Okay... so your pal the Samurai is going to be gone for two weeks. I'll be in Yakima, Washington for work tomorrow through Friday, and I'll be in Oregon the following week.

I'm learning to pack smart... here's a few more tips.

1. Meals on the road:

I'm packing a small bowl and a set of chop-sticks. If you're planning to eat out on your first day out there, snag a plastic fork or spoon if you need 'em. When the chips are down, and you're in a small town and every freakin' food place is closed, and your only option is a grocery store, or a gas station with the only really edible thing is a pack of ramen, it's nice to have both something to eat it in, and something to eat it with!

2. Electronics are your friend:

We all know this. I just forked out some cash for a GPS unit as the last two trips I've taken, I've had to mess with an immediate need to know an area. Most hotels don't have a stereo, so either a way to plug into the TV or a set of travel speakers will give you a little more entertainment than the stupid TV with 13 channels with crap on 'em all. I haven't watched TV much in years, and the last show I liked with real people in it was "Profit"...

Also, as I know I'll be driving through Washington, with the dreaded Washington highway patrol, I'm packing my radar detctor.

My travel kit of electronics at this point would include: An MP3 player, a digital camera, two cell phones (work and personal), GPS unit, Laptop, Fuzz buster, and my next purchase of electronics is going to be a pocket-sized hard-drive for an additional amount of space. Electronics take a business trip and turn it into something a little less stressful and add a little bit of the comforts of home. My first several trips with this company involved TV and a lot of reading. This tends to leave a person a little bored after awhile. It's nice to be able to play a little Unreal Tournament at the end of the night.

3. Pack a little more than what you need:

If you're going to be gone for five days, bring six pairs of socks. Bring a couple extra pairs of underwear. Nobody wants to admit to being clumsy (or sick) on a trip, but not having a couple extra items can result in a lot of time lost to doing laundry on the road.

4. Don't be a luggage chump:

Don't buy a brand new suitcase if you can help it. Spending a lot of money on a flashy luggage set may seem like a good idea. My Mom bought a new set... her first trip from Colorado to Virgina resulted in sort of oil stain on her suitcase. The next trip resulted in a big tear. Luggage monkeys do NOT give a rat's ass about your bag, in fact, one of the passengers in the seat next to me showed me a picture he took on his cell phone of a luggage guy hucking a bag almost five feet in the air into a pile of other luggage. I paid five bucks for my suitcase at Goodwill... It's been battered, but it's holding up well, and I can always identify it when it comes off the line. I don't think the company that made this particular bag is still in existance...

Also, if it's fragile and it's in your luggage, wrap it in something!

5. Carry-ons are not exactly your friends:

Big carry-ons are a pain in the butt to find space for on the flight. Overhead bins fill up quick. Try to make sure your carry-on is small enough to shove under a seat if you have to. I've had some stewardesses be pretty snotty about making sure my bag is COMPLETELY under the seat.

I usually try to be nice to them as I would hate to have their job... But some are nicer than others.

6. Since my last time on the plane... I have to take off my beloved Converse shoes now.

Yeah, it doesn't matter than I don't have the metal strip running down my shoe anymore. Since the latest security changes, you gotta strip 'em off. My next trip, I'm wearing shorts and sandals.

7. Dressing up to travel is for suckers:

Go for comfort if you can! Dressing up for travel just makes you even more uncomfortable after being wedged into a tiny seat. Also, I tend to notice people leave me the hell alone when I look like a psychotic biker-hippy-thing than when my hair is neatly tied back and I'm dressed for work.

8. Try to have an idea of where you're going:

Check the weather and the local paper. It can make a difference in what you pack!

9. Livin' it up on the road:

If your company is paying for your food, make sure to try a few places. I learned how to make a kick-ass dish by reverse-engineering the flavors and it's now something I serve to friends. I usually get compliments on it, and it's pretty easy. I'm really glad I tried something new when I was in that area... by trying something new, I don't mean hit a sports bar you haven't been too before, consider it an opportunity to try something new.

10. Smoking ain't easy:

I brought a single, clove cigarette with me, and they confiscated my lighter and the kid seem to take a lot of satisfaction in breaking my one damn cigarette by handling my coat pretty roughly. I would have been better off bringing the pack, but I only wanted one. I don't smoke but maybe once or twice in a year. I figured it would be kind of nice to relax with as I was going to be on that flight for a long time. Live and learn...

two more I found out just today...

1. Wearing sandals on the plane may seem like a good idea, but there is a cold draft down there, and the ol' feet get pretty cold!

2. Bringing TP isn't a bad idea! I got out to the facility, and I guess this building shares space with another company... I don't know whom is supposed to provide the paper, but considering I never got an expense check, I'm swiping a roll from my hotel and takin' it with me!

Subtip 2: Never eat at Taco Hell whilst traveling... otherwise, make sure you follow tip #2!

I got a bean burrito with no onions and no cheese and had them add rice and lettuce... still made me sick!

A couple from the battlefront:

1- If you can stash it in your pants pocket, it's officially travel-sized. Ladies, take note, the entire bathroom sink-worth of your cosmetics is most definitely NOT.

2- Consult with the local tourism board for wherever it is you are headed. Be prepared to have to read between the lines, though... Baghdad's Tourism Board slogan is "Come visit historic Baghdad... IT'S A BLAST!"

3- Your carry-on should include at least one clean shirt and a miniature toiletry kit. Layovers at faraway Air Bases waiting for the next hop back to the US can get a little on the LOOOOOOOONG side, and you're not smelling any better with time...

4- This should be common sense, but then again, if common sense were so common, more people would have it... Don't even THINK the word "BOMB" around TSA or flight crew folk. They tend to get a little agitated. I say again, don't even THINK it. Some people have a problem with thinking out loud...

That's about it for me this week, sorry I had to piggy-back ya a little, DS.

Be my guest... I'll take what I can get for travel advice. I'll dish what I've learned, but it seems every trip I get a little smarter. This time, I realized that when packing a bowl... I might have thunk to bring a spoon as well! I decided to just get a box of cereal (as my brain functions in the early AM do not include a lot of cooking skill) and I had to buy some cheap plastic spoons to go with it. After traveling all day, I was quite ready to head back to my hotel. Tomorrow, I get to find a couple of other places. Wheee... oh well, at least I have the GPS. Man, I'd be lost out here otherwise. These roads SUCK.

I hacked this article out as I'm spending this week trying to cram two pounds dynamite in a one pound bag (so to speak). I'm doing my college work (9 assignments) and my finals on the road, as well as work. I guess I can't complain... this service center out here is so dead it's amazing they have a guy here!

I may have to drive a couple places for work out here (they want me to drive to Spokane for a day) and I've been told I'll be driving to Walla Walla before I go, but all in all, I can't complain. Back in Helena, by 8:00AM we have people on the phone asking where the hell their stuff is. I'm lookin' forward to getting some stuff accomplished while I'm out here!

However... I keep getting sidetracked. I've completed two assignments... I gotta complete two more tonight if I want to keep up... but I found out Blood 2: The Chosen works with Windows Vista... so I keep getting a little... uhhh... preoccupied.

you can tell that you are at the east side of Washington. out here in Seattle, radar detectors are mainly useless. yes it tells you there is a cop ahead. but moving at 20mph, it will take 5 to 10 minutes to get to him, and then you can wave a you slowly roll by

Quote: Originally Posted by THRiLL KiLL you can tell that you are at the east side of Washington. out here in Seattle, radar detectors are mainly useless. yes it tells you there is a cop ahead. but moving at 20mph, it will take 5 to 10 minutes to get to him, and then you can wave a you slowly roll by

Out here, I've counted fifteen people pulled over. The cops out here are freakin' ravenous. They nailed a guy on the offramp and just blocked traffic while they issued the ticket. So we all ended up crawling around him, and hoping we didn't piss him off. As I hear, it gets worse!

I'm almost happy to be going back to Montana. MHP is pretty humorless, but at least they'll let you get away with 5 to 10 over versus 2 to 4.

ADD: Also, what numb-nut decided it would be cool to make the speed limit 70 versus 75? I've almost gotten in trouble a couple times... then they add a few 60 MPH "construction zones" where there is NOTHING HAPPENING!

Quote: Originally Posted by Darksamurai Out here, I've counted fifteen people pulled over. The cops out here are freakin' ravenous. They nailed a guy on the offramp and just blocked traffic while they issued the ticket. So we all ended up crawling around him, and hoping we didn't piss him off. As I hear, it gets worse! I'm almost happy to be going back to Montana. MHP is pretty humorless, but at least they'll let you get away with 5 to 10 over versus 2 to 4. ADD: Also, what numb-nut decided it would be cool to make the speed limit 70 versus 75? I've almost gotten in trouble a couple times... then they add a few 60 MPH "construction zones" where there is NOTHING HAPPENING!

LOL

The max speed limit is 65 in PA
The construction speed limit is inbetween 40-50MPH
and the average speed limit is 55MPH, you're lucky

I set the new high score on the local speed check sign though, it covers three lanes and average it sayd about 68MPH (in a 55MPH zone) i got it to say 72, but i was going 85?

Quote: Originally Posted by s1ugh34d LOL The max speed limit is 65 in PA

Guess there is a lot more of nuthin' in Montana and Washington. I get to drive 300 miles tomorrow first thing in the morning... hope I have a nice, uneventful ride.

Most of the highways around here have the speed limit at 75, though occaisionally it drops down to 55 or 65. Thankfully the cops are fairly lenient here as long as your not being an idiot.

Thank for this. This comes preety handy right now, because I am leaving tomorrow for vacation, and it came handy, although I have everything there what is mentioned. We just got a new GPS right now, so that will be good.