Lately, there have been a few things I’ve needed to do. I’ve needed to finalize my plans for Sacramento to see my Dad in August, the month he turns 80. I’ve needed to figure out a way to Los Angeles to see Matt, my friend who’s having health problems. I’ve needed to shit or get off the pot about attending Defcon 19 in Vegas. And I’ve needed to get the fuck out of here for a while, something akin to Vashon and Europe, in the middle of the scale between the two.
Welp, a day or so ago I figured out how to get it all done. With deep thanks to my friend Jon, his travel plans, and his little red GTI that I occasionally have access to, I now have an outline of a “vacation” of sorts. It’s a mixture of work and pleasure, and I’m seeing great friends, getting away from my normal grind, heading toward warmer weather and giving myself plenty of time to get everywhere I need to be.
My (fuckballs awesome) plans:
- Leaving Seattle the morning of Aug 2 — Stopping in Portland for lunch, then driving down the Oregon coast, and staying the night in Crescent City – Where Josh died in 2005, and putting that Ghost to rest. After that I’m planning to go through the redwood forest, swinging into Sacramento, over the mountains to Tahoe and south to Vegas.
- Arriving in Vegas by afternoon Thursday Aug 4 — Anyone staying at the Rio who can shack me up for a night? My crime partner arrives on Friday.
- Work my ass off rubbing geeks at Defcon 19 — Be there and tip generously.
- Sometime around Sunday the 7th or Monday the 8th, I’m zipping over to Los Angles to visit a handful of friends who’ve migrated from Seattle the last few years, and see my sickie friend who needs a bone marrow upgrade. I’m planning on being around most of the week. *gestures the ‘call me’ lip-synch signal*
- Friday or Saturday, I’m heading to Sacramento to see my Dad for a day or two. If anyone still lives out there, I need a couch to surf.
- California coast north, arrive back in Seattle on the 16th, in time to go back to work on Wednesday.
I’m so glad I had the thought to drive instead of trying to figure out plane tickets (and money) for all these trips I needed to do this summer. I’m actually losing about as much time driving as I would be flying around for three separate trips.
As it sinks in that I’m really gonna do this, I think about all the time I’ll have to myself. How fucking freeing and amazing it is to drive a couple thousand miles on my own with that life-affirming sunroof open, and all the awesome shit I’m going to think about while I’m doing so — I’m getting sort of a funny feeling in my guts. I like it.
[audio:http://blog.neevita.net/mp3mixs/20100702/Foals%20-%20What%20Remains.mp3]Already putting together my playlist. 🙂