there's no place like home

Since it has been a while since i updated there is a lot of things to cover.

While in Washington DC i attended a job fair. Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson's people are both interested in me coming to work for them, but i am going to wait and see if i hear back from the Obama people before deciding.

As for the touristy stuff Alisha and i went to the national American art museum and portrait gallery, the Smithsonian natural history museum, and the national art gallery.

We also ate at Ben's Chili Bowl, during the riots after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination Ben's Chili Bowl was the only restaurant in the U street neighborhood that was allowed to stay open. You can check out the history of the place here
http://www.benschilibowl.com/

We also at at the love Cafe, which can be seen on the food network. I had a delicious fried peanut butter and banana sandwich and a piece of cake.

So the biggest surprise of the whole trip is that i actually traveled home with no delays or cancellations. I guess if you have enough flights planned one of them is actually going to work out.

Oops my bad. 5 more states to go

After another trip to the airport and another canceled flight we were told that there was no way we were going to make it to DC on time. So we hopped in the car and drove. We did not do much sightseeing just a lot of driving. Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, And finally DC.

We made it just in time for me not to see Alisha until valentines day was over. But so far that seeing Alisha in DC really has been the highlight of the trip so far.

I will do another blog tomorrow or the next day on how things in Washington are going but until then i hope things are going well for all of you.

Another airport another delay

As i am writing this entry i am suppose to be in Washington DC, but do to a weather problem in our nation's capitol i am still in Jacksonville, Fl. So i will fill you in on what i have been up to these last couple of days.

First of all i was very excited to watch Barack Obama announce his run for President. If you did not catch his speech you can click this link.
http://www.barackobama.com/tv/

I also started a group called Utah for Obama. If you are tired of the politics of fear, and ready to bring in a new age of hope then you can join here.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/UtahforObama

Jacksonville is a paradise of sprawl and franchised restaurants.
And even more disappointing then that they hardly ever have alligators, so the one thing i really wanted to see in Florida is clear on the other end.

I did make it down to Orlando for a drinking liberally meeting, unfortunately the group must have disbanded because Mario and I were the only ones to show up.

While in Orlando i got a chance to see Disney World, Universal Studios, and Wet and Wild. It looks like Orlando would be a great place to spend a week or so.

Well if the luck is with me i will be in DC tomorrow, i will continue to keep you all updated

we made it

Four states down none to go. We have arrived.

Louisiana

This morning i got a look at some of the devastation that Hurricane Katrina left behind. After crossing Lake Pontchartrain you can see houses with no roofs, building signs broken in half and smashed into buildings. It is terrible what happened down there, and if you can, try to give a little bit to help them out.

www.redcross.org/

Mississippi

Did not do very much in Mississippi except drive. But i have to say Mississippi and Alabama were the two biggest surprises on the trip. Everything was green and beautiful.

Alabama

See above.

Florida

Four days 2800 miles and we finally pulled up to Mario's parents mansion. Swimming pools and movie stars (not really any movie stars that i know of). Tomorrow I am going over to see the Atlantic Ocean. If you are keeping count in the last week I have seen The Great Salt Lake , Pacific Ocean, Colorado River, Pecos River, Red River, Mississippi River, Lake Pontchartrain, Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean.

One more thing, i would like to address anyone who took issue with my comments on Texas.
Here are few reasons that support my claims.

1. Kinky Friedman for Texas Governor
2. The President George Bush Turnpike
3. Walker Texas Ranger
4. The Texas Rangers (baseball team)
5. The smell of El Paso ( I was there ten years ago and the smell still haunts me)
6. The way people take offense when you say something bad about Texas
   

I'm not messing with Texas, honest

Another two days, another 4 states.

New Mexico

Because of some confusion on what time zone we were in Mario and I went to Bill Richardson's Presidential campaign office at 8 in the morning.
After waiting in the lobby area for a few minutes a receptionist walked in looking very confused that we were in her office before 8 o'clock.

Texas

What can i say about Texas. hmmm. Well if you can not say something nice you shouldn't say anything at all.

Oklahoma

We only cut through a small corner of Oklahoma, but if you are ever there look for tall Paul one of the friendliest waiters you could ever hope to meet.

Texas

no please not again anywhere but there.

Louisiana

The second I left Texas i could see that things were better. For one thing instead of dirt and sagebrush there were trees that literally right on the border, i guess they didn't want to be in Texas anymore than I did. Crossed the mighty Mississippi and walked down Bourbon Street.

Thanks for reading

3 states down

California

After packing up Mario's car on Sunday and Monday we finnaly hit the road Monday afternoon.
We had a chance to see some of the most unimpressive areas of California (I'm talking about you Riverside). We took Route 66 for a for a little while, and now i understand what they mean by you will get your kicks there. The road is in such bad shape i not only feel like i got my kicks i got my punches too.

Nevada

Spent the night in Laughlin at the beutiful River Palms Hotel and Casino. Won enough money i was able to afford a postcard in the hotel giftshop.

Arizona

I never realized what i wide state Arizona is. It Literally took most of the day to get across it. One stop at the Grand Canyon & 12 Hours later we reached the other end.

So with 3 states down and who knows haw many to go I hope you all are doing ok.
I will keep you posted on my progress

Where in the World is Justin, San Diego?

After a long day of travel mishaps i finally arrived in San Diego.

Salt Lake City

This morning i arrived at the Salt Lake City Airport at nine A.M. in plenty of time to catch my 10:30 flight. After sitting through my one hour delay they finally let us board the plane. As we were on the runway waiting for our turn to take off the pilot came on and informed us that something was wrong with the plane, and we had to return to the gate.
Anyway to make a long story short after 5 hours in the airport and boarding three different planes i finally was on my way.

Denver

Not much happened in my three and a half hour layover in Denver. One thing i did notice is that all of the bathrooms in the airport could also double as tornado shelters. I know if it were me in a tornado i would like to be in the one place were the shit literally could hit the fan.

San Diego

I finally made it to San Diego. Mario picked me up from the airport and we grabbed a bite to eat. Tomorrow we will be packing Mario's car and watching the Superbowl.

My continuing posting of this blog on my trip across the country depends on two things.
1. Internet availability
2. remembering to do it.