The Great Move West: August – September 2016

Jes in the Dark: Early June 2016
Runyon: October 2016

Starting in Chicago, a brief interlude in Spring Valley, back to Chicago, then the interiors of motel rooms across the southwest USA as I moved my life to Los Angeles, on two disposable cameras.

A young woman stands confidently in an urban alley in Chicago. She wears a maroon hoodie, a patterned black dress, and thigh-high socks, carrying a colorful patterned handbag. The alley is lined with brick buildings on both sides, leading to a brighter cityscape in the background.

rhi

A woman stands in front of a large fountain in downtown Chicago. Water cascades dramatically in twin streams from the circular fountain, with steps forming a tiered base. Behind her, modern office buildings with large glass windows complete the urban setting.

tourist

The same woman poses in front of the fountain, smiling with hands clasped behind her back. The symmetrical design of the fountain’s water jets and tiered stone base highlights the geometric aesthetic of the scene, framed by towering buildings.

tourist

A quiet street in Spring Valley, Wisconsin, lined with small buildings, including a bright red barn-like building and several white-painted structures. Trees and a lush green hill dominate the background, while a blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds completes the peaceful rural view.

sv

A view of downtown Spring Valley, Wisconsin, showing a chain-link fence enclosing a lot in front of the back of the downtown stretch. One building, the back of the prestigious town theater, features a large popcorn mural with the word "Popcorn," set against a backdrop of green hills and a partly cloudy sky.

sv

A white-painted wooden porch overlooking a lush, tree-filled yard in Spring Valley, Wisconsin. Intricate wooden details decorate the porch railing, and potted plants add a touch of greenery to the scene.

sv

An elevated view of a rainy Chicago street from an elevated train stop, lined with retail stores, including a GNC and a Cricket Wireless. Buses and cars move along the wet street, framed by overcast skies and scattered trees. A Howard-bound Red Line CTA train pulls into a Chicago station on a rainy day. The platform’s blue tiles and the train’s sleek silver exterior reflect the damp conditions. Overhead wires and nearby brick buildings add to the urban setting. A dimly lit bedroom in Chicago with an open window revealing treetops and buildings outside. A rumpled bed occupies the foreground, while cardboard boxes are stacked near the walls, hinting at an upcoming move.

Sophia, my fluffy white-and-black cat, lies playfully on a bed in the Chicago apartment. She looks through the loop of a cable, with the open window in the background showing greenery and neighboring buildings. She's so cute!

sophia

A dark hotel room with minimal light coming through a curtained window, casting faint outlines of a bed and furniture in the foreground. It's a very dark underexposed disposable camera shot indoors. A view from a hotel window of an abandoned car wash lot with scattered tires and a large billboard advertising an adult store, set against a bright blue sky. The screen window is visible in the foreground. The interior of a Uhaul moving van with a red backpack, a coffee cup in the cup holder, and various controls visible on the dashboard. A glimpse of a gas station is seen through the window. A dimly lit hotel room with a bed and a bedside lamp casting a warm glow, highlighting the disarray of the sheets and the surrounding darkness. A highway stretching into the horizon under an overcast sky, lined with wind turbines and utility poles. Photographed through the windshield of a Uhaul moving van. A darkened motel room with two beds partially visible under the soft light of a bedside lamp, emphasizing the muted tones of the space.

A silhouette of a person, Katie, standing in a motel bathroom doorway, surrounded by faint light reflecting off tiled surfaces and wooden paneling.

katie

A hotel room with closed blinds allowing only a thin strip of sunlight, illuminating the unmade beds and bedside tables in an otherwise dim setting. A roadside motel with a long, single-story building and a large neon "Motel" sign. The parking lot is dotted with a few cars under a partly cloudy sky, with rocks and sand all around.

The driver’s seat of a Uhaul moving van, showing me, Ethan Hulbert, a young man with a tattoo around my bicep in a turquoise tank top, wearing driving gloves, focused on driving through an arid, open landscape visible through the windows.

myself

A dimly lit hotel room with two unmade beds, a bedside lamp casting a warm glow, and a figure - Katie - silhouetted in the doorway leading to a brightly lit bathroom area. The contrast between light and shadow emphasizes the room's sparse details and subdued ambiance.

katie

A hotel room featuring plantation shutters on a window, allowing a sliver of daylight to enter the dark space. A floor lamp with a glowing bulb stands in the corner, adding minimal illumination to the quiet interior.

A West Hollywood residential street (Vista) lined with modern apartment buildings and a mix of palm trees and leafy green trees. Several parked cars line the curb, and the late afternoon sunlight creates long shadows on the pavement.

katie

A sidewalk in West Hollywood shaded by leafy trees. Cars are parked on both sides of the street, and the greenery adds a calm, suburban feel to the urban surroundings. A small silhouette of a black cat painted on a white wall outside a shop window. The shop's interior is visible through the glass, showing shelves and folded merchandise. The minimalist mural creates a striking focal point on the otherwise plain wall. The wooden framework of a partially demolished or under-construction house. Exposed beams and fragmented plaster walls reveal the structure's internal details, with bright daylight emphasizing the raw, unfinished state. A pale beige apartment building on Vista Avenue in West Hollywood with the number "1015" displayed on its façade. The building's minimal design is complemented by a small patch of greenery and a few parked cars in the front. A narrow pathway between apartment buildings, featuring balconies adorned with potted plants and wrought iron railings. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows, highlighting the details of the stucco walls and railings. A softly lit kitchen with a window overlooking tall trees outside. The sink, counter, and a few kitchen items like a blender and microwave are visible, creating a cozy, functional space with a view of nature. A close-up of the same kitchen window, framed by small potted plants on the sill. The trees outside fill the view, and the soft light filtering through the leaves adds a serene atmosphere to the interior. A nighttime street scene in West Hollywood featuring a bright light overhead and neon signs illuminating the area. The sign for '25' something-or-other is visible to the left, with the streets below dotted by car headlights and taillights. A night shot of 'The Last Great Hamburger Stand' restaurant in West Hollywood, except some letter lights are out so it says 'The Last Great Ham...er Stand'. The neon red sign contrasts against the dark background, with faint car lights passing by in the foreground.

My cat Sophia sitting on a navy blue blanket spread over a bed. Her fluffy white fur with brown patches and bright red tag make her stand out against the dark room.

sophia

Sophia sitting upright on the wooden floor next to a metal desk with shelves. The background includes a chair with a cushion, a ring light, and some storage bins.

sophia

Sophia under a bed frame, standing on a wooden floor next to a transparent plastic bag. Her glowing eyes and fluffy coat add contrast to the dimly lit space.

sophia

A sidewalk in West Hollywood lined with tall palm trees on the left and a hedge on the right. Parked cars line the street, and the sidewalk stretches into the distance, creating a lush urban atmosphere.

A stenciled black and yellow bee painted on a concrete sidewalk in West Hollywood. My sneakers are partially visible at the bottom, with green vines trailing onto the walkway.

myself

A dense collection of overgrown tropical plants at Xotx-Tropico in West Hollywood. The vibrant greens and pinks create a jungle-like path leading through the foliage. A close-up of a lavender bush at Xotx-Tropico with a single bright pink flower blooming amid the greenery. The textured leaves and contrast of colors highlight the plant’s unique appearance.

From Chicago to Los Angeles, the biggest move of my life–after stopping by home in Spring Valley again for a moment, of course. Katie and I drove that Uhaul moving truck through the southwest, through plains and mountains, with all of our things in the back and our beloved cat Sophia riding along.

A different motel every night, parking that giant moving truck and getting gas for it at roadside stops along the way. Finally showing up to our place on Vista in West Hollywood, California, hoping that it was real, since we’d never seen it before. Finding the door unlocked and the key where they said it would be hidden, moving in, exploring the wonders of the great westward state for the first time. So many plants, so much sun.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget that move, but I sure hope I don’t have to do anything quite like it again.

Jes in the Dark: Early June 2016
Runyon: October 2016


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