Strange things afoot in PDX

We had to make a short notice trip back to Portland for a funeral last week, and had an experience that I just have to share.

The church service was attended by a number of folks that I didn't know, as the deceased was very active in the church community and had volunteered for many years. After some very nice words from the pastor and the family, the floor was opened up for the audience to make comments and pay their respects.

Most of the folks talked about memories from church or from volunteering...the usual fare. But one speaker stood out from all the rest. Let me do my best to recount his little talk:

"Hi...uh...I didn't know Wes (the deceased). In fact this is my first time visiting this church. I was just looking for a Tai Chi class and got a little tired and decided to make a pit stop. It sounds like he was a great guy, and who knows, maybe his spirit brought me here for a reason!?"

Now...I really didn't know Wes all that well, but I from what I gathered from him his spirit probably wouldn't be hanging out with a 20-something looking for a martial arts class.

But hey...you never know, right?

Comcast FTL!

For the record...I hate Comcast.

The problem is they have a decent product...and really have no competition. Which is really sad, because it allows them to get away with ish like this:

November 30th- Service installed, but no HDMI output from the cable box
December 6th- Total outtage (with family in town and the football playoffs on TV)
December 9th- First service call...tech says it's a problem in the neighborhood and service will be up by the end of the day. Service did not come back.
December 10th- Comcast says there was a global problem in my neighborhood, but it's been resolve. I argue my service is still out- they tell me it should be working. An hour later, there are 4 trucks in my neighborhood.
December 11th- get TV back...but it's very pixelated and sound cuts in and out. Spotty internet.
December 13th- Second tech call. Tech finds a questionable splitter and swaps it out. Service comes back strong. Attempt to hook up wireless router...doesn't work. But internet will work when hard plugged.
December 18th- bought new wireless router...everything works! Call regarding HDMI output on cable box. While on the phone, Comcast remotely resets cable box, internet stops working. troubleshoot problem...and it appears modem is bad
December 21st- third tech call. Tech tests everything and finds multiple failures. Swaps modem and box. When he leaves...everything is working. Finally!

So...exactly 3 weeks after the original install everything is working. What BS is that!? At $150 a month, I have paid almost $120 for services not rendered. Not cool.

What's worse is there are little to no options other than Comcast. DSL services are a joke. I would love satellite TV, but now they require hefty commitments and don't have the internet solutions Comcast can provide. Verizon and their FIOS seems to be a great alternative...but it isn't available in many areas at this time.

I just hate being stuck. My recommendation...if you have other alternatives, use them!

London, UK

My trip to the UK was a very important business trip, so the bulk of my time was spent working and stressing over a number of things this week. However, I must say that the trip did have a number of high points.

First, the flight. When I was getting ready for this trip I happened to skim through my company’s travel policies and procedures, and it just so happens that any international flights spanning the Atlantic or Pacific get booked in Business Class, and I made sure everyone knew that portion. Yes, being on a plane for 8-11 hours a stretch is very tedious and extremely tiring…but I’m amazed at the amount you can offset with the proper service. More space than any First Class cabin I’ve previously been in, a 5 course meal, drinks, Bose noise cancelling headsets, seats that lie nearly flat, and an in seat entertainment systems with a number of movies and TV shows at your fingertips…the flight really wasn’t that bad. It’s the only way to make a trip that long…I can’t imagine how the people in coach made it in one piece.

When I finally did make it to London, I was amazed. Few cities have ever made such an immediate impact as this one. Everyone was so polite and courteous, all the amazing history the city holds…the only word to describe it is ‘elegant’. Granted I really only had one night to explore the city, and even then I didn’t have much time…but it made a solid impact on me. This is a city I will come back to, as I fell in love the first night. Hopefully next time I can bring Gayle…and some cash. With the British Pound over 2 to 1 to the US Dollar, it’s expensive. Our car service, which ranged from 1-3 hours per trip was between $250 and $350 each trip. The Hilton in the “ok” part of town was almost $600 a night, and I can’t even imagine how expensive the shopping would be if I went. I pulled 50GBP(100USD) out of an ATM one day at lunch and it was gone with a taxi ride and round of pints at the airport.

And the food! If someone ever tells you English food leaves something to be desired, I want to you punch them squarely in the mouth. It was amazing! Now granted, we were entertaining clients, so we dropped some coin at times. We ate at an amazing Indian restaurant which held so many flavors I never thought my mouth would recover...but when the tab reached well over $1000 US for four people it will probably be a once in a lifetime experience. The second night we found Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Fifteen, which not only had an amazing sampling of dishes but was founded to help troubled young people get a second chance at life by teaching them a trade. (Insert URL). At $120 per person, it really wasn’t that bad considering what the money was supporting. And on the third night we found the most amazing Argentinean steakhouse which was completely packed at 11pm…and ended up being the cheapest dinner of the week! But even the meals we didn’t pay through the nose for- Beef and Mushroom pies at the pub, Fish and Chips, Lamb Kebobs…all of them fantastic! Second to none…all of them!

The best news from this trip however came from the client reaction…he absolutely loved us, and is ready to give us almost all of the European business on a silver platter. We are already planning another trip to the UK in February…but that’s only the beginning. Germany, Holland, and France are already in the works as well…it’s going to be an excellent adventure, I know it. If you haven’t already, you might want to subscribe to the blog. There’s going to be some excellent reading in the future :)

The United Kingdom and the Mercedes E220

I mentioned earlier that I was taking a trip to Great Britain for work, as my new client’s UK division is launching a new program. Now this is a big deal- our first European program and I got to be one of three people to head over the pond to kick it off. Needless to say, it was an absolute ton of work and everyone else at work hates me now. It’s good to be hated sometimes :)

Getting around in the UK can be difficult- they drive on the left side of the road, none of the roads are marked, and none of us that were going knew anything about the layout. Coupled with the fact that we had been traveling for around 14 hours straight when we got there, no one was up for the task of driving.

Fortunately we had thought ahead and hired a car service. Robert and his Mercedes was there to meet us at Gatwick and drive us up to North Hampton, which was around 3 hours away. My first impression of this car was that it seemed very small. Usually the E class seem like a bit of a boat, but with 4 good sized guys and enough luggage for a week the space fills up fairly fast. I however was extremely impressed with the car’s performance though- considering it was a diesel. Average speed varied quite a bit as we went from the city to the country, but our mileage was always on the north side of 40mpg. And went Robert finally “put his toe down” (not that often), the car responded magnificently. It was a very grueling 3 hour drive though. His driving was so cautious it made my eye twitch. In fact, he left the directional on for so long once I reached over and turned it off myself. He gave me the look of death…which was warranted because it was a dick move. But I don’t think he realized just how close he was to getting carjacked by his own passengers so they could drive the car the way it was meant to be.

The Europeans have got it right. You can take a luxury car and add a diesel engine and keep it luxury. The engine was near silent, had plenty of pep, didn’t have that “smell”(which may be a shame to some), and STILL get the efficiency. North America seriously needs to pull their heads out and take a look around. Talk about hybrids all you want…give me a diesel any day.

As long as whoever drives “puts their toe down” :)

Crunch time!!!

It's getting close...we close on the house in 3 days!!! Things are starting to get a bit hectic schedule-wise. Let me share with you what it looks like for the next couple days:

Tuesday, November 27th
Work

Wednesday, November 28th
Work

Thursday, November 29th
Work
2pm- Final Walk through with the builder

Friday, November 30th (this is where it starts to get fun)
9am- Close on the house
11am- Have everything out of the apartment
11am-2pm- Comcast install
5pm- Window covering install

Saturday, December 1st
9am- Movers show up with our stuff
1pm- Fridge delivery
4:30pm- Civil War (Oregon vs. Oregon State)

Sunday, December 2nd
1:30pm- Depart for London for work

Tuesday, December 4th
Gayle's parents arrive from Portland

Wednesday, December 5th
Our friend Mandy arrives from Portland

Friday, December 7th
11pm- Arrive from London, also my Dad's Birthday

Yeah...it's going to be a busy week for sure! I feel bad leaving right after we get in the house, let alone sticking Gayle with unpacking and not being there for most of her parents visit. I would really like to spend some time in my new house getting settled a bit, but it looks like that won't happen. She is being very understanding about the whole thing...but it still sucks. I feel terrible about it, but she understands. This trip is a great opportunity for me, and a great resume builder as well. I hope we get a good return on this investment later on.

And hopefully she won't make me put Christmas lights up this year either :)

Every man needs his chair...

It's true! Every man needs a spot to kick his feet up, relax with a fine beverage, and contemplate the world. This is why my first purchase after graduating from college was a plush, overstuffed leather recliner. In fact, it was the only piece of furniture I had in my apartment for the longest time. I dubbed it "The Man Chair"...and it was. Partially because it was my chair, and partially because it was so ugly that no woman would want to sit in it. Oh how I loved my man chair, but times change and sometimes we just have to move on.

That's why before I left Oregon I passed it on to my good friend Shawn.

Now that I'm so close to having my own place out here in Georgia, the search for a new chair has begun. I've been to so many different furniture stores, and keep finding the same overstuffed look I had before. My tastes must have changed, because now this is not appealing whatsoever. For some reason, built in coolers and massagers just seem a little "NASCAR-ish"...if you know what I mean. I'm looking for a chair that can provide comfort, and still look good in the new digs.

Surprisingly, I did find a contender at IKEA (www.ikea.com)- the Poang. For only $149, it's not bad at all. It's got a minimalist design that would flow with the new house and it's very comfy. They have lots of fabric and leather options for it, as well as a number of frame options. Add the matching ottoman and it's great to kick back in. However, even though it seemed good, there was something about it that just wasn't right. Perhaps it was the fact that upteen million IKEA shoppers have all taken home at least one of these chairs because of it's "affordable solution to modern living". This was not the chair.

A few weeks passed, and Gayle and I were actually on a mission to find a FLOR (www.flor.com) retailer. This seems to be the "in" thing right now for rugs and carpet...an interchangeable tile system that is durable and affordable. Plus it allows you to mix and match and create your own quirky piece. We totally lucked out because there is an official FLOR showroom in Atlanta...but it's only open 8-5 Monday - Friday and like 4 hours on Saturday. Since Saturdays are the running errands day, we have yet to make it to the official showroom. We did find another retailer that carries a FLOR line that was open though- Design Within Reach (www.dwr.com)

When we arrived, the consultants were both busy with other customers, so we started poking around. They carry some very modern pieces, and a lot of them just seemed silly. However they had a few chairs, so we killed some time sitting in them. Most felt like they looked- extremely hard and not comfortable at all. We laughed and kept poking around. When a sales associate came over, we were trying different chairs and the conversation started with looking for a replacement to the man chair. She laughed and showed us one chair, I swear was out of Dr. Evil's lair- total evil genius style. And like the others...totally uncomfortable. Then she had me sit in another chair...

And it was heaven.

This chair looked funky because of it's minimal padding and curvy design. But I swear to you this was the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in! I just couldn't comprehend how this chair felt this comfy...but it did! Both Gayle and the sales consultant mentioned I had the goofiest look on my face after I sat down- like a light bulb came on according to the consultant. I had Gayle try it as well, and she had the same reaction. Complete comfort. This was now the chair we had to own.

Until we saw the price tag- $3419! (chair and ottoman)

Now, I thought the name of this store was 'Design Within Reach'...and most of the people I know can't reach $3419 for a chair. So I had to ask about it.

"When Florence Knoll challenged Finnish-born architect and designer Eero Saarinen in 1948 to create a chair that she could curl up in, she had found an apt candidate for the task. The Womb Chair's enveloping, lap-like form continues to be one of the most iconic and recognized representations of mid-century Scandinavian organic modernism. In fact, ask most designers and architects what lounge chair design they covet and they'll promptly tell you it's the Womb Chair."

Oh...that's why it's so expensive.

Leave it to me to fall in love with a chair that costs an arm and a leg. But it is now my mission to own one. Gayle is totally supportive of the purchase too, even though most everyone else I know thinks I'm insane. I'll save up my spare change, go for a big bonus at work, sell my blood...whatever it takes I must have one of these chairs.

Miami, FL and being out of your league

Headed to Miami for a couple days this week for work. This was not the ordinary work trip though...I traveled with the President of my company and our President of Sales to meet my client's CEO. These people are on a slightly different plane than me. First off, our meetings were at the Loews hotel on South Beach (http://www.loewshotels.com/en/default.aspx), an art deco hotel right on the beach and the "strip" of South Beach. When we rolled up, there was a Bentley and an Aston parked right out front with enough eurotrash hanging around to fill up the Enumclaw Transfer station.

But this wasn't 'good' enough for us to stay in...oh no. We had reservations at the Four Seasons downtown(www.fourseasons.com). OMG...it was nice. All marble bathroom with separate tiled shower, large window with a fantastic view of the city, and a super comfy bed with great linens. I also remember these large sculptures in the lobby being rather unique...they just kinda stuck in my mind. Oh yeah...there's an article about the artist in the latest issue of GQ (not that I read it regularly, but it makes good airport fodder). I also had the best room service delivery guy EVAR!!!

Now when it came to the actual meetings- I blew it. I mean, I didn't puke on the guy's shoes or anything...but I was in unfamiliar territory for me. I was truly overwhelmed and felt completely out of my league. I am used to being a big fish in a small pond- but I wasn't even a sardine in the Pacific here. It was humbling for sure.

But also enlightening. These guys were assholes. They knew they had money, and felt they were better than everyone else. You know...having money is nice, but it's not everything. Yeah...I wouldn't mind driving an Aston or a GT3 like my client's CEO, but if it requires me turning into an ass I'd rather keep the GTI and be happy with who I am.

Duluth, GA and "the house"

So I found it.

3 Bedrooms/2.5 baths in a new subdivision about 5 miles from work. Somewhere between 2000 and 2200 square feet finished, with a framed unfinished basement. Situated on a lot that backs up to a greenspace, and a very high level of fit and finish. In fact, it was so perfect I bought it without Gayle even seeing it. Yes...I was nervous, but when I walked her through it the first time she was absolutely ecstatic! I did good :)

This is the third house I have purchased, and you would think it gets easier, but it doesn't. So many things that crop up...it gets overwhelming. In fact, when I bought my first house someone along the way told me that buying a house causes as much stress as having a family member dying. I believe it...every time it amazes me.

Like this time, my house in Vancouver hasn't sold yet but I have to be out of the temporary housing by 11/30. Instead of renting a place and then trying to buy a house, I figured I'd just try to buy a place and cut out the middle man. This, as you can imagine, is an expensive process. And I don't know what it is...but once you think you've got it all figured out, someone comes and requires another couple grand.

Yesterday I found out the closing costs were underestimated, so I have to find $3500 by the end of the month. And today my new neighbors gave us permission to tie into the existing fence they have on their property- if we sign a legal document and put in a gate in the back of their fence. I have no idea when our stuff is going to show up, and we have house guests arriving 4 days after we get the keys.

Oh...and all of this while I'm starting a new job in a new city where I don't know anyone or where anything is.

Oh what fun it is to ride!

Portland, OR and lots of Jetta driving

So I went back to Portland for a couple days for our Going Away Party (Weird, huh?). This was an odd experience- it really didn't feel like I had left yet. More like I was coming home again from a work trip. It was a good time...but very trying. I hadn't seen Gayle in almost 3 weeks, and even though we were spending 4 days together, we didn't really get any time to ourselves. We spent most of our time running errands and trying to accomodate all the requests to see us.

For example, Monday we woke up and headed to Vancouver for a doctor's appointment at 9, then downtown Portland for a dentist appointment at 12, back up to Vancouver for Gayle's hair appointment, then out to Beaverton for a car appointment and back up to the 'Couve to pick her up again. Like I said...fun time.

I got a lot done while I was back though. Saw lots of friends, got lots of stuff packed, got an offer on one of the houses, and probably the best of all:

I came to Portland with a girlfriend, and I left with a fiance!

It was a good trip! :)

Miami, FL and the Chevy Impala

Oh look! The Chevy version of the Ford Taurus! And I hate the Taurus. Good thing I only had to drive less than 20 miles the whole day.

The real story is the trip to Miami. I have just taken over a new account that has frankly been neglected for almost a year. The relationship is strained to say the least, and it's now my job to make it right. They have no idea who I am, and my higher ups have talked me up quite a bit. They basically have heard this song and dance before, and are taking the stance of "I'll believe it when I see it".

So I headed to Miami to show them :)

On the final decent into Miami, the gentleman across the aisle from me took a full can of Sprite out of the seat back pocket. He accidently dropped the can, and when it hit the floor it somehow sprung a leak and proceeded to spray me head to toe. I was literally dripping with sticky, sweet, limony goodness.

And I had my first face to face meeting with a new client in under an hour.

So what do you do? First thing, I had the flight attendants grab me every paper towel I could find and began toweling off as best I could. When we landed I headed to the lav and discovered my shoes were sticking to everything. I took them off, poured out the soda that was in them, and then washed them in the little sink. I got myself as good as I could on the plane and headed off. I called my boss Mo and did some major venting, mostly just to get it out of my system. Then we started brainstorming. Two roadwarriors collaborating is a spooky thing. The conversation whizzed around going shopping, finding an athletic club, and then it hit Mo! American Airlines (which I was flying) operates out of the international terminal in Miami. Sometimes the executive clubs have showers in international terminals! It was worth a shot.

Sure enough, they did. So I paid my $50 for a day pass (ripoff) and signed up for a shower. I scrubbed myself clean, and did my best to handwash my clothes, drying them with the little wall mounted hairdryer. I put myself back together as best I could, and headed out only slightly damp and a little fruity smelling. What the hairdryer couldn't do...the Miami heat took care of. I was dry within 5 minutes of stepping outside!

I hopped in the rental car, drove to the client....and the rest is history :) Did they notice? No. Did I tell them? Yes! Did they love it? Absolutely! Will they remember me? How could they forget!?

Never underestimate a Roadwarrior...NEVER!!!

The big drive and my GTI

So last weekend I made the drive out to Atlanta from Portland. 2700 miles. It's a helluva adventure, especially since I had a couple copilots...Paisley and Max (the cat and dog). At least I got to drive my car this time...something I actually enjoy driving. Considering that's all I was going to do for multiple days, that's a good thing :) I'd done the reverse drive before, and that took 3.5 days of pretty solid driving. I gave myself 5 days to complete this journey, just in case something might come up. This was going to be a little different though, since I was driving solo I was going to try and cut it down to 3.

Day 1- Portland, OR to Laramie, WY

My original plan was to try and make it to Cheyenne, with a backup of Logan, UT if it was really unbearable. I planned on leaving Friday morning at 6am to beat the rush hour traffic. I had already said my goodbyes to Gayle, since she and Shawn had gone to H20 earlier in the week, so really all I had to do is get up and go. Of course, not being used to Gayle being gone...I was up and gone at 5am.

It's really difficult to write about driving, since the act really doesn't involve much. Most days I only stopped twice for gas and food. I did have an adventure in Utah, where Max got out at a gas station. LOL...he ran around for a little while, and then hid under the car. When I tried to get him out he actually crawled up in the engine bay. This grew a small crowd...which was actually helpful since it took 4 people to eventually get him back in the car.

Only other semi exciting thing to report was somewhere in Wyoming or Utah a semi kicked up a rock and totally cracked my windshield. Ugh...one more thing to fix along the way.

All in all- 1150 miles in 16 hours. A very productive Day 1. I found a Hampton Inn and got a room with a jacuzzi tub. I unloaded the car, took a soak, and passed out.

Day 2- Laramie, WY to Mt. Vernon, IL

The plan was to make it to St. Louis on Day 2 if I could. This would make for an easy day on Day 3- comparitively speaking of course. I got a little later start than I thought, 8:30am. It wasn't very eventful. By this point, I was getting sore and totally tired of road food. I did have lots of time to ponder things though, some very deep and others notsomuch. Examples you ask? OK...deep thought: proposing to Gayle. Notsomuch thought: why do Funyuns only taste good either when you are high or when you are on a roadtrip? I did develop a fun game to occupy my time too. Somewhere in Wyoming I started letting go of the wheel and seeing how many Mississippis I could count before I had to make a correction. I made it up to 43!

The only other thing I had to entertain me was XM Radio. I can't tell you how awesome it is to have satellite radio for a trip like this. Continuous music, and I got to listen to the Ducks, Huskies, and Beavers lose in terrific fashion. Gotta love PNW sports teams!

I made it to St. Louis, but it's such a shithole I couldn't stop there. I wanted to get on the other side of the city to avoid and traffic in the morning. I put in Hampton Inn in the GPS and found one in Mt. Vernon, IL. Exhausted, I rolled in at about midnight.

Just over 1000 miles in Day 2. It was starting to get old.

Day 3- Mt. Vernon, IL to Duluth, GA

I made it today, even though it was another late start. I think this time I started at 10:30am...LOL. And how was this for karma...I was arriving a little early and my temporary apartment is gated, so I wasn't sure how I was going to get in. By chance my rental agent answered her home phone and told me the gate was broken and going to be open all day. Perfect.

Day 3- 550 miles

We rolled in, unloaded, and crashed. It was exhausting to say the least. I'm still trying to get settled, learning the area and trying to get out and meet people. The worst part is being all alone...I miss my friends, family, and Gayle. Hopefully work will fill a little of the void and drive me freakin insane before Gayle can come out and join me.

And I really don't want to have to make this drive again :)

Changes to TravelEd!!!

Big Changes!

I've accepted a promotion within my company, and I'm moving to Atlanta. This is a great opportunity for me- better pay, chance to learn a lot under some great people, and gain some great exposure.

Plus...no more travel :)

Well, much much less travel. Which means I'm going to need to find something to talk about on here. So get ready for some changes. Instead of West Coast stuff, you are going to be hearing about Georgia and all the new East Coast places Gayle and I will be exploring. Plus throw in buying a new house, starting a new job, and all the other stresses going on in life.

Now that should be some fun reading!

Atlanta, GA and the Buick Enclave

Back out in Atlanta, this time with Gayle in tow. And lo and behold...Hertz gave us an upgrade- the Buick Enclave. Well...one man's upgrade is another man's downgrade.

This vehicle sucks!

First off, it's huge. I mean...freakin' huge! I swear my car could fit in the back if you took the seats out. And it felt like I was up so high it was like I was driving my car while sitting on the roof. Oh wait...not my car. My car can corner :) This thing was so floaty it felt like it was going off the road around each bend. 3 rows of seat...we used the two front ones. Changing lanes was a challenge in and of itself because of the size of this bohemoth. Ugh...not fun. But wait, it's sporty! It has 'speed holes' in the hood and dual exhaust! Yeah- sporty :rolleyes:

What is it with people loving big vehicles these days? I feel so unstable and out of control when I get into something that big. Plus the parking spaces keep getting smaller- you can't park anyways, now you are going to handicap yourself! Ridiculous. Try and justify it all you want, there is just no need for a vehicle that big. Kids...no excuse. Buy a wagon bitch.

Denver, CO and the Toyota Solara

So...is Hertz reading my blog? I had to go back to Denver for another store opening, and this time I was greeted with a Toyota Solara. Now this is a decent upgrade! I actually like these cars...they have some decent styling. Too bad the rental cars always have the gutless engines...this thing would be awesome with some pep. Honestly the nicest part of this car was the paint. Pearl white, a personal fav. Seriously, I just want to lick it. Now I own a black pearl car, but nothing beats pearl white. Someday I will own one.

I've even have Gayle on a pearl kick. She's talking about a pearl orange when it's time to respray the square....interesting :)

Memphis, TN (Just cabbed it this time)

They have ugly people in Tennesee.

Seriously, I was in Memphis for 4 days and I didn't see one person I would even consider moderately attractive. It's a shame really.

Los Angeles, CA and the Chevy HHR

It's official. Chevy has trumped Chrysler and made an even gayer vehicle than the PT Cruiser:

The Chevy HHR.

What a pile. Zero style, zero performance. The window controls are on the center console, making it near impossible to roll the window down while driving because you are sitting in minivan seats in a car. The thing is just ugly, and the little "refinements" are just comical (I love the fabric flap sewn to the side of the seat so you don't see the seat bracket. Instead you look at an ugly piece of fabric sewn to the side of the seat).

It's a rental car, sure. But c'mon...the only thing that might be worse is a convertible PT Cruiser, but that would be a close race. I mean, any car that was designed to look like a PT Cruiser is just doomed from the beginning.

Denver, CO and the Toyota Corolla

Because I rent cars so much, I have become a member of Hertz's "President's Club". I get "special" perks, like my car is parked close to the rental booth, automatic upgrades, etc.

Evidently the Denver Airport Hertz didn't get the message.

They gave me a Toyota Corolla. Which is not a bad car...but I got the super stripped down model. Gutless engine, only AM/FM radio, and no keyless entry. This thing was bare! Fortunately I only had to stay overnight...so I didn't have to drive it that far.

Nice upgrade Hertz!

There was some exciting news. The tram at the Denver airport has replaced the gay "Comin' 'round the mountain" Casio keyboard music to some other gay Casio keyboard music with a new voiceover.

This is what is considered "Exciting" when you travel like I do. :)

Las Vegas, NV and the Pontiac GXP

So...I go from Portland to Atlanta on Tuesday, then Thursday morning go from Atlanta to Las Vegas. And oh god was it hot. According to the in car thermometer- 116 degrees.

Now speaking of the car, I previously mentioned I'm fond of the Pontiac Grand Prix. For a rental...it's not bad. This time, instead of a GP...I got a GXP. Evidently there is a difference. First off, I noticed the cross-drilled rotors both front and rear hiding behind the factory chrome wheels. And the V8 badge on the back. And the "tapshift" paddles on the wheel.

This one is different...in a good way.

So she's got some pep. Which is really fun to play with...especially since the traction control makes the car sway from left and right trying to balance out the power. And this "tapshift" is actually kinda fun. But I did find an issue- the gearing. The car has power, but it doesn't seem to put it to the ground effectively. So I decided to test something. I put it in tapshift, selected first gear, and put my foot to the floor. Somewhere between 60 and 65, I hit redline. No joke. This car is geared WAY too tall for that engine. Probably since it would be too rough for the older crowd who would probably fork over the money for it.

Just like the American Auto manufacturers- make something cool and then mess it up with something simple.

So now about Vegas. I hate working in Vegas, because everyone is there to party and I'm there to work. And how lame is this- I was so worn out by all the recent adventures and travel, I was in bed by 8pm. No joke. So no drinking, no gambling, no nothing in Vegas.

It just seems wrong.

Atlanta, GA and the Jeep Compass

This traveling stuff sure can get old. The very next day after getting back from Canada, I'm back on a plane flying across the country. My company is based just outside of Atlanta, and I've been given the nod to apply for a new position within the company. One with less travel :)

So I headed out. I really dig Atlanta...it's in my Top 5 cities list. And I have a few stops I have to make when I'm out there. It's a trip of gluttony. First stop- Krystal http://www.krystal.com/ . Yup...I'm addicted to the little burgers. Krystal is basically White Castle, only different colors. Oh man they taste so good. I'm sure it's just because we don't have anything like them on the West Coast. And I know it's not just me...I have a friend that drove to Minnesota and back in a weekend just for White Castle. Yup...little burgers have a way of getting under your skin. Just make sure mine are minus mustard with lots of ketchup on the side ;)

Second stop...Daddy D'z http://www.daddydz.com/. OMG...the best BBQ evar! This was the first REAL BBQ I ever had, and I make it a point to stop in every time I'm in Atlanta. I remember my first time...I saunder up to the counter and an old lady comes up and asks me what I'll have. I pause, and tell her that I really don't know. I'm from the PNW, and we don't have real BBQ out there. She says, "Oh honey...I'm sorry." and as she hands me the most delicious rib I've ever eaten she says "You gnaw on that for awhile, and take your time. When you're ready- let me know." I think I fell in love at that moment. Stubb's was awesome...but Daddy D'z will always hold a special place in my heart. Try the combo plate- you won't be disappointed.

As for the Jeep Compass- it's a rental. No guts, stripped down, but adequate. Although this particular model had some major clutch slippage at under 10k miles...yup, a rental :)

Surrey, BC and "The Squareback"

The "Great Canadian" is another car show on the summer circuit, but as you probably guessed by the name, it's in Canada. Just across the border into British Columbia, it's known for it's large number of aircooled entries. Gayle was all excited because it gave her an opportunity to show off her 1969 Squareback with airride suspension that Martin at The DDB built. This of course requires getting the Squareback to Canada. 600 miles in a 40 year old car? I'll let Gayle do that. Thank you...I will drive the support vehicle, the afore mentioned TDI Jetta :)

Friday

So we are supposed to meet up at 8am to head north. Of course, with any car show gathering, there are a lot of last minute changes. Now instead of caravaning up...it's just us. That's fine, we'll cruise up, set up camp, and make an easy day of it.

Well...easy is a relative term.

A late start out of Portland, followed by spending a little too much time in Tacoma (seeing some friends, setting up court dates, etc.), hitting rush hour in Seattle, having to fix the brake lights in the squareback, and getting slightly delayed at the US/Canadian border...it took us 13 hours. Tired, hungry (we skipped dinner), we attempted to set up the largest tent in the world in the dark. And finally around 10pm, we were ready to get some grub. Gayle says she wants to change really quick before we go.

Gayle: Honey...where's my bag?

Gayle: Honey?

Ed: I love you Baby!

Yes, evidently somewhere along the way Gayle's bag didn't make up to Canada. It wasn't left at home, so the only thing I can think of is somewhere along the way we must have moved it from the car and not put it back. But that still doesn't change the fact that she now has no clothes for the weekend.

This is where I reached the breaking point. You would think Gayle would have been the one to lose it...but no. She was totally understanding and handled it great. I was not nearly as composed, and really frustrated with myself and felt like an ass for losing her clothes. More proof that this girl is somebody very special. Finally, at about 2am, we returned from dinner and crawled into bed. Exhausted.

Saturday

Got up, and cleaned the Jetta for the Pre show Pancake Breakfast at Westminster VW. This is a very cool thing for a dealership to do...let all the car show folks come down and hang out while providing coffee, pancakes, and oj at no charge. It was very appreciated, and the US dealers should take note- there are folks that care about the older VWs out there. The rest of the day was spent in a Canadian mall on a shopping spree for Gayle :) and cleaning the Square for it's debut. Since it was there, we also decided to throw the Jetta in the show as well. It is nowhere even close to show ready, but hey, why not? So 4 hours of cleaning on the Square and 45 minutes on the Jetta, we headed out for a nice steak dinner- we deserved it. The cars weren't quite up to standard- but were decent enough, considering we were camping and all.

Sunday

Do you know what the worst sound in the world is? Waking up to the sound of raindrops on your tent after cleaning your car for a show. It poured...but like they say, the show must go on. We rolled out 2 deep early to make sure we had time to get things set up and ready. But with the rain, there isn't too much you can do. However, that didn't mean we weren't busy. Gayle's Squareback is definitely an eyecatcher and we had many people stop to chat. It was great watching her talk about her car- she gets so excited and giddy around it. I also enjoyed hanging out and watching people check out the Jetta, since it still has my wheels on it and they attract quite a bit of attention as well. We also had some friends come up for the show, and got to spend the whole day catching up and having a good time. Probably the best part of the show was the engine blow. A popular event at many shows, they take an old tired engine, drain all the fluids, and then run it at full throttle until it blows up. Now normally this in done on an engine stand, sometimes in an acrylic case to protect bystanders from shrapnel. The Great Canadian organizers decided it would a good idea to just roll in a Ford Aerostar that was headed for the junkyard. Which works fine...until the van catches on fire. So we were treated to a fine show as well when the Coquitlam Fire Department showed up to put out the blaze. I don't think that they will be doing anothe engine blow next year:)

A great time and a fantastic show. Plus...we took home 3 trophies for our efforts!

Another long, long day in the books, I headed back to the campsite and got my drink on.

Monday

Basically, get up and drive home. Oh wait, that can't be right. Life just isn't that simple.

Getting back into the States is evidently a difficult thing to do. We pulled up to the border and the readerboard told us there was an hour wait. Yeah...it was a bit off. We waited for 3 hours to cross, and evidently we weren't the only ones getting frustrated. There was a time when cars needed to merge into one lane. I watched in the rearview mirror as the guy behind me wouldn't let a car in, flipped off the driver and yelled some nasty language at him. Of course, he was an American and the merger was Canadian. Great...yet another person perpetuating the American stereotype.

So I let the guy in instead.

Oh that did not set well. The guy got out of his car and called me a "world class asshole", among others. Then the guy behind him called me a "punk" and a "communist". I don't know how letting someone in line makes you a communist, but evidently it does. The funny thing is the dude that said it looked a little like early Castro...ironic.

So I let him go ahead of me too. Like it did any good...we still had to wait 2 more hours to get across. LOL.

The rest of the drive went pretty easy- just long.

A packed weekend no doubt. But it was a great time, and we have lots of great new stories to tell. I lost my girlfriend's clothes, ate pancakes in Canada, camped in the rain, took home some trophies, got called a Communist, and spent 26 hours in the Jetta. Sounds good to me!

Bozeman, MT and the Mustang Convertible

Isn't it ironic, don't ya think?

So we get back to the house from our Austin trip at midnight, and I'm up again at 0330 to hop my plane out to Bozeman, MT for work. As you can imagine...both Gayle and I are dragging. She at least got to go back to bed- I had to work. Gayle texts me after dropping me off and lets me know that I left my sunglasses in the car. D'oh! Oh well, it's only for a couple days- I can manage. So I get to the gate and oddly enough, get back on the plane we had just come in on. This time I sat in 19C instead of 18E...weird huh?

I arrive in Bozeman, and even though it's in the 90s it feels like nothing compared to Austin. It's smokey because of the forest fires (pretty much half the state is burning), but still fairly sunny. I head out from the rental car counter and find I've got a Mustang....convertible.

And my sunglasses are in Portland.

No worries, it's a convertible and I'm sure as hell dropping the top any chance I get. I actually like the newer Ford Mustangs...they are a great car honestly. I've always had a thing for the classic, first gen Mustangs...and what guy hasn't enjoyed the chase scene in Bullit multiple times? There is plenty of "throwback" styling on the car to let you know its a 'Stang, the interior is basic, but again, takes some cues from the original generation. The body panels come up fairly high, giving you the feel that you are hunkered down low in the car. And even the crappy rental car engine provides an exhaust note that makes you feel like you are in a muscle car. It's even better when it's a convertible...I'm a big fan of any car with no top. The only real complaint I have with the car may surprise you. Most people complain about the lack of a trunk in a 'vert- not me. I usually travel alone, so what do I care if I can't fit 8 suitcases in the back? My complaint is the fuel gauge. I turn the car on and it comes up to the 3/4 mark, even though the tank is full. I pull out and drive the 8 miles into town, and only then does it read full. Not that I really care, I mean work covers the fuel...but I could just see someone pulling in to return the car somewhere and the check in person only sees 3/4s of a tank and charges a couple gallons at over $6 a pop to some tourist. That's Lame.

Austin, TX and Bumming Rides

Friday, August 10

After way too much time passed, it actually happened. I started my vacation :D

This day was sooooo long...it actually felt like two or three days! I picked Gayle up from work at 0315, headed to my house for a quick nap, and then to the airport at 0600 for our trip to Austin. Neither of us had been, nor really heard all that much about it. I had a voucher for a flight, and my favorite BBQ sauce maker has a restaurant there...seemed like enough of a reason for me to go ;) Yes...we were flying over 2000 miles just to eat BBQ, and very proud of it.

Now we some time to fill, so we used our resources over on the VWVortex to introduce ourselves to some other VW people and get folks to show us the town. And boy...we were not disappointed. Everyone we met was superfriendly, and they sure know how to have a good time. Gayle had a friend Don that was super cool, and he even picked us up at the airport in his TDI Jetta. We met everyone at Fast Eddie's Billiard Hall (gotta love the name) and planned out the evening. Which really didn't consist of much of a plan....go barhopping and drink a lot. Austin is a crazy town- 6th St. downtown is amazing. Bar after bar after bar...it's endless. We were there in the off season and it was crazy- I couldn't imagine what it would be like with thousands of college kids. You want any type of bar scene- Austin will have it!

Some of the more memorable moments:

-We met Cort, Jake, Jason, and Sasha among others. These were some great locals that definitely know how to have a good time.

-We visited Lovejoy's, Nunos, Maggie Mae's, MooseKnuckle, Apple, Coyote Ugly, and a bunch of places I can't remember (or didn't know) the name of.

-I'm not much of a drinker, but maybe 3 or 4 times a year I cut loose and let er rip. This was one of those times. I think I had 14 beers and a couple shots. I didn't fall down, didn't throw up, didn't drunk dial anyone, but I can't quite remember how I got back to the hotel, where evidently I took a shower and threw all the towels in the tub

-I did the Thriller dance with some random guy named Rob or Ron, who I thought was part of our group but evidently was not. We had it down- it was almost choreographed! I woke up the next morning with my right palm extremely bruised- guess I got a little overzealous with the claps.

-I almost got assaulted by a random dude. He wanted to fight, but I was too happy to fight. My award winning dispostion must have cooled him off a bit.

And that was Friday.

Saturday, August 11th

Recovery day. We slept in for a little while, and prepared ourselves for that which is Stubb's. I had a game plan to stick to...order everything on the menu and eat it all. And that's exactly what we did. Brisket, chicken, pork, beef, turkey, ribs, sausage, fries, coleslaw, beans, sweet potatoes, collard greens, okra, mashed potatoes, spinach, serrano peppers, apple crisp, blackberry cobbler, banana pudding, and pecan pie. And yes, I ate it all. Maybe not all of it...but I ate a bit of everything and it was all heavenly. Plus, I stole a bottle of sauce. I know...I'm going to hell for it. But with Stubb's looking right at me I had no alternative- he wanted me to have it. Of course, we bought Tshirts galore and even an apron. I think our tab was well over $200...and totally worth it :D

Now that I've recovered from the night before, I needed to recover from Stubbs. Gayle and I went back to the hotel and zonked out. We woke up about 7pm and had an evening to kill. What should we do? Oh...I know. Get a tattoo from Katzen the Cat Lady.

Now...I love tattoos. I am completely facinated by then, and the history and stories they tell. But the crazy part is- I don't have any, and probably won't every get one. I just can't figure out what I'd want on my body for the rest of my life. Now Gayle is another story- she has ink! Two very big pieces, one complete one on her back and a work in progress on her torso and legs, plus 4 smaller ones in various places (ankle, back, back, and calf). I love them all, and she decided to add one more- to remind her of me and our first vacation together. I had never had anyone get a tattoo for me before, and it is quite the feeling. She evidently is planning on keeping me around for awhile- like forever! I'm fine with that...kinda hopin' she does ;)

Anyway, I digress. The Cat Lady. Shannon from Stubb's had some work done, and she recommended we go see this lady, you know, the Cat Lady. Now I thought she meant the person how did the Cat Lady...but no, she meant the actual Cat Lady. Which is kinda cool. She was very accomodating, staying open late to give Gayle her 7th tattoo- an orange lone star. Orange for me, the Lone Star for Texas. It's perfect, and everytime I see it I see the meaning behind it. And I smile :) Out for a quick beer and some live music, before heading back to the hotel to order room service and watch payperview movies. Hot Fuzz is some funny ish!

Sunday, August 12th

So...going to bed at 3am for the third night in a row is starting to catch up with me. Especially when I had to be up at 6:30am to meet Jason and his wife Rene for our lift to San Antonio for the MJM Autohaus BBQ and Show and Shine. This is evidently a big deal for the Austin VW crowd- it sounds like they don't get these opportunities very often. People were cleaning their cars like it was a judged show, and getting pumped up more than I have seen people get pumped in a long time. There was electricity in the air and people were totally giddy. We piled into Jason's GLI and headed out. The drive started OK...but then people started to hang it all out and get a little stupid. This is one time I was happy to be in the back seat- 'cause I probably would have joined them. Like they say, it's all fun in games until someone gets hurt. Or passes a Texas State Trooper at 105 miles per hour. He was about as cool as he could be...he only wrote the ticket for 94, which means Jason can take traffic school and get it off his record (at 95, that's not an option). Plus he only gave him a warning for not having a front plate :) It's a good story to tell at any rate.

The MJM GTG was great too. Kelly at MJM is super cool...unfortunately he was the only cool thing there 'cause the rest of it was freakin hot! I mean like super hot. Nuclear hot! I was melting! My only saving grace was that all the Texans were bitching about the heat more than I was...God knows I wanted to. It was so hot that even though there was free beer, there was no way I could drink it. After sweating my ass off for a couple hours, it was time to go. Jason and Rene suggested we stop at Chuy's for some TexMex...and again I stuffed myself. So in my most recent food coma I slept my way back to Austin, where we were dropped off and headed straight for the pool. Gotta tell ya...pools are freakin sweet. I lounged in the sun, in the water, in the sun again...and let all the stress flow away. Jason and Rene returned, and gave us a brief tour of the Austin area, followed by drinks at The Oasis- a HUGE complex that looks out over a lake. It felt like the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse, with all the balconies and stuff. I highly recommend it if you are in the area...especially if you can catch a sunset. Afterwards, we said our "See ya laters" and drifted off to bed...exhausted.

Monday, August 13th

Our last day...spent sleeping in and at the pool. All day. About 2:30 we headed to a fantastic little Creole cafe and had a light lunch before finding our way to the airport. We caught our plane, and made it home by about 11pm. I was totally exhausted....and completely happy. I don't want to belittle the occasion or anything, but it was about as perfect of a vacation as you can get. It was a great experience for Gayle and I...it kinda reaffirmed something that I think we both know. That we have something really special, and because of each other, the trip was made all the better.

Salt Lake City and the Pontiac Grand Prix

It seems like every time I'm in Salt Lake, I get a Grand Prix as my rental. Seriously, like the last 3 times it's been that way- maybe even the same one! Not that I'm complaining- it's actually one of my favorite rentals to get. Not too big, not too small. It's sporty enough to somewhat satisfy my itch too. Decent styling on the outside, and the interior is definitely one of those "cockpit inspired" interiors too. The dark gray on black color scheme really fit the car as well. There are a couple things, I mean, it wouldn't be a true post if I didn't bitch about something. First off...the seats are covered in some nasty, loose weave fabric that would be a total bitch to clean and would probably work better than a loofah if you drove naked. Second- whoever designed the ventilation system wanted to make sure you were covered. There were 11 (I think) vents in the dashboard...making it look kinda like swiss cheese. But overall, not a bad ride at all.

I like Salt Lake City, especially when I get to go to one of my favorite sushi joints Ichiban. Now I know what you are thinking- Sushi in SLC? Yeah...it goes against my "never eat seafood in a landlocked state" rule, but this place is freakin amazing! Every time I'm in SLC I try to make a point to stop by. On previous trips, I've spoken with the owner and the head sushi chef...and they don't mess around. They fly fish in from Japan 3 times a week, and are VERY picky about what they buy. I took a guy I kinda work with there this time....and he doesn't eat sushi. He was a little apprehensive about things when we first got there, but he said he'd try and keep an open mind. We got a couple appetizers first...one of which is Tosh's Shrimp. He took one bite and looked at me and said "This is the best shrimp I have ever had...EVER! I would totally come back here and just get like 5 orders of this!!!" Yeah...Scott was hooked at that point;) If you are ever in SLC, I highly recommend it.

It's also the little things that you pick up on when you travel. Right before I headed to the airport to come home I stopped at this little island cafe for lunch. SLC is the only place that I have been where when you order something in a fast food type restaurant, instead of asking "For here or to go?" they say "To stay or take with". It's odd...and throws me every time I hear it. I guess it's like getting a "Royal with Cheese" in Amsterdam ;)

Campbell Lake and my sister's Jetta

When I was a kid, my dad used to take me camping with my uncle Craig and cousins at Campbell lake- which is out in the middle of nowhere in south central Oregon. There are two "towns" that are close- Paisley and Bly...both of which are about 35 miles away from the lake. Now since my dad is retired and my sister is on summer break from school, they went up for a whole week. I didn't have that luxury...so after I got back from Seattle I planned on driving down for the weekend. It's a good 7 or 8 hours away from my house...but since I got some Mom and Ed time last week I figured it's time for some Dad and Ed time.

This brings up an interesting dilemma. The roads to the lake aren't exactly paved all the way, and my car is way too low and way to nice to take on a washboard gravel road. So I did the smart thing- borrowed my sister's car :) This is a new-to-her MKIV Jetta...which did absolutely fine. I started out after my conference call on Friday morning and became one with the road. I drove. When I got tired, I stopped. When I got hungry, I ate. Had to pee...I peed. I really do feel at peace behind the wheel of a car. The rest of the world just drifts away...which is exactly what I needed. Thank god my sister had the good sense to buy a stickshift. I get so tired of driving the automatic rental cars. I like providing the input and being able to tell the car what I want it to do. Between work and my personal life, I have a bunch of mounting stress right now. Camping for a weekend was supposed to be a getaway...but the drive was a big part of it as well.

So was fishing with my dad. Although being out of state sucks. $33 for a 3 day fishing license...what a ripoff! So I caught a couple fish with my dad...which worked out to be $5.50 a pop LOL! Mostly, it was just a time to get away and unplug. No phones, email, or internet for three days. It was great- although I did miss talking with Gayle. She's a helluva girl, and she's going to be in the picture for a long time. I know it.

So Friday, 8 hours in the car. Sunday...same thing. Was it worth it...totally!

Seattle Trip #2.5- Subaru Outback

So I was in Seattle working for a couple days after Waterwagens. Since Gayle had to go back to Portland before me, I rented a car to drive around for work and then back down to Portland on Wednesday. So I roll to the airport and head to Hertz...and they have my chariot all ready for me.

A Subaru Outback.

Now there's really nothing wrong with a Subaru...except for the fact that it's a Subaru. Frankly, it's boring as hell. Bland interior, bland exterior, no get-up-and-go...just blah. Plus living in the Northwest, there are a stigma surrounding the brand....it's a hippie lesbian ride.

So I rocked the hell out of it. I went total Yuppie on it- talking on the phone, texting, and emailing from behind the wheel. I drove like a bat out of hell- favoring the aggressive style rather than the laid back hippie approach. Eating processed foods and visiting a major chain coffeehouse every chance I could get. Until it was time to go home.

I've made the drive from Seattle to Portland more times than I can remember...and it's boring. I find the best way is to just put it on cruise control and just zone out with some tunes. However, the Subaru has another trait- it's evidently a cop magnet. I got popped for 70 in a 60 between Tacoma and Olympia...even though I had been getting passed left and right just before hand. LOL!

Oh well, I chalk it up to karma. I drove like an ass for a couple days before and even though I was just chillin this time, Karma found me. No big deal...I have no tickets on my record, so hopefully I can defer it. If not, I'll hire a lawyer and see if we can't get it dropped completely.

As for my opinion of Subarus- they still suck ass.

Seattle Trip #2 and Gayle's Jetta

Yes, you are reading this right. I drove up to Seattle Thursday, back to the Portland area Friday, and then up to Seattle again on Saturday- this time to partake in what is probably the largest VW/Audi car show on the west coast, Waterwagens (www.waterwagens.com). Being fairly active in the VW community in the Pacific Northwest, this is a great time to catch up with friends and really let my geek hang out talking about cars. This was the 5th year for the show, and the first time I didn't show a car. Instead, I judged the Golf/Jetta V classes. I have to admit, it was kinda nice to kick back and not stress about cleaning the same car for three days straight before the show. We did roll in true VW style though, taking my girlfriend Gayle's MKV TDI Jetta. This was so much better than rocking a crappy rental car- I could actually enjoy driving in style. Gayle is an awesome chick, and has definitely built a fantastic car- R32 front end, lowered on coilovers, Votex rear valence, LED tails, REVO software, and for this show we added my 19" Maybach 62 wheels for good measure :) The car is hot, but there were a few drawbacks:

- Because it's a TDI and gets 600 miles to the tank, bathroom breaks are significantly farther apart
- It makes me miss my TDI :(
- There were too many people that said my wheels look better on her car :)

So Saturday night we head up to our friend Meister's house for a little pre-show party, which was highly entertaining. But the downside is rolling into bed at 3am and having to be up at 5am to get to the show (judges and volunteers have to show up WAY early). As you might have guessed, I hit the snooze button and promptly fell back asleep- waking up with 15 minutes to get ready before we had to leave! I kicked Gayle out of bed and told her to get in the shower while I headed out the front door to wash her car (old habits die hard I guess).

The show was awesome, except for the sudden downpour that soaked me as judging started. (It rained so hard my socks were squishy all day). I saw a TON of old friends and had a great time catching up and checking out some sweet cars. As far as my judging duties went, I have to say that I was very disappointed with the MKV category as a whole this year. Evidently no one really knows how to show a car. Most cars were filthy, and two of them even had people in them while I was judging (for future reference- that's bad!). It made it very hard to see so many cars that people obviously care about and take points away because they just didn't know how to properly prepare their cars. Hopefully they will learn and be ready to rock at the next show.

I also feel kinda bad about how I carried myself at the show as well. Towards the end of the day, I was exhausted and cranky, and really didn't respond very well to some people that were curious about my wheels. Mostly questions about how much I paid for them. That question really gets old, and frankly I find it a bit rude to ask. I gave them smart ass responses, or tried to spread rumors that they were fake or from a different car. I'm usually not like that...and I hope I didn't piss too many people off. Don't hold it against me, OK?

But all in all, the show was a smashing success. The day after I picked up a rental since Gayle had to head back down to PDX for work before I did. I'll continue that in it's own post...so many stories to share :)

Seattle Trip #1 and a Toyota Avalon

This week, I am a yo-yo. In an effort to balance work and fun, I'm driving like a mad man. My first trip to Seattle was on Thursday, when I drove from Portland to Seattle with my mom in her Toyota Avalon. An interesting trip- take my mom to a baseball game Thursday night, work Friday morning, drive home Friday afternoon. Now...driving with my mom is not the easiest thing. I love her to death...but she is the worst passenger in the entire world. Every time someone slowed/turned/stepped off a curb/changed lanes in front of me, she grabbed on for dear life and made a noise that could only resemble a squeeky chew toy stuck in a blender. I was pretty much done after I got the angry mom voice for making a U-turn...which I had to remind her was legal in the state of Washington. Her reponse was classic- "Well, they shouldn't be"

The nicest part of the drive was actually the vehicle...and later model Toyota Avalon. A very comfortable car, feels very solid. And honestly a very good value at around $27k. Only a few gripes with this one:

- It's a total old person car (Have you ever seen anyone under the age of 50 driving one?)
- The cruise control is NOT smooth (need to go to the chiropractor after hitting 'resume')
- Fabric seats are not finished well (wrinkly) and feel very cheap
- No 12V Power supply in a convienient location (my GPS cord was stretched out and looped around the steering wheel)

All and all, it was a very comfortable drive when I was driving. And a great trip, all things considered. I got some mom time in, watched a baseball game on a perfect summer evening (the Mariners could win one sometime), and had papaya pancakes for breakfast before driving back on Friday.

Seattle Trip #2 began on Saturday...and will follow soon!

Orange County, CA and the Dodge Charger

So...here I sit in Orange County making my first blog post ever. It's been a long day- up at 4am for a 7am flight down here, so pardon me if I begin rambling.

Now normally I rent from Hertz, but for some reason Avis got the nod today. The nice man at the counter said they had a Chevy Cobalt for me, but for the low low price of $5 a day, he would get me into a "Premium" vehicle. Oh well, why not.

So I hop into a Dodge Charger. First impressions- this car has some style...for an American car at least. The wheel gap is absurd, but what stock car doesn't these days. The car is surprisingly larger than you'd expect, and provides plenty of room for 4 full sized adults. For a supposed "modern muscle car", the interior is a little more refined rather than sporty...especially the seats. More support would be nice, which is offered in the upgraded trim packages, but of course you can't rent one of those. My biggest gripe with the car is the drive by wire system. It seriously takes a full second before your inputs are registered. This is very annoying in parking lots, where the car will all of sudden lurch forward and cause for heavy braking...it's like learning how to drive all over again! This trait is also a pain in the ass on the LA freeways...when I push the pedal I need to go now, lest get run over.



Orange County is not my favorite spot to visit for work- too many tourists coming down to get their Disney on means lots of bratty kids and brain dead adults. It's probably just because I'm bitter...I'm here to work, not to have fun. I would love to head to Disney or Knott's for an evening of rollercoasters and rides. So why don't I? Simple- a 31 year old single male heads to an amusement park on his own and people are going to make assumptions. And I really don't need Dateline NBC thinking bad things about me...so I just look on and dream. One of these days I'll bring my girlfriend down so we can go have some fun :)

Dodge Charger Overview

Pros


-Decent styling


-Refined interior


-Plenty of room for multiple adults





Cons


-Drive by wire lag


-Wants to be a sports car and a luxury car at the same time


-Considered a "Premium" vehicle...so it'll probably be expensive