A Fair's a Fair's a Fair...

The smell of fried twinkies fills the air along with the wonderful stench of livestock and woodchips. Booths of fresh-squeezed lemonade line the midway. Rides, games, stuffed-animals, everywhere you look. A 100 degree sun shining on pavement as masses of people make their way from booth to booth. Anyone who has grown up in America knows exactly what I'm describing...the State (or county) Fair! In my travels across the country, I have come to know that there is one insurmountable truth that connects the Atlantic to the Pacific and all the peoples in between. No, it's not a love for our humble president George W (those darn liberals ruin that!); but the truth that the State Fair remains the sole societal function that draws WT, gansters, blue collar, and white collar Americans all together to enjoy the same event!

On Sunday afternoon I had the pleasure of attending the California state fair. It was over 100 degrees and I chose to go at the dumbest time of day...2:00 p.m. when the sun is in all it's fury! For those of you who know me and my affinity to fried food, it shouldn't take too much convincing on how much I was looking forward to all the junk food I would have an excuse to eat! I began by eating a Tri-tip bbq sandwich (tri-tip is California's low-end beef cut) and a grilled ear of corn on the cob. It was scrumptious! I followed it by a fried Coke. This was a new thing to me, but "fried" anything will work for me. It was Coca-cola with batter and then fried. There was no liquid in it, and it tasted like a funnel cake just with a tangy Coke flavor. I voiced to my friend Matt how great all this food is. His reply was, "wait until it's coming out the other end in an hour!" Well, it only took 20 minutes for me. I spent about 20 minutes in a stall perspiring profusely in the 100 degree heat wishing I had never tried the fried Coke! As I walked around, I couldn't help but scoff at the dumb people who had left their air-conditioned homes to be out and about in the 110 degree radiation reflecting off the black pavement. But then I remembered I was one of those dumb people! Oh well, I've always been able to point my finger at others easier than at myself!

After having time to reflect on this American truth that I discovered, I came up with a brilliant idea...If the Presidential election were held at the State Fairs, there would be 100% voter turnout! Yes, I can see it now...Hillary presenting some sort of unintelligent (a.k.a. liberal) plan for universal health care while encouraging all her constituents to indulge themselves in fried Cokes and funnel cakes...silly liberals!

My new ride...total emasculation!

So check it out...I have a sweet new ride to cruise around Sacramento in! No, it's not my new Rav-4, but it's close. A 2007 Toyota Sienna minivan! Oh yes, I get to drive this baby around town for a good couple of months until I get my new car. It's not all bad, though, the van has plenty of space for all my stuff. I can fit so much in it! Oh yes, I almost forgot to mention...it reaks of stale cat urine. The lady who drove it before me kept her cats in it. I took it to a car cleaners and had to utter one of the most embarrassing sentences of my life, "Can you get the smell of cat urine out of my minivan?"! Yesterday I was at a gas station and a decently attractive girl ran out in front of me and I had to stop for her. She looked up and motioned she was sorry and paused for a second and took a double look. I know exactly what she was thinking..."I didn't know Brad Pitt drives a minivan!" (Reference my facebook pic ;)

My Pad

It's been quite some time since my last post. Life has been crazy out of control the last weeks. Between moving 2000 miles across the country, Tate getting married, and driving about 500 miles a week training, I haven't had much time to just sit down and type. (Okay, so maybe there's been time, it's just been a priority thing)!

Week by week I'm feeling more at home in Sacramento. I really like the neighborhood. There is a homeless, old Asian man who frequents our alley. He always has a pleasant "hi, hi" as he pushes his grocery cart by. One time I was taking my trash out and saved him the trouble of digging through it and just gave him my plastic bottles! (It feels good to do a good deed every now and then). It does feel a little different not living in a suburb, though. I miss the pool! Sacramento is the perfect place to sit poolside. It's hot all day, every day with no clouds. Now I have to find something else to do on Saturday afternoons...not sure what yet...but I'm looking! I'm really liking my little place; it's cozy and homey. Here's some pictures so you all can see where it is I lay my head.

The Young Man is West!

Well, I've made it out to Sacramento! After leaving home, my friend Corey and I drove 12 hours to Salt Lake City (beautiful place) passing through western Nebraska, Wyoming, and eastern Utah. We had a beautiful night's sleep then drove 10 hours to Sacramento passing through the rest of Utah, Nevada (both of which are currently on fire), and California (of which Lake Tahoe is on fire). The drive to Salt Lake was a killer, but the second day didn't seem as bad. We averaged 10.8 mpg, I spent $627 on gas, my voice was almost gone from talking over the truck noise, but we made it!

We were able to start moving into my apartment Sunday afternoon, a day earlier than anticipated. I soon realized, however, that a 16 ft Penske truck packed full of crap was going to overwhelm my little 450 sq ft apartment. This was an initial sense of discouragement and dispare! Corey handled my indecisiveness and multiple mind changes well on where to arrange the furniture. It's been five days now since I've been here and I'm finally getting a handle on where to put everything! (Ikea is a lifesaver!)

On Tuesday Corey and I went to San Francisco hoping to meet some special people there (song lyrics in case you didn't remember)! It was a much needed break from my apartment woes. And we had a blast there, going to the MLB All-star game. We saw Pat Sajak from Wheel of Fortune! Tickets were a little out of our range ($150-300) but we were able to wants from behind right field on the Bay.

Well, Corey flew out Wednesday afternoon and I've spent my time trying to get situated. It was such a blessing having him here. He kept a positive attitude while I was freaking out about fitting everything in my apartment. I can't imagine how long this last week would have seemed if I didn't have someone with me! I must admit, I've been a little more homesick than I thought I'd be, but it's getting better. The weather is great in the evenings here and I'm in a really cool location. I believe I'm where God has me for this time in my life, so I'm trusting Him to work his sovereignty and provide mercifully. Until next time, stay classy San Diego!

Go West Young Man...Day 1

"Go west young man, go west!" The theme of the California goldrush back in the 1800's. A century and a half later, I find myself answering that same call; however for slightly different reasons! (Although maybe not so different as both include young men in search of a financially stable way of life). The 24 episode of my life has finally come to its season finale...My Boss told Reed he is going to a sweet city-that is Sacramento! My life has been thus in a whirlwind or craziness over the last few days. I was told exactly a week ago today that I would be going to Sacramento. Great news to these young, green ears! One and a half hours from San Francisco, one and a half hours from my Lake Tahoe which hosts my true winter love that is skiing, Sacramento falls in line with the old real estate adage - Location, location, location!

Having heard the news of my placement, I immediately booked a flight to Sacramento to do some house hunting. I flew out there this past Sunday and flew back to Minneapolis last evening. This left me with just enough time to pack up my apartment and watch the remaining episodes of "Man vs. Wild" on my DVR. This morning I packed a bright yellow Penske truck and headed to Lincoln. I was told the truck gets 6 to 10 mpg...so I decided to squeeze as much of that out as possible! I drove the whole way in this 90 degree heat with no A/C on and the windows rolled down! The result was a red left arm, windblown hair, ringing ears, and 11.5 mpg! It's been said that rolling windows down negates the fuel efficiency of having the A/C off, but I don't know about that now.


I rolled into Lincoln with just enough hot sun left to scorch me while I went through my garage full of crap. Sorting through what I need and can fit into my 450 sq ft apartment (no, that's not a typo...my one bedroom apt is 450 sq ft!) But like I said before...Location, location, location. It's in the downtown area close to restaurants, shops, bars, parks, coffee shops, and the like. Well, I'm spending the night in Lincoln and heading home tomorrow. Wish me well and if you see two wild and crazy guys in a yellow truck flying down the interstate, tip your hat to them, they're two guys on an adventure to the West!

My life feels like an episode of 24

The following is based on real life events. Names and locations have been changed for protection

Last time on 24:
MY BOSS: Reed, you're going to be located in one of two sweet cities.
ME: Sweet! I'm excited. Let me know when the decision's made.

Dundun dundun. Dundun dundun (Theme soundbite)

(Begin this episode)

(Phone rings at 4:00 PM on friday)

MY BOSS: Reed, I know where you're going to be...in a place we've never talked about before in the middle of nowhere.

ME: WTF???!!!!! What about one of those sweet cities you said I'd be in?

MY BOSS: Well, things have changed. What do you think?

ME: Um...I'm not at all excited and I'm pretty frustrated that noone told me this was a possibility.

MY BOSS: Ya man, but I think this will be good.

ME: So b/c I'm from a farm, people assume I'm going to be happy to go to rural farm country in a completely different state where I don't know people.

MY BOSS: Pretty much.

ME: Is there any chance it'll be at a different place?

MY BOSS: There's a slight chance it'll be in a cool city.

ME: Please put me in the cool city.

(Preview for next episode)
Boss calls Reed with his placement. Will it be in a cool city or rural farm county? Next time on FOX!

My First

So I decided to follow the pop culture of the day and start a blog. My friends would probably tell you that I'm somewhat susceptible to peer pressure, so this should not be a surprise! A recent conversation with a friend illuminated me to the fact that I'm growing out of Facebook, so I need some other avenue by which to allow people to see what's going on in my life. (An alternative is to drive in front of my apartment complex at night and look into my glass sliding door/window where my shades are usually open and just peek in....Wow...that's kind of a creepy thought....I'm gonna shut my shades now!) I've never really been the literary type so I can see one of two things coming of this. I may uncover an eloquent side of me that can unleash emotions in cleverly worded prose. Or, I may have a grocery list of my activities I did for the day. My engineering side screams for the latter, but only time will tell which style of writing I will lean towards! (or toward).

All this being said, today I:
Went to work
Lifted my back and shoulders at the gym
Ate a microwaved hotdog with a protein shake for supper (Yes, I said 'supper'. I am farm kid)
Went to Bible Study
Wrote my blog
Went to bed (This is what I call "future tense" writing)!

Good night and good luck!