What Happens When You Aren’t A Tourist?

I Am Not A Tourist.

I read about Booger Red’s a few days before I left home and decided it would be among the first places I visited when I reached town. It was an arbitrary decision based upon a name that caught my eye and a desire to not be the untourist in my new city.

What it means is that I decided that when I got to town I was going to hit the ground running and start to soak up the sights and scenes. I wanted to establish a connection and a familiarity with everything sooner than later.

Part of doing that requires visiting the “touristy” stuff with the knowledge I don’t have to do it all in one fell swoop because I am not a tourist. I live here.

Three Big Words

I live here.

Those are three big words, massive. They are part of setting the tone and starting things off in the right fashion.

It doesn’t mean that I am not an Angeleno or that I am going to forget where I come from. I will always bleed Laker purple and gold and Dodger blue. Los Angeles is always my home and there may come a day when I will return for more than just a visit.

But I can’t straddle the fence and say this is a temporary situation. All that is temporary is living out of a suitcase and that won’t last much longer.

The Untourist

So I am spending much of my free time as the untourist doing the tourist thing and seeing the sights. I am scouting out places to take the family and learning how to get around.

After two days of driving around I am starting to feel like I have a decent sense of where I am in relationship to everything else. It is not perfect and I am sure I’ll continue to get lost but that is part of how you learn your way around.

It also makes me wonder about how many things and experiences I never did/had back home. I am confident in saying I covered the big ones and that I have been to most places that the tourists like to visit around Los Angeles.

Farmers Market, Hollywood Bowl, Westwood, the beach, Dodger Stadium, Disneyland and all of the other theme parks that stretch out to San Diego are covered. I know them all because I have been to each multiple times.

Hit a ton of the other stuff small and big that weren’t mentioned here as well, but there have to be things that I didn’t get to.

Truth is you can’t get to everything and it is kind of silly for me to try and fit a lifetime of experiences here into three days but that is just how I roll.

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By Joshua Wilner

Hi, I am Josh Wilner and I am happy that you have decided to visit my corner of cyberspace. I am a writer/marketer/friend and family man. My professional background includes more than twenty years in working with businesses to help them do a better job of connecting with their existing and prospective customers. More specifically I have worked with companies of all sizes from the Fortune 500 to the new start up to help them build, develop and grow their social media and marketing plans. I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy music, reading, writing, playing sports and laughing.

7 comments

  1. Hey there Josh

    Booger Red’s sounds cool. It reminds me that I’ve not been out for a beer in absolutely ages! I’m wishing I was meeting you for a beer there now.

    This is my second stint in Edinburgh. I came here to study Music at university way back and now my family and I are back here since 2005.

    I love Edinburgh but it’s funny; I rarely go into the city these days and it’s such a wonderful awe-inspiring place. I only live 5 miles along the coast from the centre so I really must go and do some touristy things again soon!

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Josh says:

      Hi Tim,

      I would love that. It would be a pleasure to grab a pint with you.

      I am not sure if I knew you studied music. What do you play? I don’t know how to play anything, but I sure love listening to music.

      I’ll second the motion to encourage you to go do touristy things. There probably are some really cool things just waiting for your attention.

      Reply

      1. I haven’t played an instrument seriously in years but when I did, I played the flute and piano.

        Many things have changed since then and if I could do things again, I would have driven myself harder to find work in the classical music field when I left university.

        I plan on teaching the kids the piano when they’re a little older. It can be a great release for frustration and tension.

        Reply
  2. kaarinadillabough – Business coach, mentor, muse: lover of life & livin' it to the max! Former Olympic broadcaster/coach. Single malt fan. Passionate about helping others succeed.
    Kaarina Dillabough says:

    It’s amazing how a change of scenery helps us remember the things we perhaps weren’t drinking in when in our own, everyday environment. Seeing the remarkable in the unremarkable is something that my photography does for me. Happy trails as you untourist your way around. Cheers! Kaarina

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Josh says:

      Hi Kaarina,

      Ever since I left LA I have noticed a million different things that made me want to stop and look at which probably means there are 5 million different pictures I have missed out on.

      But it hasn’t prevented me from noticing the things that are new and different to me. I imagine that what is normal to some feels exotic to others.

      It is a fun experience to have.

      Reply
  3. Jayme Soulati Blogging at Soulati-'TUDE! – Jayme Soulati is a hybrid PR professional blending digital, content and social media marketing with core PR and message mapping. She is an award-winning professional blogger and author of Writing with Verve on the Blogging Journey.
    Jayme Soulati says:

    I’m so excited to hear more about your launch to a new pit stop on the journey of professional accomplishments. Your approach is spot on; you live there, you’re not doing a project and running home. GO! Happy for you.

    Reply
    1. TheJackB – Someone complained that this page doesn’t tell you what to expect to find here in this blog so I aim to rectify this with the next line. I am a father who writes about life, parenting, business, politics and fiction. I don’t use an editorial calendar because I don’t map out what I am going to write that far in advance. The primary focus will be on things that relate to children and parenting. But the nifty thing about that is that encompasses a wide range of things. Sometimes I work with companies on their PR/Marketing efforts. If they provide products or services I will disclose it. Here is an incomplete list of companies that I am currently or have recently worked with: Nintendo, Philips Norelco, Subway, Frigidaire and Mattel. Want to know more about me, keep reading. If I wanted to provide a professional description it would looks similar to this: Jack has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from California State University Northridge. He has been writing for print and web publications for more than twenty years, covering a wide range of topics including: business, technology, parenting, politics, education, sports and religion. That is far too serious so I prefer to use something like: The Jack B. is a writer and author of 39 unpublished books and three screenplays. A former athlete and would be superhero he still fights for truth, justice and the American Way. Though he may look like a grown man, don’t fool yourself he is still a boy at heart. When he is not engaged in Walter Mitty like fantasies he is a husband, father and friend and blogs at TheJackB. Hmm…obviously I have since moved from Random Thoughts over to this place, but that is ok. This page is a work in progress which is a good description for me. I’ll probably tweak this on a regular basis so feel free to keep checking back in because you never know what might show up. I am a prolific writer and update frequently so don’t forget to scroll down the page to see what nugget of wisdom you just might have missed. Here is a short selection of posts to get you started. A Father Describes Parenting A Father’s Burden How Sister’s Helped to Train A Father of “Daddy’s Girl” Inside the Blogger’s Studio- A Dream, Er Nightmare The GermoPhobe What I Dream About I am In Love Becoming a Dad Dad’s Most Important Job A Decade of Dad Grandpa Donuts Why Your Post Sucks and Everyone Hates Your Blog A Letter To My Children- Things That Matter A Letter To My Children-2011 Dad Balances Fear Versus Reality Q&A With Daddy Blogger JackB Save The Last Dance For Me- 75 Years of Marriage An Uncertain Certainty Four Generations & A Wedding The Best Thing My Father Ever Said To Me 1 Foolproof Way To Become a Better Writer The Story Of A House- The Final Days He Died A Hero Twenty-Five Links That Will Make You A Better Writer/Blogger Thanks for coming by, I hope you like it. If you want to reach me use the contact form or try talk-to-jacknow-at-gmail-dotcom You can also find more information by clicking About Me and reading my profile there. Also, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter using the form on the top right hand side of the page.
      Josh says:

      Hi Jayme,

      Yep, I live here and I am happy. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. It is one hell of a rush.

      Reply

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