The San Diego Itinerary

[grunter]

Friday, July 18 - John leaves for California from Chicago via Amtrak at approximately 3:00 p.m. He will be on the train for nearly 48 straight hours, arriving in Anaheim (if all goes as planned) just hours before I do, on the afternoon of the 20th. This leaves me in Chicago, all by my lonesome for nearly two full days to either fester and worry (

Comments

[wooferstl]

WOW, what an adventure!! Have fun, guys, and give John a smooch for me! WOOF!

[grunter]

I'll be sure to send the smooches along. Smooches make the daddybear much, much more agreeable.

[shake_it_up]

Sounds like a blast. I take it John doesn't fly? (The Amtrak trip is fun, but often runs late.)

I'm about 20 miles north of Anaheim, give me a head's up if you need a guide or company. I'm not sure of my schedule this coming week, but I could be free.

[grunter]

Yes, ever since an utterly disastrous flight between Nashville and Chicago many years ago straight through the heart of a ferocious thunderstorm, John has refused to set foot on a plane. It's fairly well limited our vacation options - but this year I was determined to get us beyond the Midwest.

I will definitely try to look you up on my "free" days.

[shake_it_up]

I understand. One Memorial Day my flight was screwed up and I had to stay over in Denver. Turns out my brother and sister's plane had problems with its landing gear, they had to circle the Rockies, have a foam-assisted landing and then take a bus across. So sometimes I opt for the train myself.

On the happier topic of your visit, just check, I hope I'll have time.

[grunter]

See. I've always kinda "known" about Amoeba, but I didn't really grasp the whole concept until I saw the new mini-videos on their site, displaying the vast panorama of musical goodnesss.

I wept a little. So that's where all the record store inventory went? I think I could live there.

I'm thinking that because I'm only 120 miles away, I can't be stopped from heading there Sunday evening. Anytime John and I are within 75 miles of The Loop in St. Louis, I pull a "since we're in the neighborhood, why don't we head to Vintage Vinyl* for a bit?" John always knows it's coming. I'm not too terribly subtle.

*Vintage Vinyl is probably the closest the Midwest can come to Amoeba. A similar idea, but scaled back a bit.

[cpratt]

Looks like there's still a Virgin Megastore in Anaheim, but honestly? Amoeba is worth a trip, not Virgin.

There is in fact a "beary" thing going on on Friday, July 25. Contact sluggobear for more information. Oh, and they're headed to Disneyland on that Sunday as well. Finally, if you do head out to Pecs, ping me? I live a couple of blocks away...

[grunter]

I know, I know. Virgin isn't cheap, but dammit, they took our last decent music shop away here in Chicago. I need something that gives me that old-fashioned Tower Records buzz.

Actually, that's an idea. If I do head to Amoeba, I'll have to visit the location of the original L.A. Tower at 8801 Sunset.

I'll send you an email about Friday. Do you honestly think that's all right? I'd hate to crash someone's party.

Hopefully, we'll see you and Dan at Pecs, if nothing else.

[mcfires]

Agreed... though SoCal's record stores have been abysmal ever since Tower closed.

[cpratt]

LOL WUT

Tower was OK, but the moment Amoeba opened, I never went back. To each his own, though!

[grunter]

If I'm on the trek to record shop mecca, I might as well drive my guy to the train station. I'd feel better seeing him off myself. I already hate the idea of him heading out alone on the train this Friday.

Since we're within walking distance of Pecs, I fully expect to run into you and Chris some time next week.