Darn dreams of soda and good dream of Tulsa

Thursday Morning, I had a dream where I drank a can of coke at a car dealership with my wife, and I loved it. I also regretted breaking my streak of 109 days with drinking a coke or coffee. Later in that same dream, I saw a free soda fountain of Code Red Mountain Dew. I could have had all the red soda that I wanted, but I didn't take it.

IN REALITY: I haven't had a soda or coffee in 110 days. I'm thinking about having one with my mom when I visit her in Oklahoma in September.

This morning: I had a dream where I was in Tulsa, and it felt like I was in a riverwalk there. I was staying with my family one minute, and the next minute I was floating away. From a distance, I found myself looking at my mom's house from afar.

IN REALITY: I woke up this morning 11 days away from visiting my family in Locust Grove, Depew, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Here I come TULSA!!!!!!

Next Travel: Rome, Georgia

For the first time in 4 years, I'll be in Rome, Georgia. I'll be traveling to State Mutual Stadium to see the Single-A Rome Braves for the first time since 2007. I don't know a single player on that roster, and I don't know how to get there just yet.

I'm going to print out the directions from here at work so that I can get our group of 4 together safely.

Here's to the beginning of future successful travels going forward, and Go Braves!!!

Next Travel: Rome, Georgia

For the first time in 4 years, I'll be in Rome, Georgia. I'll be traveling to State Mutual Stadium to see the Single-A Rome Braves for the first time since 2007. I don't know a single player on that roster, and I don't know how to get there just yet.

I'm going to print out the directions from here at work so that I can get our group of 4 together safely.

Here's to the beginning of future successful travels going forward, and Go Braves!!!

New EXIT on I-75/I-85

Kelly and I marveled at the new 17th Street Exit in Midtown Atlanta on Sunday Afternoon. We were traveling up I-75/I-85 going NORTH on our way home from Sandersville.

Finally, the blue veil has been taken off of the signs referring to 17th stret even though I knew what they were covering up.

From Midland to Shreveport

On March 2, 2000, my dad and I leave Midland Texas with a new set of fuel injectors and off we go on to Altanta.

We finally jump back on I-20 eastbound, and it took forever to get through WEST TEXAS. We finally pass Abilene before the sun sets. It gets dark where we pass I-30, I-820, I-35W, Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, I-35E, I-45, I-635, and out of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. In East Texas, we encounter a massive thunderstorm and we were tuned into KRLD-1080 for the latest weather reports. We were worried that we were going to be caught up in the eye of the storm, but the strom passed by the time we got to Tyler, Texas.

More success came when we got into Louisiana. Just outside of Shreveport, I see big bright lights at the Isle of Capri Casino to my right, right off I-20. We pass Shreveport and stop for a late late dinner at a Denny's.

I fall asleep after a midnight dinner and my dad and I stop at a motel just east of Shreveport. I fall asleep again and I don't get to enjoy the news from station KTBS.

Next Stop, ATLANTA!!!!!!!!

Stuck in Midland

On March 1, 2000, a few things stood out in mind: I had CNN to watch at a Chevrolet dealership in an effort to get my car fixed, I had all the soda I could drink, and I was going NOWHERE on this day.

I learned that it would take over a day just to get the new fuel injectors shipped from Dallas to Midland to get my Chevy Cavalier fixed. I waited all day at the dealership for nothing.

In the end, I get a nice dinner, all you can eat salad, and local news from several Midland-Odessa television stations in my Holiday Inn room. I at least got a different perspective on how West Texas covers the news.

Feb. 29, 2000; From EL PASO TO MIDLAND

The majority of the first day was driven on Interstate 10. We move forward from El Paso on our way to Atlanta.

Before we left, I think I got the free breakfast from the Red Roof Inn. It was probably good. I like free motel/hotel breakfast anytime I can get it.

My dad and I were in El Paso for seemingly a long time this Tuesday Morning. We stayed on Interstate 10 for a few hours. The next town from El Paso going Eastbound was Van Horn, Texas. Literally it's the next town listed on the map. After 2.5 hours of long and boring driving on the freeway, my dad and I stop at a local McDonald's and get a few chicken sandwiches. I remember the food being good and the restaurant being a little filthy.

Food was good and the driving would continue. My dad and I got onto Interstate 20 somewhere in West Texas. Interstate 20 would be the major freeway that would lead us to our ultimate destination.

The drive for the first two days of this journey was for the most part, smooth. We decided to fill up on gas at a Texaco station. After the stop, we continued to go on I-20. One minute I was riding along and listening to Filter's "Picture" on the radio, and the next minute I hear some really bad noises inside my car. At first I thought my dad was playing a funny joke on me. I even told my dad to stop messing around. Unfortunately, the joke was on my dad and I. Our car, the Chevy Cavalier, started to slow down on its own. After a couple of minutes, we were driving from 20mph all the way down to zero.

There were a few failed restarts on the car. Simply turning the ignition would not get us back on the road where we needed to be, and so we were standed out on the side of I-20. Several friendly Texas police officers were wondering if we were o.k., and we were. However, we really needed help and needed someone to get us back on the right track. I had the audacity to walk all the way from the freeway to a FINA gas station and get a tow truck out where we were on I-20 somewhere in West Texas.

Finally, mid-afternoon, help arrived in the form of a friendly tow truck driver and we got to a tow truck shop where my car would sit for at least a day. I brought out my trusted teddy bear "Neddy" and we got another ride to a local holiday inn.

I got scared after a while. I had 6 days to arrive at the CNN Center in Atlanta for my first day on the job. I realized something at that point: I was stuck in Midland, Texas.

I don't want to bag on Midland. I think it's a nice town and everything, but I needed to get past that point to get to my ultimate destination: Atlanta.

The Big Move 10 years ago today, from MESA to EL PASO

Yesterday 10 years ago was my final full day ever living in Mesa, Arizona. I slept to a Phoenix Coyotes/Vancouver Canucks game, and my Coyotes lost in Vancouver.

February 28, 2000, my dad and I leave our Mesa, Arizona house for the big move to Atlanta. We started our journey going west on U.S. 60 on Higley Road. Then we took 60 out to where it meets interstate 10. We go Eastbound towards Tucson and before we reach Tucson, we stop at a Cracker Barrel in Casa Grande, Arizona. It was the first time I've ever been to a Cracker Barrel. That is where I became hooked on the Hash Brown Casserole.

The first big milestone on this trip was we crossed the Interstate 8 intersection in Casa Grande. Then Mid-day, we reach Tucson and be blow past there within 30 minutes. Another important milestone is that we pass Interstate 19.

Later in the day, we cross into New Mexico. We cross Las Cruses, pass interstate 25, and head on our way into Texas. To my left in Las Cruses, I see the Pan-Am Center in Las Cruses (home of the New Mexico State Aggie basketball team).

Early afternoon, we cross Texas. We reach El Paso and my dad and I decide to stop in a Red Roof Inn for the evening.

My dad and I rest and relax before dinner at another Cracker Barrel. If I'm not careful, I'll be addicted to Carcker Barrel.

Overall, this was a successful first day on our journey to Atlanta.

NEXT STOP: DALLAS!!!