Ok, so I wasn't quite sure how to write about the journey that was my trek from Orlando to LA. So I settled on the retro-diary of my social media updates, pulling from both Facebook and Twitter. Don't worry there will be some commentary along the way as well.
Day 1: August 28 - Orlando to Fairhope, Al
"Peace out otown. Catch you on the flip side."
I really struggled to put how I felt pulling out of the driveway of 1127. It was just really weird. A number of different emotions pulled at me which pretty much just made me feel numb. I was really, truly excited. And nervous. And not wanting to leave. Literally all at the same time. I do love Orlando and hope to achieve the level of success I want in this business and be able to spend a great deal of time in Orlando. Onward. LTD has put together a 2 CD playlist for me to listen to, which I think was retribution for every mix I made her, in which I tried to make her cry- successfully of course. At some point a bug flew in my eye or something. I joke that I'm 4 turns from LA, which is fairly accurate if I was driving non-stop. Thankfully, I have some awesome places to visit along the way.
"Busta Rhymes - break ya neck #nowplaying"
If you have Sirius radio, and don't listen to Backspin, you are seriously missing out. When I was in High School, I had a Jeep Cherokee with a system in the back (2 10's - it was loud). I listened to this song a whole heck of a lot. Just ask anyone who I gave rides to. I was super gangsta. Ehhh.
"1 time change done"
Making really great time. There isn't much traffic on the road, and I am safely driving unimpeded on I-10. It is pretty weird not stopping in Pensacola, since 99.99% of the times I have been westbound on 10, that was my final destination. Not this time. Only 30 hours left in the car.
"First stop: Fairhope, Alabama"
I am able to find ST and TT's house with relative ease even though I have been warned it is very difficult. I get the tour of the house (it's really awesome) and don't know if I want to sit down or just kind of walk around for a bit. I chose to sit on the comfy couch. Not too long after my arrival we head out to dinner so ST can get back for Big Brother 80. We ended up going to a great place, the name escapes me unfortunately, but I go with fried crab claws and fries. Because I am leaving the Gulf, and that is a pretty key order there. Oh, we had fried okra for an appetizer, which was a million degrees and delicious. Back to the house, and sleep shortly followed. Long day ahead. Next stop: Austin, TX to stay with KC.
Day 2: August 29 - Fairhope to Austin, TX
"Whaddup Mississippi"
I don't really know what I was excited about here, I had barely been in the car at all. I guess any time I crossed a state border I felt that much closer.
"Well the semi that was on fire cost me some time"
Ok, so the GPS on my phone tells me to get off I-10 and onto I-12 for a short stretch. Which, I do, because it actually does appear to be more than a straight line than staying on 10 and going through New Orleans and you know, shortest distance to two points is, yup, a straight line. Well about 10-15 minutes of being on 12 I come to a dead stop. Whhhatt the heck is going on. I am barely moving for a solid hour. Not conducive to making good time. Well, traffic picks back up and I look to my right to see a semi that is carrying wood pallets, which are now black. Because they used to be on fire. The white cab is also burned a little. The trucker was out of the truck talking to cops/firemen, so obviously he was ok. So, I laughed. A semi. On FIRE. As I'm trying to drive across the country.
"Clear eyes, full hearts. Cruisin in Texas"
For those of you who watch Friday Night Lights, you get the reference. For those of you who don't, start Netflix-ing starting from Season 1(good place to start). Coach Taylor is a great motivator, and man for that matter. Oh, yeah, now I'm in Texas, which feels kinda good, but I've heard it's a big state.
"Checking out my moms birthplace: Beaumont, TX"
I didn't really check it out, but I saw the exit signs for it. And I've started to see some oil derricks. I was on the lookout for Blue Bonnets so I could pull over and take a picture for LTD, but I didn't see anything but green and brown and grey.
"2 Unlimited - Get Ready For This #nowplaying #magicspregame"
Again, Backspin coming through with legit jams. Also, if you've been to a Magic game, you've heard this song. You should look it up. Makes me think of Nick Anderson, greatest Magic(s) player of all time. Hands down. Sorta.
"Should have put sunscreen on the left side of my body #hotarm"
The sun is hot. The left side of my face, and my left arm are burning up regardless of the temperature I have the AC on.
"Listening to ZZ Top as I pass through La Grange. See what I did there?"
Do you? Do you see? Look it up.
I finally pull into Austin a little later than I had expected, but I did have a on-fire semi to deal with, which set me back enough to have to drive through Houston during rush hour. KC was having book club at her house, so I guess it was probably good that I was a little late, so that I got there as it was finishing up. She took me to a great burger place called Hopdoddy Burger Bar. I ordered the Buffalo Bill (Bison, Maytag Blue Cheese, Frank’s Hot Sauce, Apple-Smoked Bacon, Sassy Sauce), Kennebec Fries (pretty sure they were hand-cut), Thirsty Goat Amber (beer), and (I know) a Nutella and chocolate pretzel milkshake. Right about the time you were thinking, "um, that's a lot..." the cashier was thinking the same thing. I had to tell her it was a one night only visit, so I had to see what all they had to offer. Well. It was incredo-good. Aaand of course I felt like a fat hog the rest of the night. (If you haven't seen the SNL skit with Christopher Walken in which he references a fat hog, look it up. You're welcome.) Back to the house and to bed. Gotta hit the road early tomorrow for my longest stretch of the journey.
Day 3: August 30 - Austin to Scottsdale, AZ
"Hey @MikeBFree5 - see you in like 13 hrs #roadwarrior"
I was hopeful about that ETA. A very nice Texas State Trooper adjusted my thinking for me. Don't worry, it was only a warning. Mainly because I was coming off a big hill, so he told me just to be careful of my speed going down those hills and not to let it get away from me (Texas accent). Yes sir. He did wish me good luck in LA, so that was nice. Oh yeah, so was not giving me a ticket. Oh, about an hour later, I see more flashing lights, but this time in front of me, and they were yellow, and from a large truck. The road is closing. To run power lines across the interstate. Awesome. Thankfully it only takes about 20 minutes. Onward.
"Cruising west Texas wondering if I am, in fact, related to The Dalton Gang."
When driving alone, you think about a lot of stuff. I thought about this for quite some time. Anyone into genealogy?
""Prison Area: Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers". #signoni10"
This was a real sign. I'm not making it up. It kind of made me laugh. Do people pick up hitchhikers anymore anyway? Still, thanks for the heads up Texas Prison System.
"Texas, you are a big state. Hello New Mexico."
Holy. Cow. That took forever. Have you ever driven the entire length of Texas? I do not recommend it. It will take you a long time. And it's pretty boring. There is only so much sports radio you can listen to before it becomes redundant, and Sirius, while still awesome, does tend to repeat when you are in the car for three straight days. NPR did help to pass the time too, but, wow. Texas. Be smaller.
"Anyone know any good jokes?"
I am struggling. My butt hurts.
"LL Cool J - Going back to Cali #nowplaying"
Backspin with another gem. I mean, these guys are really on their game. And clearly, it was appropriate.
"So what if I just ate Hostess cupcakes?"
I have no idea why, but the thing was just calling to me from the shelf. It was sorta delicious. Like, not really, but, it still kinda was. Ya know?
"Flux capacitor is fully functional. Just time traveled"
I felt a little bit like an idiot for not knowing that Arizona was in Pacific time. Doesn't it make sense that it would be Mountain time? I think they were just messing with me.
"Story time with @MikeBFree5 - ish is getting interesting"
I had finally arrived in Scottsdale at 8:30p Pacific time. I left Austin at 7:30a Central. Yeah, thats a lot of driving. I was mad at myself for the number of stops I made, but I kept drinking water mostly because I was bored and so I had to make more stops than the gas/food/bathroom combo stops I had planned. Anyway, MF and his baseball roommates and I went to a brewery in Tempe where we had some really good beer (could just be that I drove forever, but, for real, it was good). I had a Tenderloin sandwich which was also quite good. I can't remember what all was on it, but it was pretty legit. Back at their place, we watched a little "Sons of Anarchy", which if you didn't know, is a really good show on FX. But, it can be a bit much. Anyway, MF graciously let me take his bed. I fell asleep in about 3 nano-seconds.
Day 4: August 31 - Scottsdale to Los Angeles, CA
"Good stay with @MikeBFree5 in Scottsdale. On to LA. #lastleg #roadwarrior"
This was by far the shortest leg of the trip, but it was still brutal. Only about 5 hours, but man, my body was actually sore from all the driving. I kept having to switch positions, but nothing was really working. Really just trying to fight and grind it out.
Ok, so there weren't anymore updates from the actual road, in part due to the fact that I was really tired and also in part because there was a time when I thought I was going to run out of gas, which would have been like the worst thing ever. I made it to a station with 30 miles to empty. It was pretty great, because it didn't show up when I searched for "Gas Stations" on AroundMe(iPhone app). The closest one that did show up, coming in at 42 miles away(at that point I had like 50 miles to empty, so I was probably good, but, still.)
I pull up to my place, well, first I drive up Beachwood, which as you drive up, you are literally looking at the Hollywood sign. I knew this prior, but it was still cool. Anyway, so I pull up to my house (after passing it), park, and go ring the doorbell. I exchange pleasantries with my roommate whom I've never met. I have spoken to him a number of times on the phone, and we share a mutual friend, but it was still a little weird. He gives me the tour, then I unpack. He has acting class that night, so I accept an offer to go to dinner with my landlord (87 year-old man), his wife, and his son who is visiting. It was really quite nice. They are all lovely people. And he gave me a cushion/pad/mattress to sleep on since I don't have any furniture yet, namely a bed. I actually have an Aero-bed, but I would feel bad turning him down(I actually did, but he didn't get it, so I accepted it).
These are some tweets/status updates after I arrived:
"First act of biz in LA...buy a bed. It's gunna be trendy and organic. #soLA"
I actually think it is organic, which is pretty funny. It's getting delivered tomorrow (Tuesday the 6th) meaning I've slept on this pad for 6 nights.
"Not one thing about skinny jeans makes sense to me. Is there any way they are comfortable? #soLA"
I think this one really speaks for itself. I mean, how can they be comfortable?
"Go Gata, from Cali. Weird."
A fraternity brother of mine told me where a Gator bar was, so I went there to watch the opener with some fellow Gators. I didn't speak to any, but it was still fun.
I could really go on for a while about some of my experiences to this point, but this post is already plenty long, and I'm sure there will be another one coming with more of what LA has to offer.
Thanks for riding along with me. Till next time...
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