July 23, 2006
Roadtrip : Part One
(Plesanton, CA to Winnemucca, NV) : 388.18 Miles
(Winnemucca, NV to Logan, UT) : 431.91 Miles
And I'm not even one fifth of the way there. (I never really realized just exactly how big the United States was until... well... last night, when I finally opened my map of the US to see just exactly how far I had gone).
The good news is that I did have some ammount of time to think.
The bad news is that I had way too much time to think.
There are some interesting games that you can play while you're driving across the country by yourself - like guess which species of mammal is the next roadkill you come across, or guess how far that tree really is.... clearly, things that would not normally come across your mind on your average weekend. =)
Honestly, the trip has started out in a pretty relaxing pace... Originally, I was going to drive across from Pleasanton to Salt Lake City (12 hours) all in one drive - but then I decided to break the trip into two days... and gained $100 in playing $2 blackjack in Winnemucca Friday night (you haven't lived until you've played at the only blackjack table in Winnemucca at 11PM at night). Or. Maybe you haven't bottomed out untl you've played at the only blackjack table in Winnemucca at 11PM at night =)
--
On a somewhat emotional note, my co-workers called me Friday afternoon to see if I was going into work. (having quit the previous Friday, it was only logical that I show up to work - since I'd shown up to work each of the previous four working days after my employement ended...) : while the call was really made to make fun of me for coming in (long story about why I eventually *did* go to work on Friday), there was a twinge of nostalgia, and the thought that people might actually miss me when I finally left my work.
The emotional part of this little story is that after 27 years, I still am uncomfortable with the notion that people might actually care about me. On one hand, I trust the people that I am closest to, and logically believe that they will be there for me when I need them the most. But on a emotional plane, I am totally befuddled by the fact that they actually do care. Perhaps part of this has to do with growing up in an asian household, where the only times I heard the words "I love you" were when they were said on TV. But one would think at somepoint... anyways... perhaps I'm more guarded than I let on.
Cheers from Logan, UT
Next Place: Yellowstone, MT (followed by Glacier National Park).
Peace.
Brice