-= Random Ramblings... =-

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Here at last!

Well we made it. We got here Sunday night about 11pm EST (or EDT, whatever the hell it is right now). I haven't been able to post until now because my parents' computer is a piece of junk and I'm still trying to get it to work right :P It doesn't look like all my updates made it to Blogger, but they made it to Flickr, so if you want to see all the pictures and blog entries that should have been here, then you'll have to visit my Flickr page. Just click the Flickr logo on the sidebar over there on the right and it should take you to my page.

That's all for now, more updates later.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

New Hat

New Hat

Mirella's getting in the southern spirit. She bought this at our first stop in Louisiana.

Faux Carl's

Faux Carl's

I'd heard of Hardee's before but never eaten there, until now. The menu is nothing like Carl's back home.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Stupid traffic pt. 2

Stupid traffic pt. 2

Well we got past the last traffic jam only to get stuck in another one in downtown Houston.

Stupid traffic

Stupid traffic

Almost to Houston and an accident or something has the whole freeway closed.

Texas gas prices

Texas gas prices

Don't you wish you lived here?

Thursday, May 19, 2005

1,000 Miles

1,000 Miles

Just hit the 1000 mile mark. We're not even halfway there yet but it's still cool.

My copilot

My copilot

The drive is much easier when you have someone to talk to and to help drive.

Kent Public School

Kent Public School

Stopping in Kent, TX came across this lonely abandoned building which apparently used to be the Kent Public School.

Mexican Border

Mexican Border

We're in Texas now, paralleling the Rio Grande. This is a picture of a Mexican neighborhood right across the river.

Music!

Music!

Stopped at Walmart and picked up some travelling music. There's not alot of good radio in the middle of nowhere.

Hungry!

Hungry!

Stopping for food in Deming, NM.

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Done for today

Done for today

Staying at a Super 8 motel in Lordsburg, NM.

Past Phoenix

Past Phoenix

Through Phoenix, on to Tucson. Phoenix was smaller than I expected.

Civilization again!

Civilization again!

Now that we're getting close to Phoenix, traffic!

Cross-country Kitty

Cross-country Kitty

Mellowest cat ever. She's not freaking out at all, just gets comfortable and chills.

Colorado River

Colorado River

We slept at a hotel about a mile down the road from here

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Better late than never

Better late than never

Gassing up, getting ready to go

Running late

Running late
Running late,
originally uploaded by foxpaw.
Trailer problems and packing problems mean we haven't left yet and it's 7pm on Tuesday. Still hoping to make Tucson our first stop though.

Friday, May 13, 2005

Stupid Sports Rack

So my hitch didn't arrive when it was supposed to. It's Friday, I'm leaving Monday and I have no trailer hitch on my truck. It's partially my fault. When I ordered the hitch I didn't realize that I was talking to a store in Sacramento (that's where their toll free number goes) so the hitch I ordered got delivered to Sacramento earlier this week. I called them and told them I needed it shipped to Costa Mesa. Here's where things start to break down. I talked to them on Tuesday, they said they would ship it Wednesday and it should get to Costa Mesa either Thursday or Friday. They didn't call me on Thursday so I figured it would get there today. I call them today around 1pm and they tell me it's there, so I send Mirella over to pick it up. She gets there and they start to carry it out to the truck, but then notice that my truck is a Nissan and the hitch they have is for a Toyota. Then they notice that the name on the order isn't my name. Apparently there was another person in my exact same situation. They got his order, but not mine. After a few phone calls I find out that the Sacramento store did ship it out (or so they say) but there's no record of it in the UPS computers at all. It's basically lost. It didn't show up at its destination and the tracking number they have doesn't bring up anything. Wonderful.

Fortunately U-Haul has what I need, although I'm going to need to drive back up to LA tomorrow to pick it up, which kinda sucks. Sports Rack is going to refund me the money for the hitch they lost, and hopefully U-Haul doesn't screw me over. I'm paying about $20 more for the U-Haul hitch, but it's still not expensive and I need it now, so I'm willing.

3 days and counting... and getting a little stressed out...

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Last Minute!

I hate leaving stuff until the last minute, and yet I somehow always manage to do it. Even when I'm not doing it on purpose. I ordered a Class III hitch from Sports Rack. I had some questions about it, so I called their toll free number to talk to a salesperson. I finagled myself a nice deal and was so proud of myself that I forgot to tell the guy that I needed it shipped to their Costa Mesa store. Instead it got shipped to their home store in Sacramento. Doh! I was hoping to have it last week so I could get it installed with plenty of time. Instead, I'm told it's supposed to get to Costa Mesa tomorrow. I still have the weekend to install, so it's not like I'm getting it Monday morning when I'm supposed to be ready to leave.

Hmmm... I need to go find some wood to knock on now...

4 days and counting...

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Saying Goodbye

Gawd, that title makes it sound like I'm leaving forever. I'm such a drama queen.

This weekend is going to be my last weekend in California for a while, so it's going to be busy with get-togethers, dinners, and parties. I'd never really realized it before but I have 4 different groups of friends, and I'm getting together with each group at some point over the weekend.

Group 1 - Old School Friends
In both meanings of the term. Friends from High School, and old friends that I've known for years. I'm getting together with these friends on Friday night. (If you read my blog and you didn't know this, then email me and I'll fill you in).

Group 2 - Dojo Friends
Fellow students and teachers from USSD Lake Forest. One of the students is throwing a party in my honor on Saturday night. There will be much drinking from what I undertand. I dunno how much drinking I'll be doing since I have to finish getting everything ready for the move that weekend also.

Group 3 - Offroad Friends
The guys from Dirty World Offroad Club are getting together on Sunday afternoon/evening to see me off. We're going to be hanging out at Dave & Buster's and there's supposed to be much drinking and probably much playing of games. Again, not sure I'm going to be doing much drinking here since it's the day before I leave and I don't think starting the trip off with a hangover is too wise.

Group 4 - Work Friends
This one only half counts since it's really just a lunchtime get together, but I feel more important including them in the list because it brings my total group count up to 4.

Considering we still need to finish packing up the last minute stuff (stuff we're still using) it's going to be a really busy weekend.

5 days and counting...

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

Travel Route

In case anyone was wondering (and I'm sure all of you were) here's a link to the route that I'm going to be taking, thanks to Google Maps. Approximately 2,760 miles in 44 hours. I rented a tow dolly from U-Haul for the trip and I have it for 10 days, so at approximately 4.4 hours per day I think we'll make it in time. I'm actually really looking forward to the trip, I'll get to see more of the U.S. than I've ever seen before. I get to go from California through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and on to Florida. Most of those states I haven't been to yet. I was in an airport in Tucson, and I've been to visit my parents in Florida, but the vast majority of the trip is places I've never been to before. Plus while going through Texas I'm passing through San Antonio, so I'm going to stop by and visit Dan who I haven't seen in forever.

6 days and counting...

Monday, May 09, 2005

Counting down...

A week from today I'll begin the long drive from Southern California to Southern Florida. That's going to be a long, long drive. Especially since I won't be able to drive very fast, seeing as how I'm towing Mirella's car with my truck. It'll be an interesting adventure though, we'll make sure to snap lots of pictures on the drive. I'll probably set up my Flickr account so that I can blog using my cellphone so my vast readership base can get real-time updates.

7 days and counting...

Tuesday, May 03, 2005

The Great Hair Massacre of 2005

Ummm, I have short hair again for the first time in 13 years. Crazy.