We rolled into San Jose early yesterday evening, and it's absolutely beautiful here. We passed through miles of farmland coming in. Gilroy, apparently, is the garlic capital of the world.
Today one of my new roommates will be showing us around San Francisco.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Can You Smeeeeeeeell What the Strip is Cooking??!
It's Vegas, baby!
In front of the Tropicana, I was mere yards away from famous professional wrestler turned movie star Dwayne Johnson (The Rock!) where he was shooting some movie which I can't remember. My mom and I each did a shot of Patron at Dick's Last Resort. She wanted to do Jose Cuervo, but the bartender laughed at her.
"What kind of Tequila do you have?"
"Cabo Wabo, Patron and some other crappy shit."
"Do you have Jose?"
"That's the crappy shit!"
He was kind of mean, but I think that's the restaurant where they're supposed to be jerks. It's okay, though, because since I'm a super awesome college graduate now, my feelings were not hurt.
I'm more advanced now. Please enjoy the slideshow!
In front of the Tropicana, I was mere yards away from famous professional wrestler turned movie star Dwayne Johnson (The Rock!) where he was shooting some movie which I can't remember. My mom and I each did a shot of Patron at Dick's Last Resort. She wanted to do Jose Cuervo, but the bartender laughed at her.
"What kind of Tequila do you have?"
"Cabo Wabo, Patron and some other crappy shit."
"Do you have Jose?"
"That's the crappy shit!"
He was kind of mean, but I think that's the restaurant where they're supposed to be jerks. It's okay, though, because since I'm a super awesome college graduate now, my feelings were not hurt.
I'm more advanced now. Please enjoy the slideshow!
Cheating the Grand Canyon
We've still some more sight-seeing to do tonight in Vegas, so I'll let the pictures do the talking for now! Tomorrow evening I arrive in San Jose at last and meet my new roomies! Over the weekend, I'm going to do some sight-seeing in San Francisco. I'm not going to lie - this is not in the Grand Canyon National Park - it's mostly in the Little Colorado River Gorge because it apparently costs $25 to get into the park even if you're just doing a lazy "driving tour".
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Aliens Among Us
I grew up watching shows about aliens and listening to the wild tales of my Uncle Don about the government's meddlings, so a trip to the International UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico was just the ticket. $5 admission got you a trip to 1947 and beyond, through the media circus of the UFO crash in nearby Corona to the alleged government cover-up of the UFO debris and alien bodies. I know also know the differences between Close Encounters of the First, Second or Third Kind.
The drive from Amarillo to Roswell was amazingly void of life (like the vast majority of land along the US highways). This is just what I know from previous road trips, however, as I'm a brat and slept the whole four hours there while Holly drove. Hey, it was early!(Be sure to check out JustSimplyHolly.com for her pictures as well.
Roswell might have once been a tiny, kitschy town off the beaten path, but today, it is no different than Toledo. On the way to the museum we saw a Hobby Lobby, Applebee's, Chilli's, and of course, Walmart and Sam's Club. The stores here, however, were careful to add the local flavor.
The museum encouraged photography. There was a lot of READING involved however (which was fine for me since I'm a nerd) since most of the exhibits consisted of old newspaper articles and signed affidavits from witnesses and close relatives of those involved in the Roswell "incident".
Roswell had plenty of charm. It seemed like everbody wanted to get in on this alien action.
I hope this man wins. He at least wins for the best slogan: "Short. Bald. Honest."
Next, we headed off to Flagstaff, Arizona, where we will sleep before visiting the Grand Canyon. We decided to make a stop at the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park, however, and it's a good thing. It was beautiful!
Notice that I'm wearing my Sunoco hat?
We're now safely in Flagstaff, Arizona. Tomorrow morning, we will visit the Grand Canyon and then spend the afternoon and night in lovely Las Vegas. While my mom is taking the week off of blogging, she's still doing the Troy Neff show Thursday morning at 9:00am EST (that's 6am here!!). You can see the podcast or listen live at Troy Neff's website.
The drive from Amarillo to Roswell was amazingly void of life (like the vast majority of land along the US highways). This is just what I know from previous road trips, however, as I'm a brat and slept the whole four hours there while Holly drove. Hey, it was early!(Be sure to check out JustSimplyHolly.com for her pictures as well.
Roswell might have once been a tiny, kitschy town off the beaten path, but today, it is no different than Toledo. On the way to the museum we saw a Hobby Lobby, Applebee's, Chilli's, and of course, Walmart and Sam's Club. The stores here, however, were careful to add the local flavor.
The museum encouraged photography. There was a lot of READING involved however (which was fine for me since I'm a nerd) since most of the exhibits consisted of old newspaper articles and signed affidavits from witnesses and close relatives of those involved in the Roswell "incident".
Roswell had plenty of charm. It seemed like everbody wanted to get in on this alien action.
I hope this man wins. He at least wins for the best slogan: "Short. Bald. Honest."
Next, we headed off to Flagstaff, Arizona, where we will sleep before visiting the Grand Canyon. We decided to make a stop at the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park, however, and it's a good thing. It was beautiful!
Notice that I'm wearing my Sunoco hat?
We're now safely in Flagstaff, Arizona. Tomorrow morning, we will visit the Grand Canyon and then spend the afternoon and night in lovely Las Vegas. While my mom is taking the week off of blogging, she's still doing the Troy Neff show Thursday morning at 9:00am EST (that's 6am here!!). You can see the podcast or listen live at Troy Neff's website.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Way to Amarillo
We made it! We left last night at about 8:30pm EST and arrived in Amarillo at 4:00pm CST. It was an ambitiously sought 18+ hour drive, highlighted by a few neat things:
- Five minutes into the trip, nearly hitting a dog that was eating a dead racoon off the road
- Lots of giant crosses
- OMG WIND FARMS! There were vast fields of wind turbines in Texas
- Blowing the fuse that controls my horn, radio amps and cigarette lighter because I was running the GPS charger, my cell phone charger, and a power inverter with another cell phone charging in that, all at the same time. Luckily, Holly came to the rescue and knew exactly what to do.
- Free sopapillas at the cute Mexican restaurant across the street from our hotel!
- Since when do I have ALLERGIES?
We're staying here overnight and leaving first thing in the morning for Roswell, New Mexico. I hope I get to meet some aliens... or at least people that think they are aliens.
I don't have any photos for you yet, but here is a video with the song that's been stuck in my head for the entirety of this trip:
The Way to Amarillo
- Five minutes into the trip, nearly hitting a dog that was eating a dead racoon off the road
- Lots of giant crosses
- OMG WIND FARMS! There were vast fields of wind turbines in Texas
- Blowing the fuse that controls my horn, radio amps and cigarette lighter because I was running the GPS charger, my cell phone charger, and a power inverter with another cell phone charging in that, all at the same time. Luckily, Holly came to the rescue and knew exactly what to do.
- Free sopapillas at the cute Mexican restaurant across the street from our hotel!
- Since when do I have ALLERGIES?
We're staying here overnight and leaving first thing in the morning for Roswell, New Mexico. I hope I get to meet some aliens... or at least people that think they are aliens.
I don't have any photos for you yet, but here is a video with the song that's been stuck in my head for the entirety of this trip:
The Way to Amarillo
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Great Road Trip
Earlier this month, I received my degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toledo. Contributing to the supposed "Brain Drain" in Toledo, I am leaving these flatlands for sunny Santa Clara, California to work for a major corporation.
Brave enough to join me on this journey are two bloggers, my famous mom, Lisa Renee and our very good friend Holly. My mom is taking the the week off from blogging, but not to worry, I'll fill you in on all the delicious details and spectacular pictures along the way.
Below is a map of our route:
We leave late tonight, and arrive in San Jose, where I will be living, Friday afternoon.
Brave enough to join me on this journey are two bloggers, my famous mom, Lisa Renee and our very good friend Holly. My mom is taking the the week off from blogging, but not to worry, I'll fill you in on all the delicious details and spectacular pictures along the way.
Below is a map of our route:
We leave late tonight, and arrive in San Jose, where I will be living, Friday afternoon.
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