Create Our World

(Photo taken out for confidentiality purposes)

“There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well.  They must have worked for it.  I only feel angry when I see waste.  When I see people throwing away things that we could use.” – Mother Theresa

So much food is wasted everyday.  

The folks in my home in Austin are experts at dumpster diving.  Their freezer is full of Odwalla fruit smoothies, frozen Thai dinners, loafs of bread, and a host of other goodies.  

I have been interested in dumpster diving since my trip to Portland, Maine where I dappled in the art form just a little bit.  One night at around 1am, Elliott wakes me to say they are going.  I tag along and they show me the ropes.

Check out what we got:

*Around 90 Arthur’s Fruit Smoothies.  All Natural since 1893.  Strawberry Rainforest, Acai Smoothie, and Green Energy.

*9 half gallons of Zeigler’s Organic Apple Cider.  100% juice and has 2 apples in every 8 ounce serving.

*Dozens of Eggs.

*10 jars of Organic Unsweetened Applesauce.

*10 small containers of soy yogurt

*2 liters of Chocolate Milk

Important Note:  All of the food was fresh and edible and had not expired yet.  

There must be a better system that throwing good food away!

Create Our World.

Ben

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

Mark checks the Bird.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

I forgot to take more photographs!  I had a photo project idea where I would have everyone write on an index card, what they were thankful for.  I would then take everyone’s photograph individually.  It WAS going to rock!

Orphan Thanksgiving.

I attended two thanksgivings.  The “orphan” Thanksgiving was thrown by two local Austin couchsurfers, Marcy and Ata.  It was a potluck.  I brought rolls, a jug of wine, and a half gallon of apple cider.  Mitch, a local college student, gave me a ride.  Mitch brought like 2 lbs of corn.  

The Orphan Thanksgiving was about 10 couchsurfers. Just when I was supposed to be taking photographs, I was loading up my plate with the traditional Thanksgiving fare.   Great Food.  We played Scrabble and 1/8 of a game of Clue (I don’t recommend either right after eating Thanksgiving).

Waiting for Mitch with my offerings.

Thanksgiving #2.

The folks at my house were also having dinner.  After stuffing and the games, Mitch and a couple other folks came back.  They had just started so we ate round two.

Coming Together.

The food was great on both accounts.  But my favorite part of the day was meeting people from all around the world.  Sharing food and life.  The world feels differently on big holidays.

Thanks to all for the day!

Create Our World.

Ben

“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.”  ~W.J. Cameron

 

I am not in the Bahamas, but Austin, Texas now.

“Love is Life.  If you miss Love, you miss Life.” – Leo Buscaglia

It’s December now!!!  

Like every month, I am going to give you a low down on the best content from Create Our World. from November.  This month I traveled much less than normal.  Topping off at 619 miles approximately, which is the distance from New Orleans to Austin, Texas.  Here is the quick version including the trip down from New Orleans & also a little to come, since I have not yet told about most of my trip to Austin:

Brad drops me off on his way to work in Greenville, North Carolina.  Bye Brad!!!! 957 miles to New Orleans and I have 4 days.  Go!!!  I catch about 13 rides over the next three days.  Big Jack, a government arm-twister, Tracey, a truck driving millionaire, Antonio, a state trooper, whom investigates claims, and a crew of others drive me to Covington, Louisiana.  I meet Julianne, my clayist friend and we are 60 miles from New Orleans and it is one day till Halloween.  I drive into NOLA with Olya, whom sings Russian folk songs as we go.  We arrive at her friend, Joseph’s house, and we watch football with his family.  Halloween hits!!! I dress up as Waldo and take a lot of photographs (Watch the Video).  The people of 4320 Coliseum and the town of NOLA end up winning my heart and I can’t leave.  I also, take a break from the internet and sip lots of lattes and sleep in.  But alas, the road calls.  (All these articles will post in the next coming week.) I hitch towards Austin, Texas, spending time with Scott listening to ambient music in Baton Rouge, hang with a live tiger at a truck stop, and spend a lot of time camping in some scary, swampy, gnarly-tree areas in Louisiana and Texas.  I survive and even eat some Boudin, a traditional Louisiana dish, which is intestinal lining stuffed with crawfish and rice.  It is sausage-like.  

Eventually, Nick picks me up in Houston and takes me to Austin, Texas, where I have been staying with my friend, Alan.  Alan lives at the Dixie Ranch in a VW van that doesn’t move.  He leaves for the holidays to visit family and I snooze in his van.  I snooze a lot, especially after eating two Thanksgiving dinners with other “Orphans.”  I am staying in Austin for a bit, until the Dixie Ranchers give me the boot and then I am off towards San Diego for the rest of the winter.

Recent Press in the Chicago Tribune: “On the road with a wayfaring stranger.”

 Elizabeth Waldon wrote a short article about my project for my hometown paper in Michigan.  Sure enough, the Associated Press picked it up and ran it in the Chicago Tribune.  Now, the kids in my mom’s fifth grade class totally think I’m famous!!!

My Favorite Content from November (Click for more info):

Photographs from The Lower Ninth Ward

I watch the game in NOLA with Joseph and his fam.

Staying with the ladies of 4320 Coliseum & Sean.

Tiger Truck Stop article coming soon...

 Coming Soon…

Stay tuned this month for all the stories from Austin, Texas and beyond.  I already have received some Life Coaching, interviewed a woman hitchhiker, and have some serious video ideas.  I am not sure where I will spend Christmas, but I am sure Santa Claus will find me. 

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Say Hello, Sign the New Guestbook, & Share Your Goodness.

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Have a great December!

Create Our World.

Ben

“Love is always bestowed as a gift – freely, willingly, and without expectation.  We don’t love to be loved; we love to love.” – Leo Buscaglia