Aww.

I miss my Minnesota friends. You guys are the coolest-est.

Thread the needle.

This video is from a camera inside a Lotus Elise that the driver spun on Turn 10 at Watkins Glen a couple of weekends ago.
The car coming through the smoke is my friend Jonathan, in the car he shared with me at that track in May. This is what he had to say about the incident:

"...I was coming up on an Elise being tailed by an E36 M3 into turn ten. For those with short memories, turn ten is where I lost a car and gained a scar. Lotus driver must have lifted, because he pirouetted and ended up broadside blocking the only workable line through the corner. I've worked up my nerve again so I'm back to not braking for that (fourth gear) turn. I'd turned in already when I saw the E36 turn out into the gravel trap and hit the wall. I got hard on the brakes, which was quite exciting considering that I was in the middle of a high-speed corner. The car somehow didn't spin, and I scrubbed enough speed to steer through the gap (in the grass) between the inside wall and the Lotus. My instructor suggested I should buy a lottery ticket. Lotus is unscathed..."

Quick thought

I just got done watching The Sopranos series finale. And I dug it. No spoilers here - I just thought it was a very fitting, very Chase-ian ending to the show.

It's Chase's Rosebud. Perfect.

Thoughts.

A few thoughts, in list form (just like I like it):

1. I have not yet worn out my welcome at work. In fact, I'm still running into people who haven't seen me yet and are actually happy to see me back. How cool is that?

2. I am *very* far behind on my blog reading. To all of my blog friends, I promise to get caught up on your posts from the last two weeks soon. I hate it when life gets in the way of my reading.

3. I'm experimenting with various routes to and from work. I'm staying with my good friends Kate and Mark in Manhattan Beach, and commuting to Santa Monica every morning. So far, the 405 has been cursed with accidents both yesterday and today in the morning, which has made my ride in pretty long. I need to come up with the best mix of surface streets and freeway.

4. Does anyone know of someone looking for a short-term roommate or tenant? I have a potential permanent place lined up for August 1st, but need to find a place to tide me over 'til then.

Back at work.

I started back at my old job today, and it's good to be back with my old RPA friends. Not a lot has changed since I left, but there are a few little things, and it was interesting to note them all today. Here's one odd change:
This is where RPA's office is located. Before I left, it was called "Colorado Center".

I'll try to shoot more pictures of things I see that have changed.

Manhattan Beach, CA

I made it. Almost a year and a half after leaving, I'm back home in Southern California. It's good to be back.

I got into town yesterday evening, and have been mostly ignoring the computer and my trusty Sidekick 2 ever since as I catch up with my good friends Kate, Mark, and Jenna who have welcomed me back.

I'll get caught up with pictures and blog posts in the next few days. It'll be fun to write it all down.

Vacaville, CA

Vacaville... whatta cow town.

Damn. Northern California is, as my dad would say, "drier than a popcorn fart". Everything that isn't irrigated is brown and crispy.

Still making good time, and even noticed on my last fuel stop that my avg. miles per gallon has gone up to 18.2. Avg. MPH is holding fairly steady at 62.7.

Weed, CA

Finally made it to California! Making good time for my next stop, San Ramon (I think I know the way).

78 degrees and severely sunny - couldn't ask for better weather.

Listening to: Talking Heads - "Heaven" (live)
Diggin' on: Yreka, CA, Alex's favorite town in the State of Jefferson.

Cottage Grove, OR

Stunningly beautiful day in central Oregon today... sunny, with a few puffy clouts floating lazily overhead. Car says it's 61 degrees, but with the sunshine and the top down, it seems warmer.

Listening to: Talking Heads - "Mind" off the album "Fear of Music"

443 mi. to San Jose, my next stop.

Pics from Days 3 & 4

Left to right:
My cousin Peter, his kids John, Eleanor, and Alex, and yours truly.

Ellie and John rasslin'. John is on the losing end of tickle torture.

Leaving the sun-drenched paradise that is Tacoma, WA.

Just arrived in Portland, Oregon. While waiting for Susan, my friend and host to get home from work, I enjoyed watching the world go by her front porch.

Susan's brother, Peter. I didn't realize until I left Portland that I didn't get *any* pictures of Susan. Dammit.

but I did get a bunch of pictures of Pippen, Susan's sweet little Jack Russell.

Peter's cat. I forget his name (Putty?) - but this dude is *huge*. Beer bottle for scale. He's just massive. Unreal. Makes my cat Duff look downright tiny.

I forgot that you aren't allowed to pump your own gas in Oregon. This guy ran over and scolded me after I got out of my car and started running the pump myself.

Portland, OR

Made it to Portland in good time, and my late start worked out well, since my friend Susan was mired at work for the morning anyway. I'm waiting for her to get home, and was just reminded of how fascinating it is to sit on her front step and watch the world go by.

Tumwater, WA

Had a good visit with my aunt Jan and cousin Peter and his family, which included me setting up Jan's WiFi and gorging myself on her excellent baked chili.

Afterward, I went out for a couple of beers with my friend Jim (a.k.a. FnJ!), who also graciously let me crash on his fold-out couch the last two nights.

Goodbye, Sea-Tac!

Of course I got yet another late start on my way to Portland, but the weather is nice, if a bit too cool to have the top down.

Pics from Day 2

Got a late start from the HIE yesterday morning, but the weather was gorgeous.

Were my fat head not in the way, you could see mountains off on the horizon of this shot.

Jesus is Lord in this valley. Godless heathens shot on sight.

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest. Had to put the top up in Idaho, and never got enough of a break in the rain to put it back down again.

Who is Aroma?

Not much of a trap with signs all around giving the fish warning...

Something tells me Apple didn't design the iSight to be duct taped to the top of a trailer and then driven 2,000 miles through thunderstorms, bugs, and dirt.
She still works fine, but image quality goes down as the amount of dirt on the inside of the lens cover goes up.

Tacoma, WA

I made it. A few construction detours in the city, but no big deal - just about 4 hours later than I'd originally planned.

I've got lots of pictures to post from today, but right now, I'm going to bed. been a long day of drivin'.

Salmon la Sac, WA

Just stopped to help two young ladies stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and no jack. I knew there was a reason I put my spiffy aluminium racing jack in the back of the trailer. Of course, I changed the tire, too.

My good samaritan deed for the day.

Listening to: Ben Folds Five - Forever and Ever Amen

Moses Lake, WA

Had to put the top up a couple of hours ago - Washington state welcomed me with rainy arms. Weather redeemed itself though - the sun came back out just in time for a great sunset.

Should make it to Seattle in about 3 hours.

Cheney, WA

Why do I have Hoobastank on my iPod?

Ugh.

67f, cloudy (whodathunkit?)
65.1 mph avg
17.8 mpg avg
267 mi to Seattle

Post Falls, ID

Pet peeve: people who pronounce the word "escape" as "eckscape".

Bozeman, MT

68 degrees, sunny
1000 miles traveled so far
540 to seattle
ac/dc - hell's bells playing at a suitably painful volume

roadtrips are good.

I knew it.

The last few weeks, people have been asking me "so, are you excited to be going back?" and at the time, I wasn't. I had all this stuff to do to get ready to move, and not a lot of time to think about it.

Twenty minutes ago, I was listening to Chopin, and as I turned a bend in the road, I got my first look at mountains. And it hit me. Hard.

I'm going home.

Billings, MT

Got a late start this morning. Wanted to hit the road by 6:30, but overslept and didn't get in the car 'til 9.

Just passed through Billings a few minutes ago, and it's a gorgeous day - 68 degrees, big puffy clouds against a bright blue sky. The prairie has changed to rolling hills with trees, and I swear I've crossed over the Yellowstone River 8 times now.

Pics from Day 1

I look like someone just nailed me in the ass with a hot poker.

The wigglewagon is loaded up and ready to go.

Heh heh... that's what SHE said.

I do NOT want to know what they "do" to the cows.

At one point this afternoon, the rain came back and was falling at a 45 degree angle. I had to take cover under a friendly bridge deck to stop and put the top back up.

Shafts of sunlight ahead.

Stopped to put the top back down again at the MT border.

I may not have worn enough sunscreen......but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express tonight.

More pictures tomorrow. To answer Nat's question: I listened to nothing but Beastie Boys all day today. Hello Nasty, License To Ill, Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Sounds of Science.

Miles City, MT

Didn't make it to Billings. I spotted a positively delightful little Holiday Inn Express in picturesque Miles City, and just had to stop.

I like this relaxed schedule method of roadtripping. Much less stressful.

I'll be leaving the friendly confines of the HIE early tomorrow morning to catch as much sunshine as I can. Photos from today in the next post...

Beulah, ND

Making good time so far, and have had excellent weather since leaving the Minneapolis area. Just stopped for gas in Bismarck, ND and am shootin' for Billings, MT as my goal for today.

370 miles to get there, and some ominous looking storm clouds on the horizon ahead. Hmm... temp has dropped 10 deg. in the last 10 miles - not lookin' good for top-down motoring.

Fergus Falls, MN

I finally out-drove the rain, and am now enjoying the mostly sunny skies near Rothsay, Minnesota. I'm about 38 miles from Fargo, driving with the top down (woo!)