Last week I ended up living in a Hotel in the Easy Bay area of Northern California—albeit sick and, except for an hour of two a day, bound to my room working and feeling generally not-well. I made the journey and the stay because in the week prior to this seven-day-adventure, the Rocket Scientist accepted an advanced promotion (Sr. Engineer) that requires her presence away from Orange County for a few months. However, if all goes well this new post will stretch into years.
Nine years ago I was offered a job. Accepting the position meant we would have to move to Southern California (Ten miles to Disneyland) and away from Alaska, most likely for good. Unfortunately this also meant that the Rocket Scientist would have to put her college education on hold for at least a year because we could not afford the out-of-state tuition. Knowing that I needed to get out of Alaska and take a risk, she agreed to the situation even though it was a set back to her own plans. Fortunately everything worked out for the best and the risk has paid off many, many times.
Now we find ourselves on the verge of moving for her new job and I'm happy to take on a new set of risks, especially if it means supporting The Love and Joy of My Life (besides it's not like we have to move back to Alaska or some forsaken land, like Arkansas).
So for the next couple of months I'll be jetting up and down the coast for a few days here and few days there to spend evenings and weekends with the wife while carefully mapping out where all the best restaurants are. More importantly I'll use this opportunity to conduct scientific research in the area of how the weight of wine by the caseloads affects the federal MPG estimates for a Volkswagen Touareg. There is so much that is unknown about this science and It's my intent to make efficient use of my time up North (and Google Maps) in effort to gather exhaustive data.
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cool. You get to visit Wine Country every month.
"I'm happy to take on a new set of risks"
We remember the parts of life that had edges, because they made us live.
Good luck with your "new set"! It will be worth itself, however it turns out.
Um, wine running hasn't been a risk since 1933.
(Seriously, though, have a great time experiencing the new!)
Is there a hybrid that runs on two-buck chuck?
Great news. ch-ch-ch-chang-esss!
I'm all for good Napa wine, but I'm with Luke Dorny. The Toureg is just the downmarket Porsche Cayenne - it's not very planet-friendly for a Rocket Scientist and a Zeppelin Pilot! (Then again, California's layout rather demands planet-unfriendliness.)
congrats on the move / new position etc, and hope you get better!
Way to go Cecily! Soon I'l be able to add "Yeah, I knew Cecily Storey when she was just a barista at Cafe Fonte!" to my cocktail-party-impress-the-crowd lines.
Who said chivalry was dead?
Sir, welcome to Northern California. Let's do lunch.
Actually, I take that back. Why burn two-buck chuck on the road in an engine when the belly would happily make the trade for fuel (hydrogen, peanut oil, popcorn oil, french fry oil, solar, etc.).
Keep da wine in da belleh.
So, in Campfire, does "BRB" mean "Be Right Back I have to get a glass of water" or "Be Right Back, I have to drive 5 hours to San Francisco" ?
Just so, you know, there's no confusion. Ethan wanted to me ask.
(Congrats to Mrs. Storey, of course! May your place up north have suitable space to grill.)
You have a blog?
I think I hear Taps playing for Knives & Bones..........
You'll You'll get even better mileage if you switch to a Tiguan
Thanks for all the support. Frankly I'm wondering if I am going to go nuts before I can get a handle on the work I have to do up here. As for the car, well let's just say I'm keeping myself in a job. @TomC - I don't hear anything except the clatter of bones in the new and unexplored.
Welcome to the East Bay/Tri-Valley area! It is a little "small town" here especially compared to LA and SF, but it has its charms. Plus, if you ever get bored there is always SF, Tahoe, Yosemite and lots more not too far away.
If you need a hand or want to know what's around the area, I'd be happy to help.
Progress is beautiful.
Congratulations to you on the decisions that have led you to this point and best wishes to you in the opportunity to make more.
Family first. Then pizza. But mostly family.
I'm just grateful you used Arkansas and not Detroit in your forsaken land example. However, both would be applicable. God and jobs, why hath thou forsaken us?
I moved to Philly for the wife, it worked out great for us and we had a good run. A happy wife is the best kind of wife.
Now if we could get Ethan and Ryan to move in together and fulfill their disgusting destiny things would feel more settled. Plus I want to see Airbag branch off like Coudal and shoot that pilot episode of Ethan & Ryan & Ethan's Mom & Ryan's Mom. We may have to work on that title.
> I want to see Airbag branch off like Coudal and shoot that pilot episode of Ethan & Ryan & Ethan's Mom & Ryan's Mom.
Actually we've already done this. The show is a regular feature on a Turkish public access station. We've got eight regular viewers in the country and one in Albany, New York.
I couldn't watch more than a minute of it. After the intro credits, my gag reflex kicked in, which to me is the signal to switch back to Discovery. Perhaps next season (trying to be kind).
Congrats to the Rocket Scientist. Does Greg really have to sully our shores by making regular trips though? Wouldn't you be better off just leaving him behind?
Greg Storey you are adorable and your Rocket Scientist
is a perfect match....the sun, moon & stars were aligned
the day you met!