Saturday, August 11, 2007
Questions answered
Now that I think about it...
this is very similar to the feeling I had applying to all these school districts to begin with. We spent forever in a day looking for places to live and felt exhausted with no promises by the end of the day. Except that applying for jobs was dragged out over months before I started to feel anxious; when applying for housing I was anxious before I started. I think I'm only anxious because everything I own is in a parking garage, protected by one lock and shatter-resistant glass (which is good for when rocks get kicked up off the road, but might insure protection against karate chop action!)
So, we've found quite a few awesome places and I wished I had all those options to choose from, but I'll settle for something that has air-conditioning (not coming out of a dashboard). For tomorrow it will be more calls, and more stalking up to people's windows. But I thought I'd let you know that I was nervous and anxious so that you didn't have to be! And Dad is also taking on the responsibilities of nagging and giving bad directions while I drive, so you don't have to do that either!
Good day though:
-we found Guinness and an Irish Pub.
-we took lame tourist pictures (wonder how long it will take me to hate people like that)
-we couldn't find Starbucks, until we had coffee somewhere else...then turned around and found 3 of them across the street!
-did I mention that I get to share a king-size bed with my Dad?
Goodnight!
So, we've found quite a few awesome places and I wished I had all those options to choose from, but I'll settle for something that has air-conditioning (not coming out of a dashboard). For tomorrow it will be more calls, and more stalking up to people's windows. But I thought I'd let you know that I was nervous and anxious so that you didn't have to be! And Dad is also taking on the responsibilities of nagging and giving bad directions while I drive, so you don't have to do that either!
Good day though:
-we found Guinness and an Irish Pub.
-we took lame tourist pictures (wonder how long it will take me to hate people like that)
-we couldn't find Starbucks, until we had coffee somewhere else...then turned around and found 3 of them across the street!
-did I mention that I get to share a king-size bed with my Dad?
Goodnight!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Guess who's coming for dinner...
I'm A Geek
Just a few statistics about our trip to D.C.
Total Miles: 2,801
Total Driving Time: 45:45
Total Gallons of Gas: 103.7
Average MPG: 27.01
Average MPH: 62.24
Getting to D.C.: Priceless!
Total Miles: 2,801
Total Driving Time: 45:45
Total Gallons of Gas: 103.7
Average MPG: 27.01
Average MPH: 62.24
Getting to D.C.: Priceless!
No, I'm FROM Washington... Forget it; I'm from the NW!
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Day 5: Frederick, MD to Washington, D.C.
So, now the real fun begins - following all the detailed Google Maps directions to our hotel!
I-70 to I-270 to the George Washington Parkway to I-395 (via the Pentagon parking lot – or at least that’s the way we went) back across the Potomac into downtown D.C. (where you are more than a little distracted by driving by the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial (can you say “compensating”?) and the U.S. Capitol off in the distance) and then onto I-295 (for about 15 seconds) to the “S. Capitol St.” exit.
Amazingly we drove straight to our hotel (assuming the Pentagon parking lot is really part of the route) and were checked into our room by 11:15 PM. We have a very nice view of the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument right out our window. Suh-weet!
Now if we can find Jake a place to live tomorrow, I’ll be able to relax . . .
I-70 to I-270 to the George Washington Parkway to I-395 (via the Pentagon parking lot – or at least that’s the way we went) back across the Potomac into downtown D.C. (where you are more than a little distracted by driving by the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial (can you say “compensating”?) and the U.S. Capitol off in the distance) and then onto I-295 (for about 15 seconds) to the “S. Capitol St.” exit.
Amazingly we drove straight to our hotel (assuming the Pentagon parking lot is really part of the route) and were checked into our room by 11:15 PM. We have a very nice view of the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument right out our window. Suh-weet!
Now if we can find Jake a place to live tomorrow, I’ll be able to relax . . .
Day 5: Some Travel Plaza in Pennsylvania to Frederick, MD
We’re about 50 miles away from D.C. We just got off the freeway, to get Jake something to drink, in Hagerstown, Maryland, (City Motto: Our Signs Say We Have Services Right Off The Freeway But They’re Really In The Next County) but gave up after about three miles of wandering around that could have easily gotten us lost. Being the intrepid cross-country explorers we are, we managed to find our way back to the freeway, however.
Thankfully, on our way back to the freeway I was able to find a spot to, um, use “the little boys room” – by which I mean I was able to take my revenge on Hagerstown by killing a small patch of grass in a Park & Ride lot near the freeway entrance we almost couldn’t find!
Once outside Hagerstown, we climbed a hill that had a sign at the top that proudly proclaimed: “Elevation 985 feet.” Good grief. What would these people do if they had a real mountain?
A bit further south we stopped for one more Starbuck’s break in Frederick (City Motto: Our Signs Don’t Lie, Like The One’s In Hagerstown). Like a lot of people along the way, the guy at Starbucks asked about our packed-to-the-rafters CRV with Oregon plates. He was impressed with how quickly we made it here from Oregon and wished Jake good luck.
Now we’re back on the freeway with only 40 miles to go . . .
Thankfully, on our way back to the freeway I was able to find a spot to, um, use “the little boys room” – by which I mean I was able to take my revenge on Hagerstown by killing a small patch of grass in a Park & Ride lot near the freeway entrance we almost couldn’t find!
Once outside Hagerstown, we climbed a hill that had a sign at the top that proudly proclaimed: “Elevation 985 feet.” Good grief. What would these people do if they had a real mountain?
A bit further south we stopped for one more Starbuck’s break in Frederick (City Motto: Our Signs Don’t Lie, Like The One’s In Hagerstown). Like a lot of people along the way, the guy at Starbucks asked about our packed-to-the-rafters CRV with Oregon plates. He was impressed with how quickly we made it here from Oregon and wished Jake good luck.
Now we’re back on the freeway with only 40 miles to go . . .
First Interesting Thing I've Seen All Day!
Day 5: Toledo to Some Travel Plaza in Pennsylvania
We stopped for lunch and gas at some travel plaza in Ohio (State Motto: Land of the All Day Thunderstorms). Travel Plazas are apparently The Thing along Midwest toll roads. They give you the opportunity to get gas and food, with all the convenience of a rest area. And the rest rooms are generally cleaner.
The interesting thing about Ohio – today at least – is that it rained almost continuously from the time we crossed over from Indiana all the way to the Pennsylvania border. It just kept coming down. In buckets! I can’t remember seeing it rain that hard, for that long, in a long, long time. And I’m from Oregon!
Once we got into Pennsylvania (State Motto: We Have Lots Of Cities But We Won’t Let You See ‘Em), the weather improved dramatically. What was weird about Pennsylvania is that we drove through a big chunk of the state and never saw one city or town! They were there; we kept seeing signs for them, but we never saw one. Even Pittsburgh! As far as we know, it doesn’t exist. It seems that the highway system in this state is designed to avoid populated areas. Nothing but trees and an occasional building.
And about those toll roads. After a while it really does begin to add up. We’ve probably ponied up around $25 for various tolls!
About three quarters of the way across the state we stopped at yet another travel plaza to get something to eat and load up on Starbuck’s one more time. As we left, I glanced at a map and saw that D.C. is only 171 miles away. We thought it was closer to 250! Sweet!
The interesting thing about Ohio – today at least – is that it rained almost continuously from the time we crossed over from Indiana all the way to the Pennsylvania border. It just kept coming down. In buckets! I can’t remember seeing it rain that hard, for that long, in a long, long time. And I’m from Oregon!
Once we got into Pennsylvania (State Motto: We Have Lots Of Cities But We Won’t Let You See ‘Em), the weather improved dramatically. What was weird about Pennsylvania is that we drove through a big chunk of the state and never saw one city or town! They were there; we kept seeing signs for them, but we never saw one. Even Pittsburgh! As far as we know, it doesn’t exist. It seems that the highway system in this state is designed to avoid populated areas. Nothing but trees and an occasional building.
And about those toll roads. After a while it really does begin to add up. We’ve probably ponied up around $25 for various tolls!
About three quarters of the way across the state we stopped at yet another travel plaza to get something to eat and load up on Starbuck’s one more time. As we left, I glanced at a map and saw that D.C. is only 171 miles away. We thought it was closer to 250! Sweet!
Waterworld
Day 5: South Bend to Toledo
After a Guinness at Gipper’s Lounge, Jake and I went to bed about 2:00 AM. I woke up around 6:30 AM due to a raging thunderstorm that managed to cut off power for a couple of minutes. We slept until 9:30 and then finally dragged out lazy butts out of bed.
After a trip to Starbuck’s and a stop at Notre Dame University for a hole of Frisbee Golf between the football stadium and Touchdown Jesus, we finally hit the road around 11:00 AM.
Not much to report other than, when you get to this side of the U.S. it appears you pretty much have to pay for every road you drive on. $1.75 here. $2.40 there. It begins to add up after a while.
We got to the Ohio border about 1:00 PM. We’ll stop in Toledo for gas and lunch around 2:00 PM. After that we should have about 450 miles to go.
After a trip to Starbuck’s and a stop at Notre Dame University for a hole of Frisbee Golf between the football stadium and Touchdown Jesus, we finally hit the road around 11:00 AM.
Not much to report other than, when you get to this side of the U.S. it appears you pretty much have to pay for every road you drive on. $1.75 here. $2.40 there. It begins to add up after a while.
We got to the Ohio border about 1:00 PM. We’ll stop in Toledo for gas and lunch around 2:00 PM. After that we should have about 450 miles to go.
One for the Gipper...
Well we didn't win one...but we stopped in South Bend, IN for the night and we had one for the Gipper. Alright, we had a Guinness because you kinda have to when you're in the home of the Fighting Irish (but I didn't let it spoil my dinner) It was after dinner, and it is actually helping my calm down for bed. I say calm down, because I think I'm finally having that moment (yeah, the one where I go "what was I thinking?") so before I admit that I'm really having that moment, I think this might be the appropriate time to share why I'm doing this:
I have spent the last 5 years thinking about teaching, and its been a long process of thought to get where I am now. I started hanging out with high schoolers at Rogers HS volunteering with Young Life in Spokane. I noticed that these kids have a tendency to feel abandoned if you leave them (I think I remember that feeling).
Then, about the time I started thinking about teaching kids (so that I could hang out with them more), I got an email from a friend about schools in NYC that were having trouble keeping the good teachers in the city schools because at the first chance they would take jobs out in the burbs because they are "nicer" kids or "family friendly" neighborhoods. A few months later, a guy came to our church and talked about a completely contrary ideal: how he had moved his whole family INTO Chicago and became involved in the culture and community to make his ministry effective.
I heard all this, and then began thinking about my life as a single male from Bend, OR...I had learned so much about being culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate...but what had I experienced outside of my own understanding. I felt like God was saying: "I'm trying to send people...but they keep leaving. I have only a few who are willing or able, now who am I going to send?" Actually, I'm pretty sure God doesn't ask questions like that...because He knew I was going to do it anyways (don't worry...my dad and I will expostulate free will tomorrow!). But the fact remains, that I have a few skills and God likes people with skills. Ok I'm being a little ridiculous (but that is because its 2 AM here and I can't figure out what time zone I should be getting used to!) but I do have a few skills, and the blessing of being single and childless (sorry Grandma...I mean Mom!) and I think this could be a great way to serve as a teacher and invest in kids. I am not trying to save the day, or start a Jesus Camp in the ghetto, or even make myself out to be doing something no one else would (because actually, I applied for so many jobs in other big cities that other people are going to do better and with more experience). I am just going to teach some junior highers math...and kids are more interested in getting digits than adding digits (think about it).
Alright, now that I've reminded myself (and told some of you who didn't get bored and stop reading) I think I'll be able to avoid having "that" moment. In other news: a yogurt truck wrecked on I-80 (Nebraska) this morning causing serious boredom and picture taking along an unscheduled detour route; no news is good news in Iowa; the detour caused us to miss the White Sox game and drive straight thru Illinois; I'm finally in the right time zone...so I think its time for sleep even though I don't know how I drove EAST from Bend, OR...and wound up in SOUTH Bend, IN. Maybe sleep will cure me!
I have spent the last 5 years thinking about teaching, and its been a long process of thought to get where I am now. I started hanging out with high schoolers at Rogers HS volunteering with Young Life in Spokane. I noticed that these kids have a tendency to feel abandoned if you leave them (I think I remember that feeling).
Then, about the time I started thinking about teaching kids (so that I could hang out with them more), I got an email from a friend about schools in NYC that were having trouble keeping the good teachers in the city schools because at the first chance they would take jobs out in the burbs because they are "nicer" kids or "family friendly" neighborhoods. A few months later, a guy came to our church and talked about a completely contrary ideal: how he had moved his whole family INTO Chicago and became involved in the culture and community to make his ministry effective.
I heard all this, and then began thinking about my life as a single male from Bend, OR...I had learned so much about being culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate...but what had I experienced outside of my own understanding. I felt like God was saying: "I'm trying to send people...but they keep leaving. I have only a few who are willing or able, now who am I going to send?" Actually, I'm pretty sure God doesn't ask questions like that...because He knew I was going to do it anyways (don't worry...my dad and I will expostulate free will tomorrow!). But the fact remains, that I have a few skills and God likes people with skills. Ok I'm being a little ridiculous (but that is because its 2 AM here and I can't figure out what time zone I should be getting used to!) but I do have a few skills, and the blessing of being single and childless (sorry Grandma...I mean Mom!) and I think this could be a great way to serve as a teacher and invest in kids. I am not trying to save the day, or start a Jesus Camp in the ghetto, or even make myself out to be doing something no one else would (because actually, I applied for so many jobs in other big cities that other people are going to do better and with more experience). I am just going to teach some junior highers math...and kids are more interested in getting digits than adding digits (think about it).
Alright, now that I've reminded myself (and told some of you who didn't get bored and stop reading) I think I'll be able to avoid having "that" moment. In other news: a yogurt truck wrecked on I-80 (Nebraska) this morning causing serious boredom and picture taking along an unscheduled detour route; no news is good news in Iowa; the detour caused us to miss the White Sox game and drive straight thru Illinois; I'm finally in the right time zone...so I think its time for sleep even though I don't know how I drove EAST from Bend, OR...and wound up in SOUTH Bend, IN. Maybe sleep will cure me!
Day 4: The Amanas Rest Stop to South Bend
It was about my turn to drive, since ever other attempt today had left me feeling drowsy and Jake and I had to switch earlier than we should have. But after my aforementioned nap, I was ready to go and drove for the next 6 hours or so – almost 400 miles straight (Except for a stop for gas somewhere in Illinois (State Motto: If We’ve Got Nothin’ Else, We’ve Got Freeways, Baby!)
Not much to report here except two things . . .
1. Right in the middle of the freeway (or just above it, to be more correct) there is something called the Lincoln Oasis. This is a spot where you can literally take an exit ramp off the freeway to a food court that hangs over the I-80 freeway. When you’re done with your meal, get on the entrance ramp and get right back on the freeway.
2. Once you’re in Indiana, don’t expect an exit any time soon. They seem to have spaced those puppies out every ten miles or so. I guess the don’t want us foreigners messing up there stuff.
We got into South Bend (home of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish) about 11:00 PM. Let me just say, that ordering and eating pizza at midnight is no longer my idea of a good time.
About 13 hours, 729 miles and four states today. Tomorrow it’s on to D.C.
Not much to report here except two things . . .
1. Right in the middle of the freeway (or just above it, to be more correct) there is something called the Lincoln Oasis. This is a spot where you can literally take an exit ramp off the freeway to a food court that hangs over the I-80 freeway. When you’re done with your meal, get on the entrance ramp and get right back on the freeway.
2. Once you’re in Indiana, don’t expect an exit any time soon. They seem to have spaced those puppies out every ten miles or so. I guess the don’t want us foreigners messing up there stuff.
We got into South Bend (home of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish) about 11:00 PM. Let me just say, that ordering and eating pizza at midnight is no longer my idea of a good time.
About 13 hours, 729 miles and four states today. Tomorrow it’s on to D.C.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Day 4: Omaha to The Amanas Rest Stop
As we ate lunch while we drove (something I apparently did not learn my lesson about after yesterday’s Taco Bell fiasco) we headed back onto I-80 and headed over the river to Iowa (State Motto: Land of Rolling Hills and Ubiquitous Corn Fields).
We stopped at rest area which advertised a “Free Wireless Hotspot.” That was true in the sense that there was a network to connect to but if you actually wanted to get on the internet – forget it. We gave up and moved on. Jake was driving and I was, uh, napping, as the picture below so painfully points out.
Once I woke up, we stopped at another rest area that had an informative historical marker about the Amana communities in southeastern Iowa. BUT the most significant thing to happen during this brief stop is that we managed to tie on this hole of our ongoing Frisbee Golf Tournament. I’m not sure who is leading, but I suspect it is not me.
We stopped at rest area which advertised a “Free Wireless Hotspot.” That was true in the sense that there was a network to connect to but if you actually wanted to get on the internet – forget it. We gave up and moved on. Jake was driving and I was, uh, napping, as the picture below so painfully points out.
Once I woke up, we stopped at another rest area that had an informative historical marker about the Amana communities in southeastern Iowa. BUT the most significant thing to happen during this brief stop is that we managed to tie on this hole of our ongoing Frisbee Golf Tournament. I’m not sure who is leading, but I suspect it is not me.
Day 4: Almost Gretna to Omaha
As we were driving through Omaha, Jake noticed a sign for Rosenblatt Stadium, so we pulled off I-80 and there it was! The site of Oregon State’s back-to-back NCAA World Series wins! It’s a great facility and we got a few pictures while we were there. Plus we played another hole of Frisbee Golf. (The outcome is sealed and cannot be revealed without the express written consent of Major League Baseball.)
We also grabbed hamburgers for the road from nearby Zesto’s drive in. Home of the “Best Cheeseburgers in Town.” We think they may not have been telling the truth.
And now, on to Iowa . . .
We also grabbed hamburgers for the road from nearby Zesto’s drive in. Home of the “Best Cheeseburgers in Town.” We think they may not have been telling the truth.
And now, on to Iowa . . .
Day 4: Ashland to Almost Gretna
Let us join the play by play of today’s game, already in progress . . .
11:45: We’re passing yet another cornfield . . . .
11:46: Coming up on a sign that points us to the Nebraska National Guard Camp . . .
11:47: Railroad tracks on the left . . .
11:47: Willow Park Park (that can't possibly be right, can it?) on the right . . .
11:48: Crossing the Platte River . . .
11:49: Oooh! The Linoma Beach RV Park complete with an almost full-sized lighthouse out front.
11:52: Breaking News: We’re now going 25 miles an hour!
11:54: More cornfields on the right.
11:55: Aww crap. Back down to a full stop.
11:57: Nice looking thistle with a few purple flowers
Noon: Back up to 15 miles per hour. Oh, wait. False alarm.
12:03: Jake tells me he’s going to get an apartment that doesn’t allow pets and get a “Beware of Dog” sign to put out front.
12:04: Elizabeth called to update us on her search for a hotel in D.C. for Jake and I to stay in while we’re there. (Which, again, should be sometime in 2013.)
12:06: Climbing a small hill. This is only significant because Nebraska is totally flat. (Parenthetical remark removed at the request of Jake Milliron.)
12:07: Passed a truck with the name Business Tech on the side. More interestingly, their slogan is (and I am NOT making this up): “Erection Specialist.”
12:09: KOA Kampground on the right. They apparently sell propane there. Just in case you need to know that.
12:10: Big honkin’ cornfields on the right AND left.
12:11: Two miles to Gretna. But they're waving us off in the opposite direction. The good news is that it appears we’re headed back to I-80.
12:15: After an hour – and an approximate 12 mile detour, we are now back on I-80 and up to our standard 75+ miles per hour.
We now return you to regular programming . . .
11:45: We’re passing yet another cornfield . . . .
11:46: Coming up on a sign that points us to the Nebraska National Guard Camp . . .
11:47: Railroad tracks on the left . . .
11:47: Willow Park Park (that can't possibly be right, can it?) on the right . . .
11:48: Crossing the Platte River . . .
11:49: Oooh! The Linoma Beach RV Park complete with an almost full-sized lighthouse out front.
11:52: Breaking News: We’re now going 25 miles an hour!
11:54: More cornfields on the right.
11:55: Aww crap. Back down to a full stop.
11:57: Nice looking thistle with a few purple flowers
Noon: Back up to 15 miles per hour. Oh, wait. False alarm.
12:03: Jake tells me he’s going to get an apartment that doesn’t allow pets and get a “Beware of Dog” sign to put out front.
12:04: Elizabeth called to update us on her search for a hotel in D.C. for Jake and I to stay in while we’re there. (Which, again, should be sometime in 2013.)
12:06: Climbing a small hill. This is only significant because Nebraska is totally flat. (Parenthetical remark removed at the request of Jake Milliron.)
12:07: Passed a truck with the name Business Tech on the side. More interestingly, their slogan is (and I am NOT making this up): “Erection Specialist.”
12:09: KOA Kampground on the right. They apparently sell propane there. Just in case you need to know that.
12:10: Big honkin’ cornfields on the right AND left.
12:11: Two miles to Gretna. But they're waving us off in the opposite direction. The good news is that it appears we’re headed back to I-80.
12:15: After an hour – and an approximate 12 mile detour, we are now back on I-80 and up to our standard 75+ miles per hour.
We now return you to regular programming . . .
Day 4: Exit 420 to Ashland
We left I-80 for our scenic detour of even more rural Nebraska around 11:15 AM. Its 11:30 and we’ve almost made it one mile to the intersection with the detour, Highway 6. At this rate we should be in D.C. by 2013.
While I have some extra time, let me just mention that there is corn everywhere in Nebraska! Any empty space of any size has been planted. Field after field after field. It is not yet as high as an elephant’s eye, however. (This informative tidbit brought to you by the Nebraska Ag Council and your local Dairy Queen.)
It’s now 11:45 and after 30 minutes we have finally made it the three miles to the town of Ashland. Only 11 more miles to Gretna, where we can get back on the freeway.
While I have some extra time, let me just mention that there is corn everywhere in Nebraska! Any empty space of any size has been planted. Field after field after field. It is not yet as high as an elephant’s eye, however. (This informative tidbit brought to you by the Nebraska Ag Council and your local Dairy Queen.)
It’s now 11:45 and after 30 minutes we have finally made it the three miles to the town of Ashland. Only 11 more miles to Gretna, where we can get back on the freeway.
Day 4: Kearney to Exit 420
We left Kearney around 9:00 AM after searching for a hidden Starbuck’s for a half hour. Thankfully we called our personal OnStar assistant (Elizabeth), who was able to track down a Starbuck’s in York – about an hour away.
From there we headed on to Lincoln, home of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (Motto: We’re Named After A Person Who Takes Husks Off Of Corn And Our Football Team Can Still Kill Your Football Team).
Shortly after Lincoln we ran into a detour on I-80. Apparently an accident involving a semi carrying yogurt (I am not making this up) has shut down the highway. Apparently it is too dangerous to drive on a substance that closely resembles snot. So, we’re stalled on our slowly moving, several mile detour, 36 miles away from Omaha, for who knows how long.
From there we headed on to Lincoln, home of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (Motto: We’re Named After A Person Who Takes Husks Off Of Corn And Our Football Team Can Still Kill Your Football Team).
Shortly after Lincoln we ran into a detour on I-80. Apparently an accident involving a semi carrying yogurt (I am not making this up) has shut down the highway. Apparently it is too dangerous to drive on a substance that closely resembles snot. So, we’re stalled on our slowly moving, several mile detour, 36 miles away from Omaha, for who knows how long.
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