Today I made an attempt to test how feasible resuming lunch sessions of Rock Band would be. We left work around noon and made the 9 mile or so trek to Tempe. It ended up taking about 20 minutes highway but part was due to trying a different exit. I think realistically it would’ve been 15. Either way, it’s not going to work unless we want to get 2 songs in.

I guess we will have to appreciate our sessions even more when we get them. Then there’s the fact that I own the game, but it’s not as much fun playing by yourself.

Site Note: I also got my license today but that will come with part of my blog on the usability of DMV’s.

I have determined that I need to start scheduling visits from friends and family. This is probably the best form of motivation for me to get my house in tip top shape.

So, if anyone would like to visit, realistically I can start accepting visitors the week before Thanksgiving. Let me know, and get your dates in now. I have a nice warm place and am expecting (and hoping) it becomes the new vacation spot for my crew

Need some enticing?

• I live in Tempe, which is home to ASU as well as a new light rail system.
• Tempe is close to Phoenix and Old Town Scottsdale (which has a Fashion Square that could compete with the East Coast).
• Botanical Gardens and the Zoo are open year round (and are comfortable) because of the gorgeous weather.
• There are plenty of parks where you can just stop and climb a mountain.
• I am within driving distance of a day trip to the Grand Canyon.
• Heated outdoor pool in the winter… mmmmmmm
• I have Rock Band 2
• and last but not least… ME!!!!

Tonight I decided since I was all by my lonesome, actually not tired, and still without most of the luxuries of home, I would attempt to go out tonight. I have to admit I was pretty nervous about this since one of my fears is doing things by myself that are typically not solo events such as movies, shows, and well, bars. I have a fear of being “that single girl.”

I found a listing of bars and narrowed it down to two I was fairly interested in… got ready and headed out the door somewhere around 10pm. The Mill Street District is only a few miles away from me. Last time I was in that area it took me somewhere around 7 minutes to get there. This time, that was an understatement.

After being stuck in traffic the last mile or so that lasted about 25 minutes (no, I am not exaggerating), I found a metered spot on the road and hopped over to it. It was then I discovered that in Tempe, a quarter gets you 10 minutes. It was shortly after that I discovered that not only would a taxi probably be a better option in order to combat traffic and the cost of parking, but there are bike taxis as well that I definitely need to look into.

I ended up not wanting to sit in a crowded line and probably never even get a beer since I only had enough change to cover 28 minutes so I ended up driving around and learning the area.

ASU kids really like to party, though it could’ve been that they won today.. I should probably look at the football schedule. Typically I am not the bar hopper type, but I found myself really wanting to take a night and a taxi and see what there is. There seem to be a lot of cute trendy bars, Irish pubs, dueling pianos, and of course your typical college skank bars. Unfortunately, my bar hopping buddies are still back in the midwest and so I am not sure I want to do a whole bar hopping fiesta by myself.

So, in the end, I got all dressed up tonight (and damn did I look cute I have to admit) and was even debating sparking up a conversation with a man that probably wouldn’t have ended up being the future Mr. Bartz. I didn’t get that far, but I am trying to look on the bright side. I know now what to watch out for when I attempt that again, and at least I got one step closer to defeating the fear of going out alone.