Watt's Up Musings of an original geek

Just before bed yesterday I made a reservation for a room on Wednesday night in Williams, AZ just south of the Grand Canyon. This means that I’ll sadly be leaving on July 5th and heading home. Although we’ve been together the past 4 days without a break it’s been fun. It also means that I’ve got to get prepared for this next leg of my trip, and possibly hiking down into the Grand Canyon – things like backpack, hat, water, etc.

Although I have friends and relatives in the area – Mike Milley, Christine Watt, and Christy Rodgers, I’ve not phoned or visited them this trip. For that I’m sorry, but there just didn’t seem to be time.

Today we’re finishing up Stephanie’s apartment and putting the last things in her storage closet. This requires Stephanie and Justin to get up early (8 AM) so they can be at the storage closet at 9 AM. They said this would be a challenge. Ahhh youth, since I woke at 6:15 AM and tried to get back to sleep and couldn’t. For breakfast I again had Raisin Bran but now topped with Stephanie’s praline pecans from Trader Joe’s – yum! Instead of being underfoot, I played “gopher” and got things at the store some of which were for the next leg of my trip and other times it was stuff to clean her apartment. I even stopped at Goodwill and got an old backpack and wide-brimmed hat for the Grand Canyon hike in two days. During one of my trips I picked up water, chips and some pre-made sandwiches which we gobbled down while sitting at the pool after all the work was done. Then we left to go back to their apartment and the youngsters took a nap while I continued to post to my blog about the events of the trip. Since I’ll be leaving early tomorrow and driving a lot I think we’ll have a quiet time tonight to wrap up these intense 24×7 days of togetherness. They’ve been real troopers especially watching Justin and Stephanie work together and get all this work done.

After their naps we got ready for fireworks at the Sonoma county fair grounds. A few extra layers sounded like a good idea to Stephanie who suggested that Justin and I also bring extra layers. Later I’m glad we did. We caught a bus near their house to the grounds and listened to Summer of Woodstock (partially named for the Charles Schultz Peanuts character and partially for the oldies music that was played).

We got dinner from one of the food vendors, placed our blanket (actually two towels) near the stage, and ate together while remarking how bad the bands were. Then several of Stephanie’s friends joined us along with their very cute 1 1/2 year old daughter. We all munched on kettle popcorn together and talked. At about 9:30 PM we ooh’ed and ahh’ed while watching the fireworks.When it was over we bid adieu to Stephanie’s friends and found the bus lines long so we walked home and crashed.

Today was moving day for Stephanie. I woke about 8 AM and went running. I’m glad that I slept in a bit having woken in the middle of the night with a headache – less wine for me! The weather was cool and wonderful – typical California weather. Back at the apartment Stephanie was leaving to continue packing her apartment. I ate breakfast (this time Raisin Bran with peanuts – not the best combination), worked on my computer and then took a shower. Justin did the same. At about 1 PM we left for her apartment to help her. First we ate lunch, a salad with grilled chicken, sitting cross-legged on her living room. Afterward I packed, unscrewed shelf brackets and towel rods, took down shower curtain, patched wall holes, carried out boxes and loaded the cars with things for Goodwill, her storage closet, or their apartment. By 6 PM we were all exhausted, but she was almost done and her apartment was looking nearly empty unlike when we arrived. Next we drove back to their apartment to unload and get some dinner. We walked over to the AleWorks on Third, had a burger, a brew, and talked. Arriving back to the apartment we chatted, looked at photos, and then called it quits for the day.

I again woke up early, but sat and worked on my computer doing miscellaneous things until the others awoke. When I took a shower they went to the store. It felt so good after three days of not having one. When they arrived back I had my typical breakfast of Raisin Bran, but this time topped with nutty trail mix. It was good in a Califronia way.

Our adventure of the day was to go see the coast. On the way there I got to see O’Reilly where Justin previously worked. The weather was clear, but on the coast it was very very windy. On the way we stopped at a few turn-outs to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Pacific.

We planned to hike at a state park called Salt Point. When we arrived there weren’t any trail maps. So Stephanie and Justin used the next best thing, a digital photograph. This came in handy several times during the hike to figure out where we were.I’m glad I bought my walking stick with me. It helped to catch me when I stumbled across the rock outcroppings and to prop me up against the constant onslaught of that wind.

Afterwards instead of driving the coastal road, Stephanie drove the Fort Ross road over the mountain. It was a very twisty narrow road. One time we had to stop and pull off the road to let another car by. We stopped and ate a restaurant called Dawn Ranch Lodge in Guerneville. Surprisingly it was my Christmas present. Justin reminded me that he had never given me a Christmas present and had promised that if I had come out he would take me to the Oyster Bar in San Francisco. Well his debt has been repaid with a good dinner with local wine, dessert, and late harvest wine. Needless to say when we arrived home I set up my bed (aero-bed and sleeping bag in the middle of his living room) and was out for the count.

After arriving I helped carry Stephanie’s and my things into Justin’s apartment. It’s a lovely apartment, but with all the new stuff it’s getting smaller and smaller. Next we walked a bit around Santa Rosa to get some exercise and stretch my legs. The weather is warm but not uncomfortable. We stopped for brunch and then headed back to the apartment. Stephanie took a short nap while Justin and I talked about his job and technology. He also mentioned that Casey’s Mom his here from Texas, and Jackie and Ryan also from Austin are in Santa Barbara and will arrive here in a few days. Seems like a major Texas migration is taking place. After her nap Stephanie left to do more closing up of her old apartment. I sat and wrote up my trip blog while Justin cleaned up his place – primarily his bathroom. Upon her arrival back we continued to unload more things into Justin’s apartment. A quick but very tasty pasta dinner was thrown together by Justin and Stephanie. I could only watch their ballet in the kitchen – there was no space for me. After dinner we chatted some more and soon it was late. We were all tired. But the computer beckoned and I did a few more things while they headed off to bed. Then it was my turn to bunk down with my old “friend” the Aero-bed and sleeping bag. Good night all…

The night had been cooler and I awoke at 8 AM PST (6 AM CST). Somewhere along the way the timezone changed twice and I didn’t even know it. My body clock finds it hard to change. I’m still on Central Time. A pickup truck and trailer had arrived unheard next to me last night. Time to continue on my journey. Travelling north the golden hills of central California are to my left and the furtile plains to my right. Dotted with millions of citrus trees and grape vines. More canals could be seen heading where I do not know. Stock yards with thousand and thousands of cattle. I snap shots on my camera whizzing by at 75 MPH. Dunno if any of them come out though the bug slattered windows.

Stopping for caffeine, gas and bio-break I notice the weather has broken, no longer the dry high heat, but now the more pleasant cooler breezes of California. Only a few hundred more miles, only a few more hours of driving to be there and to see him.

Into the Oakland area and onto I-580 I feel I’m getting closer. The bay area fog is burning off. Every so often I see the water – the Bay. It’s late morning and it’s Saturday. The traffic is busy, and it’s a holiday, but on I continue. At the San Raphael bridge I phone, “I’ll be there in an hour” I say. I’ve just paid my $3 toll and the water is below me. Careful to watch the van in front of me I don’t see San Francisco on the left in the distance. Turning north the traffic slows and stops as it has done several times during the trip. I wait until it merges, and on I continue. Only 40 more miles. I think about the trip. The miles I’ve driven. The time I’ve spent. The new things I’ve seen. But the best of all is seeing his smiling face, getting a big hug, meeting Stephanie, and knowing that I’m here.

Waking hot, sweaty and uncomfortable, and with a crink in my neck after a few hours of fitful sleep I ate my cereal with milk I had taken with me. Then I continued on my journey at about 6 AM. I got some Cokes to keep me awake. The scenery had changed during the darkness of last night. I was now starting to drive in the high plains of sand and scrub brush. A few sporatic trees dotted the plains with hills or mesas surrounding the I-10 interstate.

I shaved, and took my pills all at 80 MPH. I had so many miles to go. I had done about 300 and had over 1500 to do. Maybe too many. I wondered if this was such a good idea, so far to go, but on I continued. I passed El Paso and remembered that Candice G, who I had worked with, grew up there. The steep craggy hills surrounded miles of flat green valley. I munched on a banana, pretzels, and crackers and drove on west to California.

The interstate passed Tucson, and Phoenix. Somewhere in that stretch I saw my gas was quite low. I started to worry. The country is so barren and wide. There are few places to stop. I kept watching my gas gauge. At the next no-name gas station I pulled off and bought $20.00 of gas using my cash. Now I could relax a bit. I was glad I had brought with me plenty of water and soda just in case. I also realized that I need to always keep my tank full – so whenever I stopped in the future I filled up regardless. I did not want to get stranded in this desolate place, this high country, this southwestern desert.

Heading through boulder strewn mountains mid-afternoon toward California I was getting tired. I stopped again at a rest stop for a coke, but did not have change and had to continue on.

It was hot out. At the next exit I stopped at a store. Stepping out of the car was like walking into a furnace. The clerk at the store matter-of-factly told me that it was 109 outside. Sheesh. I was glad to get back into my car and very glad for its excellent air conditioning. Several canals with water heading toward Los Angeles journeyed with me. Down and down from the high country I went into the coastal plan. Over six miles of downgrade with warning for trucks to test their brakes and run-outs if they failed.

Now I was in California. Its golden hills bordered the interstate. It felt and looked like California. Massive wind farms of 100 foot tall three bladed propellers came and went.

Into Los Angeles, city of highways, curving streams of cars all leaving for the Fourth of July. The traffic flowed in, out, and about, and I flowed with it. Leaving I-10 I cut across LA on the western I-210. Forty miles of tail lights, of head lights, of city and of suburb. I turned north onto I-5. Sometimes the traffic would stop, but the books on tapes helped me pass the time and the miles. Darkness had come again. I pulled off but found no where to stop. Back on again to try the next one. Still no luck at the next one. Finally I stopped at car repair place lot next to a McDonald’s. It was past midnight. I was exhausted and fell immediately to sleep. This was my push day and I had done it. Over 1000 miles and day two completed.

My life has never been one of making quick decisions. I tend to ponder over what I will do or buy or sell or whatever for long periods of time before doing it. Then I make a plan and make sure what needs to be done is done beforehand. So, for example, when making a trip I write an intinerary which includes each day, where I’ll be, what I’ll do that day, what meals I’ll need, any travelling, etc.

Well I have decided to drive to Calfornia today after work and visit my oldest son, Justin. I’ve never been to his home and he’s been there over a year now. I’ve always wanted to get there but there never seems to be either money or time to do it. Well that ended today. I chatted with Kathy yesterday in the car going to work and then Justin today in an IM session. Then I told my manager that I’m taking off tomorrow and all next week. This is a complete lark – it is an adventure.

Arriving home at about 5:30 PM I packed my car, did some laundry, got some books on tape from the library, kissed Katie goodbye, switched cars at Kathy’s work and off I went. I was on the road at 7:15 PM heading west on 290. Why it took me this long to get ready… I don’t know. It just did.

I drove until 10:15 PM when I started to get drowsy. Pulling over at a rest stop I parked in the long line of cars, trucks and more trucks. Laying the seat back I tried to sleep, but the growl of the truck engines running nearby and the rest stop lights made it hard for me. After two quite loud firecrackers and about one and a half hours of semi-sleep I left that stop and kept driving. Finally about 1 AM I again stopped at a rest stop far from the trucks and slept in the car until about 6 AM. I was still somewhere in Texas, but heading in the right direction – to California and my son.

I was driving out to buy groceries. I was about 200 feet down the road when I realized I didn’t have the checkbook. I reversed and back into the driveway while pushing the garage door opener. There in the garage was my sweetheart holding the checkbook. She had walked into the house and realized that I hadn’t taken the checkbook. So together we communicated without speaking a word. I took the checkbook, thanked her and told her I love her. And off I drove to the grocery store to do our weekly shopping. Sometimes we are of one mind.

Other than my running I’ve not been very busy outside of work. I mean I do watch TV and kill hours and hours doing it, but I’m basically brain-dead when I get home from work. So it’s mostly been work that’s been my focus. I’m enojoying my work so it’s not that I’m unhappy or stressed just busy. It seems that I’m working from about 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM or 7 PM. Upon getting home I shuffle though getting dinner and catching a bit of TV before I crash and go to bed at 10 PM. Yup, 10 PM. It seems I’m getting older and I just can’t stay up. The next day I awake at 6 AM from a typically fitful interrupted sleep and drag myself through my morning absolutions. Then I do my morning run which is something that gets me ready for the rest of the day. Right now my run is a mixed blessing because I’ve got a sore ankle and so each and every step has been an interruption from the typically quiet morning contemplation that I enjoy. So although I enjoy it I just can’t run without thinking about it. Returning from my morning run I continue my morning toiletries and finish with breakefast and packing a lunch when I head off for work. So day in and day out this has been my habit and little else happens to change it. If something does, I’ll let you know. Tootles.

My new job is quite a bit of work. I’ve been working extra hours as needed. However, each day I look forward to going to work. Although what I’ve been asked to do is not exactly my “cup of tea” I’m handling it enough to get by. This job deals with integrating and verifying a bunch of software from various world-wide groups. Although I have my doubts about handling this job well, I’m doing the best I can which is all I can ask of myself. My next task will be more to my liking and it will be more of challenge. It’s a development job or at least that’s what I think it is. I’ll keep you posted.