(again, follow more news, thoughts, photos and videos on my twitter.)

the afternoon has been pleasant. the plains of montana leave nothing to report, just more of us snaking our way across the flatlands on rails…

i got a short nap in earlier, pretty much exactly one hour to the minute, waking up to see us about to pull into another station. we’ve been through one or two since then, going past havre and now malta. out here there really isn’t much to photograph or report on at all except the rare landmark like “fifteen mile creek,” a sign and even a creek i would’ve missed if blinking.

the land is covered in brown and yellow grass, with a rare bush or tree breaking ground, defying the crust only enough to still appear mostly dead, like a hand reaching out for its last hope for survival. despite all the clouds overhead, i don’t see any rain happening, so things look like they’ll remain as is.

Read the rest of this entry »

(for more info and photos, see my twitter feed at http://twitter.com/stephentheh)

first night on the train to minnesota…

i became overwhelmed with emotion soon after giving my last hugs and goodbyes to the small group of my closest friends who came to see me off at the train station. they had all brought gifts of fresh-baked goods, including some amazing chocolate chip cookies and a couple loaves of my favorite sourdough bread. it wasn’t until i boarded the train and sat down that the tears came, and so it goes…

leaving portland there were some beautiful sights. the fall leaves along the railways, my last sighting of the st. johns bridge(looking regal as always in the sunset), it made me instantly think of ways to make it back to portland to visit in the fall…

not too long into the trip i met hazel, an elderly woman who was sitting in the seat in front of mine. she was about 75 if she was a day, but still had a very bright and open soul. we got to talking about where we coming from(she couldn’t remember the name of the town she boarded the train at, which i thought was adorable), and i gave her bits of my story. she was headed up to spokane to visit a granddaughter who was attending school there, apparently training to become a pilot, following in the footsteps of her mother or aunt(i can’t remember which).

Read the rest of this entry »

this summer has passed quickly, too quickly… the new season of white shirt, philosopher is well underway – in fact only 6 strips remain before the season ends mid-september. i’ve been on the fence on whether or not to continue writing the comic, and if i do continue, how is a big question, as i’d like to eventually get an actual artist to draw the strips, but that could just be a pipe dream. anyhow, new haikus are also being posted semi-regularly via twitter, and i’ve finished a short film this summer which i have yet to decide what to do with(in regards to how i release it). i’m contemplating/plotting some more video haikus, and releasing a collection of those along with the new short could be fun. i’ve also got more than enough haikus to publish a paperback compilation, but that’s a ways off at least also.

Read the rest of this entry »

i was out smoking a cigarette on my front porch this afternoon as i often do, when i noticed up the street from me a little girl started yelling “LEMONADE… LEMONADE!!!”, so i finished smoking and went to put sandals on so i could go check it out.

as i was walking up to the stand, she was still yelling “LEMONADE” so i called up ahead and asked “how much for a glass of lemonade?” she waited till i was closer and replied “it says on the signs,” and pointed to her cardboard signs saying it was 50 cents. i told her i only had dollar bills, so i’d just pay her a dollar if that was ok, and she looked puzzled for a second like she was considering it and then said that it would be ok, and i was only her fourth customer. she only had a couple of martini glasses to serve it in, and she asked if that was ok, and i said sure.

while she was pouring me a glass i asked her what her name was. “trinity,” she said in an adorable english accent, and i said “hi trinity, my name is stephen” but when i said her name, apparently i didn’t enunciate to her satisfaction, so she said “no, it’s trini-TEE” so i smiled and said her name back to her making absolutely certain to pronounce the T on the end strongly so she’d know i got it.

as i drank the lemonade from the martini glass, she asked me to tell my friends to come buy some lemonade from her, so i told her i’d let my roommates know if they are home. i pointed up the street to show her where i lived, and she pointed at the house she was in front of and said “i live there,” then pointing over her shoulder at the house next to hers she said “those are my neighbors. i don’t like them cause they’re mean to us” like she was warning me and i couldn’t help but smile.

she asked me if my roommates like lemonade, so i remarked “i think everyone likes lemonade” but then she made a sour face and said “not me! it’s too sour for me.”

it didn’t take long for me to finish my martini glass of lemonade, so i wished her luck and headed home. if you happen to be in my neighborhood today, go buy some lemonade in a martini glass from trinity. i’m pretty sure she’ll make you smile.

-h