From: "Susan" <vanpuppet-AT-mtnisp.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:45:55 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] On the road


I haven't had that much trouble with MapQuest (knock on wood) but have been 
looking into getting one of those gps'.  My sister told me how much she 
liked hers.

I don't stay in the cheepo hotels either.  I have the point cards from most 
of the major hotel companies.  After many years of using these cards I 
usually have a free night from one or the other. I save the free nights for 
those times when business is slow and I prefer not the spend the cash.  You 
all know those times.  Hampton Inns (part of the Hilton company) is my 
favorite.  Their beds are very comfortable which is very important to me as 
I get older.

Ten minute power naps at the rest area is a wonderful way to keep going. 
But I prefer not to actually sleep in the van. I wouldn't be able to move in 
the morning.

The black velvet trick sound great.  I often have more than one show in the 
van and it is just not practical for me to load and unload each time.  I 
also try to park in the front near the door.  Most of the hotels have 
security camera in this area.  And I spent many years working in hotels - 
including being a night auditor (the person that is in charge of the hotel 
over night).  A good night auditor will pay attention to what is going on in 
the parking lot.  Almost all hotels have an emergency button behind the desk 
to call the police in case of a problem. It can be a little scary being the 
only person awake in the hotel. So I was always happy to know that the 
button was there. I remember hitting the button once by accident.  Believe 
me, when the police quickly barge in with riot gear, you feel protected.

Like Bob, I really hate flying and my shows are really to big to take on a 
plane anyway.  So I drive everywhere.  But I don't put as many miles on my 
van as Bob does.  I try to stay mostly in the southeast.

I love listening to audio books.  My favorites are anything read by Jim 
Dale.  He is the guy that read the Harry Potter Books.  Some audio books I 
buy because I will listen to them over and over.  Others I get at the 
Library.  I live in a very small town so the selection is not always that 
good.  But those of you that live in a larger Library system area will 
probably have a better selection.  I also have an ipod for when I want to 
listen to music.  Ipod also sells audio books but it is hard to share these 
books because it is difficult to copy to CD.  If I am going to spend all 
that money on an audio book, it is important to be able to share with family 
or friends. Charmaine Spencer up in Chicago told me about a company that 
rents audio books. It sounded like a good deal.  Just haven't had the chance 
to try it yet.

Anyway, hope everyone has a safe and profitable holiday season.

Susan




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hobey Ford" <hobeyone-AT-gmail.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 8:25 AM
Subject: [Puptcrit] On the road


> So many of us are road warriors taking the show to the highways.  I
> consider my work part truck driver although I drive a Honda Oddysey.
> For Years I have used my grandpa Hobey's brass navigation calipers and
> the the good old atlas to find my way.  Then a few years back I got an
> electronic caliper to scale out miles by rolling along the map with
> the tool which I never used.  Well yesterday I went to best buy and
> for $129 and a rebate gift card of $40 (so $90) I bought a Tom Tom
> gps.  I didn't think I'd like it.  I hated radar detectors because
> they made me nervous, preferring cruise control.  Well in my first
> usage of the gps  I made my way with ease to a show around a road
> block and then arriving at the gig realizing I hadn't gotten lunch was
> able to locate a Subway within 5 minutes amidst a sprawl of new
> development housing where every road looked the same.  Then leaving
> Leesburg VA It informed me that I would be home by 11:23pm so I
> reconsidered the motel that I assumed I would pay for, so instead
> pressed on.  It was correct down to five minutes.  It also showed me
> where the speed limit changed and I was going too fast.  Folks you
> probably all are way ahead of me here, but this cheapest of gps units
> is flat out great!  I could have used it this fall when I took the
> wrong turn off the LI expressway and got lost in queens at rush hour
> or when mapquest led me to a remote mountain top where ther was no
> school that I could see.  I had that coming because while I use
> mapquest it is always with wariness as you need to back up the
> information with a second source.  I do have a Hwy 66 map software on
> my computer which has helped me many times.  So here's the thread if
> there are takers.  What is your road routine?  Are you a drive through
> eater dining down the highway?  do you unload your puppets into the
> motel room? Where do you park or strategize the situation to avoid
> break-ins?  Do you have a sign on your van advertizing your gear
> inside?  Take naps? Speeder?  How close do you cut it to allow for
> traffic?  Do you pull a trailor and if so what the devil is that like?
> Do you sleep in the van ever?  Are you a book tape listener, pod-cast
> library, NPR? what do you listen to? NYC or LA driver?  Secret black
> book of killer obscure restaurants?
> _______________________________________________
> List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit
> Archives: http://www.driftline.org


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