We got to Auburn, a suburb of Worcester, just after dark. We're at a La Quinta tonight. The usual $70/person, $10/cat.
We're off to get some non-fast food.
It's nice that there are full service rest stops all along the highway's here. If you decide you want food after you get gas, though, you're screwed - it's one way, and there's no loop around. They are all clones of each other from IN to MA! For those travellers from wayback, they're not Howard Johnson's anymore, though.
Did you know that "sure" is a two-syllable word? It's pronounced "shu-wa!"
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Toll trolls
We are in toll road country. For those out West used to saying "freeway" it's a tollway here just about everywhere.
Albert decided he needs to ride on top of his carrier instead of inside it where he has blankets to nap on. He behaves well, but has to be put back in every time we hit the toll booths and/or exit.
We lost Lisa's cosmetic bag in a tragic roof-rack accicent. It slipped out the side between the rails. It was right on the center line, but by the time I was bold enough to make an illegal u-turn, about 5 miles down the road, someone had swiped it. They have the emergency turn areas blocked with those plastic poles here. I squeezed through next to an overpass. In retrospect I should've just stopped an hiked back a half mile. The good news is, Lisa got to get new cosmetic bags, hair dryer, etc. She did lose 6 months of contacts, though! The sad thing is, when we started out, I made sure to loop the tie-downs through the handles of all the bags. After the 3rd load-up, I was tired and lazy!
We asked at the next rest stop and toll gate, but no luck. We saw two cleanup trucks right near that area so we hoped they'd have it. They keep the toll roads clean and well maintained, I'll give them that.
We are at a Days Inn in Batavia, NY. It's quite the dump. It has about 1000 rooms and it looks like a prison block. But, it was only $70/person, $10/cat. Has a pool, but it's outside. The doors have number plates on top and bottom. I can only figure that's for when you're crawling down the hallway in a drunken stupor, so you can find your room! This place is one step from hourly room rentals. The vending machine is stocked with condoms, cigarette lighters, and pain killers!
When we got here, I just made it inside before a bus load of Japanese tourists heading for Niagara Falls. They paused to take pictures of the front of the prison, er.... hotel, so I flanked 'em. Oops, sorry. I listened to the audio book of Ken Burn's The War on the way out here! ;-)
Albert decided he needs to ride on top of his carrier instead of inside it where he has blankets to nap on. He behaves well, but has to be put back in every time we hit the toll booths and/or exit.
We lost Lisa's cosmetic bag in a tragic roof-rack accicent. It slipped out the side between the rails. It was right on the center line, but by the time I was bold enough to make an illegal u-turn, about 5 miles down the road, someone had swiped it. They have the emergency turn areas blocked with those plastic poles here. I squeezed through next to an overpass. In retrospect I should've just stopped an hiked back a half mile. The good news is, Lisa got to get new cosmetic bags, hair dryer, etc. She did lose 6 months of contacts, though! The sad thing is, when we started out, I made sure to loop the tie-downs through the handles of all the bags. After the 3rd load-up, I was tired and lazy!
We asked at the next rest stop and toll gate, but no luck. We saw two cleanup trucks right near that area so we hoped they'd have it. They keep the toll roads clean and well maintained, I'll give them that.
We are at a Days Inn in Batavia, NY. It's quite the dump. It has about 1000 rooms and it looks like a prison block. But, it was only $70/person, $10/cat. Has a pool, but it's outside. The doors have number plates on top and bottom. I can only figure that's for when you're crawling down the hallway in a drunken stupor, so you can find your room! This place is one step from hourly room rentals. The vending machine is stocked with condoms, cigarette lighters, and pain killers!
When we got here, I just made it inside before a bus load of Japanese tourists heading for Niagara Falls. They paused to take pictures of the front of the prison, er.... hotel, so I flanked 'em. Oops, sorry. I listened to the audio book of Ken Burn's The War on the way out here! ;-)
Friday, September 28, 2007
Hotel travails
We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express in last night in Coralville, IA. I don't know if it made us any smarter, but at least it had a pool. It was about $130, but at least it had a pool! It also had the slowest elevator in the free world. Then there was the time it wouldn't budge from the 1st floor. The door kept closing half-way, then opening again. I tried repeatedly pressing the door close button, but that set of some sort of alarm, so I slunk away and went up the stairs! The LAN access didn't work. H.I. farms it out, and I gave up on the support number. The hardwired guest computer in the lobby couldn't connect to the LAN, either.
Coralville was surprisingly nice. We took a much needed break from the cat and walked about 1/2 a block to a mall. We had to buy swimsuits for the pool. You can imagine the selection at this time of year! We found some at Target on the clearance racks.
I had a much needed chair massage at a kiosk. It was strange trying to relax with people plodding by.
~~~~
Tonight we're in the Super 8 ($75/person, $10/cat) in Howe, IN, about 2 blocks South of the MI border. They actually call this area michiana. There network didn't work, and the lady at the desk didn't know what to do about the orange light on the modem. I kindly suggested she restart it. It didn't get done until her manager relieved her at 9 PM.
Albert update (the precious puddy tat): He is travelling very well. He seemed to love the H.I. Express. He mucked about quite a bit, there. He took some time to settle in here. He keeps being started by people in the hall, and when we first got in he bolted into the hall and had to be dragged in. But, overall, he's doing good. He's claimed the couch for himself. Since we got him the large carrier (meant for a 22 lb dog, not a 12 lb cat!) he has the most room when travelling.
I have pics to post, but likely won't get to it until we are done travelling. We are taking our time, since we can't be in our new place until the 1st, anyway.
Coralville was surprisingly nice. We took a much needed break from the cat and walked about 1/2 a block to a mall. We had to buy swimsuits for the pool. You can imagine the selection at this time of year! We found some at Target on the clearance racks.
I had a much needed chair massage at a kiosk. It was strange trying to relax with people plodding by.
~~~~
Tonight we're in the Super 8 ($75/person, $10/cat) in Howe, IN, about 2 blocks South of the MI border. They actually call this area michiana. There network didn't work, and the lady at the desk didn't know what to do about the orange light on the modem. I kindly suggested she restart it. It didn't get done until her manager relieved her at 9 PM.
Albert update (the precious puddy tat): He is travelling very well. He seemed to love the H.I. Express. He mucked about quite a bit, there. He took some time to settle in here. He keeps being started by people in the hall, and when we first got in he bolted into the hall and had to be dragged in. But, overall, he's doing good. He's claimed the couch for himself. Since we got him the large carrier (meant for a 22 lb dog, not a 12 lb cat!) he has the most room when travelling.
I have pics to post, but likely won't get to it until we are done travelling. We are taking our time, since we can't be in our new place until the 1st, anyway.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
On the road
We got out of town at the crack of 2:30. First I overslept, then we decided we had too much crap for the car, so we bought a roof rack.
We made it to Lincoln, NB. We are at a Countryside Suites. Holiday Inn wanted $110, and that was a discount. This place has a sofa, flat panel TV, fireplace, fridge and mocrowave, and it was only $75!
The cat has behaved quite well. We did stop in some podunk town in CO to get him a bigger carrier at Wal-Mart, so he could stay in it, because he was mucking about too much in the car.
We made it to Lincoln, NB. We are at a Countryside Suites. Holiday Inn wanted $110, and that was a discount. This place has a sofa, flat panel TV, fireplace, fridge and mocrowave, and it was only $75!
The cat has behaved quite well. We did stop in some podunk town in CO to get him a bigger carrier at Wal-Mart, so he could stay in it, because he was mucking about too much in the car.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Off we go!
Tomorrow morning we head East. We bought some cool toys for the trip. We got a Garmin GPS unit and a portable DVD player.
Said goodbyes today. Delivered my dead DVR (RIP) to a friend who's going to hack it, fix it, dissect it, or otherwise have fun with it. Had lunch with an old school friend from the hood. Finally dinner with family (gorged ourselves at Red Lobster!).
I'll try to post from the road.
Said goodbyes today. Delivered my dead DVR (RIP) to a friend who's going to hack it, fix it, dissect it, or otherwise have fun with it. Had lunch with an old school friend from the hood. Finally dinner with family (gorged ourselves at Red Lobster!).
I'll try to post from the road.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Don't do this!
As a bona-fide computer geek, I should know better, but I got in a hurry packing and lifted up my Dish Network DVR while it was running, so I could move the stand it was sitting on. It suffered a massive, total hard drive failure. Now it's just a tuner!
The silver lining is that we can't get dish in the loft, so I didn't need in anymore. But, I was going to sell it on eBay or Craig's List! I'm giving it to an uber-geek friend to labotomize!
The silver lining is that we can't get dish in the loft, so I didn't need in anymore. But, I was going to sell it on eBay or Craig's List! I'm giving it to an uber-geek friend to labotomize!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
About Worcester, MA
Worcester is in central MA, close enough to Boston to commute via bus or commuter rail, and link up with the T (MBTA) subway system or the city bus system.
Yes, but how is it pronounced? See http://www.worcestermass.com/pronounce/worcestercounty.shtml#worcester
Driving: driving anywhere in MA is best compared to driving in Europe. If you've been there, you'll know what I mean. Here's a perfect example:
Kelly Square - There are 5 or 6 roads converging at non-right angles, no traffic lights, and, I think, 2 stop signs. Here's a wonderful overhead view, and a nice time-lapse video.
Speaking of signs, I saw one in Boston that said "Form One Lane" not - this lane ends, or merge left, mind you. They leave it up to you to figure out.
Urban Renewal: the city has gone through a lot already, and more is planned. It's a lot like LoDo in Denver, or BelMar or Olde Town Arvada. They are getting the most money that's ever left Boston in MA history to fix up Worcester.
Hanover Theatre:
http://www.thehanovertheatre.org/
Tuckerman Hall:
http://www.tuckermanhall.org/
New City Square:
http://www.newcitysquare.com/
Union Station:
http://www.worcestermass.org/guide/unionstation.html
Yes, but how is it pronounced? See http://www.worcestermass.com/pronounce/worcestercounty.shtml#worcester
Driving: driving anywhere in MA is best compared to driving in Europe. If you've been there, you'll know what I mean. Here's a perfect example:
Kelly Square - There are 5 or 6 roads converging at non-right angles, no traffic lights, and, I think, 2 stop signs. Here's a wonderful overhead view, and a nice time-lapse video.
Speaking of signs, I saw one in Boston that said "Form One Lane" not - this lane ends, or merge left, mind you. They leave it up to you to figure out.
Urban Renewal: the city has gone through a lot already, and more is planned. It's a lot like LoDo in Denver, or BelMar or Olde Town Arvada. They are getting the most money that's ever left Boston in MA history to fix up Worcester.
Hanover Theatre:
http://www.thehanovertheatre.org/
Tuckerman Hall:
http://www.tuckermanhall.org/
New City Square:
http://www.newcitysquare.com/
Union Station:
http://www.worcestermass.org/guide/unionstation.html
Still working
I can't believe I'm still doing things to the house, even as I'm stuffing the POD full of our few remaining possessions. Today I put up 3 doors. I had replaced most of the plain hollow core doors in the house with nice panelled doors more suited to the architecture. (see my photos)
I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll never be finished - I'll just run out of time!
I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll never be finished - I'll just run out of time!
Friday, September 21, 2007
The time do fly
Can't believe we're leaving on Weds, 9/26. I have sooooo much still to do. There are many good friends I haven't had time to personally see. I guess I'll just have to make sure to visit Denver a lot. Heck, I may even visit my brother and his family! ;-)
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Moving sucks
Everything we own, packed into a POD. Moving does make you evaluate all of your junk and decide what's worth carting all the way across the country. I had a huge load sent off to The Salvation Army today.
Hip, urban lifestyle
The Fremont Lofts: http://www.thefremont.com/The new place in Worcester "Woosta" MA.
What happened to Boston? Too expensive. Worcester is only 45 minutes away, linked by commuter rail, and much more affordable.
We're all set to be in the loft/condo on Oct. 1. They are letting us rent until our place is either sold or rented out.
This is our unit, #407. The room marked "storage" you can translate into "home theater." There are no neighbours attached to that part, either.
Get out of Denver baby go!
The short story: my wife is from upstate NY. She loves Boston. She's lived in CO for 14 years for me. Now she wants to go back East. So, it's time for me to head East and become a New Yankee!This is the house we're leaving in Wheat Ridge (Denver) Colorado. I spent the last 3 months renovating the place. It's now the way I wanted it for the last 6 years!
My home improvement saga is documented somewhat here, and on my Flickr photostream .
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