Week 1

Rain falls like daggers, the cloud cover forbidding and the sky streaked with lightning. Feet slap the ground showering water every which way. The music is so loud now that I am unable to distinguish what is being said around me. The bass thumps in harmony with the rhythm of the dancers and all is well. The DJ announces that he will be playing the final song of the night: "I Got A Feelin'" by The Black Eyed Peas. It is at this exact moment that I realize I am the dancer, soaked from head to toe. It's hard to believe only a week has passed.

Not many people get the opportunity which we are experiencing here, and I say we because there are many of us. Too often we take for granted the small things, and I hope not to fall into that same trap here, because let's face it, how many people get to wake up in Disneyworld? While there are a lot of us here, there are a lot more absent. I know, it must be difficult imagining Cinderella's Castle becoming repetitive, but these things happen. 

I sat down today having absolutely no idea what I was going to write, and I still don't. To everyone at home, I know you want to know everything that is happening, but there is simply no room to describe it all. I will however tell you the highlights of my stay thus far.

I have been to Magic Kingdom twice in as many days. I have strolled Downtown Disney and spent more money on food than I want to be reminded of. But most importantly, I have met some great individuals with whom I get to share this one-of-a-kind experience. There is no other way to say it, I am grateful. And I am also very, very tired. Pushing yourself beyond the point of tired activates a zombie-like state within a person, and that is exactly the state in which I have lived for the last few days. "Live each day to the fullest" has never had more meaning than now.

Job training has been tedious, but rewarding. I will be working hospitality at a resort, and that is all I will say here. I have one day of training left, followed by a couple of days off, and the rest is to be determined. The customer care displayed and taught by Disney far surpasses that of any other company in the world. It is no surprise that customers return time and time again to experience what cannot be experienced anywhere else. If you have never been here, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

If I'm not working, I'm usually finding some way to fill in empty time in my schedule, so I apologize if I seem unreachable or nonexistent. I am still here... Just having more fun than anyone should be allowed to have :)

Oh, if you want to see pictures, there are probably a bunch on my Facebook profile page.

See you next week,

-D

Orlando, FL

The cost of eating out, staying in hotels, and fuel: too high to list. The feeling of finally reaching your destination after eight days and over 3,000 miles: beyond priceless.

This is no Mastercard commercial, nor has it been an ordinary journey. Knowing I get to stay here for the next five months has left me feeling quite pleased. Let me tell you what little I know about Orlando.

Billboards in formation like soldiers line the Interstate as we head South into Orlando, each advertising something different, and each leaving you with the feeling that the town itself is nothing but a glorified product, one that you won't be able to afford. This feeling quickly vanished upon entering Orlando, facing the realization that I would soon be leaving this road trip, and Oregon, behind. My insides tingled with nervousness, anxiety, and excitement. I always feel this way before I know a drastic change is about to occur, and unfortunately it's been way too long since I've felt this way. Change has never been more welcomed.

Window-mounted air conditioners spit condensation on you from above as you stroll the sidewalks along hotels. The air is humid and with each breath you imagine microscopic droplets of water coating your lungs, slowly drowning you. Your shirt sticks to your back, the sweat glazes your skin. Even your eyebrows have fulfilled their purpose and are barely holding back the sweat waiting to drench your eyelids. 

We arrived in Orlando only a few hours after leaving Valdosta, GA this morning. We checked into our hotel, in Lake Buena Vista, and were delighted to accept reasonable room rates, a decent restaurant, and an incredible looking swimming pool; I wonder if we can dive into it from the 18th floor balcony? We decided not to waste much time here and were adamant upon checking out one of the parks: Epcot. With half of the day already behind us, it wasn't even worth going into the park. So, after being passed off from bus to bus and spending more time determining our location than anything, we decided to head back to the hotel.

We explored Downtown Disney a bit tonight. Orlando is one of the most diverse places I have ever been and also one of the most friendly. They say it's the happiest place on earth, and I have always been skeptical. Now, I see no reason why anyone should be anything but happy while they are here. The people are great, the food is great, and the weather is interesting. There is nowhere else I'd rather be.

Just because the road trip is over doesn't mean the updates are as well. We have another day to explore Disneyworld, and then I will determine how often it will be updated. Thanks to everyone who has been following along since the start, I hope you continue to read. 

To the girls of Colorado and Nashville, you have further been dismissed of all duties. I love Orlando...

-D

Valdosta, GA

The trees turn black, their branches and leaves no longer distinguishable, and the sky turns sapphire, letting us know that dusk has come.

Nightfall has come for the first time on the trip while still driving. We lost another hour crossing from Alabama into Georgia, arriving in the Eastern time zone. A late start also pushed us back an hour or two, but we made it to where we want to be, completely exhausted and ready to sleep.

We are in Valdosta, GA. I know little about this town, other than the fact that it probably has more hotels per capita than people living in it. This is apparent immediately as you exit the highway and are bombarded with a plethora of signs, each trying to sell you the "better" continental breakfast or high-speed wireless internet access. Not much more can be said about this place. It's merely another stop along the way.

The less sleep I get, the more my imagination runs rampant. The more it runs rampant, the more I fear I may start throwing fiction into the mix of things...

You may know what it's like to be so tired that the backs of your eyes feel hollow, bottomless, and almost painful. It's a wonder you still have the sense of vision given the fatigue you are experiencing. Imagine going to bed each night, eyes closed, but still blinking, trying to moisturize what has been sucked dry by frozen, stale air from the air conditioner. The acrid smell of feet rises from below the covers, suffocating you in your sleep. Just kidding about that last bit, but this is the feeling with which I have ended each day from the beginning of our trip.

The drive tomorrow will be the shortest yet, and we will finally arrive in Orlando.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, we were driving incessantly today.

-D

Nashville, TN

I hate taking detours, unless it means being able to visit the country music capital of the world: Nashville, TN.

Today is the first day of deviating from the original route to Orlando, FL. We have plenty of time to kill and many things to see. After visiting Memphis, it only seemed logical to compliment the experience with a similar outing. We travel Northeast, for the first time since departing Oregon, and head to Nashville unsure of what to expect.

The city here is well kept, with the lines in the sidewalks cutting through the concrete in a defined manner and the streets worthy of red carpet status. Skyscrapers and historic buildings perforate the sky with authority and tourist shops and eateries own the majority of Broadway, our adventure for the night.

Neon lights and a cacophony of voices pave the way into downtown Nashville. Our first stop may as well have been our last. I have never heard music before like I have tonight. In fact, I may actually have a new appreciation for country music... I stand firm in the belief that seeing it live will always beat listening to a recording though, so don't expect to see anything from the country genre in my CD player, ever. Covers included, but were not limited to, artists such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Allman Brothers, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Blues-infused live country music shows and more chicken-pickin' and pentatonic soloing than anyone should be able to handle have made for a most excellent night.

Our destination tomorrow is undecided, and that degree of spontaneity is what has allowed me to enjoy this trip so much. It is rare that so many consecutive days get progressively better, but I ain't complainin'!

Colorado girls, you stand no chance against the ladies of Nashville. Just sayin'

-D

Memphis, TN

I'm going to preface this by saying this post will be somewhat shorter than I intended and probably unfocused because I am falling asleep as I type this. It seems that Memphis got the best of me, and I the best of it.

My appetite has been minimal the past few days, probably because I have been sitting in the truck burning calories only when I blink my eyelids or make a slight turn of the wheel. When I lose my appetite, I also lose my desire to do other things, like explore the town. It's a good thing the South has good food. A southern comfort smorgasbord for lunch seems to have been the comfort and inviting welcome my stomach has sought all week.

We traveled fast, crossing both the west and east state line of Arkansas and making our way into Tennessee. Welcome to culture shock. Drop all familiar ways and open your eyes to a whole new world, where unspoken tension exists only in one's mind, and where open arms and the greatest people you'll ever meet are just around the corner. This is Memphis.

Words don't allow me to describe any type of experience that takes place here. This is not something that is bound solely by imagery and can be painted into the mind's eye of the reader. This is something you need to see, and something I cannot believe I have missed out on for so long.

Beale Street, Memphis. This is our abode for the evening, a gateway into rich southern tradition and the stage for some of the most unique musical acts you will ever encounter. We spent the majority of our time in BB King's Restaurant and Blues Club where spicy hot buffalo wings were the obvious choice for an appetizer and where people from all over gather to share one common interest: Blues music.

The music was as rich as was the food, and the memory I now have to hold, even richer. The street outside was filled nearly to capacity, the end streets blocked and governed by police. A haven for tourists, and a home for many. Like I said, even eloquence doesn't do this experience justice. I love Memphis.

Will be more awake tomorrow night, maybe.

Having the time of my life, and not even to Orlando yet,

-D

Tulsa, OK

A countless number of films have been made in the setting of a hotel, motel, or the like. More often than not, the genre of horror comes attached. Everything regarding the plot seems so subtly unnerving that one hopes that such a thing does not really exist. I am here to tell you that these things are real. 

Imagine a place that invites you inside, surrounded by sinister clouds and flashes of lightning. A place where the trophies of game hang contentedly on the walls surrounded by resonant silence and employees absently gaze into your eyes as you approach. Beetles, both dead and living, litter the carpet. A meal prepared within the hotel leaves me feeling more cold and sick than I'm sure were the hands that prepared it; other diners seem unwitting of what is so obvious. A stagnant pool sits in the midst of an enclosed courtyard, an easy view for anyone who walks outside of their room. Surrounding the pool is a haunting terrarium, its purpose I am sure cannot be decoration. The pungent stench of an unidentifiable source leaves your head spinning and works much like an anesthetic to relieve you of the reality you are currently experiencing. Such places  do exist.

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"...I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

-Wizard of Oz

And I would like to make it clear that I share Dorothy's enthusiasm for no longer being there.

A place where fields idly roll and cows haplessly graze, unaware of their fate. Where the stretches of highway are so long and straight that the heat jumping off the asphalt turns road into sky on the horizon. This is Kansas; all of what we saw anyway. I find it calming to drive in the countryside like this. A sudden entrance into the city leaves me feeling as though my patience behind the wheel was all for nothing. These places really are beautiful but seem to be so consistently interrupted by needless developments and other modern things. At any rate, the drive through Kansas passed by quickly, almost making me wish we had wasted the day on something more worth seeing. 

Entering into Oklahoma the hills faded and the green and the trees with which I am so familiar began shooting out of the ground. They formed a thin canopy on both sides of the elevated highway and breathed freely. We crossed a body of water, although I have no idea which one, and the sailboats seemed to whisper along the glassy surface. As we continued driving we came to Tulsa, OK, which is where we are staying for the night. I've decided, as a result of this trip, that when it comes to driving, I am invincible. I have promised myself to conquer Portland when I return and will do it with ease. 

I look forward to tomorrow, because I am driving us out of this mess that is the city. I also look forward to it because it means that I have slept, and right now, I want nothing more.

Wishing you all were here

-D

Lamar, CO

Stray beams of sun drift in through the crack in the curtains, scathing the ceiling and fading into the shadows of the ceiling corners. The smell of a hot continental breakfast penetrates the stairwell and carries all the way to the fourth floor where I have just awoken, lying on my back. If tranquility were due an objective description, this would be it. 

With a good night's sleep and an eagerness to see what we have not yet seen, we headed out from Grand Junction, CO this morning on a due course east towards Kansas. Traveling on what we knew would be more scenic than the Interstate, the highway we are taking has proved to be dreadfully slow. On a more positive note, the scenery was actually quite nice to take in for awhile. Colorado is beautiful. And I mean it. For the avid outdoor enthusiast, Colorado is nothing more than a playground. For me, it is an extension of that tranquility with which I awoke this morning; a necessity to keep my sanity. 

We drove through the Rocky Mountains today. We stopped at Monarch Crest and took a lift to 12,000 feet up, revealing a breathtaking view. The snowless crests reveal rocky slopes and dirt trails that seasonally serve as ski paths when the mountain is coated. If you've never seen this part of Colorado, you need to get out here. The altitude here isn't the only thing that will leave you breathless.

We saw our first rain as we neared Lamar, CO. We also saw clouds, ominous in their presence, and a lightning storm off in the distance. Just as quickly as the sluggish drive wore off morning's peacefulness, nature's eraticism restored it.

Some pics below, enjoy

-D

Grand Junction, CO

It's hard to believe that just yesterday morning we were heading out on I-84 East, trailing the outskirts of the Columbia River Gorge, the mountains serving as both the foreground and background on the river horizon, the colors like a fanned paint deck...

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I don't particularly like mornings. And I don't particularly like politics. A combination of the both this morning, as well as a nearly sleepless night, left me feeling annoyed and frustrated. We are traveling with my grandfather, who seems to like both of these things quite a bit actually. What could be better than discussing taxation at 7 am? Beats me.

We crossed through two state lines today: Utah, and Colorado. The mid-west is quite a sight to behold, if you never tire of looking at the same thing. Yes, some of it is very incredible, but some of it also very dull and repetitive. The terrain blends effortlessly together from state to state and makes one thankful for "Welcome" signs and Rest Areas. 

Because of getting so little sleep last night, I spent a lot of time sleeping in the truck. I know, I'm a terrible traveler for lacking enthusiasm and the desire to observe! But, as I said, monotonous terrain is hypnotizing. 

We ate at two different restaurants today. The first is called Winger's Grill and Bar. Ever had popcorn as a starter? Yea, me either. That only made for a smooth transition into the greasy, delectable fish and chips that I cleaned up like no other. Dinner far surpassed the lunch experience. After checking into our hotel we drove around town looking for whatever was still open. Finally we decided to stop at Boston's, gourmet pizza house. The food wasn't the only great thing... Let's just say, I wouldn't mind me a Colorado girl.

Hoping to get a good nights rest...

-D

Jerome, ID

Sometimes preparation isn't even enough to make an event seem real. It was this feeling of unpreparedness that left with me this morning as we set out on the road. The drive itself seems to have passed quickly as we pounded pavement and took turns driving, each drifting in and out of a cognizant state when we were no longer behind the wheel. I'm going to be honest when I say my favorite part of this trip is already a toss-up between exploring random cities and eating good food, both of which I never get to do at home. I can't think of one thing worth exploring in Tigard. 

Does anybody blog anymore? I've never done this before, but when I occasionally stumble across someone's blog I feel as though it is some trivial means to expressing oneself. Red flags should start going up when this becomes less about the trip and more about the things that fall into the category of blogs mentioned above. 

Staying in Jerome, ID tonight. Sharing bunks with the bro... bottom sucks!

Stay tuned

-D

New Beginning

Not everyone gets a chance to start over, but that's exactly what I feel like I am doing. New state, new people, new job, new mindset, new socks/underwear. I've recently landed an internship at Disneyworld and will be leaving the state for 5 months, for those who don't know. While this will be the epitome of "stepping outside your comfort zone," there is no doubt in my mind it will be an enriching experience.

From the moment we hit the road in the morning, August 10, to the moment we arrive in Orlando, FL the learning process will start up again just as it always does when summer quickly comes to a close. There are multiple things that I wish to accomplish on this trip: update the blog everyday (including photos), evaluate certain aspects of hospitality in each hotel we stay overnight (hospitality management interests me), and most importantly, enjoy myself. 

I'm not sure if anybody will read this. If so, great. If not, then I'm bad at advertising! 

More soon

-D