Pudding and Chopsticks

I went to a store today.. It could be the greatest store of all. Or just a really cool store. Actually it can’t be the greatest store of all. Nope, I would have to conclude that it is just a really cool store. You maybe asking yourself, “what’s so cool about this store?” Well the only thing they sell is… Soda pop. That’s right. Soda pop. They have some candy and an aisle of beer, but they have four or so isles of nothing but soda pop. I must thank my cousin for cluing myself in about this national monument. Or should be national monument. I took a couple photos. I should of took more but I was astounded by the selection. I didn’t know what to do with myself. Again like the Grilled Cheese Invitational I have been training 27 years for this. Life goals achieved… two..

Here is what I purchased. A fine selection I must say. I even got a “nice” from some girl that was working there.. I should go back and start some sort of relationship with her. Perhaps she gets a discount at the soda pop store. Which would be awesome.

So I’m a big fan of cream soda. This vanilla cream caught my eye. It looks old fashioned so it has to be.

I like grape soda. This is NuGrape, ” A flavor you can’t forget.” Yeah well, we’ll see about that.

Strawberry soda sounded interesting. But.. Hot Lips is much more interesting..

Vanilla bean soda pop.. yes please.

An orange soda is great. But an American classic orange soda is awesome.

Club soda blows unless it has some vodka in it.. I got this one for Huver who couldn’t make the long perilous journey to the soda pop store with me.

I like me some root beer. I remember getting root beer from the gas station in town and chuggin it like a real man would chug a beer. Of course I was 12 at the time.

Who doesn’t want to get creamed. Not me, bring on the cream.

I have a small obsession with Junior Mints, so I thought that a Mint Julep would be awesome. Look at the label, it has a steam boat for god’s sake.

I got it because it’s blue.. Is that a bad way to pick a soda.. Nah……

So.. I think this calls for a giant scientific taste test. Or something like that. Stay tuned.. I might get around to it. Oh and the store is called Galco’s Soda Pop Stop. Probably should of said that earlier.

I went to a concert last night of a band that I enjoy very much. Thao With the Get Down Stay Down. I was blown away. Thao walked on stage, a seemingly cute shy girl, a red dress with small black polka dots, cowboy boots, and tied back black hair. But when she picked up that guitar and made those first strings vibrate, no longer was she a shy little girl. No. She became a passionate, soulful singer. Belting her lyrics as loud as she could. A phenomenal guitar player as well as quick witted and funny. Her lyrics hit home in your heart and make you want to dance. The entire show she never stopped moving once, and neither did I.

So far in LA I’ve done a lot of things. Most have been off the beaten path. The Grilled Cheese Invitational, driving on the PHC, restaurants, and this. The Elliott Smith memorial wall. I had no idea who Elliott Smith was until I heard him from friends in Colorado. I liked it. Lately I’ve been getting into singer/song writer music. Elliott is awesome. I don’t want to pretend that I am this mega fan and know everything. I digg the music. I listen to him a good bit but I listen to others more. Goodwill Hunting is one of my favorite movies. I don’t think any other soundtrack would of done the movie justice. You can find more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliott_Smith and http://www.sweetadeline.net

The wall is from the Figure 8 cover shoot. Soon after his death fans initiated a memorial there. What follows is some words that caught my eye.

Music is very powerful. It changes peoples lives, gets them through the hard times. I know it has for me. Unfortunately people can not be around forever, but their music can. For that we can be thankful.

So Huver has taken me to one of the most sacred of places on Earth, In -N- Out. Double double and fries, animal style all the way.

If there’s one reason to move to LA it’s these, I mean, just look at them, their like sweet, sweet nectar of the God’s… or something.

Two cheeses in a pod.

Just think about this. A grilled cheese contest. This has to be the best idea ever. It’s perfect. I’ve been training 27 years for this moment. But, apparently over 2,000 other people have also. I found out about this from a friend of a friend. I decided that this is the kinda of event that I would have to attend and take some photos at. I expected a smaller say.. 500 people event. Laid back, chill, maybe I would get to taste some top level grilled cheese. NO. Let me tell you what it was like. You got 2000 some odd people in line. Luckily we had Bryce and a friend in line before we got there. We took the Metro and didn’t pay. Rebel I know.  Don’t get me started on the placement of the ticket machines and lack of turnstiles. So as you can see from the photo below the line had to be 1/2 mile. It was long. Really long. We got in after waiting in line for probably an hour. Judge or not to judge? Of course judge. So we waited in another line for 10 minutes or so, signed a piece of paper and received two judging tickets. This sounds awesome, and it is. But the problem lies in how they executed the next part. Instead of having a special judges section where you can go and get a competitors grilled cheese sammich, they just set of tables where everyone could stand. We found a spot and just after someone got their first sammich. Soon after that the round was finished. Sammiches eaten = 0. We moved to an area that was thought to net us some prime cheese and was crowded by a mass of people. Some judging, some taking up precious space. Some would get their sammich and proceed to stand in the way of everyone and eat it. Not moving for the people behind them. Sammiches eaten = 0. Finally people moved and I got in front. Katie nabbed a sammich and I waited for mine. Nothing. Apparently I wasn’t loud enough, I didn’t scream, wave my hands, jump up and down, or push people out of the way. A few minutes more of battling the crowd I finally I got one. I quickly downed it. It was filled with veggies, kind of like an Italian pizza. It was ok, mediocre at best. Sammiches eaten = 1. Tickets left = 1. I stood my ground. I mean, why move? No one else was. I tried to get another piece to judge. It ended with people behind me getting to eat and myself left with nothing. I got pissed, turned around, and muscled my way out of the crowd. As you can see from the photo below there had to of been 5 people deep behind me. All and all it ended with me agro about how many people there was at the grilled cheese event. Like I said it was a good idea. Inevitably with all good idea they catch on and become “corporate” when everyone finds out about them. I bet the first 6 or so Grilled Cheese Invitationals were awesome, but the 7th…… didn’t cut the cheese.

The line. From the tents on the right back to us, around a hill, back towards LA, then to the left and down. Way too many people. Am I a hypocrict because I thought there was too many people at the event with me being there myself for the first time. Probably.

The Kama Sutra catagory.

Kraft was there making grilled cheese for all.

One of the many fine grilled cheeses.

The judging criteria.

The people.

My one and only score.

The line to get grilled cheese. I’m sure most of these people didn’t even have judging tickets either.

We walked to Chinatown afterwards.

Cool address box.

Ocean

I’ve been pretty pumped on the new light capturing device. I got to put it through the ringer today with a trip to The Getty and the ocean. It’s been sometime since I’ve been to see some art. Long over due I would say. We walked around for a good three hours. Saw some Monet, Renoir, Titian, Degas, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt. It was awesome. Really glad I went. Next stop Seven Eleven. Then the ocean. A couple photographs with nothing but witty captions.

What no instructions for an Arnold Palmer.. I’m insulted.

Van Gogh. It’s worth all the hype.

Another from the traffic chronicles.

We ended up driving through Santa Monica, getting on the PHC (Pacific Coast Highway) and going to Malibu.. Pretty rad, pretty rad.

Mom, I’ve found sand. I know, it’s awesome. Everything you said it would be.

Our roommate or former roommate, sigh, Bryce was so kind as to take us to this nice little fish eating place. Thank you kind sir, may karma pay you ten fold. Fish and fries for all and tartar sauce to boat.

Malibu.

Now this is what us photographers would call “sweet light.” Almost there..

NO.. Don’t move. Katie.. come on… Don’t move. I swear this is going to be cool. Oh.. and by the way, nice coat.

Ocean is cool, and also breathes salty. Draw a straight line you’ll hit China. I think. At least the probability is high.

Sweet, sweet light. Sweet, sweet Katie.

So peace out. I’d spent and I got a big day tomorrow. Until then.

I really wanted to be blogging everyday but things haven’t gone according to plan. But that’s ok. This morning I was already to start hacking at this when I remembered that I had to call China to figure out what was going on with some visa items. I booked my flight awhile ago and still hadn’t gotten my visa. Not good. I knew that I had to change it. So as I expected the visa papers were not done yet. After all it is China. And if I know China it’s going to take a few hundred hoops to jump through for me to get into the country. If only the US was as stringent. Long emotional story short, I changed my flight and will be in LA for awhile longer. I’m just going with the flow. My Grandma would say “don’t you worry, everything will work out.”. I hope so Grandma. So until then I got some blogging to attend to.

Let’s see, last post is about airport. Ok. Flight to LA. Yes. I remember. I was wedged in between 55 Danish people heading to Honolulu for vacation. They held up the entire plane getting on. Some how we still ended up early into LA. Noise canceling head phones are really awesome. Even though they were not the best, i.e.. Bose, they worked. PSP is handy to have. I plan on getting Tiger Woods 2009 to play on the way to China. I got to do something for 13 hrs. Metallica’s new album worked wonders drowning out the sound of crying infant. In the end it wasn’t the best flight that I have been on. But at least I didn’t need to pull the tab under the seat and use it as a life saving device.

Katie met me at the gate after she got in from her flight. Bless her heart for listening to me complain about previously mentioned Danish people. Rented a car from what I would call ghetto place (it turned out to be fine). Soon after we were at Huver’s house in Pasadena. Um. What else did we do….? Oh yeah we went to eat sushi just off from Sunset and then went to see the worst movie ever, Crank 2. Well possibly not the worst movie every but close. The sushi was good. The best part was that it was cheap, and cheap is good, thus sushi = good. Went back to Huver’s house and crashed.

LA day two. First order of business: Purchase new point and shoot camera. Second order of business: take pictures continuously. Done and done. So below are the photos from day two.

These aren’t really anything special. Just a few snaps of what I think are interesting things. WEHO. Huh, free hiv testing. Interesting. No really, I’ve seen a number of flyers, signs, and billboards advertising this. Must be a California thing. Can’t say that I’ve been driving through Vail and come across a “After you get done shredding the slopes come on it for your free HIV test.” Hollywood. So we went to Hollywood and walked the stars. Big deal. It’s a tourist trap. Just like Vail is. The Famous Chinese Theater. You know, I want to go to China to see Chinese things. That’s what you usually do, at least I would think. I want to go to a country to see their culture. I say this because there were so many Chinese people in front of the Chinese Theater. I don’t get it. You get what I’m saying? Maybe they wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I don’t know.

She packed my bags last night pre-flight
Zero hour nine a.m.
And I’m gonna be high as a kite by then
I miss the earth so much I miss my wife
It’s lonely out in space
On such a timeless flight

That Elton John, what a guy. Just to prove to you I was in Hollywood, I took a photo of the street sign. I know with the advent of Photoshop I could of faked it.. I assure you sir I did not. Amoeba music is a massive place. Really massive. They had everything under the sun. You need vinyl, they got it, you need jazz, they got it, you need trendy independent music lovers that look down on everyone because your not into music as much as they are, they got that too. The traffic here is crazy. So to keep myself from rolling my neck up in the window I have began to take photos out the window when we stop. Which is why 90% of the photos I take are out the window. Seven Elevens where a 44 oz Slurpee has been purchased 3 to date. This is number two. Katie and I went to another friends house to BBQ and play ping pong. A little garage study in light temperatures. And again a photo from some road where we were stuck in traffic.

Opps, I almost forgot. We also went to the LA tar pits. We were pretty pumped on finding some dinos gasping for their last breathe before sinking into oblivion. Mission not accomplished. What did we find? A floating elephant thing and grass growing. What a let down.

Next post. The ocean.

So I am sitting the Chicago airport. When I get to an airport there are a few things that I like to do. I usually get some bad fast food and saddle on up to a seat facing the concourse. This gives me a great view. For people watching. This people watching, is one of my favorite things to do. I’m not sure what it stems from, maybe photography maybe nothing. The airport is one of the best places to watch people. So are bars, stores, and parties, but that’s another post. When I am watching people at the airport I like to write things down. For what reason, well, maybe to write about them later, to create ideas, or whatever. A little Kings Of Leon on the Ipod and here we go:

Guy holding sign and walking, not sure why, maybe he is looking for someone. The guy walks funny. Some sort of band guitar, backpacks trendy hair, a trio. She dresses nice. Wow… that’s a big bag. Red blue yellow green striped hoodie. I wonder what people think I am doing sitting here. This guy is in the army. Nice shirt “Big Racks Rock.” DC Shoe shirt. Whoa, old lady drinking a Monster. Lo carb of course. That guy looks like Mr. Wizard. Guy talking to himself, oh wait, damn blue tooth. Child Sleeping=Cute. Food service technician sitting Indian style four chairs down from me. It that Scottie Pippin? Yeah bro you need sunglasses in here. It’s bright. These noise cancelling headphones I got yesterday are awesome. “Scrub” guy sitting 3 chairs down. I like her hair. She is smiling. Nice jacket dude. Sweater vest. I need to get some more shoes before I go. Cell phone. Trash collection guy. I like glasses. Girl smiling with nice hair walking by again… boy friend in tow. I think my flight to LA leaves in an hour. I think.. Probably should check the tv screens. Becker? I like Winnie the Pooh but on a shirt on a 50yr old lady.. Not hot. Neon green roller bag. Converse All Stars. Why is everyone sitting next to me.. Woman with a tuff of hair pulled up Buddha style two chars down talking to Scrub guy three chairs down. Guy with skateboard. Dude with nice jacket back again, stopped, nope walking back. Weird. Girl next to me stinks.. Eww. Burberry luggage. Two rollers, one towing the other. Genus. Girl in high heels, blonde. Sweater, cute. Lighting McQueen roller luggage is rad. Airplane Captain guy cool hat. Tall air stewardess, sexy. Brown shirt, brown hair, hoodie around waist, sexy. Can’t breath through nose, going to pass out. Really, why did you have to sit there? I’m too close. Trying to concentrate on some very important blogging here.. Geez. Lady carrying plastic knives like a vigil candle. Creepy. Thought I saw George Lucas.. Not enough white hair though. That kid skates. Back is hot. Whoa.. That’s an interesting walk.  Unabomber but with orange hair. For sure. Another employee sits down, replaces first. Plane just got to gate. I think I know that guy. 3.54hrs on laptop battery on current rate consumption. Run man run. Nice scarf.. YES, stinky lady leaves. Nice glasses. What up. Guy next to me hits on another worker girl, she smiles, keeps walking, says something, he proceeds to look at that booty. Yeah that guy has to be gay. No offense. Time to go sit next go gate. Hold on. John Denver is blaring somewhere.. How ironic. Ok relocated to correct gate. Woman smiled at me while she was eating her salad. Kings Of Leon has ended. Metallica Death Magnetic has begun. I woke up Samantha. I suppose she was on her break. Bummer. Gay guy is here at same terminal. Guessing he is going to LA also. Huh. I want to air guitar really bad. Rick Ruben is awesome. Man reading Harvard Business Review. Think I should pick one of those up. Nice magenta coat. Dude reading email on his Blackberry. No Iphones spotted yet. That’s surprising. Hippie girl. That guy has an orange stash. Kenya what up. Oh wait or not him, poser. Nice pen though, I use the same ones G5 roller ball gel deal.. The best. Stock quotes. Half hour till boarding. Pocket square JFK style. Clean, simple, organized and timeless. Damn seating area 4. From GR I boarded last.. Don’t they want to board the rear of the airplane first thus to avoid any slow people that don’t know how to ride an airplane. Rookies. Head bob a bit to the guitar Yeah. AKE 53121. Some number on some container outside.

Well I suppose that’s enough nonsense. Time flies when you are having fun. Don’t you think so?

Kansas

I had a list of topic to discuss, but I seemed to have lost them. They were good too. Tattoos that say “I love me,” box o’ knives at a gas station in MO, deer running out in front of cars, flat earth, long hours driving, and etc. Michigan was good. Gained weight. Mom and Grandma’s cooking will do that. I have also come to the conclusion that I have way too much junk. So with out any more delay I present to you an experiment in fuel. Well I suppose that it’s not really an experiment but more a log of my way from Vail, CO to Lowell, MI. More to come.
Oh, I forgot. I took a wrong turn, or rather, didn’t turn. I was supposed to take 70 to 76 to 80 through Nebraska and Iowa. I unconsciously chose 70 to 70 to 70 through Kansas and Missouri. How fun.

Stop number one, 11:28 am 4/16/2009, Silverthorne, CO, Car mileage 155537.3, trip 37.3 miles. 1.929$ per gal. 8.955 gallons. Pump 2, 17.27$

Stop number two, 5 pm 4/16/2009, Goodland KS, car mileage 155804.0, trip 304, from last gas station 266.7miles, 1.959/gal, 11.690 gallons, pump #3, 266.7/11.690= 22.81mpg. 22.90$ Average Speed: 70-80mph

Stop number three, 10:48pm 4/16/09, Salina, KS, car mileage 156004.0, trip 543.9 miles, from last gas station 239.9 miles. 2.079/gal, 11.383gallons, pump 2, 239.9/11.383=21.08mpg. 23.67$ Average speed: 80mph

Stop number four, 11:54pm 4/16/09, Blue Springs, MO, car mileage 156239.0, trip 739.1 miles, from last gas station 195.2 miles, 1.899/gal, 8.742 gallons, pump 1, 195.2/8.742=22.33 mpg. 16.60$ Average speed: 75 mph

Stop number five, 6:18am 4/17/09, Hazelwood, MO, car mileage 156462 miles, trip 962.0 miles, from last gas station 222.9 miles, 1.889/gal, 9.809 gallons, pump #14, 222.9/9.809=22.72mpg. 18.53$ Average speed: 75mph

Stop number six, 4/17/09 I wasn’t given a receipt, time unknown, location somewhere, IL.  car mileage 156717 miles, trip 1215.8 miles, from last gas station 253.8 miles, 1.099/gal, 10.953 gallons, pump unknown, 253.8/10.953=23.17mpg. 22.99$ Average speed 65-70mph

Final destination reached. Next fill up was mainly to complete this scientific study and visit friends. Car mileage 157012 miles. Trip 1510.7 miles.  To house 260.7 miles. To gas station 294.9 miles, 4/17/09 reached house Lowell, MI 3:21pm. 2.029/gal, 11.632 gallons, 294.9/11.632=25.35mpg 23.60$ Mostly 75mph, 55mph, and city driving.

In conclusion: The drive sucks. Mostly. The middle states pretty much suck. Nothing to do or look at, although giant wind farms offer some sort of excitement. The wrong turn didn’t cost me that much. 100 miles or less if any. Total mileage for the trip around 1270 miles. Cost 155.56$ Possibly a little less since I didn’t fill up right after I arrived. Average mpg: 22.91mpg. Average cost per gallon: 198.3/gal. Total gallons: 66.38 gallons. Total cost: 155.56$

Well, the Subaru is loaded up and when I say loaded up I mean I had to stash junk under my feet. Mainly a vanilla scented candle, a small box, and a super clamp/magic arm combo. At least the candle in theory should make the 18 hour drive home that much more pleasurable. Today I leave Colorado. The place that I have hung my hat for the last two and a half years. An awesome place where I have met some of my greatest friends. I head home to Michigan. America’s high five. Unfortunately I don’t have time to go into the details on Colorado or my move to China just yet. A few notes to myself before I go: When planning on leaving, leave when planned. Thus you don’t have to deal with the snow in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Do not acquire any more junk. Make it to Silverthorne, purchase one Slurpee, two Kit Kats, and a full tank of gas. Thereafter the Slurpee will be replaced by bad gas station cappuccino. At least for the next 1200 miles. And last but not least. Hershey’s syrup works great as a early morning pick me up. Tilt and squeeze into mouth. Enjoy. So goodbye Colorado, goodbye blender, goodbye toaster oven. I am so sorry that I couldn’t fit you into my car. I had more important things to fit.. Like snowboards and magazines full of photographs.

Peace.