Early Planning Stages

Just over a year ago, the first inkling of my idea about racing the sun started to form and take complete shape. Last year at this time it was after Brandon Marshall's infamous wearing of the cleats for mental health awareness. That was when my race against the sun came in to focus, and you helped me raise $1,100 for the Brandon Marshall Foundation, and started a conversation that has continued through today. It was a great experience, and one I'm going to continue along with the conversation.

So since the benefits far outweigh the costs, I'm going to do it again. I hope to raise just as much if not more awareness this year.

This is where I need your help. Where should the drive take place? My first idea is to do the same thing as last year, Santa Monica to San Francisco along the Pacific Coast Highway. However, this time I'd bring my wife as she didn't get to go last year. Another of my idea is to follow the Lincoln Highway along some section, possibly ending up in Chicago at the headquarters for the Brandon Marshall Foundation before sunrise, because of the recent (to me at least) link between Abraham Lincoln and mental illness.
For any other ideas is where I ask you, dear reader, for your ideas. The only requirements I would have is that under normal daytime circumstances the drive would be scenic, is a distance that could reasonably be covered from sunset to sunrise on the solstice with out breaking (too many) laws, man-made or scientific. I'd even consider an aquatic drive (?) if someone were to loan me a boat.

So please let me know your ideas, tweet me, leave a comment, or send smoke signals to let me know, I am eager for ideas.

Thank you!

42

Today is my 42nd birthday. I joke that I'm now the answer to life, the universe and everything, at least for the next year, but so often do I realize I'm not. My other mantra for today has been, "It's just another day." Which when it is your birthday, sounds kind of depressing. I took my car in for service, baked my own birthday cake (thank you very much) and since my wife is teaching tonight, I don't get to see her until probably late this evening, close to 9 or 10.

It was just under a year ago I had the feeling that turned me around and decided to seek help for my depression. So, you would think I'd be pretty down about being all alone most of the day today. When, in fact, it is the mantra 'Just another day' that has gotten me through. You see, I may be alone today, but tomorrow I get to go to the city that I love, with two of my favorite women on this planet. Then, if we can time it right, I will get to meet the CEO of the Brandon Marshall Foundation, (who had his own birthday not too long ago). Then, I get to spend the weekend with those same 2 awesome women, and hang around in the best city in the United States. So, even today, just another day, leads to an awesome tomorrow, and I think there's something to that. Thanks everybody for enjoying this day with me.

Uh...Loser!

This is what the sun looks like when it is embarrassed by a human:

I know it isn't nice to call names, but the Sun lost. Ya lost! Beaten by a puny mortal. Though the E-class had a lot to do with that. A lot. And my copilot/navigator Kirsten (ShamRock). But not least of all, all my supporters and friends around the country. I was doing this for myself, and everyone out there that suffers from a mental illness either in themselves or adjacently like my wife. Just know that you can do it, it does get better. I thought it was curtains for us in the mountains and bridges since it was so dark and the roads were so aggressively against us. I'm completely sold on an E-class though. That thing powered through, took the punishment of the turns, and gave us a little fun going through the tunnels and such. All in all a good time.

Today's the Day (Zero)

I have had this countdown going now for a few weeks, or months if you count, but as far as the frequency ramping up, it was just recently. However, probably just as long if not longer, someone else I know has been counting down to this day. My adopted-niece in law, Ashleigh. Today is her wedding day, and that is where my wife will be, as well as my heart. The best of wishes to you both, Ashleigh and Colin, may you have many happy days ahead, and if you want to know the secret to having a long happy marriage, just have gratitude and trust in each other. It goes a long way. Congratulations!

Green Giant and ShamRock are GO!

I don't dislike traveling but traveling with other people that I don't know, like central Iowans, makes it a chore. Then the hidden lane at security that the woman behind me just had to get in front of me for tends to sour the whole experience. Oh well. The scout team is in place, and the package is ready to be delivered. Good thing I'm blogging this and not saying it out loud.

One

Tonight I get on an aeroplane, definitely can't take a fast train since those don't exist in the United States really. We can't be bothered.
Check in, meet up with ShamRock, get some sleep, get the car, piddle around with the toys on the car and around L.A. then head to the pier to get this whole thing started. January, or last June seems so far away when I started planning this thing. It will be so weird to have it all come together.

I'm open to suggestions of what to do in San Francisco after I get there. Preferably stuff that's open early in the morning. I'm trying to connect with a friend who is also heading to the Sunshine State around the same time as me, but we'll see. It's a big place.

Don't forget to check out my Google+ Hangout (Live! or OnAir!) from the Santa Monica Pier before we get started driving, here. Let me know if the link doesn't work or you can't see it. You may need to have a Google account to use it, or know someone who does. Hopefully we have decent data coverage for most of the trip, though since it will be ocean-road-mountain for much of the trip, I'm not holding out hope for much. Now, for your entertainment and trip down some nostalgia lane:

Lime and a coconut

The fingers and toes are done!