Long time no update...let's bring you abreast of any recent developments.

Sunday:

FREEDOM! Freedom trail that is. Walked the 2.5 mi strip through Boston that has all the historic sites along it. The best part was riding the bus later and hearing people being told about it:

Today I spent my time invading Boston. And by invading I mean trying not to stick out like a sore thumb.

Since Hanscom AFB decided to stay booked all weekend I'm staying in another civilian hotel, yay for high rates!

But I digress, I started my day by going to the Sam Adams brewery. This was awesome. It's an hour tour or so of the actual brewing facility (unlike Guinness which uses models) and then you sample the Boston Lager, Summer Ale, and Boston Ale.

Well I've made it to Maine. I'm in the Camden Library at the moment mooching off their wireless internet--I love being a nerd sometimes.

Maine could give Georgia a run for some of the hick-ness of the backwoods towns, I was duly impressed by the lack of teeth and peculiarity of accents. French people are somehow beloved here.

Driving several hundred miles (well, 1500 or so, thus far) gives you time to think, and think I have done--and sing way out of key with Captain iPod, oh it was criminal really.

Today my Uncle took me to explore Annapolis and Baltimore. We walked around Annapolis during the morning and had a great breakfast thingy at a small hole in the wall "delly" that was definitely not lacking for business. Breakfast all day, popcorn, pretzels, ice cream, lunches, dinners--a Super Waffle House so to speak. Man was that good.

Captain iPod (yes, the iPod actually has a name) and I would like to complement the excellent road performance of the Camry. I've been getting 33+ mpg and a range of 500+ miles from each tank full of blessed 87 octane. All that with a nice V6 of pure Japanese power. Mr Toyoda can have my babies. (yes, Toyoda)

A journey of a thousand+ miles begins with a few missteps. I'm not in New England yet, still in the South. A few hundred miles away from Atlanta in a place called Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill. That's right, I'm in the Triangle.

Well this is it, I'm off for the great unknown of our nation's eastern seaboard. Today's goal is to get the the Research Triangle area of Raleigh-Durham , North Carolina. It's a relatively short drive and I figure since I might have to live there one day, I might as well pay a visit.

I think I've figured out the internet access while traveling thing, it won't be free per se, but then again, nothing ever is.

So Dena bought a car.

My Uncle Stevie works for Honda of Oxnard, so we test drove a civic there, and also a used Corolla (2001, white). The Honda's offered 1.9% financing on a new car, 5.9% on a used. Good deals were to be had on a Civic EX.

Sorry for no update, but we've been having some phone difficulties. You see, California is simply screwtated. The 805 area code extends north from los angeles all over the area, and you'd think that everything within that area would be a local call, but nooo...you have to look at the prefix! The 555 in the 555-1212, isn't that weird?

Spent the day hanging around in downtown LA. We went to drop off Dena so that she could take her Real Estate Exam thingy, so while she was in there, we went to the Fashion District to look at all the good bargains.

So we're in Santa Paula now, visiting my main set of family. We're staying at Port Hueneme (why-knee-me) on the coast, making the daily trek inland to Ventura/Oxnard/Santa Paula through lemon groves and orchards. Oh, what a terrible few mile drive. (Incidently, we also pass the church seen in the last scene of The Rock, it's in Saticoy, not Fort Walton, Kansas)

You know, it came to me in the shower as I was digesting my thoughts... ...what came to me?

Delicious Irony.

To communicate over distance we first had letters (well, we had screaming and shouting, but that didn't go so well). Then came the telegraph, whoop. Telephone was next, that was very nice, you could hear someone's voice, have a good conversation. That's all well and good.

Today my father and I made the drive to the San Diego Zoo. It was a most enjoyable diversion. Much better than sitting around my aunt's house all day long. The zoo is nestled next to Balboa Park, which is absolutely gorgeous. (No, I did not climb up the cliffs and yell "ADRIAN!") I'm never that cliché.