Author Topic: Good bye California, I can't wait to get back to New Jersey (Read 810 times)

esteban · « **on:** July 25, 2006, 07:22:21 AM »

UPDATE AUGUST 3: Being the glutton for punishment that I am, I drove all the way down the state of NJ to Wildwood Crest on Tuesday night (it's at the southern tip of NJ, I live in northern NJ). I'll be down here until Sunday. The beach here is really gorgeous and the water is clear and wonderfully cool and crisp. My daughter has grown so much in the 2 months I've been gone and keeps telling me that she wants the toys I brought from California.

UPDATE: I'm in Iowa. Or Nebraska. Who knows?

I'm leaving today for a cross-country trip (AGAIN!) from LA / Long Beach to northern New Jersey.

Instead of a minivan + entourage (including 4 cats), like last time, I'll be driving a U-haul truck and towing my car.

As long as my truck doesn't break down / AC stop working, I'll be happy.

I got a new truck with less than 20,000 miles, so I think I'm in good shape.

Only 2 cats will be accompanying me this time: Buddy and Tommy. They don't like our 4 other cats, so I don't think they're too excited about reuniting with them.

I, on the other hand, can't wait to see my daughter and wife.

I have to get back to work, but I thought it was fitting to cut-n-paste this from another forum. My apologies for the faint-hearted! And, Keranu, this one's for you!

Quote

Unfortunately, I look like a dumb-ass in the only photo I have of my most prized thing... a t-shirt

I was caught off-guard when my friend snapped this picture. It's been insanely hot these last few weeks in Southern California, and *even hotter* these past few days, precisely when I was packing up all my stuff and loading it onto a U-haul truck (I'm leaving tomorrow morning for NJ ).

Suffice it to say: it was too hot -- even for shorts! I worked the whole day sans shorts. I'm wearing the shirt because my friend was teasing me, saying he was going to donate it to the thrift store, so I told him that the only way I could keep the shirt safe from his clutches was to wear it.

Clearly, there's no way you can be taken seriously when you look like I do in the photo above.

grahf · « **Reply #1 on:** July 25, 2006, 07:50:03 AM »

Im sure youve posted it before, but why were you over in california? badass shirt btw.

Ninja Spirit · « **Reply #2 on:** July 25, 2006, 08:25:32 AM »

Be careful out there man, seriously. Just looking out for ya.

Then again, driving is a state of mind. Burn a ton of music CD's if you hadn't packed up your PC yet and you'll be good to go.

The next time I go to NJ I'll hit ya up if you're anywhere around Keasby, cause that's where my brother lives.

FM-77 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 25, 2006, 12:18:51 PM »

Man, such adventures. I also want to do things like this.

I wish you luck!

esteban · « **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2006, 08:53:30 PM »

Quote from: "grahf"

Im sure youve posted it before, but why were you over in california? badass shirt btw.

I went to CA for grad school. I ended up staying longer than I anticipated, though, and "settling down" and having a daughter...

95% of our relatives are on the east coast (5% west coast), so we are returning to NJ to be part of the majority

esteban · « **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2006, 09:01:25 PM »

Quote from: "Ninja Spirit"

Be careful out there man, seriously. Just looking out for ya.

Then again, driving is a state of mind. Burn a ton of music CD's if you hadn't packed up your PC yet and you'll be good to go.

The next time I go to NJ I'll hit ya up if you're anywhere around Keasby, cause that's where my brother lives.

Definitely tell me if you're in NJ!

Unfortunately, I have no music because the U-haul is radio-only. I know, I could have bought a little gizmo to play CD's / mp3's via an FM channel, but I didn't have time to get one of those things.

So I've had fun listening to the Christian radio stations and AM radio. I am using the term "fun" loosely here

esteban · « **Reply #6 on:** July 29, 2006, 09:27:05 PM »

Quote from: "Seldane"

Man, such adventures. I also want to do things like this.

I wish you luck!

It sounds a lot more fun than it is. I've been taking "extended stays" every now and then (i.e. Vegas, Denver, Des Moines, tomorrow Chicago), but I can't do much exploring because time is so limited....

But 99% of the time, I'm going insane due to the sheer drudgery of driving.

Today I decided to have fun by driving with the "pedal to the metal". The truck I rented has a max speed of 85-88 mph, and, unlike smaller vehicles, it takes a lot longer to accellerate, especially when going uphill. Passing other vehicles has become quite a fun game for me, because it requires strategy, luck and a healthy dose of recklessness (the speed limit is only 75 mph and 98% of the drivers abide it!!!! is unheard of in New Jersey and California)

guyjin · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2006, 02:12:05 PM »

if you drove through IA from NE, you probably came within a mile of my house in Council Bluffs.

Just thought you should know.

Bonknuts · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2006, 02:24:04 PM »

Quote

Passing other vehicles has become quite a fun game for me, because it requires strategy, luck and a healthy dose of recklessness (the speed limit is only 75 mph and 98% of the drivers abide it!!!! is unheard of in New Jersey and California)

Wow, I can totally relate to that. The game is entertaining and does pass the time.

If you pass through Arizona, remember this: the state patrol officers like to go after the leader of pack. That is, of the train of speeding cars pushing their way through slow moving traffic(i.e. riding right on their ass until they move to the slow lane) - the leader is almost always the one to get pulled over. It's like a challenge to them to pin the lead car. That why I usually ride second or third in the speed train

Keranu · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2006, 05:53:32 PM »

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but I'm glad I found this thread

. I can't view the picture you posted Steve and I really want to see this shirt! Also welcome to Chicago when you get there.

esteban · « **Reply #10 on:** August 03, 2006, 01:36:52 AM »

Quote from: "guyjin"

if you drove through IA from NE, you probably came within a mile of my house in Council Bluffs.

Just thought you should know.

On a sad note, I'd have to consult a map to see if I even drove through IA. I MUST HAVE! But everything is just a blur

. This is a sad day for my geography skills.

I think you might enjoy this: Usually I get info from AAA for cross-country trips, but this time I simply got directions via the internet (though I eventually bought a road atlas because I had no clue where the major cities were situated on my route).

esteban · « **Reply #11 on:** August 03, 2006, 01:38:51 AM »

Quote from: "Bonknuts"

Quote
Passing other vehicles has become quite a fun game for me, because it requires strategy, luck and a healthy dose of recklessness (the speed limit is only 75 mph and 98% of the drivers abide it!!!! is unheard of in New Jersey and California)

Wow, I can totally relate to that. The game is entertaining and does pass the time.

If you pass through Arizona, remember this: the state patrol officers like to go after the leader of pack. That is, of the train of speeding cars pushing their way through slow moving traffic(i.e. riding right on their ass until they move to the slow lane) - the leader is almost always the one to get pulled over. It's like a challenge to them to pin the lead car. That why I usually ride second or third in the speed train

I GOT A TICKET IN ARIZONA last time I went cross-country. Or was it Nevada? Either way, it is good to know about the "leader of the pack" getting slammed. I always wondered about this

esteban · « **Reply #12 on:** August 03, 2006, 01:40:03 AM »

Quote from: "Keranu"

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but I'm glad I found this thread . I can't view the picture you posted Steve and I really want to see this shirt! Also welcome to Chicago when you get there.

Dude, I'll send it to you. PM your email

I promised a pic of this tshirt... like... years ago? I can't believe I finally did it

Next up: another embarrassing pic of me in my Legendary Axe (or LA II?) t-shirt! Don't hold your breath, though.

NightWolve · « **Reply #13 on:** August 03, 2006, 02:04:00 AM »

You passed through Chicago already or will ? If Keranu's willing, maybe the three of us could meet up somewhere. How about it? Lemme know, but can't promise for sure. Btw, what are you using for your Internet access?

esteban · « **Reply #14 on:** August 03, 2006, 02:55:08 AM »

Quote from: "NightWolve"

You passed through Chicago already or will ? If Keranu's willing, maybe the three of us could meet up somewhere. How about it? Lemme know, but can't promise for sure. Btw, what are you using for your Internet access?

Crap, I passed through Chicago a few days ago

(I think it was on saturday or sunday). It would have been very kool to meet up with you

.

I chose all my hotels / motels based on two things: 1) do they accept cats? 2) do they have wireless internet access?

Most nights I was too tired to even turn on my laptop, however. Still, I felt better knowing that I *could* go online, even if I didn't actually do it. Even some really nasty, nasty, nasty motels offer wireless these days.

"Flying J" gas stations often have wifi hotspots as well. Pretty kool!