Challenge 12: DUDE TREK

For those of you who don't know, I am migrating to Los Angeles, and rather than ship everything and take a flight, I have decided to attempt  across the country.  Fairly standard, right?  Hordes of people have done this, (and I've actually done it before via the classic computer game Oregon Trail).  I don't want to do what everyone has done, so I've come up with a Dude Trek from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles that will  enjoyable, interesting, and memorable.  Here's what I've come up with:

The Route:

I will drive the 3,228 miles (57 hours) in 9 days.  I could have tried to beast out the trip in 4 or 5 days but I would have morphed into a raging road zombie and missed seeing the countryside.  I will be taking a northern route (a lot of I-80) until I get to Yellowstone National Park, then I will cut down through Idaho and Nevada, swing through Yosemite National Park, and wind up in sunny southern California.  Check out the specific route here: Dude Trek.

The Accomodations:
Hotels are for traveling salesman, pregnant women, and fools.  I refuse to pay $50 a night to stay in dirtbag hotels when I LOVE sleeping outdoors.  After doing a little research, I discovered that many National Parks charge entry fees, but it is legal to do "dispersed camping" in a National Forest or grassland.  So being the frugal and adventurous soul that I am, I purchased a Blue Ridge Camping Hammock and decided to hop from National Forest to National Forest.  This way I save on cash and get to check out more of the north western states. I gave the thing a trial run in my parent's barn...not too shabby.

The Experiment:
Driving alone can be cool...for a little while.  But then it's just not anymore.  So, I decided to make the trip interesting by conducting a bit of a social experiment.  It's called "#RoadTalk."  I am posting signs in my car windows with my phone number and a message that tells passersby to call me (maybe).  When/if they call, I will be interviewing and discussing random topics with them.  It is an opportunity to meet new people, pass the time, and maybe get a good story or two.  Oh, and I'll be video taping these carversations to put on Youtube for your viewing pleasure.  Check out the preview here.

You can keep up with my adventures by following @TheDudeLife on Twitter.

Dude Out,

-C.R.

Challenge 11: Tool Time

Some people obsess over cars, others shoes, still others electronics.  I'm not entirely sure when or how it started, but at some point, I fell in love with tools.  I have to consciously avoid "Tool World" at Lowes because I start getting jittery with excitement (something about bandsaws and Channellock pliers gets me all riled up).  I worked construction for 6 years in highschool but haven't had the opportunity to build anything significant since I started college.  I issued challenge 11 because I wanted to see if I still "had the skill."  Yeah. I do.

I've been living at my parents house this summer gearing up for a move to Los Angeles.  Actually, I've technically been living in the basement of my dad's vacant rental property that is adjacent to my parents house.  Instead of a summer job, I offered to remodel the upstairs of this house (3 Bedrooms and a Dining room).  The bedrooms were in pretty sorry shape - the carpeting was stained and smelly, wallpaper was hideously old, and the walls damaged by nail holes, punching fists, two-sided tape, and crayons (regrettably, I neglected to photo-document the "before" stage).  But take a dudes word for it - the place was a wreck.

Here was the process:
Yank out all the old carpeting and baseboard.
Spackle and patch holes in wall.
Paint (I even got to choose the colors).
Install laminate flooring.
Install new baseboard.

Here are pictures of 2 of the bedrooms and the dining room (basically everything you see I remodeled).

 

 The yellow room looked so cheerful I moved my bed in!

There is something incredibly satisfying about sweat-inducing labor that has a visible, tangible product. Plus, I was able to use some awesome tools (chop saw, jigsaw, table saw, sander, nail gun & air compressor, and my very own DeWalt 18V cordless drill).  I'm just upset I didn't get to use my router or rotary saw (I can practically hear your collective sigh of disappointment). 

Anyway, I think this may have been one of the most satisfying challenges I have completed thus far (and with over 200 logged hours, it will probably take the prize for most time consuming!).

Challenge 12: Plan Something Awesome (and do it).

Dude out,

-C.R.

Challenges 9 & 10: Double Dipping.

1 Afternoon. 2 Challenges. Here's the skinny.
I arrived home from church at 10:45 AM.  Nobody was there - a rarity for a house typically inhabited by 10 people)  I've had a hankering for adventure of late and decided it was high time for an excursion.  I loaded my Camelback with my adventure supplies (Swiss Army knife, head lamp, ankle tape, gore-tex raincoat etc.) left a note telling my family where I was, and buzzed off for the wilderness.  My destination was Hells Hollow Falls at McConnell's Mill State Park.  It was a 12 mile hike: 6 out, 6 back.  On the way to the falls, I was really hoofing it.  I stopped only twice: once to crawl into a cave and poke a massive spider with a stick, and once to climb a 40 ft vine (done, and done). I reached the falls in a little over 2 hours, but my expectations quickly deflated. The falls, more aptly described as a trickle, were drastically reduced by the recent dry spell.  Adding to my growing snarl was a slew of rambunctious youths (who clearly have not read this fine publication) hurling rocks at trees, animals, and each other.
Up to this point, I had stuck rigidly to the marked trail, but at this juncture I resolved to alter my course.  The thought crossed my mind that "If you only walk where others have walked, you will only see what others have seen."  Brilliant, right? And I abruptly veered into uncharted terrain, following a stream that headed in a "right-ish" direction.
I hopped briskly from boulder to boulder along the stream, my unpolished voice belting out lyrical snippets.  I counted roughly 50 frogs along the way, all of whom dove into the water and glared disapprovingly at my barbaric yapping.  I had hoped to cool off in the falls, but having already been sprinkle baptized once in my life (and finding it rather unpleasant), I bypassed the trickling falls.  This downer merely added to my delight when I climbed over a mossy boulder and gazed at a rushing 3 foot waterfall tumbling into pristine pool. One quick glance and nature took over, speaking to me in an almost audible voice.  It said "Do it. Nobody's around."  And so, in the tradition of dudes past, I extricated myself from my human vestures, and plunged.  Two words: sweet bliss.  And three more words: Challenge. 10. Complete.
Following the dip, I sunned myself on a rock and consumed the almonds I brought along, thoroughly enjoying the solitary circumstances in which I had placed myself. Once dry, I re-donned my gear and trekked back to civilization.
This experience gave me a full 7 hours of solitary time enjoying the both the company of nature, and that of my own imagination.  The isolation provided mental refreshment not dissimilar to that which the plunge offered my body, and I returned home both physically and mentally renewed.

Challenge #11 - Remodel something.
Dude out,
-C.R.

Challenge #8: No Small Talk Aloud...hehe.

Challenge #8 was to have a meaningful conversation with another dude. I actually accomplished this challenge twice.  I met with the ever interesting Ethan Worthington (on staff at Eastern Hills Bible Church).  We talked about things like God's grace, a missional philosophy, and how to perceive/interact with others in meaningful ways.  I am a very inquisitive individual and I thoroughly enjoy listening to intelligent people discuss things that matter.  Even if I don't agree with their ideas (not an issue with this particular conversation) I believe there is inherent value in discussing something other than sports stats, girls, and (cringe) politics.  Both conversations with Ethan left me reflecting on my approach to life, faith, and those around me.  Perhaps this challenge was more rewarding because I followed the two best rules for a great conversation: Find someone smarter than you, then ask questions.
Challenge #9: Spend time alone.
Dude out,
-C.R.

Challenge #7: Identify My Biggest Weakness(es)

There are very few people on this earth who have any idea who I am. This is not because I am anti-social or don't have any friends, but rather, because I am an excellent faker. Over the past 25 years, I have basically perfected the art of "having my act together" (this is distinctly different than having my life in order). This made figuring out my weaknesses particularly difficult because is nearly impossible to discover one's weaknesses by oneself. After doing some research on my personality type, and having conversations with the few people who know me best, I was able to narrow my list of weaknesses down to 5.

5. Organization - I generally avoid structure and labeling, resulting in reduced productivity.

4. Follow Though - I much prefer starting an endeavor than finishing. I have plenty of unfinished plans and projects that I will never finish.

3. Planning - I prefer to live in the moment and keep my options open, resulting in a lifestyle that can often be frustrating for others trying to rely on me.

2. Focus - New ideas excite me to the point of being easily distracted away from my current task.

1. Pride - I care too much about what others think of me and often avoid sharing my thoughts, opinions, and ideas.

Talking about failures and weakness is not an enjoyable exercise. Holding up mirror to ones character and being honest about ones shortcomings however, is a valuable tool for developing oneself as a person.

Challenge 8: Have a meaningful conversation with another dude.

Dude out,

-C.R.

Challenge 6: Dieting. No. It isn't manly.

This week's challenge was just weird. I wanted to try some sort of strange diet/cleansing technique. I chose the General Motors Diet (aka The Cabbage Soup Diet) and in retrospect, I probably should have invested more time in researching diets. This was by far the strangest eating program I have ever attempted. My week went as follows:

Day 1: Any fruit you care to consume (except bananas). As I rarely buy much fruit, I hit this day hard. My consumption included: a pint of strawberries, 3 apples, 2 oranges, a pint of blueberries, and an entire cantaloupe.

Day 2: Any vegetable you care to consume, with 1 baked potato for breakfast. I had a lot of salad, 1/2 a bag of baby carrots, and even consumed a bell pepper like an apple.

Day 3: All fruits and veggies. No potatoes. I basically gorged on carrots, broccoli, and odd veggie soup.

Day 4: 8 Bananas, 3 large glasses of skim milk. As a huge dairy addict, this day was great! I also housed all 8 bananas.

Day 5: 10 oz. beef, 6 tomatoes. I like tomatoes. But scarfing down tomatoes by themselves is not a palate appeasing activity. Alternating between small bites of beef and big bites of tomato helped.

Day 6: Beef and vegetables. I pounded burger like it was some sort of cheap, fake, hormone enhanced substance. (oh....wait...).

Day 7: Brown rice and fruit juice. I was ready for real food, but I had to stick it out for one more day. Also, brown rice has the texture of those little rubber nuggets used to cushion turf athletic surfaces.

In the end, I lost around 7 pounds, but I'm almost certain it was entirely water weight. I think I would rather just eat normal portions of good healthy food. On the positive side, I think I know how Barbie feels when she goes on her pre-packaging weight loss program at Mattel. So while I successfully completed the challenge, I need to consider conducting more research before implementing my future endeavors.

Challenge 7: Identify my biggest weakness/failure.

Dude out,

-C.R.

Comment or post thoughts/suggestions here or to my Facebook! See something dudely? Notify Dude Central via Twitter @thedudelife.

Challenge 5: Use Less and Useless

I have been wanting to complete this challenge for quite some time. The idea was spawned when I moved out of my parents house and thought "Sheesh, I'm only 24 - all this crap is MINE???!!" The inkling was distilled when I moved to Syracuse and realized, "I should get rid of some stuff." Last week I was vaulted into action following my encounter with Jim and decided to "Get rid of everything I don't use." The aim was neither entirely philanthropic or ascetic. I merely wanted to be honest about what I "need," eliminate clutter, and give my stuff to people who will use it.

Upon assessing my belongings, I realized two things. First, some of my stuff is only valuable to me; and second I horde junk. Thus, I began sorting my under-utilized possessions into two piles: "Donate" and "Dump." I threw out several pairs of battle-scarred shoes, a bunch of office supplies (who even uses wooden pencils anymore?), and a couple nasty old gym shirts. The donate pile however, expanded rapidly.

After an honest and thorough examination, I had accumulated a hefty quantity of "stuff." Some of the highlights include:

5 pairs of jeans, 3 pairs of shoes, 3 belts, 2 walkie-talkies, 2 printers, 3 sweatshirts, over 20 shirts, a winter coat, ski pants, and a nice suit.

Although this challenge is not entirely complete (I have numerous belongings at my parents house pending evaluation), I did find the exercise worthwhile. Part of me wishes I had gotten rid of more things (I still have quite a few shirts), but on the whole I feel comfortable with the de-cluttering I have done.

Challenge #6: Try an odd system-cleanse/weight-loss diet. Just 'cause.

Dude out,

-C.R.

Challenge #4: According to Jim

This week's challenge was going to be skiing tricks. Land a 180 and attempt a 360. I know everyone (with the exception of my chiropractor) was excited to see the results. I had it all planned out - hit the slopes Friday night, edit the video Saturday, and post it Sunday. One thing I didn't plan on, however, was that Syracuse, NY (a city renown for mammoth amounts of snow) would have zero inches of accumulation in late January. Thus, I dejectedly returned to my list of challenges, and landed upon "Buy a complete stranger lunch."

I hopped in my car and headed yet again out toward the mall. As I was about to turn onto the highway, I noticed a man with a sign that read "Jobless. Willing to work. Please help." I pulled into a parking lot, called him over, and told him I wanted to buy him lunch. His momentary incredulity quickly warped into excitement as he hopped in. He introduced himself as Jim, and off we went.

I offered to buy him "anything he wanted" for lunch - and he picked McDonald's. I snagged a few burgers and a nice hot cup of Mc-Joe, all while peppering my captive conversant with questions.

According to Jim, the sign and the street corner were a recent development. He was formerly in the "drug game" but got out once his kids were born. (The incredulity was now mine). Unfortunately, his wife was heavily into the lifestyle, so once the drugs and money were gone, she left him with two kids. During the summer, he works construction - but those jobs are rare during the Syracuse winter: hence the sign. For the entirety of his story, my thoughts rapidly oscillated between "Give him $500" and "What a liar!"

In the end, I gave him the change from the $20 bill used to buy his lunch, my phone number in case I could assist him further (why not? - he's not going to prank call me), and took him back to his lonely spot by the freeway. The entire experience made me feel extremely blessed, but also awakened a sense of deep pity that I have not felt in some time. The more intriguing question however, is what did Jim think???

Dude out,

-C.R.

Next week's challenge: Get rid of everything I don't use.

Challenge #3: Girls, Moms, and "Game"

To be frank, I had never really tried randomly approaching and hitting on women. I feel it is rather uncouth, barbaric, and it just isn't my style (I try not to be THIS guy). About a year ago, I was informed by several women that I had "absolutely no game." Since this conversation, I have often wondered what sort of results I would get if I gave this method a whirl. Hence, this week's challenge: Go to the mall and get a girl's number.

Caveat: I realized it would be extremely inconsiderate to obtain a girls phone number and NOT call/text her and thus I had to be willing to contact any girl approached. This added a significant degree of difficulty because I couldn't just go wheedling digits out of any "lonely"- looking female.

The Results:

In total, I spent 4 hours at the mall. I ran into one unexpected complication: Mothers. There were numerous occasions when I would have approached a girl, only to notice that she was being shielded by a keen maternal eye. (And I wasn't about to venture into potentially turbulent waters on my maiden voyage.)

In my 4 hours, I made two attempts. As chance would have it, both girls worked at department store cosmetics counters (Lesson 1- Aim high, boys). The first girl was rather curt and cold. She smiled slightly when she told me that she had a boyfriend (but her eyes were bursting with disdain). I almost rescinded my inquiry on the spot, but took the high road, thanked her, and walked away. The second time around produced a similar answer, but my performance was flawless. After waiting 25 minutes for several moms (Gha!) to buy their face paint and leave my girl alone, I sauntered up to the counter. Here's the play by play.

Me: Hey! How are you? (Flashing my new, unfettered smile).

Makeup Girl #2: Good.

Me: You know, it would be much easier to talk to you if you were behind the cologne table.

Makeup Girl #2: Did you need something?

Me: Actually, (slight look down as if I'm shy) I was wondering (short pause to drop another grin) would it be inappropriate if I asked for your number?

Makeup Girl #2: Aw, (flawless flattered smile) I actually have a boyfriend already.

Me: Well...if you're just saying that because of my beard, it's totally negotiable.

Makeup Girl #2: No...I'm sorry!

Me: Ok, well have a great day. (One more smile to demonstrate confidence/induce pity).

Therefore, while I cannot count this as a completely successful endeavor (0-2 isn't a winning record), I cannot classify it as an utter failure. The goal of this challenge was to hurl myself headlong into the unfamiliar water of "gaming" and survive with my dignity, and in that regard, victory was mine indeed.

Challenge #4: Attempt/Land a 180 and a 360 on my skis (might add a video component for this one!)

Send ideas for challenges to dudesetc@gmail.com.

Dude out,

-C.R.

Challenge #2: Bison is more manly than duck.

This week's challenge was not as time consuming as the last one - but it took much more thought. I love trying new things - especially food. I have eaten squid, bandicoot, cow tongue, crocodile, and pinky-finger-sized beetle larvae to name a few. Thus, the challenge became to FIND something I had never eaten.

Early in the week, I realized I had never eaten duck. All week in Los Angeles, I looked for duck but was unable to find it. And so, with the week's end rapidly approaching, I went to the grocery store in search of duck...and discovered that they only carried whole, frozen ducks. There was no way I could thaw and cook an entire duck in 3 hours. So I began scouring the meat aisle for an exotic protein I had never consumed. After looking at a thousand types of chicken, a plethora of cuts of beef, and countless things crammed into casing and labeled "sausage," I found what I was looking for.

While not nearly as exotic as I was hoping for, I found a package of Bison steak that piqued my curiosity. Bison is WAY more manly than duck anyway.
I purchased it quickly, and carted it home for preparation and consumption. I grilled it on my George Foreman grill - with some garlic powder and salt with steamed broccoli to supplement.

Bison has an unique flavor that greatly appealed to my manly palate. It has a wilder, earthier taste than beef, causing me to lament the fact I had not roasted it Davy Crockett style on the open range. The meat was also very lean (bonus!) and surprisingly tender.

This challenge was both pleasurable and fulfilling to complete. I much prefer bison to either bandicoot or larvae.

Quick shout out to Andrew Winner - a great friend living the dude life like a champ. Check out his 30@30 challenge blog HERE. Press on, brother!

Challenge #3: Go to the mall and get a girl's phone number.

Dude out,

-C.R.

Challenge #1: Read a Classic

I wanted the first challenge of this series to be unusually difficult. Future endeavors might be more whimsical, embarrassing, or physically strenuous, but I wanted this one to be require mentally discipline and possibly even be unpleasant. In that vein, I determined to read a classic book. For those who may not be familiar with my typical recreational pursuits - they NEVER include reading. In fact, I have a rather strong aversion to reading, especially when it is for enjoyment.

The book I selected was none other than the American classic The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I chose the book first of all because it was recommended as a "must read" and given to me by a close friend. This challenge served as long awaited motivation to sit down and read it. Secondly, it is 455 pages long (a daunting count for a non-reader) and I knew that the quantity of reading would pose a serious challenge. The intimidation factor resulted in the following page count breakdown:

Sunday: 0

Monday: 30

Tuesday: 36

Wednesday: 18

Thursday: 0

Friday: 63

Saturday: 130

Sunday: 170 (technically, I read 20 pages on Monday, but I'm still counting this as a success).

This reveals several things. First: I am a procrastinator. Second and more importantly, that I CAN read a significant amount if I am determined to do so.

On to a quick book evaluation. It started off a little slow, but once people started dying and getting whacked in the skull with pick-axes, I couldn't put it down. However, the most enjoyable part of the book was Steinbeck's commentary on the nature of man. My favorite quote was in Chapter 14: "And this you can know - fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe."

I also have found myself talking in the Okie accent (a habit I am quickly trying to squelch).

Results Summary: This challenge was relatively difficult - it required much more mental focus and determination than I am accustomed to exercising. I am used to being able to dawdle at tasks, taking numerous TV and snack breaks. This challenge forced me to sit on my rear end for long periods of time and FOCUS. I do feel however, that this pursuit was worth my time and that my friend was correct in deeming The Grapes of Wrath a "must read."

Challenge#2: Eat something I've never tried before.

Dude out,

-C.R.