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August 24, 2005
1249/776
I'm thinking about maps today, and distances. Specifically, one thousand, two hundred and forty-nine kilometres (776 miles). I'm putting together a little collection of road maps and historical maps from the internet, of the place I left, the place I've arrived in, and the places I passed through in between; now I'm stalled because the papers I want to print them on are in my studio, and I'm at the apartment. Actually, I've been trolling around for maps for a little while, for a book arts project (just a little brain seed right now, I'm just collecting maps and other papers for now and letting ideas ferment a little; it's not a project I'm in any hurry on). But I want to get all my stuff for free, and I've discovered that not too many places give out free road maps that are actually good, not glossy and full of photos of people at amusement parks; I'm wishing I'd held onto some of the more ripped-up maps from the car, but Peter needed them to get home. Of all the states we've driven through this summer, only Tennessee had good free maps. Being the queen of stealing paper, I took a big pile (you should see how many sanitary napkin disposal bags I stole from the U of Windsor bathrooms. I could bring my lunch in those bags every day for the next 3 years and not run out).
So yeah, maps. And distance. And also I'm thinking a lot about measurements of time. About three years, each one divided into three parts. Each third made up of about 120 parts, each of which is an eternity, something to be gotten through. At night, I keep dreaming that I'm waking up in my own bed, that I can hear breathing next to me, that it's my own cat scratching at the door instead of someone else's.
Exactly six weeks from today, I will see Peter.
Posted by jodi at August 24, 2005 09:30 PM | categories: art stuff : self-absorbtion
Comments
You should hit up a AAA member for US maps... we get them free. Or we did last I checked.
I know what you mean about counting time to see someone....
Posted by: Rebecca at August 24, 2005 11:00 PM
Can Peter not send you the maps now he's home and get new ones before he comes and picks you up?
I love Maps, need to get some US ones for myself so I can figure out where stuff is!
One day at a time sweetheart, when it's all over you'll be wondering where the time went and wishing you had more of it to do your stuff.
Hugs
Anna
Posted by: Anna at August 25, 2005 04:43 AM
Hi Jodi,
I've been reading for awhile but never posted before. When I was in college and couldn't wait to get back home, I'd make paper chains. (You know, loops of construction paper stapled around one another.) Tearing off that next loop each morning made it a little more bearable. 6 weeks = 42 loops ; a Saturday project maybe?
Also, while it's not printable (or related to your trip!), the knitting map is an incredible map/art project:
http://www.halfangel.ie/knitting-ie/index3.html
(For all I can remember, I may have found this link from you. Apologies if that is so!)
Hang in there,
liz
Posted by: liz at August 25, 2005 07:38 AM
Like Rebecca said - ask a AAA member. I'm one, for instance, and would happily send US maps your way.
Hopefully once you start creating and school takes over enough to keep you busy, dividing and counting the days and miles might slip from you mind a little.
Still, I can completely empathise. Going back to the UK after spending 6 months here with Terry, it was the hardest things I've had to do - Ph.D. included.
Posted by: Kirsti at August 25, 2005 08:31 AM
I'll send you some maps, too, if you tell me where to send them!
Sorry, too, to hear about the homesickness . . . six weeks can seem like forever, but hang in there!
Posted by: chris at August 25, 2005 09:19 AM
Yo,
I understand 100 percent your separation anxeity. Be thankful you do not have to live in a foreign speaking country with a socially inept pervert (my email I sent a few weeks ago). Did I mention that I actually got in 'trouble' for sending that to my mothers family!? They are too conservative to deal with real life sitiations...
Anyway, enough about me. I am also excited to see what you are working on for school. I am already thinking about possible thesis papers for if I ever get into grad school. Have you been looking into that yet? Is it too early to ask? I dont want you to go into overdrive. I pray for the chance to get into a grad school someday....
Posted by: caroline at August 25, 2005 09:41 AM
Ignore my massive grammar and spelling mistakes...
Posted by: caroline at August 25, 2005 09:42 AM
hi jodi. checking in saying hello. i've been thinking of you, missing pete. i think at the beginning, the time goes by slowly, but then when you find a routine - you know how it is. time starts to fly. and if you can turn to your work when you're missing him, well, in a way it turns it into something positive.
anna
Posted by: anna at August 25, 2005 03:42 PM
If you send me your address, I can send you a Virginia map that came as part of a very misguided tourism package.
Posted by: naomi at August 25, 2005 05:26 PM