What is this blog?

This blog is the tale and photos of a cross country move from California to Nashville. The trip is over so the blog is not currently being updated, but I'm going to leave it up for access to the pictures.

If a web search dropped you here, now you know what you're looking at.

Answer Key

Here are the explanations of the post title challenge. I am a little disappointed that so few of you chose to participate. But props to Nate and Jen for trying. Jen had more correct anwers, which I guess means she's a bigger nerd than Nate.

Points Available: 22 plus 5 E/C for anyone who pointed out/identifed This is End Game as being left out. I awarded discretionary half-points in situations where I felt it justified.

Ranking:

1. Jen Smith: 10.5 with a few missed points for incorrect characters in Star Wars quotes. I did give you a half point for Dustin Hoffman.
   
2. Nate: 8.5 with missed points for "close but wrong" references in Star Wars.

Answers:

1. It won't work. I have an exceptionally large mind. Marvin the Paranoid Android from H2G2 regarding his inability to be distracted from the mundane tedium of his existence due to the fact that he has a brain the size of a planet. There is no explanation of this, but since Marvin's head is much smaller than a planet, his brain may feature construction similar to Asimov's Positronic Brain, or it may contain Hammerspace.


2. We've got to give him more time... Lando Calrissian to Admiral Akbar regarding Han and Team's delayed success in destroying the Shield Generator station located on the moon of Endor referred to as either the Forest Moon or Sanctuary Moon. Return of the Jedi.


3. Hoover Dam is big. H2G2. Replace Hoover Dam with Space and you have the beginning of the Guide's entry on Space. "Chemist" is your big clue here.


4. Where my nose ends and space begins. Modified version of a quote from Bernard Jaffee, played by Dustin Hoffman in I [heart] Huckabees regarding his Unified Theory of Everything or Theory of Universal Interconnectedness. The philosophy of the film is not ground breaking, but the havoc that the philosophies create in the lives of the characters is quite entertaining.


5. There's something very weak coming through... Rebel Comm officer regarding the transmissions from an Imperial Probe Droid that has discovered the Rebel power generator on Hoth. This triggers the devastating (for the Rebellion) Battle of Hoth when Admiral Ozzel attempts to lead the Imperial Fleet against the Rebels but is "relieved of command" by Vader for his clumsy stupidity. Empire Strikes Back.


6. Fire. F-F-F-Fire. Only Nate got this. The relatively unknown (in the US) Faulty Towers written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth (who also plays Polly). Spoken by the soon-to-be-concussed Basil Faulty trying to clear the hotel due to a kitchen fire which has occurred shortly after a botched fire drill.


7. Be just like Mosaic Canyon back home. Luke regarding the terminal maneuver required in the Trench Run that ultimately destroyed Death Star I at the Battle of Yavin. Specifically, running down the trench at full throttle (a term which actually makes little sense in zero-g piloting, but we aren't talking gaffes here), attempting a Proton Torpedo shot at the Thermal Exhaust Port and pulling up before smashing into the end of the trench. A New Hope.


8. I'll return. I promise. Luke to Yoda when leaving, quite rashly, to attempt rescue of Han and Leia from Cloud City. However, Luke ultimately requiring rescue himself. He does return to finish his training, but not until Return of the Jedi, when he finds his only remaining trial is to confront Darth Vader again.


9. Only an old ghost town... The Muppet Movie. Line by Dr. Teeth. "An old ghost town" is where Kermit and friends finally have a showdown with Doc Hopper before continuing on to Hollywood to become rich and famous.


10. Play back the entire message! Luke to C3-P0 who is translating for R2-D2 after seeing only part of a holographic message recorded by Leia Organa aboard the Tantive IV.


11. I don't see you crying, robot! George Oscar Bluth ("GOB"), amateur Illusionist talking to his brother Michael Bluth. GOB is the one crying. Arrested Development.


12. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. Obi Wan to Luke regarding Mos Eisley. Again, we aren't talking gaffes, but I would think Jabba's Palace would qualify. Maybe Obi Wan didn't expect Luke to find it. A New Hope.


13. Where's not going to get another chance at this... Lando Calrissian to Admiral Akbar advising against a retreat Akbar was about to order from the Battle of Endor. The advice, though risky and costly, led to Rebel success at the Battle of Endor when Death Star II was destroyed, though Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader were already dead. This did not end tyranny in the galaxy however, as most of the Imperial Fleet and command officers survived, though the Star Dreadnought (Super Star Destroyer) Executor was also destroyed in the battle. Return of the Jedi


14. What makes you think there will be settlements over there? C3-P0 to R2-D2 in the desert of Tatooine, bickering over which direction to head after escaping the Tantive IV, filmed at the Stovepipe Dunes, Death Valley, CA. A New Hope.


15. If there's a bright center to the universe... Luke, who doesn't like Tatooine much. He feels it is the planet farthest from the bright center to the universe. LIttle does he know the Universe has no center, being infinite, even though it is expanding. Or maybe it isn't infinite and they know more about the universe in Star Wars. It's all very confusing. A New Hope.


16. There's not much to see... Luke to the partially-blind and Carbon-Sick Han Solo aboard one of Jabba's skiffs shortly before they are unsuccessfully executed by Saarlac. Han isn't missing much Luke says, who knows because he was born on Tatooine. Han replies, "You're going to die here, you know. Convenient." Exactly what I would say in that situation. Good old Han. Return of the Jedi.


17. A Day Late and Many Dollars Shorter... Simple play on the "Day late, Dollar short" folk phrase given I was a day late and the cost of equipment and food was many dollars.


18. Hear me baby, hold together. Han to The Falcon after a Tie Fighter patrol squadron knocks out the Falcon's lateral control capacity during their escape from Death Star I in A New Hope. The lateral control appears to be fixed by the Battle of Yavin.


19. Life is like a box of... Forrest Gump. Duh.


20. Tick Tock. No one got this, but it is a pretty generic phrase from an important but obscure character from an obscure sci-fi phenom: Babylon 5. This is Lorien, the first sentient being in the B5 universe, talking to the (mostly?) dead Captain John Sheridan on Z'ha'dum, the homeworld of The Shadows. This is after Sheridan has managed to kill himself in addition to innumerable Shadows through the use of his penchant "suicide nuclear weapon aboard otherwise harmless starship" strategy.


21. I have a baaad feeling about this... Recurring line in the Start Wars universe used by Force-Attuned and Force-Aware characters about the early warning feeling in bad situations. We hear it from Han, Luke, Leia, young Obi Wan, Anakin, and C3-PO.


22. We're in for some Chop. Certainly the geekiest reference. This is an achievement ("medal") in the Halo 3 Universe awarded when you destroy an enemy occupied vehicle using equipment, such as a Trip Mine.

Somehow, I left This is End Game out of the list. When I realized I had done so, I resolved to give Extra Credit if anyone pointed this out or picked it up. However, only someone who recognized Tick Tock would recognize it. It is Ivanova talking "to herself" as narrator in Babylon 5 referring to the fast approaching climax of the Shadow War. It is in desperation though, as Sheridan has gone to Z'ha'dum and not been heard from since. Consequently, the delicate alliance is threatening to dissolve while they are outmatched militarily by both the Vorlons and Shadows.

I think that settles it.

The motion for a Living in the South Blog is carried by the yea's.

So here it is with inaugural post, California Diaspora:

http://californiadiaspora.blogspot.com/

I will also link it from the sidebar here.

Are you interested?

I am contemplating a new blog idea.  It would be dispatches from a Californian living in the South highlighting the cultural differences and experiences happening here everyday.

If you are interested in reading something like that leave me a comment on this post. If there is enough interest, I'll do it.

Overheard Conversation

I have to over-use the local coffeeshop for internet access while I wait for the planets of Comcast and PODS to align, and while doing so I overheard the following exchange:

Well-Dressed Lady: "By the way, I have some part-time work if you know anyone who needs it."

Shaggy Barista: "I'll keep my ears open.  What kind of work is it?"

WDL: "Mostly floors, starts at $7/hr."

SB: "Actually, you know, a friend of mine is looking for something, I'll let her know."

WDL: "Is she white?"

SB: "Yeah, she is."

WDL: "Ok, good."

Yep, I live in the South.

Again?

Another reminder to keep scrolling 'cause I added several posts.

Also, there had better be more than 2 people reading this blog, so I expect more responses to the Title Identification challenge.  You'll have to go to page 2 for it since the Trip by Numbers series was so long. 

Trip by Numbers: Shooting

Total Exposures:
2169

Err99's:
2

Metering Freakouts:
1. Camera suddenly decides that proper exposure for subject is actually 4 stops under. Riiiight.

Shots Sucked into a Black Hole:
2. Camera fired but images not written to the memory card. Weird. Never had this happen before.

Failure to Fire Events:
5. Camera metered and focused but shutter fails to fire from both body and grip until power is cycled.

Cursing at the Camera Incidents:
12! Includes Err99s, meter freakouts, and Failures to Fire.

Injuries Incurred to Get the Shot:
Two minor falls sustaining minor bruising and abrasions.

Trip by Numbers: Lodging

Most Expensive Night:
Lakeland, TN (just East of Memphis). Taxes on the room came to over 20% of the room cost.

Least Expensive Night:
Last night at Death Valley. My "ticket" proving I paid for camping went AWOL on my first day so the host gave me a pass and told me to stay as long as I like. I stayed 1 day longer than planned.

Nicest Lodging:
Shamrock, TX.

Worst Town to Stay In:
Shamrock, TX. Most buildings looked abandoned, there were only two choices for dinner, and continental breakfast included Biscuits and Gravy.

Coldest Night:
First night in Death Valley. Recorded low at Stovepipe was 21 Degrees. After that it kept getting warmer every night. I kept trying unsuccessfully to refreeze some of my perishables.

Warmest Night:
Memphis. The last few days were unseasonably warm at the same time my California readers were getting rained on like Noah.

Bedbug Infestations:
Zero, Flo makes me check every time.

Slept Better Inside or Outside:
Outside. After sleeping outside for 5 nights, I have still not been able to re-adjust to sleeping indoors. Consequently I am exhausted.

Trip by Number: Dining

Best Meal:
Jerry's Diner in Holbrook, AZ.
Huge Shake, decent burger. They got the burger closest to rare I've had in a long time. It was supposed to have swiss cheese but they only had American Cheese. The green chili was a nice addition.

Worst Meal:
Shamrock, TX. A choice between McDonalds and Dairy Queen. I picked DQ.

Ounces of Mountain Dew Consumed:
Zero!

Ounces of Caffeinated Drinks Consumed:
Zero!

Ounces of Candy Consumed:
Zero!

Worst Food:
Snickers Energy/Protein Bar. Like Cardboard it tastes!

Most Frequent Camp Meal:
Cheeseburger at 4.

Least Successful Food Item:
Campfire Baked Potato. Burned 'em every time.

Trip by Numbers: The Road

Total Roadkill Seen:
4, none identifiable.

State with the Least Law:
Texas.

State with the Most Law:
Arizona.

Number of Tickets:
0

Number of Near Accidents:
Only 1, a Semi changed lanes right at me. Floor it and drive on the shoulder. Thanks.

Number of States:
8 (includes California)

Most States in 1 Day:

4: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas (pronounced ARE-can-zus), Tennessee.

Number of States I've never been to:
None unfortunately.

State Where it Finally Felt Like the South:
Tennessee. The divided highway cut through rocky cliffs topped with bare trees. A good portion of the 24 and 75 look like this, so when I hit it on the 40, I finally realized I was there.

Giant Crosses Passed:
Just the one in Texas. I didn't stop 'cause it was getting late and the sign said it was a spiritual experience I would never forget. No thanks.

Burned out Cars Passed:
One that had clearly seen the end of it's life on Route 66 rather than I-40.

Cattle Lots Passed:
Only 1.

"Authentic" "Indian" Souvenir Stands Passed:
Too Many to Count

Most played Music:
Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight.
A subtle and sublime album. Highly recommended.

Trip by Numbers: Miles

Total Gallons of Gas:
123.62

Total Miles Driven:
2970

Average MPG:
24.02

Most Efficient Leg:
New Mexico to Texas
The Subie's best recorded, 31 MPG!

Least Efficient Leg:
Second half of Local Driving in DV
Driving around the park netted only 20 MPG.

Largest Attraction:
Death Valley at 5,219 square miles!

Trip by Numbers: Gas

Most Expensive Gas Purchased:
Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley at $3.720
Can you believe that?  No 9/10's of a cent!  Just 3.72.

Most Expensive Gas Sighted:
Panamint Springs, Death Valley at $4.499

Least Expensive Gas Purchased or Sighted:
Moriarty, NM at $2.879

Average Cost Per Gallon:
$3.113

Reserve Gas Carried:
1 Gallon

Reserve Gas Used:
None, but it was very close in Death Valley.

Windiest Gas Stop:
Brinkley, AR.
I was knocked into the car.

It won't work. I have an exceptionally large mind.

I've posted 21 entries so far where the titles are references, and I thought it might be fun to try and get you all to guess what they are.  I have listed all the relevant titles.  In the comments, list what you think the title is a reference to.

No fair putting Star Wars for each.  If you think a title is a SW reference, I need the specific movie or context (speaker and subject).  No googling.

Here you go from newest to oldest:

It won't work. I have an exceptionally large mind.
We've got to give him more time...
Hoover Dam is big.
Where my nose ends and space begins.
There's something very weak coming through...
Fire. F-F-F-Fire.
Be just like Mosaic Canyon back home.
I'll return. I promise.
Only an old ghost town..
Play back the entire message!
I don't see you crying, robot!
You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Where's not going to get another chance at this...
What makes you think there will be settlements over there?
If there's a bright center to the universe...
There's not much to see...
A Day Late and Many Dollars Shorter...
Hear me baby, hold together.
Life is like a box of...
Tick Tock
I have a baaad feeling about this...

We're in for some Chop.

This is End Game

Since leaving the Valley of Fire, I have been on the road through to Tennessee.  I have been timing this last leg of my trip to arrive Monday since I wouldn't be able to get the keys to the house on Sunday.

The last few days I have been driving until it is about dark, and finding a place to stay, each day making it further than I planned.  Which is why I am spending the night in Memphis, TN.  I was in four states today (Texas, drove through Oklahoma and Arkansas, landing in Tennessee).

In honor of making it to the Volunteer State, I have shaved the goatee.  Tomorrow, Nashville, hopefully the House, and soon, a haircut.

We've got to give him more time...

I am now caught up on photo posts and posts that I couldn't get photos to upload, so scroll down to check them out and check the full album link in the left sidebar.

While on the subject, the album export I used from Aperture doesn't list all the album pages from the index, so you have to page through the album to see additional pages at the end, where the most recent pictures are.

Hoover Dam is big.

You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to Hoover Dam.

Hoover Dam is, like a giant rock, hard to photograph.  Ansel Adams photographed it from downstream, where mere mortals like myself would not be allowed today. 

So I had to work with what I could get from the dam and parking lots around it.  So I got a few shots I am happy with walking across the dam and back.

As I walked, I watched couples and families drive the dam with their windows down, taking pictures, or trying, in the 30 seconds that it takes to cross the dam.  From the dam in a car all you can really see is the canyon walls and the power lines.

When I am photographing something, I like to know it first or, to invoke Heinlein, to grok it.  This doesn't always work out; it is impossible to grok Death Valley in 4 days, but knowing something about the geography, geology, and ecology helps.  This is why photography projects take a long time for me.  I'm looking, or trying to look, at the truth of each facet of the thing.

It isn't possible to grok, or even to know Hoover Dam without walking it, seeing the inside of the dam, feeling the vibration of the turbines, or looking down the long face of the dam and imagining falling the 1244ft. to the bottom.  Can you really claim to have been to Hoover Dam if you've just ridden over it in a car and shot a picture of the canyon?  You certainly haven't experienced the dam, one of the most remarkable works of man in the last 100 years, and possibly of all time.

Where my nose ends and space begins.

Humans have been doing the road trip for a long time. A lot of American History can be described as a search. A search for the intangible which becomes a search for a place where we think this intangible exists, or can be made by our own hands. So we sail across the ocean in search of freedom from tyranny, we cross the plains in a wagon in search for our "destiny," across the continent on a train in search of progress, and to the stars in search of man's ultimate crown.

When I planned this trip, packed the Subie and set off for Death Valley, I didn't think I was in search of anything at all. But now I think, in the middle of America, I might be searching for something. Perhaps being on the road has stripped away preoccupations and distractions that were preventing this realization, or perhaps the nature of the road trip created the search in me.

I try to live with as few regrets as possible. Not that I am the skydiving, bull-running, Killamanjaro-climbing type, but that I have enough in my past to haunt me for more than a lifetime. One regret that I don't mind confessing is that I didn't do this until I had turned 30. I regret that at 18 I wasn't at a place in my life to pack a car and just drive places I hadn't been and stay there until I was ready to move on. I regret not drinking milkshakes in crappy roadside diners that are so unremarkable as to be special because they exist without being special. I regret not sharing a campfire with strangers.  I regret not stopping to talk on the trail.  I regret not searching for the intangible on a desert road that leads nowhere because it leads everywhere. I regret not driving across the country with someone I hardly know until we came to the place that we would always know each other.

I don't know what it is that I am searching for, but I do know that it isn't Nashville, or a job, or a better life or bigger car or a house. Pressed to it, I might be searching for the absence of all those things. But I don't know for sure now, and may not for some time; maybe this trip is far too short to find out.

There's something very weak coming through...

Either this roadside hotel internet or blogger is being freakstastically lame.

I am still trying to get some basic posting and image uploading done but have not been successful in 3 freaking hours.

Apologies for this, I'm going to get dinner and try again later.

Fire. F-F-F-Fire.

I'll warn you now, there are more shots of rocks in this post.  Rocks are hard to shoot 'cause, well, they're rocks.  And big rocks, like those you will see shortly are even harder.  It is really tough to communicate the grandeur of these formations with such a short visit.  There are more examples of most of these in the full resolution gallery linked in the sidebar.

What color is the giant rock formation in YOUR bedroom?

One of the things to see in Valley of Fire is Petroglyph Canyon.  There are lots of petroglyphs that have survived here from long lost cultures.

Formations in the sandstone, including Arch Rock, the Beehive, other details.

Be just like Mosaic Canyon back home.

The road to Mosaic Canyon was just 10 yards up the road from Stovepipe Campground. It's long uphill hike through huge slabs of polished marble framed with red rock cliffs. I started up Mosaic Canyon just after midday and went as far as I could without bouldering while wearing all my photo gear. In the 3 or so hours on the trail much of the canyon never saw full sun because the walls are so high.

Geological forces are still at work in Death Valley.  Some point in the recent past, this boulder rolled off a ledge some 20 feet above to rest in trail.

Details of marble and rock from Mosaic Canyon.

There are many more pictures from Mosaic Canyon in the full gallery, linked in the sidebar.