The Tubular Trip Episode #4

It's Ally again. Gwen got sick and is chilling in the hotel. I walked to work. Work was good, Meridith gave me a run-down on what i would be doing and how to teach. Then I had a trial run that i thought went rather well. Jeremy never showed up, but i was ok with that. I wasn't here for a boyfriend. On my way home I stopped at the store and got Gwen chicken soup and ginger ale. I also rented our favorite movies from a store and we watched them when i got back. We laughed and Gwen said she felt a bit better. Hopefully tomorrow Gwen will feel better. 

The Tubular Trip Episode #3

California is awesome! Gwen and I are having so much fun. One problem, the root of all evils, money. We cannot keep living off the little money we have, we have to join the rest of America and get jobs. So not cool. We also needed the money to buy a car. Gwen wanted her dream hippie van. I wasn't so into that, i preferred and old VW beetle, but whatever got us where we needed to go was good. We did a little sightseeing the first day, but it soon became apparent that we NEEDED a car. So our second day in California we went job hunting. Oh Joy. While Gwen was off doing whatever, I walked the streets looking for some sort of job. There were tons of openings, but none felt right, especially McDonalds. I'm sure it is ok for some people, but not for me. As I was walking, about to give up hope, I passed by the Laguana Art Gallery. Art has always been big in my life. I draw, paint, and doodle. I had considered using that for a career option, but i didn't want to be a starving artist, so what else is there? Anyway, the gallery did not have a 'Hiring' sign, but i still went in. I'd continue my search after i looked at the art. I walked around the air-conditioned room examining the art on the walls. I found I really enjoyed the work of one painter, J. Evans. Whoever he or she was, their paintings were really good. I was so into examining one painting, Sunrise Over A Wheat Field, that I didn't even hear someone come up until a voice said, pretty loudly, "Can I help you?" I turned, with a rapidly beating heart, to see a grandmotherly looking woman wearing a bright red business suit. I smiled and she smiled back.

"I'm just looking thanks."

"I see you enjoy J's paintings."

"Yes very much."

"Well if you need anything, let me know."

"I will," she started to walk away, when out of impulse, something I don't normally do, I said "wait."  She turned back around and faced me. "Are there any job openings here?" She smiled.

"What's your name?"

"Ally Bennet,"

"I'm Meridith George. Follow me," I did so and she led me through two doors to a room where dozens of easels were set up, and were all facing the front of the room where there was a small stage with another easel set up. "This is the Learning Center. Set up for, mostly kids though adults may join, those who want to learn art." 

This was the perfect job. Teaching art, i had found my calling. This had everything i ever wanted in a job. Painting, and kids. I loved little kids, and sharing my love of art with them would be awesome. 

"I normally don't do this, but i have a feeling that you'd be a great teacher. Would you be interested in teaching this class?"

"Would I ever!" I said, unable to curb my enthusiasm. She smiled and we walked back to the front desk. While we were discussing paperwork and such, a guy walked in. He looked no older than myself, and had blue eyes and shaggy black hair. He walked right up to the front desk where we were at and  i thought my heart would burst. 

"Hey," he said. No sound left my lips. As you could tell, I've very shy/weird around cute guys.

"Ally this is Jeremy, Jeremy this is Ally."

"Nice to meet you," he said sticking out his hand, which i shook. 

"You too," I replied finally finding my voice. 

"Ally likes your work Jeremy," Meridith said.  It clicked in my mind. Jeremy Evans, J. Evans duh! 

"You do?" He asked excitedly. 

"Yes, it's very well done." 

"Thanks!" He gave me a huge smile which made my heart skip a beat. Meridith and I finished discussing the job, and soon I said my goodbyes. I left the gallery looking forward to tomorrow, when I started my job. 

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When I got back to the hotel Gwen wasn't there, I wondered where she was. I tried calling her cellphone, but like always she never picked up. I turned on the tv and awaited her return. Eventually she returned, a huge smile on her face. 

"Hey what's up?" I asked muting the movie that was playing. 

"Guess what, I made twenty bucks!" 

"Really how?"

"I played my guitar and people dropped money in my case."

"Nice."

"So how was your day?" Gwen said sitting down on the other twin bed. 

"Good. I got a job at an art gallery, as an art teacher." Thinking about the gallery made me think of Jeremy and a small smile came to my lips. 

"I know that look, you met a cute guy didn't you?"

"Yes," I smiled. "You know me too well. His name is Jeremy Evans, and he's an artist."

"Oh that's hot," the two of us laughed.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring, but for now I'm just enjoying the California sun. 

The Tubular Trip: Episode #2

Ok, so me and Ally were having the time of our lives, but we were forgetting about one very big thing. Money. We were pretty much broke. Together our life savings and the money our parents gave us came to about $5,287 and 93 cents. Oh, and minus the $135 spent on the way here for the hotel, the bubble gum, Dr. Peppers, and the ice cream. 

First of all we needed jobs. 

Second, we needed a car. Sure we could take the trolly cars and walk around, but we're Jersey Girls at heart. And that means we are not walking anywhere. After all, I have been hoping to find my dream car in California: a 1967 VW Bus. 

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"Ally," I whispered. Ally has fallen asleep on the couch in our hotel room. "It's time to get up."

"Uhhhhh." Ally was groggy this morning, like every other one.

"It's a beautiful day," I sang into her ear. California really was beautiful. I surveyed our crappy little room, but it looked kind of nice with the morning sunlight coming through the window. After Ally finally got dressed we went onward into the great sunshine state.

"We need to keep on the lookout for my dream car." I was very hyper at the moment, filled with momentum and adrenaline.

"Oh no. Don't tell me you still want one of those gas guzzling hippie vans?"

"Shut up Ally!" I saw playfully. 

"Well, I'm just saying If you do actually find one i would NEVER drive it."

"You won't be driving it. I will."

And that was that. We hit the sights. On foot. Ally and I went to see the Hollywood sign and the San Francisco Bridge. We both loved California, but we both agreed the best part was the beach! The clean blue water, the clean tan sand, and of course the tons of awesomely hot surfers. Our first official day in California was a pretty good day and our dreams of coming here were not let down. 

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The next day the job search began. We woke up late again, with aching feet. Ally was on the couch watching a rerun of Lost and I was sitting on my bed strumming my ancient acoustic guitar that I've had since the seventh grade. 

"Wow, this episode is so old. It even has Boone in it!" Ally exclaimed. We were both into watching Lost, it was and still is our favorite show. Everything else on television is seriously crap. Except the FUEL channel on the higher channels with all the extreme sports on it. but of course the crappy tv in out room only had five channels on it. 

"Wow. It's eleven o'clock already," I said suddenly looking at the clock. "Turn the TV off, Ally."

"Ok, but this is almost over."

"Now!"

"Ok, Ok, no need to shout."

"Whatever. You know we need jobs. How are we going to pay for the room, clothes, food?"

"Yea, but I have no idea what I should do." Ally sighed.

"Neither do I. I feel like I'm not good at anything."

Ally started thinking. She looked at me and I still had my guitar in my lap. "Why don't you do something with your music? Those songs you wrote about Brandon aught to make some money. Huh?"

"Yea, that's not such a bad idea. But it's not like I can just waltz into a record company and start making a CD. I don't feel like getting a job anyway. Let's just win the lottery or something."

"Gwen, you are so hopeless."

"We are both hopeless." We both laughed and finally went our own ways to hunt for a job.

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Ally still had no idea what she wanted to do. Gwen had music, but what did she have? She just decided to walk around town and see if anything stuck out to her. The summer air was warm and she felt good as she strolled through shops in her flowy yellow dress. Many stores were looking for help, but she knew she was not going to work at McDonalds because they were not THAT desperate. 

Finally something caught Ally's eye. The Laguna Art Museum. She always loved painting and doodling in her notebook. Art was a hobby to her, but now she could possibly make it her job. She walked up the giant stone steps and into the building.

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After buying a lottery ticket and some gummy worms,  I sat down on a bench with my guitar case next to me (I seriously did not go anywhere without it) and chomped some gummy worms to think. Time passed and I thought I might join a band or something. Then get a gig at the House of Blues, and then BAM! Stardom. Sigh, that would be really awesome. I wasn't really seeking fame, but I just want to do something I love- music- for a living and not become caught up in the harsh and suffocating workforce. Not for me. 

To help me think better I pulled out old faithful and started playing some Bob Dylan, which is my favorite when I need to relax. Before I knew it some people were dropping money into my guitar case! It was amazing. California is awesome and that's all there really is to say.

The Tubular Trip: Pilot Episode

Hey Ally here. High schools over forever!!! I am now a graduated senior. As was our plan since we were Juniors, Gwen-my bff- and I will be going on a road trip across America, ending our trip in California. The day after graduation we packed up Gwen's "Cherry Bomb," Gwen's bright red Toyota Camry which was from like the eighties and could break down any minute. After packing the car we said a tearful goodbye to our parents and a less tearful one to our sisters, we hit the road! As we drove out of New Jersey we talked about what we would do when we got to California, and of course sang loudly to our "Trip Mix" which had oldies like The Beatles, The Who, Queen, and of course Bob Dylan. The Mix also had our modern favorites like California by Hawk Nelson (how appropriate) and In Love With the Eighties by Relient K. The people in other cars looked at us strangely, but we didn't care we were having the time of our life!
By the time we reached Pittsburgh, 5 hours later, we were kinda beat from singing so loud, and were calmly talking.
"Once we get there we have to go see Hollywood," Gwen said.
"Duh. We'll get our picture taken with the Hollywood sign. Maybe we'll meet Ryan Gosling, or Batman!" I said excitedly. We laughed, but where interrupted by growling stomachs.
"I guess it's time for lunch," Gwen said, and pulled off the highway and stopped at a diner. There we had a quick bite to eat, left, and continued on the road after switching drivers.
We never seemed to run out of things to talk about. As we passed through Ohio we were discussing books, and by the time we had reached St. Louis, our stop for the night, we had talked about books, music, movies, guys, cars, and Christianity. We pulled off at a hotel, took out our overnight bags and went inside. It was almost ten o'clock and we were both extremely glad to get out of the stupid car. We went inside and after checking in, went to our room and flopped onto our beds.
The next morning we did a bit of sight seeing before hitting the ol' asphalt. We got our picture taken by the arch-to add to our Road Trip Scrapbook- and of course did some shopping. We piled in the car with our purchases and headed out. We passed through Missouri and Oklahoma and stopped for the night in Amarillo, Texas. I was surprised the Cherry Bomb had lasted the 1,500 plus miles we had already traveled.
When we woke up, after a quick breakfast we hit the road again. As were were passing through New Mexico, which is like wide open road, something bad happened. We ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere. The Cherry Bomb just stopped. Slowed down then just wouldn't move. Needless to say Gwen and I were ticked to say the least. We took turns pushing and guiding the car, since we couldn't remember who had forgotten to get gas, until we reached a small gas station. We filled it up and continued on.
Many hours later, ten to be exact, we crossed the California border into California. We took a picture by the "Welcome to California" sign. We took in all the sights, sounds, and smells. We were so excited we were practically bouncing out of our seats. I had to remain somewhat in control because I was driving. When we reached Victorville, a city an hour and a half away from Hollywood where we were thinking about staying the rest of our trip, we couldn't wait to go sightseeing tomorrow. As we pulled into the hotel parking lot, The Cherry Bomb made some sounds that did not sound good at all. As I pulled into a parking spot The Cherry Bomb made one last wheeze and went to car heaven. Gwen and I looked at each other.
"I guess sightseeing is out tomorrow," I said. Our first real day in California and we will have to spend it car searching. Great. Make sure you tune in again. Cherrio!
R.I.P Cherry Bomb- Even though you were a crappy car we still loved you!

Um....

We haven't posted in like 15 days. Anything we can post on this sad excuse for a blog?

Dream Girl

Ugh, another day of school. Then he spots her. She is the most beautiful and striking girl he has ever seen walking down the hallway towards him. There is a vague whispering and all he can see is her face. Everything else is a blur. 

"Raven.... Raven...." the voices whisper as she continues to walk toward him, her eyes fixed on him. 

"Who...?" he starts. As suddenly as she appeared, she was gone. 

"Alexander." Mom comes into the room. "Wake up. Your going to be late again. Do you want a Saturday, mister?"

"Uhhhhhhhhh," Alexander groans into his pillow. I can't believe I had that dream again. What's wrong with me?  He thought. Raven... And on that note he finally decides to get up.

Story

It's your turn to start a story Gwen!