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!!!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Fear and snowing in Atlanta
February 12th was my first big taste of snow in 2010. Getting home from the remnants of the snowstorm would be the scariest thing I've ever experienced in my car.
I should have taken the free room at the Omni because of the weather. Instead, I braved the cold and ice for Kelly and our 2 cats Daniel and Gadget.
I was cruising at about 40 MPH on I-75 from the Williams Street on ramp to just after the Barrett Parkway exit.
I witnessed a large traffic jam just before the Chastain Road Exit, and I thought it was a mssive traffic accident. I was WRONG on that guess.
I literally guessed wrong when I slowly proceeded with caution onto a bridge on I-75 NORTHBOUND before the Chastain Road exit. I remembered that I was near the Kennesaw State University Campus and I slowly and painfully skidded out of control at the bridge.
I was skidding to the left near the guard rail and I had no control of my vehicle. My right leg was shaking up and down like never before. I had to tell the KSU police officer on duty in a loud, demonstrative voice that I had no control of my vehicle. Everytime I would hit the gas, I would spin and skid. I could not move the car straight on my own.
My inability to drive on the black ice was causing a massive traffic jam in back of me. I felt bad for myself and for the other drivers behind me.
I had to get help from the KSU police officer by him pushing my vehicle while I steered it and did not hit the gas. I was able to get back on solid ground on the freeway
As long as I didn't get over 8 miles per hour, I would not skid on the road. I had enough of the freeway I would get off of it one exit early at Wade Green Road instead of the usual HWY 92 exit I take to go home.
I was saved by the red light at the Wade Green off ramp. I would turn left ever so slowly so that I would not skid on the overpass. I would take side streets at 4-7 miles per hour in the snow and ice to get home. That long, slow journey alone took over 30 minutes. The one think that comforted me in the journey was listening to the THIS WEEK IN 1982 countdown on Sirius Channel 8 (the BIG 80s).
The big payoff was for me to come home and walk into the loving arms of my beautiful girlfriend, Kelly Sanders. I also got to hear the welcoming meows of Daniel T. Cat and Gadget M. Cat.
From now on, I want to live somewhere tropical with Kelly and the Cats.
I should have taken the free room at the Omni because of the weather. Instead, I braved the cold and ice for Kelly and our 2 cats Daniel and Gadget.
I was cruising at about 40 MPH on I-75 from the Williams Street on ramp to just after the Barrett Parkway exit.
I witnessed a large traffic jam just before the Chastain Road Exit, and I thought it was a mssive traffic accident. I was WRONG on that guess.
I literally guessed wrong when I slowly proceeded with caution onto a bridge on I-75 NORTHBOUND before the Chastain Road exit. I remembered that I was near the Kennesaw State University Campus and I slowly and painfully skidded out of control at the bridge.
I was skidding to the left near the guard rail and I had no control of my vehicle. My right leg was shaking up and down like never before. I had to tell the KSU police officer on duty in a loud, demonstrative voice that I had no control of my vehicle. Everytime I would hit the gas, I would spin and skid. I could not move the car straight on my own.
My inability to drive on the black ice was causing a massive traffic jam in back of me. I felt bad for myself and for the other drivers behind me.
I had to get help from the KSU police officer by him pushing my vehicle while I steered it and did not hit the gas. I was able to get back on solid ground on the freeway
As long as I didn't get over 8 miles per hour, I would not skid on the road. I had enough of the freeway I would get off of it one exit early at Wade Green Road instead of the usual HWY 92 exit I take to go home.
I was saved by the red light at the Wade Green off ramp. I would turn left ever so slowly so that I would not skid on the overpass. I would take side streets at 4-7 miles per hour in the snow and ice to get home. That long, slow journey alone took over 30 minutes. The one think that comforted me in the journey was listening to the THIS WEEK IN 1982 countdown on Sirius Channel 8 (the BIG 80s).
The big payoff was for me to come home and walk into the loving arms of my beautiful girlfriend, Kelly Sanders. I also got to hear the welcoming meows of Daniel T. Cat and Gadget M. Cat.
From now on, I want to live somewhere tropical with Kelly and the Cats.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Dreaming of being on a treadmill
Last Night/This Morning, it was a dream. In my dream, I was on the treadmill for 70 minutes.
In reality today, I was on the treadmill for 53 minutes. I would have stayed on just a bit longer, but it was snowing and I had to get to work.
I envision myself going the full 99 minutes on the treadmill. Go team.
In reality today, I was on the treadmill for 53 minutes. I would have stayed on just a bit longer, but it was snowing and I had to get to work.
I envision myself going the full 99 minutes on the treadmill. Go team.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Dreaming of Vegas
This is one of the shortest dreams in my blog. It was early Saturday Morning, and I was still asleep listening to CNN about a story on Vegas.
My dream had me near Las Vegas Boulevard where I was approaching an unnamed high rise hotel. I was about to grab some delicious brunch there. Later in the dream, I was about to get onto I-15 going south. Next thing I know, I woke up.
The reality, I had to get up early so that my beautiful girlfriend Kelly could take her car to the Honda dealership in Woodstock, GA and get an oil change. I got in a good workout at L.A. Fitness in Woodstock, had a good lunch at Subway, and went home.
I want to take Kelly to Las Vegas and give her a good time there. We'll have to settle for watching "The Hangover" on DVD over and over until we're really ready to go to Vegas.
My dream had me near Las Vegas Boulevard where I was approaching an unnamed high rise hotel. I was about to grab some delicious brunch there. Later in the dream, I was about to get onto I-15 going south. Next thing I know, I woke up.
The reality, I had to get up early so that my beautiful girlfriend Kelly could take her car to the Honda dealership in Woodstock, GA and get an oil change. I got in a good workout at L.A. Fitness in Woodstock, had a good lunch at Subway, and went home.
I want to take Kelly to Las Vegas and give her a good time there. We'll have to settle for watching "The Hangover" on DVD over and over until we're really ready to go to Vegas.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Dreaming of train rides
I like riding on trains and subways. I wish I could ride on a train to and form work everyday from Acworth, GA to Atlanta and back. For now, I'm just driving to and from work every day.
My dream was rather scary. I was with Kelly somewhere in New York. One minute we're standing on a train platform. Next thing I know, I'm inside a train and I take off in the train without her. I was mad and sad. I was going eastbound on the train to Brooklyn and later Queens. I found myself having a friendly conversation with the train operator. He reminded me of the van driver that Kelly and I had in Chicago in real life.
In my life, I've ridden the 7 train to a Mets/Braves game in August of 2009. I rode the C train and later the $5 Air train to JFK Airport's Federal Circle car rental complex. I love riding trains and I rode them in Chicago and New York (as well as in Atlanta from CNN Center to the Airport on multiple occasions).
My dream was rather scary. I was with Kelly somewhere in New York. One minute we're standing on a train platform. Next thing I know, I'm inside a train and I take off in the train without her. I was mad and sad. I was going eastbound on the train to Brooklyn and later Queens. I found myself having a friendly conversation with the train operator. He reminded me of the van driver that Kelly and I had in Chicago in real life.
In my life, I've ridden the 7 train to a Mets/Braves game in August of 2009. I rode the C train and later the $5 Air train to JFK Airport's Federal Circle car rental complex. I love riding trains and I rode them in Chicago and New York (as well as in Atlanta from CNN Center to the Airport on multiple occasions).
Thursday, January 28, 2010
dreaming of KNX and stuff
Last Night, I went to sleep without brushing my teeth. That's my fault, and I feel some of the effects in my lower left of my mouth still today.
I was able to sleep all the way through until my trusty alarm on my blackberry woke me up at 6:59 in the morning.
When I was asleep, I was dreaming that I was listening to KNX Newsradio 1070 from Los Angeles. I was in Los Angeles for some undetermined reason. Somewhere else in my dream, I was watching "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" and somewhere at the end of the episode I was watching, I learned of their secret identities. I forgot what those identities are now. Some dream, eh?
In past dreams, I was in the San Fernando Valley with my dad and was driving on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and was in and out of visiting our relatives from my past (way back in the 1980s). In the dream, I don't remember ever seeing them, but I remember getting on and off the freeway at Devonshire Street (Just south of the 118 Freeway).
In reality, I've lisented to KNX on my radio back in the 1990s when I was living in Arizona. I loved California and the news that much that I would tune into that station every night before going to bed. I'm going to tune into KNX online this afternoon and see if it is as good as it was when I was a teenager.
Also in reality, I've visited Great-Aunt Elanor, Lois, Carolee (relatives of my dad and me) from 1980-1985 when we lived in the San Diego Area. I lost touch with those relatives after 1985, and I take the blame for not keeping in touch with them.
It is time to get back to work once our system is no longer slowing down on me.
I was able to sleep all the way through until my trusty alarm on my blackberry woke me up at 6:59 in the morning.
When I was asleep, I was dreaming that I was listening to KNX Newsradio 1070 from Los Angeles. I was in Los Angeles for some undetermined reason. Somewhere else in my dream, I was watching "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" and somewhere at the end of the episode I was watching, I learned of their secret identities. I forgot what those identities are now. Some dream, eh?
In past dreams, I was in the San Fernando Valley with my dad and was driving on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and was in and out of visiting our relatives from my past (way back in the 1980s). In the dream, I don't remember ever seeing them, but I remember getting on and off the freeway at Devonshire Street (Just south of the 118 Freeway).
In reality, I've lisented to KNX on my radio back in the 1990s when I was living in Arizona. I loved California and the news that much that I would tune into that station every night before going to bed. I'm going to tune into KNX online this afternoon and see if it is as good as it was when I was a teenager.
Also in reality, I've visited Great-Aunt Elanor, Lois, Carolee (relatives of my dad and me) from 1980-1985 when we lived in the San Diego Area. I lost touch with those relatives after 1985, and I take the blame for not keeping in touch with them.
It is time to get back to work once our system is no longer slowing down on me.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
January 16th Birthday Traveling
My 34th birthday was a day I'll never forget. It marked the 3rd time I flew to Oklahoma and my first known birthday celebration with my mother.
I embarked on my journey by driving from my home down I-75 Southbound to the I-75/I-85 Connector to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta. I got off the freeway at the Williams Street offramp and proceeded into downtown to the CNN Center Parking Deck.
What you just saw is the route I take to work each day; only, I didn't work. I don't have to return to work until Monday, January 25th. Instead of going to work, I took the MARTA train down to the Airport.
I rode the E-W train from the CNN Center/Philips Arena/Georgia Dome station to the Five Points station. Then I took the N-S train straight down to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (7 stops later from the Five Points station).
I flew on American Airlines for the first time. My flight from Atlanta took me to my first visit to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. It took over 2 hours to get from Atlanta to Dallas by air. The best part of my connecting flight from Dallas to Tulsa would be that I would get on the plane to Tulsa at the EXACT same gate as the gate we exited the plane to Dallas from.
At the DFW termainal, some good news and bad news for me. The bad news was I didn't get the Dallas Morning News like I wanted to. The good news was I got a taste of UNO's Pizza with my girlfriend. I love UNO's Pizza, and I wish there was an UNO's in Atlanta. My girlfriend agrees with me on that.
The flight from DFW to Tulsa was a 40 minute flight. That is the shortest flight I've even been on in my life. It would be one of the best because at the end of that flight my mother was waiting for me to greet me on my birthday.
From Tulsa to Locust Grove, Oklahoma, it was basically a straight shot down U.S. Hwy 412.
Happy birthday to me (from all my family and my beautiful girlfriend).
I embarked on my journey by driving from my home down I-75 Southbound to the I-75/I-85 Connector to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta. I got off the freeway at the Williams Street offramp and proceeded into downtown to the CNN Center Parking Deck.
What you just saw is the route I take to work each day; only, I didn't work. I don't have to return to work until Monday, January 25th. Instead of going to work, I took the MARTA train down to the Airport.
I rode the E-W train from the CNN Center/Philips Arena/Georgia Dome station to the Five Points station. Then I took the N-S train straight down to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (7 stops later from the Five Points station).
I flew on American Airlines for the first time. My flight from Atlanta took me to my first visit to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. It took over 2 hours to get from Atlanta to Dallas by air. The best part of my connecting flight from Dallas to Tulsa would be that I would get on the plane to Tulsa at the EXACT same gate as the gate we exited the plane to Dallas from.
At the DFW termainal, some good news and bad news for me. The bad news was I didn't get the Dallas Morning News like I wanted to. The good news was I got a taste of UNO's Pizza with my girlfriend. I love UNO's Pizza, and I wish there was an UNO's in Atlanta. My girlfriend agrees with me on that.
The flight from DFW to Tulsa was a 40 minute flight. That is the shortest flight I've even been on in my life. It would be one of the best because at the end of that flight my mother was waiting for me to greet me on my birthday.
From Tulsa to Locust Grove, Oklahoma, it was basically a straight shot down U.S. Hwy 412.
Happy birthday to me (from all my family and my beautiful girlfriend).
weird dreams lately
Before my birthday, I dreamed that I was 'stuck' on a long, long layover in Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport on my way to a trip to Los Angeles. In the dream I was worried that I was going to miss my connecting flight. I dreamed that I had to slide down a chute in order to catch my plane. As I slid down the chute, I dreamed that I was still not close to my connecting flight and I was going to either miss it or get on the wrong plane.
In reality, I've only had to catch 2 connecting flights from Sky Harbor Airport in my life back in 2005. On one Saturday, I had to catch an America West Airlines fligt from Phoenix to San Diego to start my vacation and another Satuday, I caught a connecting flight from Phoenix back to Atlanta to return home. I've flown into Sky Harbor Airport from Atlanta 5 times to arrive to my Destination of Phoenix for my vacations.
My friend Toby has told me that at least I know about Sky Harbor Airport after flying in and out of it so many times.
The funny thing for me is: In all the years I've lived in Arizona from 1987-2000, I've only flown in and out of that airport one time.
Throughout this year, me and my girlfriend will work on making our traveling dreams come true.
Last Night and this morning, I dreamed that I was on the University of North Carolina campus. My dream made it feel like I was on a high school campus and I was riding my old black bike through it. In the dream, my friend Peter and his sister Liz and I were on our way off the campus to some unknown destination. Before we left the campus, we were in line at one of the 2 cafeterias for lunch, and we were standing in line for a buffet style meal. Next thing I know, I wake up with a headache.
In reality, Peter doesn't have a sister. He has a brother named Mark. I've had 2 buffet style lunches while I was in Oklahoma this week. I was tempted to go to Pizza Hut for lunch yesterday, but I settled for McDonalds. I no longer have a bicycle. The last time I rode my black bicycle was January 17, 1994.
Finally, I took 2 aspirin to combat this latest headache, and I drank some water to help me get well.
In reality, I've only had to catch 2 connecting flights from Sky Harbor Airport in my life back in 2005. On one Saturday, I had to catch an America West Airlines fligt from Phoenix to San Diego to start my vacation and another Satuday, I caught a connecting flight from Phoenix back to Atlanta to return home. I've flown into Sky Harbor Airport from Atlanta 5 times to arrive to my Destination of Phoenix for my vacations.
My friend Toby has told me that at least I know about Sky Harbor Airport after flying in and out of it so many times.
The funny thing for me is: In all the years I've lived in Arizona from 1987-2000, I've only flown in and out of that airport one time.
Throughout this year, me and my girlfriend will work on making our traveling dreams come true.
Last Night and this morning, I dreamed that I was on the University of North Carolina campus. My dream made it feel like I was on a high school campus and I was riding my old black bike through it. In the dream, my friend Peter and his sister Liz and I were on our way off the campus to some unknown destination. Before we left the campus, we were in line at one of the 2 cafeterias for lunch, and we were standing in line for a buffet style meal. Next thing I know, I wake up with a headache.
In reality, Peter doesn't have a sister. He has a brother named Mark. I've had 2 buffet style lunches while I was in Oklahoma this week. I was tempted to go to Pizza Hut for lunch yesterday, but I settled for McDonalds. I no longer have a bicycle. The last time I rode my black bicycle was January 17, 1994.
Finally, I took 2 aspirin to combat this latest headache, and I drank some water to help me get well.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
A weird dream
Saturday Night/Sunday Morning, I tried to sleep well, but to no avail. I was dreaming that I was applying for a reporter job in Sacramento, California. In the dream, I had a weird way of replying to the job offer by slamming a toy octopus to an e-mail message on my computer screen.
Later on in the dream, I magically appeared in Sacramento and I was already Northbound on I-5 with my buddies Gary and Phil. I guess they were showing me around town. I guess we were headed to a basketball game up at Arco Arena.
The dream gets hazy where I don't remember anything going on while I was up in Sacramento. I guess I made it as a reporter for KCRA-TV. After that, I really don't remember anything. Nothing at all.
Merry Christmas.
Later on in the dream, I magically appeared in Sacramento and I was already Northbound on I-5 with my buddies Gary and Phil. I guess they were showing me around town. I guess we were headed to a basketball game up at Arco Arena.
The dream gets hazy where I don't remember anything going on while I was up in Sacramento. I guess I made it as a reporter for KCRA-TV. After that, I really don't remember anything. Nothing at all.
Merry Christmas.
Scary super bowl dream
It was around Christmas Eve and I was fast asleep. I dreamed that I missed the super bowl this year. Worse, I dreamed that the NFL snuck the super bowl past me on a Wednesday Night.
I dreamed that the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers played each other in the Super Bowl again, this time in Miami, and on CBS Sports. I caught the game late, and I could do nothing to root on the Cardinals to victory since the score in my dream was Pittsburgh 33, Arizona 20 late in the game and in my dream.
Thankfully I woke up and I know that the super bowl (Super Bowl 44) will be played in Miami, and on CBS, and on a SUNDAY NIGHT again.
My dream super bowl: Chargers/Cardinals.
I dreamed that the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers played each other in the Super Bowl again, this time in Miami, and on CBS Sports. I caught the game late, and I could do nothing to root on the Cardinals to victory since the score in my dream was Pittsburgh 33, Arizona 20 late in the game and in my dream.
Thankfully I woke up and I know that the super bowl (Super Bowl 44) will be played in Miami, and on CBS, and on a SUNDAY NIGHT again.
My dream super bowl: Chargers/Cardinals.
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