Greenville Snapshots/ The party

Again, I always feel like by the time I'm able to get on here to type, so much has happenned there's no way I can cover everything. But I'll start this blog entry with saying how much fun we've been having.

~THE AM~

I enjoyed my little treak to the bath room this morning and went to get some breakfast. This is starting to become my favorite time of the day. You guys that know me, are not surprized I'm sure. The perfect start to any day is a book, coffee, and cigarrette. This can sometimes be a task to accomplish while on the road as we are, but the Hamton Inn's chain has been good to me to provide this lugsury. Robust coffee please. John was sleeping in this morning, but I assume he'll meet me up here at the library soon. I had a good breakfast too! Eggs, sausage, inglish muffin and coffee. Mmmm. I'm one happy girl right now. Though it was a bit cold for me today and missty outside, so that made my two mile walking around this morning a little less desirable; but over all, this morning has been a good one. We spent last night with two good friends, Mike and Lexi, (who live accross the street from Geln and Amy who's house we are again staying at) laughing and telling stories of our past week's adventure.

Now with a full belly (something very apriciated at this point in our adventure) I sit down to recap the past few weeks.

Well..... first off, allow me to welcome you to downtown Greenville where we have been spending the most of our time. It is a beautiful city. You can see where we do a lot of our cooking and movie watching in this photo. This big ampa-theater here has been wonderful to us. complete with electric outlate for us to plug in our coffee maker and cook food, charge our DVD player and just curl up and hang out. Not to mention, the acoustics are amazing so we've practiced our instruments here a good bit too. Convienantly located next to the Hamton Inn. Greenville has been good to us.

Okay, well I think I left off with our trip to Ashville. We came back to Greenville to play that privet party I was telling you guys about for Glen and Amy. It was an amazing party. I hope to be getting pictures up here pretty soon just to give you an idea of the grandure, but there is no way that they will even come close to capturing the moment. It was by far the best party I've every been to in my life! And was honored to be a part of it. We showed up a day early to help set up for the following night.
There were 50 freakin' teki-torches! It was beautiful. But gosh, that was a lot of torches! I filled up every one of them with oil and watched John and Glen drive them all into the ground. The 'Stage' for the band was a whole nother ordeal. A large green covered tent, with lights around the top. I think that John and Glen debated for about 45 minutes on how to drape the tapastrys in the top of the tent and around the back. We spend eaqual time on the christmas lights for a large tree in the yard. Three fire pits, a whiskey bar, and here you go guys; a projector with the football game playing all night! Live music, great food, and lots of laughter. It was me and John's first real performance together, and for sure, the best time I've ever had performing. It was magical. I know that sounds cheezy, but it's true! A lot of you guys didn't even know he played hu? People wrote thankyou notes on the sidewalk with chalk and danced. John was something too! At one point during the performance, he took the mic of it's resting place, walked out into the croud a little bit and stood around the fire as he sang a Ray (forgive me for murdering his last name) La-mon-togga song called "Joliean". It was amazing! We also performed a song that Glen had written. He is quite the writer. When we finally crashed, we woke up to everyone the next morning still laughing and drinkinig the left over whiskey at 8AM that morning! We had a leasurly day and didn't even clean a thing untill the following day. We just ate left over chilli, drank beer, snacked, laied in the pit of dispair (a quilted couch covered in blankets that you never want to get out of once in) and watched movies. It was wonderful!

People showed up the next day to help clean up. It was truely a wonderful time.

I feel so lucky to have met these people. Glen, Amy and their next-door neighbors Mike and Lexi, have been so wonderful to us.

Their english friend Mark and wife Linda, had John and myself over a few weeks ago for lobster! Gosh that was good! I'd never had it before. That was so much fun. The girls took me upstairs at some point and deceded to straiten and cut my hair! lol (That's what happens to girls on tequila). It was so much fun and Linda gave ma strait iron!I love those guys! And we have yet to play garrage band!

To the 'cool people, Erric, and Luke, his brother Mark, and Luke's wife Anna. We've enjoyed spending time here with all of you guys so much! Thank you for making Greenville an awesome experience. WE LOVE YOU GUYS! I don't know where this little bus will lead us, but we'll for sure have to re-visit greenville. You guys have made this one of my favorite places ever!

Oh how life is fun!

Yeah, so there are LOTS of details that I'd like to cover... but just dont' have the time to right now.
I just want to give a shout out to the guys I really miss in savannah.



Garrett -I'll call you soon!

Jo- girl or boy?

Grandpa-

---Damn the torpidoes, full speed ahead! Coffee and ciggarrettes are God's gift to the stressed.

Irene Wood

Renee Wood

Maybe Randy..lol

Peggi- We still need to write that book! And I need some councilling!

PENNI!!!!!!!!!!!!

FORD!!!!!!!

Racheal Rosenthal /florida i guess hu?

Dawn and James, really.

Terry (yes the beautiful blond from Gateway)

My family there,

Millisa, Sam, Katie, and the other wonderful ones there. You mean the world to me.\

Shawna! What the hell girl?! lol I know. Glad you found the blog. I freakin' miss you!

Millisa on 48th st. That sounds like a song title. Hm...

and to everyone that I forgot, I really just am that bad. I love and miss you gusy and think about you all offtin. Thanks for all your help and support and I PROMISE! Yes (Dawn lol) I'm getting a phone soon! Really.

Much love,
~Mallory

Disclaimer for "Yo Mama"

First things first: if your child has big dreams to grow up and travel around in a VW bus don`t freak out. There are definitely worse ways one could travel. Here are a few reasons why all you mothers can sleep at night knowing your son or daughter is out on the road somewhere.

1. Not every VW bus road tripper rides around smoking massive amounts of "Mary Jane", "Ganja", "Purple Nurple Mind Eraser", "Wacky Tobacky", etc. (mainly due to the fact that after eating ramen noodles for a week; not having beer or cigarettes ; and most importantly not having clean socks and underwear. Getting stoned would seem to be the last thing on the mind of your youngins. If your child has there priorities straight, these fore mentioned commodities should be first on there wish list when they acquire some money. Then again there are places in all most every town that you can get a hot shower, free meal, and clean socks; so if you can take care of beer and cigarettes this may actually be a concern!!!
   
2. VW`s are like riding in a boat; waving is just one of the many interactions your darling young ones will have with the rest of human kind. (It is true, even when your living on the verge of poverty with no "real life goals" one would be surprised at how many good Friends cross your path) Yes It Is True, People Love Hippy`s to???!!!
   
3. VW`s can double as both recreational vehicle and shelter. Meaning mama`s little girl will never be sleeping out on the street; she will just be sleeping in a bus on the street. They are also very surprisingly comfy ( compared to a curb as a pillow and a gravel mattress.

DON`T WORRY MAMA`S MORE TO COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good People

So... wow. there is a lot of recapping to do. I'm not going to be able to get to all of it, but I'll do the best I can to catch you guys up on the high-spots.





With the CV joint situation that I mentioned in a previous blog, again, we were broke.


So, we had gone to a couple open mic nights.... 'Smiley`s being our favorite venue. So on a very uneventful night (I think it was the next day after our parking garage exp) We were parking behind Smileys and John decided to go in and ask about some work or booking a show there.


It was freezing cold, and I had already turned in for the night under the covers in the bus, so he originally went in by himself; but after a while, nature got the best of me, so I reluctantly found a sweatshirt and headed inside where I found John leaned up against the bar listening to some of the same guys play that we had seen the week before at 'Open Mic'.





The owner was to our right, but it didn't look like a good time to interupt him and ask about work. He was off the clock. So we listened to the music for a while and headed outside to smoke.





Debating our options and laughing about our situation, John handed me a cigarette. I asked a gentleman that I had seen just light up, if I could use his light. Meet Glen.


An extremely friendly outgoing man in his thirties (I'm guessing). He joked about my not being so well prepared with such a needed item, and lit my cigarette. The bonding of a good friendship began. He introduced himself and asked us where we were from. We swapped stories. When he found out we were musicians, he told us he was there that night looking for talent to play his private party in about two weeks. "I think we can work that out".





People are kind. There are good people, lots of good people in this world. As cynical as I try to be, Glen and Amy are proof that there are genuine people. As we spent the next few days with them, talking, laughing, getting hot showers, and really having the best time (in my opinion) so far on our trip. We also met a few of their friends, who were just as giving as they were; and embraced us. Sharing everything they had with us. I can't speak for John, but I will say for myself, I learned a lot, and it was so good for me to spend time with them as a couple. They have truly been a blessing to us both.





I'll get back to the following week and Glen and Amy's party in a bit, but I'd like to cover a little of what happened meanwhile the next week in Asheville for the remainder of this blog.





We were able to go up to Asheville the next week and spend a week there. Playing on the street, meeting more people and having a great time. I went to my first homeless shelter while in Asheville. The food was horrid, but the people were friendly and kind. We met lots of other street musicians, from the sweet, yet annoying, to Red. A man that helped show-us-the-ropes if you will.








The Harvest Festival:


We met Red, our second day in Asheville setting up to try and, again, play on the street. We hadn't done too bad the day before, making 15.00 we were able to, purchase cigarettes and coffee, as well as a little dinner. He told us where all the best spots were in town to play, and armed with his knowledge and a song we had learned off of a CD Glen and Amy gave us, we doubled our income.





The next day, we woke up late and were going to try our hand again, on the street corner, when we heard some music already playing in one of the squares.


A stage, and free food! We had hit the jack-pot!


We found out it was something called The Harvest Festival. A group of people who travel around playing gospel music and feeding the homeless; sponsored by local churches of that individual community.


I sat there in awe pretty much, as i watched all kinds of people come out of the wood work to eat and sit in the sun while listening to uplifting music. I saw a mother with two children eating and laughing there on the sidewalk. Who knows what their story was. Like everyone else there, they had their own. One veteran lifted his hands from the brace of his wheal chair where he had rolled to the front of the stage, to thank the band and worship God. I was touched to say the least and don't think i did a good job of hiding it. But it was an experience for some reason, was monumental to me, and not soon forgotten.


That whole week in Asheville was a real eye opener for me. Blessed with the opportunity to meet so many people from different walks of life. I got to see a lot of things that really made me question myself on my values, and the judgment I've passed on others. I felt guilty in a lot of ways. There is always a reason people end up where they are. Ours was, we were traveling, made some stupid decisions maybe, and needed hot showers and some food. But as I got to talk to others, things had happened to them too that wasn't there fault. Sometimes it was, but it always is at some point.

Excepting responsibility for one's actions doesn't negate the facts of the current situation we're left with.


It is the ultimate expression of love, to reach down a hand; and not ask for an explanation.

One other really awesome part of that week was the Linard Cohen concert! Some guy just came up and asked us if we were going. "I wish!". "Well, you are now", He simply replied. "Have fun kids." And handed us two tickets. I had a blast, but wasn't all that familiar with exactly who Linard Cohen was at that point. This was a huge deal to John as he kept saying, "I can't believe this is happening!"

Good people.

Welcome to Greenville

Well, a lot has happened since the last time I've been able to be on a computer. It's been about a week I guess, and I need to recap.

We were off to a good start out of my Grandpa's driveway in Savannah Ga, to Anderson. We made pretty good time if you were to subtract the hour and a half we spent broke down at some random gas station.

Found out the problem was just a wire had come off the coil, and wouldn't start back up (NOTE:coming soon- machanic page where we will discuss such issues with other fellow VW owners).



Now with 30.00 more dollars in our pockets and full tank of gass, we finally reached Anderson SC where we had worked out to stay with John's sister. We had a good night, and I enjoyed watching John laugh as he ran into old friends at the local bar.

After a few good days and meeting most of John's family, John wanted to go visit his grandparents in Greenville on the way up to Asheville. We had a good visit but as we went to pull off, Herman decided he didn't want to leave so soon and chose to drop his CV joint right there in front of John's Grandparent's driveway. So, what do you do? With limited tools, we called for some advice, spent the afternoon in the coffee shop downtown, slept in the buss that night, and fixed it the next morning.



We got the CV joint fixed, and ready to go,but when you include all the driving around we'd done the past few days, not to mention beers and food; you guessed it. We didn't have enough gas or money to make it to Asheville.



Greenville's not such a bad town I guess.



We found a parking garage with an outlet that seemed to be perfect for camping out over the weekend. So there we sat. We were fortunate to walk around downtown with our guitars, hit some open mic nights, and book some shows for a couple weeks out, but we were still dirt broke. Thankfully, we had made a little money on the street and bought plenty of ramon noodles and ciggarettes. Life is still good. With gig's in sight, we'd just wait it out in the parking garrage over the weekend and play it cool around town driving as little as possible.



We learned pretty quick that hot coffee and breakfast was easy. It's called Hotel complementery breakfast.Yeah buddy! We were able to stock up on all the oatmeal, muffins, and cerial one could ever want.



The POLICE!

lol at the Greenville parking garage was our first little run in. I know you guys were waiting on a story like this... probably some of you wondering how long it would take. Well yeah. Late on sunday (in this free-nights-and-weekend parking garrage) we were dead asleep when we heard this really loud pounding on the outside of the buss. "Boom! BOOM!" "Greenville Police! Open up!" came the booming voice outside the van. We just froze and lay motionless as the bright light shown through our curtain covered buss. I felt the need to whisper, "It's the police!". I don't know why. It was an automatic reaction okay! John just gave me this, 'no-shit' look.

We heard the voice again talking outstide to someone else about some guys description that did not resemble John's.



"They are legal to be here. They have the sticker", we heard him say. "If they stay over the allotted time, then I can have it towed, but that's all I can do. If you see him again, just call 911 and ask for Greenville Police. For now, they are legal to be here, but just can't be plugged into the outlet."

We went back to sleep only to wake up and find they had unplugged us from the wall.

We drove out to our alternate parking spot accross town at three monday morning.



The discription of the man they were looking for matched that of another homeless man we'd seen, and later found out shared the same parking garrage.

How it started.

All packed. FINALLY!

It's crazy how things can change in a moment, or a matter of hours. That's how this whole thing got started. Me and my supportive boyfriend John were moving to Nashville TN, where we had a place to stay and some work lined up. So we purchassed our first money pit for the trip up from GA to TN. Herman (a 1970 VW buss). We bit off a little more than we could chew. This could have very easily been our first mistake. With dead lines on moving out of our appartment and quitting both our jobs with limmited funds, Herman was a Dream-Ride. Not the most practical under the situation; But with the help of many friends and hard work, we FINALLY got ol' Herman going. It has always been a dream of mine to own a VW Buss. Hippy busses i call them.

A little 6 year old girl said it well when seeing us and Herman on our first test drive to Wal-Mart (the day before our trip out); "Wow! That's pretty cool buss mamma!" I looked at her and smiled. "I've always wanted one." She squeeked in her Disney voice, "Dreams really do come true!".

That's exactly how i felt. I had everything I'd ever really dreamed about. 'Sally' My beautiful J200 guitar, Herman, and as the song says, "If I could make one wish two, i might ask for someone else to shear these dreams with..." And John. A handsome and very patient man to shear all of this with. So together we were off.

Well, like I said before; things can change in a matter of moments. While John was asleep for the 8hr drive that night to Nashville, I got a disturbing call. It was a dear friend of mine. She was in the hospital and might be getting admitted. Now was not the best time to be saying with them in TN. The news was unfortunate to say the least. Not only was I concerned about my friend, I now had no place to go; and almost worse than that, I had to tell John that we now were out of luck with no place to stay.

He took it well. lol

But we had to come up with a change of plans. The buss was loaded down with freakin' WAY to much stuff to camp out of, so I had to get rid of a lot of stuff. My Grandpa was genorouse and allowed me to keep some things there in GA in his storage. So we cleaned out the buss and headed out for Anderson, SC. John has some family there and a place we could stay for a few days to collect our thoughts and regroupe.

Okay.... Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead! lol with now, plan #B.

To Anderson.

WELCOME

Welcome to the VW ROAD TRIP! My Name is Mallory Jen and I'll be posting blogs on here as offten as possible to keep you updated on our day-to-day cross country adventure. We're doing it old-school. My boyfriend John, Myself, and Herman "(PICTURE COMING SOON)" Our 1970 VW Buss.

DISCLAMBER: I know my spelling sucks... and most of these computers don't have spell check. I am a dislexic dreamer and musician. No spelling corrections please. Just enjoy what you read and laugh, while bing thankful for your own education. Thanks.

As you travle the road with us, I will be keeping you updated on the fun, and the mundane parts about our trip. Learning along the way, please feel free to contact us with any ideas, thoughts, comments, you have. I will be letting you know what states we are headed to next and hope to meet lots of you. I will also be posting our show dates that we will be playing at in each state, so please come out and join us! Lest's travle together.