The Light Comes On

Today as I was becoming more depressed about not being able to go on my road trip with Mom and Grandmaw next May, I thought, "Why can't I just make the trip by myself?"

I kinda' got the idea after watching the movie "Atonement," where the character, Briony Tallis, writes an autobiography but creates a fictionalized ending, hence her "atonement." It was a brilliant movie, and I'm sure the novel after which the movie was made is a masterpiece. But if I still make the road trip, I'll gain the necessary travel information, still visit all the places I wanted to go, be able to see all my friends, take as long as I want (sort of), but then create a fictionalized account of how I WISH the time with my mother would go. Or make it really suspenseful and...nah, I'm not gonna' give it away!

When Greg and I lived in a tent in Rifle for most of the month of September, I had the pleasure of meeting a woman from Canada who was traveling alone to an Indian reservation in Nevada about a teaching position. If she's brave enough to travel by herself, then I am too!

If our money situation is such that I can make this trip by myself, then by golly, I'm gonna' do it! I'll stay with a friend in Burbank the first night (do I fly to CA and rent a car one way to MD, then fly back to CO? Or do I rent a car the entire time round trip?), visit my sister's family, then head to Las Vegas where hopefully I can stay with my aunt and uncle. From there, I have friends or family I can stay with. The car rental will cost about a grand (three weeks at the most if I rent round trip), and gas will be another grand, hotel or campsite fees will be minimal since I'll mostly be staying with people I know, then I just have meals to worry about and fees to get in to the tourist attractions.

Hmm...I see an idea...and a story...forming....

Facebook Entry Signals End of the Road

Saw this status update on Michelle's Facebook on November 25th:


Michelle is frosting birthday cupcakes for Nathan's class and trying desperately not to be angry with my mother for canceling her CA trip two days before our departure!


That's a big part of why I wanted to take this trip with Mom: because of the level of dysfunction in my family! I called Mom several days ago and she hasn't returned my call, and the next thing I know, the trip is cancelled. No one has the decency to call me and tell me...I have to read it on my sister's Facebook page!

Oh well. Maybe I'll do a "fiction" book then. Research the places we'll go, and "create" the "perfect ending," just like I saw in "Atonement" today. I just bought the movie on sale at Best Buy, and BOY! am I glad I bought it! What a fantastic movie, especially for us writers!

I'm too tired to go into detail about what I'm feeling right now, so I'll come back to it. I told Michelle that if Mom changed her mind, I could drive her out there but I don't think they're going to accept the offer.

Darn bipolar disorder!



Sometimes this is what I want to do to my family's heads: whack 'em!

Turned Down the Job

I got offered the cake decorating job at King Soopers on Monday but had to turn it down. The pay wasn't anywhere near what I was expecting, I'd have to work Sundays, and I wasn't willing to "sell out" on my budding writing career (I just won two Journalist of the Year awards), even if the new job was only part time. Plus, it would put a huge cramp in my writing schedule, and I wasn't ready to sacrifice that much yet. Greg encouraged me to decline the position and wait things out, especially after his first paycheck showed up in our checking account. So keep your fingers crossed that I can continue to stay home and write full time. Which also means I'll be able to drive Mom and Grandmaw home in May without any problems since I won't be working.

Michelle is supposed to be leaving on the 26th to take Mom and Grandmaw from MD to CA, but now Shelby, her mother-in-law, is in the hospital and does not have a good prognosis. I volunteered to step in if Michelle isn't able to drive them out next week, so I'll keep you posted. It's not looking good, so please keep all of them in your prayers.

I called Mom like Michelle suggested but she hasn't called me back yet. I wonder if she's in a "valley" with her bipolar disorder? If that's the case, I might not hear from her for weeks, but I'll keep trying.

New Job May Prevent Road Trip

So much has been going on the last few days that I don't know where to start, but I did want to mention that I might not be able to go on the Road Trip with Mee Maw (Mom) after all! I really need to get a job and have an interview next week. During my interview, I'll need to make it a condition of employment that I have 3 weeks off next May (just to be on the safe side I'll ask for 3, but I might need only 2) so they'll have a heads up. But depending on our financial situation and my book status, I might not be able to drive Mom and Grandmaw home at all! Bummer! I guess Michelle can always make the trip a second time if necessary.

As an aside, I'm applying for a job as a cake decorator in the bakery at King Soopers at Hancock Plaza. I designed a "Cake Artist Resume" to bring to the interview on Monday, so keep your fingers crossed that I get hired. Matt's friend's mother works there and he found out they need a decorator to start in a couple of weeks because one of the ladies is going on maternity leave. Is that perfect timing or what?

The camera cake is a sample of my work. Wish me luck!

Hitch in the Road Trip Plans

Here's an e-mail I received today via Facebook from my sister Michelle regarding traveling plans on my Road Trip with Mee Maw:

Hey, just thought I'd let you know before you plan anything further, that mom was not planning on a long trip home. Her rent is [high], so she's looking to stay as late into May as possible, like up until the last week. She thought the plan was just to do some sightseeing along the way and be home within a week's time (or less). She was supposed to call you and talk to you about it, but it appears as though she hasn't yet! You might want to give her a buzz . . .

What a total drag! I mean, when Mom and I talked the other day, I knew what her rent was going to be for the time she's staying in CA, but for her to stay that late into May will be a problem for me getting back to MD in time for Shaina's graduation. I'm really hoping it's scheduled for the last week in May! So I guess if we only have a week to travel (maybe less), then we probably can't go down to the Florida area to see Matthew.

I'm trying to keep the trips short so that Mom and Grandmaw don't get too road-weary, and if I'm that close to Las Vegas, I definitely want to see the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon, so one day will HAVE to be to Las Vegas.

From Burbank to LV, that's just over 4 hours, so if we leave early enough in the morning, we can make a day of the Dam and Canyon, then hopefully stay with Uncle Jerry and Aunt Patty. Then Las Vegas to Albuquerque is under 9 hours, so that will be one more day and hopefully we'll have family to stay with that night. If we can't do sightseeing the next day, then it's straight to Tulsa, OK, just under 10 hours, and an evening with Bridget Lavish Byrd and her family.

From Tulsa to Nanjemoy is over 20 hours, with Nashville, TN, being a good halfway point, so maybe I can pick classmate John Luskey's brain on an affordable place to stay. Maybe a day of sightseeing in Nashville, then on home after that.

So, I'm bummed, but at least we'll get to see a bit of the countryside even though our 2-1/2 week trip has now been trimmed down to about 5-6 days. BUT! it'll be easier on the pocketbook!

Credit photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Large_pot_hole_on_2nd_Avenue_in_New_York_City.JPG

The Vlog Man - Jim Kirks

What a coincidence! I had just written about checking with a friend of mine about how to do video blogs (vlogs) and who do I run into at WalMart yesterday but my vlog friend and computer whiz, Jim Kirks! He's co-owner/producer of The Clip Show (Reviewing the World of Podcasting, New Every Tuesday--it's pretty hilarious, you should check it out!).

I filled him in on my Road Trip adventure and he gave me some tips on adding videos to a blog. I'm not sure if I can add them to Blogger yet, but if not, hopefully Matt will be able to add them to the Web site he builds for this trip. Unfortunately, if Jarrod keeps him too busy, I might have to find someone else to do the Web site, someone who can maintain it on a regular basis, and if they charge me for the work, then hopefully it'll be at a good discount. Any VOLUNTEERS? This is one of the reasons why I want to do fundraising: to help pay the people who will be helping but need to cover their own expenses if they can't donate their time to this worthy "cause." LOL

Anyway, back to Jim. He and I worked together at Front Range Commercial, where he's the IT guru and Web master (hmm, maybe he can do the Web site for me if Matt can't?). I worked there for 2-1/2 years before I resigned to write and paint full time. Jim was always very helpful whenever I had computer problems. He'd razz me sometimes, but he always fixed whatever was broken. I frequently picked his brain about anything electronic--what cell phone should I buy, what cell phone company should I go with, what laptop to get (he warned me not to get Vista...I didn't listen! Next time, be sure to listen to your computer-savvy friends when they warn you about bugs!)--and he always gave good advice (even if I didn't follow it!).

Anyway, I'll probably consult with him again before I buy a new camera so that I'll get a good one that can shoot high-quality videos. It's not like I'm filming a documentary, but I want to be able to shoot panoramics of the Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Albuquerque Botanic Gardens, etc. in pretty good resolution that people can see where we are and what we're doing. Does anyone have a favorite camera they'd like to recommend that I can research?

So, yeah, I definitely need to start a fundraising campaign! This trip is going to cost a lot of money, even if Mom does pay my airfare! But at least I can write off the camera and Web site expenses on my taxes!

Okay, I'm headed to Nemo's Coffee Shop to make some revisions to my book proposal. Then come home in time to pass out candy and Radiant Church invitations to all the trick-or-treaters!

Oh...the Possibilities!

Brainstorming with my son Matthew and all my writer and Facebook friends over the last several days...we've come up with some fantastic ideas! The challenge now is prioritizing my road trip planning time with all the other things that I have going on in my life!

Here are my current projects/To Do List:

Make revisions to my book proposal and mail to agent
Upload photos to my StephanieJohnsonMurals blog
Airbrush "NOTW" icon on Richard's drum skin
Update my book's blogs before I mail my proposal
Post YourHub stories
Organize my bill basket/filing cabinet
Attend WWCS, PPW-WB, PPW-OC, OCCWG, SW, and other writers meetings
Clean out the garage
Sell the Nissan/search for a new/used car

Anyway, with all the planning going on for the Road Trip, I am excited to get this blog up and running in order to build an "audience," get a conversation going, get people all over the country involved, and hopefully get suggestions on places to visit, beg friends to host us so we can save some money, and brainstorm fund raising ideas, I've come up with the following possibilities:

Matthew has agreed to design the Web site to track the adventure through his employer, GetWebEdge in exchange for free sponsorship/advertising. I will be able to post photos, have a link to this blog, and upload videos of our trip.

I am going to market the blog as a magazine article, and start querying magazines about publication. Matthew insists that exposure from the Web site will attract a producer who wants to make it a "reality TV show" and a movie (eat your hearts out, Thelma & Louise!). Hmm, that's wishful thinking, but it's possible!

I am also considering writing a book about it. There are so many unique things going on in this situation: 3 generations: daughter, mom, and grandma, travelling 4000 miles from one coast to the other, to be home in time for the granddaughter's graduation. The daughter (me) hopes to talk about some elephants in the trunk with her mother over this 2 1/2 week trip with a captive audience, strengthening the bond between them. Grandma will be our referree.

I will be using the GPS Navigator application in my Venus cell phone to get us from Point A to Point B. I am considering contacting Verizon to see if they'd be interested in being a "sponsor" of our trip and "advertising" on the Web site.

We'll be utilizing Mom's AAA membership for help with planning. Also an opportunity for sponsorship/advertising.

I will be driving Mom's new Hyundai Sonata (read: sponsorship/advertising).

I will be using Google/Mapquest for directions. (more S/A)

I will be using Blogger.com (duh!) for blogging trip planning, the actual trip, and how things between me and Mom turn out (if we make it home, you'll know we didn't kill each other LOL).

I will be contacting RMPBS about possibly doing a documentary.

I will be researching magazines to send query letters to about making this into a travel article or "women's topic." Hmm...maybe "O" Magazine and Martha Stewart? Redbook? Style?

I will be contacting my uncle and a friend of mine in radio about getting the word out, directing people to my blog.

I will be finding out about setting up a "Road Trip Fund" so that people can help us with costs and sponsor the trip.

I will be contacting my friend about how to do videos/vlogs.

I think that's it so far. We're DREAMING BIG!

Cities: Burbank, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Phoenix, AZ; Albuquerque, NM; Tulsa, OK; League City, TX; Panama City Beach, FL; Jacksonville, FL; Myrtle Beach, SC; Nanjemoy, MD.

Places to visit so far: Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Albuquerque BioPark (botanical garden, aquarium, zoo, beach), and I'm still researching the rest.

Now I am asking for your input! Please let me know what places you'd recommend along our routes, restaurants, hotels, where to avoid, events, etc.

Writers, I'm hoping those of you who write magazine articles can recommend some magazines I can query?

Does anyone have any advice on how to go about querying a TV station about seeing if they're interested in doing a documentary?

Well, speaking of PPW, I have a critique group in less than 30 minutes, so I'd better get rolling!

Stay tuned, and please post your suggestions!