Goal 69: Kissing the Keys

First of all... Happy 4th of July!

And lastly, but not leastly:

Goal 69: Drive to Key West, FL

I had a full month of visitors. It all started with a mostly nice CP reunion, and then transformed into Whit and her friends, and trailed off with just Whit. On the last weekend she was here, we decided to make the road trip to Key West.

The first night we stopped at Whit's aunt and uncle's house. It was kinda neat, but her aunt didn't like me. We drove on a road that was inhabited by bajillionaires, and shaded with their green.

Then we made it to the Overseas Highway. Driving this was the actual goal. It was awesome. We saw endangered Key Deer that were about 4 feet tall, and key hopped all day.

I would love to swim out to one of these and set up shop... and by shop I mean retire.

We arrived in Key west, and you instantly pick up on the gay vibe because there are chickens that run free, and spectrum flags about.

I visited the Southernmost Point in the Continental US. Which, now that I've thought about it more, doesn't make any sense, because Key West is an island, not really continental...

Even more paradisy.

We got eaten alive here trying to sleep in the car. When we rolled up the windows to keep the mosquitos out, we sweat buckets. With no vacancies from there to the mainland, we bought a bag of ice to try and keep cool... It didn't work great.

The next day we went on a snorkeling trip out in the Atlantic. It was awesome. They took us to one of the only coral reefs (maybe the only one?) in the USA. it was beautiful.

It was good to be with the ocean, and see the endless seas. I miss the blue, and this area of the country really is paradise-ical. I hope to someday own a shack on these shores.
Status:

Overworking

Goals 39, 63, 90 & 95: Spring Break 2011

This post is going to be much less exciting than the title leads on with the onslaught of completed goals. While I did much, I didn't take pictures, meaning everything is described in words of detail.

I took my spring break to myself, and in the words of Kanye West:

"I just needed time alone, with my own thoughts

Got treasures in my mind but couldn't open up my own vault,

My childlike creativity, purity, and honesty

was honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts"

-Power, by Kanye West

After lots of deliberation with potential trip mates, the choice to lone-trip arose out of murk. A veteran of solo road trips, I know they can be invigorating and reveal a wealth of experience and knowledge in even short trips. This sounded right to me, and I knew that it was an opportunity to really clear my mind. Anything that I felt to be holding me back or distracting to me, I dropped... or, it would be more accurate to say that I dropped myself from all of it.

Goal 63: Go somewhere without a destination

This is metaphorically, and physically speaking. I left Jemez Springs, and my father's cabin, on Sunday, March 13 with no idea where I would end up. I put my bike in the backseat. I drove northeast. Then I started eliminating distractions to let my mind wander. Facebook and the cell phone were easy, they have deactivation methods. It was everything else that I was worried about: ghosts.

I found a little town called Lamy, and ate an anchovy pizza in Estancia. Driving southeast I started to think about my camera. I've been using my camera adamantly for the past four years doing "Picture of the Day," and have always been excited about getting cool or exciting pictures for each day. But it's become more than that, it's become a crutch also. An excuse to tell less stories, or tell less of them. A way to avoid words. It's also affected my memories. If I didn't get a picture of it, or its picture didn't make the cut for the day, then it might as well have not happened. If the picture was bad, or boring, and shot without any passion, I remember that day with an equivalent interest, making some very exciting and fun times get pushed to the side of boring days with great pictures. Long story short, the urge to use my camera and document my trip became a bond that I released myself from. I decided I would only use my camera for one picture of myself every morning (for POTD continuity), if I saw any skybridges (no crutch here), and for any goals I completed (to make the post at least a little interesting, and because these pictures would only be at specific, pre-determined times, and I would not be searching for good shots everywhere).

I arrived in Dallas early the next day. I had never seen a city with so many skybridges.

The feeling of not having a shower was already starting to bug me, so I started carousing hotels, seeing if I could figure out how to get a free shower.

Goal 90: Go Swimming at a Nice Hotel I'm NOT Staying At

I was in the downtown Sheraton trying to find showers connected to the fitness center. The hotel was snazzy, and there was a conference going on, so lots of people were about. I checked every door I could find, and eventually found a patio exit that wasn't key-operated.

From the patio, I walked around and found this little fence.

That fence opened up to the pool area and fitness room. After exploring and finding that they had no showers, I grabbed a towel and went swimming.

The water was cold, and chlorinated. I could feel the sweat and light grime chemicalizing off. My hair felt like seaweed as I drove south. I followed signs to towns with names like "Gun Barrel City" and "Log Cabin." I found a huge, beautiful lake. When night fell I went to Austin, where South by SouthWest (SXSW) was beginning. I attended a few small shows, but moved on. I made it to S. Padre Island by the time I went to sleep.

I rode my bike around S. Padre Island, but it was windy and overcast. I drove on to Port Aransas where there were tons of people, and parked cars for miles. It wasn't a place for me. I ate fried seafood and went to a coffee shop. I had a few minor things that would be purely irresponsible for me to neglect, so I allowed myself access to the internet tubes, but ignored any personal, or non-immediate business. Comforted by the latte and the chair I claimed, I decided to walk on the beach a bit, and hopefully find some interesting people.

I put my thumb out to hitchhike a ride with a beach-driver, and eventually got picked up. When we parked they were drunk, and two ladies walking by just then introduced themselves as Brooklyn and Kimba. Everyone walked and talked down the beach. It slowly became clear that Brooklyn and I shared some very specific, and exactly similar motivations and perspectives. She very actively sought out travel, and growth through leaving her comfort zone. She likes the same foods, had similar and the same goals on her 'bucket list' as me, and even partakes in eating off strangers' plates. As the day went on, it started to just be absurd as similarities were discovered. They called some guys that they had met the previous day, and we hung out at a bonfire for a while. One of them, called A.J., who had a thick Texan accent and attitude, told me an interesting story about wearing a confederate flag in Las Vegas that got him stabbed, and resulted in his shoulder blade being nearly cut off before his friends could save his life. I asked him pressing questions about what it was like to get stabbed because I was interested, and fairly sure I would never see him again. I thought about leaving that night, but decided the drive would be much better in the light, I knew I would be going through tropical areas.

I was parked in a Holiday Inn parking lot, so when I woke up I tried to find a shower again using a method I had thought up the previous day whilst discussing cool traveler tricks. I walked in and looked for people leaving, or house service rolling up on rooms to clean. I was going to walk up to house service and say "Oh! Sorry, can you come back in like 20 minutes after I take a quick shower? I was a little hurried checking out." Instead I just found an open door, propped open with a trash can. It was obvious everyone had left, so I went in. Unfortunately there was no shampoo, so I was still operating with mangy locks, but it was nice to have some hot water and soap.

I drove the coastline, and saw some beautiful bays and beaches. I stopped a few times to think and enjoy the tropical views. At one stop there were oysters lining the rocks. I boiled water with my camp stove, and walked the rocks in sandals, using a pair of pliers to pry them off. I slipped quite a few times, and after a small meal, left with bloody hands and feet. I ate a really delicious meal at a local BBQ joint and took a nap. When I woke up it was dark, and I drove till I made it to the next beach, Surfside, TX.

I could drive on the beach here, so I started to look for wood that I could make a fire with. I see a building-in-progress, and I decide to shine some light on it while turning around. Not paying attention to where I was going, I start hitting some muddy bumps, and I suddenly splat down to a stop. I'm stuck. Anything I say here would be an understatement, but I spent the next two hours digging with pieces of wood, and with my hands, and trying to flag people down. I give up and start a fire on the beach, smoke a cigar, drink some beer and let the thoughts flow.

After a few more hours, the second truck that came onto the beach had a tow rope, but still had a hard time getting me out. After I was out it was still hard for me to cool my nervous nerves that I would have to call a tow truck.

Goal 95: Cry until I laugh

Why do I act differently depending on who's around, and is this something that's reasonable/logical to keep up, or is the basis for this bunk? What do I want to say to the people that are starving for good words? What lessons are being taught to me that I need to learn? I let my mind take me deep as I dried the wet sticks I could find with the small fire. I considered eating a small crab I found.

My mind eventually made its way to my father. He's had such a life, full of adventure and stories, and such hardship! I remembered that he gave me my faith. He told me once that "Things will work out. They have a way of working out." Does he remember that? Does he still believe that? I thought of how inspirational those words have been for me. I laughed at the irony. I laughed in the face of despair and suffering. I laughed because that's all I could do, that's all anyone can do about it... then I cried.

I didn't sleep, only sat and watched the sun rise. I rinsed off as much mud as I could in the Gulf, and left driving along the coast, towards Galvinston. My car began to obviously vibrate at high speeds, probably mud in the tire. My hair made sure I knew it wanted to be washed, my eyes reminded me that I hadn't slept, my cuts and car were covered and filled with mud, and I wreaked of campfire. I had to ask a local store for fifty cents to cross a toll bridge.

In Galvinston I stopped at a hotel with no luck of a hot tub, open door, or even a free breakfast. I bought Whataburger and donuts, and had to go back to the car wash three times before I finally got the mud out of all the wheel wells. I rinsed myself as well for temporary comfort.

I found Houston easily, and it had lots of interesting skybridges.

But that was about all Houston had, so I went back to Austin. SXSW was in full effect now. I went to a hotel to try to find a shower, but had to settle for a hot tub (which could hardly be considered settling). I found a Jukebox the Ghost show, and tried to find a way to sneak into it until they took down the sign that said "Wristbands and Badges Only." I found a Fader Fort wristband on the ground, and thought it was something to have. The show was really good. Afterward I ran into some friends, and we kicked it for the rest of the night bar hopping until we went back and I slept on their hotel floor.

The next day I left before anyone else woke up, thirty minutes after breakfast ended. I did SXSW research on the hotel computer and went to the Muzzle of Bees Backyard BBQ. Specifically in interest was Yellow Ostrich, who wholly swung my interest to come back to Austin. This turned out to be my absolute favorite part of the entire festival. Free beer, free sausages, free show, and a tree house. It was in some dude's backyard outside of downtown, and the mood was mellow to match the bands that performed. I was swayed to stay nearly all day rather than leaving after Yellow Ostrich.

I went on to see Savoir Adore, Mother Mother, and Her Space Holiday. Mother Mother had an awesome show, and despite their recently replaced singer, they played my classic favorite song, Polynesia. Her Space Holiday was kinda boring, and Savoir Adore had a poor venue. While on my way to a Bank of America to get cover for Datarock I saw about 126 bikes ride by, hooting and hollering. I decided to follow them (I'd been riding my bike around Austin this whole time, by the way). I thought we were doing a ride on the capital building or something, and it wasn't until I was just lost enough to get back that I found out this was just a Full-Moon Ride that happens every month with the full moon. Five hours later it was 4:00 AM, and I had seen the city skyline from about four different beautiful angles, panoramic views, I met a healthy portion of the Austin biking community, and I even found a small wrench on the ground (made interesting later).

I slept in my car, but still ate breakfast at the hotel my friends were staying at. I went back into the downtown to try and see Mother Mother again, but when I arrived I found out that I had just missed them. I was bummed, but I stuck around to see the next show, it was a "Canadian Blast." Some dude gets up on stage and effectively convinces me to stay much longer when he announces free drinks and free food, and starts to throw free Converse sneakers into the crowd. I know right... free Converse, what the heck? Well, I yelled out when he said size 11, and he specifically ran around the side of the stage to throw me a nice new pair of brown low-top Converse!

I left a couple bands later because I heard that the Fader Fort (the party that ran out of wristbands after I found one) was going to have some good secret shows, so I tried to get into it. When I arrived there was a savage line to get in. A group of people who knew someone almost got me in, and were all for it, but then the ring leader excluded me at the last moment. I gave up easily.

I went to see a huge outdoor show with !!!(Chk Chk Chk), and then saw Owen Pallett, and Braids. I saw a song or two from around eight other bands, but kept moving. I eventually found an electro show that was bumpin'. I stayed for two bands and bought a drink, but they had a ten dollar minimum charge. I wasn't going to buy another drink, that's absurd, so I left to go find an ATM (unfortunately I never found one the previous night before I got sucked up by the bike gang). I found one quickly, actually, as I walked up I picked up a penny on the ground, and then sadly read that it was out of order... It had other bank locations listed, but I knew that at least one of them was a walk in bank only. By the time I could register all of that, the ATM suddenly lit up, and was functional again! I couldn't believe it, and I went to pay my tab, and buy a t-shirt.

The rest of my night mostly just consisted of people offering me drugs, and me eating a lamb wrap from some middle eastern booth. I left Austin headed home, but only got a few hours out before I had to sleep.

Goal 39: Live Homelessly for a Week

I will say that this wasn't my first intention when I wrote this goal, but I think it works just fine, and makes more sense.

My drive through Texas was mostly uneventful and filled with naps (I took three). Just before the state line I saw a dust devil out in the desert, and I decided to chase it a bit, and maybe drive into it if I could. I turn off and start speeding down this dirt road towards it, and I'm starting to get close, and I'm pretty sure I'm gunna make it. I see a sign that says "Speed Bumps." That's weird, on this dirt road? That can't mean actual speed bumps. I see a speed bump up ahead, but it's just a speed bump, not that bad, right...?

I was too far away to decide just how bad it could be because when I hit it, the bottom of my front end hits it, and I my Subaru Impreza goes flying into the air, literally. All four tires off the ground, ALL FOUR, and I shit my pants as gravity reclaims my Subaru Impreza back to earth. I turn it off, and run into what's left of the dust devil (not much). I quell the urge to have a heart attack as I check under the hood, and under the car. No fluids?! No leaks?! WHAT WHAT WHAT!!! My radiator was pushing into my engine, but it wasn't leaking! OH, I couldn't believe it! I drive away, no big deal.

By the time I'm back on the pavement there's a huge cloud of smoke coming from my engine. I pull off and look underneath to witness a fountain fluids pouring from seemingly every spot under my car...

That's it. I'm done. I'm in the middle of no where, not even to New Mexico yet. My car's totaled. How am I going to get to Socorro for school? How am I going to buy a new car? I call Allstate's roadside assistance. They can't find any flat bed tow trucks, or any towns open on Sunday, so they'll call me back. I roll my car back and realize that it's just one type of fluid, transmission fluid. I do some investigating and actually find a cracked transmission hose that could have easily sprayed the fluid all over the bottom of my car. Is it possible that this is the only problem? Sure. But I'm not getting my hopes up. ALL FOUR TIRES! I ride my bike up and down the highway, read, and drink a beer. The tow shows up, and I notice there's an AutoZone in the next town earlier. I want to ask him to let me just fix it up there, and see if it works so that I can avoid any tow overages, but it doesn't seem like the tow will be that much more than what Allstate will cover me for, so I don't say anything.

We get to Hobbs, NM just before sunset, and I race to replace the hose and refill my transmission. I flinch when the guy tells me that the tow will cost ME $183.00 (a total of $433.00). Thanks for letting me know dude, you're friendly and all, but you could have given me a heads up on that one. I have to reroute the new hose because the radiator denied any access through the traditional path. Remember that wrench I found on that bike ride earlier? It fit the bolts on the tube perfectly. I suspected it, and it was eerie. Once the tube was fixed and the transmission refilled....nothing. Nothing! No leaking fluid or anything! It worked! That's all it was, a 99¢ tube. I eat some Taco Bell in celebration, and get disappointed with the new beef.

Five hours from Hobbs to Socorro, and I'm feeling pretty good. Bored, but that's good. I keep an eye on my temperatures, and nothing is flaring up. I still can't believe it.

I'm around Capitan, NM when ¡SHITCRAP! SOMETHING JUST GOT IN FRONT OF ME! A HUGE ELK OR CAR OR SOMETHING I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING OMG WTF SHIT SHIT SHIT!!! I pull over RIGHT AWAY and am freaking out! That was SURPRISING!

When my front end got bent down, it made the hood much harder to latch, and guess who didn't think it a problem? This guy. I pry my hood off of my windshield, which is absolutely destroyed. The hood flew up so hard that it bent over my roof, and dented my entire roof down. There's not much I can do at this point, and I'm pretty much still surprised my car is even running. I force the hood to latch, and I drive another couple hours with a demolished windshield.

I've come home from ten day hiking trips cleaner and with less cuts.

Status:

Goal 3: University of SoCal and Beyond

Opportunity arises in different ways at different times. Now is the time for visiting schools and traveling for free. I already went over my Purdue visit, now here's another.

The University of Southern California invited me out to visit the campus, and helped me pay for the trip. Sold. Moments later I rented a car, grabbed Whit, and we were on our way.

Jorje, of course, joined us for the ride. He was pleased with the luxury of the vehicle we acquired.

Passing deserts and mountains, it was a mostly nice drive.

We didn't make it in one day, so we stopped at this rest stop to sleep over. Whit took over the heavy lifting of driving, so she required morning stretches for the long day ahead.

After missing an exit, driving sixty miles towards San Diego, and getting stuck in bad traffic because of a terrible accident, this is what entering Las Angeles looks like if you were looking through a crystal ball in a dark room.

We were staying with a friend of mine who went to USC, Catherine Ames. She and I go way back to middle school at Taylor and Monroe middle schools in Albuquerque. I had seen her a couple off times since then, but we agreed that it had been at least four years since we saw each other last.

It was great to see her, and it was so nice of her to let us stay with her! Her and her boyfriend were kind enough to show us to campus, and I got to see a potential future of mine: USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

Visiting is such a prime way to make connections at a University. While I was there, I was able to catch a professor, Dr. Lin, whom I am interested in working with for grad school. Doing research in Design and Manufacturing under the mechanical engineering discipline, working for him seemed quite reasonable, and he was excited to talk to me. He even introduced me to some of his students, and showed me his lab.

The in-depth conversation we had was enlightening, and I realized some important things. First of all, if I'm ever going to be a professor (or professional of any sorts probably), I will need to know how to talk about what I'm doing in an awesome and passionate way. Second, USC may technically be a top-ten engineering school, but the students don't feel that way. Third, other important things about grad school, like MS degrees don't get funded.

So, an added bonus from my ability to seize opportunity during my last trip to Disney World arrived in the night. Her name is Felicia Provost, and she is a very good friend from Disney World. I paid half of her ticket with my Southwest Airlines Voucher. She had never been to Cali, and we had big plans.

Whit knew about Roscoe's chicken and waffles. I didn't know about chicken and waffles. Apparently an L.A. thing, she enlightened us all.

...and it was pretty delicious....very delicious.

Then we checked out Hollywood. Good 'ol Hollywood has some familiar names cast into the ground.

Being at the Hollywood that actually is, and isn't from movies, was pretty good. We got to see the real-world version of the great movie ride, and other replicated icons from Walt Disney World.

The next day was my big 'tour' day. Whit and Felicia went to Malibu while I found out more about the University of Southern California.

They dined me without wine, and I got to talk to a lot of people who had a lot to say about USC and the programs.

The band was called in for a little demonstration, which was awesome.

I was given a bit of a tour of the campus, and got to see some of the facilities, which seem...adequate.

I could imagine myself being a Trojan, and I definitely felt like I made a connection with the school. Not without disadvantages though...

Walking back to Catherines, I realized that living in California means increased fence danger.

The next day was what we'd all been waiting for: Disneyland.

It had been a long time since Whit or I had been to Disneyland, and Felicia had never gone. Luckily I'm still an employee of Disney.

It was interesting considering all the things people have said over the years about Disney parks. This was the third one I've been to this year, and first time I've been back to the Land since I've been working at the World.

Very good to see and experience some different rides, it was definitely different. Felicia commented that it was 'smaller' and 'hokey.' I couldn't help but agree a bit.

The Nemo ride is much, much better at Disneyland though.

...and considering Walt Disney World doesn't really have one, ToonTown at Disneyland rocks harder too.

Who woodah thought there'd be a skybridge IN the California Adventure theme park?

The girls got ice cream.

Did someone say Aladin show?

Probably the best show I've been to at Disney. The Genie is either given an awesome set of jokes, or he's a hilarious dude. He was set with about a hundred current pop jokes that were hilarious! He couldn't stop making fun of Jersey Shore, brought up Gaga, and even took it back to Austin Powers.
Let's just say that after the show we got Spanish krazied and danced our hearts out at a Tron 2.0 dance party.

The night ended with a "World of Color" spectacular. It was new, and liquidy, and painty, and colorful.

That was the end of our little adventure in Southern California. The next day we said goodbye to Catherine, drove Felicia to LAX, and headed home.

So after a big adventure, I should mention what came out of it....

Goal 3: Apply to Grad School

I guess I could go into all of the different things I did to apply to grad school...but that wouldn't be that interesting. Long story short, I learned about it through Purdue and USC visits. I learned more through reading and seminars. I interviewed Dr. Wedeward, the chairman of the Electrical Engineering department at NMT, to get him to know me better. Then I did my research, and I chose my top programs. I wrote my essays about eighty times, and on December 1st, I applied to UC Berkeley's graduate MS/PhD program (appropriate because my first school was the number one pick). Since then, I've applied to Stanford, USC, and the University of Michigan. Just a few months from now I'll know how I did!