I have to be honest… it doesn’t feel at all like I am moving. I’m so used to heading to Mississippi for the weekend that I kinda feel like I’m headed out for a quick trip.

But with this blog post I bid you adieu. Thanks for your “good luck” and “don’t crash on the way up there” tidbits of encouragement you given me over the last couple of weeks.

My sincerest apologies to those of you who I did not contact personally to tell you I was moving. My failure to do so was a cross between a forewarning of a speedy departure, a lack of time, and the thought that if the conversation got to cheesy… you just might make me cry. Seriously.

However, I know you love me and I know you’ll be visiting soon… ’cause you said you will and friends don’t lie.

Are you a liar? hope not… poo face.

Alright… I’m out. Destination St. Louis for night #1.

Keep your eye at the top of the page for cellphone picture as they happen. Call me along the way, I’ve got plenty of time to talk.

So far as contact information is concerned, basically the only thing changing will be my mailing address:

Landon Howell
2009 4th Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98109

There’s a good chance that I’ll be getting BlackBerry to tote around soon — I pray that this won’t happen — but if it does I’ll simply keep my other phone for my personal use.

Again, the best email to get me at is landon.howell@yahoo.com. I check this once every hour from my Treo.

Carrying-on in the cheesy “name the trip” theme I’ve come accustomed to… I’ve dubbed my 8 (or 9) day drive from Jasper, Alabama to Seattle, Washington: The Big Move

But actually… there’s nothing big about my load. I’ll be driving my car and taking only my clothes.

That’s it. Why? Because the house will be fully furnished with the exception of my bedroom. And with the cost of renting a U-Haul van as well as a trailer to tow my car ($750), coupled with the price of gas ($400, arm & leg, plus a live baby), do the math… it’ll be cheaper to snag a new bed, chest of drawers, etc, when I get there.

The drive will take 8 days and will cover 12 states. I’ll be stopping along the way in St. Louis, Omaha, Devil’s Tower, The Badlands, and I’ll be spending a day or so in Yellowstone National Park before heading to Spokane and then onto Seattle.

I figure that if I’m going to be driving cross-country, why not make it count for something?

I’ll be posting pictures as they happen via my camera phone. You’ll be able to view them through a link that will be stationed at the top of the page.

The trip should be fun. South Dakota is supposed to be beautiful in late-August… yeah.

Leaving : Thursday, August 24 (or Friday, August 25) I haven’t really decided yet
Arriving : Friday, September 1
States : 12
Miles : approx. 2,600
Bags of Sunflower Seeds : approx. 3
12 oz cans of Diet Coke : approx. 25

[If you don't get the joke behind the title, then nevermind]

Currently sitting in a luxurious Motel 6 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, about 5 minutes from Omaha, Nebraska.

I’m gnawing on a Take 5 McFlurry from McDonald’s and watching Entourage on HBO. (Im still trying to figure out what’s so big about this show.)

Anyways, I’ve come to the conclusion that when I’ve “made it” in life, I’m staying in nice places when I travel. Whether it be boutique hotels in New York City or private beach houses in the Bahamas… I’m staying in places that don’t come standard with rednecks in a pool.

Yes I have fond memories of the sweet hum of the Days Inn air conditioner as it kicks-in at 3:00 AM… but the days of cute roadside motels with clean pools are gone. They’ve been replaced by roch motels where cheating husbands and high school seniors “kick their kicks”, if you know what I mean.

So, future wife — wherever you may be — rest assured that while we might not always take the kids to the Hilton Inn… we’ll never subject them to the Humpin’ Inn.

…I’m gonna go pay $2.50 for a 12 ounce Sprite.

Today, Washington state citizens will cast their votes.
Today, I will be in the minority.
Today, I will know what it’s like to feel like a liberal in the South.

It’s no secret that I’m a pretty conservative fellow. I’m no hardcore Bible beater. I’m simply a conservative guy who’s not a jerk about it. I know what I believe, and I know why I believe it. But I think that it’s obvious from the posts on this blog that I don’t necessarily encourage constant red vs. blue state debates.

Having lived in Seattle for just over 2 months now, I’ve grown to understand liberal and left-leaning values more. That is not to say that I have changed my stance on many issues at all. It simply means that I now understand why people in this region of the country have a distaste for conservative values and/or Christian values and/or George W. Bush, for that matter.

The experience has only strengthened my beliefs. I’ve never shied away from a discussion, but I’ve always been quick to discourage arguments… which is very unlike me. The hardest part has been explaining that I am open minded. However, “open minded” is often confused with “always accepting.” It’s important to be open minded in every situation. However, always accepting other viewpoints doesn’t make you open minded… it makes you a pushover.

People in Seattle don’t like the implication that they are pushovers. It didn’t take me long to learn that.

However, you can understand a point-of-view and not necessarily agree with their opinion. It is then that those with differing opinions are tested on just how open minded they are.

I think it’s important to understand others viewpoints. I truly believe that is the sole reason God brought me here: to understand other feelings and beliefs in the #2 least churched city and #2 most liberal city in this country. And I’m certain that the lessons I will learn over the next few months will trump those learned over the last 2 months. I can only hope that the open minded people of Seattle will attempt to learn as much from me as I am from them.

That’s all. Just wanted to be serious for a moment.

I know you’re missing your distractions. You’ve let me know via phone, text and email that the slower blog over the last 2 weeks has been tough for you emotionaly… I hear you.

A couple of things:

1) I should have my laptop soon. For now I’m using the roomie’s computer and my Treo.

2) This time change is throwing me off as well. For those of you nice enough to call me on your way to work… it’s ok… I would forget that it was 5:30 AM here as well. We’ll adjust together… slowly.

3) Don’t forget, the podcast (which will run once per week and will be short, sweet, and to the point) will begin within the next two weeks.

4) A few of you have inquired about visiting me. All I need is a couple weeks notice to know if I’m gonna be in town or not. Check the Southwest Airlines website for specials into SeaTac.

Well… ok… maybe not the railroad. But I’ll be working on a myriad of of things around town today. Not the least of which is the arrival of my beroom furniture today.

Posting will be sparse today. Sparse meaning… 1… maybe 1 1/2 posts.

My laptop’s still in the shop in Alabama. So don’t hate.

Myriad… you like that word dontcha?

Speak freely, little ones about the ending of the summertime. The 3-day-weekend that is Labor Day. A little round-up from myself…

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Not to shabby for the first weekend in town. This weather is seriously blowing my mind.

Today I tell a story from my encounter in Wyoming that I’ve never told before. Slightly humorous, if only to me.

You can download the podcast here, or through iTunes.

Podcast info:

Title: When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go
Length: 10 minutes 22 seconds
Music: Chain Hang Low by Jibbs