The Journal of the Traveling Squid USA

The Traveling Squid does a USA Road Trip! On the road again ... yep, the Traveling Squid recently hit the road again after a rest period. You might have heard of the goodwill project, The Journal of the Traveling Squid.

The original first edition hit the road on March 21, 2009, departing from Jacksonville, Florida, and arriving in the United Kingdom. After a jolly old time there, it traveled on to Ireland and then went down under to Australia and New Zealand before returning home.

The second edition hit the road on July 9-10, 2009 in the United States of America, connecting with a number of key Squidoo HQ people before venturing on to connect with giant squids in California. There were so many lensmasters and giant squids who wanted to participate that we decided to launch edition three on March 21, 2014. They say the third time is the charm, you know?

Image Credit: The Journal of the Traveling Squid USA Edition III created by Steve Thompson, TagsforKids.

The Traveling Squid Project in a Nutshell

Folks! It is important that I don’t repeat myself … you know, I like to keep it original. I believe you should be the best that you can be and be authentic. But, don’t proliferate the internet with duplicate content!

#1 – I think it is important that you first acquaint yourself with the original project, The Journal of the Traveling Squid. There are so many cool people who were apart of the two editions. You’ll see their wonderful pictures and fabulous original content that they penned for their journal entries.

#2 – If you want to be a part of the United States Volume III edition, it is easy to sign up! Please add your lensmaster profile link here!

#3 – Take a moment to read, 7 things you should know when participating.

#4 – When you receive the traveling squid package, sign the USA participant guestbook.

Basically, the project consists of a giant squid t-shirt that you will sign with your lensmaster name, location, and date. Then you pen your own personal entry in the journal. Next, you travel to some local landmark and capture photos of yourself with the t-shirt [and journal if you like]. Lastly, and completely optional, you can record your personal experience in a travel lens!

When you have completed your contribution, you send me the pictures so that I can add them here, along with some information on your experience. You can also transcribe your journal entry and send that to me.

Participants in Volume III in the U.S.A.
Who have actually RECEIVED the project. We are logging date the package is received here! For those lensmasters who reside in the U.S.A., who are participating in Volume III. When you have received your package, be sure to sign in and add the date received along with your favorite charity.

We had three participants in the relaunch of the Traveling Squid USA. Then, Squidoo announced the acquisition of key content by HubPages!!

What They Said!

Ruthi Jul 16, 2014 @ 12:15 pm - I received the Traveling Squid parcel from Jennifer Akers on June 25th, 2014, hooray! Unfotunately, I've been consumed by ill health issues with my dog Tidbit, and am now mourning the loss of my girl, but I have plans for a special project or two for the Squid! I have several favorite chrities, but being a Florida resident and dog owner, I most certainly have First Coast No More Homeless Pets at the top of my Squidoo charity list.

JenniferAkers Jun 30, 2014 @ 6:25 am - I received my package at the end of April. I visited Largo Central Park - a beautiful park that offers many fun activities and is a popular place for our wonderful local events. My favorite charity (not a Squidoo charity) is Gluten Free in Florida Support Group, also located in Largo, FL. They're a non-profit, hold a monthly support group, support GF food donations to a local food bank, and host a yearly gluten free annual expo: http://glutenfreeforlifeexpo1.blogspot.com/ Portions of the donations go to a GF camp for kids.

CruiseReady May 25, 2014 @ 5:41 am - I received the package from Julie sometime at the end of March, while I was out of town on business, and was able to go down to the port and take those cruise ship pictures in April of 2014. My favorite charity currently (not a Squid Charity) is Honor Flight. 

Volume III - USA Participants
The first stop on the USA road trip was Merritt Island, Florida. CruiseReady took the project to Port Canaveral to check out two cruise ships!

These photos were taken at the edge of the ship’s channel. Both ships were putting out to sea from their home port of Port Canaveral, on their way to The Bahamas. At this point, they are nearing the end of the channel and will soon be in the open Atlantic, where they will turn Starboard, heading south.

Since this is their home port, their voyages begin and end here. Each would have arrived at Port Canaveral before sun up that morning, ending one cruise. That group of passengers will disembark, and the ship will be thoroughly cleaned, restocked, and readied for another couple of thousand cruisers. The new group begins boarding roughly around noon, and the ships leave at 30 minute intervals, beginning at around 4 or 4:30 pm (depending on how many home ported ships are in on that particular day).

The day we were there, two ships sailed. The first one, where you see just the bow, is the Carnival Sensation of Carnival Cruise Line. The second one, the one with the white Mickey Mouse icon on the red funnel, is the Disney Dream, which belongs to Disney Cruises.

You get a sense of how big these ladies of the sea are when you look at the top deck of the Disney Dream. See how tiny the people look who are lining the railing of the top deck? That’s about the 12th or 13th deck up, I think. And guess what? The bigger ships normally do their turnarounds on the weekends. This was a week day.

I haven’t sailed on either of these ships. We usually sail with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, which did not have a ship in port on that particular day. Theirs come and go on Sundays (Freedom of the Seas) and Friday / Monday (Enchantment of the Seas).

One really cool thing is that when the Disney ship blows its fog horn to signal it’s leaving port, it sounds very different from most other ship horns. It actually plays a tune – the first few notes of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” whereas all the others just intone a deep, loud EEEEE-OH.

Though it’s WAY more fun to be on board, it’s still a lot of fun to watch the sailing aways… everyone on deck waves like crazy at the people on shore, who wave back, and you can hear the island music playing as they pass. ~ CruiseReady Sheila from Merritt Island, Florida, April 2014.

Stop #2
Jennifer Akers took the traveling squid project and giant squid t-shirt to Largo Central Park!

June 20, 2014 – Largo, FL : “I can’t tell you how excited I was to be a part of The Traveling Squid Project! What a heartwarming journey connecting lensmasters across the miles. My personal Squidoo journey started over 7 years ago. How exciting to see my first published lens go live on New Years Day, 2007! I started as a way to express myself, shares things of interest with other curious people.” ~ Jennifer Akers

Stop #3!
The Journal of the Traveling Squid headed on to Carrabelle! Where will it travel next?

History: The Journal of the Traveling Squid USA was originally created on Squidoo by JaguarJulie on May 4, 2014.

The Journal of the Traveling Squid

Fellowship, Goodwill and Making Connections Worldwide with Other Squidoo Lensmasters! The Journal of the Traveling Squid is a goodwill project connecting Squidoo lensmasters, particularly Giant Squids of yesterday, today, and tomorrow worldwide. The inspiration for the journey of the traveling squid really originated in the Summer of 2008. At that time, I contemplated how to launch this project of sisterhood and brotherhood for charity; to take my Giant Squid t-shirt, sign it and send it on to the next Squidoo lensmaster.

The Traveling Squid International Edition T-shirt photographed by JaguarJulie

This is the original, founding lens of The Journal of the Traveling Squid -- which tracked the traveling squid worldwide journey internationally and in the United States. The journey celebrated its anniversary on March 21, 2014. That was coincidentally my 8-year anniversary on Squidoo. The Traveling Squid kicked off its worldwide journey in Jacksonville, Florida and then flew on to Gordon Hamilton in the United Kingdom.

Volume II, the U.S.A. edition was traveling last in California. Volume I left the U.K. after enjoying 6 full months there; stopping off in Ireland and then on to Australia! Volume III, the second U.S.A. edition headed out to Merritt Island, Florida and is looking to travel in the state before moving on.

Whew! The international edition arrived home in Jacksonville, Florida on August 18, 2010. On July 15, 2010, we informed Flynn the Cat in New Zealand that the international edition was being called home to the United States, home base in Jacksonville, Florida, for a rest period. The international traveling squid has had a lot of fun traveling internationally -- thank you everyone for participating so boldly! Oh, the USA traveling squid also arrived back home in Jacksonville, Florida a short while after the international edition. Thanks folks for contributing to such a marvelous journey. There is a possibility that we will resume its travels some time in the future!

March 21, 2014, Jacksonville, FL: Relaunch ... We launched the next edition of the traveling squid in the United States in Florida. And, we now have a new lens, The Journal of the Traveling Squid USA. If you are in the United States and want to participate, lensmasters in the U.S.A. sign up here.

Look At THAT Squidoo Giant Squid T-Shirt - The International Edition! OMG, is this not a cool t-shirt?

It is our objective to auction off The Journal of the Traveling Squid — signed international edition of the Squidoo Giant Squid t-shirt! This auction is to benefit a Squidoo charity. Once we have determined where the auction will be held, we will let you know. The winning bidder will have the distinct honor of determining WHICH charity will benefit from the proceeds.

WOW! Look at this shirt! Imagine the priceless miles, the priceless experiences, the sheer amount of DNA the shirt has collected in its worldly travels. I tell you, it boggles the mind! Yes it does.

What is The Journal of the Traveling Squid? There is a Journal and a Giant Squid T-Shirt ...

The Journal of the Traveling Squid project consists of the Journal and a Giant Squid T-shirt. As each Squidoo lensmaster receives the forwarded package containing the journal and shirt, they will make their contribution to the journal with a journal entry. And, they will also sign the shirt with their lensmaster name, location and date.

Each participating lensmaster is asked to make a personal journal entry of their choosing. What does Squidoo mean to you? What are you passionate about? What matters to you? Feel free to add a drawing or maybe some poetry. After all, this is your journal entry.

Read on for further information about participants’ participation in this project — 7 things you should know — for participants.

Purple Star Journey

BTW, wonderful news for The Journal of the Traveling Squid -- on June 25, 2009 this lens earned the coveted purple star for quality content. The traveling squid is overjoyed! Then, Gordon Hamilton and The Five Dollar Vacation earned a purple star! Woo Hoo! Holy Moly Batman, KimGiancaterino earned a purple star for The Journal of the Traveling Squid Hollywood and KathyMcGraw earned a purple star for The Journal of the Traveling Squid Palm Springs.

The Journal and the Giant Squid T-Shirt

How do you feel about The Journal of the Traveling Squid?
Can such a pay it forward, goodwill / charity project work? Do you believe the traveling squid will make it around the world? A few lensmasters weighed in and this is what they had to say!

7 things you should know when participating
If you participate in this worldwide project; when you receive the package!

* Please sign the shirt with your lensmaster name, date and location [city, state, country].

* Add your journal entry: What does Squidoo mean to you? What are you passionate about? Feel free to write a page entry about something that matters to you. Add a drawing or maybe some poetry.

* Photographs please: As shown below, take a picture of your journal entry. Also, we are asking participants to have a photograph taken of themselves holding the shirt and journal next to an interesting landmark close to their location. If there is no interesting landmark, an outdoor picture will work! Pictures should be emailed to JaguarJulie at the email included in the journal. You may also want to upload these to your Flickr acount.

* Visit The Journal of the Traveling Squid lens and leave a comment here for participants in the International Edition and likewise leave a comment here if you are a participant in the U.S.A. with date the package arrived, your location and provide your favorite charity!

* Most important: package up the journal and signed t-shirt and mail/post it on to the next lensmaster. Each participating lensmaster may determine the next lensmaster to receive the package with the goal of covering all interested lensmasters in a location [city, state, country] before moving on to a new state or country. Check this lens for interested lensmasters!

* A donation to your favorite charity is encouraged at the time you receive your package. This part is optional and up to you!

* Please keep me [JaguarJulie] in the loop when you receive your package. You can use the contact me on my lensmaster profile.

The goal of The Journal of the Traveling Squid
The goal of this project is to connect lensmasters worldwide, hoping to travel far and wide — to all continents, and to raise money for charity. Inspired by The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, this journey is starting with an idea — with a journal and a shirt.

The Very First Logo Graphic for This Project
Designed by lensmaster Janusz Biela

This cool logo was designed by fellow lensmaster Janusz Biela. It was his creation to feature a Traveling Squid wearing the Giant Squid t-shirt, standing atop Mt. Everest holding the Journal! Pretty clever don’t you think. Janusz offers his designing skills free to fellow Squidoo lensmasters — that is mighty remarkable, don’t you think. Thank you Janusz!

Have some ideas?

Stazjia Jun 05, 2013 @ 4:20 pm - I remember the Travelling Squid so well and followed its progress. I can just about see a bit of my name on the left shoulder, hidden a bit by the fold. I even remember where on the T-shirt I signed it though it was 4 years ago. It was a marvellous, magic idea which demonstrated the Squidoo spirit of the time.

The Journal of the Traveling Squid P1 and P2

Make your mark by signing the Journal and the Giant Squid t-shirt

International Edition of The Journal of the Traveling Squid
It flew to the U.K. in March 2009 and has returned to Jacksonville, Florida for a rest period!

Welcome to the International Edition of The Journal of the Traveling Squid! If you are a Squidoo lensmaster who is or will be participating in the Traveling Squid project, and live outside the United States, this is where YOU will be found. This page is highlighting the journal entries and landmark pictures of participating Squidoo lensmasters internationally. We started off the International Edition in March 2009, and here we are, one years later and still going strong!

The journal started off in Jacksonville, Florida and was dispatched to the United Kingdom. Do you know, the traveling squid spent 6 months in the U.K.???? Oh my goodness, I say! From the U.K., the traveling squid HIT Ireland and then flew like crazy to Australia. Said traveling squid spent a good bit of time there, down under, before gearing up to hit New Zealand.

July 15, 2010: We have informed Flynn the Cat in New Zealand that the international edition of the traveling squid is being called home to the United States, home base in Jacksonville, Florida, for a rest period. The international traveling squid has had a lot of fun traveling internationally — thank you everyone. Oh, for the time being, we will continue on with the USA traveling squid. Thanks folks!

The Journal of the Traveling Squid is a goodwill project connecting Squidoo lensmasters, particularly Giant Squids of yesterday, today, and tomorrow worldwide.

Volume I -- International Edition: U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and on!

The Journey in the U.K.
Continuing throughout the U.K. connecting so many lensmasters and giant squids. Gordon Hamilton has ‘made his mark’ on the Volume I U.K. journal and t-shirt in March 2009. Some six months later, the journal had visited 17 lensmasters in the U.K.! That’s pretty remarkable.

Once all willing lensmasters located in the U.K. have participated in the journey, the journal and t-shirt will be ready to make its way out of the U.K. into Ireland and then into Europe for an Eastern journey around the world!

Oh, did you read that we started a second volume of the traveling squid on Seth Godin’s birthday??? July 10, 2009, the journal departed Jacksonville, FL headed to our very own Gil. Now it is September, and Volume II is underway in the U.S.A.

Kick-Off -- Volume I International Edition
Squidoo Lensmaster Participants

1. JaguarJulie -- Jacksonville, FL USA
2. Gordon Hamilton -- U.K.
3. AJ2008 -- U.K.
4. Inkserotica -- U.K.
5. Debnet and Poddys -- U.K.
6. The_Book_Garden -- U.K.
7. NanLT -- U.K.
8. Kate-Phizackerley -- U.K.
9. Stazjia -- U.K.
10. thefluffanutta -- U.K.
11. oneskms -- U.K.
12. Rob3 -- U.K.
13. MrLewisSmile -- U.K.
14. AndyPo -- U.K.
15. Wizard-Morton -- U.K.
16. sherridan -- U.K.
17. Auntiekatkat -- U.K.
18. tirial -- U.K.
19. spook -- Ireland
20. susannaduffy -- Australia
21. Charlyjl -- Australia
22. RhiannonL -- Australia
23. skiesgreen -- Australia
24. N376 -- Australia
25. RonPass -- Australia
26. seegreen -- Australia
27. Flynn_the_Cat -- New Zealand
28. Bria-Silivren -- New Zealand

Volume II - U.S.A. Edition
Originating in Jacksonville, Florida with JaguarJulie

Hello to my fellow lensmasters, Squidoo you all, who reside in the United States of America! Woo-Hoo you all. I am so glad to have connected with each and every one of you to celebrate the traveling squid in America. It was truly fabulous to actually have the important folk of Squidoo — let’s see, Gil Hildebrand, Kimberly Dawn Wells, Corey Brown, Seth Godin, Megan Casey … did I miss any of the HQ gang? How awesome it truly was to have these fine Squidoo people participate in The Journal of the Traveling Squid? Yes indeed. And, it has been a true honor to be involved with Squidoo, speaking for myself.

Thank you hugely to the fine U.S.A. lensmasters who lent their time and talents to the traveling squid. Hugs you all.

In the U.S.A. -- Volume II
Squidoo Lensmaster Participants

1. giltotherescue -- Boulder, CO
2. SquidooKimberly -- Medford, WI
3. Seth Godin -- N.Y.
4. Corey Brown -- VA
5. Susan52 -- AR
6. KimGiancaterino -- Los Angeles, CA
7. KathyMcGraw -- Palm Springs, CA
8. badmsm -- Modesto, CA
9. Squidster -- Riverside, CA
10. Frankster -- Fort Bragg, CA
11. Megan Casey -- San Jose, CA
12. boredofeducation -- Fullerton, CA
13. GreekGeek -- Irvine, CA
14. Heather426 -- Canyon Country, CA
15. Paperfacets -- La Verne, CA
16. _Joan_ -- Someplace in CA

Lensmaster Spotlight

GILTOTHERESCUE 8/10/2009 – Boulder, CO and New Orleans, LA

Wawaweewa! I’m delighted to be the second Squid to sign the US journal. For the collection, I’ve taken two photos – one at work and another at play.

In the photo at my desk I am hacking away, most likely on a lensrank bug or our new modules as pages project (hope you like it).

In the other photo I took the journal to my home town: the European-inspired, laissez-faire city of New Orleans. After walking around the French Quarter all day, I made a pit stop to take this photo on the corner of the famous (or is it infamous?) Bourbon St. before making my was to Port of Call, home of the best beef and portabello burgers in town.

Before I go I want to say thanks to all you fantabulous lensmasters for using Squidoo. We’ve created something special here, and I’m thrilled to work with such a talented, eclectic group of writers and marketers. Keep on rockin. ~ Gil aka giltotherescue

Squidoo Kimberly / Kimberly Dawn Wells August 24, 2009 – Medford, WI

Hi Lensmasters!

When I started doing web design in 1997 I never dreamed a service like Squidoo would become available and make the process so simple; nor did I ever guess I’d one day be part of the team running it!

In my photo I’m multitasking – kicking back in my office between a long day of coding and writing and preparing to be on ambulance call for the night.

The potential of Squidoo has only begun to be tapped. Every day lensmasters surprise us with new ways to collect, share, and archive information through their creative use of lenses. Keep up the great work, and keep working hard on what you are passionate about. ~ K. D. Wells

Seth Godin Wednesday September 2, 2009 New York, New York

SQUID ALERT!

That’s the little Seth action figure wearing his too big t-shirt.

Keep Creating

Keep Leading

Keep making a difference

~ Seth Godin

Corey Brown Thursday September 10, 2009 Winchester, Virginia

The traveling squid has made its way to historic old town Winchester, Virginia, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

I’m sharing two pictures … the first is one of me in front of The Bright Center, where we have a coworking location. The second is me hard at work, reading an email from Blake on something Squidoo-related and coming soon.

Thanks to all the Squids for all you do. You’ve made this platform better than we could have imagined. ~ Corey Brown

Donations? Yessirreee Bob! We are talking about charity and donations, part of the foundation celebrating the worldwide journey of The Journal of the Traveling Squid! Each step of the worldwide journey was slated to be marked by charitable donations from participating lensmasters.

What is your pet charity? Do you actually work with a charity? Me? Well, yes I do! My pet charity is First Coast No More Homeless Pets often known as FCNMHP. Funny when I spell that out, I have to repeat the words to get it right. My journey with FCNMHP started in October 2003 and I’m still going strong with this fine charity even today … as we speak.

The mission of First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) is to eliminate the killing of dogs and cats in our community through free and low-cost spay and neuter programs.

So, let’s pony up and do our part in the charitable donations department. It will feel good — go ahead; try it; you’ll like it. Charity begins at home! Your home.

Thanks Squidoo for the Memories!!

giltotherescue Mar 22, 2010 @ 11:52 am - I love browsing this lens from time to time to see where the traveling squid has gone next. Reading about so many passionate lensmasters all over the world is inspiring.

THANK YOU * THANK YOU * THANK YOU!!!

History: The Journal of the Traveling Squid was originally created on March 21, 2009. On June 25, 2009 this lens earned the Purple Star Award for quality content. Highest lensrank ever achieved: #14 overall. This was a top lens with 65 days on the Top 100 list. Lens #412 in the quest for Giant Squid 500 Club.

Jaguar Julie Designs Logo Contest

YES, it was a CONTEST open to all Squidoo Lensmasters!

Announcing that we had a contest and everybody came and participated. We received a boatload of creative logo designs for consideration. The winner was squidster Anne!

ARCHIVE INFORMATION: Here's the scoop! Jaguar Julie, that's me, is in need of a logo for her company, that's Jaguar Julie Designs. Yep, she designs logos, BUT, you know that story about the cobbler's children going without shoes?

It's much the same with Jaguar Julie -- she's got designer's BLOCK when it comes to her own logo!

Get all the scoop on this contest and find out how to enter. Want to know what you can win too? Visit my Squidoo lens to find out more!

So, have you got what it takes to design Jaguar Julie Designs' logo? Go ahead, what are you waiting for?