I'm trying to get some photos up here, and I know I can get them up, but I'm struggling to find out how to get them throughout the blog rather than just up the top, so I'm going to try put one in now, nope it just went to the top of the page again, so let me try this other thing, nope, that didn't work either, it just added it above the plane.

Grease is on. I'd forgotten it had an animated opening credit sequence.

Ok, let's see if I can work this out, I must be missing something. I've seen othe blogs with photos throughout 'em.

This is ridiculous, I got to work this out. Any clues, anyone?

Well, the battery is almost flat on Anna's computer, so I might just leave it there. 

Pretty informative blog, huh?

Glad you like it.

So I'm sitting at home watching Robocop 3 on TV, mainly because I can't find any Malcom In The Middle on at the moment. There's no Peter Weller, and so far Nancy Allen has been less than favourable, so I don't know how much longer I can last.

Anyway, things are going well. Worked quite a bit this week, probably earned more this week than any other week, I think 3 double Denvers, an Eagle-Denver, pretty decent tips, it's all adds up.

Last weekend, I went down to Denver again, I was hoping to see The Dark Knight in Imax, but turns out it only played for one week, so I missed it. But I did get to see Coraline in 3D. After My Bloody Valentine 3D, I was a little skeptical still about 3D, but I thought because of Coraline's stop motion technique, it might be better. And it was. So much better. It's a good film to start with, but the 3D just elevated it to a whole new level, just magic. Go see it in 3D if you can.

Lewis just died in Robocop, which was painfully obvious was going to happen when she refused some body armour cause she was off-duty, but still got in the car with Robo.

Well, I don't have really much to say, things are going well. Good time last weekend with Neil and the family and walking around downtown Denver. Looking forward to 6th March, Watchmen is released and I'll get to see it in Imax, which should be pretty cool.

Anyway, only took about 3 months, but I finally settled into my life here.

So anyway, I had a pretty good weekend last weekend. Went down to Denver to see My Bloody Valentine in 3D. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't seen it in 3D, as it just seemed to have a cheap digital look to it. But it was a horror movie in 3D, so I had to try.

I'd organised with Neil to hook up for dinner, which was going to be a chance to meet his Mrs and kid, and get a free meal out of it. Things had worked out well for me, I got a lift down with Paul, who had a few hours before his departure from DIA, so he offered to drop me off at the Northfield shopping precinct, so I was able to get there for an early session, since I wasn't wasting time on public transport. So I had plenty of time for another film before Neil was ready to pick me up, so I went and saw The Wrestler. Went to Borders and bought some comics and a nice art book. Probably wouldn't have done that if I'd seen my paycheque for the fortnight, which seemed to be at an all-time low. But that shock wasn't in store for me till a day or two when I got back. So Neil came and picked me up, and we went and picked up Maya, his daughter, from daycare. We were going to swing by the Uni to have a look where Neil worked, but we ran out of time. So instead of having dinner at home, the decision was made to go out for dinner, which was fine with me. I had a shift cancelled on me for the next day, so I was kind of leaning towards staying at Neil's for the night. We decided that was what was going to happen, but half way through my first beer, I got a call from work wanting to confirm me for a 9:30am shift the next morning. I explained I was in Denver, halfway through my first beer, and was planning on staying the night, so that really wasn't going to work out. Then I rang and changed my shuttle to the next night. Anyway, we ended up having to wait awhile for Neil's Mrs and fellow workmates, so I finished the beer on an empty stomach and we ordered dinner without them. Tamara and the others eventually turned up, dinner was yummy, and we all had a good time. It was really good to catch up with Neil again, felt just like old times. And it was great to meet his wife and daughter. Great family. Good times.

We went home and stayed up late talking and watching TV. When they heard that I didn't have one, Tamara offered me a spare one they had, which sounded mighty fine to me. The next day I wanted to head into Denver to look around. Neil offered to drive me in, well, almost insisted, and that was ok with me. But he was a little concerned that downtown Denver wasn't really going to offer me what I wanted. We drove around it a little bit, and there didn't seem to be any kind of shopping precinct like back home, so I was happy enough to go to Cherry Creek where Neil thought it would be better. We stopped of for coffee and bagels, and I ordered a hot chocolate. The girl on the counter said she couldn't make a very good hot chocolate, so I ordered a coke instead, a "fountain drink" as we call them here, and she gave it to us for free since she couldn't make a very good hot chocolate. Cool, bonus. Anyway, Neil was just meant to drop me off cause he had to take Tamara to work and do some work himself, but I think we ended up chatting for almost a couple of hours? It was long enough for Tamara to call anyway. So I had a look around Cherry Creek shopping mall, which was a bit too upmarket for me, but had a cinema, so went and saw Underworld 3: Rise of the Lycans, which was so-so. Didn't leave me hot, didn't leave me cold. Still had plenty of time after, so I walked the streets around the area for a bit. Felt like a high end West End, only bigger. Some really nice back alleys which I'm hoping to take photos of next time I'm down. Anyway, Neil picked me up, went back to his place to check out the TV, which was definitely a good size for transport, but still big enough to watch. Headed of to DIA to catch my shuttle back home.

While I was away, someone moved into our spare room, Anna. Actually it's her Macbook I'm using now. Nice, a Mac. But now I have to share my bathroom again. Oh well.

Went to church the next morning. Some sad news there. One of the young ladies of the congregation was killed in a car accident during the week. I didn't know her, I don't really know anyone there, but it was sad. I'd noticed her just the week before. She played percussion and was pretty. She didn't look like she was much older the early 20's. Such a tragic waste.

Later on that day I went to the cinema in Edwards and saw Frost/Nixon, which was probably the best film of the weekend. Then I went to the office and saw my paycheque. Ouch.

But all in all, it was a really good weekend, probably my favourite since being here.

Well, that's about it as far as news go, the rest of the week was just work with nothing too eventful happening. It was Superbowl Sunday yesterday, so I watched most of the game. The team I was going for made a great comeback, only to lose it in the final minute of the game. Oh well, good thing I don't care.

Having a TV has been bad, it's such a time waster, I'd hardly done much before or after work since getting it. But today's shift got cancelled on me, so instead of spending all day watching TV, I did some work on a painting and started a new one, watched some episodes of Heroes, which I count as different to watching TV, and went over some comic pages I'd drawn. So today didn't feel like such a waste.

Anyway, I'm gonna finish of now. I had been hoping to go to New York this weekend, but accommodation fell through, a friend of a friend, so I'm hoping to head back down to Neil's this weekend, and actually spend some time in Denver on Friday, when it should feel like a bustling metropolis.

An Update For Those Who Read

My feet finally feel a little bit more like feet rather than 2 blocks of ice. The weather has been warm latley, still below ten degrees, but warmer than it could be, so I thought I might risk wearing my Converse again. I put on my woolen socks, and put a second pair over the top of them, but the soles of the Connies are just too thin I guess, because my feet froze as I walked back from the movies to the office. I guess I won't be wearing them again till April.
I don't really have anything of note to say. Life continues. Last week I had a bout of depression which lasted a couple of days. We get paid on Fridays, that is, every second friday. I hate being paid fortnightly. But anyway, I was hoping that with last weeks paycheck I would be significantly closer to being able to buy my Mac Powerbook I've been dreaming of, but with taxes and rent taken out of it, over half my pay was gone, and my dream of actually earning enough to pay back Dad and buy a Powerbook just seemed out of reach. It's not just the loss of owning a cool computer, but the fact that if I want to use the internet, even if it's something that takes five minutes, I have to take an hour or more out of my day. And then my internet usage is limited in what I can do. I have to travel into the office, which is an hour round trip if I come in, jump on the net for the few minutes the shuttle waits, then head home. If I want to take longer, then I have to wait an hour for the next shuttle which will be an hour, so it adds up to 2 hours. Plus the computers they've given us to use only have Explorer on them, no Office programs or Word, so I can't even open a document attached. Plus they seem to have almost no virtual memory, so if you try to look at some pages, it just comes up with error messages and shuts down. It can be frustrating. So along with the loss of my Mac also went my dreams of actually using the internet to a fuller extent, no uploading photos, no checking the movie times before I leave the house, no easily updating whenever the urge takes me. It bummed me out.
But then I read a book about comics. And even though I don't really think the book did what the cover said, it was nice to share some time with someone who loves comics. He even mentioned Strontium Dog in a list of 100 things he loved about comics (some e-mail exercise that went round a few years ago apparently). And so I started to draw again, or actually I think write, though writing comics for me involves drawing, but drawing isn't writing. One of the problems one faces with comics is that there isn't a language yet to use to discuss them, one has to use terms from art or cinema or literature, which can be adequete, but don't neccasarily cover the synthesis of words and picture that is comics. (But whos says comics have to have words? Good point, but it still writing, it still telling a story or making a point or something. Or do random images make a comic? Hmm, something to ponder.) I hadn't done any writing since before I left, so it felt really good to do some, and it was on a story that had stalled on me ages ago, something I hadn't worked on for a long long time, and now I've finished it and started the the epilouge, which is also a prolouge, a connecting part of the story, a transference of focus.
And I watched Speed Racer again.
I love Speed Racer, and reccomend it to everyone even though I doubt a handful of people will actually appreciate it.
Actaully there was more going on than just the possible loss of the computer, but that was the catalyst, the thing which lowered my defences as it were, or maybe it was the straw which broke etc., either way, this time last week sucked, but I'm better now.
But really, who wants to know about that? I don't want to tell you because I don't want anyone who'd be inclined to worry to worry. But now that's it all over, except for the actuial time I have here, you can know, but it is in the past, so no longer a concern. One adjusts.
Have I told you how much I'm loving my job? The tips have dried up, I'm lucky if I get over $10 for a run down and back to Denver. But the drive can be really good. When we have a full moon up, those night drives are positivley awesome. The landscape is lit up before you, the mountains are visible, everything is clear, it truly is beautiful, wonderful. And there's something really enjoyable about cruising. I was afraid coming over here that this job might ruin driving for me, that I would be sick of it, but that hasn't happened. As I've gotten used to the roads and the van, I can just enjoy the drive now, and I do. It's what I like about skating as well, just that cruising feeling. I don't really care about jumps or tricks, just miles of smooth pavement is all I really want when I go skating.
I've also made peace with the fact that I probably won't go skiing. I realised I just don't care. It's cold out there, I don't want to spend the money, and it just seems pointless and not what I want out of a recreation. I feel better now that I've come to this realisation.
I've also started the third Stephanie Meyer book, Eclipse. The Talsiman took me a longtime to finish, because I just didn't care, I'd already read it and it just didn't seem as engaing as the first time. But then I read that comic book in less then two days and I knew I had finish it off, so I plowed through it and am now really enjoying Eclipse.
What else? I saw Gran Torino last week and really liked it. I saw Definace today and also thought it was pretty good. I need to investigate if Dark Knight is being screened in Denver again so I can see it with Imax scenes in it. Also hopefully will be able to see a 3D horror film on the same day, but as I said, need to investigate that. Cancelling my plans on going to NY ComicCon, but will investigate other ComicCon options for future.

What's been going on?

So I was going to write an entry just kind of filling in the last couple of weeks, a kind of barometer of how I've been feeling recently, covering significant dates such as Christmas, New Years, my birthday, Jana's wedding, but I'm tired, so I'll start and see where it ends up.
So I've been here awhile now, and while I still pretty much can't wait for it to be over, I feel a lot more comfortable being here. Probably a large part of that is due to work, earning money, actually doing something. There's human interaction, whether it be with guests or comparing tips and stories on the employee shuttle to and from work. Leading up to christmas, I was making really nice tips as well which allowed me to get a portable DVD player so I can finally watch those DVDs I've been buying, which has been nice. So I guess I've settled into a groove, though I still deep down feel like I'm serving a prison service, but I like my job, the people I work with are the usual bunch of ok people, I got comics and DVDs and a weekly trip to the movies, so things are ok.
There's not all that much to say about christmas. I worked. There was snow so I guess it was a white christmas. I got to drive a Cadillac which was a really nice ride, a really really nice. Then I called home and chatted with the family, struggling to keep my eyes open. Not so different from any other day.
Same with New Years. I worked, and got home pretty much on the strike of midnight. I was going to pop into a party across the way, but when it came to it, I was tired and I couldn't be bothered interacting with drunk people, so went home and watched a movie, when I really should have gone to bed. And the tips since Christmas day haven't been as good either, so there's not all that much to say about New Years either.
But at least I got leave Colorado for a couple of days, so that was nice. Had a comfortable trip to Fort Worth, got picked up by Ernesto, Liand and Chris, some friends of Jana's. Ernesto was kind enough to pick me up, put me up the weekend, pretty much shout me every meal and drive me to the wedding, all around town and to the airport, so was pretty sweet, and I greatly appreciate it. The wedding was nice, but the church it was held in was huge, and it made me feel agrophobic. And I think there was about 8 or 7 attendents on either side. And candles, a huge amount of candles. It was all quite lovely, but it made me miss home a bit with it ostentatiousness. Jana looked beautiful of course, and if you haven't already seen photos on Facebook I'd be surprised, if you were wont to care about seeing what her dressed looked like, that is. Anyway, they got married, we went to the reception, all very nice, a nice informal reception. Then we went home so we could rest up for our big night on the town. That was fun. "The Crew" took me out to dinner at some swish Tex-Mex place, then we went to Pete's, a nightspot where they have duelling pianos, and everyone sings along getting royally drunk and has a jolly good time. That was a pretty cool place and I had a good time there, though I did have to get up on stage with a bunch of other people because it was my birthday (technically it was the 3rd in the US, but it was the 4th back home, so as far as I was concerned it was my birthday. Actaully, as I type this it's the 4th here, but I don't feel particularly like it's my birthday, felt like it was yesterday). Then we went back to the carpark where Ernesto works and went up to the top so I could see the view of Fort Worth from there. It was so nice to be back in the city, it felt really good to be up there and just drinking in the city lights. Then we went back to Ernestos, all piled into his car and went cruising for corn and Mexicans and a tour of the old neighbourhood. It was a good night, actaully a great day all round. Eventually went to bed and woke up for my "birthday" to go catch a plane and come back home. I bought comics. I did my washing. I came into work to check my e-mail. That was my birthday.
And I guess now you're up to date.

A Bit About My Job

So I come into the office, and I look on Drivers World to see if I have any shifts. If I do, I confirm them and remember what time I have to come in. It will also to say what the shift will be, eithere a shuttle to and from Denver International Airport, or a shuttle to Eagle Regional Airport, or a charter to or from those destinations. Sometimes you will express one way and have guests the other way.So you come into the office at your showtime, get the manifest and paperwork for the vans and van key, find your van, and do your pre-trip inspection. If you have guests to pick up, you go through your manifest and find thier locations in your mapbook, and plan your journey. Unless you're expressing, then you just head on down to Denver or Eagle. You pick up your guests, help them into the van, load their luggage and move onto the next one. When you have all your guests on board then you might want to say how long the journey will be, if there's any stops, and just ask if there's anything I can do to make your journey more comfartable. Of course as you pick up each guest you call in to confirm with dispatch that you have picked up your guest and are en route to the next pick up. When you have picked up all guests you call to dsipatch to confirm that you are all clear for Denver/Eagle, where they will say yoy are and wixh you a safe journey.
Then you drive.
A drive to Eagle is nice, about 40 mins tops on a nice clear day.
A drive to Denver is longer, a bit over 2 hours on a nice clear day.
A drive to Denver can be pure hell.
Actually, what I mean to say is a drive from Denver can be pure hell.
When it's snowing so you can't see clearly 5 metres in front of you.
When the guest in the back won't shut-up and wants to inanely prattle on for the whole trip.
When a 2 hour trip drags into something closer to 4, and you still have to drop guests off.
But that's a story for another time.

So where were we?

Oh yes, so let's just say you express down to Denver, that's cool, you get to listen to the new Bob Dylan CD you just bought on the car stereo, you get to sit around for an hour, an hour and a half in the commercial vehichle holding area at the airport and wait to get called up to pick up geusts, but you don't mind, cause you get the chance to read and eat and go to the restroom, but you do miss out on any tips due to no passengers. So if you do have passengers, you go into the commercial vehichle section of the terminal and you try drop your geusts of in an appropriate order of their departure and where their gates are. Then you check your van to make sure no one has left anything behind and call dispatch to say you are all clear, where they will probably tell you to wait in holding till it is time to pick up your geusts.
So then you get the call to door 510 where you are picking up your geusts. A porter brings out the luggage and the guests either beat him or trail after. You need to check that each guest trying to board your van actually is on your manifest, and if they are, allow them into the van. Then you load the luggage. Then you give your spiel about the journey, the policy on seatbelts, the fact we'll be stopping at the halfway point to refuel, if there's anything you can do to make their journey more comfartable, please ask. Then you call dispatch and say you have x number on guests on board, am I clear for Vail? Where thay will most likely say, sure, have a good trip, unless there's a last minute addition. So then you drive back up the mountain, stopping at Downeville to refuel, but mainly to go through your manifest and work out where you have to drop people off. It's best to do that inside maybe, because it's freezing out there. You get all your guests back on board, you travel up the mountain. When you reach the valley, you call in to dispatch to say you're back in the valley with how many guests on board and you'll call when you're clear. They say welcome back, and if you're lucky, they'll have organised a support driver to come and take a guest or two of your hands. So you drop of your guests, hoping each one gives you a tip. Once you are clear of guests you check your van to see if anyone has left anything behind. Then you call dispatch and say you are clear of guests, is there anything else they would like some help with, crossing your fingers you can just go home. They say no, thanks for your help, you can bring it in and wash the van and do your paperwork. So that's what you do, you drive back to base and fill up the van with gas. You go around to the washbay and depending on the time of day either wash it yourself, or help the washers clean the van. Vaccumming, washing the outside, emptying the rubbish, making everything neat, checking the oil, refilling the washerfluid. Then you go park your van. Then it's time for the paperwork and computer log. You fill out what run types you had, the hours, your showtimes and dpeartures, the number of guests, if there was any collects or vouchers. If there were, you put them in an envelope and fill out the details, get dispatch to sign it and stick it in the safe. You do the same on the computer log, you put the van location on a map, make sure you give back the key. Is that it? Well you better check your schedule again, because maybe they've changed your showtime. Hey, look at this, you are working tomorrow now, and what's this, they've put you down for friday, even though that's your day off. Well, maybe you could use the money, and it's just an Eagle, so it won't take all day. Why don't you just ignore and confirm it tomorrow when you come in for your shift.
What's that? Oh yeah, I'll catch the shuttle, just coming, just need to stick the paperwork in the thing and I'll be right there.
And that's my job.

More Things That Make Me Happy

-Continuing on from the cinema, they have Root Beer on tap! Delicious.
-And Root Beer that costs ridiculous amounts back home is cheap as here, I bought a 12 pack yesterday for the price of about 5 cans back home. Cool.
-You know there really is some magnificent country around here. It's really been the canyons I've responded to, driving through them. I wasn't able to take photos of some of my favourite parts because I was driving through it or I was on the wrong side of the van, but hopefully tomorrow I'll be in a better position, though I think I may actually be going in the opposite direction. Also, when it snows, alot of this place really does look magical. You could see why people would want to live here, it's quite beautiful. I'd still rather have the heat and a different kind of beauty, but I can appreciate it.
-I like walking back to the office after the movie, it feels free.
-When I found some graffiti and a stencil under the train bridge, that made me happy. I hadn't seen any and it wasn't beggining to make me a little stir crazy, thinking "How small is this place it doesn't even have graffiti?", but then I found some and it felt like civilisation. Not that I'm condoning graffitti, but I needed that stencil.
-Redaing The Stand and Twilight. I wanted to re-read The Stand because alot of it is set in Colorado, and while I haven't been to Boulder, there where other Landmarks and towns I recognised or have been to or live in and near, so that was cool. And Twilight was interesting because the narrator of that story goes from a sunny hot climate she loves to a cold cloudy enviroment, and I understood how she felt. Also I'm a sucker for romance with Vampires in it.
-Naruto. Wal Mart sells Naruto cheaper than cover price. Now I'm up to date except for Vol 33 which comes out this month. Naruto rocks! Also I can get Shonen Jump which has the latest installments of Naruto in it, so I'm really going to be up to date.
-Sleeping in and sleep. I finally acclimatised a week or two ago, not really sure how long I've been here, but it's nice to sleep the whole night through and not have to get up early.

Things That Make Me Happy

I realise that perhaps I've been sounding a bit glum, so I wanted to write a little bit to even it out. I was going to do it yesterday or the day before, but had a really frustrating day and was instead trying to work out how I was going to change my plane ticket and come home, get a job to pay off my debts, and put all thoughts of Colorado behind me. But then the next day I got my social security number and have worked lined up for Teus-Thurs, so now I feel better. So now I'm going to try focus on the positive and write a list of all the things I like over here so far.
-I really like making myself a Ham & Salad sandwich and then eating it. There's something really positive about the consruction of a sandwich, the layers, the putting it together, level by level. And then it just tastes delicous.
-I found a really nice mild cheese I like, first one I tried. It was the cheapest and comes in a re-sealable ziplock bag. It's a horid colour that seems like a fake plastic cheese, but it tastes delicious.
-Wal Mart has a whole bunch of DVDs really cheap (which I haven't bought yet, but will soon), like Hard Boiled, Fist Of Legend, the Tremors Box set (all 4 movies!) for $14 and multiple others. I think I'll buy Tremors and Hard Boiled tonight.
-My comic shop. It's not really a comic shop, it's actually a music shop with comics in the back corner, but the owner's a comic geek, and very helpful. He's been great at giving me stuff for free, like old Previews and a whole bunch of promotional stuff, which admittedly is free anyway, but he went to his back bit and pulled out a whole bunch of older promo posters for me so now my room feels a bit more like my room. He also gave me a couple of free badges, so it's just nice to know that there's a comic store there.
-The Bookworm. This is the bookstore I found early on, which saved me a little back then. Actually, saved me a lot. It's nice and warm and comfartbale and they sell books and magazines and comic trade paperbacks and when I get my computer, they have free Wi-Fi so I plan on going there and enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate and free internet. They also put me onto the music shop where I get my comics, so cheers to them.
-I might complain about the lack of variety, but at least there is a cinema. Granted it's just a 4 screen, and it's not showing everything it could be (example: the new Punisher film was released yesterday but it's not showing here yet), but at least it's here and showing movies. I guess if I'm patient, I'll get to see most things. (Since this is meant to be a positive column, I should stop here, but it's a little annoying that one of the advantages of coming to the States is actually not available to me, getting to see all the films I can't see back home, because this palce is jsut too small to have an alternative cinema or get all the first release movies.)

I might sign off here, because I want to catch the next shuttle, but I'll try return with some more positive thoughts soon.

The Latest News, (Which Is Not Much)

I'm not really sure what I've done since I last wrote. I see that I still had three days of training to go when I signed of last time, so I've definitley done that. I haven't really felt much of an urge to write anything down since it seems like there's nothing to really write about. I'm in the office now using their internet, and as I look out the window over the snowswept landscape the sky is as overcast as my mood. There is nothing to do here. Of course that's not toally accurate, there seems to be plenty to do for those who want to ski etc., but I hate winter and the cold, so I'm not as thrilled as everyone else seems to be at the snow.
So what have I done since I last wrote? I finished my training. I've had my qualifying run and passed that. I've gone to Denver airport ot get my access security badge. I've twiddled my thumbs and read and tried not to spend money I'm not yet earning. I've looked at the snow and seen it is beautiful but also realise that it just means it's too cold to rain. Tomorrow I go to see if I can get my social security number and get a Colorado Drivers License. Then I wait five days until I actually have a job lined up. That is what it's been like for us here. Do something, then do nothing, do something, then do nothing. I'm not the only one going stir crazy. They told/tell us soon we're going to busy we won't have time to sit around doing nothing, but until that happens, I'm just getting bored and more broke.
I didn't want to just sit here and complain, another reason I hadn't written sooner, but there's really not much going on for me here. We had a trade show last night and I've got my ski pass now, so maybe soon I'll get myself a lesson or two and give this snowboarding a go, but I need money for clothes and rental at least.
Today I took a go around on the local bus to see what I could see. I'm going to go back on it later and go to a muisc shop that sells comics and get the latset Daredevil, so that's something to look forward to, but it still spending money I'm not earning, but sometimes you got to do what you got to do. I finished reading Twilight last night and The Stand this morning, so I might pop across the road to the thrift shop and see if there's any cheap books there I want to read.
One positive note is that maybe I've found a church to go to. This has been a slow process. I first tried looking on the net, but found it difficult to gauge what was what with what I found, especially since one address on the site wouldn't match up with what I thought I clicked on, stuf like that. Also not knowing my way around I had no real way of knowing where things were. Another problem was not having sundays free the first few weeks, so I couldn't get to a church even if I knew where one was. My first attempt at locating one turned out not work out so well. Near the Wal Mart our employee shuttle drops us of at, I could see a church a block or so away. On one of my half days or days off I walked down to check it out, see what times its services were on. Turned out to be a Church of the Latter Day Saints, so I decided to give it a pass. As we drove around more I would spot different churches, but none seemed particulary close. In our map book we were given I spotted a church that seemed not too far to walk to. Last week I made the trek to it to see what church it was. Seemed like a church I could go to, but didn't see any service times. I timed the walk back, it was half an hour. The prospect of walking for half an hour in the cold didn't thrill me, but it was best prospect so far, so since I kew it's name, I could look it up on the net. Then later we drove along a road and I spotted a church that I'd seen before, but had a much better idea of where it was now. It seemed in walking distance, so a day or so later I made the walk and timed myself. Ten minutes, much better, so I decided to give that a go around. Unfortunatley it started at 10am and that's when the shuttle leaves home, so I was going to get ther 20-25 mins late, but I thought that was better than not going at all. So anyway, I finally got to church this sunday, and it seems like a pretty good church. Not everything's the way I'm used to, but it seems like a bible believing gospel focused church, so I guess I can live with practices that are different, American if you will. I've asked for sundays off, so hopefully I won't have any work conflicts. I found it hard to concentrate, because I was busy looking around to see how may single females I could see, but I'm going to try harder to focus on the sermon in the coming weeks. On my drive around on the public bus this morning, there was another church further away which I can access, and also there's a stop much closer to the othere one I walked to, but it's still further travelling distance. The bus will drop me off at the one I'm going to as well, so I'll have to spend money, but I'll get there on time at least.
Anyway, I'll think I'll walk across to Riverwalk and see what's palying at the cinema and go to the thrift shop. Till next time.

A Forgotten Thought

On my first night in L.A., I was walking along the footpath thinking about how far away I was from home, and how even though things were similar, it's actually different. I was thinking I would have liked to have been Jared, or at least have him with me, so I could understand the differences in the night time sky, the different constellations visible. To me, they would probably just look the same, but he might have been able to tell the difference. I looked up and saw nothing but cloud.

Some Thoughts On Birds

While I was waiting in the carpark of one our breaks on the way to Vegas, I saw a crow. I've always liked crows, their beautiful plummage, their size, a magnificent bird. I even like the call they make, especially the rolling gurgle thing they do. So I was pleased to see this rather large black beauty so close.
And then it spoke.
Not english, or spanish, which are the two most common languages here, but it wasn't the sound I was used to either. It wasn't a caw, it wasn't that "Predator" sound. It was more melodic, it wasn't melodic. It's actually a bit far ago for me to remember exactly, so I'm having trouble describing it, but it was weird not hearing the sound I would expect to hear.
It was probably a raven. Raven's are larger than crows I've found out since, and that might also explain the differnt sound.

They also have magpies here. I've had to doublecheck if they really are magpies, because thay don't look like magpies to me. They look like a larger black and white robin, not that I'm 100% sure what a robin looks like anyway. But they're smaller than a magpie back home, and it seems like just over half their length is their tail, and their black and white patterning is more regular, pretty much a white breast and the rest black.

One of the lead drivers made a joke the other day when we going past a hotel under construiction about the state bird of Vail being a crane. I thought it was kind of amusing. It wasn't till a few days later I realised it actually was a pun, when I remembered there actually is a bird called a crane.

The Journey So Far Part 2

It was late, we didn't know where we were staying or have anything to sleep on, in the way of sheets and pillow. We were herded into a meeting room and given a quick spiel, which I'm sure no one remembers word one of. But we were given a folder with information in it and lease agreements and a key. We signed, eager to be somewhere with a bed. We were put back into our shuttles and given the choice of going to Wal Mart or just going straight to our apartments. Our shuttle chose Wal Mart, which miracously was still open. It closes at 11pm, so that gave us 15 mins. I grabbed a package deal, containig sheets, pillowcases and doona. I grabbed a pillow and decided a second one will have to wait till more money was available. I got home and opened the door with my key. There were obviously people already living there, but I had no idea how many or in which room. I saw an empty room through the only open door, so decided that will do for now, and if possible, I'll change in the morning. I dumped my stuff thankfully and collapsed on the bed. It seemed comfartable enough, but I thought I better get back up and put my sheets on and get out my PJs. One of my roomamtes must have come out for a drink, so I got to meet him and then his girlfriend. The noise must've brought out the other, so then I met the last one. All rooms were full, I was in my room. So I settled in by leaving my stuff on the floor till the next day, but still managed to put the effort into getting my sheets on my bed etc. Then I fell asleep. The last good sleep.
I woke late. I must've gone to Wal Mart to start getting stuff I'd need, plates, cutlery, food, frypan, the general setting up stuff. I fix up my room up somewhat, put clothes away, work out what I might need. I go to bed early, hoping to catch up on some rest from the last few days.
Sleep has not come easy here. They say it's a matter of acclimitising, but all I know is since then I haven't had a decent nights sleep. I was able to sleep in the first few days, but since we've started training, I've lost my chance to sleep in.
The first day of training wasn't too bad, mostly admininstration stuff and some getting started with the van stuff. Where everything is in the van. How to put on snow chains. A quick first drive around the block. The day was over at a reasonable hour and had enough different things in it so as not to be to boring.
The second day of training was painful. It started with a Colorado Drivers License Written Test, which I got 100% on, so yippee for me. But then we had ADD class, Attitudinal Driving Something-or-other. This was long and painful. Basically a look at yourself and how you drive type thing, which I'm sure is good and helpful, but still is long and painful. Another night of interupted sleep.
The third day of trainig was nice. A bit of an early start, but over before you knew it. Had to have a physical done for the DOT (Dept. of Transport) to prove we're fit to drive. Apparently I was fit enough, unless I'm going to be told later, but I think it's pretty safe to assume they would have told me then if there was any problems. Then that was it, I had the rest of the day off, so I went itno Edwards to track down this cinema and have a look around. I found it, but the movies weren't starting till 4:10, so I had plenty of time. I found a thrift shop and it had a copy of "The Stand" by Stephen King, which is exactly what I was looking for. I crossed back across the road and found a bookstore selling graphic novels and TPBs. My best day in Colorado so far. I went back home and dropped of my purchases and rested a bit, then went back into town to watch "Quantum Of Solace". I liked it well enough. Walked back to base, and it was freaking cold. A driver recommended a alternate route to the one I used earlier, after he dropped us of at the cinema, but it was dark, and I don't know if it would save much time, but less chance of being run over, but I'll need to get a torch for next time so I feel a bit safer.
The fourth day of training was another good one. We headed of to the Centre For Transportation Safety, where we got to do fun things like drive real fast and drive a skid car, which simulates skidding. There was aslo other not so fun stuff like doing parking exercises, but we were still driving. It wasn't all fun though, as it was still ridiculously cold, and my feet hurt form it, even though I'm wearing two pairs of socks. Also it was in Denver, which is a couple hour drive away, which is a little painful heading home at the end of the day when you haven't been getting much sleep.
The last two days have been similar. Classroom in the morning, then driving in the afternoon. Not last night but the night before I actually thought I was getting some good sleep. I still woke up early, but if I hadn't had to get up at 5:30, I reckon I still would've been able to fall back to sleep for another few hours. Unfortunatley last night was just horrible and I tossed and turned all night. I'm considering seeing if I can transfer to Denver for a sales desk position, as I don't want to have to be struggling for sleep all the time, and I'm freaking out about crashing with ten people on board. Earlier today we saw some footage from the in-car cameras. They said it wasn't being shown to us to scare us, but to educate us, but they failed, it scared me. It was nothing graphic, there wasn't any blood or fatalities, and it is a rarity for accidents to happen, but it's still an accident, and it still got me worried. Anyway, it feels better when you're actually driving.
We've driven the last three days now. Driving back from Denver I felt pretty nervous. I felt better yesterday when we were doing our landmark and zone orientation drive, and today was alright on the way back from Eagle Airport Orientation. I'm just so tired all the time, and it's a concern.
Also, if I get to move to Denver, I'll be nearer to more cinemas and actual comic book stores, which also plays on my mind. I wouldn't be earning as much as I could up here, and I'd probably be spending more, but I think I'd be happier.
I don't know, I'll wait and see I guess. We got three more days of training, so hopefully I'll have a better pulse of where I'm at then. One of the lead drivers I spoke to today about it suggested I wait till I do my verification run. We'll see.

The Journey So Far...

I left home early but not too early Monday morning. I wanted to leave before I started to cry so quickly got in the car. Dad got in and we drove to the airport. We still had time before the ticket booth was open so I went to the currency exchange and swapped my Aussie dollars for U.S. ones. Dad gave me another $100 which I was grateful for. I got my bag wrapped in plastic, and headed over to the ticket thing, whatever we call that place. I joined the que and handed over my luggage when my ticket was cleared. Went and sat and waited. Ox was coming, so I guess I was waiting for two things. Ox made it and bought me a scarf. Now I have two. I got tired of waiting, I just wanted it to be over, so said my farewells and went down the escalator to customs. Passed through fine and then waited some more.
I think it was then that I started to think about how we are all travellers on this earth, we're all just spending our time here for a little while, we're all the same, going from point A to point B, whatever that is. I was heading to Colorado via Las Vegas via Los Angeles via Auckland. Where were these other people going? Were they feeling as apprehensive as me? Who knows. But I wondered, more so than I normally would. Travelling had made us connected in a way we weren't before.
I got a window seat, which is nice. I brought some things to read and listen to, but much preffered to watch the inflight movies. I started with "In Bruges", which got me to Auckland, with a bit of help from an episode of "Ugly Betty".
Then more waiting. I strolled around this commercial purgatory, impressed by the price of Jamesons Irish Whisky, but had no money for it. I was tired, so went and sat down and pulled the hood up over my head to rest. Finally it was time to go to the boarding gate, and I was lucky enough to get another window seat. The flight to L.A. was made up off more movies and Ugly Betty and intervals of rest and maybe sleep if I was lucky. I thought "In Bruges" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" would make for a nice double bill, but it got interupted by Auckland. Still, it's an enjoyable film. I started watching something else, but just wasn't in the mood for it, so watched a Japanese film about a guy who develops the kind of amnesia that's in "Memento" and "50 First Dates", where he can't retain new memories. It was good, I liked it. He joins a professional wrestling club (like Luche Libre, as seen in "Nacho Libre") at his university, because the pains and bruises seem to him like a memory. We flew into the night, so I did some snoozing.
We got into L.A. a bit before I left Australia, around 10am on Monday morning. It's weird. LAX is busy. So many planes. I can't emphasise how many planes there were. Alot. Got through customs ok, didn't go through my bags or anything, so that was easier than I thought, though they do look stern. Called for the free shuttle bus to my hotel, got in, checked in, had a shower, watched TV, went out for dinner at a mexican fast food palce. Discovered the problem with tax. You got to add tax to the price. Why not just include it? I'm sure there's a reason, but I've yet to find anyone to explain it to me.
So basically my next three days were staying up late watching TV, getting up late and catching the shuttle bus to one of the local shopping precincts. I didn't go to the movies the first day, actually, yes I did. I went and saw High School Musical 3, which I had mixed reactions to. I went and saw a couple of films the next day, of which I reccomend "Role Models". I laughed, quite a bit. Wouldn't mind seeing it again.
I also saw a squirrel. In fact it pretty much came up to me. I asked a lady if this was rare to see one, she said it wasn't rare to see them, but to have one just come up so close was. So I felt pretty lucky.
I didn't really buy anything while I was in L.A., as I needed to save my money, but I will before I fly out. I went to Borders and almost cried at how cheap the graphic novels and TPBs were. There were also some really nice art books on their clearance shelves, but way too big to carry around. I decided I'd check Borders in Denver and get them there. (Little did I know that getting to Denver has not been as easy as I surmised it to be, though recent conversations make me think I may be able to get down semi-regularly after all).
Went to Target one of the days, and saw a row of Converse shoes there. Cheap Converse shoes. I don't know what I'll be bringing back, but I might have to send some stuff back by post, because how can I resist such a low price on Cons? And comics? And books?
I thought take-away food was going to be cheaper, but it didn't really seem to be any cheaper than back home. Though chocolate is. I bought a huge Hersheys block of Cookies and Cream for a buck something! A block half the size would cost 3 times as much at least back home. How cool is that?
Anyway, got up on the third morning nice and early so I could check out before beggining the social security processing. Fair few people are already there waiting, and I find a spare seat. So many Kiwis. Feel a bit outnumbered. Anyway, that doesn't take a huge amount of time, once the waiting is over, but then more waiting. I could have gone back to my room if I hadn't checked out, but alas, I didn't realise I'd be able to.
Finally we get on the bus headed to Vegas. Leaving L.A. and California bored me. I didn't like the look of the countryside. I thought America was meant to be this place of great natural beauty, but it didn't match the countryside back home. Going out on some freeway I could see downtown L.A., and it was covered in a haze of smog. I hadn't noticed where I was staying, but it was obvious from that distance.
We got into Vegas coming into dusk. We had to organise ourselvers into rooms, and I went with some strangers. The first thing I did was try find the closest comic shop, since it was Wednesday and I'd been lazy in L.A. I thought I found one nearby, bid my roommates adieu, and made my way to the road the shop was located on. Unfortunatley it seemed to be the wrong end of the road, it was getting dark and I didn't feel like travelling the 3000 numbers down the road to try find it. I was a little paranoid about being mugged, so erred on the side of caution and made my way to the Strip. I had two priorities while I was there, to try see a show and to see the fountain they stand at at the end of "Oceans 11". I went in some casino to look around and see about ticket prices. Too expensive. Maybe later in the year. But I did see a lion or two. This casino (MGM Grand?) had a lion enclosure in it. Las Vegas, hey? Anyway, I saw a picture of the fountain show with the Eiffel Tower in the background, so I knew which direction I had to head. I found the Bellagio and went to see if the Gallery was open. Unfortunatley it wasn't, and would have cost money anyway, so I left a little disappointed. But I found the fountain. It was pretty cool. I went around to get a better viewing position and satyed for another 3 shows. I like it. Decided to go see what else was around there and went and walked the rest of the way down the strip and up the other side, stopping for some dinner and my first internet stop. Went home and watched TV till late again. Made a makeshift bed on the floor and tried to get some sleep. Probably could have taken a bed since the other guys didn't get in till after 4am, but at least this way I had my own bed.
Had Maccas for breakfast, hopped on the bus and headed out 2 Colorado. We were finally getting into some pretty country, in fact the last few hours of daylight gave us some pretty magnificent views, travelling through beatiful mountains and canyons. It was awesome and something I'd rather like to go back to, rather than just travelling through it. We travelled through the night and swapped to smaller shuttles for the last part of the journey up the mountain, the shuttles we would be driving. We were at our home for the next 5 months.

Thoughts On Music

As I was planning my trip, I was making mental notes on the kind of music I was going to listen to as I travelled acros the U.S.. I thought Elvis would be good for when in Vegas, I was holding off on Dylan till I was travelling down the Highway. Instead i just put my i-pod on shuffle and listened to whatever came up.

Except in L.A.. I listned to Neil Young's L.A. albums there, "Zuma" and "On The Beach". It was good to listen to them, but they didn't really suit the areas I was walking. Cest la vie.

Leaving Los Angeles I found Pearl Jam to be very appropriate, especially their slower stuff. There was also another artist who seemd appropriate, but I've forgotten who it was. Maybe Leonard Cohen.

Entering into Las Vegas, Air Supply came on, and seemed to suit perfectly as well. It would've been nice to walk around Vegas, one of the most ridiculous places on earth, listening to my i-pod, but I got paranoid about being mugged and left it in my pocket.

Since being here, especially the first few days, I've found that the music I've most enjoyed when it's come up is Australian artists, especially Sarah Blasko for some reason. Probably because her stuff is good.

I haven't been personally listening to the radio, but when it's been on in the employee shuttle buses I've noticed that they play a lot more Dylan here than back home. Though you can't really take my word for that since I don't listen to the radio back home either.

I've saved my sanity and my ears a little by buying an alarm clock with an i-pod dock, so now I can listen to music and not always have to have my earphones in, and I can try fall asleep to movies without having an earphone pinch my ear as I lie on my pillow.

I've found Dylan's new CD, but am just waiting till I have something to play it on before I buy it. But I'll probably just buy when I get my first paycheck.

First Thoughts and further thoughts

We are all travellers on this planet, you just kind of notice it more when you travel. Back home, when walking through the streets, I was surrounded by people, but never paid them any mind. Here, travelling, the airports, everyone seems worthy of investigation, everyone seems paying some regard. Why? They're no different than the people back home, except of course they are. They're here, not there, this is their home. I imagine they must feel how I feel when I'm at home, totally unaware that person I'm walking past is feeling different, aware, a traveller.

I keep thinking I hear my phone ring, or feel it vibrate in my pocket, even though I know I left it at home.
It feels very disconnected, not having my phone. I can't take comfort in the list of peoples names and numbers. I can't call anyone or recieve their calls. It's a little bit lonely.

When eating in a mexican restaurant, the side-order of chips is just as likely to be corn chips. I guess they'd be fries if they were chips.

L.A. Airport is busy. I've never seen so many airplanes dancing around each other. From the hall outside my window in L.A. I can see a que of planes, at least 6, they're landing lights shining like a fairy lights strung out across the sky.

I'm glad we got rid off our 1 & 2 cent coins. With every purchase I'm getting pennys. The coin pouch of my wallet is bulging. I look forward to when I've got my bank account and can starting operating without money again. Paper money sucks. The notes look too similar and feel like crap. They're practically falling apart some of them. The price you pay is not the price you pay. Advertised price plus tax. I've got to try remember the tax. You look at the menu, think I can afford $4.50, then at the resgister thay ask you for $4.85. What? Oh that's right, tax. Why not just include it in the price? It makes it easier for me to calculate.

Travelling to Las Vegas by bus, we pulled in for a pit stop. It looked like a little Vegas, a Vegas strip in minuture, made up of petrol stations and fast food outlets. The toilet I used was automatic, and flushed when I rose. The soft drink dispenser had helpful suggestions for which drink would go well with which meal. I ignored it and just got the coke.

Nearly every toilet door I've used has had a different locking mechanism.