Early next month (probably), we're planning a gathering at our place, the first time we've really had anything organized since New Years, I think. Today, I started making a list of the things around the house that I'd really like to get done before this happens.
I'm doomed.
Actually, that's not true. For some of this stuff, it doesn't really matter *when* it gets done, and rationally, I realize that the goal of having it ALL done before the August gathering is just not going to happen in this lifetime. For some reason, though, now that I've made the list, it feels like it all has to be done NOW NOW NOW.
I think, realistically, the cleaning-related stuff for the public areas will be done before August, but some of the rest of it really won't. My friends are not going to care whether my closets are well organized, for example, nor are they really going to give a shit about whether our CD changer is finally finished being loaded, or where the bed is in our bedroom.
I wonder if part of the reason that I just haven't been interested in writing lately is due to all the chaos in my living space. I keep telling myself that maintenance would be ever so much easier than having to do a major cleaning every six months, and I always make such plans about how this weekend, I'll start making an effort at that, rather than just letting things go. I'm getting better about it, but still... Anyway. Cluttered living space = cluttered mind, perhaps. I do know that there's stuff inside me, but it seems pretty directionless right now.
It's really bad when the list of things is so long that you get all glassy-eyed when looking at it, and just feel completely overwhelmed and don't know where to start.
However, I've already got one thing on that list finished, and managed to do it in less than an hour after I got home from work, so...I know it's possible! I just have to keep focused on the smaller goals on the list, rather than on the whole thing.
Someday, maybe, I'll master that technique.
I know I said I'd try to post while I was gone, but it turned out to be more difficult than I thought while I was on the way there, and while I was there...I just didn't have the time. So, anyway, I bring you the first segment in notes from the road--I'll have another one or two of these to make, as well as notes on vacation proper.
Highlights: Victoria BC, Pike Place Market, and the symphony conducted by Howard Shore.
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7/10/04
8:30pm
Gold Beach, Oregon
So, I'm having to make this entry on a later date because I'm staying at a Motel 6 in Oregon that has no high speed access. The only way I could've gotten access at all would've been to go up to Coos Bay, which is another 100+ miles, and after leaving the house at 8:30am (got up at 6!) and driving around 460 miles...yeah. It was time to stop.
An early start this morning, especially after the (fucking awesome) concert last night, but it was nice to leave early. Part of why I got up early was because I wanted to avoid traffic on 880, and it turned out to work.
Before I get too carried away, I should mention, for those who've been following the Sirius radio drama, IT WORKS! Brett exchanged the antenna for me last night, and apparently they didn't even really check it very well. It's my fault the thing was broken in the first place, and...anyway. I got the antenna mounted and the car kit taken care of this morning, and it's alive. Woot.
Also. Sirius fucking RULES. 80s channel, hair band channel, classic rock, weather, comedy, traffic, sports...you name it, I can get it. It turns into a 'name that 80s/classic rock/hair band tune' kind of game, since I don't want to look at the display too much while I'm driving. Yeah. Love it. Seriously love it. I should've gotten it ages ago.
Random notes:
- Prince is DIIRRTY. Yeah, okay, I know that's a big 'duh' moment, but I actually listened to the lyrics of The Look today, and wow. 'Your body's slammin, let's get to jammin.' Yeeeah.
- 880 / 580 / 101 is THE way to go. I passed by the exit leading to the Novato Faire about an hour and 15 minutes after I left. Not bad at all.
- Gas in Novato is expensive. 2.35 a gallon, compared to 2.16 a gallon at home.
- There was an Amber Alert while I was on my way up that was displayed on one of those flashy signs on the side of the road. Handy things, those--it gave the color, make, model, and license plate of the car.
- Oh, hey. For my co-workers, one of the trucks that I passed by today was for Consani Racing. I think Jole may get a kick out of that. :)
- There are a whole lot of old people in Healdsburg, I found. I stopped at McDonalds there to pee at one point and the place was full of senior citizens.
- It's too bad that I don't like wine, there are vineyards all over the place down there. I almost wish I'd had time to stop.
- The traffic got really light after Healdsberg, not quite like driving through Nevada on 80 west, but still pretty light. After Willets (further north of Ukiah, mentioned below), it got light like it is in Nevada. It's also really weird to be driving on 101 when it's a 2 lane road, as opposed to the 8-10 lane freeway it is in the bay area.
- I stopped briefly in Ukiah to get a soda, and saw the following on a bumper sticker:
"Save a mouse, eat a pussy!"
I sat there for about five minutes just cackling so hard I couldn't drive.
[Ugh. The room upstairs just became occupied, and it's like being at home, there are elephants upstairs.]
- Sherrie Austin (a country singer) is an evil, evil woman. Go look up the lyrics to the song called Streets of Heaven, and you'll see what I mean. It made me think of Moonie and Sophie. Sniffle.
- Stopped for gas in Fortuna; I was only at 3/4 of a tank, but I figured that I probably better stop. I got 370 miles on that tank--and put only 13 gallons in. That's freaking awesome.
- Hit Oregon about 6:00. Brookings is the first town that you pass through, and immediately after that, there's a rest stop. I'm thinking that all the rest areas in Oregon are going to be a whole lot nicer than the ones in California.
Eventually, I'll make a post here about the Avenue of Giants, which I passed through on my way north. It's...amazing, though, and there's no way that I can even put it into words. The pictures I have don't do it justice, but I hope they'll be able to convey at least some of the beauty, and maybe some of the awe that I felt just being there.
Hmmm.
Do I want to deal with customs, even though I don't have a passport? Even though the website says that ID and birth certificate should be fine? Because taking the Victoria Express from Port Angeles (though, holy crap, a 3 hour drive from Mom's place, maybe not) or the Victoria Clipper from Seattle to Victoria BC to see things like Butchart Gardens (where I really want to take Clay, because I bet the pictures he'd take would be stunning!) and the Royal British Columbia Museum...that sounds like it might be a whole lot of fun, too.
I'm arriving on Monday night, and trying to figure out what to do for Tuesday and Wednesday because we're doing the whale watch thing on Thursday...
Hmmmm. :)
I mentioned this before, somewhere, but I can't remember where--I asked Brett to take me to Monterey on Saturday the 3rd, so that we could spend some time together, and I could see the latest in Windstone designs. We have far too many already, but that didn't stop us.
Friday night, Matt came down, and there was much fun to be had at dinner. He stayed overnight and went to Monterey with us the following day. He'd never been to the aquarium, which we also wanted to see, because they've got a new exhibit out there--all sharks, all the time.
Mistake #1: "Oh wow, these convenience fees are killer. Let's just wait and buy tickets when we get there." Never, never again will I say that, for reasons which will become apparent.
Mistake #2: Going to Monterey *at all* over the 4th of July weekend. When we
finally got there, there was no parking to be found near Cannery Row or the aquarium, so we had to park downtown, deal with the Great Race foo, and take the trolley to where we wanted to go.
Ah yes, the trolley.
Imagine, if you will, one of those cute little trolley-bus things, that's probably ideal for seating maybe 20-30 people. Imagine, next, said trolley with every seat full, and another 15 people (including us, me first, after dealing with the family who thought that, even though they'd got there last, they were entitled to get on first) climbing on.
It's already a cool day out, perhaps maybe 65 degrees. Yet the AC on said cute little trolley is on full blast, and it's like standing in the middle of an arctic wind.
Let's not forget the little anklebiters everywhere, with no care as to where their hands go, and no care who or what they kick, elbow, or otherwise run into.
And the trolley driver who kept stopping at every stop, in spite of the fact that there are now probably 50 people on his trolley, and we are packed in like sardines.
Oh, and the idiots who SEE the trolley is full, but still try to force their way on in the first place... without waiting for the people who actually wanted to get OFF the damn thing.
Oh yes. So much hate.
We finally got off at Cannery Row and walked from there to the aquarium. We got to the place almost before the trolley did, and all agreed that the trolley was NOT the way to get back to the parking garage.
There was still more rage at the aquarium, and this is where the 'let's just buy tickets there' part comes in. Had we purchased tickets online, we could've picked them up at will call.
Hey, will call, says Matt, why not see if we can call in an order? No dice, though--only advance purchases are allowed via phone, which basically prevents people from doing what we wanted to do. We got there, saw the line and were horrified, and tried to call. Seems kind of silly to me, but whatever.
Yet again, there were children with all kinds of personal space issues, which turned out to be quite annoying. Especially when the matriarch of the family behind us got all pissy. Sadly, she never got overtly pissy, otherwise I would've told her to keep a better hold on her rugrats. Ugh. Kids. So cute when they're young, well-behaved, and belong to someone else. :)
Anyhow. The aquarium was cool. I got some great pictures of some of the jellies, and some not-so-great pictures of the sharks and the sea otters. It's harder to get those, because they're always moving. Arg. I managed okay, though, I think. I'll post those at some point.
After the aquarium was Bubba Gump's--we put our names in and were told to anticipate a 70-75 minute wait. The guy at the counter said, "That's nothing, if you were here next weekend, it'd be 3-4 hours." Buh. So, we shopped a bit while waiting for food, had an excellent dinner where, once again, we ate too much, then we grabbed a cab and went home.
Not a bad day, all things considered, the trolley of hate aside.
Next time, if we ever go on a holiday weekend again (unlikely!), we'll remember to buy tickets beforehand...and to get there early if we want to park at Cannery Row.
WOO! I am now even more official than I was--I got my business license in the mail today! (Insert Snoopy dance of joy here.)
AND I've made my first sale, my mom is going to buy the necklace/bracelet/earring set I made with the dark green swarovski cubes and little flowery spacers. I'll take pictures, it's very nice.
AND next week, I'm going to talk to the ladies at Java, because they want to put in an order for their kids/grandkids after I showed them one of the other bracelets I've made.
AND I made reservations for that whale watch today, my mom and I are going on Thursday the 15th. I'll have lots of pictures of that, too.
AND I heard back from Paula which, if you read my other blog, I was concerned about. Yeah, silly me, I know.
AND...
Wow.
Life is so good. So incredibly good.
Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes.
Also, I have the best friends ever, you are all awesome, and I am so blessed and thankful for each and every one of you. You're the best.
Now, if only I could find that fresh roll of tape I bought last night. I swear to god, I had it, but it's gone. I don't know where it is. It's just...gone.
[Edit: I found the tape. It was in the garbage. Go figure.]