August 13, 2003 1:13 AM
I am long awaited e-mail...

New Jersey, day two...(remember, it's 3 hours later than this is posting)
I can't be goin to sleep at freakin 3 AM when I have to spend the entire next day on the road...I swear(when I wasn't driving), I was about to pass out a few times...had to pull over for coffee, just to wake my ass up. Lou is a cool guy though...that guy knows every little restaurant in this city, it's crazy. So far, the last two spots we hit up, Porcini's and Casa Vasca, the owners of the restaurant knew him...and he spoke Italian to the Porcini folks and Spanish to the Casa Vasca folks. Great spaghetti and even better paella...I was stuffed. But like I said before, at least I THINK I said it, Lou is one of the most laid-back people I have met. That guy never seems to get mad, he just takes everything in and is....completely chill. He loves to tell jokes too. Thank goodness I was paired up w/ someone I got along w/ really well, I couldn't imagine what it would be liket to be working w/ someone that I didn't get along with very well. It's really been cool workin with him, he is a very intelligent person who has been through a lot. You get to know people by spending 2 entire days(so far) in a car doing nothing but driving. If the weather weren't so damn bad here, I wouldn't mind staying for a while longer...but alas, the pacific ocean calls and I can't wait to go home on Friday...I still gotta figure out how I'ma get home(ahem).

But tonight, I met up w/ that dude Marc I was chillin w/ last night at Club Doc's and we chilled for the Venus Modeling Contest. I didn't get great pics of the swimsuit portion, because at first, I wasn't sure if I could take pics, and the only bikini pic I did get was all blurry...so I settled for the evening gown pics and I even got to take pics with them...(to be posted upon my return). They were all really cool girls...and seemed to take an interest when they found out i was from LA(of course I worked that angle!). They asked if I thought they could make it there and of course I told them yes. So we chatted for a while, took some pics, and said our goodbyes...I needed to go back up and fill out my expense report for the day. I should've asked for numbers...but 1) I wasn't feelin it, and 2) I didn't think to, and 3) I probably didn't have the nizads to do so at the time. But it was alot of fun...some Air Force dudes, asked me what I was in town for and they said I look more like a horse jockey than an engineer...I should just tell people that from now on, I bet I'd make more of an impression..."Yeah, I ride horses all day long and try not to fall off and get trampled." Fun night...unfortunately tomorrow is my last night and I guess I'm just gonna chill and relax...two nights already and think I'm exhausting my body out. I was supposed to meet up for dinner w/ some friends from the city, but I couldn't make it tonight and they were all leaving tomorrow...damn, sucks...I'm sad. But I think that I'll be out here again soon and I'll try to see them then. It's kinda hard to see poeple when you're out on business...it really is.

Mind-readers
I took that emode test(damn that thing is crazy) thing that cic was talking about in her blog earlier...that shit is CRAZY...the questions truly are pretty random and check out what it said:

(insert e-mode post)

I seriously can't figure out how they get all this, it's pretty damned accurate...and I'm one of those really skeptical dudes when it comes to reading signs and stuff...I find it a very difficult thing to do and often times it's a waste of time trying to do so...

Anyway, I lost a few receipts today, I don't know how...and I gotta fill in my expense report...I hope they're okay with it...I'm still a lk business-traveling virgin...well not anymore, ha ha ha.

Okay, I'm gonna try and go to bed...got another long day tomorrow. Our work days here are pretty crazy, I've been starting at about 9 each day and not ending til 8 and 7, respectively, those are long ass days....glad to know that it'll soon be over. I have to tell my manager when I get back next week that I got a jury duty summons that I can't get out of...hopefully, that doesn't get me in trouble...people keep telling me that they can't get mad about stuff like that, but I can't help but feel paranoid...I'm still on probation...so I don't wanna mess anything up. If I have to take time w/OUT pay, I will...

"Knowledge doesn't take up space, the more you know, the better off you are."

August 14, 2003
4:34 PM
Day 4

Finally, a short day...

We were about 3 feet from getting into a big ass accident on the New Jersey Turnpike today. Again, pictures will come upon my return. It was crazy though, Lou and I had to stop because we were so close and we had to call 911 and get the transit authority over there. The dangers of following too close man, the accident was pretty major...4 cars and the last car, a plymouth really got it bad...the airbags deployed and the car was totalled...hard to get a picture like that out of your mind. The sounds of crunching metal and tires screeching...not memories you'd like to keep. Drivers here are crazy, they are SO impatient and practically everyone's got road rage(AHEM), I'm surprised Lou's not one of those typical Joizey drivers...but if he was, we'd have become a part of that sucker this morning. Now time to go home...er back to my hotel, have a few drinks, maybe try to shop around, pack, get some rest, figure out who I shall give the honor of picking me up, he he he...home sweet home...one more day...one more day...

We are going through some crazy ass shit right now...all of New Jersey is out of power and we just found out it's spread all the way to upstate New York. Airports are out of power and now I don't know if I'm gonna get the chance to go back home...DAMMIT! This sucks...it's causing statewide panic. It's a little scary, but so far, we've got power back and we're just listening to news here and there. Other stations seem to be out of power. This really sucks, I'm thinking about it now, and I have to admit, I'm getting a little freaked out...but only a little. People, please pray that I get home...I don't wanna be here w/ all this goin on. I'd rather be home w/ my family and friends watching this on the news...not being ON the news...

Okay, we found out the Northeast Power Grid in Canada was overloaded(they don't know exactly HOW this happened, but that's the story so far) and now they're just trying to get power back to the most vital places, subways, hospitals, etc. They said most people are being patient, so it's not too bad...I just wanna get outta here already.

"When all else fails, take a deep breath..."