Project Update

I thought it was time to give a sense of where I am with this project. I've visited numerous places, taken a good number of photos, shot some video, spoke with too many people to name, written a lot, and really learned a great deal in the past few months.

Britt Carr at Miami is working on the technical aspects (FLASH programming, etc.) for the Web interface. We may have an image of an old Plymouth to use as the navigation window, but I still would like to get a 41 Plymouth...my own "Melmoth." I can't just use a picture from the Web because the image has to be taken from a certain angle to be useful on the site. So, if anyone has any contacts that might help, please contact me.

I sent off letters today to Mrs. Hastie, who was one of the Plantation owners at the time that VN visited. I hope she remembers his visit. I also sent a letter to Mr. Manny Hough thanking him and his crew there in Shakespeare for their help. There's so much more I'd like to share on this blog, but I am also aware that much of what I want to say will have a more appropriate venue on the actual formal Web site for the project. So, if there's a question you have, please let me know. I haven't made any earth-shattering discoveries about VN, but I believe I have uncovered some details that other scholars haven't. We'll see.

I've also really appreciated the support and interest of Mr. Dmitri Nabokov. I try to avoid bothering him too much, but there have been a few times when I've asked him about whether his father was in a particular place.

Otherwise, it's back to teaching for me, so less travel. I will be in Death Valley in October. I also need to apply for more funding for this coming summer.

Thank you for reading.

My day in Shakespeare, NM

I have had the BEST day. Thanks to the folks at Shakespeare and in Lordsburg that have made this such a wonderful visit. The picture above is of Janaloo Hill Hough's final resting place and of the view she, Rita, and Frank have of their beloved Shakespeare.

I will post more about my visit, but I wanted to get these pictures up now.

Looking ahead to today, looking back to yesterday

So, today I go into Shakespeare, NM. I am very excited about my visit. I just finished Janaloo Hill's piece on Russian Bill. I also emailed DN to ask whether his father ever mentioned Rita Hill. I'm a bit bummed that what I wrote last night didn't get posted, and it seems like the blog as a whole is acting up. Oh well. These entries are really just for friends/family to see what I'm up to and how I'm handling the project.

Last night at the rodeo was interesting as it was the first time I've attended a ranch rodeo and heard the word "rodeo" used as a very - as in "Ok, let's rodeo!" The Bay ranch took the first event - the name of which I can't recall - but it involved roping horses in a pen, saddling them up, mounting them simultaneously, and riding past a chalk line at the other end of the arena. I really wondered about the timekeeper as it just seemed like 1:50 was a bit too brief for what they did. The second event involved cutting and driving cattle. That was a huge challenge for some. Imagine about two dozen or so cattle, and you have to find the four that are marked with your number ("brand"), cut them, and drive them into a pen at the other end of the arena.

I feel like I should include a picture since last night's post was lost. So I will below:

Lost post from last night

Ok, so I am visiting a ghost town; I guess it makes sense that my post from last night would be a ghost. It even included a picture of the downtown area. Argh!

The Hidalgo County Fair and Rodeo

Oh,I should mention that I attended the fair tonight - 3 dollars to get in - bought a barbecue plate for 6 dollars (well spent money) - and saw some of the rodeo before worrying that the storm was going to hit and I'd get soaked. 

Greetings from Tucson, AZ

Just arrived in my hotel near the airport. Tomorrow I set out for Shakespeare, NM. It's about 150 miles east on I-10, which is not a highway Humbert would have had access to as it didn't exist. I wish I had some old maps of this area with me, but I never did manage to locate any. The traveling has been a bit tiring - it's almost 1am "my time" now, but at least I am here. No pictures yet.

I am a resident of two states

How is this possible?
(There's also a hidden message)

Returned from Middlesboro, KY and Cumberland Gap, TN

I did not have internet access for several days, so that's why there were no updates to this site while I was actually ON THE ROAD. Overall, it was a great trip, and the area really grew on me. That said, I came a day earlier than originally planned to save on costs, because I accomplished enough during my visit. Amazing what no internet access will do for you. I also managed to see WTC for $1.50, but that's another story.

The drive down to Middlesboro, KY was easy until I hit some storms and major traffic congestion about 30 miles from 25E. Old 25 would have been the road HH drove, and I was tempted to take 25E from Cincinnati to the area, but I knew that would add time to my trip. I also figured I'd get a taste of it once off I 75.

The hotel I stayed at, the Best Western, was ok. I wish it had internet access. The town is overrun with fast food establishments; I was looking for a local place where I could get something to eat. I settled on the Waffle King for dinner. It's probably a local chain, but it felt better than a Ryan's or a Pizza Hut or a McDonald's.

There's a lot to tell about the trip, but I'm a bit hungry now that I've started writing about food, so I'll end this here. I'll post a picture in a moment in another post. More soon!