The Schedule (updated!)

As promised, here's where I plan on swinging by during my cross-country road trip. If you live in any of these cities, I'd appreciate suggestions on things that I must see, and more importantly, things I must eat.

February 4-6 - Las Vegas, NV (DICE Summit)

February 7 - Hoover Dam / Grand Canyon / Flagstaff, AZ

February 8 - Petrified National Forest / Santa Fe, NM

February 9 - Roswell, NM / Carlsbad Caverns / Richland Hills, TX

February 10 - Dallas, TX

February 11 - Waco, TX

February 11-12 - Austin, TX
February 13-14 - Houston, TX

February 15 - Baton Rouge, LA

February 16 - New Orleans, LA

February 17 - Montgomery, AL

February 18-19 - Atlanta, GA

February 20 - Myrtle Beach, SC

February 21 - Raleigh, NC

February 22 - Arlington, VA

February 23 - New York, NY

I'm still planning details, but I plan on going through the Mojave National Preserve, seeing the Hoover Dam, gawking at the Grand Canyon, walking through the Petrified Forest National Park, and checking out the Carlsbad Caverns. I also want to get an alcoholic daiquiri from a drive-through. I may even see some game studios along the way, if I can.

These dates/cities are subject to change, of course--assuming the Internet provides me even better ideas and routes to take.

Going from LA to NY

I moved to Los Angeles back in mid-2012 at the request of GameFly. As a long-time New Yorker, I was loathing the trip. But, I knew it was important for my career. With a lot of doubt in my heart, I packed my bags and decided to live in a city I absolutely knew I would hate. See, as a New Yorker, I never learned how to drive. I liked being able to walk to places. I liked how diverse the communities were. My only experience with LA came from my annual trips to E3--and boy, did I hate them. I hated the traffic. I hated the smog. Of all the places in the world, I never thought I'd end up living in Los Angeles.

But then, something happened. I learned to drive. And then, I discovered I loved it. And with the help of some friends (you know who you are), I discovered new things about LA. I loved the food. I loved being able to take a bike ride down the beach, even in the dead of winter. I loved SGV. The OC. Koreatown. Sawtelle. I ended up loving Los Angeles.

So, it saddens me to say that I'm moving out. I've decided to take a new direction in my life: making a video game. And in order to afford the ability to do that, I need to go back to New York--at least for now. Because I have two years left on my Mini lease, I'll be driving back--a perfect excuse to see States and sights that I might otherwise miss the rest of my life. I'm horrified by the idea of driving 4000 miles, but also strangely excited by it.

I know I'll be back to Los Angeles, sooner than later. And as a tourist, maybe I'll actually be able to enjoy it more when I do visit. (And my friends in New York know that my moving out of a city actually results in me seeing them MORE. Odd how that works...) There's so much I know I haven't seen... and even more that I'm completely oblivious to.

I already have my itinerary planned out, one that I will share soon. This blog will serve as a way for me to share my experiences out on the road--and a way for you to keep track on if I'm alive. Because seriously, if this isn't updated every day I'm on the road, it means the hill people have gotten to me. I guess I should prepare my will just in case (only half-joking)...