I’ve made seven cross country trips (The USA) during my time both in the Navy and sailing for MSC, as you can surmise from the number of trips, they were not all round trip. But all were solitary or at least six trips were, most taken on I-10 Florida to California or vice-versa and one on I-20 California to Athens Georgia. I made most trips in one of two Lincoln and one in a CJ- Jeep (Not recommended) The Town Car and Mark IV are highly recommended even with the cost of fuel.
I once made a cross country trip in Puerto Rico, it took an hour.
My buddy told me that certain truck stops had a selection of audio books for rent along the road I can’t remember the name now..
This was in the late 1970’s and was news to me. So I got off the road and rented a cassette book and plugged it in my cassette player, my first was a John Grisham, and I enjoyed that put the car on cruise control and get on down the Highway. The time will fly by.
So all those trips from Virginia or Florida and South Carolina to Massachusetts were wasted in the 1960’s to early 70’s without those audio books, but then I have no idea if they had them in those olden days maybe on 8-track?
But my Navy time was over and Military Sealift Command pretty much flew me everyplace I needed to be so audio books fell by the wayside. But I had my E-reader.
But now, due to a cataract in my right eye, reading glasses no longer function for me, which drove my optometrist insane (Me too) So off to see my ophthalmologist where I found out about an operation that could solve the problem maybe, but he recommenced I wait. I never found out why I should wait but knew that not reading just didn’t cut it at all. My book reader is now sitting idle full of books that no matter how large I make the font, it blurs. I remember a Twilight Zone Episode about Burgess Meredith A henpecked book lover finds himself blissfully alone with his books after a nuclear war. … Who simply yearns for enough time to indulge in his favourite pastime: reading. But he broke his glasses.
Here is something I thought about:
E-Books or regular books work very well at home, but not so well while traveling because of vibration that cause “ME” a headache, while on planes, trains, busses, or cars, whereas, the audio books are no problem in those situations. But that is just “ME”.
My wife, whom I should listen to more often; said, “Mahal Ko, try an audio book reader.” The next thing she said was Google it, so I did. As I was browsing and reading all the technical specs on the commercial book readers I came across a site named; “How to make an Audio Book Reader for your Grandmother!”
Being I’m a Grandfather I felt that was close enough, so I read it.
Buy a TAB Android 4.4 (My old book reader was not up to par. The Tab must have 8 or more Gigabytes of memory I added 128 Gig card.
Get a set of Bluetooth equipped headphones, unless you can tolerate those ear buds that come with the tab, which I don’t like but outside in public I will use.
I bought those headphones that are Bluetooth capable, mainly because the headphones will also work with my flat screen (Smart) TV and I’ll no longer disturb my family, my neighbors and most important, my dog army will now stop baying and howling at my house while my TV is on.
So I’m not yet 71 and it’s my vision and hearing both giving me crap, I’m on that slippery downhill slope. Damn it sucks to get old, but I’ll gladly accept it over the alternative.
I’m at the point now that when I type the articles for LiP I use the number 25 font. And still miss the little red line trying to correct my spelling and grammar. So I guess I’ll raise the font higher for proof reading.
Back to the Audio book reader, while having lunch with my family at TGIF I down loaded the APP required to play the MP3 Audio Books (Homer Player). But changed the APP to another one that would also be simple for a grandmother to use, and do all that I want it to do, it plays the book, and when you shut it off it remembers where you stopped and not another damn thing. Well the second APP will store the books in a readable liberty. And that is all I need it to do. My “Puter” guy installed that new APP and all it is called is “The Audiobook Player”. Catchy name don’t yeah think? Remember I don’t make this stuff up.
The Tab is an a Philippine made “my/Phone” WALAKASAPHONEKO “MYT3 DTV- Digital TV Tablet” about $45.00.
Oh and it is a Smart (Cell Phone) too, yes I’ll be putting my sim card in it and dumping my two month old CKK phone, to become a hero again to another niece or nephew. Shay got the phone!
The “my/Phone” has a Huge screen, plus it is loud and easy to use, and my books will be on it too! And it is so big it won’t even fit in the pocket of a pair of Cargo Pants Shorts, I tried!
So it will be on my dresser forever now. Can life get any better? I now may stop buying phones? I can only hope. We went to the Carlton Hotel in Pampanga, and I read (Listened to a book both ways)
Yesterday I finished Clive Cussler’s Oregon Files #9 and enjoyed it, plus my eyes don’t get tired while reading. So three decades later I’ve re-discovered something that brought me pleasure and is doing it again, but this time without a cassette tape to clog up my player.
And my Sainted Grandmother Molly thought talking movies were a big deal… But I know Facebook would not please her at all. I hope no reader will ever need to do what I had to do by reverting to machine just enjoy a book, but technology is there to help and as much as I fight it, I’m pleased it is!
Great post again Paul. It made me laugh. I will try it. I haven’t been on too many “long hauls” since coming to Cebu, but I miss those audio books even when they were cassette tapes. Grisham is always a good read/listen. -Rob
Bob;
After hearing that book (John Grisham), later I saw the movie with Tom Cruise, this is when I noticed that Hollywood changed the ending for their flick. Who does that? From that day hence if I have read the book, I refuse to see the movie, and vice versa. I was shocked that they made the movie Apollo 13, and didn’t land the lunar orbiter in Detroit in the middle of a gang war.
But I’m finding and downloading the Audio Books I want, and get a couple of hours a day reading. In the 1960’s the navy would show a movie at 2000 (8: PM) every night, it was either gamble or read until you went to sleep. I left the Navy in great Financial shape, as I had no problem with gambling, but losing really pissed me off. (LOL).
BTW here on Luzon, you can take long hauls, unlike Puerto Rico.
Long haul? A couple hours in a hammock with the head phones on, perfect haul for me. And in a coconut nipped off and a straw, and paradise is ready!
Steve;
You bring up another good point about audio reading…(LOL)
Interesting set of notes Paul. You as I, likely all-to-well remember walking home from school, strangely let out way too early one afternoon in 1963, scanning the sky for tell-tale re-entry streaks immediately followed by mushrooms on the horizon, followed by immediate incineration barely prior to puberty. You may similarly remember how arduous it was to get access to the “adult” library – meaning arrange for the municipal public library to condescendingly permit parents to get a library card so that the kiddie could read books somewhat beyond the “green eggs” and “pooh” stage, rather some good non-kiddie sci-fi and college-level research publications. Thereafter, library and self-education heaven! Those were the days, bicycling downtown several times a week after school but home before dark in the summer, and the commies didn’t fry us (yet)!
Skip half a millenia plus some years – to the Philippines. Whereas a prior-voracious reader would check out library books by the dozen (for a week’s worth of enjoyable and intellectual reading), suddenly transplanted to the Philippines – what’s a “library” ?!? Public library? I heard there is one close to the Manila city hall, not exactly close accessible and I wouldn’t hold much hope for ongoing book daily additions anyway – check your home-tax-bill to see your support for your local public library here in Phils, especially ‘in-the-province’.
Paul’s mention of “ebooks” is interesting, but they’re not free and just aren’t what I used to take to bed or anywhere in prior years. Well, interesting. Meanwhile download documentaries and interesting movies et all, copy to flash drive, plug into whichever TV. I don’t expect access to any free current library in what’s left of my lifetime short of abandoning my kids to get it back over-there-where-I-came-from. Sigh, but good I can download for my kids. Found 1959 “Man into Space” a few days ago! Pretty certainly it would be found-treasure-public-domain by now, but the whole historical concept will take some explaining to the kids.
Would rather have a good local public library and support it along with every everyone else supporting it, not so likely eh? Pay for “ebooks”? Food and all the family needs takes precedence. Of all the things the ‘system’ back over there might lack, the library was the best and something I sorely miss here and a concept my kids couldn’t even understand.
Ed;
In 1963 one year prior to joining the US Navy, I would hook school, if the Red Sox were playing I’d be at Fenway Park but in the winter I would hook school and go to the library on Adams St. In Dorchester (Part of Boston) the librarians thought I was odd but I knew I could read my own books, that I enjoyed vice required reading. (Which I read also, yet refused to do book report, as that removed the joy of reading. I’d tell the teacher to read the book and form their own opinions. I knew the Navy would be hard on me.
Over twenty five years here in wonderland I noted the lack of book, But being a working merchant seaman, when in the pool waiting reassignment I would hit all the second hand book stores in San Francisco and LBC them to the Philippines. Here in the Philippines I would take my books to the bars and American Legion, VFW, and FRA and trade them in.
Then as I aged and my vision didn’t keep up with me I went to the e-reader as I could increase the size of the font, and 1,500 books were pretty light to carry around. Both E-Books and Audio Books I download for free. Search and ye shall find.
There is one other way, if you lived in a town in the states the public library has a web page where you can download e-books for (Assuming you are a member and why wouldn’t you be? Free that will self destruct within 30 days or so. Readers will find away, I know that since living here since 1993 I have been very inventive. They will never keep a book away from me even if I must learn Braille, like at the ATM machines.
Been using audio books for well over twenty years now, first cassette, then CD, now on thumb drive. Those Lincoln’s are too old now, these days a Mercedes or a Land Rover for the ‘perfect ride’.
Steve;
If I were required to live in the states, I would buy a 1970’s Lincoln and have it renovated to 2018 standards. I would have a better car than the two over priced cars you mentioned and it would look cool too! (LOL)
Paul, I enjoyed your article. Thank you. I am 70 almost 71, not at your stage with my eyes yet but getting closer.. Last year I could read without glasses not now. And you showed me I will be able to enjoy my books still, which is great. Like you I have used the audio books when I was working and driving all over Calif for work/ They eat up many miles..Take care
P.S. I have a question- when you where in the Navy, did you ever visit US Naval Comm. Sta San Miguel at San Antonia, north of Olongapo. I was stationed there from 1970 to 1973, just curious..
Luke;
I was there last month as that is where the Fleet Reserve Association club is, and I’ve been a member forever. It is still a long drive from the Big “PO”
Audiobooks are great, and even after my operation I’ll now stay with audio book, as regular reading makes me sleepy, which is fine at Nap Time, but not reading time.
Hi Paul,
Sorry to learn of your vision difficulties. Your article reminded me on the 4 speed record players so common in the 1960’s. The 4th speed was 16 and 2/3 RPM which primarily was for ” Talking Book Records “. I just took a look on Youtube to see if there was anything about them there. I was surprised that there were also Talking Book records that played at 8 RPM ! My, how times have changed since then . I hope that your vision difficulties may be able to be corrected. As always I enjoy reading all of your articles here on LIP even if I don’t always leave a reply.
Bob (NY)
The talking book records is a first for me, interesting! All my players were 4 speed, but 33/and a third was the one I used most,45 RPM were harder to store without album covers.
I find I must adjust to a new normal every year now, and hope I never quit doing it!
Hi Paul,
I remember that episode of the Twilight Zone. Do you remember the one with the guy who had a stop watch that stopped time where he was the only one or thing that moved. He was using it to rob banks and such until he broke the watch with time frozen. That was a great show!
Peace
Jay
Jay;
Friday night just before the Gillette Cavalcade of sports (Friday Night Fights) my brothers and I would line up for Twilight Zone (They were brand new back then. So yes I remember, and over the years I watched them in countries around the world (In English) with their language on sub titles below. 1990’s and I saw them in Japan, but now in Japanese. I’d still watch them. They were timeless!
Jay;
Friday night just before the Gillette Cavalcade of sports (Friday Night Fights) my brothers and I would line up for Twilight Zone (They were brand new back then. So yes I remember, and over the years I watched them in countries around the world (In English) with their language on sub titles below. 1990’s and I saw them in Japan, but now in Japanese. I’d still watch them. They were timeless!
Paul, if you haven’t already discovered Graphic Audio https://www.graphicaudio.net/first-mountain-man-3-absaroka-ambush.html They bring audio books to a whole new level, They are a little pricey though. You can preview any of their books, (from Sci-Fi to Westerns) on their website.
Dan;
Very interesting, I saved the web-site and will investigate later. You’re so right about the price whereas my audiobooks are free, but but I might breakdown and pay just to check it out. Thank you!