generous people are. Chad’s a little OCD I think. All these guys are pissed because he doesn’t drop by anymore.
I watched Mark’s brother Matt motor cross race, he crashed a couple time and end-oed once, a little scary.
I’ve actually been spending more time with Doug and Mark’s roommates than I have with them. They took me mountain biking and too me down some serious hills (I think). We ended up jumping off a trail into a creek. Then we rode across a couple railroad bridges. Olaf is a neat guy. I know he thinks what I’m doing by traveling is pretty cool.
But the winds of change are blowing me, and I guess it’s time to move on.
October 6, 1995
So i WAS in Seward. Wrong vibes so now I’m in Hudson, Wisconsin – actually, Menomonie, WI. I’m visiting the cheeseheads I met in Alaska at Trans Aqua.
Seward was not worth it. I went there in hopes of a JOB!? Not anything. I applied for an accounting and waitstaff job. The waitstaff position I got denied hardcore. The owner basically told me to not come back. Well, not that it really bothered me that much. Actually, not at all. I think my mind was made up to leave Alaska a long time before I even went down to Seward.
I spent a day down there and took off. I stopped by and said goodbye to Per and Carrie. I started a book of “The Other Side” where I have other people write stories and musing in it. Then I got my ear pierced and left Alaska. It took me 6 1/2 days to drive across Canada.
Note – the Edmonton mall was tremendous – roller coaster and everything.