Election day may have been last week, but I've only got one more day left on my poll count for tracking my miles for the rest of the year!
Cast your vote, just to the right of this post... the 9 who aready have, thank you! The fact that there is only 9... how pitiful.
November 8, 2009
November 5, 2009
Redemption
Ok... so my drive down US 101 yesterday completely made up for the horrible drive I had into and across San Francisco days earlier. Car trouble and gas prices aside, it was so wonderful to have my car and I think I just made a complete 180- I like traveling by car instead of by plane. Disregard all previously made statements!
The scenery was breathtaking- perfect weather combined with some of California’s most lush agricultural areas made for an absolutely beautiful drive. I should have, as per suggestion of a friend, stopped and taken in some winery tours and tastings, but being the only one driving AND consuming wine was maybe not a good combination for me. The drive came to a beautiful close as I approached Highway 1 down in Malibu right as the sun dipped into the Pacific. I stand firm by my earlier statement that sunsets are that much prettier in the West rather than in the East. Different to say the least. I ended the evening on a lovely note with dinner at Malibu Seafood. Despite troubles on the road, petty annoyances and technological setbacks attached to my job, how can you really complain about the day I just had? Feeling very lucky.
The scenery was breathtaking- perfect weather combined with some of California’s most lush agricultural areas made for an absolutely beautiful drive. I should have, as per suggestion of a friend, stopped and taken in some winery tours and tastings, but being the only one driving AND consuming wine was maybe not a good combination for me. The drive came to a beautiful close as I approached Highway 1 down in Malibu right as the sun dipped into the Pacific. I stand firm by my earlier statement that sunsets are that much prettier in the West rather than in the East. Different to say the least. I ended the evening on a lovely note with dinner at Malibu Seafood. Despite troubles on the road, petty annoyances and technological setbacks attached to my job, how can you really complain about the day I just had? Feeling very lucky.
November 2, 2009
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Hello Reader- I’ve been away for too long and updating the blog via photo story- thanks for being patient. I’ve missed you! Great week off spent in North Carolina and Northern California. However, in one week, you would not believe the annoying travel experiences I have had. Or, maybe you would. I think that I am coming to the conclusion that traveling by air is preferable to traveling by car. Let me give you an example….
On Thursday, I FLEW back from North Carolina on an early afternoon flight, routed through Atlanta. Once I boarded my flight from Atlanta though, it was nearing 9pm. People were tired, cranky, and apparently the folks seated in front of me, 4 year old in tow, had enjoyed one too many beverages in the airport. The next 4 hours and 53 minutes were spent observing and experiencing and smelling the following:
-Small child squirming and shrieking for the bathroom during taxiing and take off
-Young mother attempting to console small child since he didn’t make it to the bathroom
-Small child attempting to console young mother who was air sick all over the seat
-Attempting to sleep between a very large soldier who snored, A LOT, and a teenage girl painting her nails
-Total Sleep: 42 uncomfortable minutes
Now, on Friday, I DROVE up to San Francisco; about a 6 hour drive from Los Angeles. Conveniently, the Bay Bridge was closed, a mere nonlethal inconvenience, causing me to navigate blindly through the city because my GPS was dead set on taking me across said bridge. Thankfully, being somewhat tech savvy the Blackberry saved me and via e-mail message, I was rerouted to the San Mateo bridge. Well, did you know that it costs $4 to cross the San Mateo bridge? As I approached the toll station, I madly collected as much coinage as I could. I pulled up to the booth and handed the man one paper dollar, six quarters and 15 dimes with the biggest smile on my face- apparently he understood my “oh my god I am so sorry and embarrassed that I am paying you with all this change” face and let me pass. Well, perhaps this is where my bad karma kicked in because I assumed that once I crossed the bridge I could use my GPS and not my Blackberry to get to my final destination. Wrong. The GPS routed me back over the San Mateo bridge, where I had to fork over ANOTHER $4. This would not happen though because I only had $2.45 in change left. Another desperate smile got me through the toll booth without paying anything and I rushed through town to locate an ATM so that I could get cash, cross the bridge for a third time, and once again pay $4. The City of San Francisco better spend my $12 wisely.
So, what was worse? Smelling urine and vomit for almost 5 hours or paying $12 to go over a bridge three times? Hmmm… perhaps it is time for train travel. I should have known this after reading everything published by Paul Theroux.
On Thursday, I FLEW back from North Carolina on an early afternoon flight, routed through Atlanta. Once I boarded my flight from Atlanta though, it was nearing 9pm. People were tired, cranky, and apparently the folks seated in front of me, 4 year old in tow, had enjoyed one too many beverages in the airport. The next 4 hours and 53 minutes were spent observing and experiencing and smelling the following:
-Small child squirming and shrieking for the bathroom during taxiing and take off
-Young mother attempting to console small child since he didn’t make it to the bathroom
-Small child attempting to console young mother who was air sick all over the seat
-Attempting to sleep between a very large soldier who snored, A LOT, and a teenage girl painting her nails
-Total Sleep: 42 uncomfortable minutes
Now, on Friday, I DROVE up to San Francisco; about a 6 hour drive from Los Angeles. Conveniently, the Bay Bridge was closed, a mere nonlethal inconvenience, causing me to navigate blindly through the city because my GPS was dead set on taking me across said bridge. Thankfully, being somewhat tech savvy the Blackberry saved me and via e-mail message, I was rerouted to the San Mateo bridge. Well, did you know that it costs $4 to cross the San Mateo bridge? As I approached the toll station, I madly collected as much coinage as I could. I pulled up to the booth and handed the man one paper dollar, six quarters and 15 dimes with the biggest smile on my face- apparently he understood my “oh my god I am so sorry and embarrassed that I am paying you with all this change” face and let me pass. Well, perhaps this is where my bad karma kicked in because I assumed that once I crossed the bridge I could use my GPS and not my Blackberry to get to my final destination. Wrong. The GPS routed me back over the San Mateo bridge, where I had to fork over ANOTHER $4. This would not happen though because I only had $2.45 in change left. Another desperate smile got me through the toll booth without paying anything and I rushed through town to locate an ATM so that I could get cash, cross the bridge for a third time, and once again pay $4. The City of San Francisco better spend my $12 wisely.
So, what was worse? Smelling urine and vomit for almost 5 hours or paying $12 to go over a bridge three times? Hmmm… perhaps it is time for train travel. I should have known this after reading everything published by Paul Theroux.
Oh the Places You'll Go...
You have one week to GUESS how many approximate miles I will log between Novemeber 1st and December 31st... Check out the poll on the right side bar! Good luck guessing friends!
October 31, 2009
Spooky Scary Greetings from Alcatraz!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
October 27, 2009
Hot NOW!!
October 24, 2009
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