So I'm not entirely sure how far back I should go. At this point, I'm assuming this will all be for my own personal reference but I may send this link to close friends as a mean to tell stories without having to repeat them. If you're interested, you're all set. If you aren't, you don't have to fake it anymore!
Initially, I acquired a small blank unlined paper book in order to keep information regarding my trip (I'll get to it) but after writing long winded entries with very little stream of consciousness qualities due to speed limitations, I figured I'd give in and go electric. Onward:
I'm making a jail break. Temporarily at least. It's anticipated that I will be gone for around a month, maybe more, the exact period of time has not been determined yet. Upstate New York has been growing more characteristics of what I'd imagine a prison cell to have so a breath of fresh air is long overdue. How many inmates are dumb enough to go back after a period of time on their own accord is something that I try not to ponder, but hey I like it there. I'm getting too deep into my already poorly chosen and somewhat cliche metaphor. I can't help it, I've driven a total of 13 or so hours solo thus far and brain drain is in full effect.
As for the trip, I've decided to go to several cities I've never seen before with the intention of ending up in sunny Orlando, FL at the end to ride out the remainder of the winter. I've mapped out some ideal areas. Where I knew people, I got into contact with them and where I didn't I used a handy tool among travelers of any sort, Couchsurfing.com to locate a floor, couch, futon, flat surface, to crash out on for a night. Here are some intended destinations:
1. Pittsburgh, PA
- My long time penpal Diana lives here with her boyfriend Bobby. This was our first meeting in person since we started writing emails back and forth almost 10 years ago. I figured this was a good stop to make, as I've had the intention of going to visit for a long time anyway.
2. Cincinnati, OH
- This is basically the half way point between Pittsburgh and Nashville, which may or may not be my next stop depending on if I handle the long drive as poorly as I did today. I'm about 2 or 3 hours away right now and damn near dead of exhaustion. The girl I'm staying with in Cincinnati is named Sammi, I met her on CS.com and she seems nice. She's into punk so with any luck she'll know some hot spots for records and/or strong drink.
2 1/2. Louisville, KY
- I've never been here and it was kind of an afterthought to throw this stop on the list. I met Anna on CS.com as well. She's a musician and plays in a band called Vampire Octopus or something like that. It sounds like there's a lot going on here too. I don't even know if I'm going here or not, but it would be nice to have a back up if I get too tired to make it all the way to my next stop...
3. Nashville, TN
- A place I've always wanted to see. It ended up being convenient because Paul, a close friend of a close friend, moved down there a couple years ago. It'll be great to see a familiar face on the road as well as, with any luck, Sun Records. He says there's a lot going on musically still so I'm excited. This stop is second place to Florida on the stoke-o-meter.
4. Atlanta, GA
- My Uncle Frank lives here so it would be nice to stop in and see him on his home turf. I haven't actually been to Georgia to visit him since I was in single digits on road trips with the family. He co-owns a bar now and recently bought a house so his living situation has greatly changed since then.
5. Tallahassee, FL
- This would just be ideal to sever the trip down in half on the way to see my grandparents. If it doesn't happen, oh well, 7 hours isn't nearly as bad of a drive as the 9 that I started with.
6. Venice, FL
- My grandma and grandpa, or as they prefer to be called Situ and Jidu (it's Syrian even though only Jidu is. Situ is Irish? French? Some mix of European ethnicities), moved down there a few years ago from either Englewood or Sarasota, I don't remember. Either way, it should be nice. They're kinda (read: extremely) nutty so I'll be glad I'm not staying there as long as usual. They were very excited when they heard and gave my Dad a $50 McDonald's gift card so I would always have food on the drive. Then its on to my final destination:
4. Orlando, FL
- SO STOKED! Staying with Darick and crew at their new place. Gonna be here for a while, hopefully raging hard and getting a few hours at the Pita Pit. Nice weather, lots of fun, great folks, shit is gonna rule.
For now however, I'm in total brain drain mode in a Microtel somewhere 2 hours outside of Cincinnati so I'm going to get some relaxation in while I can. This was an absurdly cheap room with free breakfast in the morning so it couldn't be beat. The power keeps going on and off due to a ridiculous thunderstorm going on right now but it's cozy.
I'm going to watch some TV. With any luck a little later I'll have some energy to type out the happenings from the Pittsburgh trip tonight too while they're fresh in my mind.
Initially, I acquired a small blank unlined paper book in order to keep information regarding my trip (I'll get to it) but after writing long winded entries with very little stream of consciousness qualities due to speed limitations, I figured I'd give in and go electric. Onward:
I'm making a jail break. Temporarily at least. It's anticipated that I will be gone for around a month, maybe more, the exact period of time has not been determined yet. Upstate New York has been growing more characteristics of what I'd imagine a prison cell to have so a breath of fresh air is long overdue. How many inmates are dumb enough to go back after a period of time on their own accord is something that I try not to ponder, but hey I like it there. I'm getting too deep into my already poorly chosen and somewhat cliche metaphor. I can't help it, I've driven a total of 13 or so hours solo thus far and brain drain is in full effect.
As for the trip, I've decided to go to several cities I've never seen before with the intention of ending up in sunny Orlando, FL at the end to ride out the remainder of the winter. I've mapped out some ideal areas. Where I knew people, I got into contact with them and where I didn't I used a handy tool among travelers of any sort, Couchsurfing.com to locate a floor, couch, futon, flat surface, to crash out on for a night. Here are some intended destinations:
1. Pittsburgh, PA
- My long time penpal Diana lives here with her boyfriend Bobby. This was our first meeting in person since we started writing emails back and forth almost 10 years ago. I figured this was a good stop to make, as I've had the intention of going to visit for a long time anyway.
2. Cincinnati, OH
- This is basically the half way point between Pittsburgh and Nashville, which may or may not be my next stop depending on if I handle the long drive as poorly as I did today. I'm about 2 or 3 hours away right now and damn near dead of exhaustion. The girl I'm staying with in Cincinnati is named Sammi, I met her on CS.com and she seems nice. She's into punk so with any luck she'll know some hot spots for records and/or strong drink.
2 1/2. Louisville, KY
- I've never been here and it was kind of an afterthought to throw this stop on the list. I met Anna on CS.com as well. She's a musician and plays in a band called Vampire Octopus or something like that. It sounds like there's a lot going on here too. I don't even know if I'm going here or not, but it would be nice to have a back up if I get too tired to make it all the way to my next stop...
3. Nashville, TN
- A place I've always wanted to see. It ended up being convenient because Paul, a close friend of a close friend, moved down there a couple years ago. It'll be great to see a familiar face on the road as well as, with any luck, Sun Records. He says there's a lot going on musically still so I'm excited. This stop is second place to Florida on the stoke-o-meter.
4. Atlanta, GA
- My Uncle Frank lives here so it would be nice to stop in and see him on his home turf. I haven't actually been to Georgia to visit him since I was in single digits on road trips with the family. He co-owns a bar now and recently bought a house so his living situation has greatly changed since then.
5. Tallahassee, FL
- This would just be ideal to sever the trip down in half on the way to see my grandparents. If it doesn't happen, oh well, 7 hours isn't nearly as bad of a drive as the 9 that I started with.
6. Venice, FL
- My grandma and grandpa, or as they prefer to be called Situ and Jidu (it's Syrian even though only Jidu is. Situ is Irish? French? Some mix of European ethnicities), moved down there a few years ago from either Englewood or Sarasota, I don't remember. Either way, it should be nice. They're kinda (read: extremely) nutty so I'll be glad I'm not staying there as long as usual. They were very excited when they heard and gave my Dad a $50 McDonald's gift card so I would always have food on the drive. Then its on to my final destination:
4. Orlando, FL
- SO STOKED! Staying with Darick and crew at their new place. Gonna be here for a while, hopefully raging hard and getting a few hours at the Pita Pit. Nice weather, lots of fun, great folks, shit is gonna rule.
For now however, I'm in total brain drain mode in a Microtel somewhere 2 hours outside of Cincinnati so I'm going to get some relaxation in while I can. This was an absurdly cheap room with free breakfast in the morning so it couldn't be beat. The power keeps going on and off due to a ridiculous thunderstorm going on right now but it's cozy.
I'm going to watch some TV. With any luck a little later I'll have some energy to type out the happenings from the Pittsburgh trip tonight too while they're fresh in my mind.
Your list goes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 4.
ReplyDeleteTWO.
TWO.
if you do go through Louisville, you should totally take pictures of Churchill Downs for me. just because i've always wanted to go there.
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