25 Miles in 30 Minutes on the 101

Okay, first let me start by saying the goal of driving to work in 30 minutes is not as attainable as it was prior to school going back into session. Between those "damn kids and their rap music" (am I already to the age when I start using that phrase?) and varying amounts of frontage road construction, 25 miles in 30 minutes is no longer an everyday occurrence. That being said, here's how I attempt to avoid the 101 traffic while still driving on the 101 (sort of).

Ray Rd – This is where our journey begins. At this point you analyze what you can see of the 101 traffic and the frontage road ahead of you and choose one of three options:

1. Enter the freeway.
2. Stay on the frontage road (Price Rd.).
3. Turn around, call in sick and go back to bed.

Most days I choose option 2. It's a bit tricky but what you want to do is approach the intersection at Ray/101 in the right hand lane (AKA the granny lane). This lane usually has fewer cars in it. Immediately after crossing the intersection though you want to get over into the left lane (AKA the hammer lane). The hammer lane "should" run much smoother than the granny lane; unless of course some moron forgets what lane they belong in. When this occurs you've either got to stick with it or do some swerving through both lanes to get around. This process will be repeated for the next few miles.

Guadalupe Rd – As you approach the Guadalupe/101 intersection Price road merges down to one lane before opening back up to two again prior to the light. Immediately get into the left lane to prepare for a possible merger onto the 101. At this point you're probably going to get on the freeway. If you don't you'll be riding the frontage road until it dumps you onto the 101 just under the 202 overpass. The best reason to get on at this point is because you avoid the metered entrance ramps that follow at the proceeding streets.

Once on the freeway make your way over to the hammer lane but prepare yourself to get back over near the granny lane shortly. Just as traffic begins to exit onto the 60 you want to get into that granny lane. Next an entrance lane appears for those getting on the 101 from the 60. If traffic is bad make your way into this lane, which gets you pretty far before merging to the left. Quickly make your way into the middle lane, which seems to have the least resistance. This is probably the slowest point of the drive. For the next 2 miles or so until you get under the 202 overpass you either deal with this slower traffic or attempt to exit immediately and take Price road until it dumps you back onto the 101.

After going under the 202 immediately get into the new granny lane that has appeared. You can usually speed down this lane a ways before it slows due to merging traffic from the 202. As suckers from the 202 are trying to merge onto the 101, you're trying to merge OFF the 101. Get into the exit lane, speed down to the light and if you get lucky it'll be green. Now is where the fun begins. I like to call this next time saver of mine "Ramp Runnin'". Others enjoy this shortcut as well, and it's quite simple to do. When the light turns green, instead of turning onto whatever road the 101 has intersected with, just go straight. Now for a quick warning: Although most of these intersections have a sign showing a double arrow (one to the left and one to the right) it does not say "ONLY" below the sign, so I assume it is okay to go straight. If you plan to call me out on this method please be sure to cite a specific Arizona traffic law so that I can believe you. When I was in my defensive driving class a few months back (curse those speed camera vans!) I asked the instructor about this method of ramp running and he seemed to hint that it was legal in most cases, but who knows. So head on up the entrance ramp and if you time it just right you can blow through the light meter right as it turns green. If there are other cars waiting at the traffic meters you will almost always want to pick the right lane. For some reason I always see 5 or 6 cars backed up on the left side and only 1 or 2 on the right. You should try to count ahead so you don't end up wasting time while other (probably slower) people pass you up. Now, instead of merging into the slow, slow, SLOW traffic on the 101 just stay in the entrance/exit lane. This can be a little dangerous and you do have to keep a watchful eye for anyone trying to merge into the lane. Repeat this process until Thomas Road.

Thomas Rd – At Thomas road there is a slight curve in the freeway, which causes a major slow down (chain reaction breaking) and instead of the 101 running above Thomas road, it runs under. The problem with exiting here is that the middle exit lane does not have the same double arrow that the other exits have but instead shows a right turn ONLY sign. The solution however is brilliant and even more legally sound than just ignoring the sign. Simply make a right turn (even on red, it's legal), followed by a U-turn (also legal) and then get onto the entrance ramp and go about your merry way. Sometimes you can do that entire sequence well before the light turns green for everyone else. The next exit is like the others but can also be performed similar to the Thomas road exit if the light is red.

From this point there are only two more exits where you can continue going straight and depending on the flow of traffic I sometimes just merge in with the masses and take my chances. After you round the curve near Pima road the traffic starts flowing at a normal speed. At this point the only thing you need to be aware of are the speed cameras placed near Shea Blvd., Raintree and just after Hayden. And please, please for the love of things on wheels, don't slam on your brakes when you get near those cameras. Contrary to popular belief those cameras are not going to catch you speeding 500 yards before you get to them. Understanding how these cameras work can greatly increase your awareness of them, and help you avoid being on Scottsdale's Most Wanted.

The Speed Cameras - Each area where these cameras are set up have one camera that takes a photo of the front of your vehicle, and a second that photographs the back of your vehicle. It is ONLY when you are between these two cameras that you can be caught speeding [by the cameras]. Actually it's even a smaller window than that. Between these two cameras, sensors have been placed in the road. Each lane has its own separate sensors (so nobody else is going to cause you to get a ticket). There are two sensors in each lane spaced only a few feet apart. When your front tires hit the first sensor a timer begins and that timer ends when your front tires hit the second sensor. The time that is generated is then converted into miles per hour and then if you are over the limit (75mph I believe), you're going to be on candid camera. As long as you're watching your speed during those few precious feet where those sensors are, you'll be safe. I should say you will be safe from the photo radar, not necessarily from the motorcycle cop hiding on the other side of the overpass clocking you as you speed back up to the 101 standard of 85mph (above 85 is criminal and gets you put in handcuffs).

There you go. That's how I go 25 miles in 30 minutes on the 101. You may be wondering why I've told you my secrets. Well, for one, it's not really that big of a secret. Half the time I find myself in a caravan of other ramp runners who have discovered the same time-saving techniques I have. Secondly, I'm guessing the chance of someone reading this that also drives up the 101 is pretty slim.

Either way, those are my results. Your mileage (and time) may vary.

A Day in My World

So I have seen before where people take pictures of themselves and/or their surroundings at random times throughout a given day in order to sort of tell the story of a typical day in their life. My weekly life is pretty cut and dry but I thought I'd give it a shot. If nothing else it provided a quick topic for a blog posting. This day of my life was Tuesday, July 10th, 2007.

My typical day begins with an alarm at 5:30am. I stopped using an actual alarm clock years ago and instead settle for the mostly reliable alarms on my cell phone. At 5:30am I walk/stumble out to the living room, turn off my first alarm and then typically fall back asleep on the couch. Heather often has trouble falling asleep so she watches TV at night until she falls asleep and then at some point she comes to bed. So when I get up in the morning the pillow and blanket are all ready for me to just crawl onto the couch and catch another 30 minutes of Zs until my second alarm goes off.

After the second alarm goes off I attempt to wake myself up by turning on the TV. Through the magical gift of TiVo, SportsCenter is recorded every morning at 5am, so it's ready for my viewing pleasure at six. This time of the year SportsCenter is mostly full of baseball highlights which nearly put me back to sleep but the occasional piece on college football, tennis, or almost anything other than baseball is enough to keep my attention. I should clarify that I don't hate baseball, it's just one of those sports for me where I need to be there in order to actually enjoy it. I do stop fast-forwarding whenever a recap of a Diamondbacks or Reds game is shown though.

After some breakfast and a quick shower I get all ready for work and then make my way onto the Arizona Loop 101, AKA "the rolling parking lot." The 101 is horrible with traffic. Honestly all the major highways and interstates running through and around Phoenix are horrible but for some reason the Loop 101 gets pegged with being the worst and most dangerous stretch of freeway in the valley. But in the summer the snowbirds have all gone back to their homes and the construction crews are already hard at work before the sun comes up, making my drive just a little less hectic. If I drive fast and manage to avoid the slow spots I can typically get to work (just over 25 miles from home) in around 30 minutes.


I arrive at work, the corporate headquarters for Allied Waste. I've been doing contract work at Allied Waste since December 2006 but just recently started getting actual work to do. It's amazing how much faster time flies when you have work to do. Today I'm adding some new functionality to a pricing application that I've been working on. Not to get too technical but this new piece of the app is going to generate a report, display it in a PDF format and also email the report in an Excel Spreadsheet to the user. Today I spent my time writing code to dynamically create an excel file and write data into the file. I know, it's pretty geeky and hopefully explains why I didn't take more pictures during my work day.


The best part about working at Allied Waste is lunch. EVERYDAY we are treated to catered meals from a local catering company. With every entree there is always a salad bar, Texas Chili, Soup of the Day, fruit, chips, sandwiches and desserts (cookies, brownies and rice krispie treats). It's all free and available to not just the Allied Waste employees but also contractors like myself. Of all the clients I have worked for, this is by far the greatest perk ever offered.


After lunch it's a few more hours of coding and other boring geeky things. Finally, around 4:30pm I escape! It's 110 degrees or so outside so I head straight to my truck to crank up the A/C and head home. Now comes one of my most favorite parts of the day. As often as I can I call and talk to my parents while driving home. Now I know what most of you are thinking, "Are you crazy? Talking on your cell phone while driving down a dangerous freeway?" Well, maybe so but I do what I can to be safe and I always use a hands free headset while driving. There's just something about talking on the phone that helps me control my road rage. So what if some guy just cut me off or if some moron on a motorcycle (not wearing a helmet) is weaving between me and another car, I'm on the phone with my parents enjoying a little time with them. There isn't always a lot to talk about but hearing their voices and knowing they are doing okay just makes me feel good. The drive back to my side of town takes nearly 45 minutes in the afternoon but eventually I make it.

The next stop, at least once or twice a week, is the gym. On Tuesdays my friend, Kyle, and I do a lifting circuit that primarily focuses on the lower back, shoulders and chest. We both have had a lot going on at work (we are both consultants) so it's been difficult to meet up, but today it worked out. After about one and a half hours the workout is over and I finally get to go home!


I walk in the door to our apartment and am instantly greeted by the wonderful aroma of a home-cooked meal. Shortly thereafter Sera comes sprinting over to greet me with doggy kisses. Heather is fixing up a really nice dinner, trying out a new recipe from her Kraft Food & Family magazine. Dinner is delicious as always and Heather and I talk a little about our days while watching some TV. While Sera normally spends the evening running around and barking at us to play with her we eventually manage to wear her out and she'll sit and relax with us.


So that's pretty much it, a day in my life. It's nothing too spectacular but I get a lot of enjoyment out of my daily routine. Speaking of which, I'm about two hours late getting to bed. Guess this will probably throw off my schedule for tomorrow. Oh the excitement! :)

Lazy Weekend: Sunday

(forecast: 111° and mostly sunny)

Our lazy weekend continued today, but the excitement of the day was certainly not laid back. My sister, Jenn, was in town for a conference and had a lot of free time today before flying back to Albuquerque. Our original plan was to meet her for brunch and then relax together at the pool. Brunch ended up falling through since Jenn had been up early in the morning and just couldn't fight back her hunger pains any longer. Heather and I grabbed the best lazy weekend breakfast we could; an "Everything" bagel with Jalapeño cream cheese from Einstein Bros. Bagels; and made our way to the Arizona Biltmore where Jenn was staying.

That was the other great part about the day. The Arizona Biltmore is one of the most prestigious resorts in Arizona. Nestled in next to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve the Biltmore has a very "Frank Lloyd Wright-ish" style to it, however he wasn't the architect of the hotel. The real architect behind this luxurious place was Albert Chase McArthur, but Frank Lloyd Wright did provide on-site consulting for four months in 1928 relating to the masonry unit "Textile Block" construction.¹ McArthur's style is so similar to that of Wright's though that many people (including myself until today) confuse it with FLW.


The owners of the Biltmore have not exactly helped the issue though, adding numerous pieces of FLW artwork and styles throughout the hotel. They even converted the original hotel solarium into a restaurant named Wright's. Regardless of who built the buildings they are amazing. And as a beautiful counterpart to these buildings the grounds of the Biltmore are very well laid out with fountains, flowers, luxurious pools and even a larger-than-life chess board! It is not often that we get to experience the "high life" like this so we took the time to walk around and take it all in.

Jenn introduced us to her coworkers and her boss who are all in town for a Chiropractor Convention. I was thinking it was the perfect place for me to be since my lower back has been bothering me a bit lately, but I decided against trying to beg for a free adjustment. Instead we cooled off in the water and talked with Jenn whom we haven't seen since Easter. It was comforting to see a family member but it also makes you miss the rest of your family. Heather is heading back home for her Bridal Shower later this month and I know she is looking forward to seeing her family. We had such a great time though and got to even play on the water slide, my favorite thing about the hotel!

Unfortunately our visit with Jenn couldn't last all day. Her and her coworkers had a flight to catch back to Albuquerque at 3pm. Instead of entrusting their lives with the local taxi service they opted to put their lives in my hands cramming all six of us into my Tacoma for the quick drive to the airport. After a short drive and a long hug we said goodbye to my sister and her friendly coworkers.

Ahhh... snap back to reality. Dishes need done, kitchen needs cleaned, and laundry is piling up. Ugh. Well at least it was a lazy weekend most of the time.

_______________________
¹Wikipedia: "Arizona Biltmore Hotel"

Lazy Weekend: Saturday

(forecast: 109° and sunny)

It is going to be one of those weekends. You know those weekends where you just have so many chores to do and so many things to get done that you never see the light of day? Well, this isn't one of those weekends. This weekend involves a lot of relaxing and a lot of hanging out poolside.

We kicked things off today, the main goal of the day: Cool off from the 110° temps at Jon & Lindsay's pool. We met Jon & Lindsay about a month or so back while at the wedding of our mutual friends Chris & Heidi. Jon & Lindsay are getting married the weekend before Heather and I so we had an instant bond with them. Jon & Lindsay are currently renting a very large home down in Maricopa with four other people and the backyard just happens to have a nice pool. They are moving in a couple weeks so it seemed appropriate to have one last farewell to the place with a pool party. So after eating a great brunch prepared by Heather and her twin sister, Shaunda, we headed down to Maricopa. Oh, I guess I should mention that before driving to Maricopa we stopped by DQ to pick up hot dogs and hamburgers for grilling later in the day (a benefit of owning a Dairy Queen).

The pool felt great and after cooling off for a little while I managed to convince Lindsay to play a game of Hillbilly Golf with me. Although I beat Lindsay, Jon played against me later in the evening and avenged her loss. Along with their housemates Jon & Lindsay also have four dogs living with them. Two boxers, whose names I have already forgotten loved running around the edge of the pool and attempting to catch water in their mouth when we would splash it at them. I honestly could have been entertained for hours with just those two dogs and a pool of water to splash at them.

I don't know the breeds of the other two dogs but both Lucy (left) and Chloe (above) were cute, small and made me wish we had brought Sera with us to play with them. Chloe hasn't learned how to shake yet so I thought I would train her using pieces of my hot dog bun as her treat. She never really seemed to get the hang of it but was smart enough to grab my hot dog from me when I wasn't looking! We enjoyed some great DQ burgers and hot dogs, hung around in the pool for a while and then headed home around 9pm. So six hours out in the sun... not too shabby for a Saturday.

But now we need to get some sleep. Tomorrow we have brunch with my sister who is in town for a conference and then we are spending a few hours by the pool at the Biltmore Resort & Spa where she is staying.

Yeah, it's one of those weekends.

Hello World

When you begin to learn computer programming the first application they have you create is an application that simply prints the words "Hello World" on the screen. It is nothing special but for someone learning a new programming language it is a boost of confidence and reassurance to see those words.

Nearly three years ago I drove my dark green '94 Chevy Blazer from Ohio across the country to say "hello" to my new world in Arizona. I was leaving behind my parents, numerous friends, and the only place I had ever known as home. Lucky for me complete loneliness was not waiting for me in The Valley of the Sun. My girlfriend (now fiancée), Heather, had moved out to AZ two years prior for school and was riding shotgun with me to my new home.

(Heather and I - Engagement Photo)
I moved into a nice little apartment in Mesa, AZ. Apartment #313 would be my home for the following two years and right by my side (quite literally) was Heather in apartment #315. It was nearly a scene out of Friends, I could walk out my door, take about seven steps and be at her front door. If I needed to communicate with her I could simply pound on the wall that separated our one bedroom apartments.

Prior to moving I had begun the interviewing process with a software consulting company that I was hoping to get a job with. Just one month after moving to the valley I was offered a job with Software Architects, Inc. (also known as SARK). My career has gone well and my biggest problem is believing in myself and my abilities. As a consultant I have worked on projects for companies such as Best Western, Discount/America's Tire Co., Caremark, Giant Industries and I am currently leading the development of a pricing application for Allied Waste, the 2nd largest waste service company in the U.S.

Heather, my beautiful fiancé, recently became part owner of two Dairy Queen restaurants in Arizona. For the past five years she has been manager of a Dairy Queen in Tempe, AZ. Before moving out here she spent most of high school working at a DQ in our hometown of Van Wert, OH so needless to say she's very good at managing employees and running a very efficient store. Heather's boss is an amazing guy and a boss that I think anyone would be pleased to work for. He has recognized the huge positive impact that Heather has had on his store providing the store with great financial growth over the past few years. It was because of this that he recently made her a partner in his business and I couldn't be more proud of her.

I proposed to Heather while on a week long vacation in the Napa Valley wine region of California in April 2006. Heather and I love our wine! I blame it all on her but she totally got me hooked on wine when I came to visit her one time and we've been enjoying it ever since. Our trip to Napa was beautiful and I could not have imagined a better way to propose to Heather than at a nice winery in northern California. Currently we're planning for a fall wedding in October of this year.

In July of last year Heather and I decided to stop paying two rents and combined our money to get a nice apartment for the both of us in Chandler, AZ. Besides, we needed the extra space for the newest addition to our family. No, we didn't have a baby, we got a dog! Sera is our little five pound Yorkshire Terrier. She has been a blessing and a challenge for us and certainly helps prepare us for any children we may have in the future (although I realize children are a much much greater responsibility). Heather likes to refer to Sera as her "little bear" and yes, we spoil her quite often.

(Sera at three months old)
So now here I am. A few years into my career, about to be married and attempting to make Arizona my home as much as possible. Hello World.