Yesterday I had my very special phone call with a VERY SPECIAL guy...John Ondrasik! I woke up with a strange sense of calm, considering what was to come. I had a quick bite to eat and exchanged a few emails with friends...other Five For Fighting fans who were anticipating this day along with me. A half hour before the designated time, I had my notes before me...just so I wouldn't forget what I wanted to tell or ask John.
A couple minutes before 2:00 pm, I called the toll-free number that MDA gave me, along with an extension. A pre-recorded voice told me the host...that would be Kelly...was not there yet. I waited...then called back again. This time, Kelly answered, and shortly after, John called in. John and I exchanged our hellos and I told him it was nice to hear his voice again. Immediately, I felt like I was talking to a good friend who I hadn't seen in awhile...which was true! It had been over 7 months since we saw each other at the Beach Bash for Augie's Quest last March.
The first thing I did was tell John the good news about the ALS Registry Act passing the Senate and continuing on to the House for voting, where it is certain to pass, too. One of John's passions is his support for Augie's Quest, an ALS charity. For the next 15 minutes I told him how he changed my life, and talked about his music, band buses and my Five For Fighting groupie exploits. John DID ask how I was doing, too, and I recounted my Bob Dylan pineapple story. As time ran out, Kelly cut in and tried to end things...but, John wasn't quite done yet! He asked Kelly if we could have a few more minutes, and she went away. I managed to get a couple more questions in and razz John about his UCLA Bruins...they're pretty awful this year, but so are my Cougars! We then said our goodbyes...and John was gone. As I hung up the phone, I still experienced some residual euphoria...and a deep sense of happiness.
I hope you understand, I can't reveal most of my conversation with John. It was just too personal, and some stuff, well, must remain secret...at least for now. I CAN tell you that John is STILL working on his songs...he hasn't started recording his album yet. So, the wait continues. No new album OR tour till next year. But, we can wait, right? It will be well WORTH the wait! John told me the new album might be a little longer than the last. Which means more listening pleasure! I can go for that!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
"Hello? How are you?"
Sometimes, the most amazing things can happen in the least expected way. Earlier this month, there was an online auction to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. It was organized in conjunction with the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon. If you've read my previous blogs and visited my websites, you'll know I'm a big supporter of Augie's Quest, which is one of many charities under the MDA umbrella. I try to do anything I can to help out, and the online auction was an interesting way of making a contribution.
I scanned the items up for bid...and there were a lot of them. But, one particular item quickly caught my eye. It said, "A Phone Call From John Ondrasik's Five For Fighting To You!" Now, I've met John in person several times, but those encounters were generally quite fleeting. And, yes, I do email him regularly, but he's usually not able to reply back. This phone call would present a unique opportunity to REALLY talk to John. Still, I didn't bid immediately, mostly because I wanted to gauge other people's interest. The auction was to last for two weeks, and I waited a week to see what would happen. Nothing. No one bid, although I DID see people bidding for another phone call...with the young country singer Billy Gilman. Perhaps most didn't know who John Ondrasik OR Five For Fighting was...so what's new?
I decided then that there was no reason to wait any longer...I placed the minimum bid of $150. Now, I had another week of waiting to see if there would be any other takers. On September 4th...the last day of the auction...I kept checking to see if anyone else would bid. But, there was none. I watched as the last seconds ticked away, and only then did I stop holding my breath. I won the phone call! But, more importantly, my donation of $150 was going to a VERY worthy cause! Within a couple of hours, I got email verification of my winning bid. The following week, I called MDA to find out how the phone call would take place. I was told I would be receiving a certificate via snail mail that would entitle me to the phone call, along with a contact number to arrange a time.
Upon receiving the certificate, I called Shannon at the San Diego MDA office. She asked me when I would be available to talk to John. I gave her my two days off the following week, and she said she would contact John. Shannon later did call me back and asked if I could do the phone call on Thursday, the 25th at 2:00 pm? I told her it would be perfect, and Shannon said she would let John know. When I hung up, my hands were shaking from the adrenaline rush. I would have a week of waiting before the big phone call.
Those days initially went slowly, then sped up as my special day got closer. During that time, I started compiling a list of topics and questions. Things that I had always wanted to tell or ask John, but just never got the chance...or never got an answer. I was curious how long I would actually be able to talk to John. So, I called MDA, and spoke to Kelly, the gal who would be hosting the call. She told me 15 minutes...something about John having other appointments afterwards. That didn't sound right to me...what appointments? But, I didn't say anything. I would just have to prioritize my list to compensate for the limited time with John. But, I had a pretty good idea what I was going to say. Hmm...15 minutes sure didn't seem like much. Well, I would just have to make the most of it...talking to John! To be continued...
I scanned the items up for bid...and there were a lot of them. But, one particular item quickly caught my eye. It said, "A Phone Call From John Ondrasik's Five For Fighting To You!" Now, I've met John in person several times, but those encounters were generally quite fleeting. And, yes, I do email him regularly, but he's usually not able to reply back. This phone call would present a unique opportunity to REALLY talk to John. Still, I didn't bid immediately, mostly because I wanted to gauge other people's interest. The auction was to last for two weeks, and I waited a week to see what would happen. Nothing. No one bid, although I DID see people bidding for another phone call...with the young country singer Billy Gilman. Perhaps most didn't know who John Ondrasik OR Five For Fighting was...so what's new?
I decided then that there was no reason to wait any longer...I placed the minimum bid of $150. Now, I had another week of waiting to see if there would be any other takers. On September 4th...the last day of the auction...I kept checking to see if anyone else would bid. But, there was none. I watched as the last seconds ticked away, and only then did I stop holding my breath. I won the phone call! But, more importantly, my donation of $150 was going to a VERY worthy cause! Within a couple of hours, I got email verification of my winning bid. The following week, I called MDA to find out how the phone call would take place. I was told I would be receiving a certificate via snail mail that would entitle me to the phone call, along with a contact number to arrange a time.
Upon receiving the certificate, I called Shannon at the San Diego MDA office. She asked me when I would be available to talk to John. I gave her my two days off the following week, and she said she would contact John. Shannon later did call me back and asked if I could do the phone call on Thursday, the 25th at 2:00 pm? I told her it would be perfect, and Shannon said she would let John know. When I hung up, my hands were shaking from the adrenaline rush. I would have a week of waiting before the big phone call.
Those days initially went slowly, then sped up as my special day got closer. During that time, I started compiling a list of topics and questions. Things that I had always wanted to tell or ask John, but just never got the chance...or never got an answer. I was curious how long I would actually be able to talk to John. So, I called MDA, and spoke to Kelly, the gal who would be hosting the call. She told me 15 minutes...something about John having other appointments afterwards. That didn't sound right to me...what appointments? But, I didn't say anything. I would just have to prioritize my list to compensate for the limited time with John. But, I had a pretty good idea what I was going to say. Hmm...15 minutes sure didn't seem like much. Well, I would just have to make the most of it...talking to John! To be continued...
Monday, July 21, 2008
Crunching the numbers
Originally posted on MySpace on March 31, 2008.
When I was planning my Great Beach Bash Road Trip, no detail went unturned. I made hotel reservations for every town and city I was staying at ahead of time. Made a list of all the places I wanted to see and things I wanted to do. Calculated about where I would need to fill up gas and kept track of the prices online via AAA. When it was all said and done, pretty much everything happened like clockwork, which can make a long road trip that much easier. I admit, I can be pretty obsessive when it comes to planning...and compiling facts and figures. Like last year’s Five For Fighting groupie road trip, I’ve come up with the numbers. I think you’ll be amazed, maybe a little shocked and even a tad amused. All I can say is...thank goodness for my tax refund and my auto GPS.
Number of road trip days: 17
Total miles driven: 3600
Most miles traveled in one day: 435 (from Reno, NV to Boise, ID, with one gas stop and my Zoo Boise visit thrown in between)
Number of road kill mishaps: 1 (I feel rather badly about it, but I couldn’t avoid the little bird that bounced off my windshield driving Hwy 95 in southeastern Oregon)
Number of gas fill-ups: 14
Total amount spent for gas: $573.45
Cheapest and most expensive gas purchased: $3.25/gal (Boise, ID) and $3.63/gal (Bishop, CA)
Number of times I had to add oil: 0 (unlike my groupie road trip, where Hwy 1 in California did me in)
Number of hotel stays: 9
Total amount spent for those hotel accommodations: $1049.12
Number of times I stayed at Super 8: 4 (hey, when it comes to price and amenities, it was perfect!)
Number of museums visited: 12
Number of zoos visited: 4
Number of animals petted: 9 (4 zoo animals at West Coast Game Park in Oregon, and 4 cats and a dog at my friend Lynne’s house in L.A.)
Most number of places visited in one day: 4 (it would have been 5, but the World’s Largest Sitka Spruce was a victim of the December windstorms along the Oregon coast and is no more)
Number of times I had my Blazer washed: 2
Number of times I was mistaken for someone else: 2 (it still cracks me up)
Number of times my name was mispronounced: 1 (by The Today Show’s Natalie Morales, but she corrected herself immediately)
Number of times John Ondrasik said my name at the Beach Bash, and correctly, I might add: 4 (I think...the night was kind of blur at times)
Number of times I bought food from a national fast food chain restaurant: 8 (I really tried to avoid doing this but it’s hard not to when you’re time constrained)
Number of CDs I took with me: 96 (with the exception of my Five For Fighting CDs, I didn’t play anything more than once!)
Number of photos taken: 1620 (aren’t digital cameras great?)
Of the photos I took, how many of them included John Ondrasik: 14 (sometimes, those candid shots can be golden!)
Road trips are great. Sometimes it’s the only way go, especially if you’re seeking out the unusual and the obscure...places off the beaten track. And, those can be the most fun...take it from me. Next year...the Great Five For Fighting Groupie Road Trip II. This year can’t go by fast enough for me!
When I was planning my Great Beach Bash Road Trip, no detail went unturned. I made hotel reservations for every town and city I was staying at ahead of time. Made a list of all the places I wanted to see and things I wanted to do. Calculated about where I would need to fill up gas and kept track of the prices online via AAA. When it was all said and done, pretty much everything happened like clockwork, which can make a long road trip that much easier. I admit, I can be pretty obsessive when it comes to planning...and compiling facts and figures. Like last year’s Five For Fighting groupie road trip, I’ve come up with the numbers. I think you’ll be amazed, maybe a little shocked and even a tad amused. All I can say is...thank goodness for my tax refund and my auto GPS.
Number of road trip days: 17
Total miles driven: 3600
Most miles traveled in one day: 435 (from Reno, NV to Boise, ID, with one gas stop and my Zoo Boise visit thrown in between)
Number of road kill mishaps: 1 (I feel rather badly about it, but I couldn’t avoid the little bird that bounced off my windshield driving Hwy 95 in southeastern Oregon)
Number of gas fill-ups: 14
Total amount spent for gas: $573.45
Cheapest and most expensive gas purchased: $3.25/gal (Boise, ID) and $3.63/gal (Bishop, CA)
Number of times I had to add oil: 0 (unlike my groupie road trip, where Hwy 1 in California did me in)
Number of hotel stays: 9
Total amount spent for those hotel accommodations: $1049.12
Number of times I stayed at Super 8: 4 (hey, when it comes to price and amenities, it was perfect!)
Number of museums visited: 12
Number of zoos visited: 4
Number of animals petted: 9 (4 zoo animals at West Coast Game Park in Oregon, and 4 cats and a dog at my friend Lynne’s house in L.A.)
Most number of places visited in one day: 4 (it would have been 5, but the World’s Largest Sitka Spruce was a victim of the December windstorms along the Oregon coast and is no more)
Number of times I had my Blazer washed: 2
Number of times I was mistaken for someone else: 2 (it still cracks me up)
Number of times my name was mispronounced: 1 (by The Today Show’s Natalie Morales, but she corrected herself immediately)
Number of times John Ondrasik said my name at the Beach Bash, and correctly, I might add: 4 (I think...the night was kind of blur at times)
Number of times I bought food from a national fast food chain restaurant: 8 (I really tried to avoid doing this but it’s hard not to when you’re time constrained)
Number of CDs I took with me: 96 (with the exception of my Five For Fighting CDs, I didn’t play anything more than once!)
Number of photos taken: 1620 (aren’t digital cameras great?)
Of the photos I took, how many of them included John Ondrasik: 14 (sometimes, those candid shots can be golden!)
Road trips are great. Sometimes it’s the only way go, especially if you’re seeking out the unusual and the obscure...places off the beaten track. And, those can be the most fun...take it from me. Next year...the Great Five For Fighting Groupie Road Trip II. This year can’t go by fast enough for me!
Looking back
Originally posted on MySpace on March 25, 2008.
It’s been about a week since my amazing road trip came to a reluctant but necessary end. Since then, I’ve spent some time reminiscing the good times...and bad...spent during those 17 days putting miles on the odometer of my beloved groupie mobile. Some things I’ll never forget, while others, I’d LIKE to forget!
Best meal with a Food Network influence: Willie Bird’s Restaurant in Santa Rosa, CA. Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives sold me when he had their turkey dinner. As Rachel Ray would say, "Yummo!"
Coolest animal encounter: Playing with Solo, the 5-week-old cougar kitten at West Coast Game Park in Bandon, OR. It’s one of those moments that I’ll always remember and cherish forever.
Most humorous experience: Being mistaken for someone else not once but TWICE in the span of two weeks. Everyone supposedly has a twin somewhere in the world, but I seem to have two of them...or, the same person was scouting ahead of me!
Most inspirational moment: Meeting Augie Nieto at the Beach Bash for Augie’s Quest. By presenting a human face to ALS, he teaches us all that there is always hope, and to never give up. I, for one, am proud to be in his corner in this very real fight.
Greatest source of frustration: My auto GPS. It was great when it worked right, but it was aggravating when it didn’t. No, one cannot drive on a footpath or over a median to turn left. I never got truly lost, though, because it would ultimately ALWAYS point me in the right direction!
Biggest "what am I doing?" incident: Backing my Blazer into a wall at my San Luis Obispo hotel. I misjudged the distance and gouged my rear bumper a bit. It’s a good thing I wasn’t going very fast...and that I have a hard bumper!
Pissed off to the max moment: Checking into my hotel in Newport, OR, only to be told that all room internet service was out-of-order. And, MAYBE the wireless access MIGHT work in the hotel office area. MOST unacceptable! I got a refund and got a room at the adjacent hotel...with WORKING internet!
Best unexpected surprise filling my tank: Finding a gas station in the tiny town of Selma, OR with prices CHEAPER than the bigger town I just left. AND, the nice man working there cleaned my windshield, too. Note: you can’t pump your own gas in Oregon.
Nicest surprise at a hotel: Free chocolate chip cookies at the Best Western in Astoria, OR. And, we’re talking about the warm, fresh-baked, delectable kind!
Most disgusting place encountered on my road trip: Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo, CA. It sounded interesting when I heard about it, but in reality...it was gross. And, no, I didn’t leave my own contribution to its walls.
Tastiest repeat food destination: Neptune’s Net in Malibu, CA. Hot, fresh and oh, so delicious! Might I suggest the fried scallops and shrimp basket? There is good reason John eats there and included this local landmark in his song California Justice!
Most disappointing repeat food destination: Okay, maybe it was the particular location, but I sure wasn’t impressed by my burger from the Northridge, CA In N Out. I’ve had better at In N Out’s in Hesperia and Las Vegas. Sorry, John, but this In N Out was down and out for the count!
Craziest (and most humorous) road signs: The speed limit signs at the Borax Visitor’s Center in Boron, CA. When you’re used to seeing the standard signs, but then encounter 14, 23...and 37 1/2, you can’t help but laugh, and applaud the company’s ingenuity.
Most interesting museum visited: A tie between the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A. and the National Automobile Museum in Reno, NV. I don’t know what it is about cars, but between the special exhibits on low riders at the former and the Great 1908 N.Y. to Paris Race at the latter, and the early automobiles, these museums captivated me. They just don’t make cars like they used to...form AND function brought together to create truly beautiful machines.
Coolest moment during the Warner Brothers Studio VIP Tour: Seeing the trailer of actor Danny Pino, who plays the character Scotty Valens on the TV series Cold Case...one of my fav shows! He was somewhere on the lot...maybe even INSIDE that trailer...but, I never saw him, unfortunately. He is HOT! (sorry, John! lol)
Nicest planned encounter: Meeting not one but TWO MySpace friends during my road trip. I attended the Beach Bash for Augie’s Quest with Johnny, and my first NHL hockey game with Lynne, And, they were both as wonderful in person as they are on MySpace, not to mention BIG Five For Fighting fans, too.
And, last but not least...most rewarding and memorable moment. Of course, it would have to be getting up close (and somewhat personal) with John Ondrasik at the Beach Bash. He was SO NICE, and just reaffirmed what I always knew...he truly IS one-of-a-kind. I...we...are SO fortunate to have been touched by his music and his ideals. His is one bandwagon I’ll certainly never get off of. And...that was one GREAT hug!
It’s been about a week since my amazing road trip came to a reluctant but necessary end. Since then, I’ve spent some time reminiscing the good times...and bad...spent during those 17 days putting miles on the odometer of my beloved groupie mobile. Some things I’ll never forget, while others, I’d LIKE to forget!
Best meal with a Food Network influence: Willie Bird’s Restaurant in Santa Rosa, CA. Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives sold me when he had their turkey dinner. As Rachel Ray would say, "Yummo!"
Coolest animal encounter: Playing with Solo, the 5-week-old cougar kitten at West Coast Game Park in Bandon, OR. It’s one of those moments that I’ll always remember and cherish forever.
Most humorous experience: Being mistaken for someone else not once but TWICE in the span of two weeks. Everyone supposedly has a twin somewhere in the world, but I seem to have two of them...or, the same person was scouting ahead of me!
Most inspirational moment: Meeting Augie Nieto at the Beach Bash for Augie’s Quest. By presenting a human face to ALS, he teaches us all that there is always hope, and to never give up. I, for one, am proud to be in his corner in this very real fight.
Greatest source of frustration: My auto GPS. It was great when it worked right, but it was aggravating when it didn’t. No, one cannot drive on a footpath or over a median to turn left. I never got truly lost, though, because it would ultimately ALWAYS point me in the right direction!
Biggest "what am I doing?" incident: Backing my Blazer into a wall at my San Luis Obispo hotel. I misjudged the distance and gouged my rear bumper a bit. It’s a good thing I wasn’t going very fast...and that I have a hard bumper!
Pissed off to the max moment: Checking into my hotel in Newport, OR, only to be told that all room internet service was out-of-order. And, MAYBE the wireless access MIGHT work in the hotel office area. MOST unacceptable! I got a refund and got a room at the adjacent hotel...with WORKING internet!
Best unexpected surprise filling my tank: Finding a gas station in the tiny town of Selma, OR with prices CHEAPER than the bigger town I just left. AND, the nice man working there cleaned my windshield, too. Note: you can’t pump your own gas in Oregon.
Nicest surprise at a hotel: Free chocolate chip cookies at the Best Western in Astoria, OR. And, we’re talking about the warm, fresh-baked, delectable kind!
Most disgusting place encountered on my road trip: Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo, CA. It sounded interesting when I heard about it, but in reality...it was gross. And, no, I didn’t leave my own contribution to its walls.
Tastiest repeat food destination: Neptune’s Net in Malibu, CA. Hot, fresh and oh, so delicious! Might I suggest the fried scallops and shrimp basket? There is good reason John eats there and included this local landmark in his song California Justice!
Most disappointing repeat food destination: Okay, maybe it was the particular location, but I sure wasn’t impressed by my burger from the Northridge, CA In N Out. I’ve had better at In N Out’s in Hesperia and Las Vegas. Sorry, John, but this In N Out was down and out for the count!
Craziest (and most humorous) road signs: The speed limit signs at the Borax Visitor’s Center in Boron, CA. When you’re used to seeing the standard signs, but then encounter 14, 23...and 37 1/2, you can’t help but laugh, and applaud the company’s ingenuity.
Most interesting museum visited: A tie between the Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A. and the National Automobile Museum in Reno, NV. I don’t know what it is about cars, but between the special exhibits on low riders at the former and the Great 1908 N.Y. to Paris Race at the latter, and the early automobiles, these museums captivated me. They just don’t make cars like they used to...form AND function brought together to create truly beautiful machines.
Coolest moment during the Warner Brothers Studio VIP Tour: Seeing the trailer of actor Danny Pino, who plays the character Scotty Valens on the TV series Cold Case...one of my fav shows! He was somewhere on the lot...maybe even INSIDE that trailer...but, I never saw him, unfortunately. He is HOT! (sorry, John! lol)
Nicest planned encounter: Meeting not one but TWO MySpace friends during my road trip. I attended the Beach Bash for Augie’s Quest with Johnny, and my first NHL hockey game with Lynne, And, they were both as wonderful in person as they are on MySpace, not to mention BIG Five For Fighting fans, too.
And, last but not least...most rewarding and memorable moment. Of course, it would have to be getting up close (and somewhat personal) with John Ondrasik at the Beach Bash. He was SO NICE, and just reaffirmed what I always knew...he truly IS one-of-a-kind. I...we...are SO fortunate to have been touched by his music and his ideals. His is one bandwagon I’ll certainly never get off of. And...that was one GREAT hug!
Home, sweet, second home!
Originally posted on MySpace on March 17, 2008.
I left Boise, ID a little later than I wanted, even knowing I would gain an hour traveling from Mountain to Pacific time. I got the best sleep of my whole road trip last night, and also for the first time in the past 17 days…the clock radio woke me up. I must have been dead tired…road tripping will do that to you and it finally caught up to me. After a bagel with cream cheese…some continental breakfasts are better than others…I headed west. But, after just a couple of hours, I was hungry. My stomach would not be denied. I stopped in Baker City, OR for a quick bite at Taco Time…one of my fast food favorites.
Unfortunately, my unplanned detour threw off my schedule even further. By the time I reached Pendleton…after 3 hours of driving…it was almost 12:30 pm. I wanted to visit the famous Underground Tours, but found out that their next tour was at 1:30. With the tour itself being 90 minutes long, and with an additional 2 ½ hours of driving to go, I decided I just couldn’t hang around that long. There was one other place in town that I wanted to check out…a place called the Popcorn Factory. But, I discovered that place was closed on Mondays. So, my trip to Pendleton was a washout. After filling up my gas tank, I left town.
The last 150 miles went by quickly. In no time, I was home. I was eager to see my cat Kimi…but, the feeling was not mutual. As soon as my parents started bringing some of my stuff in from the car…she disappeared! Kimi thought it was time for her to leave…she hates car rides! I found her huddled behind the dining room drapes. When I picked her up, she was limp…Kimi had resigned herself to the fact we were leaving. I tried to reassure her that this was not the case, but as soon as I put her down, she ran downstairs. A little while later, my mom called Kimi for her treat. She warily came back upstairs, but when Kimi saw me…she actually hissed! Now, that was not the Kimi I knew! Later on, I found her downstairs sitting by her food dish...and she greeted me like nothing happened! She’s pretty much back to normal again…for now. On Thursday, we really DO make the trip back to our real home in Bellingham. I’m going to try not to clue her in, but I have a feeling she’ll figure it out. After all, Kimi is one smart cat. I just wish sometimes she wouldn’t think so much!
I left Boise, ID a little later than I wanted, even knowing I would gain an hour traveling from Mountain to Pacific time. I got the best sleep of my whole road trip last night, and also for the first time in the past 17 days…the clock radio woke me up. I must have been dead tired…road tripping will do that to you and it finally caught up to me. After a bagel with cream cheese…some continental breakfasts are better than others…I headed west. But, after just a couple of hours, I was hungry. My stomach would not be denied. I stopped in Baker City, OR for a quick bite at Taco Time…one of my fast food favorites.
Unfortunately, my unplanned detour threw off my schedule even further. By the time I reached Pendleton…after 3 hours of driving…it was almost 12:30 pm. I wanted to visit the famous Underground Tours, but found out that their next tour was at 1:30. With the tour itself being 90 minutes long, and with an additional 2 ½ hours of driving to go, I decided I just couldn’t hang around that long. There was one other place in town that I wanted to check out…a place called the Popcorn Factory. But, I discovered that place was closed on Mondays. So, my trip to Pendleton was a washout. After filling up my gas tank, I left town.
The last 150 miles went by quickly. In no time, I was home. I was eager to see my cat Kimi…but, the feeling was not mutual. As soon as my parents started bringing some of my stuff in from the car…she disappeared! Kimi thought it was time for her to leave…she hates car rides! I found her huddled behind the dining room drapes. When I picked her up, she was limp…Kimi had resigned herself to the fact we were leaving. I tried to reassure her that this was not the case, but as soon as I put her down, she ran downstairs. A little while later, my mom called Kimi for her treat. She warily came back upstairs, but when Kimi saw me…she actually hissed! Now, that was not the Kimi I knew! Later on, I found her downstairs sitting by her food dish...and she greeted me like nothing happened! She’s pretty much back to normal again…for now. On Thursday, we really DO make the trip back to our real home in Bellingham. I’m going to try not to clue her in, but I have a feeling she’ll figure it out. After all, Kimi is one smart cat. I just wish sometimes she wouldn’t think so much!
Pain at the pump
Originally posted on MySpace on March 16, 2008.
Well, just as I suspected would happen…it snowed in Reno overnight. Just about an inch, but enough to make work for me. I spent about 10 minutes this morning cleaning off the Blazer, both snow and ice on the windows. And, yes, I was prepared…I brought my combo broom/ice scraper with me! I left town early…just before 7:00 am. I had a 7-hour drive ahead of me plus I would be losing an hour due to Mountain time.
As I initially headed east on I-80/US 95, the speed limit went from 70 mph to 75. I don’t know about you, but 75 is plenty fast for me. Besides, I was expending fuel fast enough as it was, thank you. In Winnemucca, I refilled my tank. Because of the high altitude, regular gas is only 85 octane…I stuck with the 87, but only paid $3.38/gal. I continued north on Hwy 95, with the speed limit at 65. But, as soon as I crossed the border into Oregon, the speed limit dropped to 55. That might not seem that bad except the roads in that area are VERY straight, VERY flat and VERY, VERY boring! It seemed to take forever! I was relieved when I came to Idaho and the speed limit went back up to 65. Strangely…or maybe not so…everyone was passing me on the Oregon stretch, even though I was going 5 mph over the speed limit!
When I reached Boise, I was relying on my GPS to take me to the zoo there. But, when I reached my destination, I was directed to a one-way driveway…in the wrong direction! I tried going around the block, but that didn’t help. I ended up asking someone, which finally got me to my destination…or at least the general vicinity. I had to ask for directions a second time before I finally found the place. Boise has a lot of one way streets around the Boise State campus, which can be confusing. And, I never did see a sign for Zoo Boise anywhere either!
The zoo was small, but nice. They have a really impressive cat population for a zoo its size…tiger, snow leopard, amur leopard, serval, lynx, bobcat. I like felines, big and small! On my way to my hotel, I decided to fill my tank again. I spotted a Shell station and glanced at the gas price…$3.25/gal for regular! I couldn’t believe it! The last time I’ve seen gas that cheap was maybe January, at least where I live in Washington. And, I paid $3.63/gal in Bishop, CA a few days ago! Needless to say, I filled up at that Shell. Even more surprising, their regular was 89 octane! There WAS no 87 available! Weird!
Well, tomorrow is the homestretch…my last day on the road. In a way, I’m kinda glad. I’m tired. And, I’m ready to go back to the real world. It will be interesting to see how much this road trip has cost me. But, sometimes, you need to make sacrifices to have fun! At least, continental breakfasts are free!
As I initially headed east on I-80/US 95, the speed limit went from 70 mph to 75. I don’t know about you, but 75 is plenty fast for me. Besides, I was expending fuel fast enough as it was, thank you. In Winnemucca, I refilled my tank. Because of the high altitude, regular gas is only 85 octane…I stuck with the 87, but only paid $3.38/gal. I continued north on Hwy 95, with the speed limit at 65. But, as soon as I crossed the border into Oregon, the speed limit dropped to 55. That might not seem that bad except the roads in that area are VERY straight, VERY flat and VERY, VERY boring! It seemed to take forever! I was relieved when I came to Idaho and the speed limit went back up to 65. Strangely…or maybe not so…everyone was passing me on the Oregon stretch, even though I was going 5 mph over the speed limit!
When I reached Boise, I was relying on my GPS to take me to the zoo there. But, when I reached my destination, I was directed to a one-way driveway…in the wrong direction! I tried going around the block, but that didn’t help. I ended up asking someone, which finally got me to my destination…or at least the general vicinity. I had to ask for directions a second time before I finally found the place. Boise has a lot of one way streets around the Boise State campus, which can be confusing. And, I never did see a sign for Zoo Boise anywhere either!
The zoo was small, but nice. They have a really impressive cat population for a zoo its size…tiger, snow leopard, amur leopard, serval, lynx, bobcat. I like felines, big and small! On my way to my hotel, I decided to fill my tank again. I spotted a Shell station and glanced at the gas price…$3.25/gal for regular! I couldn’t believe it! The last time I’ve seen gas that cheap was maybe January, at least where I live in Washington. And, I paid $3.63/gal in Bishop, CA a few days ago! Needless to say, I filled up at that Shell. Even more surprising, their regular was 89 octane! There WAS no 87 available! Weird!
Well, tomorrow is the homestretch…my last day on the road. In a way, I’m kinda glad. I’m tired. And, I’m ready to go back to the real world. It will be interesting to see how much this road trip has cost me. But, sometimes, you need to make sacrifices to have fun! At least, continental breakfasts are free!
Stouffer's...nothing comes closer to home
Originally posted on MySpace on March 15, 2008.
I woke up to another cold day…it was the low 30s according to my Blazer’s thermometer. I drove downtown to see the famous arch…you know, the one that proclaims Reno to be "The Biggest Little City In The World." Actually, the sign currently located on Reno’s "strip" is the newer one. The old sign is a couple of blocks east on a parallel street.
Adjacent to the old Reno arch is a building that houses the National Auto Museum. I already saw a car museum in L.A., but I wanted to check this one out also. I wasn’t disappointed. The majority of the vehicles on display are pre-1940’s, and part of Harrah’s private collection. And, these automobiles are in mint condition. In addition, there was an interesting exhibit on the 1908 U.S. to Paris Cup race. Before I realized it, I had spent two hours there…it’s amazing how engrossing it can be, at least to me. I would have stayed longer, but I was getting hungry, so I starting skimming over the informational signs. I had a craving for comfort food, so I went to the nearby Harrah’s Hotel and
Casino and ate lunch at the Lucky Noodle Bar…beef stew and rice noodle soup. Maybe not everyone’s idea of comfort food but it really hit the spot.
I went to yet another museum in the afternoon…are you sensing a pattern yet? The Nevada Historical Society Museum has displays and exhibits on the history of northern Nevada, including the native Americans, the Comstock lode silver mine and the building of the first railroads in the area. I’m sure learning a lot on this road trip…it’s good to keep the mind stimulated when you’re getting old! I had another museum on my agenda but the park where it was located was closed, so that was pretty much my day. I was driving back to my hotel when something caught my eye...a car wash! My ride badly needed one after Lake Tahoe’s messy roads. Minutes later, voila! My Blazer was back to fighting form...as in Five For Fighting form!
Tomorrow, I have a day’s worth of driving and one sightseeing spot on my schedule. Only two days left on my road trip! I’m getting tired of eating out. Can I really be missing my frozen microwave dinners?
Adjacent to the old Reno arch is a building that houses the National Auto Museum. I already saw a car museum in L.A., but I wanted to check this one out also. I wasn’t disappointed. The majority of the vehicles on display are pre-1940’s, and part of Harrah’s private collection. And, these automobiles are in mint condition. In addition, there was an interesting exhibit on the 1908 U.S. to Paris Cup race. Before I realized it, I had spent two hours there…it’s amazing how engrossing it can be, at least to me. I would have stayed longer, but I was getting hungry, so I starting skimming over the informational signs. I had a craving for comfort food, so I went to the nearby Harrah’s Hotel and
Casino and ate lunch at the Lucky Noodle Bar…beef stew and rice noodle soup. Maybe not everyone’s idea of comfort food but it really hit the spot.
I went to yet another museum in the afternoon…are you sensing a pattern yet? The Nevada Historical Society Museum has displays and exhibits on the history of northern Nevada, including the native Americans, the Comstock lode silver mine and the building of the first railroads in the area. I’m sure learning a lot on this road trip…it’s good to keep the mind stimulated when you’re getting old! I had another museum on my agenda but the park where it was located was closed, so that was pretty much my day. I was driving back to my hotel when something caught my eye...a car wash! My ride badly needed one after Lake Tahoe’s messy roads. Minutes later, voila! My Blazer was back to fighting form...as in Five For Fighting form!
Tomorrow, I have a day’s worth of driving and one sightseeing spot on my schedule. Only two days left on my road trip! I’m getting tired of eating out. Can I really be missing my frozen microwave dinners?
Geez, it's cold!
Originally posted on MySpace on March 13, 2008.It was pretty chilly when I left Bishop, CA this morning. The near freezing temperatures continued as I traveled north to Lake Tahoe via Hwy 395…about 50 degrees colder than what I had been experiencing in L.A. for the past several days! But, like I said, I was too hot down there and I’m enjoying being cool again. Last night, I slept on my first pillow top mattress of my road trip, which reminded me of my own bed. It also reminded me that my road trip is rapidly nearing an end. Only 3 more days to go!
Unlike my groupie road trip last year, this time around I was able to get some photos of Lake Tahoe. One place I wanted to see was a particular restaurant in Carnelian Bay called the Gar Woods. I had mentioned it in a Five For Fighting Question of the Week on my MySpace page. This eatery was the location of John Ondrasik’s Easy Tonight "oldie" story. Conveniently, it turned out a public pier was adjacent to the restaurant, so I was able to take some nice pictures of the lake. I froze my ass off but the cold, fresh air was refreshing after the dusty winds of southern California. I opted not to dine at the Gar Woods…they only had a limited lunch menu anyway…and ate last night’s leftover sushi instead.
Afterwards, I drove to Truckee to visit the Emigrant Trail Museum at Donner Memorial State Park. Last year, I arrived too late in the day to see the museum and just took pics of the Donner Memorial Statue outside. The museum had a video on the Donner Party story. As I started watching it, I knew immediately that it wasn’t a very recent film. It consisted of only still photos and narration, and actually seemed rather dated. When I asked the lady working there when the movie was made, she said sometime in the 80s. I knew it! I took photos of the Donner Memorial Statue again. The only difference this time…there was about 10 inches of snow on the ground around it!
Well, I’m in Reno…the Biggest Little City in the World, or so they say. I’m going to take a photo of that sign tomorrow. It’s been about 40 years since I’ve last visited Reno. You can bet it has changed A LOT! I don’t plan on doing any gambling, though…I always lose my money. Besides, I need it all to pay for this road trip, not that I’m thinking about the cost. I’m thinking more about how much fun I’m having. In the end, that’s all that matters!
Unlike my groupie road trip last year, this time around I was able to get some photos of Lake Tahoe. One place I wanted to see was a particular restaurant in Carnelian Bay called the Gar Woods. I had mentioned it in a Five For Fighting Question of the Week on my MySpace page. This eatery was the location of John Ondrasik’s Easy Tonight "oldie" story. Conveniently, it turned out a public pier was adjacent to the restaurant, so I was able to take some nice pictures of the lake. I froze my ass off but the cold, fresh air was refreshing after the dusty winds of southern California. I opted not to dine at the Gar Woods…they only had a limited lunch menu anyway…and ate last night’s leftover sushi instead.
Afterwards, I drove to Truckee to visit the Emigrant Trail Museum at Donner Memorial State Park. Last year, I arrived too late in the day to see the museum and just took pics of the Donner Memorial Statue outside. The museum had a video on the Donner Party story. As I started watching it, I knew immediately that it wasn’t a very recent film. It consisted of only still photos and narration, and actually seemed rather dated. When I asked the lady working there when the movie was made, she said sometime in the 80s. I knew it! I took photos of the Donner Memorial Statue again. The only difference this time…there was about 10 inches of snow on the ground around it!
Well, I’m in Reno…the Biggest Little City in the World, or so they say. I’m going to take a photo of that sign tomorrow. It’s been about 40 years since I’ve last visited Reno. You can bet it has changed A LOT! I don’t plan on doing any gambling, though…I always lose my money. Besides, I need it all to pay for this road trip, not that I’m thinking about the cost. I’m thinking more about how much fun I’m having. In the end, that’s all that matters!
Took off in the Blazer for the 395...
Originally posted on MySpace on March 13, 2008.I left Los Angeles and southern California this morning, starting my slow journey back to Washington. I met a lot of nice people and saw a lot of great places in the past week. But, it was time to get on the road again. My first stop of the day was barely out of town… Vasquez Rocks. This rugged park has been used as a location for many TV shows and movies. On my way there, I was following the signs to the park when I spotted another sign. I stopped abruptly...it’s a good thing there was no one following! There, in front of me, was a sign marking the entrance to Agua Dulce Movie Ranch. This is where Five For Fighting’s music video The Riddle was filmed! The gate was closed and I really couldn’t see anything from the road, but it was kinda neat knowing what was on the other side of the fence.
After taking some photos of the rocks and boulders, I continued on to Mojave for lunch…no, I didn’t have a double double with me. About 30 miles up the road, was my second destination of the day…the borax plant in Boron, CA. Now, you’re probably wondering, why would I want to visit THIS place? Hmm…because it’s there? Actually, I thought it would be interesting and they have a visitor’s center. Borax is the final product of refined borate salts. A LOT of products use borax…from glass (Pyrex), to face products (Oxy), to insecticides (boric acid), fertilizer, fiberglas, and yes, detergent ( 20 Mule Team Borax). And, a whole lot more! I was given a free sample of polished ulexite…that’s the mineral they mine at the facility. By the way, I got a laugh as I approached the gate and as I drove to the visitor’s center. They had some kooky speed limit signs…37 ½ , 14, 23. Probably someone’s attempt at humor.
It was pretty windy in Boron, and it got worse as I traveled up Hwy 395. In fact, the highway patrol was stopping north bound vehicles like semis and RVs in the tiny town of Pearsonville, and making them park there due to the high wind danger. I encountered the same thing further on in Lone Pine…the southbound tall vehicles were camped out there, too. I took the left at Lone Pine and drove west toward Mt. Whitney. I only went about 5 miles up the road, taking pictures along the way. I expected a whole lot more snow on the mountains, but it didn’t diminish their majesty. As I gazed at Mt Whitney, I tried to imagine John Ondrasik being way up there…he made it to the top last spring. That’s 14,500 ft up…impressive. I wonder if it was one of the things he’s always wanted to do. I achieved a few of my own on this trip. And, I’m not done yet…at least in my lifetime.
After taking some photos of the rocks and boulders, I continued on to Mojave for lunch…no, I didn’t have a double double with me. About 30 miles up the road, was my second destination of the day…the borax plant in Boron, CA. Now, you’re probably wondering, why would I want to visit THIS place? Hmm…because it’s there? Actually, I thought it would be interesting and they have a visitor’s center. Borax is the final product of refined borate salts. A LOT of products use borax…from glass (Pyrex), to face products (Oxy), to insecticides (boric acid), fertilizer, fiberglas, and yes, detergent ( 20 Mule Team Borax). And, a whole lot more! I was given a free sample of polished ulexite…that’s the mineral they mine at the facility. By the way, I got a laugh as I approached the gate and as I drove to the visitor’s center. They had some kooky speed limit signs…37 ½ , 14, 23. Probably someone’s attempt at humor.
It was pretty windy in Boron, and it got worse as I traveled up Hwy 395. In fact, the highway patrol was stopping north bound vehicles like semis and RVs in the tiny town of Pearsonville, and making them park there due to the high wind danger. I encountered the same thing further on in Lone Pine…the southbound tall vehicles were camped out there, too. I took the left at Lone Pine and drove west toward Mt. Whitney. I only went about 5 miles up the road, taking pictures along the way. I expected a whole lot more snow on the mountains, but it didn’t diminish their majesty. As I gazed at Mt Whitney, I tried to imagine John Ondrasik being way up there…he made it to the top last spring. That’s 14,500 ft up…impressive. I wonder if it was one of the things he’s always wanted to do. I achieved a few of my own on this trip. And, I’m not done yet…at least in my lifetime.
A fitting end
Originally posted on MySpace on March 12, 2008.Well, I had a wonderful day at Warner Brothers Studios today. I went on the deluxe behind-the-scenes VIP tour. After the initial video introductory presentation, our group of 12 was divided up into two. To my delight, we only had 3 people in our group…which made for a more personal experience. Later, a couple more joined us, but it was still an enjoyable situation.
Our tour guide, Thom, was great…very knowledgeable and pleasant. We rode extended tour carts around the back lots. Thom pointed out street sets and buildings used in filming. We got to see a dubbing in progress…that’s adding sound to a completed project. In this case, it was an episode of How I Met Your Mother. After a couple of hours of interesting stuff, it was time for lunch. As part of the deluxe tour, we had the privilege of eating in the fine dining commissary, usually reserved for producers and other higher ups. Cast and crew on filming sets have food catered to them, while the remaining employees can eat in the regular commissary. I passed on the appetizer, and ordered my entrée…rosemary roasted chicken, mashed sweet potatoes with gouda cheese and sautéed vegetables. For dessert, bread pudding. It was very nice and the best part was…it was FREE, or rather, included in the price of the tour.
Afterwards, we were shown some filming sets including the emergency entrance of the TV series ER. They weren’t filming there today, but they WERE in one of the sound stages. Also filming today, two of my favorite drama series…Without A Trace and Cold Case. I didn’t get to see any of the actors, but I DID see a few of the Cold Case dressing room trailers, including Scotty Valens’ trailer…he’s HOT! We also saw sets inside sound stages, such as Two And A Half Men, and Pushing Daisies. Then, there were the departments in charge of props, set dressing and construction…yeah, there are a lot of people who contribute to the success of the studio. Oh, and they were filming a Rascal Flatts music video on the back lot…I didn’t see them, though. The final part of the tour was a visit to the studio museum. It had exhibits of props and costumes from past Warner Brothers productions, and a special section on the Harry Potter movies. We were given two cool mementos of our visit…a digital blue-screen photo and a traditional key to the studio. If you’ve never taken this tour, I highly recommend it. It’s WAY better than the commercialized Universal Studios tour.
So, my last day in Los Angeles was a fun one. I have to admit, I’m ready to get on the road again. Besides, it’s too hot here for my taste. I actually got a tan without even trying. By the way, there was one of those police pursuits just down the road from me last night. They had live footage on TV…an SUV going up and down the street on the rims. It finally ended like it almost always does…they got caught. I just hope I make it out of town before I encounter something like that. The last thing I need is my ride smashed up by some idiot. I’m outta here!
Our tour guide, Thom, was great…very knowledgeable and pleasant. We rode extended tour carts around the back lots. Thom pointed out street sets and buildings used in filming. We got to see a dubbing in progress…that’s adding sound to a completed project. In this case, it was an episode of How I Met Your Mother. After a couple of hours of interesting stuff, it was time for lunch. As part of the deluxe tour, we had the privilege of eating in the fine dining commissary, usually reserved for producers and other higher ups. Cast and crew on filming sets have food catered to them, while the remaining employees can eat in the regular commissary. I passed on the appetizer, and ordered my entrée…rosemary roasted chicken, mashed sweet potatoes with gouda cheese and sautéed vegetables. For dessert, bread pudding. It was very nice and the best part was…it was FREE, or rather, included in the price of the tour.
Afterwards, we were shown some filming sets including the emergency entrance of the TV series ER. They weren’t filming there today, but they WERE in one of the sound stages. Also filming today, two of my favorite drama series…Without A Trace and Cold Case. I didn’t get to see any of the actors, but I DID see a few of the Cold Case dressing room trailers, including Scotty Valens’ trailer…he’s HOT! We also saw sets inside sound stages, such as Two And A Half Men, and Pushing Daisies. Then, there were the departments in charge of props, set dressing and construction…yeah, there are a lot of people who contribute to the success of the studio. Oh, and they were filming a Rascal Flatts music video on the back lot…I didn’t see them, though. The final part of the tour was a visit to the studio museum. It had exhibits of props and costumes from past Warner Brothers productions, and a special section on the Harry Potter movies. We were given two cool mementos of our visit…a digital blue-screen photo and a traditional key to the studio. If you’ve never taken this tour, I highly recommend it. It’s WAY better than the commercialized Universal Studios tour.
So, my last day in Los Angeles was a fun one. I have to admit, I’m ready to get on the road again. Besides, it’s too hot here for my taste. I actually got a tan without even trying. By the way, there was one of those police pursuits just down the road from me last night. They had live footage on TV…an SUV going up and down the street on the rims. It finally ended like it almost always does…they got caught. I just hope I make it out of town before I encounter something like that. The last thing I need is my ride smashed up by some idiot. I’m outta here!
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