"On The Road Again"

Last night I had the chance to see the Beatles Cirque Du Soleil show Love. Let’s just say I “LOVED IT”. It was an all around incredible evening.

I had seen KA before at the MGM Grand and thought it was pretty amazing. But this show was much more fun! If you’re ever in Las Vegas I highly recommend stopping by the Mirage and checking out the show. It’s pretty spendy, but well worth it if you can fit it into your budget.

Here’s a quick teaser of the evening. The video doesn’t do the night justice but it gives you a glimpse of the fun…

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In this course, Michael Sandel speaks about philosopher Immanuel Kant and challenges Harvard students with difficult moral dilemmas and asks opinions about the right thing to do. He then asks everyone to examine our answers in the light of new scenarios. The results are often surprising, revealing that important moral questions are never black and white.

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So, we left Austin Texas Monday afternoon at about 1 PM. The Garmin GPS said we’d be due to arrive in New Orleans around 10:30 PM or so. We couldn’t wait.

We’re headed to Mardi Gras baby! The excitement was rich in the air and Mary J was stoked with gas, beer and food. And Webber of course. And Couch Surfing Ori too.

While driving East we really had no clue where we’d stay or park our RV’s. The city was in such party mode right now, there was gridlock everywhere. We assumed we’d have to park a few miles out of town and figure out a way in. All the RV parks had been booked solid for weeks at $179 a night or higher. We had one prayer and that was Chad Mac may let us park at his place a few miles away.

Chad to the rescue. He said we could park at his place. However, he had something better up his sleeve. He tapped Rudy the concierge at the Ritz Carlton and let him work his magic. While cruising through Baton Rouge I got a call on my cell… “Hi this is Rudy from the Ritz Carlton. I have 2 RV parking spots right in the French Quarter for you guys.”

OMG! Rudy, you are the man! Thanks so much. And thanks Chad for being on the ball.

The RV spot was literally just blocks from Bourbon Street. We were smack dab in the middle of the madness. We couldn’t have asked for anything better! Of course it comes with a pretty price as well, but it was worth it.

So, was Fat Tuesday all it’s cracked up to be? I’d say Yes and No. Hear me out.

I had two separate experiences at Mardi Gras. The first was the wild partying, boozing, naked boobies, standing around like a herd of cattle on Bourbon and

more debaucherous episodes. I’m sure your mind can fill in the blanks. It was pretty wild.

During the day of Fat Tuesday I took my Macbook and Verizon Mifi card down to Bourbon street and broadcasted the madness for about an hour. People were loving it. (Especially the abundance of titties that were shown live). Oh crap, that doesn’t make me a porn producer does it? I need to go wash my hands.

Speaking of washing, I think I need to go clean my shoes too. The streets of the French Quarter are so disgusting. You always have to be careful where you are walking. One mis-step and you’ll be ankle deep in the nastiest mud puddle in existence. I pray that the streets are much cleaner today. In fact, I’m excited to see the French Quarter without all the craziness. I’ll probably take a nice bike ride around today and shoot some footage.

The second experience I had with Mardi Gras was a lot more family friendly. And to be honest, 10 times more enjoyable.

It involved hanging on the sidelines of the parades and watching the residents have so much fun. The action started early. Music was blaring at 8:00 AM and the city of New Orleans was ready to party.

People here are so excited and thankful because

of the New Orleans Saints and their recent Super Bowl Victory. This city deserved it so much! You could see the joy in their eyes, the beam in their smiles and the giving nature as painted participants heaved beads and Mardi Gras flare from the floats.

In my experience, the day time party and parades were a lot more fun than drinking on Bourbon street. Maybe I’m getting old.

I personally liked seeing the families and parade action more then the drunken booze fest. Of course I was still pounding Red Stripes at 10:00 AM, but it was much more pleasant vibe.

Recently I spoke with a guy named Tom Martin. Tom has a cool website called… My Mardi Gras Experience. You can see his site at… www.mymardigrasexperience.com .

Tom’s mission with this site is to change the perception of Mardi Gras and give people a glimpse into everything that is offered beyond the wild partying and boozing of Bourbon Street. Most people really don’t know this side of Mardi Gras because they usually only hear about the drunken crazyness and naked titties everywhere.

Trust me, it’s way deeper then that. And thanks to Tom for showing that side.

Well, I’m off to do some catch up work, eat a healthy breakfast and peruse the city. If yesterday was Fat Tuesday, I feel like today is Obese Wednesday.

I need a smoothie.

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Filmed this in my backyard today…

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Today, I’ve teamed up with International sanitation non-profit Wherever the Need (WTN) and will be donating 100% of the profits of my new book, Twitter for the Shitter, to the charity.

The book is a collection of Tweets from the past year, with a focus on potty humor.

My book is crappy in the most literal sense. So it seemed like a natural fit to use it to help Wherever the Need’s important mission.

The announcement is in support of World Toilet Day, an international effort dedicating November 19th to raising money and awareness about the oft-overlooked sanitation issue.

Here’s what Beverly Visty-Doman Executive Director of Wherever the Need USA had to say about me…

“Jason is a brilliant marketer and an influential member of the internet community. With 2.5 billion people worldwide lacking access to proper sanitation and water his support couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.”

This is where I need your help…

WTN has been a leading charity with regard to using social media to raise money and awareness for its cause. Earlier this year, the group launched the Twitter for Sh-tters campaign, developed by social engagement studio Skadaddle Media, calling on Twitter users to raise funding to build eco-sanitation toilets where they are needed most.

My book can be purchased at: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/twitter-for-the-shitter/7612338

Other initiatives on behalf of Wherever The Need include:

Eco Strip the sustainable power bar for computers, announced it will donate two dollars to Foundation for every USB EcoStrip 2.0 sold online from November 19th –26th 2009.

Please do what you can to make sure others have safe water. It may seem like a non-issue to those of us that have safe water, but millions and millions die because of poor sanitation.

Support National Toilet Day and Twitter For The Shitter please.

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For the last two weeks I’ve been on a mad hunt for a RV. I’m trying to be patient, educate myself, and make the wisest buying decision.

The more I look around, the more I’m confused. There are so many questions to ask yourself…

1. Class A RV or Truck with a 5th Wheel?  I’m inclined to think RV, preferably a Diesel Pusher.

2. Buy something in the $40,000 to $60,000 range, or go Big-Pimpen with a rig in the $120,000’s? I took a look at some in the low 100’s today, and they were gorgeous. I’m really leaning towards one of the really nice ones, but need to be somewhat wise about it financially. After all, I may not even dig being in this thing for any extended amount of time.

3. Is no Washer & Dryer a deal breaker? This is a tough question. I really want a washer/dryer aboard.

4. Can I really watch TV on a 13 inch in the bedroom? Probably not since I’m used to having 3 huge plasma/lcd TV’s in the house.

5. If I have a lady friend in the RV, can I drop a deuce in the bathroom without grossing her out? Important question.

6. Should I tow a vehicle behind me?  I’m thinking yes one minute, no the next. Maybe the best thing is to start out with no vehicle and if it’s a major bitch, I’ll just buy one on the road.

7. What if you get stuck in some shitty dead end spot and can’t back up?  Yeah, that’s freaking me out.

8. What about California? I love Cali. It’s my home. I’m not leaving this place for long. I’ll be back all the time (can’t give up surfing). San Diego is my home. I’ll just be away from home some weeks.

9. Will my dog have a blast on the road? I sure hope so. I started reading Steinbeck’s “Travels With Charley” per a John Carlton recommendation. I’ll probably reread Kerouac’s ”On The Road” another time as well.

10. I could probably write another ten questions in here, but lastly I’ll ask myself… “How long are you gonna tour in the RV?”  No idea at all, and I don’t want to put many restrictions on my travels.

So here’s the rig I’ve been thinking of getting…

It’s got less than 20,000 miles, and looks really clean inside.

The price of this rig is fair and something that is on my list of ones to really consider.

In about an hour I’m heading up to San Juan Capistrano to look at another vehicle. It will make about the 15th I’ve looked at today.

I’m not sure it’s what I’m looking for, but I’m just trying to be open minded.

So, being open minded I’m all for some advice. Have you ever traveled in a RV?

Any tips?

Is it a huge hassle to dump human waste? Do the bathrooms get nasty? Any places to avoid? Any places I must see?

Cmon RV’ers, let me know what you know.

Thanks.

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I’m kind of a word nerd. Usually in the morning I like to do the crossword puzzle to get the brain moving. I don’t always demonstrate my literary knowledge in my blog posts or writings, but I do try to study and learn a bit more each day.

Now that learning is getting so much cooler. With the new Scrabble application on the iPhone I’m in Hog-Heaven for some verbal Jujitsu.

If you have a iPhone, go to the “App Store” and search for Scrabble. I think it’s $4.99. Well worth it too.

If you don’t have a iPhone you can download the Scrabble app via Facebook as well.

So, if you are get the Scrabble app, make sure we are Facebook Friends. You can friend me up on Facebook at the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=634453082

When we become friends and we both have the Scrabble App, we can battle back and forth.

Let’s get it on.

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On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
Seein’ things that I may never see again,
And I can’t wait to get on the road again.

Damn, I love Willie. He’s such a stud. Every time I hear that song I start itching for a road trip. But get this… I’ve never really done much traveling.  Sure, I’ve pinged back and forth along the west coast like a pinball stuck in bumpers, but I’ve never really seen much of the United States, or the world for that matter.

So, for the last few months I’ve been reliving the dream of packing up a motor home and touring the country. I just can’t stop jonesing to go do something. And I’d love to meet up with all my friends on the internet that I’ve met over the years.

However travel of this sort possesses a few problems. Problem number one is this house I live in. I love this place like no other. It’s beautiful, conveniently located on the beach, and more then I ever imagined. Leaving this place will be tough. I don’t want to do it. Yet I’m still itching to screw off and experience new stuff. Stuff like Austin Texas!

Then there’s all these material possessions I’ve accumulated.  Storing everything seems like a huge hassle. Good thing I’m not emotionally attached to most of my physical stuff.

Hardest of all is my girlfriend is not keen on the idea of aimlessly bumming around in a RV. I don’t blame her one bit. It’s just not her thing and I wouldn’t try and force it upon her.

So deep down I have this nagging urge to go do crazy adventurous stuff. But to do so means leaving so much that I’ve worked for. Damn you Willie Nelson song!  Mix in the fact that I change my mind about stuff every three hours and this travel bug is even more confusing.

I love San Diego California. Love my girlfriend and friends here. I have the greatest life of just about anyone I know. So why the hell do I always want more?

Anybody else get restless like this? I can’t be alone.

I want to snowboard in Colorado, see Glacier National Park, go to the Daytona 500, see the new Cowboys Stadium, wrestle a alligator, go back to Wrigley Field, perform magic tricks on the streets of New York, surf the East Side, and on and on and on.

Maybe I can mind melt my girlfriend to love RV-ing.  Or maybe my friends Ron & Tina Lorenz can help me hypnotize her into it. They’ve been RV-ing for some time and love it.

Ah damn you Willie Nelson song

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So I’ve been chilling with Couch Surfing Ori for the last couple days. Good dude.

If he rolls through your neighborhood, let him rock your sofa.

His gig is pretty sweet. He basically just rolls around the world crashing on peoples couches and living life to the fullest.

He just got back from Burning Man and rocking a raw food challenge for 30 days.

Of course once he arrived here my lady Kameron loaded him up with all kinds of cooked goods from the kitchen.

In his honor I thought I’d dig through the archive and find a video of me enacting in a real life couch surf. I think this footage is about ten years old.

And oh yeah, Ori manned up and came surfing with me yesterday as well. It was pretty funny watching him paddling in the ocean while simultaneously puking up his breakfast.

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I’m not big into flying. In fact, it’s one of my biggest fears in life. However, I do occasionally force myself to get on a plane just to overcome that silly fear.

A couple of weeks ago I flew out to Las Vegas with my pal Marshall Sylver via private plane. I wasn’t too

keen on heading to Vegas with the sweltering heat hovering over 100 degrees each day. Yet I did want to see some of my buddies at Mike Filsaime and Anik Singal’s “Launch Tree” event. I also wanted to accept Marshall’s invitation to come stay at his luxurious “Prosperity Palace”.

Considering the airport is only 7 minutes from my house, and I was getting the royal VIP treatment, I sucked it up and got onto the plane.

Truth be told, the flight wasn’t that bad. (Maybe it was the Xanax that helped the ride).

Marshall’s palace in Vegas is ridiculous. The dude has even got a freaking skateboard park in the back yard! He and his lovely bride Erica made my entire trip so convenient and enjoyable, I could not have asked for more.

Anyhow, the more I fly, the better I am with it. During the last couple years I’ve made trips to Melbourne Australia, Maui Hawaii, Chicago, and Portland Oregon.

Slowly I’m starting to get used to riding the big bird in the sky. And because of this comfort level increasing as time goes by, I’m really digging this new offer that Jet Blue has just come up with.

Click here to check out this ridiculous offer Jet Blue is making from Sept. 8th to Oct. 8th

The web sites reads…

“Today through Aug. 21*, customers can purchase a flight pass to visit as many destinations as often as they like between Sept. 8 and Oct. 8, 2009(a) –

Jetters will have access to every available seat, on every flight and can book travel or make changes up to three days before departure.”

Of course there is a bit of fine print, but it’s not unreasonable. For instance you get docked $100 if you miss a flight. If you plan your flights ahead of time, it’s really not that big of a issue.

Jet Blue only flies in the Western Hemisphere, but you can really get a great bang for your buck with this deal. You can head to spots such as Cancun, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, all over the United States and more. In fact, you can see a list of all the spots Jet Blue flies by clicking here.

Unfortunately me for it’s a bit of bad timing. I already have plans during these dates. But I’m giving serious thoughts to canceling those plans and seeing many places I’ve never seen before.

The latest experiences I’ve had on planes have given me hope that I’ll actually see the rest of the world some day.

Of course, I’ll still get all liquored up before I’m boarding, but hey, at least I’m boarding.

Good move Jet Blue. I imagine I’ll be flying with you some time soon.

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