The West Virginia Surf Report!

Jeff Kay's Ridiculous Adventures In Suburbia

TheWVSR: Now With More Self-Indulgence!

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dylan_and_ginsberg_at_kerouacs_grave_75I started a little project yesterday that I thought I could knock out in an hour, and it ended up taking over my life for a full day and a half. I was screwing around on Google Maps, you see, and realized most of the places I’ve lived can now be seen using their street view feature. So, I thought I’d create a quick recap…

I’ve finally finished it, and you can take a look at it here. And that’s today’s update. I hope there’s something in there that’s at least semi-interesting. I promise to get back to the regular stuff next time.

Is there a way to link back to specific street views? If so, I’d love to see the most interesting places you’ve lived. Use the comments section, if you can, and I’ll see you guys soon.

Now playing in the bunker.

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  5. Guess I can finally take that Jeff Kay’s America Tour I’ve been dreaming about. Seriously, I just might have to explore the Dunbar addresses next time I head over to the Cold Spot.

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  10. That is most cool. I’ve looked at lots of places I’ve lived from the ‘top-down’ view, but not done a thorough survey of street views. What a great idea!

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  11. Good Afternoon Surf Reporters!!!!!

    What a cool update!! I only read a bit of “the Project”, and I’m definitely going back. Plus, I’ve got nothing but time today, so I’ll play. I just can’t remember specific addresses(at least the college years are fuzzy) but I’ll give it a shot.

    Thanks for the topic today JK !

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  14. I’m thinking of compiling a similar list except instead of being places I’ve lived it’ll be pictures of places I’ve masturbated, such as:

    *In the back of a used car this morning.
    *Behind the Olive Garden resturant at lunch today.
    *In my car while driving home from lunch today.
    *On my roof while I was supposed to be cleaning gutters, this afternoon.

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  15. Jeff-
    When I was a lowly Engineering Major at Arizona State in ’79, I lived here.
    http://tinyurl.com/86elxn
    The place was built originally in the 40’s or 50’s , as a motel, I think. Swamp coolers, crickets and a decrepit shuffleboard court. It’s still there, although the neighborhood has plummeted even further.

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  17. Thanks for the plug!

    I remember visiting that apartment on West Ave. I remember the bunch of us having to be at Peaches the next morning. At 5am!!!

    That was a few hours from when we wrapped up the last things for the inventory. Someone suggested going out for beer and YOU said, “Why don’t we just get beer and go watch The Waltons?”

    That was the first time I was introduced to your favorite Xmas flick and it became one of mine.

    Do you remember Rainey and me laughing our asses off just about every time Patricia Neal blurted out a line?

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  22. Jeff not showing his current address? Well, you’ve posted pictures of your backyard, so we just need to break the area into 10,000-one acre chunks and assign each surf reporter a google satellite chunk to try to match the photo.

    Oh, they may not have been able to find Steve Fosset this way, but just watch…

    Is there any winter imagery from Google? Someone could identify properties with lots of dog urine.

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  23. Jeff. look for a link somewhere on the page that says, to paraphrase, “link back to this page”, that should get you what you want. BUT, take a screen shot anyway. since google will change things up everyonce in a while.

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  24. “They’d often lie with their backs against our front door to stay warm, and piss themselves to sleep.”

    – Think I pissed myself a little laughing my ass off at that one!

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  25. Cool project, Jeff. All the places I’ve lived are within 20 miles of where I’m sitting right now, but there was a street view of every one of them. You can see my current house, but only if you know where to look from the “blacktop road”.

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  27. I have a cousin on 18th Street in Dunbar. I know you’re excited to read that.

    I may investigate some of my former homes and see what shows up. That was sort of fun, Jeff. The last price of the CA house was obscene!

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  28. Am I the only one who noticed that Jeff spent his formative years growing up under big ass power lines? Not a comment…just an observation. Hmmmm.

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  29. I’m returning to the classroom today, for the first time since 1985, or whatever. So, once again, no update.

    Tomorrow, my friends. Tomorrow.

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  30. Misselle– Am not sure. Are u calling Jeff’s project “the “places I’ve had sex” map” –pretty funny.

    Jeff have a great day! Can’t wait to here about classroom shenanigans.

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  32. That was supposed to be “hear” not “here”.

    Yeah, NOW you’re drug free– but what were ya on when ya got those face tats?

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  33. I pass the house you used to live in on 17th street in Dunbar every morning when I take the kids to school.

    I can find all the places I used to live on Google maps but I would NEVER show them to anyone who reads my blog.

    I’m crazy, but not THAT crazy.

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  34. here is where i lived in brooklyn until a mere 9 mo. ago:

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=102+S.+2nd+St.+Brooklyn+NY&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=42.631141,92.8125&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=40.713822,-73.963599&panoid=hvPNo6eKx_xsIUEqCYnf7Q&cbp=12,270.0000000205497,,0,5

    apparently this same building was used as the exterior when they showed where ricky schroeder lived when he was on nypd blue. it was painted then.

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  35. Here is the worst place I have ever lived.
    Jeff has sent a shirt to me here before
    (a few years ago)

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=1502+Monck+St,+Brunswick,+Glynn,+Georgia+31520&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FbpO2wEdWpok-w&split=0&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=23.875,57.630033&ll=31.149816,-81.487141&spn=0.009384,0.013819&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=31.149838,-81.487025&panoid=N3haIk8QphhkIDGk7LP–A&cbp=12,168.19210898222852,,0,5

    Corner of MLK.
    Rent $325 and no central heat.

    I flip it off whenever I find myself driving by it.
    Now you can flip it off, too.
    Everyone!

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  36. kenju:

    The entire *state* of California is obscene and ready to bite the big one.

    Think I’m joking?

    Read: http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_11440158?source=rss

    You can laugh at West Virginia all you want. Then look at CA.

    Today’s quote: “Harboring a resentment or holding a grudge is exactly the same as drinking poison and expecting your enemy to be harmed.” Nelson Mandela

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  37. Kristin – we were almost neighbors! I lived at Bedford & Grand at one point…

    Just wanted to say that I looove that pic of Dylan & Ginsberg, 2 of my favorite people, just not sure what it has to do with places you’ve lived…

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  43. That place in Phoenix posted by the ex-lowly engineering student; I think my brother lived there in the 70’s when he attended DeVry.

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  44. Well, two of the dozen or so places I’ve lived have been bulldozed (one in MA, one in IL) – that’s quite a shock to the system.

    Here’s the first place (in the US) I lived that hasn’t been torn down – believe it or not in this tiny house, our family of five lived in the upstairs and a family of four lived downstairs:

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=85+knollwood+st+springfield+ma&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.753001,114.257812&ie=UTF8&ll=42.121647,-72.595714&spn=0.006334,0.013947&z=17&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=42.121587,-72.59564&panoid=mlArwYbtixyeq3NWpQdCHA&cbp=12,40.31301165834043,,0,-7.417775432788796

    Aaah, the life of 1960’s immigrants…

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