Surviving I-16

I commend Kelly for doing that drive that stretches from the beginning at MLK Drive in Savannah to the end at I-75 in Macon. I was tired that I fell asleep in the car for a while. I hope my sleeping on the road when I am not driving is not an indication that a freeway is boring. However, I would like to see a Best buy on the side of the freeway just to have something to look at.

The only things that stand out on I-16 are a Cracker Barrel and a Longhorn Steakhouse in Dublin, Georgia. There are a few gas stations off the road on I-16. We hit one of them to refuel on Saturday.

I've been on I-16 from Start to Finish 3 times in my life.

Back in my homestate of Arizona, I've been on I-17 from Start to Finish and back (Phoenix to Flagstaff to Phoenix again) at least 6 times.

Another boring stretch of freeway I've been on is I-5 from Oceanside, CA to San Onofre, CA. Camp Pendleton owns the land in Northern San Diego County...hence, not much development there.

Happy driving to all of you and I'll be back on the road for work later today.

After all these years, I finally talked to my mother

Saturday, June 27, 2009, I said the one word I never thought I would say: "mom". It was a huge surprise and a great relief to hear her voice for the first time. I didn't know how to react at first because it was so new to me. I'm still getting used to saying "mom" and will later figure out what to call her current husband. Like I said I'm working out the conventions on that one.

We told our life stories to each other as quickly and clearly as we could. She lives in Oklahoma while I live in Georgia. Life is good for the both of us. We each have our roots firmly planted in our respective places of residence today.

I've got 3 siblings and countless relatives that I never thought I had. I have a nephew that is looking to play college baseball sometime next year and I have 2 nieces that are models. I look forward to meeting more of my family in the coming months.

I thank my best friend in the world, my girlfriend, Kelly Sanders, for making this reunion happy and possible.

I've sent her pictures of myself and my girlfriend. I look forward to seeing what she looks like. I'm just so happy that I'm going to see my mom really soon. I don't remember seeing her when I was a baby.

I'm nervous about what may come

I've been telling people for years that my mother died when I was 3 months old for many years. My dad told me that story after I asked him about where she was. It didn't occur to me until I was 9 years old that my mom was not with us. I mean, she was not with us at home or any of our road trips, or the times we've moved.

My girlfriend is making one of the biggest phone calls of my life on my behalf to see if my mom is still alive. How I found out about that is another blog posting for another day.

They'll get you on the drinks

Three places that I've found myself paying alot for something to drink recently: Monti's la casa vieja in Tempe, Arizona, Turner Field in Atlanta, and the Tabernacle in Atlanta.

At dinner at Monti's in May, I had a Bud Light and a Pepsi for my Filet Mignon dinner. Both were good drinks and they tasted good. When I looked at my final bill, I paid $3 for a beer and $2.59 for a coke. I got hosed on the Pepsi. My friend Dan pointed out to me that for another 41 cents, I could have had another beer. I should have gotten that beer. I could have gone to QT to get a big 32 ounce pepsi for 59 cents. By the way, I like beer and pepsi because they taste good.

At the Braves/Pirates game on June 10th, I got them on drinks for a while. I bought a two-ticket, two drink per person package for this one. I got a free Bud and Bud Light before the start of the game. Anytime you can get a free anything at the ballpark, it is always a bonus. This is where the ballpark got me on the drinks: I bought two 32-ounce cokes for $5 a piece with our meals. That's jacked up. For $.49, I could have gotten a 32 ounce coke over at the QT in Atlanta.

Last year, Kelly and I went to a free concert (Filter) over at the tabernacle and had a great time. The price was right!!! Here's where they got me on the drinks: beer costs $6.50 a piece and I bought one for me and one for Kelly. Beer is expensive anytime you're at a concert or a game. Beer can cost as much as one of the tickets depending on what show you go see.

I'm going to get myself a drink right now. Have fun everybody

Dream about my Padres

I had a dream that the San Diego Padres were about to lose another Sunday day game. In reality, the Padres have been losing alot more than I would have liked them to this season. Even with the 9-7 victory over Seattle last night, the Padres are 31-38, good for 4th place in the 5-team National League West (one game out of LAST PLACE).

More about my dream. Some fan in the seats near home plate said that the Padres were losing due to the pathetic managing by Bud Black. In my dream, I said here here. I agreed with the assessment. In reality, I think the Padres need to give Bud Black up until 2011 to turn this team around with the young talent being brought up in the minors.

One thing the Padres need to do: Cut ties with Brian Giles. Giles has been one of my favorite Padres in recent years, but his skills are rapidly diminishing. He's not even hitting .200 at this time. With the youth movement going on and the team not being in contention right now, it makes sense to send Giles to a contender.

In the year 2010, I look forward to taking Kelly to a Padres game over at Petco Park in San Diego. I intend to see 2 of the 3 Braves/Padres game here at Turner Field in August.

See you at the ballpark soon.

I dreamed I was back in Phoenix

I had this dream on Wednesday that I was covering a LIVE news story in Phoenix. I was at the I-10/I-17 Stack interchange at the scene of a car fire. I was looking up from I-17 to I-10 looking up at the sign that read I-17 SOUTH to the LEFT. The left diagonal arrow pointed up at the I-17 Southbound Transition from the I-10 Westbound direction.

I intend to return to Phoenix next year. I would love for Kelly to come along with me on the journey again. I love you Kelly Sanders.

The May 2009 Phoenix Trip

I was in Phoenix for a weekend getaway with Kelly in Late May. Friday was a travel day from Hartsfield Airport to Sky Harbor Airport. After we got on the road in our Toyota Yaris, We traveled down I-10 Eastbound to 40th street and took Kelly to Whataburger. I wanted us to experience Whataburger for all its glory, and we did. It was yummy. All this was done on May 29, 2009.

Saturday, May 30, 2009, we ventured into downtown Phoenix for our first trip to Chase Field (better known to me as the "BOB" or Bank One Ballpark). It was my first trip there in nearly 10 years, and the visit didn't disappoint. There was alot more Sedona Red inside the stadium. The Seats were still forest green. The roof was closed for the game, and sadly, the Braves lost 3-2 in 11 innings. After the game, we got ready for dinner at historic Monti's La Casa Vieja near Downtown Tempe, Arizona. It was my first visit there in nearly 2 years, and it was probably my 10th overall. I met an old friend from High School, Dan Karnes, and his girlfriend for a lovely dinner. For another blog post soon, I'll write about how they get me on the drinks.

Sunday, May 31, 2009 was outdoor day at the Desert Botannical Gardens. Before that we experienced yet another culinary delight, Jack in the Box. I had my usual 2 tacos plus a sourdough burger and Kelly had a Chicken Cibata Sandwich. Kelly tried one of the tacos, and I'll never forget her asessment of it. She said it was "pretty good, kind of nasty." Looking back on it now, how did I ever eat them in the first place? They tasted good to me then, but I'm not so sure now.

At the Desert Botannical Gardens, we checked out the blooming flowers, the cacti, and the glass exhibit throughout the garden. Alot of cool glass was firmly planted into the ground to make such beautiful art on a hot desert day.

Traveling to Atlanta from Phoenix while taking the red eye is a gamble. First of all, nothing is ever open at the terminal past 9pm over at Sky Harbor Airport. It is rough waiting 3 hours for a flight without proper food and entertainment. Luckily, we bought snacks and Kelly had her iPod with the best of the Daily Show from 2008. On my flight back to Atlanta, I got 2 hours of sleep on the plane. It is always tough to get a good night sleep on a plane.

I love you kelly and we will have fun on vacation again, this time to Chicago.