One of the more quoted lines from Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood is the phrase, "Where you're going, you ain't never been, where you were, you ain't there, and where you are ain't no good unless you can get away."
On these pages, you'll find links to a bunch of places across the globe that I've been fortunate enough to experience, recharge my batteries and have a fun catching up with old friends and making new ones.
MY WORK ON THE MURAL I spent a week in Kerrville smack dab in the middle of Texas' Hill Country painting a mural with fellow painters Marty Garcia and Charles Randolph.
A VISIT TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA I was fortunate enough to get shipped out of Austin during the hottest time of the year - late August and early September. Much to my delight, I was sent to sunny Southern California, where I met up with my
transplanted folks, worked with friends, and soaked up the left coast with a reckless abandon. The trip rocked, click on the headline for all the details.
KANSAS CITY 2006: One of the most exhausting and rewarding trips I've taken in recent memory, this ten day excursion features teething babies, drinking buddies, and some quality time spent with some great folks.
BIG TIMES IN BIG D May, 2006 - For a few days, Laura and I escaped Austin and headed up to Dallas to help out with setting up a big conference. Throughout the days, alternating between work and fun, I took enough pictures to write
about the entire trip. Take a look for yourself at how things went down.
Kansas City, 2005!!!
Check out all the stories, adventures and
video from the road trip from Austin to OKC to Kansas City,
Carthage, Missouri and Houston. Check them out here on the Kansas City tour page.
A VISIT FROM THE PARENTS April 2006 - Mom and Dad made the trek from their hipper than hip digs in Orange County to spend a few days in Central Texas to see my show, experience a good old fashioned Texas thunderstorm, withstand Texas heat at the Alamo and see the lifestyle their middle child leads in the middle of Texas. Read about the trip here
ALL STAR WEEK February 21, 2006 - Here's the epic adventure that a modest five day journey to Houston turned into. This trip was filled with ample amounts of work, laughs, some of the finest food I've tasted in a while, some new friends and a healthy dose of the hip hop lifestyle... Check out all the details here - Houston NBA All Star Game 2006
RETURN TO THE
BAY STATE
MAKING IT IN MASSACHUSETTS
June 21, 2005 - I will
admit I had many a reservation about heading back to Massachusetts.
But I sucked it up and took the plunge anyway. I spent six
days there, hanging out with my brother and sister, a couple
of great old friends, and saw the sights that kept me moving and
shaking through the days of tedious schooling and heady employment.
After all was said and done, I had a ball, perhaps it was the fact
I was merely visiting and not living within the Bay State's borders?
Anyway, click away and find out for yourself in: RETURN
TO THE
BAY STATE
AN
UNEXPECTED TRIP TO THE OLD HOMETOWN
SCHENECTADY AND BEYOND!
June 16, 2005 - I pooled what little
luck and resources I have remaining and was able to swap a painting
for a round trip ticket to Upstate New York to visit my ailing
grandfather and help celebrate his birthday. The trip back
to Schenectady
HOCKEY IN OHIO
COLUMBUS OR BUST
April 13, 2005 - I was invited to travel across the Midwest and join
my Dad for a seemingly odd combination: college hockey and Ohio.
It was about as cool and fun trip to Columbus as one could imagine.
Click here to
catch all the 'Frozen
Four' action
RETURN TO THE
O.C.
CALIFORNIA DREAMING
January 14, 2005 - I finally got around to updating
this little site and sorting through the hundreds of pictures
from the big trip to California's Orange County. This was
my second trip to the land of pretty beaches, fancy cars, and
fake looking people. On top of spending Christmas with the
family strolling the beaches and overeating my entire week
there, I made it out to Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth,
and witnessed some of the stuff that makes Orange County the
O.C. (more..)
SCHLIEFKEVISION IN CALIFORNIA:
THE O.C.
VACATION PICTURES
January 3, 2004 - Ah what
Christmas holiday would be complete without pictures of the family?
See for yourself by going here.
THE O.C.
January 3, 2004 - Ten days, ten
nights. The Pacific Ocean, a 6.5 earthquake, lots of food, and
California holiday merriment.
Click here to
read more
FOOD IN CALIFORNIA
January 3, 2004 - After years
of anxiously waiting to try out California's fabled IN N
OUT Burgers, I finally was able to walk on up and order my
cheeseburger, animal style of course. Did it live up to
its expectations? Read this article and find out for
yourself - along with reviews of Fatburger and one of Los
Angeles' most famous hot dog stands, Pinks. (read
the article)
KANSAS CITY - 2004
August 11, 2004 - It's weird,
this is now the twelfth straight year I've stepped inside the city
limits of K-Town. Twelve years removed from my young, brash self
exploring the grounds of the Kansas City Art Institute for the first
time, my older, brash self made the rounds through town, rumbling
through the world's best barbecue, changing museums, and spending a fair
amount of time exploring one of the most intriguing downtowns I have
ever haunted. I also stared down the ghosts of my past from KCAI
(sometimes pushed into them by friends) and saw old friends, made new
ones, and somehow avoided the experience of changing my first diaper.
(lots more...)
KANSAS CITY ODYSSEY: THREE PARTS
THE TRIP TO OZ
July 2, 2003 - I finally passed
Austin's city limits just before 6 pm, another 750 miles
separated me from my old stomping grounds. Every trip back
is filled with anticipation and a bit of nostalgia, and I never
leave with an empty stomach. (more...)
AUSTIN, TEXAS PAGES ADDED!
June 16, 2003 - Just added the
archived files of my first trip to Austin, Texas. Paul and
Christin are still happily married and living under the warm Florida
sun, and I ended up in Austin.
Find out
why by clicking here...
THE TRUE MILLENNIUM:
EUROPEAN TRIP THROUGH HUNGARY, THE FORMER YUGOSLAV STATES AND JUST A
TASTE OF AUSTRIA AND SLOVAKIA.
May 23, 2003 - Michael
Schliefke's European journey through the new Millennium took him
through Eastern European capitals and even a nighttime rendezvous
with a pistol in Croatia. Read all about it...(more...)
CENTRAL EUROPE: POLAND, PRAGUE, AND WALTZING THROUGH VIENNA AND
MUNICH
May 22, 2003 - Cold
days, frosty nights, and middle of the night unheated train rides
east into Poland. Sound like fun? Hell yeah!!!
(more...)
