Preparations for a Roadtrip/Homecoming
 

A couple of weeks ago, I vaguely mentioned that I might be buying a car.

The car in question is a 1994 Pontiac Sunbird with 108K miles. My brother knows the owners of said car, and it is apparently a very nice car. The owners bought a new van this winter, and so the Sunbird is no longer needed. Apparently it only needs a water pump, though I sent my brother to do further investigation (he works on cars on the side).

Apparently, it's good to go. So, the plan is to head out to St. Louis next month to pick it up and drive it back to Philadelphia.

Of course, this means road trip. I'm not going to fly (not b/c I'm scared, but quite frankly, I don't feel like going through all the security b.s.) Because renting a car is going to be about the same as buying a one-way ticket to St. Louis, that is the main game plan.

And I can't wait. Me and the open road. I haven't been on a real road trip since Rho and I went to Coney Island last summer. This is going to rock the fuck out, quite frankly.

I'm thinking of taking the long way home. So, I'll probably head up the NE Extension of the PA Tpk., then take I-80. I'll stop overnight in Cleveland, then head onto Chicago before heading south to St. Louis. Or, I'll take the PA Tpk. towards Pittsburgh, then swing up to I-80. Or, just take I-76 all the way to Youngstown, OH, then hit I-80. I'll have to look at my budget, and plan accordingly.

Then, I'll spend a few days in St. Louis with the 'rents and my peeps. I need to hit my favorite restaurants and all that fun stuff. Then, the shortest way back to Philadelphia with my new car. This all has to be done in the span of 10 or 11 days.

So, the only real problem is...when? The car probably won't be good to go for another couple of weeks, and my current job assignment is scheduled to last another month or so. (And I figure that's the best time to go--in between jobs. That way, when I come back, if my agency has nothing for me, I can just pop open that unemployment claim I have...therefore, still having income.) So, it's looking like maybe mid-April or so.

I'll take lots of pictures, and post them to Sycamoreland when I get back. If there's anything you all would like a picture of, kindly submit the request here, and I'll see what I can do. :)

I'm thinking of a second route for my trip...maybe. Southern-style.

This would involve heading south towards Baltimore and Washington, then west along I-66, then south towards Knoxville, then I-40 west to Nashville, I-24 west to Paducah, old-school short cuts to Cape Girardeau, then north to St. Louis.

The only problem with this is that I really want to stop in Chicago. I haven't been there in 4 years, and I miss it terribly. :(

I could always hit Chicago after Nashville (via I-65), which would take me through Indianapolis, but Indiana is boring...I've covered a good chunk of that state already. Not to mention, that would take up an extra day, and we definitely have to watch the funds here.

Then there is my possible addition to the first route. A swing up to Detroit and into Windsor, Ontario. I've never been to Canada, and that wouldn't be going out of my way too terribly much. But I don't know if I'll be able to take the rental car into Canada (my guess is no), plus I doubt that my own car insurance would cover me there.

The total mileage is going to be in the neighborhood (if I go the north route minus Detroit) of 1200 or so miles. The rental car company may stick a mileage limit on me, though if I'm taking the car cross-country, that may not apply. We'll see.

This is really exciting stuff here, folks! I haven't done a road trip like this since...well, since I packed up the U-Haul and moved to DC 3 years ago. So, since I don't do this very often, I want to make sure I enjoy the drive and have fun. Maybe I can catch up with some of my old friends in Chicago (though I haven't talked to them in like 2 or 3 years).

Now I just have to make a list of all my favorite eating places in St. Louis that I have to visit, since we don't have them in Philadelphia. :)

Well, the primary reason of my road trip has now slipped away--as I mentioned in another thread, the car I was going to buy has a blown head gasket. And this sort of thing is EXACTLY why I had my folks take it to their mechanic for a serious once-over before sending my $700 to buy it.

Needless to say, I am incredibly disappointed. I was so looking forward to this, as I haven't owned my own car in over 3 years. But I'll own a car again...sooner or later. Preferably sooner.

So, the real question now is, should I still go home?

Finances aren't an issue. Rho and I are doing good at the moment, and the 'rents have already offered to chip in half on a car rental (about $260 for the week). Plus, I won't have to fork out $1000 plus for the car, inspections, registration, blah blah blah.

Rho will be alright while I'm gone...I can have a couple of friends check up on her to make sure she's doing okay.

And the timing couldn't be more perfect. My assignment at Pep Boys ends April 18th, and if there's nothing available when I get back, I get a ride on the Unemployment Compensation Express. Whoohoo!

Okay, I talked myself into it. Not like I needed to though...I haven't been home in 2 years, so I think it's time.

Among my objectives for this trip:

--Seeing places I've never seen before (Pittsburgh, Cleveland)
--Catching up with old friends in Chicago and St. Louis
--Securing enough photographs for new exhibits in the Sombra Gallery
--Eating a lot, but not gaining a lot of weight

It's serious planning time, kiddos!

Since I will be bringing a car home with me after all, I had to make some adjustments to the road trip.

I looked into renting a car one-way from Philadelphia to St. Louis...too much at $440 for 3 days.

Then I looked at Amtrak...30 hours, including a 6-hour layover in Chicago. And no smoking on the train (though that may not apply to Superliner trips). The cost was reasonable--$180, but had I added a bed for the night, the cost would have went up to $300.

So, I *gulp* decided to try my luck with a one-way flight. After checking out various sites, flying out of Philadelphia was out of the question--the best I could get was $250, on two different airlines, with a stopover on each flight, 10 total hours in the air. No thanks.

Then I looked at JFK and LaGuardia in New York. Not bad...$170 for a nonstop flight to St. Louis, add $50 for a train from Trenton, NJ to Penn Station, and a shuttle from there to JFK.

But Southwest came through like a trooper. Refundable anytime flight, nonstop from Baltimore to St. Louis, $169 including tax. Add $45 for the train trip from Philadelphia to Baltimore, and it's still a good deal. It makes the flight a half-hour shorter, and I know BWI well...plus my father-in-law is picking me up from the train station, letting me stay overnight at the in-laws' house, and taking me to the airport Saturday morning. A good deal all around. Don't have to get up at the butt crack of dawn on Saturday to go to NYC, and I can handle a 90 minute train ride to Baltimore...and I should be able to handle my mother-in-law for 12 hours.

This pushes the road trip to the back end of the trip. Which is cool b/c I get more time on the home end of the trip by flying to St. Louis.

Now, I just need a name for my car.

"Justine." I dunno why, but it's the first thing that popped into my head.

Seems appropriate. It became available Justine time. Oh stop groaning.

I need to pick out some good tunes to listen to on the way back, since I'll be racking up about 1000 driving miles.

These are all the CDs I own. Rho has about 300 more, mostly 80s stuff and R&B. Suggestions are welcome.

And the name of said road trip: Sycamore's "Shit, that was alive, wasn't it?" Road Trip 2003

Are you looking to buy new CDs, or just pick out ones from your existing collection?

I'd recommend any of Henry Rollins' spoken word albums. And if you like Crystal Method's Vegas album, their Tweekend album is also very good.

At the moment, the only 2 new CDs I'm going to buy are the new Martin Gore CD and its first single. I might pick up some used Miles Davis CDs at Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis...they usually have a great used collection. So at the moment, I'm only picking ones from my current collection.

Yanni...I'm suggesting Yanni...played loudly and with Manly Gusto :)

And i'm gonna duck now....

Dagney

My word, woman, what are you trying to do? Increase the lad's chances of highway hypnosis and falling asleep whilst driving? (I'd recommend staying away from ANY Philip Glass for the same reason ... and I really LIKE Phil Glass).

You need loud, with a good beat, dude.

I was looking over your collection, which I must say is QUITE eclectic ...

Coupla good possibilities. Certainly a smattering of DM, some Ministry thrown in for good measure, and no road trip is complete without a copy of The Doors Greatest Hits (actually you really only need to put "The End" on single track repeat).

But then I realized that there may be a cool experiment here ... why not take JUST the soundtrack for "Natural Born Killers," just to see what might happen ...

:eek:

My personal favorite CD/tape for the long car trip would be a big ol' pile of books on tape. I have a batch that I usually run around with including Andrew Vachss short stories, Harlan Ellison short stories (read by the author, not worth it otherwise), Bringing Out the Dead, And the Band Played On, and Patrick Stewart reading A Christmas Carol.

Yanni...*smack!*

I'm putting the CDs into my new carrying case now...I've picked out 16 so far. I'll leave 4 slots open (out of 64) for new stuff. Good thing my mom put a new CD player in the car last year...a nice one too. Now I won't need to deal with the discman/car adapter on the way back.

Now I just have to reprogram my new phone before I head west.

And this is where I say adios for now. I've got too much shit to do tomorrow night (and tonight), so I won't be on the board (other than maybe some peek-ins at work) for a few days. I'll be making postings while on the road, though probably only to this thread.

Have fun folks! :)

I would dearly love to locate these in mp3 format...Ellison is such a wonderfully warped author.

[Yar!]Emusic has some different spoken word downloads available. Rants from Jello Biafra, Chomsky, Zinn, Abu-Jamal, Nader, Cockburn... Poetry from Ginsberg and a bunch of guys I don't know. Comedy from Carlin Seinfeld blah blah blah[/Yar!]

I finally had time to read the *whole* thread, and figured out that Syc was gonna make a long drive (did I mention I'm insanely busy most of the time, and have attention deficit problems the rest of the time?).

Such a trip definitely calls for a mix of literate spoken word, and music. Nothing beats Golden Earring for road music, IMHO. A little Radar Love goes a long way when you're going a long way. In fact, if you can find the entire Moontan album, I recommend it highly.

     I'm pretty sure there's no 'Radar Love' whatsoever in this part of the Cellar.
     Oh wait... That's not what you meant was it? Hmm, s'okay. I hate that song anyway. It's been overplayed for over a decade now.

Unless you buy the CD of Midnight in the Sunken Cathedral and do it yourself, I don't think you'll find them. You should know full well that Harlan's the kind of guy about his intellectual property that anyone who tried that with an intent to distribute would have his picanthrapoid self bisected along his long axis and his entrails nibbled upon by syphillitic carnivourous sheep for eternity, with the poor bastard renewed daily like Prometheus to have it all start over again, bright and early with the dawn, thankyousoverymuch. ;)

A CD it is, then...and thanks for the title!

Far be it from me to incur the all too literate wrath of Mr. Ellison!

Gosh Wolf, do you think you could be a little more graphic?:eek:

It was an hommage.

You say that like it's a "bad" thing...LOL.:p

It was frightening. Caused more shrinkage Saturday Night Live
reading Reagan's medical procedure.:D

you think the hommage was scary?

Try the real thing sometime ... ;)

(important safety tip ... start with something 'easy' like Repent, Harlequin, Said the Ticktockman. You're better off working your way up to I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream)

20/4/2003: St. Louis, MO
 

What's up, bitches?

At the moment, I'm chilling out in what used to be my bedroom...now it is the computer room/mom's soap tape-watching room. Dish Network...9 kabillion channels...nice...and Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper, which I cannot find for the life of me in Philadelphia. And of course...my car. My very own car. My first car in over 3 years. Happiness. :)

Hey, did I mention that I decaffeinated myself 2 weeks ago? Yep...no more caffeine for me. Shit, now all I need to do is give up the smoking and I'll be in the big time.

The train ride from Philadelphia to Baltimore was very nice...only about half-full. Grabbed a seat all to myself, plugged up my phone to charge, and chilled out to some CDs.

Spent the night at my in-laws in Baltimore, which wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. I spent most of the night trying to figure out my father-in-law's computer.

Calling it a "computer" is a stretch...it's a Brother word processor that has an OS called Geos 3.0+, which allows text viewing of the internet (a la what Juno used to be back in the day). I was able to connect to the net with my Earthlink account, however:

--My father-in-law cannot remember his password to connect to his own Earthlink account.

--The "computer" runs painfully slow, and if a page is too graphic intensive, the system will crash. For example, it crashed on Cellar twice.

I got through the Southwest counter at BWI in no time yesterday morning, and got through the security checkpoint in about 15 minutes: No strip search, no taking off my shoes, fairly simple.

I usually have no problem with flying, other than a bit of claustrophobia. However, I felt unusually anxious this time around...I kept having thoughts about something bad happening to the plane. Fortunately, it dissipated about 20 or 30 minutes into the flight. We hit a lot of turbulence, but that didn't bother me at all.

I spent most of yesterday afternoon trying to get used to my new car. It's been 2 years since I've driven it, and almost 6 years since I've driven it on a regular.

Feasts yesterday included Jack in the Box tacos (no more breakfast anytime though...damn!) and Cecil Whittaker's Pizza...*drools*...good stuff. Today is the Easter Feast...I believe my mom said she pre-ordered a dinner from one of the grocery store chains here, so I imagine it'll be mighty good.

I got to spend most of last night with my best friend from high school, whom I've not seen in almost 4 years. More on that at another time, b/c I am going to go out for a nice Sunday drive.

So, I'll leave with this: Being back in St. Louis, things in general seem to go much slower. I'm so used to the rush-rush of Philadelphia, and now it's like shit is in slo-mo...but this isn't really a bad thing. It's kind of...soothing.

Enjoy that cheap gas out there, fucker.

     I know I do. I'd hate to try to afford those high prices I hear on the news for the east coast. I mean damn that's expensive. :angel:

It's currently $1.35 a gallon out here, about the same on the other side of the river in IL. When I left Philadelphia, it was about $1.65, and about $1.50 in NJ.

I imagine that it's almost $2 a gallon in Chicago though.

Oooh! And I got a carton of smokes for $23!!! Jesus, I think my last carton in Philadelphia was $37.

Yet another reason to drop your disgusting habit, mongrel.

We all have our personal addictions, dirtnut.

Isn't interstate transportation of taxable items illegal? :D

What are you talking about Elspode? That's horse puckey! :D

I think our heroin and crack are cheaper. (to get back to the phila v. midwest discussion)

Here in KC, people from the Kansas suburbs would come across the state line and buy their liquor because our booze taxes were lower, plus we had Sunday sales. A few times over the years, Kansas revenooers would stake out the stores along State Line Road and when a Kansas plate came driving out of the store parking lot, they'd pop 'em and charge them with transporting untaxed liquor across state lines...

I've heard it is the same with cigs in some Eastern states, but they probably won't be staking out St. Louis!

Going to Illinois to buy alcohol on Sunday was no big deal back in the day (before Sunday liquor sales were allowed here in 1993).

PLCB has tried to get tougher on it in PA, but they're not very good at it. It's not very hard to drive into NJ or DE and buy alcohol and slip back into PA.

The whole deal on cigarettes, from what I understand, is an issue of resale. I mean, if I'm on a road trip, and I buy some smokes, and happen not to finish them before I cross a state line (and of course, it's still legal to smoke in public and while driving), what the fuck can they really do to me, ya know?

I've heard of people driving from MD to VA to buy smokes...I wouldn't know anything about that though. ;)

Wolf, well duh! 9th and Indiana...good stuff, from what I hear. Getting anything in Philadelphia is not too terribly hard, truth be told...drugs, guns, etc. Getting a gun here isn't an issue, but drugs...it really depends. Weed is a breeze, but if you want harder shit, then you either have to know folks, or head to Chicago or towns along the I-57 corridor between Sikeston and Chicago.

I was kidding anyway, Syc, but I do appreciate the skinny on scoring in your neck of the woods! Hell, its been so long since I've done anything stronger than Diet Coke, I've begun to feel like I've betrayed half of my past life or something. Its kind of nice to be able to sit in on such a conversation again, even second hand.

On the other hand, I'm still alive, so perhaps I've made the right decision.

     Ya know, I've never done drugs, (no really) but people have asked me if I could hook them up in three diferent states. I guess the long hair just screams 'druggie'.

Me too. Having long hair and a beard must automatically mean I'm a pot dealer.

BTW short hair *long* beard apparently means gun nut.......oh wait..

You are, you dopehead.

So how the fuck is everyone tonight?

I had a fantastic meal at El Maguey tonight with my dear friend April. Man, that place has to be the best sit-down Mexican joint in St. Louis. Friendly staff, good service, great food, and the 46 oz. margarita. And reasonably priced.

April and I have been friends since we worked together at Commerce Bank...so that's been about 5 years now. She may be the quietest friend I have. If you didn't know her, you might think she's mean or snooty, b/c she doesn't talk a lot. Unlike me, who will talk just to hear myself. ;)

So, my cousin Eric calls today...I haven't talked to him in like 4 or 5 years. We're only 3 months apart, and used to hang out a lot as kids. He calls, and my stepdad hands me the phone. I just start talking, and after about 2 minutes, it dawns on me that I have no idea who the fuck I am talking to. I finally had to break down and ask.

My 'rents have a CD burner on their computer, which is nice. There have been some songs that I've been wanting to put on CD without buying the whole CD. So I've been doing that off and on the past few days. The problem is that my parents only use a dial-up, so it takes about 20 minutes to download a song. I can't blame them for using dial-up though...they don't pay for it. (A friend of my brother's from high school runs an ISP here in town.)

Tomorrow, I'll probably look through some more junk that I still have left here, and will feast on Imo's tomorrow night. But for now, I have to make hotel reservations for Friday and Saturday night.

Adios...

No one ever asks me if they can score anymore, and I've had long hair for thirty years, minus the six I spent in a job where I couldn't...and some sort of facial hair for all but about five of those years.

I think it may have something to do with the fact that I now drive a minivan and have a lot of gray in my beard.

I am *so* un-fucking hip, it isn't funny.

Oh yes it is. ;)

Of course, I'm one to talk eh?

Okay, well, its funny in the same sort of way that watching people get hit in the nads by a softball on America's Funniest Home Videos is funny... :eek:

Ah, both of you shut the hell up. You guys reek of coolness, so I don't want to hear any more nonsense.

Why I otta!

And so, it is time to say goodbye to the Sycamore Palatial Estate...

--I ate at every place I wanted to, except for Jack in the Box breakfast food (I'll pick some up in the morning) and Long John Silver's (I'll pick some up on the way to Chicago). Oh, and toasted ravioli (hmmm...maybe I'll pick some up and eat it as a snack tomorrow night).

--I got to see everyone I cared to see.

--I drank lots of CF Dr. Pepper, and picked up some Big Red red cream soda tonight.

--I didn't spend too much dinero (about $100-120), and picked up a few new CDs.

--I am now convinced that getting a dish or digital cable is the way to go...fuck basic cable.

I had a great time...I didn't have to kill my family, which was a bonus. We had an old-school South City BBQ yesterday, with eating, drinking, and ranting. My stepdad has this whoop-ass grill that can cook 2 dozen steaks at one time.

And I have to say some nice things about the old man's car. He bought a 2001 Monte Carlo last year. Great shape, low miles, good price, warranty, blah blah blah. I took it out yesterday to pick up Scott's mom, and let me tell you, this car is phat, with a capital PH.

First off, the car just looks sharp. And sitting in it is like sitting in an easy chair--Very comfortable, nice and soft, lots of room. Everything's laid out nicely within the car too.

But then there's the engine. GM finally pulled its head out of its ass and created a V-6 with great HP and good gas mileage. Stupendous.

It's been fun, but it's time to roll...I'll see you cats in a few days.

Despite knowing you won't see this until your trip is ended ...

Safe journey, syc. Enjoy the ride.

Howdy folks!

Lessee...how would I describe the last 3 days..."interesting."

First off...Griff, you wanna play Jeopardy! again? Of course you do...the answer is:

"A tight dressy shirt with sheer long sleeves that nearly had her breasts popping out."

So, let's review:

Friday: Got new sneakers (whoohoo!), drove to Chicago, ate dinner at a fantastic Mexican restaurant on E. Ontario St., wallet disappeared (I suspect I was pickpocketed at my hotel after dinner)--left with $7 and a Speedpass tag to my name. Canceled everything that was in wallet (if someone picked it up, they didn't get shit--$5 cash, and credit/ATM cards that were canceled about 15 minutes after wallet went missing). Kindness of a stranger (a new thread later on that) gets Sycamore's car out of the parking garage and back to St. Louis.

Saturday: Drove back to St. Louis, filed police report for missing wallet, decided I would drive to Philadelphia straight-through...no overnight stay anywhere. Put fraud alerts in with all 3 credit bureaus and got a free copy of my credit report...no charge.

Sunday: Drove 16 hours back to Philadelphia...overall, very good drive.

I'll discuss the drive back later. Today, I have to get a new DL, get insurance for the car, get the car registered, and put in for a new SS card. Fun...

Welcome back! Do tell about the woman. Did you get pictures?

Eh, you have to wait until Griff tries to get the question...then all will be revealed.

Barn Door, Horse, etc.
 

Important safety tip.

Leave the SS card at home. ALWAYS.

Don't carry it in your wallet. The stealing of that number is the one that can screw you much harder than the credit cards. It's the key that unlocks the gateway to identity theft.

Question ... why file with St. Louis PD when the wallet when missing in Chicago's jurisdiction?

Welcome back!

Sheer long sleeves with her breasts popping out? Sounds like someone's 83 year old grandmother...

What caused Lady Syc to go upside Syc's head with a forty pound purse?

Re: Barn Door, Horse, etc.
 

It was filed with the Chicago PD. I initially did not file one b/c truth be told, I didn't think they would take a report on a lost wallet (I can't say for certain that it was stolen). St. Louis PD told me to file one and get a police report #, which would serve as my license until I can get a new one. Sure enough, Chicago PD took a report.

[rant]I am so irritated with the Commonwealth and Wachovia right now.

In order to get your car inspected in PA, it has to first be registered. That's the opposite of what I am used to. Okay, no problem.

In order to register your car, you have to have photo ID. Okay, understandable. I'll go get my new DL. I already dloaded the form and filled it out. I just need a notary. My bank has my sig card on file, they can do it.

What? You don't notarize anything involving automobiles? Huh? Well...okay. The guy at the auto tag place tells me to head to a PennDOT service center...they'll have my DL photo on file to go with my information. Great!

(If any of you folks here in PA are notaries, I could REALLY use your help.)

What?! You're not open on Mondays? Huh? Nah...there HAS to be one open somewhere in the area today. Let me call PennDOT.

Huh? There's only ONE open in the entire state today? In Pittsburgh?! Are you fucking serious?! What kind of fucking place is this?!

So now, I can't get a new DL until tomorrow. Which means I can't register my car until tomorrow. Which means I can't get my car inspected until probably Wednesday.

Fuck! *beats head against wall*[/rant]

Good answer, but unfortunately, not the correct one. The question we were looking for is, "What should fat women not wear out in public, especially at a PA Turnpike Service Center?"

(Ep, yours was pretty good too.)

I prefer to keep my image in mind. My second answer was. What blurred Syc's sensory perceptions to the fact that his wallet was being lifted?

Mrs. UT is a notary. She won't get home tonight until 9...

More likely to be convenient: your local AAA will notarize, for a small charge, even if you're not a member.

Problem: I have absolutely no photo identification and nothing that shows my signature.

How recent was your last driver's license picture? If you are on the current photo database you should just have to send money to Penndot and they will reprint it for you, mailing it to your home address.

Mrs. UT will still notarize if I tell her you are who you say you are.