The "Other" Midwest

"Midwest" is an extremely imprecise term when applied to the geographic United States. I think it is clear from the map above that I have recently driven though the midwest but should by now have emerged into some other geographic designation. Somehow the mideast never caught on, so some residents of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and thereabouts believe themselves to be living in the midwest. Clearly the much farther west Iowa and Missouri dwellers should be using some variation of central. The midwest can only reasonably begin around western Kansas and Nebraska, yet those in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah want nothing to do with the label.

Now, you might ask what any of this has to do with the price of Darjeeling in Beijing. The simply answer is . . . nothing. But I have been on the road for four days and two thousand miles and several poker rooms, so basically my brain is gently resting in standby mode. I just wanted to take note that I have made it to the midwest, but then some hard scrabble rattling in my cerebrum launched me off onto that whole geography thing.

Suffice it to say, I am at the end of the road trip east and will be drifting about the Indiana-Michigan-Ohio region for several weeks. Deeper, if not more rational posts to follow. I will offer up an early nostalgia warning, my 40th college reunion looms next weekend.

The Shasta dwelling Midnight tapping me for pets whilst scowling at the intrusive camera.

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photo credits: epodunk.com and cblevins

Travelin' October

"Just before the death of flowers,

And before they are buried in snow,

There comes a festival season

When nature is all aglow."

I haven't seen a really good fall color display in four or five years. So I am looking forward to October. I will be heading out this weekend for parts north and east and midwest. My travels should take be through parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

I don't have how, when or why of the return trip yet. I don't actually know if there is going to be a return trip and if there is.... a return to where?

But for now I am anticipating the travel and the changes of scenery. While I will keep working on the Matusow screenplay, I am also going to be outlining more chapters of my travel monolog centered on the quest to rediscovery magic. I have light-heartedly referred to this work as a cross between Robert Pirsig and Douglas Adams. I do owe the mobile nature of my project to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and while my style may not be as flippant as the Hitchhiker's Guide; I do take a more conversational tone in this work. Although the topics of the dialog do vary a bit wildly from place to place.

I supposed I could do an synopsis or perhaps an excerpt from Magical Meandering (working title) here. I shall ponder that potentiality. In the meantime, the road beckons. All my bags aren't packed but that doesn't mean I am not ready to go.

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photo credit: gardeningresource.net