What is an adventure?

We're back. 

Baby got back. 

Back in black. 

Back to Bedlam. 

Baby back ribs. 

Back in the USSR. 

More back than the Backstreet Boys. 

We're back. 

Take this all with a grain of salt though, because the topic for this week is not exactly something I am proficient in. It's a topic about our grandest adventures. 

#IDon'tUsuallyGoOnALotOfThem

Had this been a topic three months ago, I don't think I would have even posted. Maybe I would have thought if something, but I don't think it would have been anything other than a stream of pretentious consciousness.  (See, aren't you glad I didn't continue with alliteration?)

I think that before I started thinking about adventure from a more…zoomed out perspective, I'd have said "No!"  Or something similar, then excusing myself for a lack of "adventure."

That doesn't really cut it. 

I mean, if you take your lens of life (Dear Lord help me, I sound like a self-help book.) and zoom it back in, you'll focus on things that are a little bit smaller, and in a lot of cases, this is a good thing. 

I think I was originally going to make this post about my trip to Kansas, but I'm already doing a series of posts about that over on my personal blog, attemptingadventure.tumblr.com 

So that sort of rules that option out, even though it was probably my biggest adventure to date.  

But then, there's also little adventures. 

One time last summer I went to the skate park with some friends and I would consider that an adventure, because of the little adventures it contained. 

Another "adventure" is when my friends and I would go up in the woods behind where we had our homeschool co-op and take the ladders and chairs that used to sit up there. (The woods back there have long since been cleared, but I bet the ladder and chairs are where we left them, nearly 10 years ago!) 

I think what I am trying to say, is that adventure is what you make of it, and that typing this could possibly be my biggest adventure, because I have no way of knowing where it's going to lead me. 

Thanks for reading and making this blog awesome. 

See you next week!

-Ranger

we'll be back on july 1st

-Ranger :3

My Day. 6/16/13

Hello, thoughts from people!

This week I don't think you're going to see much from us, as Nate, Elizabeth and I will be chillin' like villains in Kansas, for the One Year Adventure Novel Summer Workshop.

If you're wondering, this is the first time I have actually met them IRL, so needless to say, I am extremely excited about this, as well as being nervous. 

I'm writing this while sitting in the car, with about 8 hours of the trip remaining.    

The last time I took a car trip this long was in 2009 when I was 11, so I am not accustomed to this at all. And my legs are longer. And they hurt. 

So, to relieve my boredom and to take my mind off of the fact that my neck hurts because I thought I could carry 5 packed bags at one time, I will be logging this journey every so often here, for you to read, since I've nothing better to do. 

Yay. 

9:00am-ish  

We're leaving Nashville! 

10:00am 

Okay, so we're now in Kentucky, and will be entering Missouri soon.     Back in Tennessee, our styrofoam plates flew out of the truck, as they weren't tied down. 

That was funny and scary and depressing, as we had been on the road for less than eight minutes.

10:17am.  We've been on the road for about an hour, and not much has happened.  A kayak almost flew off of the car in front of us, and now it's behind us, so should it fly off, I will miss that potentially life changing experience.  

There's also been a lot of Wheat, Silage (The corn used to feed cattle and such.), and horses.    

It's also flattened out a lot.   In Nashville, where I live (Well, just outside of it.) we have a lot of hills, and I've really only ever been to Alabama, Mississippi, Southern KY, and Indiana, so I'm not used to a different landscape.  

You can probably tell that I don't travel a lot.   I'd like to in the future though, if I could get over the incessant need to bring absolutely everything that I have owned ever.   

10:32am 

Parents are fighting about something related to Indiana.  Not sure what though. 

I have a lot to look forward too though, so I'm not going to let it bother me.   Besides, this happens every trip, with the usual angry swerving of the truck, and the throwing of maps.    I just turn up my music and write or something so I don't have to acknowledge that it's happening.    It doesn't make me mad or anything, because it shouldn't.  I just don't like thinking about anything remotely depressing while in the car, because for some reason it magnifies it.  

11:06am 

I just saw the water tower for Paducah Kentucky after taking a short nap.      I've been filming a bit out the window here and there, for car footage if I make a video about this trip. 

11:41am

We're leaving Paducah, and I got some pictures of the world's most adorable car on the face of the planet. I'm serious. It is.    

We've only been in Illinois for about 5 minutes and it's already what you'd expect. It's really flat and uneventful.    I mean, if we happen to find a convention of corrupt politicians, I might change my mind, but as it is right now, I don't think I will. Besides, we'll be in Missouri soon anyway.   

12:09pm

I think we're still in Illinois, but I could be wrong. 

We have an incredibly hard to endure audiobook playing. My brother seems to enjoy it though, which keeps him happy enough to be a tolerable little being. 

12:53pm 

We're only halfway through the Illinois leg of this trip.    So far we've seen a prison and some corn, which I guess is better than nothing.     My camera fell on my face when I fell asleep, and that didn't feel all that great, mostly because of the fact that I almost broke my microphone.  Hopefully I didn't screw up the audio levels or anything, because I don't have enough money for another one, and I can't get one for another few weeks anyway, meaning that the audio at this workshop would then be rather…tinny. 

1:53pm

It's an hour later, and in that time we entered and are now leaving Mt. Vernon Illinois.  While there we stopped off at the world's most ghetto Hardees, with a kitchen that had a film of nastiness that was at least two inches thick.  

Thankfully my gluten intolerance, and my old pal Celiac disease came in handy, subsequently preventing  me from partaking of their sad excuse for a food like substance. 

My dad just said we'd be in Illinois for another hour.    This is going to be a long hour. Plus it's raining.  I really hope nothing bad happens, because I don't think I'd forgive myself.  I'm already feeling guilty about dragging my family halfway across the country for this trip anyway, and that certainly would not help matters at all. 

3:12pm

I went to St. Louis. 

A city with a crime rate higher than Brian Jones at his swimming pool.  

It was nothing more than a pass through, so I had just thought that there might be a rough district or two giving me reason to believe that yes, it really DOES have a high crime rate. 

When we got close to the edges of the city, with the fame inflated arch in sight, I saw nothing more than run down industrial parks and a boarded up victorian home here and there.   

Nashville, (TN, not IL) has those too, and I think every remotely large city has that. 

Here though, they just got closer together. The more we drove the more depressing it got.

We hit the bridge into downtown, and most of even the biggest "nicest" buildings were covered in vines, and the city seemed dead. Huge, but dead.   I had always thought that Nashville was little more than a few honky tonks and some other tourist-y attractions, until I took a closer look, when I found out that it was a town that was bouncing back from its time as a bit of a slum

, in order to become something good, and fresh. 

In hopes of seeing this, I put on glasses as rosy as they could possibly be, but it didn't help. 

There were rows of old houses, and old warehouses that looked like they were made at the turn of the century. Potentially beautiful homes and former businesses now home to squatters and people who could care less about the endless cycle in which they live. 

It hurt to see it as miles passed and nothing changed. The rows of houses kept on, now becoming sparser, not from their construction, but because 2 out of 3 units had been burned out or torn down.   

Finally we passed over a small hill that gave way to little post WWII salt box houses as far as the eye could see. Some strips of them looking well kept, but most looking as if they hadn't been painted or even thought about as anything more than a roof in 40 years. 

Maybe my judgement is too harsh. Maybe it's because I don't know the people that caused this. Maybe if I did, I would have a different opinion, but I didn't get to stop, so all I have is the ability to take things at face value, and to use my better judgement. 

4:06pm

We're in traffic, of people from the surrounding factories getting off of work, and I can say that the surrounding towns outside of St. Louis aren't all that scenic.  

I have to keep reminding myself that this isn't a scenic trip. 

According to the GPS, we'll be pulling into Overland Park Kansas in about 3 hours. 

5:31pm

Still on the road.  .___. 

6:16pm

Stopped off at a rest stop, and we had a nice leg stretching, bladder releasing session.  Sadly it was one of those rest stops filled with people that 

Also, if you run over a road worker in Missouri, it's only $10.000.00 but if you run over one in Illinois, it' $15.000.00

So if you need to run over a road worker in those two states, run over him/her in Missouri.  

We also keep passing this one Jeep that we think was at Bonnaroo, so if we stop again and see them, or see where they are from, I'll let you know.   

We saw them at the rest stop, but never got a chance to ask them anything. If I had remembered to, I would have, but I didn't, because that's how I roll. 

7:25pm

We passed the Jeep about an hour ago, and the tags on it said Florida, which kinda rules out Bonnaroo as a possibility for where they had been. 

Right now we have about 30 minutes to go before we get to our hotel. 

I can't wait to get out and walk around, and maybe explore the hotel a little bit, as well as have internet access. 

I guess that's when I'll post this, since I'm going to be busy all morning. 

So far everything has gone okay, and I am happy.      

I have to wonder if this is going to be the longest blog post I have ever made. Like, ever. 

7:49pm

We're in Independence Missouri, and if you've ever seen me play Oregon Trail, be it on Windows XP or on AppleSoft Basic, you'll know that driving through here is a very traumatizing experience for me. 

8:56pm

We're in Kansas!  We've made it here, and had a safe trip!   Currently off to explore the hotel!

FAREWELL!

-Ranger :3

I tried to be deep. I really did.

So today is Monday and I completely forgot that one of the things I must do on Mondays is write a blog post. 

That just exudes responsibility doesn’t it.     I mean, I took Monday as my day thinking I could be okay with kicking off the week like a boss.   HAHA. 

So this week, the topic is for us to write about the most interesting way we acquired something that is in our bedrooms. 

This, of course, has caused me to spiral downward into a pit of questioning just how interesting the things that are in my room might be. 

I mean, I can usually trace everything in my room back to a wal-mart, a mall, or to a gift shop from somewhere... or Amazon.com.   

I am also afraid of making my post, and then three days later finding something in my room that is actually interesting. It’s like when you see a word for the first time, and then start seeing it everywhere because you are now self aware of the fact that it exists or something. 

That is what I think is going to wind up happening to me here. 

I have to wonder if I don’t have exactly what every other person on this blog has. 

There are the expected knick knacks, and other things I have collected over time...you know, being a human and all. 

I have things from family, from friends, and things whose origin has all but slipped my mind. 

I have things I wish I didn’t have, as well as memories of others that I wish still had a physical embodiment. 

My glances around this space from the perch that is my bed leave me to assume that maybe the lack of stories behind these items says more than actually having a story about something, because if we have something, shouldn’t we be able to justify it by its stories. Maybe it doesn’t even posses the stories. Maybe it just is like a vessel for them to float upon until we pluck it up out of the pond that is our shelves to retrieve the tale for a bit.

I think that at some point, in putting these tales back, we muddle them up just enough so that when our next visitor comes ‘round, we’ll have a slightly refreshed version to tell.  

I do have a stuffed butterfly named Flitter that I got at a Wal-Mart McDonalds when Beanie Babies were the craze, and then I lost it at a Wal-Mart for a few hours not long after.    Still have it. About 2 feet away from me.    

That’s all I can think of to post. 

Trying to be deep and thoughtful isn’t fun when you have a headache. 

-Ranger 

Monday, in your pants...My pants.

This is where I question the logic involved in my choosing Monday as the day in which I post. 

Hello. 

Are you glad to see me?  If you are, you shouldn't be here, since you aren't going to actually see me. Just the words I typed out late on Sunday night because the week's theme was decided two hours prior. 

This week's theme is embarrassing stories. 

This is where I am completely qualified to speak. 

I am the epitome of embarrassment, particularly to those that invite me to things.   I should probably be more specific, since said things could be counted upon the digits of my appendages, but I felt a generalizing term would boost your perception of my popularity. 

A lot of my embarrassing stories are rooted in my multiple flops at violin performances.   You can picture how that goes, stumbling on stage, nearly falling, skipping portions of pieces, playing the wrong parts at the wrong times, etc.  

But there are also times where my general existence is embarrassing enough. 

This especially happens in social situations when I am with my friends. 

Every few months I usually throw/attend an all nighter of video games and internet with my friends Zane and Zealun.  (Zane is our Thursday poster, if you didn't already know.) 

One of the more embarrassing times in which we did these things. (Yes, that was poorly phrased, I am awware.  I am also aware that I spelled that was two Ws.   It was a typo. A sticky of hand. It's like a slight of hand, but where my hand stays on the key until I remove it.  Making it a sticky of hand…which definitely does not sound right at all. Moving on.) 

Now I was holed up in my basement with my friends Zane and Zealun and it was late, and I was still wearing jeans that I had been wearing earlier that day, so I went upstairs to put on some sleep pants.    After applying said pants, I slid down the stairs because I am extremely mature and that's how mature people come down the stairs.   

Because I am a horrible storyteller, I am going to back this train up a bit.  Back that caboose up. 

The day on which this took place was the 15th anniversary of the date of birth for my friend Lilly, our Wednesday here, and I had decided to call her on Skype.    So while this was going on, Zane, Zealun and Lilly via Skype were in my basement at my desk chatting it up while I scrubbed my teeth, consumed some allergy medicine and applied softer pants. 

After completing these tasks, I came downstairs and decided to hop up onto the bunk bed behind my desk, in view of ze webcam, through which a female friend was viewing myself, and my friends. 

As soon as I hopped up onto the bunk bed, I decided to randomly jump in front of the camera by leaping off of the ladder, down onto the ottoman next to the desk, since my friends were occupying my beloved spinny chair.  (#ReppinIKEA) 

I took this leap of faith, so confident that it would impress both her, and Zane and Zealun, because of the mad skills I would be able to claim to possess after accomplishing this feat. 

And as I jumped, somehow these pants just slid right off… . They had hung on the ladder or something. And my underwear too. Can't forget that.  LET ME JUST HUMILIATE MYSELF EVEN MORE HOW ABOUT THAT. 

#WhyDoIExist

The best part is that since they were all bunched at my knees I crumpled silently to the floor, missing the ottoman. 

I don't think I have ever reapplied pants quicker than in that moment. 

In that moment, I swear my trousers were infinite, unlike my ego. 

There is a silver lining, though. It's that Zane and Zealun turned around just in time to make it look like I was just adjusting the waistband. No biggie. 

Now Lilly on the other hand, if she saw this, has said nothing, for which I thank her. (Thank you.) 

But if you did notice my mishap, send me an email and a check for trauma therapy of some sort, and a coupon for me to use you as a suicide hotline whenever I please. 

I could go on, you know, because I'm that awesome, but I won't. 

Happy Monday, and try to keep from dying today. 

Your loving, self deprecating blogger, 

Ranger. 

Monday Funday is like crashing a Hyundai?

Welcome to Thoughts from people.

All three of you that will see this post. 

Each weekday one of our writers will make a new post, and each week will have its own theme. 

As you can see from the image in the sidebar, I will be handling Mondays here, which is frightening, to say the least, since that is the day in which any creativity that I might have had suddenly disappears.  Also it may or may not set the tone for the posts from the rest of the week. Again. Frightening. 

This week, we're just telling a little bit about ourselves, so there isn't /much/ stress involved, until you know, we actually have to find a theme for next week so we can get started on writing posts for it. 

To start us off, my name is Ranger, and you probably don't know me from my other attempts at becoming an internet personality, which is a good thing. 

A really good thing. 

I'm 15, and I have not really done anything in said 15 years, which takes away from any sense of excitement that you might have had in hearing me speak of the probably (un)anticipated tellings of accomplishments. 

I play the violin, and have done so for the past 13 years, and I do enjoy it, and I think what I enjoy the most about it is the fact that it is something I am relatively good at, so that whenever I fail at something else I can always fall back on it, like a musical security blanket.  

I think I would probably be a much sadder person if I didn't have anything I was good at, since I would see others flourishing at their talents while I sat on tumblr. 

I also like writing and film, because they are very accessible mediums through which to create. 

Yay.     (I am trying to write a novel, but everyone tries to, and few succeed, and I hope I can be someone who succeeds, but I shouldn't be too hopeful about that…I'll just play it by ear, I guess, and write when there is inspiration for it.) 

I think that if there is anything else to find out about me, you will learn it in the following posts that I make, because I think that when people tell about themselves, they usually speak from two extremes, in which they either glorify themselves or put themselves down. 

I have no clue what our next theme will be after this introductory stage, so it could range anywhere from thoughts on the subjective properties of love, to what the best flavour of Starburst candies is and why we like cornbread. 

Go ahead and follow us, and bookmark us as well, because as long as we don't get more burnt out than Lindsay Lohan's spoon, we'll be back week after week.   

Also, if my own rambling self has not run you off, you can find me here: 

My blog where I post my thoughts and ideas:  attemptingadventure.tumblr.com

My YouTube channel: youtube.com/smileyranger

My old main blog:  bytemindedbrain.blogspot.com

My more…carefree tumblr: thoughtsfrommyheadbrain.tumblr.com

Thanks for not dying or something like that.

-Ranger.   

On the contrary, my dear.

I do not believe that this blog has died, but instead has simply been on a creative hiatus.

Who am I kidding.

derp.

I will be posting pictures of my crazy week on ((CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS))

They should be uploaded tonight.  *nods*

In which we witness the death of a blog.

I feel that this blog has died.

....


...

When tumblr goes down

When tumblr goes down, bad things happen.   Homestuck fans emerge from their houses.   Need I say more?

reblog

It seems as if the only consistency in online media today is the stagnant sharing of the same things over and over again.  

Talk about a saturated market.

CSS....GRR

CSS layouts are challenging...  *blows raspberry*

*facekeyboard*

Welp, my camera pretty much quit working with my computer today.  :|

Derp.


*lesigh*

*pops head in*

OOH A PARTY.      *le grabby hands* 

Anyway, in following in Lilly's footsteps, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLEN!


(Wait...does Ellen even read this blog?) 

A common occurrence.

I am the green text.

Final cut stuff

Oh final cut trial, in these 30 days I have grown to love thee....I shall renew your services some day....

Old things

When I re-watch my old videos and such, I feel a pang of utter shame.

Hmm...

To be expected, I guess.

-Ranger :3

Welcome *glomps*

Welcome, Owleh, (AKA Nate, The Dead Sunflower/Time Lord) to this blog.

I hope you enjoy your stay here, and enjoy the blogging company of your online colleagues.   *le nod nod*

Slender Pages

My friend Zealun and I posted slender pages all over a campground....

"Always Watches, No Eyes"
Is the PERFECT sign to put on the inside of a dark, poorly lit bathroom stall...don't you think?

Jelly fo realz

Lilly, those tomatoes have made me jelly, OVER 9000!



Fried green tomatoes are nomz......especially when they have other similar foods surrounding them.

Writing stuff

Writing history reports is not fun.

Especially when you will be leaving your house in less than 24 hours and will not have any other chance to finish it.

-Ranger