What you did today

[Rosbjerg]

Isn't it easier to buy a used car in the US? Some acquaintances of mine took that route, precisely because they didn't want the fuss with a rental, about 13 years ago, before 9/11 - but maybe the rules are more strict now.

[Guard Dog]

The RV idea would be pretty expensive. Where are you guys planning to go Mes?

[Meshugger]

Hurlshot:

 

We are going to be a lot in the country, but i do not see myslef driving an RV in either New York or San Fransisco (we are going across the whole country though)

 

 

Isn't it easier to buy a used car in the US? Some acquaintances of mine took that route, precisely because they didn't want the fuss with a rental, about 13 years ago, before 9/11 - but maybe the rules are more strict now.

 

I checked with the department of motorvehicles in New York and in order to buy a car, you have to have insurance, and in order to have that, you have to have to a permantent adress in New York. Also, you would like to sell it before going back. And of course, there's the reliability, we will not buy a 500 dollar car just have it break down in the Lincoln tunnel. Too much of a hassle really.

 

So rental it is. But it seems like the whole damn business inheritly operated by adding extra costs that you didn't even expect in the first place. Just.a.final.price.please.

Edited March 3, 2013 by Meshugger

[Meshugger]

The RV idea would be pretty expensive. Where are you guys planning to go Mes?

 

Roughly speaking New York - Philadelphia - Washington DC - [anywhere in the south] - New Orleans - Galveston/Houston - [anywhere in Texas/Kansas] - Denver - Monument Valley - Grand Canyon - Las Vegas - Los Angeles - San Fransisco. Most of these towns only work as waypoints, i do not see myself staying in Denver for example for more than a day.

 

We are trying to have an open mind. If there's something like a barn dance festival in one town, we'll stay there. Does that creek look interesting? well camp there. Does this place have an interesting history? lets check the museum. Does this town have the best gospel choir in the state? we're gonna be religious just for that. That's the point of our journey.

[BruceVC]

 

The RV idea would be pretty expensive. Where are you guys planning to go Mes?

 

Roughly speaking New York - Philadelphia - Washington DC - [anywhere in the south] - New Orleans - Galveston/Houston - [anywhere in Texas/Kansas] - Denver - Monument Valley - Grand Canyon - Las Vegas - Los Angeles - San Fransisco. Most of these towns only work as waypoints, i do not see myself staying in Denver for example for more than a day.

 

We are trying to have an open mind. If there's something like a barn dance festival in one town, we'll stay there. Does that creek look interesting? well camp there. Does this place have an interesting history? lets check the museum. Does this town have the best gospel choir in the state? we're gonna be religious just for that. That's the point of our journey.

 

 

That sounds awesome, its going to be an amazing and fascinating trip. Think of all the stories and things you will see in each state, it will be like traveling to different countries. I am envious

[Raithe]

 

The RV idea would be pretty expensive. Where are you guys planning to go Mes?

 

Roughly speaking New York - Philadelphia - Washington DC - [anywhere in the south] - New Orleans - Galveston/Houston - [anywhere in Texas/Kansas] - Denver - Monument Valley - Grand Canyon - Las Vegas - Los Angeles - San Fransisco. Most of these towns only work as waypoints, i do not see myself staying in Denver for example for more than a day.

 

We are trying to have an open mind. If there's something like a barn dance festival in one town, we'll stay there. Does that creek look interesting? well camp there. Does this place have an interesting history? lets check the museum. Does this town have the best gospel choir in the state? we're gonna be religious just for that. That's the point of our journey.

 

Remember, you'll want lots of inappropriate stories that you can never tell your kids about...

[Guard Dog]

Things you must do:

 

1) Go to a Baseball game. See the Red Sox in Boston, the Yankees in New York or the Cubs in Chicago or the Dodgers in LA. Any one of them.

2) Watch where you park in New Orleans. They will tow you car and then you'll report it stolen and then the cops will laugh at you. Trust me on this one. Drink Hurricanes while you're there.

3) Las Vegas. Nuff said

 

You're going to hve a blast.

[Hurlshort]

Sounds like a fantastic trip!

 

You might want to just rent cars to get from point A to point B, and then use public transportation in the big cities.  Your first three cities in particular are close together and have decent train and bus options.  

 

I agree with GD about the baseball game.  Also I highly recommend Yosemite.  

 

The RV idea isn't necessarily as expensive as some might think, because you save money in a lot of ways with it.  You wouldn't actually drive it in the big cities, you'd find a park on the outskirts and rely on public transportation.  For example, I take my RV to San Francisco regularly, but I don't actually take it into the city.  I go to to a park that is right next to a ferry that goes into the city.  Then I get a nice boat trip and catch a bus or a trolley anywhere I want to go.  

 

That being said, they aren't cheap to rent.  You save money on food and lodging a lot of the time, but it will still be twice as much as renting the car, and there will be times where it is a pain to have even a compact RV.  It's more about the comfort it offers, it basically gives you a home for the trip.

 

Good luck!  How many weeks are you planning on making the trip?

[Enoch]

Things you must do:

 

1) Go to a Baseball game. See the Red Sox in Boston, the Yankees in New York or the Cubs in Chicago or the Dodgers in LA. Any one of them.

2) Watch where you park in New Orleans. They will tow you car and then you'll report it stolen and then the cops will laugh at you. Trust me on this one. Drink HurricanesSazeracs while you're there.

3) Las Vegas. Nuff said

 

You're going to hve a blast.

Fixed that for you.  It is the official ****tail of the city of New Orleans, after all.

 

Additionally, I suggest eating at as many roadside BBQ joints as possible.  The dirtier and flimsier the building, the better.

[Malcador]

Suggesting he go to a baseball game ?  Hm, I guess that'd work if he has insomnia...

 

Wondering why I even bother watching football games.  F**king Vermaelen.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

Galveston/Houston

Make sure to dress very light while you are here. The humidity will really screw you up if you aren't careful.

[Walsingham]

Unusually for me, sunk in depression the last three days. OK now, I think. Am off to the pub for a quiet pint to celebrate.

[melkathi]

I wasted my time today.

[Meshugger]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We will travel for 5 weeks in august/september and hopefully we will have to the time to see everything that we planned to. A baseball game/american football game is a must of course, and i find it hilarious that pretty much every source that i have talked to about New Orleans recommends me to go there even though it seems to be a very dangerous/unpredictable/weird town

 

Walsingham: my tips for battling the blues/being down (not depression per see): 

 

- Paint

- Write

- Listen to music

- Play an instrument

- Go out on a walk/run/to the gym

- Meet people

Edited March 3, 2013 by Meshugger

[Guard Dog]

I don't think New Orleans is the most dangerous town in the US by any means. That honor goes to Chicago. That place is out of control. Nevertheless you need to excersize common sense there like anywhere else. Some areas are high crime some are not. There are some cities it's best not to wander around and explore without a plan. That would be one of them. Miami is another one. The French Quarter, Garden District, Uptown, and Carrolton are all perfectly safe. Stay out of Iberville, the 7th Ward and the 9th Ward and DO NOT go near the levees at night. Lots of bad stuff in those neighborhoods.

[WDeranged]

I spread my dad's ashes today, we found the grounds of the country house where he was born and spread half there, the other half on the shore of a lake that he loved, I don't feel much closure but it's nice that we could do what he wanted, it's an odd thing to smell and taste human ashes, there's an unavoidable plume that comes with chalky powder being thrown into the air on a breezy day, mental 

[LadyCrimson]

Up early, hand-weeded, chopped bushes, etc. Bought new (cheap) curtains, pillows, about to eat tacos and watch Walking Dead. I expect I won't be moving off the couch again until it's time to walk to the bed to go to sleep.

[Gorth]

Spent most of my Sunday moving PC parts from the old to the new case. Almost finished, except I couldn't remember how to shortcurcuit an ATX powersupply, so I can test it before switching it on (not to mention, I need the power to start pumping cooling liquid around, so I can test for leaks). Feeling sore all over because most of the day was spent exploring a multitude of awkward work positions.

 

At least the end result is looking nice, getting the cables sorted out, the cooling hoses rearranged, the radiator is now *inside* my PC and just a few specks of dust here and there. My old PC could send a vacuum cleaner into fits and running away screaming. Dust monster from hell...

[BruceVC]

. My old PC could send a vacuum cleaner into fits and running away screaming. Dust monster from hell...

 

"dust monster from hell "

 

funny

[Rosbjerg]

It's an odd thing to smell and taste human ashes

 

Yeah, I'd imagine.. I'm guessing it just tastes "ashy"

 

But glad to hear you got to follow through with your fathers wishes, I'm sure it'll grant a measure of peace for you in the future.

[WDeranged]

 

It's an odd thing to smell and taste human ashes

 

Yeah, I'd imagine.. I'm guessing it just tastes "ashy"

 

But glad to hear you got to follow through with your fathers wishes, I'm sure it'll grant a measure of peace for you in the future.

 

It's halfway between chalk dust and the smell of a dentist drilling your back teeth, I didn't expect it to fill the air quite so much, I could feel it on my face and hands, the odd thing is I didn't mind, it's just a thing.

 

It's a nice thought that I'll be able to visit the lake and know that he's part of the ecosystem there, he joked about being eaten by the ducks, in fact one did swim over for a peck.

[Raithe]

Heh, my mother was in Australia a few years back to visit her sister and to deal with their mothers ashes. They were together at a cliffside facing the ocean, just by a road and emptied the ashes out. 

 

As they did, a passing truck slowed down to yell at them "Stop bleeping littering bitches!"

[WDeranged]

Heh, my mother was in Australia a few years back to visit her sister and to deal with their mothers ashes. They were together at a cliffside facing the ocean, just by a road and emptied the ashes out. 

 

As they did, a passing truck slowed down to yell at them "Stop bleeping littering bitches!"

 

 

Yeah it was a really busy day so we had to be careful about fishermen and walkers, in all honesty I think if anyone had interrupted I'd have thrown them in the lake too.

[Gfted1]

It is the official ****tail of the city of New Orleans, after all.

Ive always wanted to try absinthe just to see if it gets me all blotto.

[Enoch]

 

It is the official ****tail of the city of New Orleans, after all.

Ive always wanted to try absinthe just to see if it gets me all blotto.

Well, back in its heyday, it got a reputation as having hallucinogenic properties, which led to its prohibition.  Nobody ever confirmed that it was at all different from any other strong liquor, though, which is why the prohibitions in Europe and the U.S. have been lifted.  (The trace amounts of thujone that one finds in it were blamed, but they would have to be incredibly concentrated to have that kind of effect.) 

 

So, it's legal now, but it isn't cheap, and it's incredibly strong.  (The bottle I have is somewhere in the area of 120 Proof.)  Much the same as cask-strength whiskey, it is understood that one should dilute it a bit before drinking. 

 

It's also a rather overpowering flavor.  Most ****tail recipies incorporating it-- including the Sazerac-- call for just an "absinthe rinse," wherein one adds enough of the stuff to coat the glass and/or ice, then pours out the excess before adding the other ingredients.  More than that, and it'll often be the only thing you'd taste.  (Which is nice, in that a bottle goes a long way.) 

Edited March 4, 2013 by Enoch