Tallahassee or Bust! Day 3: What a Difference a Day Makes!

I'm going to start off my whipping away the memories of Fort Jackson Texas... they are gone!  I won't even go into how bad the bed was, or how horrible the "breakfast" was this morning... it's over!

That's because today was ALL about rolling into San Antonio. Now I've been here before, the first time the Memphis Grizzlies made the post season many years ago... it was a very fun and odd trip that included my buddy, "Kevity Kev" almost having to stay here for a couple of days courtesy of the fine Police Officers of San Antonio...

but that's a whole number of stories that I can't get into because there may be children reading this blog.

Anywho, just look at the hotel as I rolled up to it.  It's the, "Hotel Contessa" on the Riverwalk and if you're ever in San Antonio, STAY HERE!!! By far it's the best hotel I've stayed at on the trip. A suite, bigger than my last three apartments it feels like.

 

 

 

I also arrived early, so that gave me time to check out a little of the Riverwalk during the day and an amazing Mexican Food restaurant called, "Casa Rio." Food that tasted so fresh,

homemade and could possibly convert me into a Mexican Food lover. I like it normally... maybe it's right at the end of my top 10 best foods, but if you add the qualification, "Mexican Food Made from Texas" it definitely moves up on the list!

I got a chance to get in a little workout, watch some football and then it was out on the town for a steak and some night time flavor of San Antonio and both didn't disappoint.

First... another David at the Alamo... pretty cool at night.

Then the Riverwalk itself was all lit up for the holidays and it was neat as well.

Finally dinner... starting off with a "Blue Christmas Margarita"

Followed by a steak... no sides, no extras... Paleo Style... just meat baby!

 

 

All in all... the best day of the trip so far!

Coda: (Lotion Picture Day 4)
Hotel Contessa

I think you get a little feel for the "class" of hotel???

Tallahassee or Bust! Day 2: 3 for 1... not a bad bargin!

Today was a mixed bag... good... odd... uncomfortable... glad it's over!  Three states, one day... not a bad bargain on paper, but it's how the day ended that jacked everything up... but I digress.

First, the day started in Phoenix then over to Tucson for a breakfast at the "Blue Willow Restaurant and Gift Shop," with a former co-worker from Memphis, Jason Ground a big wig now with the Democratic party in Tucson... he's the Director of Communications for the Pima County Democratic Party, not a bad gig.  I got to meet his two sons and hang out with his lovely wife(I knew her already and he did well!)... who by the way is not "down" with the social media and you won't find her online... I might be giving away more than SHE even

wants me to say now!  But it was a great breakfast, Jason had some good advice and insight into my new job, so it was good to hear his take on things.

Before I hit the road, I did swing by the University of Arizona and checked out the campus. Pretty impressive I must say. I can see why folks might want to matriculate there. :)

After hoping out of the car, taking some pics, losing my sunglasses it was onto the drive. Now my plan was to go to El Paso, but I ended up getting there really early so I pushed on through... more about that in a moment.

The drive today was pretty cool and the pictures posted here make it look even cooler... however I will mention that the average temp was about 43 degrees the entire drive!

So the drive took me from Arizona, through New Mexico and some very creepy truck stop dolls.

And then half of Texas... which by the way I saw one of the coolest things ever! Check this out... Yep... you can drive 80 legally in parts of the Lone Star State.  It was pretty wild I do have to say, especially since a year ago I got a ticket going 68 miles an hour, 8 over the limit in this one part of California... bitter???? Who me???

Now here is the "FUBAR" portion of the day: Because I powered through El Paso, I didn't really have a plan on where I would stay for the night. After some Internet searching I decided Van Horn would be my landing spot.

So I roll up, there is a "Ramada Inn" there.  It wasn't the best place in the world but I've stayed in worse.  I dropped my bags and went into town to see if I could find something to eat and the entire town's Internet service was down. No credit cards, no Facebook, no Tweeting... It was like... like... 1979 all over again! (I might be dating myself... but many of you are right there with me dating as well!)

I was so frustrated that I had let myself down without proper planning. I went back to the room, told them I couldn't stay there and drove about another 80 miles to Fort Stockton Texas. This time it's a "Super 8 Hotel."

The room is slightly better than Van Horn and at least I could get a burger near by and we have Internet.

The day is done... I just want to crash. No gym here tonight, just a bed the Keith Morrison would probably have a field day with.  At least tomorrow I'm booked into, what I believe is a decent hotel in San Antonio and because I did have to go further before stopping, my drive won't be AS crazy as today.

You win some, you lose some... and sometimes it's a tie... just like kissing your sister... You can pick which one today was in my world!

Coda: (Lotion Picture Day 3)
Super 8 Hotel

What people??? STILL no comments or thoughts about the big experiment? lol

Tallahassee or Bust! Day 1: The Road Dog, Hits the Road!

OK... first things first... had a horrible nights sleep.  I got to the hotel that shall be nameless, tired and sweaty and there is someone "Blazing Up" in the parking lot in his car. Not even really trying to hide it, you could smell it and hear him coughing... all I wanted to do is get to the room, change, head to the gym and then grab a little something something to eat for dinner... The choice for "Day - 0"... Taco Bell. Normally not too bad, its food I get it, but what a mistake based on tonight! (That's what they call foreshadowing)

I rolled around and tried to sleep but kept thinking about the "Crypt Keeper" Keith Morrison's report many years ago about what's actually on your sheets... something I KNOW I have to get over. After waking up at 2:30am I finally got back to some sleep.

Day 1, started out a little late... but that's a "Teenager-Thang" according to my lovely daughter Sage. I had so many high hopes that on our drive down to LAX for her trip, Daddy and daughter would bond! We'd talk and have a grand old time, but another "Teenager-Thang" is the need to sleep pretty much ALL of the time. Which she did...

I'm not allowed to show pictures of her sleeping any more, although I think it's really cute, so I'm only able to show her hands, but trust me... she was out like a light!  From Santa Maria to LAX... Nada, Nothing, Hello!!!

The drive to LAX was spectacular near Santa Barbara as usual and THAT I will miss about California.

Once we arrived at the airport and I was able to wake her up, m-daughter did allow one last pic before she headed off for her Christmas vacation.

Back on the road, you have plenty of time to yourself and it's OK. I have books on CD, Podcasts from NPR, including "Pop Culture Happy Hour" one of my favorites! Pandora streaming from the speakers and occasional calls to and from friends and family along the way.  But just outside of Palm Springs as I started to head for the Arizona border, I realized that turning everything off and having just the wind blowing is special.

That time alone in the car, with your thoughts, can't be duplicated. Call it "Wander Lust" or whatever, but there is something in me that has that sense of adventure. Tallahassee and the new job will challenge me like no other adventure before and I'm looking forward to that... even doing it all alone.

Once I got off the road and rolled into Phoenix for my stop for the night, I was a little nervous at first rolling up to, "The Clarendon Hotel."

I used KAYAK to book it and it's not in the hippest part of town, but it is an old school hip  
hotel that I WOULD recommend to anyone coming through town. I has kind of a hip, retro, Rat-Pack kind of a feel to it. 

After I checked in, hit the gym, showered, I went to the hotel restaurant, "Gallo Blanco Café." Now remember that foreshadowing earlier???


Well I had a slow roasted, locally sourced pork taco and a Carne Asada Burrito with "real" beans and rice... not a bean like "Aco Ell" filling from the night before. The food was spot on and delicious.

So all in all, "Day - 1" turned out to be pretty good... Let's see if we can make it two for two!










Coda: Don't ask me why, but I decided I would take a picture of the soap/lotion layout in each hotel I stay in on the way.  Trying to see if it says anything about the place, the comfort, the hospitality if you will. This could be crazy, but if you've got a take on the pictures... post a comment!

Day - 0... Casa Grande Inn














Day - 1... The Clarendon Hotel

Tallahassee or Bust! Day 0... "Twas The Night Before The Trip"

It's the first night of the big trip, "Tallahassee of Bust!"  I was able to do a decent job cleaning up the apartment, but I think it's all a scam, they're going to go in and clean up again so I probably am going to lose a little of my deposit, but that's life... that's what people say.

So with no place to stay, I'm chilling at the "Casa Grande Inn" in Pismo Beach. Tomorrow, very early I have to pick up m-daughter Sage and drive her to LAX, so she can fly back East to spend Christmas with my family.

It's her normal routine: Fly to Maryland, hang out with my Mother, Brother, Sister in Law and my niece and nephew. Then she heads up to Boston to hang with my Dad and his wife and they go skiing in Vermont for New Years.  Usually I get to see her on her way back and we spend out Christmas together, but this year... because of the job change and drive, I'll be missing out on that.

Tonight... the plan is simple: Go work out a little, get some food, hop in the shower and try to get some rest before the big drive begins!

So nothing to earth shattering tonight... not sure there will be lots of Earth shattering events to blog about, but I made the commitment and those who know me, know when I say I'm going to do something... I get er done!

Day Zero in the books... Ciao Ciao!

Another Way to Stay Motivated

Here is a link to a cool article that not only works for business but filmmakers too! 

Let's see if we can actually start using some of the suggestions!

http://email.buzzfeed.com/wf/click?upn=YGDHVfIXVGy2-2FKZ9BX8q1Gfpr5Tj3fwtLQS-2BD5Qwtv60NCgjoeGPmfnSNQwp4-2BIXaxISMfQfey30fJOQBFRyDcY3HYEyDG7Uqh1BkYx8wrFxd9uEz6AfpvqJzasQCFpKTuueYPfFci-2FIOWw7SdNkTQ-3D-3D_DEjsOHtAgPmXeN-2BwVg-2FZcm02KUXglsAEcpOoaIZg06DGRt-2FYw-2BSI3heIxBRBlAxnDdknGiXgkMONNVvuzoDfLSlY8JfLKWkaXD3m2yzX8Rsx8no2Dwbo8WS-2BxWr743pud5A2buGzwTXy2zqBVctoFThoi6SMjyF1-2BUL3l14hOjF-2BD18MBESKidx-2BoTol39zJQLKZ6fgps-2BV6kiIez7EI-2Bw-3D-3D

Sometimes When You Can't Sleep the Best Thing to do is Go to the Beach!

So I wasn't able to sleep, so rather than lay in bed trying to count sheep... Come on do people even really do that? I got up and headed to the beach to start my day.

There is something about the ocean that fills my soul. At home I sleep with a sound machine and usually sleep with Eire the ocean or the wind... TMI???

Today, I just substituted the machine for the actual, living, breathing ocean and it felt great! Now truth be told I didn't sleep, that's still an issue and no doubt I will hit a wall a little later today, but at least for a little bit... That moment in time, it felt good... Healthy... Somewhat spiritual to be there.

I wonder what the rest of the day will hold...

Geek Flirting: 101

OK... full disclosure... I am a bit of a "Star Wars Geek." (The original three, not the crap that came after) I love the movies, it framed a part of my life and certainly who I am today.  I've often wondered what it might be like to date a self confessed "Star Wars Geek" as well.  She no doubt would think the Princess Leia Slave outfit from "Return of the Jedi"

might be the appropriate costume for a night of adult fun and frolicking, but for me it is and will always be Leia in the white dress, laying on the hard black bed in the prison when Luke comes to rescue her...

Cinnabon hair, lounging provocatively... yep... I'd hit that faster than Han could get the Millennium Falcon into Hyper Space!  But I digress from the purpose of this post.

So I'm in one of my mobile offices today, doing some work for Triple Sticks Productions and I over hear the couple to my left, in the picture above and this guy is driving hard to the hole. They were both suppose to be studying something, but the conversation drifted to her first puppy she ever got, to video games and the flaws in PS2 when it comes to online gaming, to the history of Star Wars characters, starting from the NEW Episode one, moving forward.

My Jedi Knight wanna be friend started to lay out the history of the Sith's.  He was impressing her with his total knowledge and trust me she was interested in his mastery of a history that... well... really isn't REAL history!  Nonetheless he was pouring it on... even to the point after they walked out, they stood at her car for about another half hour chatting, no doubt debating whether or not Han or Greedo shot first in the Cantina.

The funniest thing about this whole virginal, flirt-session... at one point he said and I quote, "I really am not good at calculus, I wish I could master in Star Wars history and teach a class in that." Now before I could catch the phlegm that was coming up from me nearly laughing out laugh, the future Leia fantasy doppelganger hopeful fired back at blaster strength, "I would TOTALLY take that class if you taught it!"

And there you go...the beginning of a Sci-Fi, Erotic, Relationship that if both of them can actually brush knees against each other as they play video games sitting on his parents couch in the basement, might actually get physical.

Maybe I've been single too long... maybe my moves are no longer Jedi worthy and are laying dormant waiting for someone to spark my interest and fire them up like Luke did for Obi Wan... but I just had to smile at my two friends from a table a Far, Far, Away.

I am a romantic at heart and do hope they decide to go for it... they at least had the strength to share their love and take a chance in public... maybe that will lead to more.  So with that, Dynamic Duo... yes I'm aware I'm switching up mythology here for a second... I wish you luck!  Go forward and concur! Do it for all of those geeks stuck online having some kind of relationship with the computer and some person on the other end of your Internet line you think ACTUALLY IS someone that looks like the picture they sent you.  Be bold... kiss each other in real life and not virtually!  And God forbid, please be more Leia and Han rather than Luke and Leia... that's really creepy and incestuous.

May a wedding in the near future and the Force Be with You!