Dubuque

Having been raised in the Mohave, I have an appreciation for green. Show me a palm tree and I'll toss you some synonyms for "lush", but, Iowa is a whole other world. You like green? This place redefines it.








Julien Dubuque's grave, a monument to the town's founding father, looks over a spectacular river vista. You can sit on the memorial bench of one of Dubuque's other greats, Tim Miller, to contemplate Mark Twain quotes while taking in what must be the best view in town.








Lunch at Catfish Charlies. Cool building, nice patio dining, not the best food, but ambiance counts for something.




High powered meeting at a coffee shop on bluff st. with local mover and shaker, Bryce Parks. For everything going on in town you can check out his regional network and @ http://www.dubuque365.com or pick up the free 365ink at most local hotspots.  Bryce and I strolled past the famous 4th st. cable car elevator over to Outside the Lines Gallery http://www.otlag.com which specializes in fine art by local artists.  It may just be the best place to pick up a souvenir.  (I mean, wouldn't you prefer to take home an object that appreciates?) 

And of course no trip to the wholesome Midwest is complete without a drive in the country.





And puppies.


- Posted by Joshua from my iPhone

National River Museum Dubuque, IA

This is the Mississippi.



She's a beaut.

A barge, just past lock & damn #11. This is how they move grain down to the gulf.


Here I am outside the National River Museum in Dubuque, IA


It's got a fun new kids section.



See the kids


Informative exhibits


Like this one on Native American trade


And this



Showing the effects of the recent BP oil spill/disaster in the gulf. They took the fish out. I missed the fish.


Luckily they still had some in the river section. Big, ugly, fish.

Big, scary, alligator


What? You see what behind me?


Just kidd'n. See, I survived and here I am with a paddle wheel boat.

-Posted by Joshua from my iPhone

Is now reporting from Iowa

Who wants to hang at the beach when you can trapse through a cornfield?


The homestead. See the lace curtains? Wait 'till you see the green hills. It's like exploring the old country without needing to cross an ocean.

- Posted by Joshua from my iPhone

Little Squirrel, Big City

My friend had a lot of meetings, so mostly I wandered around town taking in the sights. 

(see that behind me, that's the EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, the real one, not the Vegas version)

After three days I decided New Yorkers are totally misrepresented by their surly reputations. I found them to be pretty much AWESOME.  Here's a few of my favorites: 

 

Sanjoy: Brilliant Financial Guru/Regular Good Guy

Jennifer:  Brilliant Editor Director/Most Genuine Person Ever

Alvina:  Brilliant Senior Editor/Best Lunch Meeting Resteraunt Picker EVER

and here's where Alvina took us:

http://www.charliepalmer.com/properties/metrazur

(this is me with my full belly smiling down at all the people in Grand Central Station)

(there's many, many, more fabulous people I met on my trip, but I got so excited to be in the city I sorta forgot to document it... sorry!)

Finally it was time to go home.  Farewell great metropolis.

(sigh)

BTW, red eyes actually do make your eyes red.

Start spreading the news...

I'm leaving today...  A friend of mine is going to New York City and I'm totally excited, because she's letting me tag along.  Best thing is, she's in the children's lit buis.  I happen to be well on my way to becoming a minor celebrity (insert posative affirmations here)  And everyone knows that when you're a celebrity you get write kids books.  So I'm taking this as a research opportunity for the side career I'll someday have.




Here I am leaving LA




And here I am arriving in NYC
Cabby, get off the phone and watch the...oops.

- Posted by Joshua from my iPhone

Huntington Beach Hyatt

The money shot


Spitting fish


Meeting the fans


Getting use to heights





Complimentary chocolate beach.

- Posted by Joshua from my iPhone

Festival of Books- I hate crowds, but I love books, so its worth it

Me at the festival... I'm blurry becase I'm shaking, because there are WAY too many people here!



Kidlit panel (Kadir Nelson, Pam Munoz Ryan, David Shannon)



Seething masses. Did I mention that I'm an introvert?

(Gordon Korman, D.J. Machale, Neal Shusterman and the Pseudonyous Bosch) 

I enjoy books. LOVE them. I love authors too, and sunny days, and news papers, and the Bruin’s campus. I mean, who wouldn’t love the UCLA campus? Even die hard USC fans have to admit the Westwood campus is about as close as you’re going to get to bucolic glory this side of the Mississippi. So of course I planned to attend the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. And it was, as you’d expect; crowded and therefore far less bucolic than I’d hoped. And me, I’m a squirrel. I like to hide from crowds. So I had to really, really be motivated to stay once I saw all the chaos. But, with panels that included Kadir Nelson, Pam Munoz Ryan, David Shannon, Gordon Korman, D.J. Machale, Neal Shusterman and the infamous Pseudonyous Bosch, I stayed and am happy I did, because, like I said, I do love books.

  
- Posted by Joshua from my iPhone

LA Times Festival of Books

I'm think I've figured out my route for today's festival activities, no easy task; all those feet, dangerous strollers... I'm hoping to run across a few distant cousins that might help navigate. Wish me luck!


- Posted by Joshua from my iPhone

Welcome Back Flat Stanley!

A little party to welcome back our wayward friend.


- Posted by Joshua from my iPhone

Andrew Garcia - Straight Up_ by Paula Abdul on American Idol 2010 Hollyw...

FYI- even though Andrew Garcia got kicked off American Idol this week, he's still the bees knees... not that I'd ever watch American Idol, 1-866-IDOLS-02 (866 436 5702) Text “Vote” to 5702, umm OK, I do watch it, but I'm not a fan; I just have three extra hours to kill a week, OK four if you count the voting time. Well anyway, Peace Andrew.

Flat Stanley gets stuck in London

My friend Flat Stanley came to visit me here in California (he's a dead ringer for that famous character in the books, but my guy's from Iowa) So Stanley was kick'n it here and the opportunity arose to fly to London and I was like, 'dude, you should totaly do that!' So he did.  And now this whole volcano thing's going on and my little friend Stanley is stuck in the UK. (and I'm feeling horrible.) And this kid from the midwest is eating chips with vinegar and saying 'cheers' instead of 'thank you' and I'm hoping when (and if) he gets back he'll ever be able to drop that limey accent and say 'you's guys like' the red blooded Dubuquer that he is.  Bummer.

Thankfully, it does seem like he's enjoying his adventure.  He's e-mailed the following:




Hang in there Stanley! Hope to see you soon!

- Posted by Joshua from my iPhone