Day 149
Gettin’ down
August 22nd, 2010
I'm walking across America.
That's the idea, at least. I'm walking westward from New York City for nine months or so. If everything goes according to plan, I'll be in Oregon when the clock runs out. If nothing goes according to plan, maybe I'll end up in Peru or Mongolia or Pennsylvania. You can read all about the details of my trip if you're so inclined.
Email me at matt@imjustwalkin.com
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Here's my progress so far:
1st !!!! BITCHES !!!!!!
Sorry for that last comment. I was giddy when I realized I might be 1st.
keeping it clean here….we are a family planet of hobo’s.
I apologized. If you and I and the president want to get together for a beer, we can discuss this.
p.s. I didn’t even mention the town where “people of less intelligence” live.
You know I was only busting around? and saw your apology? It was just kidding…I was playing off your apology.
But I will take you up on the offer of a beer with the president too. He owes me one. I had the same thing happen to me…except I was the white guy being harrassed by the other side as I tryed to get in my house. No one offered me a beer at the whitehouse. Go figure.
Jeff, Jeff, Jeff. My whatever are we gonna do with you? If you want a beer go have one. But quit pouting about the President not asking you over. : ) ha ha. He can’t have everyone over ya know. he he. Try to relax some more today. Remember, vacation is in 6 days. Breathe in, breathe out.
oh…that worked Dr. Dorinda.
I’m glad I could help. The Dr. will be out of the office on Wednesday Aug. 25 so if you need further assistance you’ll need to call a different number. And if Matt gets there earlier than 6pm. EDT I will miss it. I won’t be back in my “office” until at least 6:30pm. that day. Have a good day and remember to breathe.
white guy being harassed by ‘the other side?’. seriously, jeff?!
idiotville??? they don’t live there anymore…they went out amongst the masses and repopulated…you’ve only to look out your door to see where the old residents of idiotville live1 :D
Yes, thank you for the apology but do try to keep it clean. I know we get excited about being first but there are better word choices. Thanks.
…and there are worse. Even broadcast TV considers this one to be PG. It was joyous bragging making it perfect context and laughable. If the term was directed at someone in a derogatory way, I’d understand the offense here, but as it stands, its just a word.
The stigma, condescending shame shame and apology make all this worse than it ever was.
“There are no ‘bad words’. There are bad thoughts…..bad intentions…..but there are no BAD WORDS.” – George Carlin
= )
Norwwood – Just listen to “just sayin'” sayin’ it was OK what you said. just sayin’ says broadcast TV considers this to be PG. I’d call it joyous braggin’ and LOL about it, which is what I did. You were thrilled you were finally #1!!
OK, I rescind my apology.
Apology accepted, Norwood.
the penalty for that language should be that the moderator of this site would remove your comment thereby rendering you NOT first.
Hahahahahahaha! I thought it was funny, Norwood.
I know you apologized to the Hobo nation and all. But it bothers me this the longest of comments since Matt left the east coast and is almost finished… it starts with “1st !!! BITCHES !!!!!!”
I am not mad at you personally… but after 452 (453+ and counting) I hate it’s here for all to see…
EGADS!
Just checked and it is 66 miles from Forest Grove to Rockaway Beach! Matt is “Getting Down” with getting done! Great Job Matt
Whoo-hoo!
I caught up with Matt at Forest Glen Park this morning. We chatted, but skipped the funky dancing. I’m afraid he’s getting wet even as I type this–some sprinkles are passing over Forest Grove and the coastal range.
Great Scot! Happy for you that you were able to chat with Matt today. You should have tried the funky dancing ;-)
Glad you were able to meet up with Matt, Scot….that’s awesome!! I figured someone was going to be getting some rain today…we’re certainly looking out for it here in Vancouver, WA…but haven’t seen any yet. Stay dry!
i would guess it is going to be slightly ‘forrest gump’-ish, like it was at the beginning of his trip, where many folks will join in the walking of the final miles, in to rockaway beach. major network tv coverage. i really wouldn’t be surprised to see something on CNN or HNN that morning!
don’t ya think matt wants to slip in there and greet his family without the hullabaloo…remember this is about the adventure. As Dorinda reminded me..he once made the media chase him for a interview because he was more concerned about making up time.
it is no longer possible for Matt to be ‘invisible’.
We are quietly planning to meet Matt. Have been in touch with family and friends. Ssssshhhhh, or come join us!
So cool! Y’all should have a slideshow at the park of some of his pictures.
How great for you Scot to get to meet and chat with Matt. What a treat. Hope Matt doesn’t get to wet. Did you fill him in on us out here in hobo planet?
Glad you found Matt , Scot…. did you walk a bit with him? It was pouring rain the day I met him and he walked 26 miles that day. Thanks for tracking him down and keeping him company…
I bet that was great Scot…thanks for the update…I think that board looks more like the old game of “Dodge Ball”…you remember the game…”kill” the other person with the ball…hurt them if you can…I think most schools outlawed that some time ago…I remember in the gym they sometimes turned out the lights and let it go…cruel…but…fun…
raining in joisy too.66 miles and all is done. Walk slow and stay dry.
Don – you are either gonna hit a ringer or miss it by a few hours. Yahoo…to you don.
Jeff
I think I will miss it a few hours. I think he will be in Rockaway beach on the 25th. If that is close enough to win then I will YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!, but then I will be sad because i will have matt’s humor and the comments from the HOBO PLANET. I hope somehow we can continue this madness, laughter, history lessons and friendship!
left out “not” after I will-
Don Matt is in Mts. and has no service, if he makes it out he may be far enough along to get there on 25th, but look for 26th early is what I think, I could be wrong.
Yahoooo for Don in Tennessee! I think Matt will be in Rockaway Beach, OR on the 25th, too, so it will be exactly 5 months after he set forth from Rockaway Beach in NY. Happy for Matt that he was able to accomplish what he set out to and at the same time a little sad that all these have to end. It is my hope, too, that somehow we can continue all these.
Noooo!!!! Matt needs a 3 week detour! LOL. I know, I must concede to Don and whoever picked any dates close this week. I came close though right? a little yahoo? Maybe just a “hoo”?
LOL I agree. What will I be able to follow once his reaches his goal. I check this site everyday too from Japan and it has become my morning routine with my cup of coffee. Perhaps Matt should take a bit of a break and than walk back across LOL nah, jk, Great job to Matt for entertaining us and allowing us to live through his wonderful experiences. I look forward to the next few days.
Well I say he’s gets on a boat and crosses the Pacific and comes your way! Wouldn’t that be something? But no, he’s getting on a plane and flying back home. Oh well. Glad you’ve come along with us here in Hobo Planet for the last ride. And that you’ve been following along too on the side lines. Welcome on behalf of all of us to you!
And now for the hills…..and the trees….and the Wilson River…..up, up and away! Hope the weather is ok and not seriously raining on you. Now you can walk off all that wonderful food and beers you have been enjoying….and think about your goal….it is so very near!
it’s a gorgous day on the coast today!!
I am not sure what this game is but dodge ball would be fun here. I believe Jim in AR via MN is correct that kids are not allowed to play dodge ball – as it is look on as violent. Many kids are protected to much these days and think failure should never happen and they are entitled to everything.
How do kids get rid of frustatration if they can’t have fun with each other. My sister-in-law (teacher) says she can’t take her kids outside if it is 90 or above. When I was in school air conditioning was sitting next to an open window and you had your fingers crossed a breeze would come through it.
Oh well I hope Matt does not have to deal with much rain….. Just a few more steps and rolls of the wheels and he will be at the Pacific Ocean. Matt can then say job well done and executed and the HOBO PLANET will be cheering that he has made it and I am sure a few tears of happiness will also be shed-which is wonderful!
Thanks to Mom and Dad for sharing Matt with us for roughly 5 months. You have raised a smart, energetic, great sense of humor, kind, and considerate son. I know you are both proud and glad that he has been safe and well taken care of.
I’m glad she can’t take her kids out if it’s above 90. Too many children/people are dying each heat wave that we have. It saddens me every time I hear another child has crawled into a car and couldn’t get out and died. It’s not funny.
And children getting rid of frustration by thrusting a ball at someone????. Are you nuts? What is that teaching them? To take their frustrations out on someone else by throwing a ball at them? There are much safer games to play and exercises that can get rid of frustration way better than by throwing a ball at someone.
You know I remember playing DODGE Ball – but I don’t remember anyone taking their frustrations out on anyone.
I know, I would hope not. It’s just the way Don worded it. Maybe wrong word choice but it hit a nerve with me.
well that is why they stopped playing it in some schools around here. Your right Dorinda. It is all about what the game is teaching… Not a good lesson….at all.
I loved playing dodge ball but I hated being in the middle and loved being in the middle. The thrill of being missed and the fear of getting a ball hummed at you! Ah memories. Kids today don’t know what they are missing.
Peace, from Michelle in Providence
Don, as a former middle school youth group leader, I have to say my distaste for Dodge Ball was only amplified during those five years. Dodge Ball is an activity (I won’t stoop to calling it a sport) perfectly designed for bullies and jocks, and feared by those who don’t fall into either category. The strongest and/or meanest will use brute strength to immediately eliminate the weaker ones, leaving the weaker ones hurt in more ways than one: obvious physical pain, but also the pain of humiliation. There are many other ways for a child to get rid of frustration than brutally pounding a rubber ball against other children. There is nothing kind or forgiving about Dodge Ball. I, for one, would love to see this game eliminated altogether. There’s so much more I could say about Dodge Ball and those who allow this activity to take place, but it brings up too many feelings of humiliation, and I can feel the welts on my body just thinking about the pain of contact.
AMEN Sister!!! Very well put. I totally agree with everything you said. Glad others think the same.
OK everyone-you missed my point or I worded the above in a way that was not intended. When we played dodge ball it was not a ball that would hurt you. Yes there are always bullies but most people enjoyed playing dodge ball when I grew up. It was not forced on people who did not want to play.
Instead of saying frustration, I should have said pent up energy. As for going outside when it is 90. You can sit in the shade or take a short liesurely walk. How are kids going to concentrate all day if they do not get some exercise?
Anyway, I did not mean to get something started like this so I will – dodge – the subject in the future!
Ha-ha! “…I will – dodge – the subject in the future…” Good idea, Don! BTW, it was played in gym at my school in the 70s, and if we didn’t play, we didn’t pass, except for maybe passing out for some of us, or was that more of a KO? :)
wow, i remember playing dodge ball in school, BUT it was with a huge oversized NERF ball so no one would get hurt. also made it quite difficult to throw, tho.
Ours wasn’t a nerf ball, but it was a small soft kinda squishy rubber ball.
Ours just hurt!
I must be older than rest. We had to get tape and make us a ball, and man was it hard, but mostly we played a game called HOME RUN DERBY, where everyone got chance at bat and outfielded and first one to 5 or 10. The time factor during recess had lot to do with score.
Raymond
Do you wear shoes in AL? Just kidding – people say that to me that have never been to TN – do you wear shoes in TN? People have some strange ideas about different places.
I did hear that the toothbrush was invented by a person in AL. I heard that people in AL only have one tooth so they called it a toothbrush instead of a teethbrush. – Again just kidding!!!
I did hear that border patrol was going to build a fence on the TN / Al border. People from AL are trying to come across illegally into TN!
Would be bad on me since I was born in Loretto, Tn. We moved to Guin (Yampertown, Al.) Guin is largest town close to Yampertown, but now they have made a city out of it, and call the place Twin, Al. What a name. I did not wear shoes till I was 5 or 6 years old, Dad said he could not afford them, and we did not need them anyway. I
remember going to school without shoes till I started 7th grade. I reckon by then the hillbilly had got out of me.
But as I think of it now it was fun, or I thought so. We cried because we had to wear pants with holes or patches on them, but look at what they wear now.
I know I’m gettin’ giddy!
Dance academy?? lol. Looks like a playground or basketball court? But I like the funky dancing the best. Funny.
Hey deanna and other locals, has anyone been to Roloff farms out there at all? I watch the show on TLC and was wondering if anyone here perhaps has actually been there and what it’s like. Especially at pumpkin season. I know places around here have contests for the largest pumpkin. I’ve even seen some on tractor trailers being driven down the Interstate here near Columbus, Ohio to an annual event.
Dorinda, I like(d) to watch the Roloff show as well, but I’m a few years behind on them. I think the last one I saw, Amy and kids were taking a riverboat trip (now defunct riverboat). That might have been a re-run. I just don’t have time to watch TV anymore.
I believe that was last years season. We have a dvr cable box and just love it. I can record whatever whenever and watch it at my own time. My son talked me into it and I’m glad I finally gave in. So much easier than recording on a vcr.
We live close to Roloff farms and went there a couple years to get our pumpkins and to watch the trebuchet and visit the tree house and western town. The last time we tried to go it was too crowded, so we skipped it that year and now my kids have outgrown that stuff. I actually ended up in one of the shows. I was having lunch with a co worker and Amy was promoting her golf fund raiser at the restaurant we went to, and I think the restaurant was donating a percentage of lunch sales to the fund raiser. Amy was walking table to table to tell people about the organization she was funding raising for. (Little person athletic org, can’t recall the name). I’ve also run into Matt’s mother several times around town.
Oh yeah! I remember that show. So I can go back and watch the show and see you in it huh? How neat. And Matt’s Mom seems like a sweet heart of a woman. Thanks for some “local” information on that family. Don’t always know if what you see on TV is actually what it is in real life.
I don’t think I know about that show. I’m pretty limited to a few shows on TV…maybe an hour each day. I LOVE my TiVo (the real deal…not the kind through the cable co.) and could not live without it. We’ve had ours for 10 years (one of the first ones) and it’s still going strong. :)
But, I digress…
The show is called “Little People Big World” in case you do happen across it. It is on TLC. Don’t know if you get that or not. They have a 34 acre farm up there in Keitville?? I know I spelled that way wrong. It’s off on rt. 26 northwest of Portland. Anyway I love the show and just thought I’d ask any locals if they’ve been up to the farm.
Roloff farms is in Helvetia. Here’s a link to their website. http://therolofffamily.com/
LOL ! Thanks. Boy I really screwed up the spelling on that didn’t I? lol. I has some of the letters right though so does that count? lol. Just not all the letters or in the right order. : ) Thanks again Alisa 11.
Oooooohhh…that show! I’ve heard of it, but never really watched it. Guess I may have to take a little peeky. :)
I have a friend in Hillsboro and on a visit (about 2 years ago), we went to Roloff Farms – it’s a really nice place – they were continuing to film during all the mayhem of the Fall Pumpkin season and with the many visitors – you just have to get there very early and have patience!
Thanks. Yeah I can’t imagine what it’s got to be like having a camera in your face while trying to take care of customers and working your farm. I mean it’s difficult enough to manage everyone without a cameraman sticking his camera up your nose! lol. But the land there looks gorgeous and the sunsets they’ve shown are just amazing. Beautiful country out that way.
It is a really neat property – and the house is beautiful and they have a sports court that you never see on the show and there’s a different barn that you never really hear about…
Awesome! Thanks. I love hearing things like that from people who either live there or have been there. Puts more “life” to it than just a TV show can.
how exciting it is for you matt to be so close to your destination.. we are still talking about your visit here in clearwater, mn.. it was fun for us to have you for a short time. what a journey. i sure hope i hear when the book gets published? there will be a book right?
hey hey it’s the repke’s!! i remember this family from ‘way back’. took a group photo.
3 days folks, that’s all we’ve got. Someone somewhere has to come up with a way to keep the hobo planet habitable. Who will be the hero(ine)?
.
A friend and I went looking for Matt this afternoon on our way home from a hike. Sorry to say we went not fortunate to see him on his journey. Happy Walking~
Ah darn! I know you’ve been following along so much and are so close. Did you try emailing him? Are you going to go to Rockaway and be there when he finishes? It’ll probably be either Tues. Wed. or Thur. He’s so close now, just 2-3 more days and he’s done. Boo hoo : ( That makes me sad.
Sorry, I’m not going to make it :(
Boo Hoo….. or hoo boo…..HOBO …lol
that silence spoke volumes….heh heh
Is Matt going to take the Mattmobile back home with him to NY? How will he travel with it on the airplane?
I wondered that myself Christine. I would imagine he would take it home…maybe it folds up like a regular stroller. Guess we’ll have to wait until the end to see what he does with it. :)
Bev…sorry you missed Matt! So many of us along the way have missed him by “that” much. Darn it.
Matt, I know you did this journey for your own personal reasons, and not to support a cause, but what do you think about auctioning off your Mattmobile and using the proceeds to benefit your favorite charity or promote walking start-up groups around the nation? Just an idea….
That mobile is famous now! He must take it with him I say and continue to use it. Who knows? Maybe Matt will go on other adventures and need his trusty stroller. Not that I’m against charities at all I help with some but he needs his mobile to stick with him. Especially since he’ll be doing interviews. He needs his trusty side kick with him. After all, what’s Batman without Robin?
A well-established walking group is The American Volkssport Association with about 2000 mapped 10k walks in the U.S. you can do alone and at any time, as well as many more fun weekend group walks. It’s a great way to see the U.S.
http://www.ava.org/
I’m doing 6.2 mile walks from Port Townsend, Washington to San Diego (maybe 80 or so) beginning right after Labor Day. I’m camping most of the time to try to toughen up. This great-grandmother is too arthritic to do what Matt is doing, but we can all find our own adventure. Volkswalks route you through beautiful and historic places.
Thanks, Belle Z! There’s a local chapter – Kalamazoo Valley Walkers. I’ve heard of them, but I thought they were hard-core walkers (walk-so-you-can-hold-a-dime-between-your-cheeks race walkers). I’ll have to explore this more to see if allow that dime to drop to enjoy and appreciate their surroundings.
Not competitive at all. One 6.2 mile walk took me 14 hours because it was routed through the Las Vegas casinos. And the Liberace museum. It’s always all about discovery. I’ve seen wonderful things I would have otherwise missed.
And there’s a lot to discover in Vegas! Ha-ha!
UPS
no, actually, like the vikings did with their ships, he is going to set it afire and wheel it into the ocean
I’m going to go out on a limb and fine tune Don in Tennessee’s prediction: I think his original choice of Tuesday is correct. After 150 days, Matt is now in his best physical shape yet. Even though he is crossing the coast range mountains, he is coming off several days of (relative) rest in Portland. This last photo was taken at 11:35am, Sunday, in Forest Grove, just 65 walking miles from Rockaway Beach. If he does just 15 more miles Sunday, I would not be surprised to see Matt push himself to do 25 miles on Monday and 25 miles on Tuesday. I believe Matt will walk into the Pacific Ocean at sunset Tuesday evening. Go Matt !!!
At the risk of overthinking the arrival date, I think Matt pretty much tells us when he plans to arrive in Rockaway.
In his own words: “it’s just three short days over the mountains (where one last cell dead zone likely awaits) to Tillamook, and then the final march north to Rockaway!”
When I talked to him this morning, he said he planned to do 15 miles today. Two more reasonable days takes him to Tillamook by Tuesday pm, and then one more day to Rockaway Beach. Sounds like his mom and dad will be there for those final miles.
Now that would be wonderful if mom and dad walked with him for a few of the last miles. They were very brave parents to support Matt as they have. I know he is old enough to make his own decisions, but it must have been hard on them to see their son decide to do this incredible walk! I can imagine the fears they had….So my thanks and love go out to them as well. I bet they can’t WAIT to see him. I wonder if mom will bring him another pair of shoes…?
Flip-flops! Those toes are in need of some freedom.
Hilarious! And a nice pedicure would do nicely too! ;-)
Oh, yeah! I wonder if Matt has any metro-sexual tendencies about him. Those tootsies could use some TLC. And don’t forget the paraffin wax!
Forget the Flip-flops… I’d want some Vibram Five Fingers! Next best thing to being barefoot. :-)
I just discovered these shoes last week. The reviews I’ve read have all been favorable. I’m so getting me a pair!
Are you a runner at all? If so – definitely get the Bikila’s. They are the only shoes I will run in now. But when they say “ease into using them” they ARE NOT kidding, lol.
If you want them just for the sake of wearing them, I don’t think you have to “ease into them”.
My only other words of warning is if the ones you end up getting are tight around your Achilles Tendon, exchange them (Bikila design doesn’t dig into the back of your Achilles). I ended up with Achilles Tendinitis from my first pair (of Sprints) because of the design. Oh well – still LOVE them!!!!
Not a runner, Kherri, but I work out. They have a line specifically made for fitness gym workouts, and that’s what I’m looking for – something that I can have the essence of being barefoot without picking up gym germs and be able to maintain balance and slid-control.
or it will be some sort of pathetic andy griffith show/mayberry townsfolk all gather to see him walk the last block and then sit on the stoops or storefronts with their bottles of ‘pop’ and yammer about about anything and everything and who did what.
He had better get going then because his gps marks on small map shows he has almost stopped since this morning. It usually updates when he has no service on phone. His red line has not moved since mid morning. If this means anything, it will be 26th. when he arrives, Now he could have dropped his phone off of one of the bluffs, and that is why he is not moving, and has not updated his blog. What does everyone else think.
My husband & I were on our way home to Garibaldi from Portland this evening. At about 6:15pm we stopped to chat w/Matt when we saw him on Hwy. 6 @ MP 38. Traffic was heavy but he was being careful. It eas a lovely evening, no rain. the sun shinning through the trees. Matt looked very well for someone who has been walking acoss the US. See You in Rockaway, Or. Matt!
Woohoo! My In-Laws got to meet Matt too. Yea for Jan and Irwin! I’m so excited :)
Well the date is pretty much known. But no matter what you think….keep it light and happy. Let the hobo celebrate his goal the way he imagined and invisioned. He thought this thing well out….Let us not through media and attention at him. It is his moment in time. He will hit us with some kind of picture and a message .. and we should be glad with that. That is what we have come to love about this adventure.
I have plans to meet matt for pizza and a beer (might bring a bottle of clamato just for kicks) after this is all said and done…..many have asked do I plan on being there….Yes in spirit…No in body. This to me is about a man his adventure and his family to share it with.
I do not need a film crew to show me Matt jumping in the ocean. I will see it in my mind and we will all be there in spirit. I have known his finish date for a short while now..but never posted it because of “privacey” if he wanted to say to us December 26th…he would. Peace to all….sorry about the lament
Jeff, This is a hard one me to judge. He HAS made it public, therefore getting the USA involved, etc through blogging and pictures…..to me he made a choice of giving up his privacy. And how can you keep it out of the news? This is true “hero” stuff! At least in my book Matt is a hero. Most of us, me included, “armchair adventurers” would never have the courage to do what he has done. I just hope the media does not come on too strong…but most of the media want a story and don’t have an abundance of sensitivity tp privacy. Today there is so much negative news, it would be refreshing to hear and see some of the good stuff! So, yes, I do hope it gets on the news. Perhaps it will be Matt’s way of saying to all of the world….”I did it! I am finally here! My family is here! The USA is a great place full of great people, great sites as well as weird stuff and weird people, but all in all……I had my adventure and am a better man for it!” And the sad thing is, in a short time, people do tend to forget…so give Matt his minute in fame, and then let him go home and take back his life as he chooses.
Cool. Lots of respect. I totaly agree with you too…..I was just saying maybe he wanted to keep it simple and respect that. The story is legend now. the story is global now.
Just in reading…and observing and conversations with him…It seemed like the simpler the closing was – the better.
That is all. Peace to you in Greece. I think it has been cooler since you chimed in a few weeks back. Your insight and love of the area has been enlightening.
Well said, Karin!
So Jeff you think that the media isn’t following him. I will be surprised if they’re not. I expect to see him on one of the morning shows. Or the cover of Yahoo that’s how I found out about his walk when he started. When you put yourself out in the public eye there’s not such a thing as privacy. Which is to bad…… Be safe Matt :)
no I agree. would not be surprised if the Lady who wrote the AP article did a gig on him as soon as it is finished. Not sure she will be there……Morning shows Maybe….my crystal ball is broken right now…darn kids playing with it.
Was just putting my two cents in. Yea..I dont know…Maybe to much Hannah Montana watching for me. Matt did not do this for fame or fortune or for any other reason then taking a walk. Why is it wrong for me to think,….maybe it should end as it began…a walk amongst a few friends….Not much media there that day. No worries. Safety first, His reuniting with his family….second…..any anthing else…gravy…….and a BIG fat Thankyou for allowing us to follow along.
Jeff…cool. I think we just all want the best for Matt. Too much attention, well, is just too much, I agree. He started with a simple thought, walked the simple mile in a humble and simple(e) manner. I hope, too, that there are only afew well wishers, his parents, etc., (simply simple.) Perhaps Matt did not know how big this was going to get. Is it big? I don’t know. It is certainly Middle Big. I would suggest ending it at another beach, but then it wouldn’t be Rockaway to Rockaway.
Thanks for kind remarks re: Greece. It is definitely cooler because of the gale force winds that blow sometimes. You are still sweating, but it dries before you mind registers it! Hence we all become liquid drinkers. Mine of choice is WATER! Lots of WATER! Jeff, where are you? Back East is my bet.
I LOVE the entire NW! My daughter just showed pictures of her recent hiking holiday Washington State and the San Juans and Mt. Baker. Incredibly beautiful. I have to say I sometimes have regrets that I ever left the area. Hopefully, I will go back at some stage. And not in a casket! (I’m no spring chicken!) OK, I am totally rambling here. I just check in to see what is going on.
Lots of typos, sorry!
East!! You win. New Joisy. I plan on moving from here down to the Caribean. So that is why your blog hit me so well. Just waiting wjhen the time is right….c-ya.
No worries on anything. Nice to read your remarks above. Peace always.
Sounds like fun! Calypso – Raggae? Breezes in those palm trees, wine coolers, clear water, big skies…..lots to look forward to!
here here!
Absolutley the right way to think about his arrival! It started as HIS journey and should end the same way – peacefully, quietly and with plenty of room for him to reflect on his accomplishment.
why would Matt ‘JUMP’ into the ocean. isn’t he a master ‘WALKER’?
Matt, you just have to pass through Idiotville! I really want to know what is there!!
If there are no signs, he won’t even know he walked through it! However, maybe he will have a moment of an “idiotic idea” and then on reflection wonder if he just passed through Idiotville!
Well, if Matt gets to Rockaway Beach on Thursday (I think that is what he and most of you are saying)…then I think I will celebrate that with a…ta da…a colonoscopy!!!…yes, it will be great…Matt takes a plunge into the Pacific…I, well I…enough about that…what a way to celebrate…
Jim would you email me at mattwalkingpool.com I have some information for you.
By the Way my wife is a GI certified Endoscopy Nurse. She will be delighted to know you are going for a colonoscopy.
NON MATT FACT: More people die from Rectal Cancer in a year then both Ovarion and Breast Cance combined…yet few know the universal sign for Colorectal cancer awareness. Butt everyone knows what a pink ribbon symbolizes. Just a fact.
woops… mattwalkingpool@yahoo.com sorry jim.
colorectal cancer not rectal, strike two..
Jeff…I liked your “Butt everyone knows what…”…a Freudian slip or a good funny…I loved that…
“Butt” I have been through this before…a couple of times…like a good boy…every 5 to 7 to 10 years…
Now on the other hand…Matt has not done his thing before…so his plunge into the Pacific is the main thing I will be interested in on Thursday…he is our hero hobo and deserves all our support…
I planned the Butt….I said delete a “t” no way we are talking butt’s here. I trust you got my email back? Peace Jim…and again good luck.
Good luck Jim. I have had 2 of clean out the pipes excursions. My last one was last year. This is nothing to play around with for any of us!
Thanks for the non-Matt fact, Jeff. I am much more aware now than I ever used to be – my father-in-law is currently undergoing some intense treatment for rectal cancer. He just finished his last chemo session about 4 hours ago. We are hoping it is in fact his last round. Things are looking promising now, though they didn’t at the beginning of his fight. A big hug and a “Thanks” to your wife. Everybody go get a colonoscopy! NOW!! :)
Your welcome, many prayers and much peace to you….and I will pass on your respectful words to my wife.
Megan
Your father-in-law is my my prayers!
Megan your in my neighborhood :D Great Falls here as well! I hope FIL is on a speedy path to recovery and that he should not have to face this again, This topic is really one that hits close, my mum fought with it for years, so i agree!go get checked!!!
And my thoughts and prayers are with your family!
Good Luck Jim! Be thinking of you.
Good luck Jim – just remember – the worst part is the cleanout! The colonoscopy is a breeze!
Candice the worst part is getting ready at home, he want even remember part at hospital. I’ve had 2 and all I remember is where they come in and put you to sleep. then I woke up and it was OVER.
Same here – the HOME PREPATORY CLEANOUT/SYSTEM FLUSH was the worst of it.
Jim,
Good Luck with your ‘plunge’! It is a totally different sort of plunge.
Matt,
Good Luck with your plunge in the ocean. I tend to agree with the comments that this is Matt’s journey. It really should be Matt’s decision whether he wants all the media attention or not. Maybe Matt will provide some guidance at some point that.
A hobo doesn’t seek out the media…
I would like some guidance on how to start a walking group like he had in NYC. Of course, any group I might be interested/inspired to start will be more country roads than big city roads. We do have the Kal-Haven Trail, which like ones Matt has walked, was a former railroad. http://www.great-trails.com/Kal-Haven.shtml
Seriously, I’m thinking of starting a walking group… Matt, any suggestions/pointers/how-to’s?
Barb – I’d like to start one in my city as well! I’ve been wondering how to get one started – especially since I’m going to have build up to some walking distance beyond my BLOCK.
Candice
I did not see your post before I answered Barb V. This is for you also if you can use the info. Hope your eyes are better today. Take care.
Don
Barb V
I am an original founder of a running club in Maryville called Foothill Striders established in 1987. Named for the fact that Maryville is at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The club has now evolved into a running/walking/hiking/biking club. We have a meeting once a month and a newsletter. We have yearly planned events for all members including hikes, running/walking and bike races as well as planned days to get together for each type of activity. Contact people you know who walk and want people to walk with and find a place to meet and start the club . You can put flyers about the club in stores that sale walking shoes, hiking gear etc. to draw attention. Most stores are more than happy to let you put information about clubs like this.
Good luck and start by taking one step at a time …. you know, like Matt did!
Thanks, Don!
did you do the scholars run? hmm?
Marcus
Is this Marcus (can’t remember your last name) maybe Carr? from Maryville? Yes I did the Scholars Run. Money raised from this event is used to fund 2 scholarships for a male and female high school senior who participates in track or cross country who plans to further their education.
Give back to people in the community!
very nice!
Looked this up, Don. It sounds great.
Most places have walking clubs associated with the American Volkssport Association (www.ava.org). Plus the Sierra Club sponsors great hikes. I’m a lone walker, though, because when I am with others I later remember the conversation, but not so much about the place. Alone I remember the smells, the sun’s warmth or the breeze on my skin, all the details you absorb when you are in the moment.
Great idea! I would suggest going on walking/hiking outings with your local Sierra Club people. They do stuff all the time, You’ll get ideas on how to organize people, types of walks to plan, how to run the activity, how to coach people to prepare, etc. Learn by doing, then take it from there.
I hadn”t heard of Sierra Club until now: http://michigan.sierraclub.org/index.html. Thanks, katzien! Way more than I’m ready to commit to right now. I was thinking of something more informal, just set some routes, gather a few people, bring cameras and open hearts, no agenda, and go where God leads.
And see our local surroundings through His eyes.
Here’s an idea, Barb. Maybe your walking club could have an annual hike farther afield. The lakeshore trail along the top of the Pictured Rocks in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is awesome!
Sounds lovely, Vickie! It’s been a few years since I’ve hung out in Yuper-land. I’ll have to include this as one of our choices for our annual wedding anniversary get-away weekend – it’s in the fall!
My opinion is this (for what it’s worth) ~ Whichever day Matt makes it to the Pacific (Wed. or Thurs.) and whether the media is there or not, I think it’s going to be a mixed bag of emotions for everyone. For Matt, I think it will be happy because he’s accomplished something huge! But at the same time, there might be some “down” time because this is a journey that he’s been living everyday for 5 months and now the journey will be ending. But, he’ll be back home with family and friends which is good. Thus a mixed bag of emotions. For us, maybe a sense of “pride” for lack of a better term because Matt has accomplished something that we could only do vicariously through him. Also a sense of sadness because our “journey” may be ending too.
I just pray that the day Matt makes it to the Pacific is everything he wants and is hoping for. Matt, this is your day. Enjoy it and have fun!!
Amen….very well said.
Julie, couldn’t have said it better myself. Peace to you…
Bawitdaba da bang a dang diggy diggy diggy said the boogy said up jump the boogy
Bawitdaba da bang a dang diggy diggy diggy said the boogy said up jump the boogy
(Get Ready) My name is ………..
Does anyone else see “Idiotville” on Matt’s map, above? Is that a real thing/ place? I literally see the word “Idiotville” on the map. Very odd.
yea it it there….just depends where your zoom is. get it on 10 mile incriments and you will see it just at the next curve in the road he is on right now.
Yeah, noticed that too. Expect a good picture from Idiotville … looks like that may well be on his route.
Makes one wonder what sorts of idiots would …
That’s what the wikipedia page says on it. That it’s such a remote place for logging and that only an idiot would live in such a remote place is how it got it’s name. Someone on here posted the link yesterday I think under another photo. But just look it up on Wiki.
I’m a idiot for thinking that picking on idiotville would be disrespectful to the people living there. No one lives there..it is a official ghost town……..perhaps matt shall set up his tent there and turn his hobo shoes in for ……shoes for the night??
Go to Google get on street view of Idiotville, see what you see I did there is not a thing there but highway, no buildings & etc.
Idiotville sounds like a real crazy place… or, is it a place for crazies?
I would not be surprised if there are camera crews to meet Matt at Rockaway Beach because this is a great human interest story and he does have an uncle who is a news anchor in NC.
Yeah, his uncle, Bill Leslie, is a news anchor in the Raleigh-Durham market. That was how I found out about Matt’s walk, on his uncle’s blog.
Yes, I found his blog through a friend in NC who found it because of Bill Leslie on WRAL.
Everybody, dance now! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So-8v7tvDIA&feature=related
Barb that is so funny.
I like this one once he actully gets to Rockaway Beach, OR
3 puppy dogs! Celebrate
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=6e0U7lj2mrY&feature=related
Clap! Clap! Clap! Dance! Dance! Dance! Matt is the man- he has rocked from the east coast to the west coast!
Don’t know what happened but that is not 3 puppy dogs singing-
Try again – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqLqgfTnnlE
I’m not sure if that’s what you wanted either – it’s a bunch of reunion pictures set to Three Dog Night’s Celebrate! LOL!
Yes I know but the song is right. I had a hard time finding the song the way i wanted it.
Maybe these are the puppies you meant to post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXI6CdTVJ-0&feature=related
Barb V
That is it! – 1975 – I was 25 – check out the bell bottoms, the polyester shirts, the taches, and hippie hair as my father called it. Thanks for finding it and CELEBRATE,CELEBRATE, DANCE TO THE MUSIC!!!
I was 13, and I remember rockin’ that groovy attire. I even had a pair of high-waisted elephant legs with 4″ platforms! Yeah, at 13 – what were my parents thinking letting me have those platforms at such a young age! But I’m glad they did. I only wish I would have kept them.
hahaha!
ole ole ole ole.
not doing the chicken one.
Barb my dad says thanks for the info/details. You had it all right on the nose…!
Are we all giddy or what? What Norwood meant to say was BEACHES! as in Rockaway. NY and OR.
What, no chicken dance, Jeff?! :)
Confused: what info/details? Want to know what I had right on the nose because it doesn’t happen very often.
woops … I need a vacation my brain is fried. wrong barb…..oh mann…..no confusion for you….my bad…wow two bads.
I quit……give me a beer and pull the shoot….i’m outta here.
Man, I was really looking forward to being right about something, too. :)
lol
Barb V I think one thing you have been right about is I think the group needs a big group Hug from you again as its getting alot of replys waiting on Matt. Thanks Barb V OH Ya I remember that song also but I won’t say how old I was.
Jeff, I see the “5 days before vacation starts inability to focus and concentrate on anything” syndrome has completely taken over your brain functions! You’ll have plenty of sitting back and relaxing time in a week but for now man try to keep it together. The planet is counting on you! lol. : ) Smiles!
YES MAM !!
I just think we are all bored. We miss Matt! Think what it will be like in a couple more days…..boring. But my husband will be elated, because I have postponed a much needed work project he needs, telling him I will start it when Matt gets to Rockaway. Even dinners get moved around. We are 10 hours apart (ahead) so it sure does make me feel bad that when I am asleep tonight all the rest of you might hear from Matt! LIke it is 7:50 PM here, dinner time, and it is 9:50 AM there. And I would much prefer to see if he has a picture than go eat my dinner.
ya think?
I’m looking forward to reading your blog Karin!
Thanks LaraPenny. Sorry I would have answered sooner, but boy! Whew! What a lot of new comments and it is a job to keep up with it all!
Getting excited…he’s getting so close! :-}
Yay Matt! Wish I could be there on the beach with ya to celebrate!! Been followin ya all the wayyyy !! Commentin here an there lol..
You’re walkin thru my old stompin grounds now.. Newburg, Portland, Vancouver… many many moons ago…. Grew up in Central Oregon. Nice people, beautiful country. Enjoy!!
Rod From Texas
Seems like Matt is starting to transition us into a world without Matt walking. Nahh just a dead zone.
We are getting excited and ready to welcome Matt in Rockaway Beach!! Moureen at the Sea Haven Motel has a room ready for him!
As we are a small quaint town, we are planning a small quaint reception.
check out Rockaway Beach Oregon
http://www.rockawaybeach.net
Sounds great RBCC! I can’t wait to see the pics!
Anthony in Raleigh – if I’m not mistaken, I think I read somewhere that you did Matt’s facebook page. If so, Kudos to you and high 5’s!! and take a bow! Thanks so much for an awesome Matt the Adventurer Green facebook page! I know everyone on the Hobo Planet has enjoyed it. Let me know if I’m correct, (but I’m pretty sure I am), because we want to give credit where credit is due!
Looks exciting, I can see our hobo on your front page! Can’t wait to see the pics, too.
Have a well-deserved rest Matt, and thank you Moureen for getting that room ready.
Check out the motel’s web page:
http://www.seahavenmotel.net/
Matt should be very comfortable.
Hold on…a motel and hostel…sounds good to me…stayed in a hostel a time or two…picnic tables and Crab Cooker…now that is almost enough to get me to put off my colonoscopy and get on a plane!!!…
It sounds like a great time…and I don’t know what Matt is used to in his real life…but he has gotten use to different sorts of welcomes along the way…different food, different people and different settings…that would be good for all of us…
Matt, have a great time in Rockaway Beach…I know they and your “Mattgroupies” will have fun…please accept the thanks of those few (how ever many there are) as from all of us otherwise preoccupied with “stuff”…you know work, etc…thanks again…
RBCC welcome to HoboPlanet. You are the first “place” to be a member.
You RBCC people rock!! Thank you!
Thank you RRCC and Maureen at the Sea Haven Motel!
My thought on one reason (other than name) why Matt picked these 2 places- small not a lot of people-can enjoy celebration more!
Rockaway Beach , NY pop 6,415
http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Rockaway-Park-Rockaway-Park-NY.html
Rockaway Beach, OR 1,366
http://www.city-data.com/city/Rockaway-Beach-Oregon.html
Thanks for the link RBCC. Looks like a great town. I’m glad Matt’s destination is a super-nice place.
Please ask Moureen to put a little Hershey’s Kiss Chocolate on his pillow! He’s special, ya know! :-)
Awwwwe! And a Hershey’s Hug, too!
OH YA
Has anybody checked the little map????
Matt is walking in a circle, first one I’ve seen. Really its a triangle he’s walking.
Hope he has not decided to turn back so close to his destination.
I’m so loving following this adventure……..makes me want to have one of my own. I would choose to have a partner. Any takers for a long walk next year?
Yes Bob!!! I’ve seen that today and wonder what the heck is going on! I sure hope he’s ok out there.
How do you zoom in on the little map with the red progress line close enough to see that? I can only “grab” it and move it around – can’t zoom in on it…
Kherri, double-click where the red line ends. You will need to drag around as you seem in closer. Also, if you click on Google in the lower left corner, it’l take you to the Google map site for a larger picture. But then you lose the red line.
Thank you, Barb. Very curious that “triangle”. Hmmmm.
Is he there yet? I think Matt has already done so much by bringing attention to the human ability to walk. It’s up to everyone to use that inspiration and get out, get lost, and get going. We don’t have to walk across the country…walk to the store, walk up the stairs, walk around the block. The government is giving more and more bucks to create walking and biking trails so we can walk safer as we pay it forward with the motivation all Matt’s hard work and effort has inspired.
Want a souvenior from Idiotville, OR?
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images6.cpcache.com/product/weird-usa-t-shirt/407502066v1_225x225_Front.jpg&imgrefurl=http://shop.cafepress.com/idiotville-oregon&usg=__CG_nTVOxM0VDm7YcikiYiW7NenY=&h=225&w=225&sz=7&hl=en&start=7&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=9BbLUciKUa6nYM:&tbnh=108&tbnw=108&prev=/images%3Fq%3Didiotville%2Boregon%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1
Idiotville, OR made the TOP 10!
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.weirdworm.com/img/life/10-bizarre-named-places/idiotville-oregon.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.weirdworm.com/10-bizarre-named-places/&usg=__4w1ompTGQjhE39-XIpmi9Rfabvo=&h=216&w=300&sz=12&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=4twF-5RRbi8cWM:&tbnh=84&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Didiotville%2Boregon%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1
That is SO weird! Nothing in Idiotsville….but you can order stuff from there from CafePress!
Is Loonyville Grocery still thre in Idiotsville? This is CRAZY!
now THAT is funny!
Megan I hope your father in law gets well.
Matt spent 2 years planning and preparing for this trek across America. I believe his love of walking and seeing our great country and its people are his motivating factors. We the HOBO PLANET are fortunate to have the opportunity to meet a person of character, wit, and friendliness like Matt. He has shared his journey with us in a way not many people could. His photography is outstanding and it is with a phone camera. He has brought the best out of the people he has met and they and Matt are better people for this. He has allowed us to follow along and wonder about this and that and tell stories to each other. I am so thankful for Matt giving all of us a chance to meet him on the road and for all of us to get to know each other on this site. We have a group of people from a vast cross section of this country and with different thoughts and experiences. That is what makes it so great!
“We may never meet again” either, but I am glad we all did meet and I want Matt to celebrate ever how he wants. We should all be happy for his vast accomplishment in 5 months. His plan was to take up to 9 months including days off averaging 15 miles per day. As of day 145 he had averaged just over 20 miles a day including rest days. What a plan and what a walker.
Well done Matt and the best to you and your family in the future. I think everyone on this blog will remember you and the great times we have had. I hope you and your family have a great celebration and a safe trip back home!
When is the book coming out?
Very well said Don! And I agree – not only have we met Matt but we met each other too, and we’ve got a great group here. As for the book, I’m thinking Matt will need to do a few book signings when it comes out :-D Something tells me he’d have no problem finding places to stay as he travels for his book tour. We’re all over the country and I’m sure his Hobo Nation would be more than happy to entertain him……
Agreed. I have an extra bedroom and he can sit on my back porch and look at the cows, horses, donkeys, geese and Smoky Mountains in the early morning or late afternoon. I would even take Matt on a hike on the AT in the Smoky Mountains if he wanted to! Knoxville and surrouding area is waiting.
if matt does book signings will he have to walk from place to place?
Well said, Don! You took the words right out of my mouth except you said it 10 times better than I could have. My thoughts exactly as well as those of us on the Hobo Planet! Kudos to you. ( tissues please!!). We had a chance to meet and know Matt, as well as each other on this site. It brought out the best in all of us. We were strangers from all over the USA, we well and the world, wishing the best for Matt and supporting him,
I hope Matt read these messages once in a while! telling him GO MATT GO, just put one foot in front of the other. I think we should relish every minute of our interactions on this site, as, “WE MAY NEVER MEET AGAIN”.
This was a fun walkin’ adventure, walkin’ vicariously through Matt and his Hobo Nation following from Rockaway Beach, NY to Rockaway Beach, OR.
And Don, I’m glad we met YOU! Thanks for a wonderful walk with you as well! I wish you all the best, and hope you and our Hobo Planet can all stay in touch one way or the other.
Matt’s website in NY is: http://www.burnsomedust.com
I know this was posted earlier, but for the newcomers, this was his site before he started his “imjustwalkin” from Rockaway Beach to Rockaway Beach.
Donna
Thank you and my email is watson50@charter.net if you or anyone else wants to chatter a bit. I hope so and I hope some of you come to the Smoky Mountains so I can meet you live! It is a beautiful place just like all of the places Matt has shown us that we had or hadn’t seen!
Thanks, Donna. Somehow I missed the original posting. I can glean some ideas from this site on how to start my own group.
Sorry all. I guess didn’t proofread it very well before I hit the “submit” button. It should have read,…..strangers from all over the USA, as well as the world, wishing the best for Matt and supporting him.
Well said, Don, thank you. {{hug}}
Oh Don – you’re making me cry!
Don just said it all Thanks Matt for the journey .Enjoy your last few days be safe :)
It’s the final count down. I’ll be anchored to my computer the next three days, checking the red line map, watching the news sites for “breaking news” when he arrives, refreshing the RRBC page for the latest. And then what……it will be a void without Matt and his Droid. I’ll miss you all terribly
Kat
It will be sad when the Droid is dead-but the Hobo Planet will live on, even if we are all a little spacey.
Don,
You are so “funny”!! Yeah, we’re all a little spacey! Some from here and some from over there far away! He’s touched all of our lives and tied us together. What a following he’s had! I don’t think Matt ever dreamed he would have so many! We’re” spacey” all over the USA, from the east coast to the west coast, as well as the followers from around the world. WE are all members of the Hobo Planet!
Matt’s Droid won’t die. We will follow him! (Song please, I think there was one back in the “60’s if I remember correctly. I think I heard it on an “Oldies” station a long time ago). Maybe we’ll follow him again through the streets of New York’s 5 Boroughs.
Don, We’ll all miss you, your humor, and quick wit, too!!
Somehow we’ll all keep in touch.
I’ll miss you to. And have been missing you as you’ve been so busy with work you haven’t been on much recently. Was wondering if you were going to have time. You can always email Jeff and get some of our email addresses to if you so want or anyone else for that matter. But yes, missing everyone will be hard to get used to once Matt is done. Hopefully this won’t be the final end. Would be nice if he keeps posting all the post-walk adventures too.
HEY DON! @katzien said http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw&feature=av2n
Hey I was just driving back to Portland from Tillimook, I saw you about 30 miles or so from the coast! You’ll be there in no time!
Reid I hope you gather friends and go cheer Matt in to his “finish line”… we’d all like to be there so do it for us!
While Matt has entered Verizon dead zone, the residents of HoboPlanet are in a zone all their own keeping themselves entertained with such subjects as:
Dirty mouths vs. Dirty minds
Personally catching up with Matt vs. Having a beer with Barry O.
Should Matt be given a quiet reception in RB vs. a rowdy celebration?
Dodge Ball: Keep or eliminate it as a means of releasing pent-up juvenile frustration?
Will HoboPlanet survive without Matt at the helm?
What shoes should Matt’s Mom bring to him: flip-flops or FiveFingers?
Will Matt arrive in RB on Wednesday or Thursday?
Roloff Farms & Little People Big World
Pleas for Matt Green book
What will Matt do with his wheels?
Idiotville!
Taking the plunge with colonoscopy.
How to start local walking groups.
Dancing!
RBCC is preparing for Matt’s arrival
Gratefulness for Matt taking us along on his journey.
As of this writing there were 172 comments on day 149 picture Gettin’ Down! By the time I post, the comment count may well be closer to 200. Yes, while Matt is treking through the Dead Zone, the HoboPlanet Zone is alive and well! Next topic: Three Dog Night vs. Doobie Brothers. Go on, tawk amongst yoselves!
LOL! Barb V you are hilarious! Isn’t it funny how we “entertain” ourselves while Matt is in a “dead zone” ?
My ass just fell off Barb V. Can I say that?
Four months from now…Matt makes a post….title “the winner is”
Most creative Post….Barb V for her comment “History of day 149”
I needed that laugh. And I love your New York accent. Uzz one-uv-us now.
tee hee – thanks Barb V. for the recap! (in a nutshell)!!!
Barb V -another twist and I thought about it a while before I decided to post, but –
I have been thinking again ( I know it is dangerous) and I would bet that Matt either hummed or sang this song in some of his loner times without people or communication – maybe even now –
I just can not fathom walking across this land and not having a spiritual feeling at least once-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NH_is7VuCI
A very spiritual and beautiful message
That was wonderful!! Thanks for the link Don!
“And He walks with me, and He talks with me…” I love this old hymn! Reminds me of the little girl who went home from Sunday School one day and proudly announced that she knew God’s name. Her mother, knowing the many names of God, asked the little girl what it is. “Andy!” she proclaimed. “Andy?” the mother replied, curiosity peaked, “How do you know God’s name is Andy?” The little girl told her because the song says it is. “What song?” the mother asked. Singing, the little girl replied: “Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me….” :)
As I was guessing which song you were talking about, this one came to mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hljjw7M2FRc. The video presentation of the song is particularly moving.
Don, it seems that we have found kindred YouTube spirits with each other. :)
Barb V
I agree and I am glad we found kindred You Tube spirits with each other. Lets stay in touch!
Sounds good to me! Are you on Facebook?
How lovely!
HI everyone! although I haven’t posted often, i will miss everyone’s daily and entertaining commentaries! it’s been a wonderful sharing this adventure with you all!! posting #175 – is this a record amount of postings?
No, one had like 269 on it I think. So if Matt stays out of reach we will hit that again on this one.
Thanks D in T, that is a haunting song.
One more post on Idiotville, OR. If you look at google maps, it shows a place called Idiotville. Mapquest does not show this ‘town’. Looking at Google maps, I am not even sure this is a real town as it really doesn’t show much on the satelite view other than what appears to be a meadow or wide spot in the road.
EDL, a couple of days ago I posted the Wikipedia link for info on Idiiotville (now a ghost town); check it out.
I need to get off of here but I had 2 other thoughts.
1. Imagine if Matt had done this 10 or 15 years ago. Technology has made it so we can almost be live with each other. I understand some of you do not understand what I am saying. I remeber when I was a real young kid and we had a (party) telephone line-no not for partying but a shared line with neighbors. You had to pick up the phone and see if a neighbor was on the line before you dialed out. We did not have computers, I phones, I pads etc., cable tv, internet etc. Thanks to technology we are able to see photos and talk to each other on a blog! We take this for granted sometimes. What woud happen if we had a brown out in the U. S. for a week? It would not be a pretty site!
2. I am in my sunroom and the moon is georgeous. Tomorrow (the 24th) is the full moon but it is full to me tonight. Tomorrow will be Matt’s last night and he has a full moon-he might just use the full moon to walk in to Rockaway Beach, OR unannounced! How cool would that be.
If he is close to water tomorrow night he should think of this song- hope everyone enjoys this beautiful song and voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68Y2AmcfI6o
OOOOOOH Don,
I’m gonna miss your wit and wisdom, insight and tender thoughts. Thank you for making my day. Thank You too Hobo Nation/Planet and Thank You Matt for this great connection. Its been a blast.
That is beautiful Don. I really hope a lot of us can keep in touch. Otherwise I’m really going to miss so many people (including you). Have a good night!
Don, as usual, you make me smile. (BTW – I maybe 12 years younger than you, but I remember party lines. We had one!)
I would LOVE to be present when Matt arrives in Idiotville (and then again at Rockaway Beach). I would hope that others who enjoy and celebrate our idiocy would join me in a hoot and hollerfest and make a joyful noise to welcome him in grand fashion…. maybe even a parade.
But the burning question… Would the parade’s Grand Marshall be THE Village Idiot? Do you suppose there is one?
Oh… so much headiness for a Monday evening. …time to watch “The Big Bang Theory” on tv and spend half an hour with my favorite celebrity idiots… gotta love ’em.
…joyfully anticipating the last leg of your journey, Matt. Thanks for taking me/us along with you. It has been quite an odyssey.
Roberta
Instead of the Village Idiot, how about the Village Hobo People Planet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9OO0S5w2k
Good morning, Don in Tennessee!
Thanks for the YMCA link… great way to start my work morning.
Now that I’m up and dancing, it gives me time to say a prayer for Matt as he walks his last miles. It’s like watching the end of a race in slow motion. Crossing ‘the finish line’ is definitely something I will celebrate.
I am so excited to use Matt’s walk as the foundation (and inspiration) for my students’ learning theme this school year. We will ‘walk’ cross country too. I’m SO excited!!!
It’s a great day to be in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, either in the flesh or vicariously.
Don’t you know the party lines would be busy all day!
So funny, Roberta! :)
Let’s fast forward a few months from now and Matt is sitting in someone’s office for a job interview and they ask him..So Mr. Green tell me about one of your greatest accomplishments. “Oh let me think….Does walking across the United States count? It may not have anything to do with the job I’m applying for but I was able to do it in 5 months instead of 9 like I had originally planned. I really do think that you can count on me to get the job done. Thank you Mr. Green when can you start? Doesn’t matter what you applied for, we will create any position you would like. With the biggest window office… I can already see the expressions on peoples faces….Priceless
Speaker of the House, Ladies and Gentlemen and Fellow Americans -The Presidnet of the United States Matt “Hobo” Green.
Do I hear a standing ovation from the HOBO PLANET? Indeed I do!!!
he’s got my vote. President Matt says: “What a problem with the economy….”let’s just take a walk and figure that out!”
Oh my, that’s hilarious! Yep, I laughted out loud. I’d vote for him and even campaign for him too. ;-)
How bout this Laura, Matt turns the epic journey into a business of his own! The sky’s the limit!
Agreed Ruthie… I told Matt he could do “walking tours” across the country and folks would sign up… He could revisit some stops on his trip west or go to new locations… where ever, I know people would come join him. I look forward to his final pics and thoughts of this trip.
How about someone else continuing where Matt leaves off and starts posting so all of us Hobo junkies can get our fix. I would love to do so myself but farm commitments keep me anchored close to home. Or if each of us posted pics/maps of our small or long walks…
Lori,
Please tell us about your farm. Is it close to harvest time? What do you grow? I have a dream to visit more farms across the country, Ive been to several organic farms from Massachusetts all the way down south to Alabama. One of the best ones I’ve visited have concentrated on cattle, pigs and chickens all on 280 acres. They have 1/2 the land in forest that the pigs just love. They are hoping to profit from the trees on the farm and still keep the land productive for the live stock they keep. Row crops have not been a part of the current utilization of the land but they are open to ideas of how to better make the best use of the acreage they have. I’m a forester and surveyed the farm and wrote a plan for thinning and future harvesting to maintain the forest cover and also profit from timber harvesting. Do you utilize any agro-forestry on your farm? Are there any organic farms in your area? Does your farm have a CSA program? Do you have an agro-tourism program? I would love to visit another farm for a cycle round the sun. The last one I did I learned so much and had one of the best years of my life working on the farm. Please tell us about your farm and the opportunities to become a part of the American food basket.
Oh Bob! You had me at CSA. I LOVE that this concept is becoming “in” right now. It’s a great advancement to the local food and slow food movements. I even tried my first veggie ‘square-foot’ garden this. I was inspired by my friend who started our neighborhood CSA called Urban Patchwork. Check them out at http://www.urbanpatchwork.org. What fun!
Katzien,
Looks like a great CSA……….wish I was near Austin
Bob,
I’m just small scale at the time. I have a 5 acre apple farm that had been abandoned for years, so for the last 2 we have been pruing, trimming , thinning, and trying to get them back to healthy trees again. Original owners grew for cidar production.Also have 3 horses,goats,18 chickens.And a 40 hr job .
Lori,
Are you going to be harvesting any apples this year? I’ll bet the the chickens are producing eggs for you. What are the goats for? Are you getting any milk from them? Do you use the horses for work around the farm or are they for riding? 5 acres is a pretty small farm but still able to produce. It sounds like you have a pretty nice little farm. Please tell us a bit about it. I’m sure I’m not the only person interested.
Have you ever thought about hosting farm vacations? I would love to spend a couple of weeks staying and working on a farm.
Good Morning, just woke up in Greece and was amazed at all the “talking” that went on overnight! I am so impressed with the camaraderie that is taking place! I wonder when Matt started this walk if he had any idea the following he would have? I guess he knows from his walks around NY that it does indeed bring people together at some level. Because of the Dead Zone in the Coast Range, we have all had to entertain ourselves…..until he walks out of it…and it is impressive! Matt can count on us to be there when he emerges!
All of you have expressed your ideas, opinions, hopes, frustrations, for Matt’s journey. We have picked up people along the way, dropped off others when their part of the journey was finished, and yet some of you are still there! Wow, you all deserve an round of applause! Thanks from me to all of you…..you are not just bloggers with time to spare, you are people who also CARE!
OK, so now I am off to breakfast and grocery shopping. It is almost midnight in Oregon, and Matt has only a little time before SHOWTIME! (well, you get my drift!) A quiet show, is that what we hope for?
Good Morning Karin. It is 5 am here where I am and have not gone to sleep yet for my night. I get so I cannot fall asleep some nights. I know at this time of the morning Jeff is already out walking as he goes to bed early and gets up early. Me I really need to go to sleep. I’ve been thinking about you while catching up on reading this blog as to whether you were up yet or not. It’s weird to me, maybe not weird, but with the time difference that you are getting up for your morning while the rest of us, or most of us, are sleeping. I will be going to bed to try to sleep now but wanted to let you know you’re not alone out there in hobo planet. Some of us are either still up or just getting up. So no need for you to feel left out at all. Hope you had a good breakfast. Mention of it makes me want eggs, toast and pancakes. Yumm. Have a good day and I’ll check in later in the day.
Hi Dorinda! That’s a bummer about not going to sleep easily! I suppose you have tried counting sheep, which never worked for me. However, guess I am the lucky one, as I fall asleep as soon as I hit the pillow! But I wake up early. Then I go out and make coffee (4 or 5 or 6 AM) go sit on the porch and listen to: ducks, chickens, birds, waves, wind in the trees, etc. Very peaceful….from my porch I can see the Aegean Sea and other Greek islands. As idyllic as this may seem, it has it drawbacks….scorpions, cockroaches, ants, HUGE bees, and hot relentless sun in July and August. We fight back on the bugs though. Well, this is really rambling….I checked this site now at 5:39 AM and for the second day now, am wondering where Matt is and what he is doing and why he has not posted any pictures. He can’t still be up in the hills. I do hope he is ok. Maybe he is too early, as I think he does have a target date. That alone tells me he has something up his sleeve. He doesn’t plan to get there when he gets there, totally unplanned. Me thinks he has a plan…and he isn’t telling us. OK, so I like surprises! How about you?
Thanks Dorinda! I was out and about walking. Thinking of everyone on these pages. Asking Gods blessings and joys -to everyone – and all. In Hawaiian it is Aloha!! It was a misty walk, but a walk none the less. Sleep well. I left you a message on the other side.
Aloha and Mahalo to all, each and everyone.
Is this the day we get to see Idiotville? EDL in Minnesota peaked via satalite and says it looks like a “meadow or wide spot in the road.” I’ll bet property is dirt cheap! Maybe we could all move there and rename it Mattville. Matt would be the mayor, of course. (We’d have the best roads around since he’s some kind of road engineer.) AND we’ve already got a farmer, a banker, a forester, a school administrator. AND, it’s practically beachfront (if you don’t mind a little walk)!
wait a minute….that would make us all ‘idiots’.
Good Morning Hobo nation, checking in before I go to work have a great day ….
WooHoo! Looks like Idiotville is just dust on his boots! And the thin red line continues!
15 miles or less. The red line continues is right.
Farewell hobo Nation / Hobo Planet. We (many of us) started our pre-summer off following Matt on a Yahoo front page article and we will finish Pre-autumn with his completion of an adventure. Been a pleasure. Don in Tennesse – honorary Mayor..Yahooooooooooo to you. You have been the colorful – full of pun and muse combinations. In your light heartedness I award you the Mattwalkingpool certificate of Merit. You will have guessed the completion date within hours. Sometime before North Dakota you predicted it. Well Done mate, Well done.
Peace to all. I might post again…something that has been on my mind since day one (of me watching) Matt. He walked down a street a mile from my home…on day four. I did not see him because we were having a Hurricane without a name. But I now know his passion and his good humor. In closing..I respect him most for never being Negative or bringing up the bad things along the way. He always, always gave us the silver lining. Even on the day he battled swamp and rr tressile bridge…you “saw” him come through it with a smile.
Cheers Matt Green. Hobo Extrordinare. Brother to all. God gave you “speed” upon journey’s end – may he always be at your side for showing us this nation that he painted and brought forth.
Thank you, Jeff, for saying it all so extremely well.
My Pleasure. We are all kindered souls, I should think.
Well said, Jeff! I will miss reading all the posts from across the world! Matt did bring us the best of his trip, I’m sure it there were many negative things he kept to himself. America is trulya beautiful place with many wonderful people.
It’s true he has been a great model for walkers, always keeping positive and walking in a peaceful and respectful of others way. But, I for one would love to know the negative stuff and how he overcame it. I only walked a short distance compared to his marathon and I lost my big toenails and it took months for the deep separation of skin in my feet to heal. If he hasn’t had foot problems he could market Matt’s Miracle Foot Stuff and live comfortably and
well heeled 4eva!
Well said, Jeff!! You speak for all of us. Don’t shut down walkingpool email yet. I have stuff to send you today or tomorrow. Thanks!
not shutting down anything. Feel free to email me there…if you want someones email….ask If I got it .. I will ask them if ok to share it. I have been doing this on “the other side”. Matt’s walk may be ending…but friendships are also just begining. the diety’s that watch over us would want it this way.
mattwalkingpool@yahoo.com that is the email. Ask and I too will try and forward info on.
Where do I go to pickup my certificate? It is an honor for you to say I should receive such an award “Mattwalkingpool certificate of honor”. Not really sure how I became Mayor of the Hobo Nation/Planet but I also take that to be an honor! Thank you Jeff and Hobo Planet!
I try to make people think, reflect and smile with my wit, songs and dry humor. Some people like it some do not. I sent Jeff some political e-mails and he advised me to not send anymore, and I have honored his request and have no ill feelings. I realize people from different regions of our country have opinions on different issues and that is what makes this country great. (Jeff-I still love you man and can tell you are a family man that loves your daughters and wife.)
I believe you have to be able to laugh at yourself if you are going to be happy. I get many chances to laugh at myself. As I have stated before, I am not politcially correct and nornally say what is on my mind. It has gotten me into trouble at times – but people know who I am and what I stand for. Sometimes people just take me wrong or I use the wrong wording (dodge ball) – Oh- I was going to dodge that issue.
Matt has made it possible for all of us to meet and interact and I know I have and think everyone else has learned many things through Matt and his trek and from each other that we probably would not have. I think everyone will be more aware of the surroundings when we are out walking, hiking, biking, bird watching, people watching, mooning-I mean star gazing (see I could not resist). That in itself is a very good thing as we all get to tied to toy accumulation and computers and do not get out to enjoy this beautiful world we live in. It costs nothing to go on a walk, short hike or bike ride except a pair of shoes/boots, backpack or bike!
Many of you have thanked me for some of my wit, songs and dry humor and I can truly say you touch my heart. Hope it is OK with some of you if I shed a tear or two as I am going to miss everyone and you have touched my heart.
Being out of work for 13 months has given me a different perspective on what is really important. It is God, family (lucky to have a beautiful understanding wife) who puts up with my dry humor daily. My father is 92 and I have been able to spend a lot of quality time with him. On Tuesdays I take him to McDonald’s where he plays Bingo with others he knows. I feel very fortunate to still have my Dad at 92 as my mother died of breast cancer when she was 44 when I was 12.
Love to Matt and everyone in the Hobo Planet!
Don..it was just the volume of emails..not the emails. I love you too man. Group hug to all. Don, in case you wanted to know….. I think you are extremely blessed. I’d be your side kick any day of the week.
Thanks Jeff and stay in touch. You have my email address.
I do and I will keep in touch with you – I promise.
I love the anticipation of wondering what the next pics will be like, though they may be close to the last ones :( As always, Matt will come through with some great ones, and we’ll make the most of them. Cheers Hobo Planet!
Zooming in on the red line and checking the scale on the other map, it appears as if he’s 10-15 miles away from the end!
Got up early…and have now spent the last hour reading all the comments…well, maybe not the last hour…but there are lots of comments as the dead zone continues 217, now 218…Ya, I don’t know Matt’s plan but I think it will be something original…maybe just walk into town and say here I am…and just let it happen…that has been his M.O. so far…maybe someone will ask him to go “for a walk” along the beach…
For sure one of our last mornings on this part of the journey…so we will enjoy it…
“” maybe someone will ask him to go “for a walk” along the beach “”
That comment is priceless……
So. I was up at 330 this morning checking for updates. I think I have a problem. :-(
Ha ha Michael! Good for you! The first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one. Now me. “Hi, my name is Kat…..”
Hi my name is Jeff
Hi. My name is Dorinda…
Hi, my name is Ashley, and I’m a Mattaholic along with the rest of the hobo nation
Good morning Hobo Nation! Sitting here at work feeling happy yet sad at the same time. Happy for Matt because he’s accomplished something huge. Sad because our journey may be coming to an end also (unless Matt has something else in store….). Matt and all of you have been the highlight of my days and evenings. Don, Jeff, Dorinda, Karin, Barb and all of the other posters on here – you guys are awesome! Sounds like today’s the day. I can’t wait to see the pics and hear the stories of Matt’s walk into the Pacific. Have a good day all!!
*waiting impatiently for an update and wondering what I will do for a life once Matt’s journey is complete*
LOL
LOL ! too. I agree. But fall awaits me and all the leaves on the trees will come down so in a month or two I will have more than I can handle to do. But for now, we wait.
I have this feeling that I am going to feel lost once this journey is over. I have gotten online to look at Matt’s progress, pictures and everyone’s comments for several months and now I dont know what I will do to amuse me while I am at work.. besides reading the news online…err..working
Right on Ashley! All I did yesterday was catch up on a week’s worth of postings and comments. What ever will I do now???
Hi Matt,
It’s Doris and Baxter, we just wanted to write a few lines before your long journey ends. And what a journey it has been for you and all the good folks that went with you “through your site.” You have blessed us all with your presence.
Matt, I loved having you as a guest in our home for a modest amount of time. You were so genuine & sweet, and such manners for a young man. If only it had been later in the day. I could have had you for a longer length of time and could have given you a nice bed for the night.
I wish I could be there for the end of your trip, but of course I can’t. However, I can tell you one thing. Rest assure I will be there with you in my heart.
I made a few comments on your site since you left here in Albion In. on May 5th. That was a wonderful day for me. You have no idea the impression you left upon me that day. I don’t say too much on your site, but I have followed your every step. What generous people you have met and the great sites you have seen. As your sign says, “We may never meet again”. But let me tell you something Buster. We may never meet again, but I will never forget you. You hear me Matt Green? NEVER!!!!
I will post one more time when you reach your goal and congratulate you just like hundreds of others will do. Our journey will end when you end yours. Oh! what a bitter sweet day that will be for so many people. Know that the people who have followed you, followed because they loved and cared about you.
I’ll see you with my heart when you reach Rock Away Beach!!!
Love, Doris and Baxter
P.S. I put the postcard you sent in my bible where I keep all my special written mementoes.
How sweet Doris! You lucky lady! I don’t think any of us will ever forget Matt and the adventure he has given us.
{{{tears}}}
**tears here too**
And I wonder if Matt sends a postcard to every one he stays with?? He has their address for sure, so I bet he writes a few notes in the evening before he goes to sleep, then he mails the postcards off when he gets to the next town. Ah, the lost art of the hand written “thank you postcard.” ;-)
Yes, Doris, we will be with Matt in our hearts and in spirit when he reaches Rockaway Beach. This is so sweet, you got me teary-eyed, too.
There’s a photo of Matt shared by Joel on the facebook page created for our hobo. It was taken last Sunday and Matt had a great smile on the pic.
Link .. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=44478616&fbid=782624422390&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=117230118318137&id=16901868
Gigi – thanks for posting this link- I didn’t SEE the new photo on THAT Matt Green Facebook page – till today! He sure looks great (and HAPPY)!
Huh, didn’t know about that page. There is also another Matt Green page I set up very early in his walk:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103164153058192
Before we get to the excitement of Matt’s Rockaway Beach arrival, I thought I would pass along some observations and comment from my distant Great White North location in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (our nation’s capital).
This has been an amazing trip both for Matt and all of us that have followed his adventure. He has passed through zones that many of us have never visited and in many cases, never heard of. The images and the people that we have met through Matt show us that warmth and humanity is alive and kicking in even the most remote places. Technology has enabled us to link up and share our comments and in many cases our lives and memories.
I think the most profound feeling I’ve had is actually living the old proverb ‘walk a mile in my shoes’… I just didn’t know they would be Timberlands! I’ve also enjoyed the humour and wit of the Hobo Nation/Planet contributors over the past 5 months and 3,200+ miles.
I also think the reason for the success of this amazing site and participation by so many from around the world was that this did not have anything to do with money. No corporate sponsors… no causes… just a man and his determination, grit and friendly personality. I have such respect for this non-monetary position that Matt has taken.
At the end of the day, it was his perseverance that we fell in love with. We missed him when he was in dead zones (like right now). And amazingly, for a man of few words, he has said so much to each of us individually. I admire creative people, since I work in the creative world of graphic design and advertising. Matt is definitely one creative dude, with his ideas, wit, charm and the beautiful imagery he has captured and shared along the route. I think we all recognize those qualities.
Thank you sincerely all for the entertaining comments, the support and the love and caring we have shared together.
May Matt’s dip in the Pacific in the next day or too be like the cleansing we have all felt with this unbelievable experience.
Peace and love to all.
Stephen
Ottawa, Canada
Stephen, that was beautiful and I couldn’t have said it better myself. I agree 100%.
OK – now I can’t see through the waterfalls of my tears…. where’s my tissue?
in the box with the Kleenex written on it….wooopsss there it goes floating away.
I kid you only cause I could well up on this sadness too…but oh what joy we all have at the same time. Yea Matt!
Nope, that one’s empty. Hold on…. OK, new box, ready to flow again! sniff-sniff
Extra strength Puffs…
How about this song – about his son who died but it is beautiful
Sing it Clapton-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AscPOozwYA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l09AJ9lXSE&feature=search Mark Shultz my son
Pulled out that new box of tissue just in time to listen to this. I love this song! Mark Shultz is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing, Lori!
Lori
I had never heard this song or seen the vidoe – it speaks for itself, lump in the throat- thank you and God Bless.
Amen, brother, Amen. Peace back.
:0)
You said it all for us Stephen, thank you.
All the time we were enjoying views of Mt. Hood, this was going on. http://www.kgw.com/news/Human-remains-found-on-Mt-Hood-101342214.html
sad :0(
This morning the red line was smack dab in the middle of Tillamook State Forest, southeast of the “green tree” on the map where Rte. 6 goes directly south. It looks like 25+ miles to go yet. So, either he arrives at sundown today, or tomorrow morning. Hopefully we’ll have some new pics later today when he gets out of the mountains.
…for the update.
Where is Hobo Matt?…hopefully he hits Rockaway on Wed. Today I have to wait for cable….then a quick drive to the coast.
Looks like he’s about 25 miles away – could be arriving tonight or tomorrow.
I can’t believe the journey is almost over. I still find it somewhat funny that Matt will spend 150+ days walking across the country, then get on a plane and be home in 5 hours.
Flying has always seemed odd to me (cool but odd.) That you get in a tube, and when you get out a few hours later, you can be in faraway places you’ve only dreamed of. Completely different climates, cultures, languages and so forth. Almost like time travel.
“getting into a tube” I like that. Especially because I’m claustrophobic and that’s exactly what things like that are to me. And yes, time travel. I think my nephew, who is 8, thinks Ohio is closer because it only takes a few hours to get here. : ) As for me getting there, it takes 3-4 days as I do not fly. I’d be like Matt, walking all the way if it weren’t for automobiles! lol.
I wonder if Matt will the remainder of his trip in true hobo style: just keep moving and stay low, avoid attention and get to the coast.
This song says it all for all of us right now.
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=6104
Never knew Carly Simon dated Cat Stevens – meow. (or that this song was about these 2) -history lesson today.
Do remember when her and Sweet Baby James Taylor were married!
Nice, Don.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDJ_Mz8ftqI&feature=search
Barb V
Your version is better than mine again! You are amazing!
I dont think matt is going walking for a while. Last I knew he was pretty sick of walking.
Donna in MI
Your quote from last night or this morning above-
“Matt’s Droid won’t die. We will follow him! (Song please, I think there was one back in the “60’s if I remeber correctly.
Correcto!- Little Peggy March 1963 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JVhbusBDi4
Listen to the words-sounds like all of us! How crazy is this! Follow him wherever he may go!
Don in T ~ You are an amazing man who can find the best songs to fit the Hobo Planet mood! You must be a wizard at Trivial Pursuit in the music category…my husband is like that….unfortunately we haven’t played that game in years, our friends all figured out they couldn’t win in that category with him (-;
Thanks for your humor and musical talents!
Kier
If I put a smile on your face or make you laugh or think, I am a happy camper, I mean walker! Oh- and thanks for the coments but I just love music – can’t read a note or play an istrument, but listen all the time. When we built our new home 5 years ago I put in whole house zoned sound system so I can listen everywhere including outside on my coverage back porch.
Never was good at trival pursuit and frankly never played it much for whatever reason.
Peace and love to you and your family!
Kindred souls, Don!
I like the Whoopi Goldberg Sister Act version a lot
Okay, I’ve refreshed the site at least 125,645 times today already….where is he?? I wonder if he will get the urge to jog the last mile or so? I would be so excited to see my family that I would probably start running to the finish line!
I think he is hiding out in the wood, playing real hobo! Waiting for the timing so he can sprint to Rockaway! I heard his mom and dad are going to walk with him the last bit, so they probably have a rendezvous planned. I also heard he is planning a 2:00 PM splash down. Not sure if all this is correct, but my thinking now is that he is sitting near the river, catching fish, cooking over a campfire, meeting other hobos and telling yarns. I bet his yarn tops any of theirs! So Matt, happy camping, tomorrow you will get up VERY early and spint down to Tillamook and then walk like crazy through Garibaldi, and Bay City, and then…..Rockaway!
Karin’s post was #300! And we all sit anxiously awaiting the news. So much for the instant information age! This reminds of waiting for the astronauts to land on the moon. We knew it was going to happen, we just wanted to see something.
sent with the warmth of the sun ( ***********) !
Per request from MT Walt:
{{{{{GROUP HUG!!!!}}}}} time!
I’m in!
ditto, ditto!
Count me in too!!
{{{}}}}} I’m being smooshed there’s so many of us in here. I can’t breathe! But the hug feels great.
Dorinda
Love you lady!
Makes me think of this song – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj_NjLBPotQ
sent with the warmth of the sun ( ***********) !
missed it by one-LMAO
Here’s something to do for fun–go back to the beginning and start over! Then click the Random Day links. “Memories…like the corners of my mind….”
Kat
or the memories – http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=Mi74MF1L10E&feature=related
If I could save time in a bottle, The first thing that i’d like to do……..
Matt may make fools out of all of us and – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6h9KgQckko
I can see him waving and pushing the Mattmobile now!
Anybody up for a game of checkers? Go fish? Uno?
College football? Almost here.
Got your e-mail and lets stay in touch. Your brother lives in a beautiful area in NC.
Ah, we need an update ! The other dead zones were bad, but this one so much more because Matt’s so close!
I was away from my office for 90 minutes and oh my gosh – so much to catch up on! Bad thing is I’m going to be away from the computer from 5:00 – 10:30 tonight. It’s gonna take me hours to catch up on those posts :-D When I get back tonight, maybe somebody can just give me the “Cliff notes” of what’s been happening…….. Either that or my eyes are gonna fall out…..
Oh darn, bed time in Greece! I just KNOW he will send pics while I am sleeping. I am almost tempted to set the alarm and get up in the night just to see what is going on! Tempted, but won’t! I love my sleep, too! So, Matt, if you are “sighted” tomorrow, as I suspect you will be….good luck to you. Hope the weather is all sunshine and fair breezes! :-) Please make a quick stop for icecream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory! They have nice toilets there, so that might be a good place for a potty break? Don’t take too long deciding a flavour though, just get one and get back out and keep pushing Mattmobile!
was there last Friday- I had Orange Sherbert!
Karin, that’s funny how that reads on the last 2 lines. At least it struck me funny. Have a good sleep and we’ll see you in the morning. We’ll all be here anxiously waiting the arrival of Matt Green into Rockaway Beach, OR. Sweet dreams!
I don’t think I want to know the flavors one can find where the toilets are. ROTFLMBO!
Karin
Wish you could stay up but i understand the time zone thing. Thank you for your insight into OR where you once lived. Hope Matt dose find a clean procelin bus at the TYillamook Cheese Factory.
I have never been to Greece but hope to someday – but for now this will have to do – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4n0la_k-DU
Best to you and family.
Don
Once again, smiles courtesy of Don!
Barb V in MI
I am on facebook as Don M. Watson-not much info though as I am still tenative about facebook! Hope to hear from soon.
Hobo Don
Mayor of the Hobo Planet
I friended ya on Facebook, Don.
You’ve been friended.
sniff, sniff….I am not on facebook…I have no friends……where’s those tissues
Matt…we are waiting…and Jason is gonna need a new server…..cmon now……
One more friend for you Don!
My kids have been trying to convince me to get on facebook for a long time, and I’ve been resisting. But……I don’t want to lose touch with the Chief Hobo, the Hobo Mayor or any of the other Hobo residents so I think I may just have to do the “facebook thing”……
oh man…hope I did not give Don a big head.
No Jeff. I am enjoying this. Remember we are the ones who decided to set a pool up to guess his ETA in Rockaway Beach, OR. I just made my best educated (or maybe uneducated) guess. It is Matt’s decision when he wants to finish at this point. He has to be so excited knowing that he finsihed in 5 months and not 9 months he gave himself. Let’s let Matt enjoy and savor this last day or so the way he wants to and meanwhile we can all still chime in and have fun – – waiting.
We could all kill time doing this – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_YrQRn2f0I
That’s priceless – love it!
I left the house this afternoon at 1:00 pm eastern time…..there were 287 comments. I arrived back at 3:30 and checked this site……now 340 comments! I’ve got some catching up to do.
Isn’t it amazing and serendipitously wonderful how one young man with a dream bigger than the continent is wide has been able to make us hope, laugh, cry, sing, dance, and create new e-friendships…
I raise my glass … “To Matt! For having the courage and the greatness of fortitude and being steadfast in seeing your dream through to completion “from sea to shining sea.”
To the Hobo Planet;
to dreams;
to conviction;
to ALL the cheerleaders who have waited in joyful hope with every step Matt has taken;
to EVERYone who took him in and treated him kindly;
to all of you whose names and comments are on these pages for your/our continued support;
to taking a hike;
but mostly
TO MATT… for JUST WALKIN’
Amen to that and cheers!(with spring water of course!).
Roberta! in NM – What a beautiful, awesome toast to Matt! I also raise my glass to Hobo Matt! Here! Here!
:) :) :)
I’m gonna be so sad once he reaches Rockaway Beach! I mean, happy but sad. You know what I mean. He has been through so many beautiful regions of the country and taken so many amazing and hilarious photos. What will we do once the journey is over?? I guess only thing to do is try walking across the country ourselves!
Yes Cheers to Matt and the Hobo Nation! – I could have the Cheers song but will refrain-OK, if you insist!
http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=2318
I’ll drink to that!
Cheers to Matt and the Hobo Nation!!!
i’m drinking to that. Is it time for another… “hi my name is Jeff” ? ut oh
Slainte! (Irish toast meaning health)
You damn skippy! I’ll drink to that! ;-)
I was just following some of his final path via google street view. Looks like some of the most scenic of his trip.
Did you notice how crooked the roads were when you were on street view.
yeah, probably not an easy walk … reminds me of some of his paths in Pennsylvania. Of course he is in better shape now! I think he’s just taking his time … probably has mixed emotions now … so close to the end but the end of such a great adventure has to have a bittersweet side too. Go, Matt!!!
“just checking” for a Matt sightings or should I say a “picture”.
I think he has found a good place to rest up and is holding on to get there on 26th.
This site is getting slower and slower to load on my computer. Hope we don’t have a crash and pile up.
Oh, Dorinda! Laughing so hard at your comment, my stomach hurts!! I hope Jason is there to keep us from having a massive crash. What a pile up that would be!! Or, is he in Rockaway Beach? leaving us unattended? My guess is that he’s in Rockaway Beach right now waiting to welcome Hobo Matt from the Atlantic to the Pacific!
Dorinda
That is Matt walking slower!
Looks like he is stuck, he’s not moving.
I thought the same thing, Raymond. Wonder if he’s setting camp early so he can enjoy his beautiful surroundings to the fullest, this being his last night before final destination.
Remember there is a full moon tonight. He may just sneak in using the -light of the moon!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUj92EFSjPg
Is that what it is Don? We’ll we need to get some more hamsters then as we need more power to run the site.
Faster everybody! Pedal faster!!!
get your kids zu zu pets…we are gonna need extra troops….
nay nay it is the toy slayer…..duck!!!!
Thanks to my parents whose favorite Sunday afternoon activity was playing all the Country & Western albums (yes, it was C & W back in the day – today it’s just plain country) they owned, I have a love for Johnny Cash. And because of my love for Johnny Cash, I was listening to his Ultimate Gospel album while taking a walk on my lunch hour this afternoon. And while listening to this wonderful legend, I hear this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CVhLurrgG0&feature=search
I dedicate this to Matt, his family, and all the members of HoboPlanet!!
I love that song Barb. I too am a Johnny Cash fan. But I really do wish someone would put up Elvis Presley’s You’ll never walk alone video. I would, but I don’t know how. It’s the one with scenes.
Barb V
That was great and I like Johhny Cash and wife June Carter. Kkndred!
Doris
For you. enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN8oN8I3lrk
Kindred souls indeed! Sorry about my poor typing, Barb!
Thank you Don, you’re a sweetheart.
Karin in Greece might be asleep right now….Dorinda is drinking spring water to keep her awake all night….I have a date with two girls for McDonald’s – Don is searching youtube, Mike in Atlanta is pondering what is going on…Barb V has huggs for anyone who is on a downer…..and I am wondering where Candice is? (Fineas and Pherb moment….”where’s perry”) Matt…take your time….been along time since this much love has poured out of america. We await a dip in the Pacific and the moment of completion.
Something tells me we’re gonna need more than Kleenex for that moment. I’m thinking beach towels are in order to catch all the tears (of joy and sadness).
I’m here – just trying to read all the comments – the wonerful/funny/introspective comments! :) Plus I keep checking to see if that red line has moved out of the forest!
I’m tempted to believe that a rabbit has stolen Matt’s tracking device and has gone down into it’s rabbit hole/burrow.
Do you think Matt knows the angst he’s causing! :) — Matt…….we…….need…….pic..tures. Maybe someone will video tape the ocean plunge. An-tih-cih-pay-yay-shun, it’s makin’ me wait!
388 plus…that’s quite a few comments…Now Matt, have pity on this group…here we are, all “sitting” at our computers and all you have to do is walk 3000 plus miles…I mean have a heart…run some or hitch a ride this last leg…I mean there is serious stress going on…as we “sit here waiting”…
Ya know…I kinda enjoy this part of the journey…fun stuff…and good company…between you and me…I just know Matt is pulling one over on us…and of course, we deserve it…walk on Matt…
Day 149, posted August 22nd, picture titled, “Gettin’ down” will go down in history!!
onna
How about a little gettin’ down – you know for the Matt Green ray of sunshine – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpoI7vK4uvY
Donna not onna – sorry Donna, I should proof better before sending.
I was wondering when that was going to be posted.
398 comments, I guess 399 with mine. Don’t even have to look at the date to know Matt must be in a dead zone. *L*
# 400?
Nope, more like #21,471. And half of them belong to Don! Ba ha ha ha!!! Going back a few months to re-read some entries has been fun. Technically I’m at the office but……………..
:) # 400 for this day :)
Matt arrives here in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, tomorrow, August 25! He will be greeted at the Caboose by the Chamber of Commerce. Stop by between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. to say hello, and join us for cake and goodies to celebrate his trip!.
Thank you Doris! Would love to join you for cake and goodies as you celebrate Matt’s trip. I’ll be there in spirit though, as the rest of the Hobo Nation will.
Thank you Matt for sharing your journey with us and bringing us all together. Thank you, too, to Mom and Dad for sharing your son with us. Thank you for all of you here, for the camaraderie, the fun, the education, the songs and everything in between that your comments bring. Cheers!
I won’t be there Gigi, That is just what the Chamber of Commerce posted on their website in Rock Away Beach.
headed for the beach tomorrow…….
Sun goddess, you’ll have to be our group hug rep. Give him a great big one!
http://www.rockawaybeach.net/
Doris – give Matt a great big ol’ bear hug from all of us AND a great big thank you for sharing his journey with us!
Oops – I just read that Doris WON’T BE THERE for Matt’s arrival in Rockaway Beach, OR. Well whoever IS going to be there – Please give Matt a great big ol’ bear hug from all of us AND a great big thank you for sharing his journey with us!
Oh Wow! Thanks Doris for that post. Since we can’t all be there, we need to raise a piece of cake and punch, make a toast in honor of Matt Green for completing his trip in record time. This of course should be done between 3 and 4pm PST(west coast time-that would be 6-7pm eastern time). Thanks to the Rockaway Beach area Chamber of Commerce!
Okay, now I’m all verklempt. Oy! We get one, maybe two more updates and that’s it. Maybe a dozen more photos and kaput!
And too late to take the time off of work to get there. *cry*
sniff :(
there in spirit! :)
Still time to take off of work… Im considering calling in a sick day just to sit here and watch. Supposed to work 7-4 and I don’t have acess to a computer at work so, maybe I got a bad egg from somewhere???
LOL !!! I’m laughing so loud Lori can you hear me?? Don’t know where in Ohio you are but I like I think your idea is an egg-celent one! lol.
Dorinda, wanna meet up tomorrow, Im about an hour or so south of you, right outside of Center of the World zip 44444?
Lori
Good idea but do not end up with egg on your face. Someone at work might yoke your neck-I thing that is the same thing as ringing your neck-Pluck!
Anything is possible with a jillion bad eggs out there, most days at my employer are Johnny Paycheck song days but until another door opens, still could use a mental health day because we are all going to be so depressed
Lori
You have followed Matt and the Hobo Nation/Planet. Has that not been refreshing to you? Imagine if you had not found this blog?
Hay – that is no hobo spirit. no Kaput….well a little kaput….but we will just keep the hobo spirit alive.
I have a confession to make…to you all…Matt told me the finish date a short while back…but I did not want to blab it out there..kind of a privacy thing….having a nurse as a wife will do that to you. So hope you understand.
As pennance I offer you the following….IF you have questions you would want to ask Matt…but did not want to ask Matt…you can email at the Pool address and I will take them with me when I meet up with Matt for dinner one night in early October. I plan on working on him about the/a book…. and some of my own “questions” but I would be happy to share my time with those of you who would like a response. August 25….wasn’t his start date March 25th.
anyone else sad for Matt’s cart? We may never meet again… we must not let that happen aye hobo planet??
Jeff
Matt sent me an email reply on August 21 stating he would finish on August 25. He knew I had picked August 23 or 24. I sure want to meet Matt in person one day and members of the Hobo Nation/Planet also.
I guess instead of a YAHOO I will do a Well done Matt tomorrow. Close but no cigar!
Matt thank you from the Hobo Nation as Mayor for a great walk and education.
OK, true confession time. Guess they figured I would never tell clear on the other side of the world! I also knew his agenda once he hit Portland. Glad to know I was not tempted to tell…and that others out there can keep a secret if needs be!
OK, either Matt has hit another media outlet since he’s close to the end of his journey, or you people just went nuts with the comments on this one! LOL 410 comments is the most I’ve seen on any one photo so far! Wow!
I can’t believe he’s almost there already! What an amazing journey, I’m so jealous!
I’m hoping these Portland news affiliates will have some coverage:
http://www.katu.com (abc)
http://www.kptv,com (fox)
http://www.koin.com (cbs)
http://www.kgw.com (nbc).
Video people! We want video!!
From the Rockaway Beach CC Website:
Matt arrives here in Rockaway Beach, Oregon, tomorrow, August 25! He will be greeted at the Caboose by the Chamber of Commerce. Stop by between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. to say hello, and join us for cake and goodies to celebrate his trip!.
Take lots of pictures!
Somehow a caboose seems the appropriate venue to celebrate Matt’s completed adventure. Could it be his ultimate and final “awesome mailbox”?
Hey, RBCC, got any webcams mounted around town?
hmmm, 08 25 10 , that’s at least 3 numbers i will be playing in the powerball!
I just read the news flash that it all happens tomorrow. Congratulations Matt! All these months of waiting for new pictures with Matt’s commentary and now it is almost over. I started following in early April, so I have enjoyed getting to know the regular Hobos through your posts… Don in Tennessee, Dorinda from Mentor, Jeff, Barb V. etc…. a few tears as this is so bittersweet, sigh…. just another hobo on the road of life
There is facebook Nancy. Don M. Watson is how it is listed. Where have you been? I have not been able to make a crack at you because you have been silent.
It is golden isn’t it – yes I used this once before but it is a great classic-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyj2qL-bQ4E
Come on – spring into action Nancy!
How come no one’s using the “Matt ‘The Adventurer’ Green” Facebook page to stick together?
I agree – I think that’s the best place to continue our dialogues, Janine.
Nancy, this has been a pretty special community, hasn’t it. One I don’t think I’ll ever experience again. We’ll have great memories of sharing Matt’s journey.
and the answer is no. The middle initial (M) does not stand for money, it is mindless!
Wow ,that was a lot of comments to catch up on. Kudos Matt, and thanks everyone for all of the fun comments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhcLYbdkZBY Seven Turns The Allman Brothers Band
Runnin’ wild out on the road
Just like a leaf on the wind
How in the world could you ever know
We’d ever meet again?
Or as Matt said it we may never meet again
Saun in Ohio
OUTSTANDING!!!
Saun, such an appropriate song! Thank you.
Omg, I’m getting teary eyed better go get the kleenex
Thanks Don one of my favorite songs
Saw on the news there is a sudden shortage of facial tissue…wonder what gives.
I posted the web links of the local news affiliates, but I think my post is pending approval. I sure hope these Portland news stations provide us Hobos with coverage and lots of video!! ;-)
www koin dot com
www kuta dot com
www kgw dot com
www kptv dot com
Oopsy! That’s www katu dot com. Sorry.
Kat
Thanks for the new network stations. Hope you are doing welll!
Hey, Jeff. The idea about questions for Matt is a good one.
I’ve been mostly a lurker since last April and only within the last few weeks have I posted a few comments. Not sure if Matt will follow up his journey with a book, although I note on his details page, among the items carried were a “journal and pens” and a “small digital audio recorder”. Perhaps members of the Hobo Planet can ask questions of Matt now so that he will have some idea of what interests us the most about his adventure. After he returns home and rests up, he can either reply here or save it for the book.
In that light, I have several questions to start off. I may have missed the answers along the way if they have already been discussed.
– You took a 12 mp Panasonic camera. This is what makes me think a book is in the future. How and when did you pull it out to use instead of your Droid?
– If you had to plan again, what more would you pack? What would you leave behind?
– You had two sets of long johns; that seems bulky. How often did you use them?
– Ever use your emergency whistle?
– Did you end up spending much time listening to music? Or just to nature?
– Finally, diet. You must have burned a lot of calories each day. Ever do a rough calculation? Do you now weigh more or less than when you started? You had “oats” on your food list; how did you boil water?
I may add more questions later.
Anyone else?
I’d like to know what route would interest him if he were to (hypthetically) do another cross country walk.
“Matt.. not you’ve reached the West Coast for the Experience Of it all…
#1 : Was it worth it?
#2 Was it what you expected?
#3 Was you start to finish date what you thought ..more or less”
#4 Comparing to what normal weather patterns are.. you seem to have been pretty damned lucky? (yes or no?)
#5 Since you made it in one piece and you did it “just for the experience ..” why don’t you make your way BACK to the East Coast via a southern route since the temps are cooling and you chances are pretty good of having weather at least as good as you had going across the first time??
#6 (is a 2 part-er) What are the biggest things you’ve learned on your trip?
#6.2 Are you happy with the Experience over all?
#6.3 Would you do it all over again?
#6.4 You favorite part of the whole trip?
#6.5 Ok.. your on the west coast, no job, little money, no home (yes, your family and people you’ve met along the way would welcome you with open arms (even my family) JUST TO HEAR YOUR TAILS…
SO AFTER YOUR PACIFIC OCEAN BATH.. A FEW BEERS.. A FEW NIGHTS SLEEP… NOW WHACHAGOINDO wILLIS?
hUGS AND PEACE
cRAIG
follow up question..
If there was ONE thing you could have redone during the trip…. not including the bad route laid out by google maps sometimes. What would be the one redo you wish you had to do over?
(Besides asking Mama Jiah to join you the rest of the trip?)
hehehe
xoxox
Do you have a different perspective on humanity/ your fellow American after this trip?
have/did you ever feel endangered by man or animal at any point along the way…
(What and where was it?)
umm ok 5 parter.. lmao
wait a minute (it is 730pm est), is matt really going to walk up the 101 oregon coast highway? isn’t the 101 a dangerous road? i remember the 101 in california is. isn’t it only like two lanes either direction, with a small shoulder?
mmm, the maps show (appx) that it is 28 miles, but that it will take 9 hours (from where he is in the middle of the forest now). to arrive by ‘party time’ at 3-4pm, he’d have to leave at 6am, and what, NOT be tired from a full days walk? no wonder he would want to dip his feet in the ocean!
The United States presidential election of 2012 is the next presidential election to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and will be the 57th quadrennial United States presidential election.
MATT FOR PRESIDENT 2012!
Right on. We’re all in different states, so let’s start our state campaign offices. heehee
Greetings to you all. Some of you on here are from Oregon. I am about 90 miles from Rockaway and cannot make it down there for Matt’s arrival. But for those of you who aren’t here, the weather here today is really nice. It is suppose to be almost 90. It will probably be overcast when Matt rolls into Rockaway.
I too have enjoyed the “travel” and the conversations so much. I was completely amazed when I saw the amount of comments on just this picture. But it makes sense because he is following “the river” and very little cell service. I commend you all again for all the civil conversations. Totally unlike the many comment occasions behind lots of internet happenings. Goes to show there are really a lot of very decent people out there as has been exhibited by the welcomes Matt has received all across the country.
I vote that Matt keep the “mobile” and walk home via the southern route!!!
I want to hear him play his harmonica,
Yes, Matt would make a great president Craig. But there is one reason he would never win…
HE HAS COMMON SENSE!!!
i DUNNO THE COMMON MAN SEEMS TO LOVE HIM….
..I INCLUDED.
This absolutely blows me away, again. Matt is “off the air” yet we Hobos continue the conversing — up to 472 comments at this point!!! Rock on fellow hobos, and whoo hoo Matt, you’re almost there…
Oh, I am in pain! Matt finsihes tomorrow! I had hoped to be there but its midweek and I can’t take time off my job – I work at a school and its our second week in session. I was hoping he’d take unitl Sept or Oct and then I wouldn’t feel so guilty about taking some personal time to do something just for myself. I am so happy for Matt but selfishly sad for myslef. As so many have written, I also look forward to seeing Matt’s photos and reading his captions. I also have thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. I feel so fond of the Hobo Planet. It will be a loss.
Jeff, Thanks for taking our questions to Matt. I would like to know the following:
1. What everyday comfort did you miss the most?
2. You always looked so clean and your socks stayed white too. What’s the secret? Looks like you were only able to use the washing machine at some of your hosts homes.. Also the Mattmobile looked so clean in all the pictures.
3. Did you get a haircut along the way?
4. How many days did you spend at peoples homes overnight? Did we see all the pictures of your hosts? Thank you to all of them it gave the Hobo nation comfort to know you were safe and well fed.
5. Will you keep us updated on your future?
Congratulations and I send you a big hug. It’s been such enjoyment sharing your journey with you and the Hobo nation.
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, it’s one of my all-time fave songs and the first 45 I owned. Posting under this picture “Gettin’ Down” because it belongs here. “Travelin’ down the road, feeling hungry & cold, saw a sign sayin’ food and drinks for everyone, so naturally I thought I would take me a look inside. I saw so much food there was water coming from my eyes… (skipping lyrics & chorus)…. I am a man of the road, a hobo by name, I don’t seek entertainment, just poultry & game…. (skipping…) I can dance! I really hit the floor. Ah, it feels good! Look at me dancing!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcJp1Z03DR0&feature=related