New Purgatory

As most of you know I was suppose to be Kansas City for the next 10 days, hanging out with my Dad and Step-mom, recharging my batteries, and coming up with a plan for the next six months. Well sometimes things don't happen the way you want them to. The following is an account of the events of the last three days.

All great adventures I usually have start with a phone call, this one was no different. My Dad and my Step-mom Lucy were going to be flying out to California to pick up a RV that will be used for their 3rd walk across the United States. They called and wanted to know if they swung by Vegas, would Frank and I be interested in driving back with them and spend some time in KC. Always looking to spend more quality time together, I said yes. The four of us left early Thursday morning, with a full tank of gas, 12 boxes of cheese-itz, and not a care in the world.

Everything was going fine until we got past the Hoover Dam and into Arizona. I don't know if it was a mixture of high winds and a 30 year old RV, or this trip was doomed from the start, but when the extra storage compartment blew off the top of the rig, we should have know that we were in for a bumpy ride.

We stopped once to retrieve the shattered remains of the compartment, and then again in Kingman to assess the damage on top of the little RV that could. After Frank and Dad came down from the Brown Behemoth they told us that there was four small holes that needed to be patched. They decided that they would take care of the holes after breakfast. We ate at Cracker Barrel and I hate to say it but...it was the best part of the trip. That's right I said it, eating at a glorified general store was the best part of this trip.

After breakfast and patching up the holes, we were on the road again. Time seemed to stand still as we crawled along at an impressive 50 miles per hour, stopping every chance we could to stretch our legs didn't help matters. At around 6pm that night is when the real fun started. We were about 30 miles from the AZ/NM boarder, yes you read that right, we've been driving for close to 10 hours and were still in AZ, when we heard a loud bang, started to smell something burning, and lost power. We pulled over, popped the hood and saw that the radiator went ka-put. For those who aren't well versed in the mechanical word, Ka-put means, stopped working, or broken.

When driving a 30 year old motor home, these things are expected and being the well prepared people that my parents are they were ready. Whipping out her trusty AAA card Lucy started to dial the road side assistance number. After she hung up, she informed us the coverage they had didn't cover RV's, so they would have to pay for someone to come out and tow us. AND!!!! since we were still in Arizona they would have to send somebody from the nearest Arizona town, 100 miles away, instead of the nearest New Mexico town, which was only 30 miles away. Oh and did I mention that the tow company changes by the mile =(

After the tow truck journeyed over 100 miles to get us they towed us to Gallup New Mexico, or what I'd like to call Hell on Earth. If you've been lucky enough to have never been to Gallup A.K.A. the Devil's Armpit, I'll give you the lay of the land. It has one main road, which failed to have sidewalks, 13 versions of Motel 6, Augie's Automotive, a Taco Bell, and a truck stop.

The tow truck guy dropped off the RV at Augie's and was nice enough to take us to Motel 6, where we got a room and crashed for the night. The next morning my Dad walked down to Augie's and let them know the situation. Augie and his automotive minions didn't know how long it was going to take for them to get parts for a 1970 something GM RV, so we were stuck...in Gallup...without transportation...in Gallup...for God knows how long...in Gallup...confined to a one room hotel...in Gallup.

We were hoping to get out on Friday, because Dad and Lucy had a presentation in St. Louis on Sunday. If you have no idea what I'm talking about click here http://christwalk.us/ to learn more.

One option was to rent a car, drive up to St. Louis, do the presentation, then drive back. We called the only two car rental place's in Gallup, A.K.A. Slidell of the West, but they not only charged by the mile they charged $10 for every state you went through. Another option was to fly outta Albuquerque and pick up their car in Kansas and drive to St. Louis. Ticket prices were outrageous, so that was out of the question. There was no way to get out of Gallup, A.K.A. Alcatraz of the desert, the presentation was shot. It felt like I was in the movie, Groundhog's Day, trapped in a Podunk little town, and everyday felt the same.

Our mornings consisted of getting up, walking 3/4 mile to either Taco Bell or TA Truck Stop for breakfast, watching Law and Order, and sleeping hoping to wake up and realize this was all a bad dream.

Our Afternoon's and Evening's consisted of snacking on whatever we salvaged from the RV, watching Law and Order, and sleeping hoping to wake up and realize this was all a bad dream.

Late Friday Augie's informed us the the RV wouldn't be ready until sometime Monday, which meant we were here til Wednesday =( This news would be a blessing in disguise for half of the prisoners. Frank had to be home before Wednesday for school, and was planning on flying out of KC early anyways. In an act of love, a love only a parent knows, our Dad suggested we call someone to come get us. "WHAT...We were being paroled, what did we deserve to get released on good behavior?" Was what ran through my mind the second he was done suggesting it.

I felt bad at first I figured we were all in this together, but Dad and Lucy both assured us that there was no reason for us to all be here miserable, if there was a chance to take a life line, do it.

So Frank and I called the only person in the world to give up their Saturday and drive 800 miles to come save us...Our Mom. The Calvary came, we said goodbye to our Brother and Sister in Arms, and drove out of Gallup, A.K.A. 3rd level of Hell.

Even though I'm in the comfort of my own home while I write this, I know there are two still in exile, the following message is for you.

Your day is coming soon, even though it seems like the rain's of misfortune will never stop, it will. Your rainbow is coming. Stay strong, don't give up, they may take your cash, but they will never take your FREEDOM!!!!

Every once in a while I write something that I'm really proud of. This is one of these times. I wrote this a couple of days ago while I was on Helium, the website, not the gas. It tickled me, so I wanted to share it with all of you. If I ever get around to learning how to play my harmonica, I'll even sing it for you. Please to enjoy.

The Morning Coffee Blues

Woke up this morning, groggy as hell
Four nights in a row, that I didn't sleep well
My head feels like it was in a title bout
I hit my alarm, but it was all snoozed out

I got the blues, you know this ain't no news
I got the blues, my heart is one big bruise
And the only thing I know is all I do is lose, I got the blues

Shuffled into the kitchen, my wife waiting for me
Started the yelling, I swear that woman is half Banshee
Said if I don't get a job today
She'll take the kids, with no delay

I got the blues, you know this ain't no news
I got the blues, my heart is one big bruise
And the only thing I know is all I do is lose I got the blues

To start my day I needed to wake myself up
Went to the sink and got my trusty coffee cup
But the pot was empty, just my luck
Shook my head, and said, "guess I'm...screwed"

I got the blues, you know this ain't no news
I got the blues, my heart is one big bruise
And the only thing I know is all I do is lose, I got the blues.

Where have all the Heroes gone?!?

I woke up this morning to the annoying gong noise my cell phone makes that let me known I had a text waiting. The text was from my friend Corey, a fellow baseball enthusiast and all around nice guy, it said, "Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003." I was crushed after reading this bombshell. I felt as if someone ripped out my baseball sized heart and whacked over the green monster that is my hopes and dreams. At first I thought he was joking, poking fun at arguable the best player in all of baseball. When I turned it on ESPN to see for myself, I knew it was true. I just don't understand, have we slipped so far down morally as a culture that it's harder and harder to find heroes, or people to admire?? It seems to me that every time I turn on the tv I hear about another "superstar" getting caught with there hand in the cookie jar. A-Rod, Barry Bonds, and Roger Clemens in the world of baseball. In the basketball world there's Kobe and Sir Charles with their transgressions. But this moral slip isn't reserved for people in the sports world. "Heroes" in other arenas lack the moral character they once had. Bernie Madoff in the world of finance and I could name at least five government officials that took off their white hat years ago.

I feel like Charlie Brown in his classic Christmas special living in a world that lost it's way. There's a scene where he can't take it anymore and yells at everyone, I feel a Charlie Brown moment coming on, excuse me.

AARRGH!!!! WHEN DID WE STOP DOING THE RIGHT THING AS A COUNTRY!?!? WHEN DID WE STOP DOING WHAT'S RIGHT AND STARTED DOING WHAT WE FELT LIKE!!!!! LIFE IS BLACK AND WHITE, NOT A WORLD OF GREY!!!! DO GOOD, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN! ARRGH!

Ok sorry bout that, what was I saying again? So I ask you where did we go wrong?? How can we get this country back on track? Will there ever be a time when I won't fear picking up a magazine or turning on the television because I'll have to hear about another American Titan's skeletons.

Good Grief

It takes a village

The following is an urgent message written by CandorCorner's own...Chris Della Valle

Help I need somebody, not just anybody, Heeellllllpppp!!! Sorry I had that song stuck in my head all day and the only way for me to get rid of it was to pass it along to you. In all seriousness I do need your help. As you know I've been unemployed for over two months now and was doing my best to stay on top of my game when it came to looking for work. Today I took a turn for the worst, I got bitten by the lazy bug or the inactiveus sittingonbuttus if you prefer the Latin name. For the first time in a long time I didn't do anything to help my situation, and I'm nervous that it might happen again.

What I need from you is to keep me accountable. Ask me if I did anything productive today, and if I didn't give me a healthy dose of crap. Remember a body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion...well you get the idea.

LET'S KEEP THIS GUY IN MOTION!!!

CLD

Weekend wrap up

Had a jam packed weekend and I wanted to share the highlights.

-Friday- Went to the movies to see Taken with Cody. I highly recommend the movie, Liam Neeson performance just bumped him up into the top ten actors that play B.A.'s in movie history (yes I know the name needs work and I have my staff working on it) I don't want to give away too much of the movie, but everyone involve gets theirs I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Taken is the feel good movie of '09 =)

-Saturday- Since my usual Superbowl plans were cancelled, WTG Bob and Tiff! How dare you put family before football. My buddy and I decided to impose ourselves upon our friends in Pahrump. So what planned to be a relaxing Saturday turned into five of Vegas' finest crammed into Brian's car, heading to Podunk U.S.A. and my relaxing Saturday turned into a party fit for rockstars. Highlights included, Frank getting "carsick" and throwing up an astounding four times, learning the true origin of the Murphy bed, Jack going on a trip, and steak.

-Sunday- Superbowl XLIII (that's 43 for my Nevada school system graduates) was everything it was cracked up to be. Even though I wanted the Arizona Cardinals to win, it wasn't meant to be. Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers on winning their sixth Superbowl which is the most in NFL history. I also want to thank Casey for giving me the hot tip of betting over 87 1/2 yards receiving by Mr. "All day Everyday" Anquan Boldin.

Hope your weekend was just as awesome as mine.

-Chris

P.S. 12 more days til pitchers and catchers report =)