Everyday Tracks

ET 24a: Apartment Road Trip to Tuscaloosa AL

For some reason, I did not post this episode, so here it is nearly a year late.

Segment 1

• Going to Tuscaloosa to look at an apartment.
• In order to rent it, I have to look at it so I'm driving to look at it.
• Encountering lots of traffic already.

Segment 2

• I'm still driving down the road and still in Tennessee
• Traffic signals with cameras or loops don't do trucks.  They are too slow to keep the light green and cause quick cycling.
• More traffic jams
• Starting to rain

Segment 3

• I'm 100 miles into this trip and averaging 50 mph so far.
• I set the cruise control to 65 mph.
• I don't mind letting people pass as long as all of them are going faster than I am.  It makes it easier to drive without having to disengage cruise control as much.
• Driving into more rain and an area of flashing flooding.

Segment 4

• I'm at the first stop in Alabama, the first rest area on the southbound side of Interstate 65.
• Need to find a hotel before I get to Tuscaloosa
• I set the cruise control to 62 mph because people were still passing and not keep a constant speed at 65.

Segment 5

• I'm waking up in Tuscaloosa
• Trying to stay for two days, but I may not be able to.
• I've been trying to get a hold of my supervisor, but everyone seems to be out.  No one is answering the phone.

Segment 6

• Walking to Waffle House on the Strip in Tuscaloosa so I can get a coffee...
• ...and got it for free.
• Going to look at this apartment I drove here to look at before I can sign the lease.
• The area surrounding the building is not that great.

Segment 7

• I talk about the apartment I just looked at.
  • It's not terribly clean
  • Bugs
• I left the truck at the hotel because it is so big.  I was worried that I wouldn't be able to park it, but I'm also worried it might be towed.
• I do my "campus tour" now that everything is open.

Segment 8

• The University of Alabama has a large student population and everyone keeps telling me about how many students are here, but I'm not seeing it.
• I feel great about the University.

Segment 9

• I go inside of the Student Center at UA.
• Talking with students at the information desk at the student center.

Segment 10

• The apartment had been taken, so I won't be going to school at UA.
• I am still trying to find a place to rent when I come here.
• There's not really a lot of available apartments in Tuscaloosa and a lot of run down slums that were left and even those are taken.
• I really like the University but the apartments were far too bad.
• The campus tour I took in March where everything is closed didn't help me make the decision any better.

Segment 11

• I am driving through Tuscaloosa and seeing the scars of the tornado they had in 2011 or 2012.
• Diesel fuel stabilizer spilled in the truck and it absolutely stinks.
• On the way back.

Segment 12

• Another traffic jam in Interstate 65 south of Athens
• Got to Buc-ee's.  Almost out of fuel.  How did that happen?

Segment 13

• Almost home
• Going through a lot of what-ifs.

Segment 14

• It's been three weeks after my trip and I'm still trying to find a way to go to UA.
• I called on-campus housing
• I called financial aid to find out what to do.  They tell me that no student can afford the high dollar rents, but they asked for a lot of money and get the refund so they can afford the rents.
• I applied for several college loans and was declined on all of them.

Everyday Tracks 27: Jeep, Route 66 Adventure, Slum Apartment

This is an episode that involves adventure.

Segment 1

Jeep Talk

• I can't go outside to create content because the wind won't stop blowing.
• It still has a vibration because of the driveshaft.
• Can't get a oil change
• Probably gonna need a new oil pan, but I can't replace it.

Segment 2

Apartment Complex

There's a lot of stuff happening around here.  This segment explains some of the things going on.  It's not the only complex in town that's in trouble.

Segment 3

Route 66 Trip (Edmond to Sapulpa)

I dissect this trip instead of talking about it enroute.  I talk some about the attractions and the route itself.

Segment 4

Local road trip to the observatory that OSU owns and operates which is located on a pretty rough dirt road.

Segment 5

I talk about the JK that I have and wanting to trade it in for a TJ.

Segment 6

I have a lot of stories to tell and I really want to tell them, but I can't until I don't have to do what I do now.

Everyday Tracks 28: Am I Leaving Stillwater?

Podcast distribution note:  After advertising that I'm on Apple Podcasts and not being able to see that I'm on Apple Podcasts, I assumed I was.  I wasn't.  However, it has been fixed and I'm searchable on Apple Podcasts.  I will work on other distributions later.

Segment 1

• Looking through all the closets to find what I have
• Taken a lot of stuff to the charity shop donation bin
• Tested fitment of large boxes inside of the Jeep

Segment 2: Acquiring a New Skill to Help Pay for College

• I can't believe how much stuff I've collected over the years (I packed most of it in the Jeep before moving to Stillwater)
• Couldn't do anything when the Jeep ended up in the shop for most of the year due to incompetence.

Segment 3

• Not sure why gas prices are still high even though there's a downward trend in oil prices
• Lots of people out late at night.
• My apartment complex has a lot of hot water leaks.
• I'm wondering why the CEO isn't spending money on his company's properties.
• He apparently has a gambling addiction.

Segment 4

• I'm done with Oklahoma State University
  
  • I finished my classes

Segment 5

• Stillwater isn't the easiest place to live
  
  • Too expensive to live here
• I want to get rid of the Jeep and get a motorcycle
  • Hard to do since I rely on a vehicle everyday
  • Would need to stop working 12 hour shifts and nights.