On the road again

How many people do you know who gets laid off twice - in six months? Well now you have the privlidge of knowing such a person. Me. My manager said it was due to budget cuts and that all the consultants would have to go. Curiously enough, I'm relieved. Sure, I'd rather be earning a paycheck than an unemployment check, but at least I can turn my misfortune into opportunity.

My last day is Friday, but since I found out last week, I've been putting more of my energy into gathering ideas together for my road trip. I've decided that instead of going south like I did in February, this time I'll head to the mid-west.



This is my proposed route, starting from home and driving to Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Memphis and Nashville, (Atlanta and Charlotte are maybes,) Washington DC, then back home. But a lot of that depends on how long I take. Notice that I'm not caling it my 'plan' because plans always change. And knowing me, I will change my mind quite often.

As I was researching the cities, I noticed just how heavily music influences them - or maybe it's the other way around. In Cleveland there's the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Chicago and St. Louis blues, Elvis' Graceland in Memphis and the heart of country in Nashville. To adequately prepare for this musical pilgrimage I've been preparing my iPod for the ardeous task in the days ahead. I've been downloading like crazy. If you have iTunes installed, you can check out my Road Trip mix.

I find it serendiptous that I'm celebrating my independance as the U.S. celebrates hers, and there's no better way to do it than with my hands on the wheel and my foot on the gas.

Job ends Friday, my journey starts Saturday with a brave trek into Philadelphia for the Live8 concert. If this whole road trip is centered around music, then it's only fitting to start it off with what promises to be the musical event of the decade.

Well I have bags to pack, music to download and a thunderstruck dog to attend to. Stay tuned for more...