From The Back Row

A few items of note for my new legion of blog fans. The dorm room is a truly forgettable experience, albeit necessary. The first time around it was quaint, a new experience of independence (once I got rid of the roomie). Now, it's simply a dankly lit, poorly furnished minimum-security cell. There are some perks over the last time I was here, first off the laundry is just a couple doors down and best of all, it's free! You just put your clothes in and wash&dry. I may use it every day. Also, as a sign of the laziness apocalypse, there's a website I can visit to monitor which washers&dryers are free and how long is left in my load, I'll add the link below. For those who are wondering, yes the Tivo is up and running. I've chosen the Toshiba RS-TX20 from my fleet, it's the 140hr recorder with the built-in DVD burner. Also, I just got a fridge today which I'll be bringing back with me in August. Everything else, dorm-wise, seems according to Hoyle.

Academically speaking, two of my three classes this session have started. The third runs only 7 days and begins next Monday night. Intro to Sports Management seems interesting, but honestly I'll have to make it that way for myself since most of the material I probably have some experience with. Social Control of Broadcast & Cable Media (aka Communication Law) seems to have a little more meat for me since apparently the regular Comm students take another CommLaw class before this one, so I'll be behind the curve a little at the beginning.

Pictures of the new environs coming soon…

LaundryView

Getting out of Mobile provided for an interesting AM radio experience. The local host was talking illegal immigration and his callers were, um, locally colorful. One caller said "I don't want to say anything, but if you put a terrorist and a Mexican side-by-side you couldn't tell the difference." At the end of the call, the host says "You make some good points." Anyways, the panhandle of Florida is very green, lotsa trees and several interesting billboards. Made it to Orlando after about 500 miles. One interesting note about Florida's drivers: I've seen more State Troopers here than any other state so far, yet I continually get flashing headlights and horns behind me (and I'm usually going 70-75) so people can speed past me at 90+. Then, down the road, I see the same cars pulled over by the Troopers. Then, down the road further, I get more people speeding past me. Deterrence, hello?

Today we finish the journey in Coral Gables and, of course, it's raining. Only 5 major hurricanes planned for this season, buckle up!

Left Houston at about 11am CT after sleeping in again (another trend forming).  All went well out of Texas until the rains started coming about Louisiana way.  That's also right about where the weather went from hot and dry to hot and sticky.  The drive went well though, at least there was some green along the way instead of desert.  I will say that it continues to be odd how there are burnt out houses and cars scattered along the road, almost like they were placed there as some sort of decoration.  Once again, those water tower things are everywhere.  Almost every town has one, most also display in some way a football team name and how many state championships they've won (that was big in Texas).  I didn't actually go through New Orleans, I took I-12 to Hammond and caught up with 10 as it looped back up (check a map).  People tell me it's getting back to normal.  Maybe I'll schedule a stop on the way back.  Rain continued through most of Louisiana and not a few sprinkles, but torrential downpour with lightning and thunder.  Several overturned cars on the road.   Wasn't in Mississippi too long, but I went through Biloxi and it's still pretty tore up after Katrina.  The road I wanted to take to Pascagoula wasn't passable due to a bridge being out, so I doubled back.  Pascagoula was mildly interesting in that it's a major port, but not much else.  This area still has a long way to come back from hurricane season 2005.

Mobile has been an ok little town, kinda reminds me of Inglewood.

Today, Orlando or bust through a bunch of thunderstorms. 

Departed Sonora after making a wise decision and sleeping in. After a short drive of about 170 miles, taking in some of the lush south Texas countryside, I arrived in San Antonio. The freeway system in this town (and in Houston) is still coming together as these places grow. Not only is there alot of new construction, but organization is interesting as well. Let's just say that I may have gotten a little turned around in S.A. and leave it to that. I eventually found the Alamo and it was nice. Just that, nice. I took it for what it was, a shrine to the fallen. Although, you wouldn't really know it by the behavior of people there. Your garden variety tourist must think of everything as Disneyland as they let their kids climb all over everything, everyone's yelling and having a grand old time. This is a place where people died, the least you can do is show some respect for that. Also, I saw a kid steal some candy from the gift shop, bad form! Anyways, I dropped a few bucks into the DRT box and complained that they didn't have a good book with pictures and stories, coffee-table style, especially with pictures of things and areas you can't take pictures of. If there's a moneymaker anywhere it's telling people they can't take pictures of something, then selling them a book with pictures of the things they can't take pictures of – it'd be a goldmine!

Wasn't long before I pushed on to Houston. Drove around Minute Maid Park, got stuck in traffic (!) and experienced their interesting freeway system. The Hilton Americas is a nice enough property and I got all my requests, so that's something. When I pulled up, everyone getting out of cars at the valet was in black-tie, apparently I didn't get the memo (I did have black shorts on).

Today, a Sunday drive to Mobile and a trip along the Pascagoula Run.

Didn't do too well with the sleep in New Mexico for a variety of reasons (fell asleep during the Ducks game -radio feed from internet-). Left Lordsburg at around 6:15am to get an early start and discovered that NM takes speeding very seriously with the literally hundreds of signs declaring "Safety Corridors" and "Traffic Fines Doubled" and "Road Work" (where there was no work happening) and "Lights On For Safety" and so on. They're sure spending that highway money wisely on signage.

Got out of New Mexico, immediately upgraded my speed from 65 to 75 and somehow things seemed brighter. Rolled through El Paso which seems like a nice little town. Stopped at a DQ in Van Horn for lunch, which is a mistake since it wasn't very good at all for $8. Kept rolling through Tejas and stopped for gas in Ft. Stockton, another nice little town – very rustic – experienced one of those automated car washes where you pull in, sit there and the "robot" washes the car for you. Made it to Destination: Sonora at 4:07pm Central Time. Nice room here at the Comfort Inn. Sonora seems like a sleepy little town (a trend forming for Texas).

The Flickr site is updated with some Texas shots.

Tomorrow, The Alamo and Houston as Texas Tour 2006 continues…

Left San Diego at 6:42am (after getting some gas) and set out on the trek (Odometer: 54900).  Listened to XX's morning show with all the Sutcliffe sound until it fuzzed out, then switched over to the new RHCP record that I downloaded last night.  Made Yuma at 9:05am (Odometer: 55072) for some light McD's, didn't stop though.  Listened to 3 podcasts (Engadget, TWiT and TWiM).  Made Tucson for gas at 12:12pm (Odometer: 55303).  Drove around Tucson a bit before getting a tip about a sandwich place from Walt.  Stopped in to Bison Witches for the 'Tucson' (sliced turkey, bacon & bbq sauce on wheat) and a Mtn Dew to go (Odometer: 55309).  Departed Tucson switching between 96.1 FM and 1490 AM until they both fuzzed out.  Talked on the phone to a variety of people until the phone fuzzed out.  After that, just watched the rocks roll by as I trucked down the road between 70 and 80 mph.

Arrived into Lordsburg, NM at approx 4:40pm MST (Odometer: 55468).  Checked into the Holiday Inn Express, drove down Main Street (as expected with the Dairy Queen, etc.), settled into Kranberry's Family Restaurant (ranked #1 in L'burg by TripAdvisor) for some chicken fried steak and rootbeer.  Got some gas across the street (88 octane for $2.97), put some air in the tires, loaded up on Mtn Dew and am about to listen to the Ducks game on the hotel's free highspeed wireless.

Check out pictures from my trip on Flickr – the link is on the right.

Tomorrow, more New Mexico and a little Texas! 

Well, the packing did happen in the last minute, but at least it got done. TV, Tivo, two storage containers, 3 suitcases, 1 duffel bag, computer bag, soft-sided cooler and 6 pillows. You wouldn't really know it, but there is actually a ton of room left over and that's how I wanted it. Those who've seen me pack in the past know I have a tendency to bring more than what's really necessary. So here I am at -1 day with my final so cal foxbox appearance for awhile tonight at petco, should be routine. The Westin Horton Plaza is nice, but not as good as the Omni.

As per usual the packing will begin 3 days prior and 1 day before leaving for San Diego. I just looked to my left and realized that this huge living room I'm in will seem absolutely monstrous compared to my 14×16 single room in Eaton Hall. Even though I managed to score a single room without a roomie (couldn't see it with an 18-yr old freshman, just couldn't), seems oddly normal when I tell people I'll live in a dorm for three months. Upside: No electric bill, I can use all I want. Downside: Sharing a bathroom with another person (beats sharing it with 20+ in the mid-90's at McDonald Tower).
minus 3.5 days until Day 1