I had put it off for about 2 weeks and just used my passport.. but finally this week I went to get my replacement license. It got to a point where I couldn’t put it off anymore because my passport is required for finishing the processing of my Russian Visa.
Not surprisingly, I needed to give them a permanent address, even after I explained my situation to the lady at the DMV and even after she talked to her supervisor. (I’d like say ‘told you so’ to the officer that pulled me over for talking on my cell phone and told me I could put a PO Box on my license).
They told me I could put an address of a hotel I frequently stay at (not normal), so I gave up and put the office address. People who work a lot always use the phrase “I live at work”, but now my permanent residence is at work... I literally live at work. If I ever get fired it’s going to be awkward.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Exhausted.
Well, I had been looking forward to last weekend for a long time. I decided it was my weekend to catch up on the past 3 months of sleep. I did a lot of relaxing and slept probably 10-12 hours a night. No Spike or 5 hr energy was consumed within this time..
After the weekend I felt great and ready to take on the week. Until Monday afternoon when I was tired again... So I started reading that it is impossible to repay sleep debt. Turns out I'm pretty screwed..
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20100115/sleep-debt-hard-to-repay
I love this life, but it is extremely exhausting traveling every week for work and not sleeping and traveling every weekend for fun and not sleeping.
After the weekend I felt great and ready to take on the week. Until Monday afternoon when I was tired again... So I started reading that it is impossible to repay sleep debt. Turns out I'm pretty screwed..
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20100115/sleep-debt-hard-to-repay
I love this life, but it is extremely exhausting traveling every week for work and not sleeping and traveling every weekend for fun and not sleeping.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
RIP Passport
05/07/2001 – 10/01/10
I am sad to say goodbye to a loyal travel companion and holder of many memories. The past 10 years we’ve laughed together, we’ve cried together, and we’ve created memories I will never forget.
Summary of my Passport’s life:
- Germany: Frankfurt – 8 stamps
- Germany: Stuttgart – 1 stamp
- Ireland: Shannon – 1 stamp
- Mexico: Baja Californai – 4 stamps
- Mexico: Neuvo Leon – 10 stamps
- Netherlands: Amsterdam – 1 stamp
- Norway: Oslow (Gardenmoen)- 2 stamps
- Peru: Cuzco – 2 stamps
- Peru: Machu Picchu park – 1 stamp
- Russia: Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow (I don’t know how to tell the difference between the stamps) – 60 stamps
- Russian Visas: 4
- South Africa: Johannesburg – 1 stamp
- USA – 24 stamps
- 12 pages more than a standard passport has in it because I ran out of room
RIP Passport
My new passport has a lot to live up to…
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Guest Writer: KYLE ZAK
Kyle came to visit me last weekend, and there was so much that happened that I was too lazy to summarize it myself... so here's Kyle's entry:
Dumb and Dumber take on New England
Last weekend I had a long weekend so I decided to visit Hilary. I booked my flights about a week before, and that’s when the problems began. Turns out I booked a flight for Friday morning instead of Saturday (meaning that I would have to miss my classes on Friday). Luckily, Hilary caught my mistake and since I called Expedia 24 hours within booking, they took care of it without making me pay the nasty $150 fee.
The original plan was for me to get there Saturday, go visit Salem (where they had the witch trials), and then drive up to Mt Washington in New Hampshire. On Sunday we would climb the mountain and then head back to Connecticut.
This did not even remotely resemble our weekend.
The troubles began when we got to Salem and started walking around. It quickly became apparent that Salem is an awful place to visit. Something about the lack of historic buildings and the abundance of Italian sausage and Spongebob balloons really turned us off, so after meeting up with a couple of Hilary’s friends we decided to go to dinner.
On the way there, the navigation system took us through a light that decided to stay red through two whole cycles. We didn’t stick around to find out if the third time was the charm, and after the navigation system took us in a few circles we got to dinner.
Keep in mind that at this point I’ve flown out to Connecticut and driven to Massachusetts to go to a mall and eat at the Cheesecake Factory.
After dinner we left for New Hampshire, heading towards Mt Washington. On the way Hilary’s friends called to see if we wanted to go to a haunted house that was kind of on the way, so we decided why not. When we got to the haunted house we started calling around trying to find hotels in the area, only to find that they were completely booked in the entire “region.” A few phone calls later told us that “region” implies New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, so after the haunted house we drove back down to Boston. The haunted houses were fun, and included Hilary squeezing my hand off, freezing in lines, Hilary’s friend Chris entertaining everyone around us with his stories, and being told that we “smell like Walmart.”
Not wanting to drive the 6-hour round trip to Mt Washington all in one day, we spent Sunday in Boston attempting to follow the freedom trail, which is a clearly marked trail that goes past several historic sites in Boston. Apparently following a red line is above our capabilities though, because we lost it several times.
We then drove back to Connecticut. On the way, Hilary managed to lose her wallet at a rest stop. So, we had to turn around, get back on the toll road, drive past the rest stop another 6 miles, get off the toll road and pay the toll, turn around, get back on the toll road, and drive back the 6 miles. They didn’t have it.
After checking in at the hotel in Connecticut, I went to the lobby to get some toothpaste from the front desk. The guy in front of me was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but unfortunately no underwear. And his pants were quite loose, so there was about a half to three-quarters moon. And the girl he was with? In a wedding dress. I love how these things happen to me.
Monday was the day for me to leave. However, at some point on Saturday, we realized that I had my flight back to Indy booked for Tuesday night. After the lady at the ticket counter told us that it would cost over $350 to get my flight switched, we logged on Hilary’s computer and booked a new flight for about $180. Ha!
Overall, the weekend was a disaster. Fun, but awful at the same time.
Dumb and Dumber take on New England
Last weekend I had a long weekend so I decided to visit Hilary. I booked my flights about a week before, and that’s when the problems began. Turns out I booked a flight for Friday morning instead of Saturday (meaning that I would have to miss my classes on Friday). Luckily, Hilary caught my mistake and since I called Expedia 24 hours within booking, they took care of it without making me pay the nasty $150 fee.
The original plan was for me to get there Saturday, go visit Salem (where they had the witch trials), and then drive up to Mt Washington in New Hampshire. On Sunday we would climb the mountain and then head back to Connecticut.
This did not even remotely resemble our weekend.
The troubles began when we got to Salem and started walking around. It quickly became apparent that Salem is an awful place to visit. Something about the lack of historic buildings and the abundance of Italian sausage and Spongebob balloons really turned us off, so after meeting up with a couple of Hilary’s friends we decided to go to dinner.
On the way there, the navigation system took us through a light that decided to stay red through two whole cycles. We didn’t stick around to find out if the third time was the charm, and after the navigation system took us in a few circles we got to dinner.
Keep in mind that at this point I’ve flown out to Connecticut and driven to Massachusetts to go to a mall and eat at the Cheesecake Factory.
After dinner we left for New Hampshire, heading towards Mt Washington. On the way Hilary’s friends called to see if we wanted to go to a haunted house that was kind of on the way, so we decided why not. When we got to the haunted house we started calling around trying to find hotels in the area, only to find that they were completely booked in the entire “region.” A few phone calls later told us that “region” implies New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, so after the haunted house we drove back down to Boston. The haunted houses were fun, and included Hilary squeezing my hand off, freezing in lines, Hilary’s friend Chris entertaining everyone around us with his stories, and being told that we “smell like Walmart.”
Not wanting to drive the 6-hour round trip to Mt Washington all in one day, we spent Sunday in Boston attempting to follow the freedom trail, which is a clearly marked trail that goes past several historic sites in Boston. Apparently following a red line is above our capabilities though, because we lost it several times.
We then drove back to Connecticut. On the way, Hilary managed to lose her wallet at a rest stop. So, we had to turn around, get back on the toll road, drive past the rest stop another 6 miles, get off the toll road and pay the toll, turn around, get back on the toll road, and drive back the 6 miles. They didn’t have it.
After checking in at the hotel in Connecticut, I went to the lobby to get some toothpaste from the front desk. The guy in front of me was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but unfortunately no underwear. And his pants were quite loose, so there was about a half to three-quarters moon. And the girl he was with? In a wedding dress. I love how these things happen to me.
Monday was the day for me to leave. However, at some point on Saturday, we realized that I had my flight back to Indy booked for Tuesday night. After the lady at the ticket counter told us that it would cost over $350 to get my flight switched, we logged on Hilary’s computer and booked a new flight for about $180. Ha!
Overall, the weekend was a disaster. Fun, but awful at the same time.
dumb dumb dumb dumb......
So I’ve noticed that this blog has shifted from “How to be Homeless” to “Stupidity in Traveling”.
Anyways, this morning I was arriving at the Eastern Iowa Airport with only about 20 minutes until the departure of my co-workers flight, so let’s say that I was driving like we were in a hurry. I made the turn into the terminal a little late, and over shot the turn. Turns out my little Mercury didn't have a good turning radius and I couldn’t make it into my lane. So next thing I knew, I was driving the wrong way down a one way street at the airport…
Well, of course my luck, I got pulled over.
As my coworker is grabbing her bag from the trunk and sprinting into the airport, the police walked up to the car:
“Ma’am, do you have a driver’s license?”
“No sir, I recently lost it… I have a passport in the trunk if you’re interested.”
“Ok, you do have an active drivers license, right?”
“Yessir.”
“Is this your car?”
“No, it’s a rental.”
“Have you been drinking?”
“Nosir, just stupid.”
“Ok have a good one.”
Anyways, this morning I was arriving at the Eastern Iowa Airport with only about 20 minutes until the departure of my co-workers flight, so let’s say that I was driving like we were in a hurry. I made the turn into the terminal a little late, and over shot the turn. Turns out my little Mercury didn't have a good turning radius and I couldn’t make it into my lane. So next thing I knew, I was driving the wrong way down a one way street at the airport…
Well, of course my luck, I got pulled over.
As my coworker is grabbing her bag from the trunk and sprinting into the airport, the police walked up to the car:
“Ma’am, do you have a driver’s license?”
“No sir, I recently lost it… I have a passport in the trunk if you’re interested.”
“Ok, you do have an active drivers license, right?”
“Yessir.”
“Is this your car?”
“No, it’s a rental.”
“Have you been drinking?”
“Nosir, just stupid.”
“Ok have a good one.”
Sunday, October 3, 2010
4 Month Homeless Anniversary
So I've been officially homeless now for 4 months..
Those of you who questioned (or discouraged me) from doing this, I'm going to have to say a quick "told you so".
I frankly can't say that I'm "saving money" so much as "freeing up money to do other fun things".
Here's a summary of some of the things I've done these past few homeless months:
- go boating in North Carolina
- get overserved after the Red Sox game in Boston
- turn day into night drinking in NYC
- attend weddings (Stephanie/Derek and Michelle/Jason)
- create Blackout Weekend 2010 in San Francisco
- see Ziggy Marley at a music festival in Boston
- take adventure vacation in Norway
- catch up with old friends for a night in Chicago
- go back to Purdue for a football game
- take a weekend trip to Disneyland
**sidenote: another contributing factor to all my weekend fun is that I have not gone to Russia for work since early July, which frees up a lot of my weekends.
and next weekend Kyle is coming to visit, and then I'm headed back to Michigan for my cousin's wedding. And after that, who knows what is to come..
I'm definitely going to continue being homeless, the question is whether I'm going to continue this blog or not. If you still read it, could you let me know (you don't even have to tell me your name).
Those of you who questioned (or discouraged me) from doing this, I'm going to have to say a quick "told you so".
I frankly can't say that I'm "saving money" so much as "freeing up money to do other fun things".
Here's a summary of some of the things I've done these past few homeless months:
- go boating in North Carolina
- get overserved after the Red Sox game in Boston
- turn day into night drinking in NYC
- attend weddings (Stephanie/Derek and Michelle/Jason)
- create Blackout Weekend 2010 in San Francisco
- see Ziggy Marley at a music festival in Boston
- take adventure vacation in Norway
- catch up with old friends for a night in Chicago
- go back to Purdue for a football game
- take a weekend trip to Disneyland
**sidenote: another contributing factor to all my weekend fun is that I have not gone to Russia for work since early July, which frees up a lot of my weekends.
and next weekend Kyle is coming to visit, and then I'm headed back to Michigan for my cousin's wedding. And after that, who knows what is to come..
I'm definitely going to continue being homeless, the question is whether I'm going to continue this blog or not. If you still read it, could you let me know (you don't even have to tell me your name).
Friday, October 1, 2010
A New Level of Random
When I got to the Dayton airport at 6:00am this morning, I was planning to fly back to Hartford via Chicago. I stepped up to the United ticket counter... but the reservation was not found. So I rechecked my blackberry and to my surprise, I was flying Continental (not United) .. oops. As I printed out my boarding pass, I found out I was flying through Cleveland (not Chicago) .. oops.
The flight from Dayton to Cleveland was so short and I was in such a deep sleep, that I was Grumpy Pants McGee when they made me wake up. And I was pouting that I didn’t have anything to do this weekend while I was waiting to board my flight to Hartford when I realized.. my sister lives here, maybe I should hang out with her for the weekend. So I frantically texted her and of course she said I could come. So I got out of line to board and headed over to Hertz.
Now unfortunately, my bag still went to Hartford, but I guess I'll just get that on Sunday when I am back.
The flight from Dayton to Cleveland was so short and I was in such a deep sleep, that I was Grumpy Pants McGee when they made me wake up. And I was pouting that I didn’t have anything to do this weekend while I was waiting to board my flight to Hartford when I realized.. my sister lives here, maybe I should hang out with her for the weekend. So I frantically texted her and of course she said I could come. So I got out of line to board and headed over to Hertz.
Now unfortunately, my bag still went to Hartford, but I guess I'll just get that on Sunday when I am back.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
been blog MIA
Well, I’ve been lazy about writing blog entries lately. So I’ll have to write it all at once, but I added pictures for all of you who prefer to read picture books over chapter books.
- Cornfields of Iowa – the only exciting part about this is I found out we can get day passes for the local gym from the hotel. Only problem now is I have no excuses for not getting up (at 3:45am) to work out.
- Windy City Apartment Tour– Thursday night I slept at Stacey-pin’s new condo, which is absolutely amazing and decorated to the T. It almost made me want to get a place…. Almost. Friday I got a chance to lounge around and drink coffee at Sara’s new place… she basically lives in a resort complete with indoor and outdoor lap pool, half-mile circumference track on the 3rd floor, outdoor fire pits, and a view of the city. Again, it almost made me want to get a place…. Almost.
- Family Sleepover in West Lafayette, IN- I joined my family at Purdue for the football game and tailgate. Since Kyle has an extra bedroom, my parents stayed there and the rest of us just slept on the floor 4th grade slumber party style. We stayed up late night gossiping about Jonathan Taylor Thomas and playing with the Ouiji board.
- Weekend at the Happiest Place on Earth - I spent this past weekend at Disneyland staying at the Grand Californian Resort, visiting Craig and Mickey Mouse. We packed as much in the weekend as possible including park hopping, black tie SETP dinner, Newport Beach, In and Out, etc...
- Back to Ohio - where they upgraded my room to a suite, which is a nice sentiment, but really... who uses a hotel room jacuzzi??
- Cornfields of Iowa – the only exciting part about this is I found out we can get day passes for the local gym from the hotel. Only problem now is I have no excuses for not getting up (at 3:45am) to work out.
- Windy City Apartment Tour– Thursday night I slept at Stacey-pin’s new condo, which is absolutely amazing and decorated to the T. It almost made me want to get a place…. Almost. Friday I got a chance to lounge around and drink coffee at Sara’s new place… she basically lives in a resort complete with indoor and outdoor lap pool, half-mile circumference track on the 3rd floor, outdoor fire pits, and a view of the city. Again, it almost made me want to get a place…. Almost.
- Family Sleepover in West Lafayette, IN- I joined my family at Purdue for the football game and tailgate. Since Kyle has an extra bedroom, my parents stayed there and the rest of us just slept on the floor 4th grade slumber party style. We stayed up late night gossiping about Jonathan Taylor Thomas and playing with the Ouiji board.
- Weekend at the Happiest Place on Earth - I spent this past weekend at Disneyland staying at the Grand Californian Resort, visiting Craig and Mickey Mouse. We packed as much in the weekend as possible including park hopping, black tie SETP dinner, Newport Beach, In and Out, etc...
- Back to Ohio - where they upgraded my room to a suite, which is a nice sentiment, but really... who uses a hotel room jacuzzi??
Saturday, September 4, 2010
CAR THIEF!
Last night, my Hartford night, I stayed at my friend/co-worker's house while they are vacationing in Paris. This morning, before my departure to Charlotte for the weekend, I went to the gym, then headed back to the house to shower and finish packing up. When I got there, I opened the garage and much to my surprise, the Audi sitting in the garage was GONE!
I was frantic, and went and checked every door in the house (all were still locked). Peered in through the doorwall to see that the house looked as if it were the same order in which I had left it. I went to the next door neighbor's house and rang the doorbell to see if he knew anything, but he wasn't home. And I frantically called and texted them in Paris, but couldn't get a hold of them. Finally, I worked up the courage to go inside the house (where everything was normal, including my computer was still there). I started trying to find their son's phone number when I got a call from Paris.
Turns out Greg's brother came to pick up the car and take it to the dealership, and the crisis ended just as quickly as it began.
I was frantic, and went and checked every door in the house (all were still locked). Peered in through the doorwall to see that the house looked as if it were the same order in which I had left it. I went to the next door neighbor's house and rang the doorbell to see if he knew anything, but he wasn't home. And I frantically called and texted them in Paris, but couldn't get a hold of them. Finally, I worked up the courage to go inside the house (where everything was normal, including my computer was still there). I started trying to find their son's phone number when I got a call from Paris.
Turns out Greg's brother came to pick up the car and take it to the dealership, and the crisis ended just as quickly as it began.
Friday, September 3, 2010
More chaos ensues..
I'm sorry, I'm becoming too lazy to update every time I go someplace, but let me give you a quick overview:
Yesterday morning: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Yesterday afternoon: Chicago (which was supposed to be a layover, but turned into overnight at the airport)
This morning: Chicago
This morning: Boston
This afternoon: Hartford
Tomorrow: Charlotte, North Carolina
Monday: Greenville, Ohio
Thursday: Hartford
Got all that?
Because of this silly little hurricane they call Earl (amongst other things like thunderstorms in the midwest), my flight from Cedar Rapids into Chicago was delayed, which caused me to miss my connection to Boston. But all I had to do was flash my Star Alliance Gold Card (aka The Magic Card) and suddenly the woman at the ticket counter was handing me a voucher for a night at the Hilton, a $15 food voucher, a confirmed first class seat for a 1:15pm flight, and first on the list stand-by for a 6:00am flight. I'm just going to go ahead and say it, I love Star Alliance and they love me. Honestly, the only thing that really got me flustered was in the morning when there was no overhead space for my luggage (because I was on stand-by, I had to be the last to board), and they made me check my bag. There is nothing I have more hatred for that waiting for my bag at the carousel. I know, it's a tough life..
Anyways, once I got to Boston, I found that I had ever so cleverly left the lights on in my car and was warmly welcomed back with a dead car battery. I guess I'm not the only one this has happened to though because they have a call button in the airport parking garage for dead batteries, and they send a very grumpy gentleman to jump start the car.
I'm becoming a little bit nervous because last year about at this time, I had a long drawn out series of unfortunate events (including lost phones, wallets, etc.) I'm hoping that these incidents are not signs that the streak has been revitalized.. I'll keep you posted.
Yesterday morning: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Yesterday afternoon: Chicago (which was supposed to be a layover, but turned into overnight at the airport)
This morning: Chicago
This morning: Boston
This afternoon: Hartford
Tomorrow: Charlotte, North Carolina
Monday: Greenville, Ohio
Thursday: Hartford
Got all that?
Because of this silly little hurricane they call Earl (amongst other things like thunderstorms in the midwest), my flight from Cedar Rapids into Chicago was delayed, which caused me to miss my connection to Boston. But all I had to do was flash my Star Alliance Gold Card (aka The Magic Card) and suddenly the woman at the ticket counter was handing me a voucher for a night at the Hilton, a $15 food voucher, a confirmed first class seat for a 1:15pm flight, and first on the list stand-by for a 6:00am flight. I'm just going to go ahead and say it, I love Star Alliance and they love me. Honestly, the only thing that really got me flustered was in the morning when there was no overhead space for my luggage (because I was on stand-by, I had to be the last to board), and they made me check my bag. There is nothing I have more hatred for that waiting for my bag at the carousel. I know, it's a tough life..
Anyways, once I got to Boston, I found that I had ever so cleverly left the lights on in my car and was warmly welcomed back with a dead car battery. I guess I'm not the only one this has happened to though because they have a call button in the airport parking garage for dead batteries, and they send a very grumpy gentleman to jump start the car.
I'm becoming a little bit nervous because last year about at this time, I had a long drawn out series of unfortunate events (including lost phones, wallets, etc.) I'm hoping that these incidents are not signs that the streak has been revitalized.. I'll keep you posted.
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