I've Been Everywhere – Part I: The Collector

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Am I Normal? Who knows?[/caption] As far back as I can remember, I have been fascinated with statistics and numbers.  I have also been a collector.  As a young fifth-grader in Dallas in the late 1960s, I was already obsessed with statistics.  I looked at baseball boxscores daily and kept my own tabulations of most homeruns, doubles, RBIs, etc.  I also had a huge collection of bottlecaps from sodas.  I would pick them up a couple of times a week at the 7-11 (which in those days was really open from 7 AM to 11 PM).  I had bags of them and would lay them out in the driveway and count the various types...Coke and Pepsi were always the clear leaders, followed by Dr. Pepper, 7-UP and Sprite.  But I…
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People Shots from My Travels – Part 1 (Canada and US)

Amish Country, Arizona, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Kentucky, Murals, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, People Shots, Street Musicians, Street People, Texas, Wall Art, Washington
Street Person - Toronto[/caption] Throughout my travels in Canada and the US, I have run across many opportunities to get random shots of people.  Our world is made up of people of all types. [caption id="attachment_618" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Strolling by Mo's Seafood Restaurant - Newport, Oregon[/caption] So, for this entry and the next couple of them, it will be more about people, than places.  I hope you will enjoy this little cruise.  People are fun! [caption id="attachment_613" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Soccer in the Shadows - Hoboken, NJ[/caption] [caption id="attachment_615" align="aligncenter" width="640"] "Super" Family Trip - Metropolis, Illinois[/caption] [caption id="attachment_614" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Old Man - Paducah, Kentucky[/caption] I got the next couple of shots while on a visit to Niagara Falls with my family.  I took quite a few, but these were…
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How about a little Charm?

How about a little Charm?

Amish Country, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Horses, Ohio, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places
Charm, Ohio[/caption] In the midst of Amish country in Ohio there is small community called Charm. The village, though small, does have a post office and even a website. [caption id="attachment_125" align="alignleft" width="300"] Keim Lumber in Charm[/caption] Not many other signs around the town, but he name alone makes you want to go there. The pastoral environment and Amish atmosphere really does give it some charm!       [caption id="attachment_126" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Amish cart in Charm, OH[/caption] Everywhere you look in Charm, you see both Amish folk and lots of Amish influence. [caption id="attachment_127" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Amish Laundry[/caption] The photo above is one of my favorite shots.  Very colorful. [caption id="attachment_128" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Charm, OH: Old vs. New[/caption] View Larger Map Charm, OH]]>
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Coolville – Now that's an awesome name!

Coolville – Now that's an awesome name!

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Ohio, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 50
Coolville, OH[/caption] Back in May 2008, on a return trip to Canada for work at the Toyota Plant in Woodstock, Ontario, I took a trip up along the Ohio River, basically on the Ohio/WV border.  (see my entire trip report for some unusual other places here).  Along the way I came into the town of Coolville.  Pretty cool name!! [caption id="attachment_69" align="alignleft" width="300"] There is a Post Office in Coolville![/caption] You Scooby Doo fans out there may remember the fictional place called Coolsville, OH in the cartoon series.  This is NOT that place.  Rather, Coolville is a small town of about 530 people clear in the southeastern part of the state.  It was named after Ashel Cooley, who was apparently a great grandson of Benjamin Cooley of Springfield, MA (see…
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