Escape Is at Hand for the Traveling Man

Fantasy Baseball Time!

2008-03-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

So I am in a league on ESPN.com and my team got drafted by autopick this morning. I think my team looks at least somewhat decent. This year my goal is to actually keep up with the team for the whole season as opposed to being into it for the first couple months and then having a team so damn bad that i give up all hope.

Heres the roster-
C Carlos Ruiz (PHI)
1B Prince Fielder (MIL)
2B Placido Polanco (DET)
3B Evan Longoria (TB)
SS Carlos Guillen (DET)
2B/SS Julio Lugo (BOS)
1B/3B Nick Swisher (CHIW)
OF Ichiro Suzuki (SEA)
OF Jose Guillen (KC)
OF Jason Bay (PIT)
OF Johnny Damon (NYY)
OF Michael Bourn (HOU)
DH Travis Hafner (CLE)
UTIL Adrian Beltre (SEA) 3B
UTIL Jeff Francoeur (ATL) OF
UTIL Kevin Kouzmanoff (SD) 3B

Pitchers
Joakim Soria (KC)
Armando Benetiz (FA)
Matt Capps (PIT)
Manny Corpas (COL)
Zack Greinke (KC)
Greg Maddux (SD)
Clay Buchholz (BOS)
Jeremy Accardo (TOR)
Eric Gagne (MIL)

I think I need pitching

Still Alive?

2008-01-31T13:38:00.001-08:00

It sure seems that way, hank god.

Back into playing pool, damn right, a road trip is in the future for sure.

its been a while

2007-10-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

So yeah I havent updated in damn near... a year and a half or so?
Moved again, live with the girlfriend/wife, whatever you wanna call her. Still traveling, and the like. Also, looking for a VW or something fun to drive, I need something fun to drive.
Other than that, making a stab at writing fiction, we shall see how that goes, if at all, worth a shot at least. Better than getting a real job =)

the wrap up

2006-05-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

What a weekend it has been, who knew moving could take so much out of you? Never before has a move made me feel as exhausted as I feel right now, even moving everything in the span of six hours didn’t make me feel this exhausted. But enough about me being in pain; my new place is absolutely amazing to say the least.

The new apartment is absolutely gigantic, it is so much larger than I expected, and it looks so very empty with nothing but boxes in it from me moving. The furniture, or lack there of amounts to a small folding table and two camping chairs, needless to say that needs to be fixed. A bed and other needed furniture needs to be purchased as time permits, as the sooner the apartment looks well like a home the better.

I will say it was a rather pleasant surprise when I walked into the apartment for the first time and saw a fireplace that I was told my apartment didn’t even have, as well as a fully stocked kitchen and more storage space that I can shake a stick at. There is nothing I love more than having a ton of storage space, as the more the better, always.

More than anything I cant believe how tired and somewhat sick I am, allergies are actually wrecking me this year, last year I was a-okay and now this year, they are killing me. Sagebrush I think is going to be one of my enemies for the summer, and I’m looking forward to that oh so much.

Also, finals are upon me, and classes are going well for the most part it seems, my project for Journalism 204 is honestly the only thing giving me troubles. Editing video was never all too high on my list of things to do, or thinks that I enjoy, and alas, that’s what I am having to do a lot of. At least I am slowly learning the program and am actually able to help people now, which is always a nice thing. Its been one hell of a semester, I am glad that it is finally drawing to a close but it has been a good one, I have changed quite a bit since the beginning and mostly all for the best I think. Its been a wild ride but its been fun and isn’t that all that really matters?

I always get nostalgic with that song (reposted)

2006-04-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

I always get nostalgic with that song. What a change of events and for that matter feelings as well for that matter. What a difference a couple weeks, or hell even five days can make. Meeting someone who lives an hour and a half away as opposed to 9 hours away, who I essentially have a lot more in common with and unfortunately had far more fun spending time around, really makes a guy question what the hell he really wants.

But it is hard to describe as well how I felt when I returned home last night after spending several hours with her, both helping setting up things for the swing dancing thingy at the Hilton, but also for dinner and eventually a drink afterwards. I had a huge smile on my face all the way home as I cranked That Song in my car as I cruised down US 395.

All I can really hope for now is that the two of us can continue to hang out, as she also promised to go with me to IKEA in Sacramento to help me pick out furniture for my new apartment which essentially will be a huge help as I can use all the help I can get when it comes to picking things out. She also promised her attendance at my eventual housewarming party, which also should prove to be a heck of a lot of fun, then again something tells me just about anything, would be fun with her.

To be entirely honest, it has been ages since I have felt like this, I cant stop smiling, I feel absolutely great and really couldn’t be much happier, well I could be but that’s only because I wish I didn’t have to be up at 5:30 on a Friday morning after being out late last night, but hell not too much I can do about that is there?

Overall that’s about all the semi important or even meaningful things I can come up with to say at such an early hour on a Friday morning. This weekend proves to be interesting as I will be spending some, hopefully quite a bit of time with Audrey as I will be at the bowling thing at 2:30 Saturday morning with her as well as taking lessons on Saturday and hopefully meeting up for dinner or drinks or both, as well as then helping take things down for the event on Sunday, overall, fun will hopefully be had by all, and I hope I still feel this good come Monday morning.

Other than that, I am totally in the market for a vintage Ford Falcon.

What a week, and weekend

2006-04-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Another weekend for a college student.

And what a week leading into this weekend as well. The search for a place came to an abrupt end Thursday as I got approved and will move on May 6 to an apartment in NW Reno. This will be my first move to someplace besides either my home back in Oregon or to a dorm building so it shall prove to be rather interesting to say the least. The furniture shopping should be oh so exciting, as I will have to come up with everything major except the kitchen appliances whish is a small relief but it shall still be a challenge to have even a remotely furnished apartment by mid June.

More than anything I am glad that this apartment is in a good part of town, someplace I wont have to worry about my car disappearing because it has out of state license plates, like one place I was looking at I fear that would have very likely happened.

Besides the adventures of finding a place to live by the 18^th I really haven’t done all too much productive stuff, well unless you count having relationship issues as something productive than I haven’t particularly accomplished much. I just love cryptic messages from someone you are supposed to be in a relationship with is always wonderful and something to look forward to.

As if things couldn’t get worse I’m being bombarded with things to do for classes as well as making a trip to Las Vegas next weekend to shoot video for my project for Journalism 204, that should be exciting, unfortunately the person I am supposed to be in a relationship with will also be in Las Vegas, and that means I will likely have to go incognito it seems. The last thing I need is her causing issues while I’m working on something for the project, might just have to leave the phone at home for the trip. The trip may end up being a guys weekend in Vegas with the exception of the video shooting, but I could likely use something to take my mind off of everything else. A good weekend Las Vegas seems to be able to solve anything and everything. The drive to and from Las Vegas also is a good time to think and reflect on what all is going on and what can be done to change or make things better and I feel that is what I desperately need.

California Dreaming

2006-03-27T20:11:00.000-08:00

Southern California, what was I getting myself into, I didn’t know till I arrived. Cruising on the 15 through Baker, and Barstow, I for the first time hit historic route 66 as I rocketed west at 85 miles an hour towards Pasadena and Cal Tech where I was to pick Amy up for lunch.
The ride was far from smooth, but the bumpy road finally let me figure out why my car was making weird plastic vibrating noises, my glove box is apparently rather loose, knowing this I worry much less about something being drastically wrong now.
TO be rather up front, southern California traffic is NOT that bad, I was able to easily navigate my way to Pasadena to meet Amy and her co workers for lunch at this wonderful little Mexican place which was oh so good after not eating since I left Las Vegas several hours before.
The weather in Southern California was absolutely amazing, seriously, how can someone go wrong with someplace that is typically 75 and sunny outside? The climate is seriously to die for.
Seeing Amy as always made me incredibly happy as I instantly had a huge smile on my face that stayed on my face till now, a day after I returned home from beautiful Costa Mesa California.
While in Orange County tons of fun was had, Disneyland was amazing, I’m glad I finally made it there as I had never been to southern California either. Overall it was amazing and I am so very glad that I went. I had so much fun with everything that I did. Disneyland, the Mighty Ducks game against Nashville with Amy, which also happened to be her first sportive event ever. Following the game we went to her favourite hang out the Goat Hill which is likely one of the coolest bars I have ever seen as we hung out nearly till closing time and I had the chance to meet several of her friends.
On the trip I also got to go to the Orange County marketplace which is a massive swap meet where I found all sorts of cool stuff.
I got to dine at all sorts of new and interesting places, well at least new and interesting to me, California Pizza Kitchen, The Chicken Coop, as well as drinks at Dave and Busters before going with Amy to watch an awesome movie V for Vendetta at the Irvine Spectrum. Speaking of Irvine I also got taken on a tour of The University of California, Irvine by Amy, as she graduated from there last year.
In a wrap, it was amazing, and I am a much better person for making the trip, as I am both a bit of a different person but also a hell of a lot happier now than I was before I left, mainly due to the fact that I absolutely love traveling but also because of Amy, who is my sweetheart, and an absolutely amazing girl who I care about more than anyone.
I lone I am leaving out parts of the trip, but it was all a blur. I must return as I loved it and I hope to soon.

There I Was, A Natural Street Freak. Eating Whatever Came By

2006-03-27T19:29:00.000-08:00

Hockey was exactly what the doctor ordered to bring me around, a thrilling shootout victory by the Las Vegas Wranglers over the heated Alaska Aces. Following the game was hitting a favourite local eating establishment with my buddy Pete who I was staying with while in Vegas. The night was long, tiring, but a much needed stress reliever after hectic school time.

Sunday was to be a completely different story, I agreed to go to work with Pete so I could work on school related items such as a study guide, reading, and editing a paper I got part of this done which was better than none, but a 12 hour day on a Sunday watching someone work on computer aided drafting for a trade booth for the NHRA is far from exciting, but it was beneficial as I had ample time to work on things that needed to be done, but I still managed to piss away at least half the day.

Pissing away time was mainly what I did the next day as well except I managed to clean up a large part of the house as it was in shambles thanks to Pete’s other roommate who leaves the house in disarray and it is no help that Pete is rarely if ever there as he works most of the day goes out to dinner and then comes home only to pass out and start over again the next morning,. Overall Monday was a waste as I accomplished next to nothing but I vowed I would make up for it Tuesday.

Tuesday kicked off with going to a Mitsubishi dealership in search of the motor and regulator, which I lucked out on and found the last one in the city for a mere $156. The part was quickly purchased and placed in my trunk waiting for installation upon the eventual return to Reno.

Vegas had little left to offer me besides tossing money on the blackjack table that I realize I shouldn’t not have partaken in it was snowing again causing me to do a double take and pop on the heater as I cruised back to Pete’s to wind down the day and prepare for the next mornings departure to beautiful southern California. I had no idea what to expect but I was clearly looking for the best out of the trip and praying I don’t get lost on the way.

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

2006-03-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

Part one of 3 of the Spring Break journey

Spring Break is a time to escape, and leave town for someplace new, different, and by far warmer than Reno is what it’s all about. The trip unfortunately was marred by problems before the departure time of Saturday morning even rolled around.

Friday evening on my way to Sparks to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on my way out there, I had my window down briefly and then as I went to put it up it moved roughly three inches upwards before a series of clicking noises emitted from my door. Thinking it was stuck I attempted to pull it up, when that caused nothing, I made an emergency call to a friend to see if she could look at the car and diagnose the problem.

Well the problem was that I somehow managed to strip the gear on the motor, which was yanked out of the car after about a hour of disassembling of the door leaving the entire inside panel of it in the trunk of my car. The window itself was then propped up by two pieces of wood between the window and the window seal in the door. What a rough way to end a week, and to kick off a trip that I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be taking.

Saturday morning< style=""> I left there much better, although without a motor. A new motor and regulator arm would only set me back $145, unfortunately it was on national back order and out of stock, and they recommended that I check the dealerships in Vegas, so I was soon on my way out of town and bound for Sin City.

The voyage to Las Vegas, was much like any other one, long and boring, although this one was filled with snow as it was damn hard to see anything when going into Tonopah and then once approaching Indian Springs the rain was pounding and thus seeping in the tiny crack between my window and the top of the seal at the top of my door. Upon arriving in Vegas though I was ready for what awaited me that evening, and that was hockey, what other way could I think of to bring my spirits up?

I'm a mess, what can I say

2006-03-13T22:01:00.000-08:00

After last night, I can safely say I am an emotional mess. What with the present issues with Amy and her finding out that her grandfather is on the verge of death, as well as my own uncertainty about the whole situation with her, its been a rough night, to follow a rough day.

I know good and well this entry is nothing like the others, as it will have very little to do about travel and cars, except the fact mine is indeed costing me $330 to get new struts and an alignment, thank god it isn’t more.

I feel helpless as Amy is 500 some odd miles away and I can do absolutely nothing for her. I feel bad that I can’t do anything really to help cheer her up or make her feel better about the situation.

I’m even torn as to if everything will even work out between her and I. I know I shouldn’t have doubts, especially as crazy as we are for each other, but I honestly can’t help it. The distance will and has been quite rough, Its hard, it isn’t like I can drive to Southern California every weekend to visit, if I could, I certainly would, I love being with her. One thing that sets her apart from anyone else I have even thought of being involved with is her supportiveness. She’s all for my involvement with cars, even thought we both know they will end up being money pits, especially the Porsche, she’s actually looked in the Orange County area to see if there were any for sale at a reasonable price.

It’s very hard to believe that I would have doubts about someone who is so supportive me and is overall doing well in life as she graduated from the University of California, Irvine last year and now works at Cal Tech in their alumni department.

Things should become much clearer after I make my visit on spring break in which we are scheduled to go to Disneyland as well as a hockey game (her first sporting event ever) between the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Nashville Predators. I think my found and a half days with her will say a lot and clear everything up between us, or make things much worse, time can only tell, I hope it makes things better, but I am a man of little hope as I am used to things never working out.

Anyways, that’s enough early morning rambling, over and out.

I can get behind anything...

2006-03-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

I was just thinking earlier today that you the reader, well if there are any readers (hello out there to those of you who do read this) what the heck the title of Roadside Attraction was referring to.

The phrase Another Roadside Attraction comes from the slogan used by the Tragically Hip, a Canadian rock and roll band from Kingston, Ontario who called their summer tours the “Another Roadside Attraction Tour, etc.

Anyways, on to more important matters, I am now $400 stuck thanks to my crap car and it’s needing of new struts and two new tires before voyaging on spring break to all points south. The last thing I need is a wheel coming off or something between Las Vegas and Flagstaff, that would be a recipe for disaster, AAA can only bail someone out so much.

As for other cars, I am still in the market for something, something vintage, that’s pretty much the only requirement I have anymore. A Porsche would of course be nice, but would of course be an instant money pit, which wouldn’t be the best thing for me, but it would make me happy, and likely save me from blowing my money on other useless crap.

I am certainly looking forward to next weekend which will feature a trip to Oakland to hang out with Amy (the part-time girlfriend) and some of her friends which shall be exciting. Ill get my fist experience with Basque food so that should be interesting as well. Overall it should be a excellent time, well except for he drive on Friday night to get there, but that’s to be expected, rush hour is always the best time to travel at least for me because its a lot harder to get lost when you’re moving along at three miles an hour. Speaking of getting lost, what’s the deal with me being able to get lost practically anywhere? In Sacramento I ended up in pasture land north of town and away from everything. I also got lost finding a house that I knew where it was and had been there before. Even back in the Rose City I can get lost and I lived there for 20 years of my life. The one surprising thing is that in all my trips to Las Vegas, I have never been truly lost there, I have gotten turned around while going from the airport to the strip, but I have never gotten completely lost, which does indeed make me quite pleased.

Anyways, that’s it for tonight, I’m shot, tired, exhausted, and feel like I got hit by a small truck so I think its naptime for me.

2006-02-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

A trip to Las Vegas, a trip marred by problems and issues, ups and of course downs. Why flights must decided to be hours late leaving Houston Texas whenever I decide to fly and have a plane coming from there I will never know, but the flight from Reno to Vegas left Northern Nevada a wee bit late. That part wasn’t so bad, the flight was uneventful and fairly smooth. Upon arriving in Vegas I was confronted by the single worst airport I have ever encountered, hell this makes Sea-Tac look like a walk in the park. After finally getting the luggage and progressing to fetching the rental car, that lead to another long delay.

After getting lost on the way to finding the Flamingo (I thought id go the wrong way on Warm Springs for the hell of it) we finally arrived only to find out that they lost our damn reservations. So there went another hour down the tubes as we finally got a room as we had proof that reservations were made. The room itself was wonderful, we were starved, got dinner, and then I wandered the strip a little while the grandfather had miserable luck at the blackjack table.

The next day looked to be better, as well, it sure couldn’t have been a hell of a lot worse that’s for sure. We walked the strip towards the Luxor, going into many a casino checking them out and looking for tables with reasonably low minimum bets. None of those were to be found however till the afternoon. We dined on some of the best pizza at the new York, New York as we were happy to get out of the strong wind that was hitting us in the face for most of the walk.

After finally returning to the Flamingo we kicked back and watched the third period of the hockey game featuring the United States and the Czech Republic which the United StatesSahara. managed to lose we decided to hop in the car and aim for the

At the Sahara, an older casino on the far end of the strip, we were immediately greeted by a welcoming sight in the smoky haze of a room, blackjack tables with good limits. We parked ourselves there and looked to see what would unfold. For me, I got lucky and ended up walking out with a nice chunk of cash, the grandfather managed to break even.

This summed up the trip as the unlikely seemed to happen more and more, the following morning when we went to the top of the Stratosphere and it decided to snow…… yes, snowing in Las Vegas, the unlikely continued as when we hit the casino at the Stratosphere my luck continued as I managed to walk out with a sizeable amount more money than when I walked in.

This more or less sums up the trip, it was filled with the unlikely and unexpected but was overall one of the most fun times I have had in Las Vegas, hopefully to be surpassed when I return in March on spring break.
Over and out from the road weary traveler

The traveling man hits the road again

2006-02-16T11:19:00.000-08:00

The traveling man one again hits the road this weekend making a Friday to Monday voyage to sunny Las Vegas, Nevada. This trip will mark my sixth to sin city, and my first time going without driving. I know the concept of me of all people not driving is surprising, as I practically live in my car, but this was my grandfather’s idea as he will be traveling with me for this trip.

The trip also marks my first trip while being legal to partake in all Las Vegas has to offer, and I shall be taking full advantage of that, as we are staying on the strip. While in Vegas, the plan is to hit everything we can as my grandfather has not been to Las Vegas in the better part of 13 years or more.

A weekend like this is much needed as work is starting to take its ever present toll on my body and my mind and making a four day weekend seems as good of way as any to ease my mind and try to relax and have a little fun.

While in Vegas, there is also the opportunity to obtain the car mentioned in my prior post, a white Porsche 914 in moderately decent condition. I believe however that I shouldn’t purchase this car quite yet as I really lack a place to store it at the present time. Until I move out of the dorms hopefully in May, I have no real good location, besides a friends garage in Las Vegas, to store a second car.

This weekend also kicks off my travel extravaganza as every weekend for the next month I will be hitting the road with the exception of one, concluding with spring break which will lead me through three or perhaps more states visiting friends, looking for cars, and seeing parts of the country I have yet to experience. This travel is what keeps me both sane, but alive and kicking as well, its one of the few things I truly enjoy in life that makes me honestly happy.

Prior to the long spring break voyage my present car needs some work, new struts and perhaps new brakes as well as a couple new tires, that will without a doubt crimp my cash flow, but I should still be able to make the trip comfortably from Reno to Flagstaff and then on to Southern California.

That’s all I have for now, over and out, and on to packing.

2006-02-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

Many times I gaze along the open road. The road and my car are my home, which leads me to ask myself do I really want to go shell out between $350 and $500 on a second car that is not even in running condition? Do I really want (I do) and do I really need (I probably don’t) a second automobile?

Now this isn’t any ordinary car, although it hasn’t been manufactured in thirty years that doesn’t necessarily mean all too much. A car of its vintage carries a certain amount of class, as well as being a hell of a lot more fun and enjoyable to drive than most present cars.

A Porsche 914 would without a doubt be a project car as it would take up residency in a friends garage in sunny and hot Las Vegas, Nevada until it was in running condition, or perhaps just until I had a garage to store it in up north in Reno.

The car is a classic example of vintage German air cooled design, with a mid engine design and only two cozy seats the 914 hugs the road and is designed not so much for speed but for handling and cornering, which earned it the title of the “giant killer” in Europe as it was highly successful in defeating much higher powered cars on the track and open road. The car boasts 80 horsepower on the 4 cylinder 1.7 liter model which isn’t much but when you realize due to the weight distribution in the car you can corner at roughly twice the speed than what you could in a conventional automobile, that gives you the upper hand everywhere.

The car although ancient still remains fuel efficient as it can achiever 30 or more miles per gallon still today. 914’s are plagued by problems as they are often known for overheating in certain conditions due to the mid engine design but then again also they are known for their rust problems. Cars from the American Southwest are much less likely to rust as those from Michigan or the upper Midwest but they are still problem prone and do need work.

My future car that I have no doubt I shall obtain needs work in the worst way, it is a complete car but it has been sitting for an unspecified amount of time and needs a thorough cleaning as well as a completely new interior.
There is no doubt that I will invest in a money pit, but is it a money pit that is worth it? I can only hope so.

Hmm backgrounder time

2006-02-05T15:05:00.000-08:00

Since this is new, and designed for a class I thought I might as well give everyone a little bit of background information about me.
In general I am just another college student, hailing from out of state, going to the University of Nevada, Reno. I am a journalism major hoping to go into print, but doubting that decision on a daily basis.
More than anything I have a love afair with the open road, I like nothing more than getting in a car and taking off through Nevada, California, Oregon or wherever in search of adventure and a place to happen.
I attempt to get out of town whenever I can financially afford to do so, which seems to be more and more often. As for driving itself, I am always in the market for a new vehicle to take my trips in, preferably something much more vintage than my present car which is only three years old.
The present goal is to open up a garage and speed shop in Northern Arizona post graduation with a good friend of mine from Las Vegas, specializing in rebuilding and restoring classic cars. Needless to say that sounds a hell of alot more exciting than working at a dead end newspaper in Montana or something like that. Flagstaff in itself seems like a pretty darn cool place to call home, alot better to raise a family if that oppertunity ever comes to be. That seeems less likly some days, and more likly on others, seems to be a hit or miss situation entirly.
Besides my love for the open road, I am a big hockey fan, as I love the Chicago Blackhawks (yeah so what if we suck) as well as the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey Leage. Hockey has been huge in my life as I have attended games since I was seven years old back in 1992.

I guess thats all for now, comment, ask questions, and knock yourself out