NOW I KNOW WHY HEMINGWAY ALWAYS WROTE STANDING UP

Now I am no Hemingway, but, you have to admit, the title got your attention. No sireee, I would never, ever compare myself to the man who's writing caused my first major paradigm shift. Tenth grade - Leon High - Mrs. Mooney - English Lit -The Sun Also Rises. After that, I realized the world could be experienced on my own terms. And even though I was a slacker during most of my high school years and deep into my college academic journey as well, the writing by a man of such excess and brilliance changed everything. Not all good, some bad, but very much different. 

And Hemingway was no slouch when it came to travel either. If not for Hemingway, most of the world would not know about the famous running of the bulls in Pamplona. His graphic, eloquent descriptions of the running of the bulls and bullfighting in The Sun Also Rises literally put Pamplona's Festival of San Fermin on the world's cultural map. For better or worse, Pamplona has never been the same.

But what, you may ask, does any of this have to do with the urbane, witty writings of a wandering architect in search of heaven on earth? Good question.

The fact that Hemingway stood up while writing speaks to the need for some sort of  device or trick for writers to "keep at it". I mean, I have not written anything since December 25, 2014. Pathetic! Obviously, I need something - anything to motivate me to write. After all, I have a ton of things to write about. Trips to Big D and Hipster Heaven, Austin. An amazing Christmas Trip to The Big Apple and a very cool little hotel just off Times Square. And, I have spent the last three months planning yet another  trip of a life time for the Nomad and his brood. We are going to the land of Picasso, Gaudi, Dali and Tapas. That's right, fellow vagabonds, Espana beckons.I will not run with the bulls, but I will see the famed Guernica, the Sagrada Familia and the land of Don Quixote.

And we have put this trip together like any true Nomad should, with hours and hours of reading, googling and planning. Yes sir, this trip is custom designed by me and mine. No tours or crusies for my crew. No need to "Spend More Time Being There Than Getting There". Getting there is half the fun!

Just as a side note, I have been actually working, designing a uniquely original  and natural house for a trail blazing couple in the flat country of North Central Florida. It has brought back all those things about architecture that make it The Mother Art. I am truly at my best when I am sketching and doing something for open minded clients that will be a part of there lives for a very long time.

I apologize if all of this seemingly random rambling has no apparent point. Blame it on Papa. The point is, I am now back, sitting, standing, pacing, whatever at my laptop to render writings great and small about places in the world that can force your very own paradigm shift. As a matter of fact, I just downloaded The Sun Also Rises to my Iphone for reading before the big sojourn to the land of Hemingway and Cervantes. Chasing Windmills is a worthy pursuit, if you have a great place to stay when you're done.

Ole', Ole', Ole'

D.L. Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT

P.S. I have redesigned and updated the blog/web site. In addition to a new header, the sidebar now includes updated Social Media Links for vagabonds who just can't get enough. I have also added Popular Nomad Posts for quick access to subjects that other readers have followed. And finally, I have updated the ABOUT, SLEEP, EAT and DESIGN pages. These pages and the other side bar links will help you design and plan your own travel to the best places you want to be.

This Week's Video Artist - KEB MO is a serious blues man that needs to be heard. His tune, I LIKED THE OLD ME BETTER, shown here, will give you some insight into his talents.