Seen on a bumper sticker:
God is not a Republican
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
I can't make this shit up...
I came into Chicago through Lakeshore Drive so I was able to see the skyline rise up along the edge of Lake Michigan.
First stop was at Navy Pier, where I took a sightseeing cruise. The Angles of Music interviened again.
On board was a group of older ladies who had enough energy and fire to rival The Quad in our college days. They were hammered and loving life. It was still raining slightly so they were festooned in plastic garbage bags as ponchos and a margarita in hand.
I asked where they were from and they said St. Louis. Well that happens to be my next stop and soon we were chatting away. They were so excited to hear that I was traveling around on my own, and Patty, the self appointed leader instantly adopted me as a daughter. She was havingme pose here and there to get the perfect shot with the Chicago skyline in the background.
These women, who were old enough to me my mother and grandmother soon invited me to not only spend the rest of the day with them, but because Jackie, the soon to be 70 year old party girl, had an extra bed in her room, I was invited to stay the night in their hotel!!
After the cruise, the St. Louis Ya-Ya's took a taxi back to their hotel and I drove the men of their group, Ivan and Jim back. Poor Jim, someone's grandfather, was wedged behind me in the backseat with my dog's hair keeping him company.
The group met up in the lounge - where else. Patty, 48, has the mouth of a truck driver and a heart of gold. Jackie, 69, was the sweetest person I've ever met. Her line was "I love it", unless she was talking about her dearest friends, in which case she addressed them as "you assholes". Patty had called Jackie's husband on the phone. Patty handed the phone to Jackie and she responded:
"Who's on the phone? Dave? F-U-C-K." She took the phone, "Hi sweetheart, you asshole."
Marlena, also in her 60's was the middleground between Patty and Jackie. She could cuss with the rest of them, but seemed a little more innocent than Patty.
Patty, Me, Jim, Marlena, Ivan and Jackie.
We had dinner at Miller's Pub where I had a great steak and Jackie and Marlena made friends at the next table with a Chicago native who lived there for 70+ years.
After dinner we went to the John Hanckock's Signature Lounge on the 96th floor to watch the fireworks. It was so beautiful to watch the sunset over Chicago and the flickers of fireworks all over the city, like fireflies. Patty and I left the others and went to a table on the other side of the building to watch the fireworks display over Navy Pier. We wound up losing the group, so we had one more drink at the bar then took a cab back to the hotel. But Patty and I weren't done yet. We wanted to hear some Chicago blues.
We walked to a blues club a few blocks away, but unfortunately it was closed. Actually it was probably a good thing as I was exhausted and with Patty it was bound to be an intersting night. The ladies asked me if I was sure what I was getting myself into going out with Patty.
I finally called it a night and joined Jackie up in the room for a good night's rest. This morning, I packed up my gear, thanked Jackie for her hospitality and got the name of the bar that Patty owns outside of St. Louis so I can be sure to vist.
Now, the city of Chicago is calling me and I have a lot more to see.
First stop was at Navy Pier, where I took a sightseeing cruise. The Angles of Music interviened again.
On board was a group of older ladies who had enough energy and fire to rival The Quad in our college days. They were hammered and loving life. It was still raining slightly so they were festooned in plastic garbage bags as ponchos and a margarita in hand.
I asked where they were from and they said St. Louis. Well that happens to be my next stop and soon we were chatting away. They were so excited to hear that I was traveling around on my own, and Patty, the self appointed leader instantly adopted me as a daughter. She was havingme pose here and there to get the perfect shot with the Chicago skyline in the background.
These women, who were old enough to me my mother and grandmother soon invited me to not only spend the rest of the day with them, but because Jackie, the soon to be 70 year old party girl, had an extra bed in her room, I was invited to stay the night in their hotel!!
After the cruise, the St. Louis Ya-Ya's took a taxi back to their hotel and I drove the men of their group, Ivan and Jim back. Poor Jim, someone's grandfather, was wedged behind me in the backseat with my dog's hair keeping him company.
The group met up in the lounge - where else. Patty, 48, has the mouth of a truck driver and a heart of gold. Jackie, 69, was the sweetest person I've ever met. Her line was "I love it", unless she was talking about her dearest friends, in which case she addressed them as "you assholes". Patty had called Jackie's husband on the phone. Patty handed the phone to Jackie and she responded:
"Who's on the phone? Dave? F-U-C-K." She took the phone, "Hi sweetheart, you asshole."
Marlena, also in her 60's was the middleground between Patty and Jackie. She could cuss with the rest of them, but seemed a little more innocent than Patty.
Patty, Me, Jim, Marlena, Ivan and Jackie.
We had dinner at Miller's Pub where I had a great steak and Jackie and Marlena made friends at the next table with a Chicago native who lived there for 70+ years.
After dinner we went to the John Hanckock's Signature Lounge on the 96th floor to watch the fireworks. It was so beautiful to watch the sunset over Chicago and the flickers of fireworks all over the city, like fireflies. Patty and I left the others and went to a table on the other side of the building to watch the fireworks display over Navy Pier. We wound up losing the group, so we had one more drink at the bar then took a cab back to the hotel. But Patty and I weren't done yet. We wanted to hear some Chicago blues.
We walked to a blues club a few blocks away, but unfortunately it was closed. Actually it was probably a good thing as I was exhausted and with Patty it was bound to be an intersting night. The ladies asked me if I was sure what I was getting myself into going out with Patty.
I finally called it a night and joined Jackie up in the room for a good night's rest. This morning, I packed up my gear, thanked Jackie for her hospitality and got the name of the bar that Patty owns outside of St. Louis so I can be sure to vist.
Now, the city of Chicago is calling me and I have a lot more to see.
Monday, July 04, 2005
R-O-C-K in the USA
Once I got some rest, it was back on the road for more adventure. I drove across Ohio and once I got into Indiana, I put John Mellencamp on the iPod as a tribute to him.
The scenery was all farmland, with the occasional wiff of horse shit.
The scenery was all farmland, with the occasional wiff of horse shit.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
The heart of rock & roll is still beating...
...in Cleveland!
The Angles of Music are watching over me. Huey Lewis and the News had me dancing in the aisle, SIXTH ROW CENTER, sweating my ass off. And the best part was that it was FREE!!
After I signed off from my last update, I went over to the ticket window to buy me a ticket for the show when a family approached me asking me if I wanted a pair of tickets. They already had other tickets and didn't need the ones they had. I was ready to ask them how much they wanted for them when he just gave them to me. Holy Crap!!
I was walking back to my car to change my clothes and put on some deodorant when some guy asked me if I had extra tickets.
"As a matter of fact I do. Here you go. See you inside."
The venue's stage backs right up to the river with the Cleveland downtown skyline as it's backdrop. It was pretty small, about one third the size of the PNC Bank Arts Center in Homedel, NJ and not all the seats were filled, but Huey was on fire and was determined on getting every person in the crowd on their feet.
The most beautiful moment is when the sky darkened and the lights of city help light the stage.
I have had a fantastic day and I'm sorry to have to call it an end, but I'm sweaty and gross and I still don't have a place to sleep tonight. So I'll hop back in the car, head out of town and find somewhere to spend the night. Cleveland, you've shown me a wonderful time.
THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT!
The Angles of Music are watching over me. Huey Lewis and the News had me dancing in the aisle, SIXTH ROW CENTER, sweating my ass off. And the best part was that it was FREE!!
After I signed off from my last update, I went over to the ticket window to buy me a ticket for the show when a family approached me asking me if I wanted a pair of tickets. They already had other tickets and didn't need the ones they had. I was ready to ask them how much they wanted for them when he just gave them to me. Holy Crap!!
I was walking back to my car to change my clothes and put on some deodorant when some guy asked me if I had extra tickets.
"As a matter of fact I do. Here you go. See you inside."
The venue's stage backs right up to the river with the Cleveland downtown skyline as it's backdrop. It was pretty small, about one third the size of the PNC Bank Arts Center in Homedel, NJ and not all the seats were filled, but Huey was on fire and was determined on getting every person in the crowd on their feet.
The most beautiful moment is when the sky darkened and the lights of city help light the stage.
I have had a fantastic day and I'm sorry to have to call it an end, but I'm sweaty and gross and I still don't have a place to sleep tonight. So I'll hop back in the car, head out of town and find somewhere to spend the night. Cleveland, you've shown me a wonderful time.
THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT!
Hello, Cleveland!!
Total miles: dont know yet.
States vistied: 2
Nothing is better than the taste of a cold beer in the summer sun on the banks of Lake Erie.
At the Ohio border I stopped to take a picture of the "Welcome to Ohio" sign. A biker had the same idea. He asked where I was going.
"Oh, around."
"Around??"
"You know, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis."
He seemed astonished.
I got into Cleveland around 2:30 and went to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I didn't go into the museum because I was there in 2001, but I did stop in the gift shop to grab some things. From there I went to the Great Lakes Science Center which was really cool because I'm a science geek, but the most incredible exhibit was the Body World exhibit. It was plasticed bodies, skinned, disected and posed. But as gruesome and morbid as it all sounds, it was absolutely fantastic! I can't recommend enough.
There wasn't much else going on Downtown, maybe because it was Sunday, so I went to The Flats for dinner. The Flats is a converted industrial district which now has bars, restaurants and other various fun stuff. That's where I am now, drinking a beer and taking advantage of their wireless internet connection. Apparantly Hewey Lewis and the News is playing here tonight. Maybe I'll try and get some tickets.
States vistied: 2
Nothing is better than the taste of a cold beer in the summer sun on the banks of Lake Erie.
At the Ohio border I stopped to take a picture of the "Welcome to Ohio" sign. A biker had the same idea. He asked where I was going.
"Oh, around."
"Around??"
"You know, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis."
He seemed astonished.
I got into Cleveland around 2:30 and went to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I didn't go into the museum because I was there in 2001, but I did stop in the gift shop to grab some things. From there I went to the Great Lakes Science Center which was really cool because I'm a science geek, but the most incredible exhibit was the Body World exhibit. It was plasticed bodies, skinned, disected and posed. But as gruesome and morbid as it all sounds, it was absolutely fantastic! I can't recommend enough.
There wasn't much else going on Downtown, maybe because it was Sunday, so I went to The Flats for dinner. The Flats is a converted industrial district which now has bars, restaurants and other various fun stuff. That's where I am now, drinking a beer and taking advantage of their wireless internet connection. Apparantly Hewey Lewis and the News is playing here tonight. Maybe I'll try and get some tickets.
Harrisburg, PA
Day Two.
Miles traveled: 177
States visited: 1
I spent the night just outside of Harrisburg, PA. It had been a long day and the train delays, the crowds and the heat had taken all the energy out of me.
I knew when I got into Amish country not by the signs or the scenery, but by the smell. Horse shit. Nothing but the smell of horse shit was in the air.
After a quick dinner at the Eat 'n Park, I got a room at the Holiday Inn which was fantastic for the wireless internet access and jaccuzi. It was just what my body needed after a crazy day.
I was finally able to see what was happening on the Live 8 stage from the tv and from the online replays. Damn, there were a lot of people there!
So now I have some breakfast in me and I'm ready to hit the road. This will be the first day of read driving. I have 6 hours to Cleveland.
Miles traveled: 177
States visited: 1
I spent the night just outside of Harrisburg, PA. It had been a long day and the train delays, the crowds and the heat had taken all the energy out of me.
I knew when I got into Amish country not by the signs or the scenery, but by the smell. Horse shit. Nothing but the smell of horse shit was in the air.
After a quick dinner at the Eat 'n Park, I got a room at the Holiday Inn which was fantastic for the wireless internet access and jaccuzi. It was just what my body needed after a crazy day.
I was finally able to see what was happening on the Live 8 stage from the tv and from the online replays. Damn, there were a lot of people there!
So now I have some breakfast in me and I'm ready to hit the road. This will be the first day of read driving. I have 6 hours to Cleveland.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Live 8: Philly
I got to the Trenton train station to catch the SEPTA train into Philly. It's a diverse group of people going to the concert: Dave Matthews wannabe hippies in their Birkenstocks and dreadlocks, hip hop thugs, preppie kids, surburban mom and dads. Very quickly the train fills up and there's excited chatter from everyone.
Overheard:
"No body puts Baby in the corner."
- guy with a spanish accent
"Why is this in Philly? It's being held in other capital cities, Paris, London, Rome..."
"Come on, do you really think they want a million people in DC?"
"Maybe they're planning for a huge 4th of July celebration on the Mall?"
- twenty-something year old kids
Dumbasses. I wonder if they were even alive when Live Aid was in Philly.
I pulled into 30th Street Station around 11am and followed the crowd to the Ben Franlkin Parkway. Holy F'n crowded!! At first, there was room around me, but as I walked closer towards the art museum, the crowd closed in on me. In the middle of the road people were staking their claim with blankets and chairs. They were right in front of one of the jumbotron tvs so it was like being at a drive in movie. I walked further up past the food vendors and found myself stuck by another jumbotron tv but at least I was in the shade.
I had come with the idea that this would be a lovefest. That everyone would be in a great mood here to enjoy the music, the message and to celebrate our freedom. I think most of those people stayed home because I heard a lot of this:
"If one more person touches me I'm gonna hit someone."
"We should make people pay a toll to walk across my blanket."
"I'm fucking sweating!"
When the Black Eyed Peas came on I was able to get my groove on on my little patch of sidewalk, but soon the crowd grew to overwhelming proportions and I had to make my escape. I was able to listen to Bon Jovi in a more comfortable place where I could lay out on the grass. It was the perfect place to watch the world go by, I was in the shade, I had my lunch, Destiny's Child was shouting out to all the Independant Women and all was beautiful in the world.
By 2:30 I had enough and was ready to head back. It was crazy, sweaty and I couldn't get anywhere near the stage to see. But I'm glad that I went because at least I can say that I was there.
The train to take me back to Trenton was 30 minutes late, then when it did finally arrive we boarded only to be told to get off 10 minutes later because the train had mechanical problems and had to be replaced. Ugh. All I wanted was a shower and food.
Overheard:
"No body puts Baby in the corner."
- guy with a spanish accent
"Why is this in Philly? It's being held in other capital cities, Paris, London, Rome..."
"Come on, do you really think they want a million people in DC?"
"Maybe they're planning for a huge 4th of July celebration on the Mall?"
- twenty-something year old kids
Dumbasses. I wonder if they were even alive when Live Aid was in Philly.
I pulled into 30th Street Station around 11am and followed the crowd to the Ben Franlkin Parkway. Holy F'n crowded!! At first, there was room around me, but as I walked closer towards the art museum, the crowd closed in on me. In the middle of the road people were staking their claim with blankets and chairs. They were right in front of one of the jumbotron tvs so it was like being at a drive in movie. I walked further up past the food vendors and found myself stuck by another jumbotron tv but at least I was in the shade.
I had come with the idea that this would be a lovefest. That everyone would be in a great mood here to enjoy the music, the message and to celebrate our freedom. I think most of those people stayed home because I heard a lot of this:
"If one more person touches me I'm gonna hit someone."
"We should make people pay a toll to walk across my blanket."
"I'm fucking sweating!"
When the Black Eyed Peas came on I was able to get my groove on on my little patch of sidewalk, but soon the crowd grew to overwhelming proportions and I had to make my escape. I was able to listen to Bon Jovi in a more comfortable place where I could lay out on the grass. It was the perfect place to watch the world go by, I was in the shade, I had my lunch, Destiny's Child was shouting out to all the Independant Women and all was beautiful in the world.
By 2:30 I had enough and was ready to head back. It was crazy, sweaty and I couldn't get anywhere near the stage to see. But I'm glad that I went because at least I can say that I was there.
The train to take me back to Trenton was 30 minutes late, then when it did finally arrive we boarded only to be told to get off 10 minutes later because the train had mechanical problems and had to be replaced. Ugh. All I wanted was a shower and food.
Friday, July 01, 2005
Mental preparedness
It's finally here, the day I've been waiting for. My last day at work.
I have already submitted my unemployment claim online and I've gathered the files for the projects I was working on in a box so I can can dump it on my replacement. As soon as I clean out my personal files from my computer I'm done. The only real reason to stick around for a few hours is to score a farewell lunch from my manager. There's not much reason to stick around after that. Hell, it's the Friday of 4th of July weekend. No one will be around.
Someone asked me why I was leaving on my trip right away and not chilling out for a few days. I think the answer came to me this morning. I don't want to think about being out of job. I don't want to think about filing for unemployment and collecting checks. I don't want to think about what I'm going to do with myself again for the weeks that I will be hanging out around the house because I'm trying to be responsible with my money.
Instead I focus all my energy on this trip - reading travel sites and books, devouring state maps, gathering my music and techno gadgets - so I don't have to think about anything else. I will enjoy the moment because that's all I can really do. And I can't hesitate from making the first step because if I do, then I will think too much about it and I definitely don't want to do that.
Part of the excitement of this road trip is that it carries it's own bag of fears. While a woman traveling alone isn't as scandalous as years before, it's not without it's worries. My ultimate goal is to arrive from my destinations with my body parts attached and un-violated. But beyond that, inconveniences really do make for great stories, and you know that's why you're really reading this. It's the 'what will she do now' syndrome. I may not be able to share in your stories of wedding preparations, pregnancy woes and baby's first steps, but I can wow you with my tales of car troubles in Orlando, busted ankles, singing karoke in Spain and crapping in the sink.
What I have to be especially conscience about is being able to blend in. I generally like to be a people-watcher. I can spend hours sitting in a sidewalk cafe watching the world go by. If I can listen in to their conversations it becomes an added bonus. But because I'm doing this alone I don't want to be spotted across a busy street with maps in my hand and video camera strapped around my neck and be labeled TOURIST. So, there might not be as much video on this trip but I will be snapping away with the camera. I also want to be able to explore everything about where I am, but I know that I will only experience as much as my courage allows.
I don't know why I feel more concerned about this trip more than my Key West road trip. Maybe because I've done the Jersey to Key West run before and I feel like the entire east cost is an extension of my backyard. Could also be that I had family waiting for me in Florida. But I do know that the experience itself was the most exhilarating thing I had done. Moreso than my European tour where I was also solo, but with a group of 40 others.
This will be a test of my independence, my explorer spirit. My justification for me being who I am while the rest of my friends and ex's are all settled down, married and procreating.
Tomorrow the adventure begins in Philadelphia where me, and a million of my closest friends will merge upon Ben Franklin Parkway were we will sweat, get stepped on, barely see the stage or hear music and find the least smelly place to pee. How can I miss this opportunity? Turn on MTV and look for me.
I have already submitted my unemployment claim online and I've gathered the files for the projects I was working on in a box so I can can dump it on my replacement. As soon as I clean out my personal files from my computer I'm done. The only real reason to stick around for a few hours is to score a farewell lunch from my manager. There's not much reason to stick around after that. Hell, it's the Friday of 4th of July weekend. No one will be around.
Someone asked me why I was leaving on my trip right away and not chilling out for a few days. I think the answer came to me this morning. I don't want to think about being out of job. I don't want to think about filing for unemployment and collecting checks. I don't want to think about what I'm going to do with myself again for the weeks that I will be hanging out around the house because I'm trying to be responsible with my money.
Instead I focus all my energy on this trip - reading travel sites and books, devouring state maps, gathering my music and techno gadgets - so I don't have to think about anything else. I will enjoy the moment because that's all I can really do. And I can't hesitate from making the first step because if I do, then I will think too much about it and I definitely don't want to do that.
Part of the excitement of this road trip is that it carries it's own bag of fears. While a woman traveling alone isn't as scandalous as years before, it's not without it's worries. My ultimate goal is to arrive from my destinations with my body parts attached and un-violated. But beyond that, inconveniences really do make for great stories, and you know that's why you're really reading this. It's the 'what will she do now' syndrome. I may not be able to share in your stories of wedding preparations, pregnancy woes and baby's first steps, but I can wow you with my tales of car troubles in Orlando, busted ankles, singing karoke in Spain and crapping in the sink.
What I have to be especially conscience about is being able to blend in. I generally like to be a people-watcher. I can spend hours sitting in a sidewalk cafe watching the world go by. If I can listen in to their conversations it becomes an added bonus. But because I'm doing this alone I don't want to be spotted across a busy street with maps in my hand and video camera strapped around my neck and be labeled TOURIST. So, there might not be as much video on this trip but I will be snapping away with the camera. I also want to be able to explore everything about where I am, but I know that I will only experience as much as my courage allows.
I don't know why I feel more concerned about this trip more than my Key West road trip. Maybe because I've done the Jersey to Key West run before and I feel like the entire east cost is an extension of my backyard. Could also be that I had family waiting for me in Florida. But I do know that the experience itself was the most exhilarating thing I had done. Moreso than my European tour where I was also solo, but with a group of 40 others.
This will be a test of my independence, my explorer spirit. My justification for me being who I am while the rest of my friends and ex's are all settled down, married and procreating.
Tomorrow the adventure begins in Philadelphia where me, and a million of my closest friends will merge upon Ben Franklin Parkway were we will sweat, get stepped on, barely see the stage or hear music and find the least smelly place to pee. How can I miss this opportunity? Turn on MTV and look for me.
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