Inspiration leads to Adventure... Pt. 1

Route 66,  a road that I have always dreamt about driving down in my convertible, top down, hair scarfed, sunglasses on (think Thelma and Louise) radio blasting a nice mix of 1940's through 1990's inspired music- definitely the song with the same title as the road: Route 66 was the beginning of the play list. My favorite version is sung by Perry Como which has a second, less heard, verse which carries more towns names when following Route 66, all written by Bobby Troupe.

My journey started with a thought. I was driving down the very boring and empty roads of Highway 95 through Northern Nevada. I mean you pass Area 51 when you do this drive. Super interesting Alien titled buildings and a Clown Motel (one day just for the fun of it, I would love to stay there).

I was headed to Las Vegas, Nevada and St. George, Utah to spend Easter and a few extra days with my kids. I was listening to Pandora when I had the light bulb go off in mind, "hey, why can't I go visit my dear friend Leah after I leave Devin and Aliza?  They are super close and right off of Route 66. Then I can follow it home (well, extended way home) It could be a great adventure. I got my camera, I could go all the way to the end..."  So, I called Matt, told him what I was thinking and he knowing me to be a non-adventurous gal, said, "hmmm, you don't usually stretch yourself this way, go for it!"  I find that hilarious as I love Road Trips. Always have, always will. Probably started out from our family weekend drives all over Utah.

Anyway, I found on my Trip Advisor app that there was already a bunch of cool things mapped out from Topock, AZ to Santa Monica Pier, CA.  From there I found a bunch of eclectic sites to visit on the roads that I knew Matt wouldn't want to stop at, places like a Bottle Tree Forest, An original Orange Fruit Stand, The Wigwam Motel (to some a dive. To me, fun!)

For the next few Wednesdays, I thought I would post about the different places that I visited and my growth as a person from my observations throughout the adventure!

Are you ready to join me?  Have you been on Route 66? What were your favorite memories and observations?

Faded but not done

Faded buildings

everyone, life that's ended

can't be undone.

Families that live no more

in their houses,

Seen outdoors, wandering, wandering,

wondering where it all when to.

These lines describes what happens when we close down the factories. I have a friend that I met on the train on my way to Chicago. Let's call her Wendy.  Wendy has been traveling across the country, going to the places that most people don't see, the places where people struggle, try to live as they can on what they have in their homes that no one else would want to own.  Her photos are filled with a home here and a home there where one home is occupied the others are abandoned because the factories these families worked at shut down. Names like Ford, Chevy, Chrysler employed millions and moved away leaving empty buildings like the one below. I saw for myself the ruins and decay of towns that used to thrive by the rail road that no longer do. It was heartbreaking. The spirit of these people keep me in awe of the tenacity and perseverance they continue to move forward and do what they need to for their families.

Behind Closed Doors

Grace and Jack seem to be madly in love with each other. They spend all hours of the day with each other and fit together like a glove. Grace's sister Millie comes to live with them and all heck breaks loose. Is it because of Millie? Read the book and you shall find out...

Warning: never read this when you are mad at your spouse or significant other. Especially if they are male. You may think you see a nasty glint in his eye.

~ I received Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris from St. Martin's Press through my membership with Life of a Book Addict. I don't usually read suspenseful thrillers after living my childhood surrounded by Stephen King books, because I tend to absorb the storyline into my soul and it's hard to exorcist it after I've absorbed it.

However, I decided to give this book a chance just from the description St. Martin's Press sent to me. I am glad I read it. This book was a really quick read if you have a few days or a whole day into the night- which I would not suggest you do, reading from the middle to the end in the evening late into the next morning was something I wish someone else had warned me against doing; It kept me up after finishing it with phantom noises, worries and straight up scared to close my eyes!

B.A. Paris does a wonderful job of keeping you on the edge of your seat. Although, I wish the cover of the book didn't have the blurb "The Perfect Marriage or the Perfect Lie" on it. It gave me the sense of the direction the book was going even before I read the book. I don't like when I know the premise of the book when I haven't even started it yet. That is why I only rated this book 4 stars instead of 5.

If you love a good thriller, this book is for you! Enjoy.

The Everland Chronicles: Truth

Author A.J Bell has written a fantastic rookie novel. We read about John, a squire to Sir Richard nephew to the King of the Everlands. John is a stalwart and loyal companion to Sir Richard, however John has a secret...

Elle, John's sister, is a fair maiden Prince Victor has set his eyes on who seems to have been dragged into a triangle of love interests that she can't make up her mind about. Prince Victor however has other ideas about her future and will do anything to win her love.

Can Elle live her own life or will John take over and make decisions for her future?  These and other pressing questions will only be answered if you read the book!

Buy the book