Escape Is at Hand for the Traveling Man

A journal of life on the road

Monday, March 17, 2008

Fantasy Baseball Time!

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

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Still Alive?

It sure seems that way, hank god.
Back into playing pool, damn right, a road trip is in the future for sure.

Monday, October 15, 2007

its been a while

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 =)

Sunday, May 07, 2006

the wrap up

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?

Saturday, April 22, 2006

I always get nostalgic with that song (reposted)

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.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

What a week, and weekend

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 18th 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.

Monday, March 27, 2006

California Dreaming


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

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

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?