rickps | You Never Take Me Anywhere

So, OK, I haven't posted in a while. Fine. I have a note from my mommy right here (which is interesting as she's been dead for over 20 years).

And what have I been doing in the last couple of months? Traveling. A lot. Some for work, some to see friends.

El Paso

A day trip in late October for work. Conclusion - don't go to El Paso again.

Albuquerque

Another work trip, three days in all. Technically I was just north of Albu-quirky, in Rio Rancho, one of those instant town kinds of places that seem to pop up almost overnight. Memories of the trip are very positive. Incredibly nice folk no matter where I wandered. Albuquerque had a squeaky clean feel to it yet it's a city with a lot of history. Had the good fortune to eat ('dine' is too fancy a term) at Mannie's, a local diner-esque joint, with the ever charming billeyler and abqdan. After dinner, we moved onward to the Bill and Dan mansion for a brief stop. I'm glad I upgraded to the full dollar tour as it included a visit to the Shower-From-Hell shrine which featured a dazzling array of spray jets and controls. It makes you yearn to be dirty. We then ventured outside again for an Albuquerque by night tour ("over there in that dark area is the river..."). I hope to get back for another visit one day soon, maybe in daylight. Imagine!

Hawaii - Big Island

Off to the rock for the Turkey Day holiday to spend some time with mfpatterson, his partners Earl (LJ challenged for the moment) and Mark/mark_link, and at least three dogs and six cats (although they seemed to multiply and divide into more as the week progressed). I need to do a separate post about the journey and why living in such a place is far from an endless supply of palm trees and umbrella drinks. Who knew that an evening coqui frog serenade could be restful? But it was! Seeing some of the folks I most care about on this planet made the trip very, very special.

Los Angeles

Really not a visit but a trip up with my good friend Dan to wander the LA Auto Show. My itch for things automotive was well and truly scratched. Prettiest car at the show was the Fisker Karma. Never has a four door sedan looked so seductive. Hands down winner of the "Only a Mother Could Love" award went to the Porsche Panamera. Ugliest. Car. Ever. Amazing too how $8,000 of extras will render the interior a 1950's cabin cruiser look-a-like.

Ran into animbear and redbeardedblond while in Porscheville and had a lovely chat about lust objects, some of them automotive. Richard's Tales of Auto Sales were especially entertaining.

San Francisco

Another weekend in Sodom-on-the-Bay. I was reminded what Bay Area rainy weekends are like. VERY reminded. It is indeed an enchanted kingdom, if a bit soggy around the edges. Ran into fuzzygruf and double_ohsteven at, wait for it, Starbears. I think they have specially reserved seating these days.

Palm Springs

This coming weekend to see a former co-worker, George, and his partner of 30+ years, Neal. Always fun, always lots of good food, always a pleasure.

Seattle

Off for the XMAS holiday to see the other half of the 'family', none of whom are on LJ, the slugs! I've been to Seattle during this time of year on a bunch of occasions. Yeah, it rains, yeah, it can be way too cold. But the place has a visceral roughness that fits the season. All those hunky bearded mens...

After all that travel, I intend to let my luggage relax for a bit until after the first of the year. For a few days...