Cedar Rapids pt. 1

So, shortly after making my last blog post I decided it would be a good idea to check the bus schedules. With the help of a professor from the college I managed to find the schedules online. Apparently the next bus was 7:45, which was within 20 minutes, which worked out great for me. I texted Vince to let him know I would be making it there via bus, he said he was gonna be at work but could come open up since his work was nearby. So I hopped the bus and inquired of the bus driver how to get to Vince's location, she told me the proper transfers and it was a pretty painless process. I transfered to the proper bus downtown and was soon mere blocks from Vince's house. I texted Vince that I was nearly there and he seemed incredibly surprised that I was there already. So I found my way to his house and plopped down in front of it for a nice rest while I waited.

When Vince got there we had quite a conversation about everything ranging from travel, to the military, to cell phones. Vince was at least as great a guy as I could have hoped for, if not more so! Once Vince returned to work I decided it was finally time to get that shower, and it was heavenly. Being subjected to such abuse the last couple of days, my body seemed quite at ease with this normal and familiar gesture. I then decided it was time for a well deserved nap while I did my laundry, which was quite rank!

Upon waking from an awesome 4 hour nap, (I say nap, but really thats more than I had slept the night before) I decided I better get done setting up some more couch surfing destinations. I needed Ames or Des Moines, and then eventually Omaha. I sent several messages to CSers from Des Moines and Ames and didn't receive any immediate response. I did, however, find one in Omaha. My old yu-gi-oh friend Ryan Newburn lived in Omaha, and happened to be online on facebook! I told him what I was up to and he decided that it would be cool for me to stay with him when I was in town. With this problem solved, and the more immediate stops in progress I decided to watch a movie until Vince got home.

While watching Ali G in da house Vince came home and we ate a bit of food and were trying to decide what to do. Vince's friend Cat was apparently busy so could not hang out with us that evening, so we decided to go to the spy bar and have some beers. At first things at the bar were quite chill, we were just trying new beer and having light conversations. Then, the salsa dancing started and the bartender pulled out the patron tequila and my memory was jogged. IT WAS CINCO DE MAYO!!! Vince got the bottle of tequila off the shelf because the bartender couldn't reach it, she then proceeded to reward us with FREE SHOTS! Upon taking a shot with the lime and salt I remembered an old highschool friend. It was Lacey Brinkman's birthday, easily one of the easiest birthdays to remember. Now, I had barely talked to Lacey in the last few years, but we were such good friends I hardly thought that mattered. So I got her number off facebook and called her up. She seemed very pleased that I remembered her birthday, which made tequila face Ryan very pleased! I had forgotten why I stopped drinking tequila, it affects me more than other liquors. So we talked to Vince's friend Daryl, who is a salsa instructor and then called it a night.

Upon arriving back at Vincent's place I found that there was only 1 reply from couchsurfers, and it was a negative, she would be out of town. So I went to bed mildly disappointed but pleased I would be getting a full night sleep!

I didn't get a full night sleep. I woke up at 4:10 (Wierd huh, same time as yesterday to the minute) with a horrible head ache. I took some aspirin (thanks mom) and waited for half an hour. Even after the head ache went away, something still didn't feel right, I was probably sick from spending so much time out in the elements. So I went to the toilet and did the only thing that made sense, threw up until I was gasping for breath. Being the resilient fellow that I am, I immediately felt better and went back to bed.

Upon waking Vince had already left for work so I got to decided what to do for the day. First things first, I checked my phone. Luckily, there were several messages from couchsurfers. Sadly, only one agreed to let me stay with her, but that wasn't until Saturday, which would set me a day behind! Luckily, by time I had showered and gotten ready I had already received 2 more messages; one telling me that he no longer lived in the same appartment, but would contact his roommates, and another from his roommate saying she would certainly let me crash in the original guys room. I was set!

I then decided to blog and here I am. Thanks for reading, keep it up! I will be in Ames Friday and Saturday and in Omaha Sunday so wish me luck!!