I have, you may or may not know, an absurd affinity for tractors. Especially old ones. Particularly old ones with the name 'Massey' on them. When I was a kid, my grandfather had two tractors. A 1963 Massey Ferguson 35 Diesel, and a late 70s Massey Ferguson 265. My first hat was red mesh with an 'MF' logo patch on the front that he'd been given when he bought the 265. Somewhere there is, or was, in existence a polaroid snapshot of me, two years old and shirtless, sitting on the driver's seat of that tractor, wearing massive plastic sunglasses, because it was 1984 and I was 2 and such seemed cool to me, and a blue bandana around my neck because I had a slight drooling problem. I remember riding on the 265's rear fenders, flying down the road from our house to the cattle pasture, much to my mother's consternation.
For a few years, my grandfather owned a late '40s John Deere Model A Tricycle (tricycle referring to the front wheel set up, not the size of the machine). My uncle Moe had a 1970s John Deere. The 265 was eventually traded for a big 1594 Case made in the mid-80s, the 35 sold on and replaced by a Massey Ferguson 245. It was this one that I always worked with around the farm. The Case, in its turn, was traded for a John Deere 5300, which he still has, along with the 245, another 1963 MF 35 (bought together with the previous one, this was his dad's, my great-grandfather's, and my wife and I left our marriage blessing riding this machine a few months ago). Just for fun, my grandfather's also bought a 1956 John Deere 320, and a 1959 JD 630.
Between the 2 of us, we've given up on buying books about tractors (they are available, and regular sellers at all the best book shops, don't laugh), because we tend to have compounded more knowledge than even the books that are erroneously titled as 'complete.' We like tractors. He has a model collection of about 50 1/16 scale tractors; I have about 80.
That's because I went to work for John Deere, and all of a sudden, model collecting got easier. Consequently, most of mine are green, and I can quote John Deere company history as if it were my own. Yes, I agree, it is sick.
When I interviewed for the position at our local John Deere Dealership, the man who went on to become my boss said, "Well, you're certainly qualified, but I've got to ask, Why do you WANT the job?" Because, at the time, I'd just completed my Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing. I want to be an author, after all. Going to work selling repair parts for broken down John Deere tractors and implements isn't particularly en route to publication.
You wouldn't think.
Such was the conversation my wife and I were having about 6 weeks ago, as I was reading one of my monthly tractor magazines (there are more published than you might expect.) Her exact words were, "It's too bad you can't find a position writing about tractors. That would sort everything out." Indeed it would, but I'd already tried contacting my favourite publications, and no one was hiring. I am actually, because I'm anal, proofreading, post-publication, an alleged 'Complete Encyclopedia of Farm Tractors,' because it isn't. So far, I've found 19 brands that have been left out, and the wording throughout is horrendous. I'm correcting it in red pen and posting it back to the publisher. I know, I know, I'm sick.
When, lo and behold, jumped off the page an advertisement for this year’s Guild of Agricultural Journalists/John Deere Training Award-- a week-long, intensive Journalism Course run by a company I'm quite familiar with, training and qualifying only 10 souls per year for the hitherto unattainable table land of farming publication. I duly applied, and was notified last week of my acceptance to the course, much to mine and Katie's elation. I'll take the train down to Nottingham, of all places, in just under 2 weeks, where I'll spend the first half of the course, before being sent out over the latter half on an actual assignment. This means, theoretically, that in less than a month, I should actually be a published writer.
So, why Should an aspiring author apply for a job selling tractor parts? I've no idea. It's just what I wanted to do. All roads have their strange winds and bends...
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Recommendations for Restless Feet
Well, it seemed strange to carry on a dialogue with ol' JW in the comments page on the previous post, in the event we either of us said something serendipitous that anyone else might benefit from, so, here's the answer I was going to give him:
Thuggery. Two G's.
But, more importantly, as to wherever to wander and wherever to roam, be it elegant or humble, as you're searching for home...
I love the UK. Scotland, obviously, has won me over (due in part to the efforts and emotions of one particular soul), but there's still enough black porter in my blood to feel a commonality whenever I hear genuine Irish music, or see a camera pan across the cliffs and fields of Eirann. The British Isles truly are gorgeous. If you ever find yourself on the northern side of the big one, call me...
I once hiked through the Austrian Alps from Innsbruck, heading towards Brenner Pass/Brenero, Italia. I didn't make it. I got 40% of the way there and crashed at a little place that I'm not even going to mention the name of, lest enough people read this to make it a tourist spot and ruin its gentle beauty. You can ask how to get there, and if I think you'll value the place enough, I'll tell ye. Alternately, look at a map of central Europe. Find Innsbruck, Austria (near the Swiss and Italian borders), then find Brenner Pass/Brenero, ON the Italian border, and draw a little arc through any of the places about 2/5 of the way from Innsbruck heading south. Any of them should be fine. Let me know which you pick.
The Balkan States, southeastern Europe, are gorgeous, and generally warmer than my locale. Montenegro, the Jewel of the Adriatic, is still near the top of my list of places to discover. Slovakia, though all I saw of it was Bratislava-- ignore the movie Hostel entirely-- was a genuinely friendly place, and realllllly cheap, as of a year and a half ago. Most of southeastern Europe has not adopted the Euro yet, and the exchange rates are phenomenal. All of a sudden, eating out became an affordable option again. There's a little cafe in Budapest, Hungary that I still have a receipt for that do a red lentil and pork shoulder stew that could make the trip worthwhile on its own.
If you've done Europe, try Thailand. I read in the paper about 3 years ago (so, figure in demand and inflation) that for about 50 bucks (£25), an elephant could be hired for a private tour of the jungles of Northern Thailand. For three days you just meander through, eating with the villagers and forest nomads that don't belong to any particular nation, merely the soil and the trees you'll find them amongst. Take some stomach capsules along, just in case.
If you're in North America, there's already enough to see. At this point, I've only been to 30 US states- all of those east of the Mississippi save Wisconsin and Michigan. The Canadian Rockies, particularly the Banff area, north of Montana, I believe, is apparently gorgeous beyond description. Be that as it may, I prefer the Appalachians, and the eastern side of the continent. This past summer I finally got to fulfill the dream of taking a road trip thru the Adirondacks, and it was everything I could've hoped for. I only wish I'd had more time. The same can be said for Maine, but if you're thinking of going there, contact SOMEONE in the state first and ask what pest season they're in the middle of, before you go. On that same trip, I passed through Boston about Breakfast time, and, wanting to support the local economy, was in search of a good mom-and-pop shop to dine in, but couldn't find one. As I was stuck in traffic, I just looked for a truck that appeared to belong to a working man-- the kind of feller that pours concrete, builds cabinets, or demolishes things. I found one almost immediately, and hollered thru our open windows and four lanes of traffic what I was after, and he responded, "Get in behind me by the next light-- I'll take you exactly where you want to go, and it'll be right near the interstate when you're done." It was a meandering path to find the place, but sure enough, there was a little cafe that still looked like it did when it was built during Prohibition, run by an immigrant Greek and his wife, who were some of the friendliest folk I've met, save the chap that introduced me to them. I wanted, on that trip, to cross over into Canada and see Prince Edward Island-- also top of the list-- but alas, as always, there wasn't enough time.
I still recommend the Great American Road Trip as one of the greatest adventures to be had. Pick some obscure festival or occurrence and take the most extensive, least time-efficient route to get there. (Katie and I went to the National Farm Toy Show in Iowa last November, and turned a 9 hour drive each way into about 30 hours driving. We recommend Traer, Iowa for those looking for the quintessential American small town, and the Pizza Ranch in Independence, Iowa. Have 'The Prairie'.)
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, particularly around Boone, NC. I think that's about mile marker 300, give or take a dozen. Be sure and drive over the Linnville Falls (or Gorge?) Viaduct around Grandfather Mountain. Go to the visitors' center and be impressed by the magnitude over what technology just allowed you to do.
Find a local swimming hole and go skinny dipping at sunset. Heck, this is March. It's windy. Fly a kite. Eat local. Join a harvesting circuit. I still wish I'd done that when I had the chance.
Go outside and do something. On purpose.
Jake, come visit.
Love y'all.
Jeffro
Thuggery. Two G's.
But, more importantly, as to wherever to wander and wherever to roam, be it elegant or humble, as you're searching for home...
I love the UK. Scotland, obviously, has won me over (due in part to the efforts and emotions of one particular soul), but there's still enough black porter in my blood to feel a commonality whenever I hear genuine Irish music, or see a camera pan across the cliffs and fields of Eirann. The British Isles truly are gorgeous. If you ever find yourself on the northern side of the big one, call me...
I once hiked through the Austrian Alps from Innsbruck, heading towards Brenner Pass/Brenero, Italia. I didn't make it. I got 40% of the way there and crashed at a little place that I'm not even going to mention the name of, lest enough people read this to make it a tourist spot and ruin its gentle beauty. You can ask how to get there, and if I think you'll value the place enough, I'll tell ye. Alternately, look at a map of central Europe. Find Innsbruck, Austria (near the Swiss and Italian borders), then find Brenner Pass/Brenero, ON the Italian border, and draw a little arc through any of the places about 2/5 of the way from Innsbruck heading south. Any of them should be fine. Let me know which you pick.
The Balkan States, southeastern Europe, are gorgeous, and generally warmer than my locale. Montenegro, the Jewel of the Adriatic, is still near the top of my list of places to discover. Slovakia, though all I saw of it was Bratislava-- ignore the movie Hostel entirely-- was a genuinely friendly place, and realllllly cheap, as of a year and a half ago. Most of southeastern Europe has not adopted the Euro yet, and the exchange rates are phenomenal. All of a sudden, eating out became an affordable option again. There's a little cafe in Budapest, Hungary that I still have a receipt for that do a red lentil and pork shoulder stew that could make the trip worthwhile on its own.
If you've done Europe, try Thailand. I read in the paper about 3 years ago (so, figure in demand and inflation) that for about 50 bucks (£25), an elephant could be hired for a private tour of the jungles of Northern Thailand. For three days you just meander through, eating with the villagers and forest nomads that don't belong to any particular nation, merely the soil and the trees you'll find them amongst. Take some stomach capsules along, just in case.
If you're in North America, there's already enough to see. At this point, I've only been to 30 US states- all of those east of the Mississippi save Wisconsin and Michigan. The Canadian Rockies, particularly the Banff area, north of Montana, I believe, is apparently gorgeous beyond description. Be that as it may, I prefer the Appalachians, and the eastern side of the continent. This past summer I finally got to fulfill the dream of taking a road trip thru the Adirondacks, and it was everything I could've hoped for. I only wish I'd had more time. The same can be said for Maine, but if you're thinking of going there, contact SOMEONE in the state first and ask what pest season they're in the middle of, before you go. On that same trip, I passed through Boston about Breakfast time, and, wanting to support the local economy, was in search of a good mom-and-pop shop to dine in, but couldn't find one. As I was stuck in traffic, I just looked for a truck that appeared to belong to a working man-- the kind of feller that pours concrete, builds cabinets, or demolishes things. I found one almost immediately, and hollered thru our open windows and four lanes of traffic what I was after, and he responded, "Get in behind me by the next light-- I'll take you exactly where you want to go, and it'll be right near the interstate when you're done." It was a meandering path to find the place, but sure enough, there was a little cafe that still looked like it did when it was built during Prohibition, run by an immigrant Greek and his wife, who were some of the friendliest folk I've met, save the chap that introduced me to them. I wanted, on that trip, to cross over into Canada and see Prince Edward Island-- also top of the list-- but alas, as always, there wasn't enough time.
I still recommend the Great American Road Trip as one of the greatest adventures to be had. Pick some obscure festival or occurrence and take the most extensive, least time-efficient route to get there. (Katie and I went to the National Farm Toy Show in Iowa last November, and turned a 9 hour drive each way into about 30 hours driving. We recommend Traer, Iowa for those looking for the quintessential American small town, and the Pizza Ranch in Independence, Iowa. Have 'The Prairie'.)
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, particularly around Boone, NC. I think that's about mile marker 300, give or take a dozen. Be sure and drive over the Linnville Falls (or Gorge?) Viaduct around Grandfather Mountain. Go to the visitors' center and be impressed by the magnitude over what technology just allowed you to do.
Find a local swimming hole and go skinny dipping at sunset. Heck, this is March. It's windy. Fly a kite. Eat local. Join a harvesting circuit. I still wish I'd done that when I had the chance.
Go outside and do something. On purpose.
Jake, come visit.
Love y'all.
Jeffro
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