An Open Letter to Apple on the Placement of the Power Button

Apple, remember that time when you lead the technology market?

You would take something basic that we all took for granted and make it so extraordinary that we would all clamor for this thing, paying whatever price, weeping with barely concealed gratitude if we got that thing before everyone else.

One Thing: Hiking Mount Roberts

Oh. My. God. What was I thinking?

It all started on Daughter’s Day. My mom said she would be willing to help me financially as I tried to find a job. It wouldn’t be much, but it would be better than nothing. Then she counseled me to get out there. Do stuff! Don’t be afraid!

Who took over my mom’s body and put the words I needed to hear in her mouth?

Okay, so I don’t know what got into me, but when she said that I immediately thought, “Climb a mountain.” I mean, Mt. Roberts was the “easy” hike. Nevermind that I didn’t know where the trail started, what an easy hike looked like, if the people who complained that it wasn’t easy but was actually moderate were correct, etc.

This is the mountain opposite the mountain I climbed.

 

One Thing: The Flume Trail

I’m here. It’s Juneau, Alaska and it’s beautiful. There is a part of me that wants to play it safe because I have no money and no job. But there is also a part of me that has to take advantage of this free time, the mild weather, and this natural beauty. I’m trying to do one thing – a day, a week, a month depending on my time.

Well, my time and the rain. And the snow.

I decided to try the Flume Trail. According to Alaska Electric Light and Power, “Juneau merchant Willis Thorpe installed a water wheel and an electric generator on the banks of Gold Creek. It was 1893, and his fledgling power plant soon had a name: Alaska Electric Light and Power Company. Today, a sophisticated hydroelectric facility now marshals the power of Gold Creek. The old water flume, however, still remains. The trail that runs adjacent to the flume has become a popular hiking trail.”

I drove with my first new friend, Jo, to the top of the Flume Trail. On the left side of the road, Gold Creek flowed. It was beautiful.

Hello Alaska!

I’m here. I’ve been here a week and it has been the hardest and best week ever. As I sit in coffee shops, drive to libraries, meet strangers at a hostel, and try to make a go at living in a place with nothing but the support of family and friends back home and a truck, I realize that I am a most fortunate person.

Working On My Evil Laugh in Seattle

The drive to Portland, Oregon was not as happy as I wanted it to be. But I was going to see my friends Stephanie and Jacob and that was a happy thing. If there was anything that would raise my spirits, it would be seeing them.

The last time I went to Portland, my friend took me around to all of the places he thought I would like. The things was, though, it was all of his places instead of places he’d thought of for me. They were fine, but not necessarily my cup of tea. This time, he wanted to show he knew me. We started out at that diner that serves breakfast 24/7. While no Waffle House, it was pretty good and any time I can get steak and eggs I am happy. The biggest surprise, however, was gender flipped Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog by the Funhouse Lounge, a theatre company with some really funny ideas. The Blog show was great and when I heard that it would be gender flipped, I wondered what the Hammer would be. It was her Venus (Venis? whatever). It was so much fun that after we dropped Stephanie off at the house, we went back to catch the Dom-Prov. Mistress KeKe resides over the improv players, meting out punishment or rewards, usually punishment, as she sees fit. It was absolutely hilarious. Sometimes it was because of the improv-ers but mainly it was Mistress KeKe’s response. We ended the night at Holman’s, the place where I started my Whiskey Club card, to add another whiskey to my list.

Sunday was calm, the calm before the driving storm. Washed clothes, watched movies, petted cats lovingly outside of carriers – because she was going to be in a carrier for at least a week- and enjoyed a slow pace of life. Soon enough I would be inundated and I wanted to have the relaxed times to remember.

Monday I woke late, dried clothes, watched tv, and prepared a kitty who knew what was about to happen. By my calculations, I was going to spend another week in the truck and I wanted to be prepared. Little did I know there was nothing I could have done to be prepared for the long drive through Canada.

Losing a Cat and other Tales of Weaverville

I left San Francisco at 11:30ish so that I could 1) miss the street cleaners and 2) drive only during the day time. I was about to be driving for about 5 hours and I wanted to get there at a good time. I got the cats into the carrier with no issues, found a spot a little closer, and descended those steps and down the hill with all of my things in tow.

The drive out of town was hectic, probably the most hectic thus far, but finally I was out in the open, doing a modest 65 miles an hour towards my destination.

Note: I think that toll roads should take cards instead of penalizing you for not having cash. Also, how can you make it ILLEGAL to travel on a toll road without the toll when not everyone is from where you are. I’m just following the GPS voice and forgot to take off “toll roads” from my travel itinerary. Anyway, thanks, California, I owe you $25 plus the $5 toll. You asshole.

Anyway, the drive through the mountains becomes very beautiful. I wasn’t even aware of the fires raging around the area I was heading. The smoke had been blown away, the sun shine bright over sparkling lakes, and the mountains loomed in shades of green and brown, showing the serious summer heat and lack of rain.

The Beginning of the Beginning

This is it. This is when it starts to be real. Somewhat scary. So far, the drive, the cat drama, and the stops have all been about seeing friends. In the back of my mind there is a thought that I was heading back to Macon after all of this but now there is no chance that is happening.

Long and Winding Road… To San Francisco

I left California about 5 hours later than I planned, close to 9pm, which was going to put me in San Francisco around 3am. I was staying with an old Macon friend, someone I’d gone to high school and college with and I knew I would have to try to be as quiet as I could with two tired kitties and all my stuff.

the smaller hill

Everything I’ve heard about San Francisco is correct. Streets at 90 degree angles dared you to drive them. I did not accept that challenge. Parking was a pain, and as I walked the block to his house, uphill both ways somehow, I questioned whether I should have just stayed in L.A. But I made it up the hills, up two sets of stairs and into the guest bedroom without causing much of a catastrophe.

I’m Going Back to Cali

I make it to Seth and Jaki’s late Saturday night and once I am there, I don’t feel as tired as I want. I’m really glad to be back in California, but especially to see Seth and Jaki.

 

The Longest Drive

Texas allergies, you guys!

El Paso to Los Angeles is a long, long drive. I woke up early at the hotel, much earlier than I wanted to, but I was up so I thought, “might as well start the  drive.” First I decided to have the continental breakfast. It was the worst. The only thing that was good was the salsa. Well, Fruit Loops and Dannon yogurt but they have a taste profile that has been around for a while. That hotel actually paid someone to cook the food on this plate. It was bland at best and, at worst, may have been responsible for my first non-drowsy stop.

Driving right away was a bad idea. I had to stop every 2 hours because I was tired. But sometimes, on that long, dry drive to Los Angeles, there are not good stops every 2 hours. It was pretty rough.