#WTF: About this weekend in Seattle ... can I get a rundown? (Sex club, bar hopping with strangers)

Oh Seattle - what a rad rad rad city!

Alrite- here is the rundown. Are you ready? Are you really ready? What a friggen awesome weekend!

First up, as I said the other day, the train ride up was AHH-MAZING! The views were absolutely stunning, and I'm not just talking about outside the windows. ::wink wink:: Dudes, train sex HAS to be on my life list. The train as is is so romantic and so … old school.

After 34 hours, I finally arrive in Seattle! Super stoked, never been - totally on my life list.

I got hooked up with my train ticket, and accommodations through @InBedMe (read more about that here). Really friggen RAD startup! And totally something the hostel community needed. Basically they integrate your social media profiles into your booking so you can chat with other travelers that will be there at the same time as you before you arrive. I'm suppeerrrrrrrrrr shy IRL, so for me - this is a HUGE value add being able to become besties  beforehand.

The rest of my weekend however, was totally up in the air. I knew I needed to go to the space needle to cross it off my life list, but outside of that - I planned on letting the wind take me anywhere it wanted to.

Fortunately because I live my life so public, people on twitter totes saw that I was in town and offered up some local hospitality!

Cue @Jeremiah.

I met this duderino last year at a party at the Logitech loft in downtown LA. Really rad dude, we stayed twitter friends (obvs) and when he saw that I was in town he offered to show me around.

We met at the Pike place market and then we grabbed lunch at this oyster bar - OMMMGGGGGGGGGG it was the freshest fish and chips I had EVER had!! For reals, Emmett Watson's Oyster Bar. Kind of a bit hidden (definitely a local joint) but holy shit some of the best seafood I have ever had. And dudes, I'm FROM New England! I grew up fishing and eating nothing but the freshest ocean cuisine.

Was literally one of the best things I have had in my mouth in a very long time. You go Emmett Watson!!!

Jeremiah then took me for a walk around the city showing me the first Starbucks, and other local bits of awesome - then after a short car ride later, we ended up at Caffe Vita.

I grabbed a latte still a bit tired from my journey - and ommmmmmmmmgggggggggg it was one of the best latte's ever. For reals, man - Seattle does NOT mess around!!! It was so frothy … and so delicious … and so … so … YUMMY!!!

OMG it made my life.

We then met up with Jeremiah's friend @inflatemouse who is a super guru SEO. He's an author, speaker, and a whole boat load of fancy pants stuff - but bottom line, a really rad dude. We spent the first hour talking about the user interface on the new Windows phone.

OMGGGGGGGGG I do not like it! It's simple things, I explained. When I go to use something, if I have to sit there and think about - wait, which button does this and that? I KNOW my parents, and other less techie people will never EVER get it. It's a cool phone, whatevs - I'm not mad at it, but from a user experience perspective it's god awful - it's too many steps to make a simple execution. No bueno.

Also, I can't share pics via bluteooth and that is PISSING me off!! (If anyone knows how to do this btw totes hit me up. I cannot BELIEVE you cannot share pics via bluetooth. That is like the dumbest thing ever - and definitely not good for a lifecaster like myself who takes who KNOWS how many pics on my phone and has to quickly transfer them over.)

Of course too I got SUPER passionate giving my explanation and gradually got louder and louder and started talking faster and faster. It was hilarious. I think both dudes got a boner watching a chick get this genuinely passionate about tech.

I can't handle shit that sucks, and I have no filter - so I have no problem articulating why things aren't working.

Also too, I don't know if other people are having the same issue with the Samsung Focus, but I don't know if my fingers are either too fat, or I just type too fast - I make SOOOOOOO many more typographical errors using that thing. Albeit, the autocorrect is more intuitive than the Droid (especially when you're like me and speak with your own little lingo) - its still frustrating when you're tweeting something on the fly and then have to go in and delete the tweet due to your misspelling.

ARRRRGHHHH!!!! Annoying.

Then we popped over to Grims to grab a happy hour and meet up with more of your loverly faces.

Shout out to Rob!!! What's up homeslice!! Great meeting you!!!

 

Then, when I went to the restroom, I got a text from an old friend of mine in LA who moved to Seattle. She was inviting me to a sex club for the evening.

I was all … DUUDDEEEEE!!! I'm here for less than 24 hours and I'm already being invited to a sex club? SUH-WEET!!!

See, sex and tech pretty much go hand in hand. No one talks about it - but because I post all of my sexual shenanigans people can pretty much tell that I am down for everything, so when I'm in town I will get invited to things like this.

It's rad too - this chickie is totally a belle in social media but a COMPLETE freak in between the tweets.

You'll enjoy this, she said.

I then asked if my guy friends could come, and unfortunately she said no.

Just chicks - no dicks.

Alrite, alrite -  I get it.

I then leave happy hour, and agree to meet with the guys later. They of course were UBER jealous - but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do - and this shit HAD TO BE DONE!!! =)

My friend then picked me up in her pickup truck and away we went.

I'm a super nosey person, so I peeped into the backseat at some bags and this bin she had back there.

Whatcha got in there? Chopped up body?

Not quite - but ammo and a tiramisu cake.

Because of course, ammo and tiramisu totally go together.

She laughed, no she said - I go shooting. Seattle is actually known for being very gun friendly. A bit of a juxtaposition to traditional liberalism, but it works.

Hey lady, whatever floats your boat.

We then arrive at the club a few minutes later. Seattle is a crazy small city distance wise. It's very hilly, but distance measured as far as the crow flies - not that big of a city.  (If SF and Chicago had a baby you'd have Seattle. But think a bit more small town-ish. Like everything closes super early too which is kinda lame.)

I get out of the truck, and my friend stops me.

You have to leave all phones here. No pics, nothing.

Can I check in on foursquare? I ask

I'm not sure. I might have to say no to that.

Alrite, I say leaving both my droid and windows phone in the car.

We then go inside, and after signing two releases and paying $20 we were in.

Then a woman stops us - oh don't forget your name tags.

Name tags? I asked. Oh this is great.

She then asked me for my name again writing it down and her next question threw me …
What color underwear are you wearing?

Um, I'm not here to perform I said.

Oh don't worry sweetie, it's just an ice breaker.

I told her the color of my underwear … and she then handed me my name tag …
 

Sex clubs aren't at all what people think. This isn't some, Eyes Wide Shut kinda shit - (well at least I haven't seen one like that yet) … these are more animalistic. These people aren't models or actors, they're school teachers, nannies, doctors, and lawyers who just so happen to like to dress up and get whipped, or be strapped to a chair and teased mercilessly for hours.

It's fascinating.

Sex clubs don't actually turn me on - but rather I go to them to open my mind. Talk about the most EPIC people watching ever. Watching these people act out their fantasies is one of the most incredible things ever. It's all so raw, and animalistic. Again, I'm not watching the school teacher, I'm watching the mammal unleashed. Where else am I going to have the opportunity to experience something like that?

Fucking fascinating. (no pun intended)

I have to admit though - there was one thing that shocked me, and it was this woman who liked to have people stand on her and be pinched.  I'm not even kidding you, every time she was pinched she sounded like she was having an orgasm. It was a VERY intense thing to experience.

Most of the time you will just see people boning and getting off on the fact that people are watching, or you'll see a woman being whipped (like at my first orgy) - but this woman had this guy who TOTALLY could have been Taylor Lautner's stunt double standing on her while she was naked and he punched her and pinched her skin.

She was also well over 300 lbs to boot - so to see her be turned on by being pinched in places I would never think were that sensitive was a really rad thing to witness.

I'm personally not ticklish at all - but to see someone react so FEROCIOUSLY to being touched an inch below their collar bone was a new experience.

We stayed for about an hour. I didn't talk to many people, just watched - and mostly with my jaw open. Dudes, I saw a woman in rainbow brite socks get smacked with a cane. Their reactions as well were so childlike. Incredible people watching - just absolutely incredible … but again, didn't turn me on. I just like to explore, so yes, my clothes stayed on the whole time as usual.

THENNNNNN, after I got back to the land of the living aka twitter - I said good bye to my friend, and tweeted the boys asking if we could meet up again.

They suggested going to this place called Shortys as they were known for their beer and pinball.

Dudes, an ARCADE?!?!! WHAAATTT!!! YES PLEASE!!!

I got super excited meet up with the guys, and as we were walking in Jeremiah stopped and asked if we could say hi to one of his friends at this bar next door.

Sure, not a problem, I said. I was still also processing everything I had seen at the sex club.

On the way in, @Inflatemouse stops me. Jen, I dare you to go up to my friend over there and say "Carlos will have sex with you if you buy me a drink."

Me being dared to do something? HA! Dudes, you don't even HAVE to dare me to do something - I'll just friggen do it. I have ABSOLUTELY ZZEERRROOOOOO shame - so that was a no brainer.

I walk up to the group (she was with 4 other people) and say Carlos will have sex with you if you buy me a drink.

The girl looks up - shocked.

Excuse me? she replies

I then repeat, and laugh.

Hi, I'm Jen I say outstretching my hand. I then go around the group introducing myself.

The initial girl stops me - wait, who the hell are you?

Her friend looks at me like she's about to ask me to take this outside, so I stop and say no no no! I'm with your friend … Carlos!

The guys then walk over.

OHHHH, she says.

We tweeted you, replied Carlos.

Yeah, I didn't see it, said the stunned girl.

I take a deep breath, awkward!

We then stay for a few minutes, and then Carlos took me over to Shortys.

I walk in and OMMMGGGGGG I was in HEAVEN!!! A bar with a full pinball arcade in the back.

YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!

I grabbed a hefewizen, and fortunately because I always have bus money on me was stacked with a TON of quarters. YAY LIFE!!!

We then played pinball for a few hours. OMG I am so rusty. For reals, I am an EPIC skeeballer, and I'm not too bad at hoops and air hockey - but pinball … I need to brush up on.

Fail. Epic fail.

Then came last call, and Jeremiah (who joined us about 20 minutes after we arrived) piped up saying, we should end this night with a greasy bag of dicks.

Now, I just came from a sex club - so I MIIGGHHHTTT have expected hearing that there, but here? And now?

What? I say genuinely perplexed.

Dicks!! Our super famous drive in. It's a staple, and something you must experience.

DONE! I said.

And 20 minutes later I had a greasy dick in my mouth.

OMMMMMGGGGGGGG it was so delicious, and dare I say - better than In and Out. YEP!!! Maybe it's because I've had so much In and Out in my lifetime, but I dunno - I had a deluxe and every morsel tasted like heaven.

OMG and their fries were UNBELIEVABLE too.

I inhaled it all - literally.

The guys then dropped me back off at the hostel - and 7 hours later when I woke up, I REALLLYYYYYYY felt that greasy bag of Dicks.

OMG - no. bueno. I thought.

I rested up that morning in the hostel, putzin around, making some new friends. Again, I had no real plans, just wanted to see where the wind took me.

After I got some work done in the morning I popped on OKC wanting to test out the dating scene in the area. See, OKC's new app upgrade is actually location integrated. So ANNYYWHHEERREEEE I am traveling, I can just pop up the local option and view dudes in my area.

Ah-MAZE-ing.

I then set out a broadcast (which you can also post telling the local guys what you're game for) asking if anyone wanted to grab a beer.

Moments later, I had 5 interests.

I scrolled through.

Not my type … decline
Not my type … decline
Not my type … decline

Oh! This one? For SURE!!! I clicked "let's meet!" and moments later we were chatting via email.

We then swapped digits, and I told him I'd be in downtown around 7.

Not a probe he said. He was working on switching something to a new server (yes, even guys I pick at random ALWAYS end up being uber nerds) but he would hit me back later.

As 7 drew near though, I still hadn't heard from him.

Ah- FML. Fine.

I go BACK on OKC and find another guy I like, asking if we can meet.

He too was game, and as soon as I clicked send giving the final yes - the OTHER OKC dude hits me back telling me he wants to show me something funny.

What? I say.

He then shows me a picture of his shoes - they're Vans with holes in them.

SHUUTTTTT THE FRONT DOOR!!! I reply back

(FTR, mine are OFFICIALLY going bye bye on December 15th. Have a new sponsorship coming up!! So stoked to tell you all about it.)

Ah, but FML I thought. I have now agreed to meet two dudes, and BOTH seem really rad.

Fine, I think. I'll do something I SWEAR I never do - and that is double book an evening.

See, some chicks will meet a guy for dinner, and then meet a dude for drinks a few hours later. It's totes not my style, but it's done all the time. I personally enjoy being in the moment and letting the day take me where it wants to take me. Having schedules can make me freak, and that is even the case when it comes to dating. I'm here to enjoy this person's company and to get to know them better - not wonder if I am going to go over the allocated time.

I then decided if I was going to do this - I had to go big or go home … so I might as well live tweet as much of the evening that I could.

I then posted on Facebook my situation, and minutes later walked out the hostel door towards downtown.

I still hadn't set a definite location with either date, but knew it would be somewhere in the downtown area which was about a 20 minute walk away.

As I'm walking over still about 5 minutes away from my destination - I feel a tap on my shoulder.

I lower the volume on Spotify, pull down the earbud and as I turn around am greeted by a concierge.

Hi! He says very excited.

Can I help you? I reply while squaring off my feet and immediately going into Jen Jen ninja mode wondering if I have to throw down.

I just had to say, you're really beautiful.

Thank you, I say wondering where this is going.

Where are you from? I haven't seen you around and you don't look like the girls around here.

I'm from LA just visiting for the weekend.

Just visiting? he said - oh! then I have something you have to see. Come inside.

He then walks down less than 5 feet, and opens the door to this palatial private residence. Dudes, I'm not even kidding you - living in LA you get to see a lot of nice apartment buildings - this place looked like the friggen Ritz. INSSAANNEEE!!!

I stare at him wondering what his intentions are, and if I am going to end up in some sort of body bag. I tweeted out my predicament to at least alert people that I was experiencing something funky and should shit go down, I'd pop on Ustream to immediately go live to over 7,000 people asking for help. (That's gotta be faster than 911, btw)

Also too, there was some sort of holiday party going on so there were people LITERALLY all over the place. There's no way this guy would have tried something, because there were too many witnesses.

Let me just close this back door - but I want to show you something, replied the concierge.

<tangent> That's the thing too with me dudes, is that I've BEEN in those situations before. I've been grabbed on the street in NYC, I've had a store I was working at get robbed, I've had a dude try to carjack me, and I was almost kidnapped when I was 8 from Quincy market in Boston. I have very literally seen it. been there. and done that. I don't get scared in situations like this because I've already been there and know what warning signs to look for. Had this guy not been in uniform, and had there not be people CRAWLING all over this place, it would have been freaky and I would have run away screaming STRANGER DANGER - this was fine. I assure you, I am crazy, but not an idiot. </tangent>

Still a bit cautious though, I kept my finger on Ustream the entire time.

We then approach the elevator, a few people that lived there got inside with us. Still good, I thought. Again, too many people around.

He presses the 39th floor and one ear popping later the doors open.

He guided me through the glass door and showed me very literally the most breathtaking view of the city.

I immediately whipped out my droid and started to snap pics. See, the most absurd bat shit things will ALWAYS happen to me, because I am a people magnet. However, anyone online knows it's pics or it didn't happen. If I didn't document as much as I could that this SUPER RANDOM thing happened, no one would have believed me - and rightfully so.

Actual photo. My hand was shaking because I was scared.

Put your phone down, he said, enjoy the view. Here, come over to the edge he said - and look down.

HELL NO! I screamed.

HELL NO!!! I am PETRIFIED of heights, and furthermore, who's to say you're not going to throw me down there. Oh HELLLLLLLL NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

The "hell no" part actually did escape my mouth, and I then thanked him for the view and after snapping a few pics walked back inside and called the elevator.

We have really beautiful model units, he said.

Yeah no, I replied. I have to get back to my friends - they're waiting for me.

Oh sure! Not a problem! Hope you enjoyed he said as I got back into the elevator.

Yep, I replied while thinking, dudes life is SO FRIGGEN RANDOM!!!

I thanked my new friend, and gave him a hug goodbye. He asked if we could meet up later, and I said surree!! I'll totally come back …. (not). Dudes, I'm all for picking up people on the street. For reals, I've stopped guys before and hit on them - but this guy IMMEDIATELY got my inner ninja up by asking me to go to a second location with him. Albeit, yeah, it was fine because the entire place was packed - but it still just felt weird. And I'm not mad at doing crazy shit, but weird shit just ain't my cup of tea.

I then got back outside, putting my hood up to avoid anymore random encounters and headed over to the Whiskey Bar.

I remembered Jeremiah telling me that it was a rad spot, so I plopped down and ordered a beer while I waited for either of the guys to get back to me letting me know the deal.

An hour and one very large and potent Belgian ale later, I still hadn't heard back from the guys.

Really?? REALLY?? I thought! Not one but BOTH stood me up??

Also too, guys don't normally stand you up when you're doing something so last minute to begin with. Out of every city I've ever been in this was TOTALLY a first. Stood up by not one but TWO guys.

Karma I thought. See, this is what happens when you double book.

The bar was pretty packed at that point, but I wasn't being particular social. I genuinely could not believe that both guys weren't coming out! LAMMMEEE SAUUCCEEEEE!!!

As I was about to close out my tab, the guy next to me with his girlfriend pipes up asking if I wanted to join them and their friends to go bar hopping.

Where ya headed? I asked

To this place called Ambers, and maybe a few other bars. All within walking distance.

Two words that were music to my ears: walking distance.

Sure, I said closing out my tab.  I had nothing to lose, and it was part of my mission to have a beer with a new friend I figured these people seemed alrite.

Where ya from? I asked

Idaho - they replied. Just moved here.

Nice!!! I'm visiting from LA.

Oh wow, he said. I used to live in LA.

What area? I asked

Palmdale.

I stare at him for a moment - Palmdale is not LA … but whatevs. (That's like saying you're from NYC but you really live in Syracuse. Palmdale is WAAYYYYY the fuck PAST the valley. Way way WAY out there - and very residential and not city like. Palmdale is Palmdale. Not LA.)

Either way, we struck up a great conversation. Really rad peeps - they even introduced me to two other guys they were drinking with. The dudes were from Seattle. One was in the military about to go on leave again, the other worked for a landscaping crowd.

We then all closed out and went across the street to this placed called Sonyas. A bit bigger, definitely quieter - and with couches next to the bar, definitely more my scene.

AHHHH to relax after walking all day!! I thought

One of the guys then offers to buy my beer, to which I say yes and thank you.

I then look at him a little more closely though and think, how old is this kid?

Not having a filter - I of course blurt that out instead of just thinking it.

21, he replies.

Holy fucking shit. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!

And dudes, this kid was spitting some SERIOUS game. He wanted all up on the Friel, but good GODDDDDDD I could not touch a 21 year old. I'm 26, a couple of days away from 27 - and this just wasn't going to happen. I AM ILL PREPARED TO BE A COUGAR WHILE I'M STILL IN MY 20s!!!

He was a great kid though, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed talking to him - but omg my dating life for that evening could not have been any worse.

We finished our beers off at Sonyas and then headed across the street to Ambers. A bit more upscale of a place, and reminded me of every other LA club. This place was DEFINITELY a "scene." Ugh! Totes not my style.

Whatever though, I thought. These peeps are locals, this was all within walking distance - just keep saying yes to life I thought.

We then started to dance, and the couple seemed increasingly more intoxicated. I'm a beer girl, so I can DRRINNKKK. See, I have to get up every morning to write and to keep this loverly site going - so being hungover is not an option for me. Although, yes, it has happened in the past - I can't handle it. I very honestly work too much and to be down and out for the count for a day is not kosher for passover.

As the couple's intoxication rose, the music got increasingly louder and louder and the place turned into a club.

The 21 year old grabbed me and started to dance.

I can't describe his dancing skills - it was somewhere between Elaine from Seinfeld and Carlton. Bless this dude's heart - really attractive kid, I'm sure gets a lot of 21 year old pussy - but I'm not sure what those dancing skills were, and if that is a precursor to how he is in bed - I am DEFINITELY out of here.

A few songs later, the woman from the couple comes back and tells us that her boyfriend got kicked out for being too drunk.

Shocking, I thought.

We then bid our new friends goodbye and I excused myself to go to the restroom.

I knew I wanted to go at that point, but it was still technically pretty early, and these guys weren't really that drunk - so I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to escape without being INCREDIBLY obvious.

I then did what every other girl would have done in that situation … I hid in the bathroom.

Yep, I literally just sat down in a chair inside the lounge in the bathroom and decided to wait it out.

I then began tweeting out all of the things I was overhearing, and seeing in the bathroom.

First, there was the girl that took her pants down LITERALLY right in front of my face (the chairs were pretty low and she was rocking some gnarly heels), and rushed over to the sink to pee in it.

Then, there were the actual cougars who were in their mid to late 40s wiping away tears from their friend's eye telling her that she's too good for some guy.

I kinda felt like stopping them and asking how old he was. Chicks have a shelf life, man. Sorry to be realistic about that - but it's the truth. Yes, there are other value adds but it's very matter of fact that the older that you are the more difficult it can be to find a guy. Not sure about Seattle but this is ESPECIALLY true in LA. (Also too, you can go too young. Bitches be crazy in LA until they are past 25. I'm not sure what happens, but it's this switch that gets flipped. Absolutely fascinating.)

Quickly realizing though that there were four of them and one of me, I took it as a sign that I just needed to shut my mouth and figure out my next doable action in exiting.

I then got up, walked out the bathroom door, took out of my cell phone pretending to make a call - and high tailed it out of there. See, that way too if I was caught, I could have used the excuse that I was just going outside because I couldn't hear.

SMART!!!!

I then cabbed it back to the hostel, and as my head was hitting the pillow I got a text alert.

Where you at? it said.

I look down at the number -it's the checkered vans dude.

REALLY?? It's 2:!5!!! OKCupid is not Adult Friend Finder dudes of Seattle!!

AHHHHH!!! I screamed turning off my phone. No more boys, I thought. This city is bullshit.

I woke up the next morning excited and ready for my final day in town. I was going to head over to the space needle, and go back to the Pike place market since I enjoyed it so much earlier.

Before leaving the hostel I popped online to set up the day's posts- and was greeted to a friend request and email.

I stare at the face, recognizing the avatar.

Oh no, I thought. He must have remembered the website I told him that I created - and he found me.

Damn you catchy name!!! ::smf::

I opted to accept the request, but not email him back. Again, great kid - but no. Not going to happen.

I then clicked on his profile to be nosey and to my surprise the kid only had 60 friends. Facebook is MADE for his demographic. What 21 year old only has 60 friends??? Something smells a little fishy, I thought. This kid either a serial killer, or has some other undefined anger management issues. (The average Facebook user has approximately 130 friends, and dudes, even my own mom has over 200 peeps in her network. To be TWENTY ONE and to have only 60 is weird.) Very abnormal.

Whatever, I thought - 21 year old dick doesn't know what it's doing and if I'm not having casual sex as is, I am DEFINITELY not about to go against that rule with something so inexperienced.

I then walked over to the Space Needle and OMMMGGG it was SOOO COOL!!!!!

I was a bit scared going up, as it was a glass elevator. Again, me + heights = no bueno.

But it was great!!! I got to the top, grabbed a seat where I could charge my phone, and listened to Nirvana for over an hour.

This is a life moment, I thought. Not only am I on top of the space needle, but I am on top of the space needle listening to Nirvana.

This is one word … WINNING!!!!!!

Shortly after I left, and met up with another twitter friend @thatmicah for dinner and ice cream. OMG! He took me to Molly Moon's where I had their salty caramel flavor, and FOR REALS it made my life. I wanted it to have all of my nerdy babies right then and there!! That shit was BANGIN!!! Whole new levels of deliciousness and hands down the best ice cream I had ever had.

So, there ya go nerderinos! That was my trip!! I stayed at the Hi Hostel in the International District - and I was incredibly impressed. The place was SUPER clean, with really nice staff and guests. I had a tempurpedic mattress, ANNNNDDD even had my own bathroom (this was like the Four Seasons of hostels). Their wifi was only about a 2/10 but fortunately I was got baller reception for my mobile hot spot on my droid, so I was still a happy camper. As long as I have wifi, I am fine - whatever path I have to take to get it I can deal, just don't take it away!!!!!!

All in all, no complaints. Hands down one of the best weekends I have had in a while. The city was SUPER friendly, easy to navigate around (although, Seattle is NOT a grid city, so that made it fun), and all in all a lot of fun.

Next up, I'm on the train back to LA, and I'm going  to be spending the night at LAX. I have an early flight in the morning as I'm heading back east to visit the parental units for my birthday.

Going to be good times!! If you live in Tampa and want to kick it - totes hit me up on twitter @JenFriel. I want to spend as much time as I can with my fam, but am game to do a bar meet up one night. I'll letcha know when I know more of what the rents want to do.

Thank you so so so so SOOO much TNTML and social media for such a great weekend. For reals, social media rocks man. I just went on a solo vacation to a city I had never been to, and met up with SO many friends and had SO much fun. How great is life??

Oh, and did I mention how reasonable this entire trip was?

The train ride cost about $250 (only a smidgen cheaper than flying) - but I stayed on budget of $50 a day. For reals, a hostel will run you about $40 a night, and if you want to get really ghetto you can just bring meal bars and not eat out. (Which will still keep you at under $50 a day.) Bringing your food will save you a boat load. Traveling isn't as expensive as people think - you just have to want to do it badly enough and be willing to sacrifice some luxuries to do it. Hostels are great, but they aren't hotels. They give you a bed, a locker, and you have dormitory style bathrooms and showers. It's very much a get in, get up, get out kinda lifestyle. Again, perfect for me - but not for everyone.  I gotta say though, their food at the hostel in Seattle was BALLER!! I had mac and cheese one night that was not only free, but very literally unbelievably delicious. Kudos Hi- hostel Seattle! Kudos!!

I can't thank @inbedme enough for this trip though. Seriously, from the depths of my everything thank you!!! Seattle was TOTALLY on my life list, and to be able to take the train up and write, ANNDDDD have so many awesome and random adventures was the coolest thing ever. Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!!

#peaceloveandlollipops

Find out more about how you can travel with InBedMe over yonder. Really really really cool shiznat!

#Adventures in Adventuring: Seattle - OUT!

Holy macaroni - what an AH-MAZING time I've had in Seattle. For reals! From going to a crazy sex club, to bar hopping with strangers, and getting randomly stopped on the street and taken to the 39th floor of a private residence ... I saw a lot! Hahaha!

It's been an AMAZING three days, and I'm stoked now to head back on the train for 35 hours this go around, then sleep at LAX, and hop my plane to Tampa on Wednesday morning.

So many adventures, so little time - sheesh!

From the depths of my everything thank you SOOOOO much Seattle for the INCREDIBLE hospitality! I had a blast, and will now carry with me some super rad stories!

Alrite, lemme go catch the train - expect the rundown in a bit.

Oh! And I may or may not have wifi on the train, but follow me on twitter for any updates: @JeNFriel

On the way up I had an epic flirting session and came THIIIIISSSSSS close to having sex on the train.

WINNING!!!

Peace love and lollipops nerderinos! Happy Monday!!!

#nerdsunite

Special thanks to InBedMe for the sponsored adventure. Dudes, they integrate social media into your hostel booking!! Friggen. Genius!!! bahhhhhhhh!!!! click here for more info

#WTF: About the train ride from LA to Seattle … can I get a rundown?

First off, I am just going to preface this by saying - YOU ALL NEED TO TAKE A TRAIN RIDE UP THE COAST AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE.

This has been hands down one of the most eye opening, and inspiring experiences of my life. It is SOOOO unbelievably relaxing, and spacious - my expectations have been superseded and then some.

The people watching is insane - the views will blow your fucking mind, and the stories that I had within the first 12 hours were friggen priceless.  

This was the BEST. IDEA. EVER.

K … that being said … haha what a way to start off this post, but it's true - GET OFF YOUR ASS RIGHT NOW, AND PLAN A TRIP ON A TRAIN!!! IF YOU LIVE IN LA - TAKE THIS ONE!! (It's the coast starlight on Amtrak) AH-MAZING!!!!

First off, lemme back it up though. Why am I on a trip from LA to Seattle you may ask? Because of InBed.Me of course!

See, when I went to Philly for my epic date with Vh1's Tough Love, Mr. Steve Ward I got there courtesy of Southwest credits (after they stranded me in Chicago during my 4 cities in 30 days tour). Wasn't a problem going in, I was able to fly from LA to Philly - but leaving, I could only get a flight out from La Guardia.

Ballsack! I thought!!

Oh, but wait - you can take a Megabus for only $10 from Philly to NYC then hop on the subway to La Guardia - so really, time was the only thing that was being inconvenienced in this scenario - at the end of the day it could still all get done.

Booked the flight through La Guardia, popped on a megabus and after my trip to Philly headed over to NY. While I was in NY I got hit up by my buddy @RisheGee saying she wanted to grab a drink with me and tell me all about this new startup she was working for.

RAD! I said. Got to NY and we wound up only being able to meet for a coffee since I was also under deadline for VidBlogger Nation season 3 and grabbing a beer would have been irresponsible of me.

We met at a shop outside Penn Station, and she completely freaked out - omg omg omg omg, she said - I have to show you this video for InBed.Me - it's brilliant. These guys are travelers, and basically what they do is help you not only find a hostel, couch, or hotel - they integrate your social profiles into it as well, so you can see who else is going to be booked at the same time so you can chat beforehand.

This is BRILLIANT! I said!!!! I've totally had that problem at hostels!!! People travel in packs - and when you're a lone wolf like myself, it can be more difficult infiltrating a group, and isn't that the purpose of traveling all together?

Absolutely, she said. These guys saw a need and fulfilled it with this start up.

Fucking brilliant.

I have to talk to these people, I said. I am not even kidding you - I begged for an email intro.

I'd love to talk to them about a sponsorship - I think their idea is great and it's a great fit with my lifestyle.

The next day I had an email intro, and later that week I skyped with their founder.

We were cheersing all around, and agreed it'd be a great fit.

I then emailed him some adventure ideas, and he told me we'd chat in a few weeks.

Flash forward to just two weeks ago, I emailed the founder saying I was jonesing for an adventure. See, anytime I'm not traveling - I get antsy. I love love love LA, and need to go home often - but also need to have a trip planned at sometime in my back pocket. I built this brand around my personality, and figured out ways to just genuinely be happy but also find corporations I enjoyed through said happiness to come in and help out with my adventures. Shit ain't free, yo! But social media is power, and I might not have money, but I have clout. I never ever ever talk about shit that sucks. I wouldn't do that to you guys, and frankly, I got a lot more livin' to do on this Earth and I don't want to have to waste even a SECOND talking about a product or brand I don't 1000000000000% believe in. It's buying in, not selling out.

So bottom line, I have to travel. I personally prefer traveling through hostels because it is the closest thing I can imagine to the college experience, and after finishing high school at 16 - I never went to college, I went straight to work. So, I missed out on a lot of the social components of the experience and am now reliving it through my adventures.

Plus, it puts me in direct contact with a lot of cute boys and it's incredibly inexpensive.

Double win.

I hit the founder back and asked if I could go have an adventure in Seattle. My ENTTIIRREEEE life I've wanted to go to Seattle, and for some odd reason have never had an excuse to go. For real, I don't know why - it just very honestly never came up as an option.

I had also wanted to take an Amtrak somewhere for a really long time, so I talked to the founder about incorporating that into the trip as well. He was totes game, told me do some numbers crunching and get back to him.

Dudes, did you know to go from LA to Seattle on an Amtrak it's only $250?? Yep! A little less expensive than a flight - albeit yes, it is 34 hours on a train - you are submerged in BREATHTAKING views the ENTIRE TIME!!! So worth it!! So so so so SOOOOOO WORTH IT!!!!!!!

Plus, it said online they had power outlets in each seat, and wifi.

SUH-WEET! I thought! I might never leave!!!

The founder was game with the idea, told me to book it - then I told him the dates I could do it, and he booked me the hostel.

I scheduled to have 3 full days in Seattle, but I wanted to emphasize how cheaply people could actually travel. I negotiated with him a per diem, but said I only wanted $50 a day - and there had to be stipulations with that $50.

1. I had to grab a beer with at least 1 new friend.
2. I had to have a good meal.
3. I had to do 1 touristie thing.

Now mind you - that is ONLY $50 per day. Included in that has to be my public transportation costs, and ANY misc expenses. That is NOT a lot - but if you're smart, and sniff out the deals - you can get a lot more bang for your buck.

<tangent> Anyone can do anything that I have done on this website. I very literally cannot stress this enough - I am NOT special, just awesome, and insanely driven. I don't have any more tools than anyone else in this world - I am only working what I got and utilize all of the cards in my deck.  </tangent>

So everything was booked just last week - and boom! before I knew it, the time was here.

Only Tuesday night I could NOT sleep at all. I was SOOOOOO unbelievably excited to start this journey. Not only did I get to go to Seattle, the ONNEEEEEE city I have always wanted to visit (um, hello first Starbucks, ANNNDDD home of the 90s grunge scene? Um hello <----------- 90s FREAKAZOID right here. 90s alternative is my favorite genre ever ever ever ever everrrrrrrr. That's a lot of ever's but I'm hoping it emphasizes my point.) but I got to take an Amtrak up the coast? Again, I've never been on a train before but from the pictures it looked more appealing than flying.

Oh, and I also have my book proposal to write for A Nerd's Guide to Being Unapologetically Awesome and figured between the beautiful scenery and the fact that I was STUCK ON A TRAIN FOR THIRTY FOUR HOURS - it would be a good time to get it done. Dudes, if I can't be inspired by sticking myself in that kind of environment I should not try to be an author.

Everything was win all around - clearly.

Wednesday morning came around after I only got 4 hours of sleep - stupid excitement keeping me stupid awake and not letting me stupid sleep. I hopped on the city bus, headed to union station, and found where my train departed. It was really gnarly, man - I expected it to be like a plane where everyone sat around and waited to be called, and boarded by some number or something.

I was totally wrong - I got there at 10 (my train departed at 10:20) and people were already on board.

Wow! Glad I got here early, I thought.

I got on board, and apparently I needed some sort of seating arrangement? I still have yet to figure out where the hell I was supposed to get the thing - but online it said all I needed to do was print out my confirmation page, and take it to this little machine when I got there to scan it to pick up my ticket.

I did all of that (I can't even BEGIN to tell you how great it is having a printer again!!), scanned it, got my physical ticket - but when I went to board I got kicked to the very last cart where the "miscellaneous people" go.

Aw, peppermint patty.

I don't know who these "miscellaneous people" are - but whatever, the journey is the destination.

Mind you too, you have to be a bit of a beatnik to take a train up the coast in general so not only was I in with my people, I was in the GNARLIEST section of my kinda people.

AH-MAZING!

i got on board, found my seat - and was incredibly overwhelmed by just the sheer size of this train. This. Thing. Is. Huge. (thats what she said) I'm not even kidding though - it's two floors - coach is up top, sleeper cars are on the bottom. (Sleeper cars are a couple hundred extra each leg. Worth it if you got the dough, but if you're like me and on a budget, your ass is getting in coach.) 

<tangent> OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG excuse me, I'm writing this while still on the train, and holy fucking shit balls we are stopped on this crazy bridge. OMG scary. I just took a picture …

K. hopefully we'll be moving in a second … hopefully … whew okay, slow - but we're back. wow! We are BALLS DEEP in the mountains right now. I haven't even had cell reception for over 3 hours. CRAAZZYYYY!!! </tangent>

I got my seat, and got settled.

I looked around, and was surprised the median age was … um, there was none! There were families, old people, young people, very literally every mix of every type of person was on this train.

Wow, I thought - in all of my travels this is a first.

See, when I take a bus I find … let's call them, colorful characters. Depending on where I am heading, it's usually backpackers and drifters - nomads at heart and a handful of families looking to travel inexpensively.

Flying you get classes designated by what airline you take, and then further broken down by what class they are flying in.

This train was like every airline, everyone - all mushed together in 6 cars, yet everyone had CCCRRAAZZYYYYYY awesome leg room, their own outlets, and people smiled when you looked at them.

Hello, heaven? Is that you?

I then plucked out my laptop eager to get online and edit some posts on the site.

I went into my airport to access the wifi, and to my surprise there weren't any options.

But the website said they have wifi! It must be in another car, I thought.

I asked one of the attendants which car had the wifi.

Wifi? She asked - genuinely puzzled.

Oh, we don't have that. We tried once, but it never worked.

I heard the words come out of her mouth, and my body instantly wanted to flee.

STOP THE TRAIN!!! I thought. STOP THE TRAIN!!!! I CAN'T BE 34 HOURS WITHOUT WIFI!!! ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?!?!?!  NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Realizing that because we had already taken off, and this was a sponsored trip after all, I couldn't just leave - but I could get clever.

See, I had not one but TWO phones on me. Both smart phones.

<tangent> Klout sent me a Samsung Focus Window's phone earlier this week. It's pretty rad, man. Word on the street is is that we have it with free service for a year! I'm not sure how much I believe that, but I wouldn't be surprised. It doesn't cost the company that much, and it was targeted to influencers so I'm sure they're gonna get a whole lotta bang for their buck. </tangent>

I pulled up my hot spot on my Verizon Droid Charge - and lemme just tell you something about that mobile hot spot option - it fucking BLOWS!!! I pay $30 a month to intermittently get the internet; it comes in bursts. Albeit, I travel so much - that for me that ONNNEEEE time I can put up a post, or send out that file is TOTALLY worth it to me - but for $30 it's the most ridiculous thing on the planet. I am looking into getting a mifi. I don't know if it's the network, or the hardware - but it fucking sucks. I can't ever get a solid signal, and if I do - it's for no more than 10 or 15 minutes. And yes, I pay THIRTY DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THAT.

So fucking lame.

I stared at the Windows Phone and wondered if this thing had a hot spot option. On the box it said I could use the wifi at any AT&T location - but I wasn't sure if I could turn it into a hot spot.

I went to the marketplace and started searching "hot spot/ wifi" - nada.

I then tweeted out … got some responses, but no one has this phone (as again, we're supposed to be the tastemakers) so people were mostly puzzled why I had a windows phone to begin with.

FML, I thought.

Fine fine … to the google.

I then googled like mad, found the hack (which violates the TOS, so you have to do that shizzy shiznat at your own risk) and proceeded to try and tether.

After over 50 unsuccessful connects - I realized I was SOL.

Dudes, I did everything right too!!! Got through all the steps, had ZZEERRROOO problems, found EXCELLENT instructions - but it just genuinely wasn't connecting. It's always a variable too when you have a sponsored line. You don't know how the company set it up since you're on a "special" phone - and troubleshooting gets to be a pain in the ass at that point because I have no idea what my starting off point is. The sponsor might have changed some of the manufacter's default - you never know.

Fine, I will have to settle for the random bursts on Verizon.

I hit up @ItsMeJoolie and explained to her my dilemma. See, Julie is a BIIGGG help on the site. Super talented chic, but she helps me get posts up and edited - while I am still always the one that hits publish, Julie is a RIDICULOUSLY big help in facilitating all of the posts.

Mayday, mayday - houston we have a problem  - I emailed. I'm without access to the internet. Need you to take over!

She was totes game, and fortunately got everything up and running for us throughout the day.

See, in life to execute anything - you have to have a solid team around helping out. No man is an island, and no one person can EVER get everything done all the time. Dudes, ESPECIALLY when it comes to a website; a website is like a baby, (and while I don't have kids I was a nanny for forever and a day and am aware how much attention children take) it is a living thing. I don't have control over it - I just have to go along with everything and monitor. Now obviously being in this wifi dilemma, that wasn't going to be a possibility.

I gave Julie control, and again - she did an amazing job!!! Many many many thank yous Julie!

I then answered as many emails as I could on my phone, and then relaxed and enjoyed the scenery.

Dudes it is SOOOOOOOOO beautiful!!!!!!!

After a few hours on the train, I began doing my research reading other book proposals that my lit agent sent over.

Sometime later, while reading the 3rd or 4th proposal (these shits be LOONNNGGG) the train comes to a stop, and the CUTEST GUY EVER walks on board.

HA! Oh life, you are fabulous, I thought. Yay for eye candy on a 34 hour ride.

He then approaches my seat, and to my surprise actually sits across the aisle from me.

Really? Really? Life! How fabulous are you right now??

I then take out my Droid Charge with the front facing 1.3 mp cam and sneakily snap a pic while tweeting out the hotness.

<tangent> See, one thing though - I am INCREDIBLY respectful people's identities in my lifecasting. ANYTIME I take a picture of someone "in the wild" I will make sure I can't fully see their face, orrrrrrr go in and edit it on my comp before posting. I'm crazy respectful of other people's privacy. I might be an open book - but the rest of the world isn't. Dudes, totes get that. But this is why anytime I post a picture of someone their face is partially hidden, or blurry. I want you guys to get the idea of what I'm talking about without anyone being able to identify 'em. Ya know? </tangent>

I then decided that I needed to put on my big girl pants and talk to the guy. I tweeted out my anxiety however.

See, in my early 20s the ONLY way I'd ever get a guy is if I approached. Dudes, don't ever talk to me. I get it, I get it … jet black hair, blue eyes, freckles - not something you see everyday. But in my head, I just assumed dudes weren't interested (like in high school) - when in reality, they were very much so, they were just afraid to open their damn mouth.

Hilarious, and also why I only dated douches - they were the only friggen ones that would approach!! BAHHH!!!

That being said however, I am trying to break a pattern of mine. I don't want to wear the pants when it comes to dating a dude. Sexually speaking, I'm INCREDIBLY submissive and everywhere outside of the office, I'm just a go with the flow person and want the dude to take the lead. Me approaching a guy is immediately giving me the upper hand. I don't want that!! HOWEVER, again - most guys won't approach me. Leaves me in a gnarly little scenario.

I tweeted about it, and tweeted … then so much time had gone by that I realized I had to go pee. Stupid bladder filled with stupid water.

I got up, and as I did my iPod dropped but because I had my headphones still in my ear I didn't hear it. I continued to take another step and as I did the chord on the headphones tightened and ripped the right bud from my ear smacking cute train boy on the leg.

Really? Really? I thought. Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME!>!>!>!!>!>!>!>!>!>!>!>>!  I SSWWEEAAARRRR that wasn't planned. FML now I look like an idiot. Was that technically an assault? Fly by earbudding?

Quiet Friel, quiet. Just pick up the damn earbud.

To my delight - as I reached down to pick up the bud he greeted me with a big smile and laugh.

Completely embarrassed though, I took off without saying a word heading downstairs to the bathroom.

Jen Friel - only you!!! Who does that!!! WHO!!!!!

I sat on the toilet (what too descriptive?) and did a double facepalm.

FAIL JEN!!! FAIL!!!!!

Goodness gracious, get your act together I thought while looking in the mirror and washing my hands.

I walked back upstairs, and noticed he had his headphones on now.

Ah fuck, how are we supposed to talk now?

No! I refuse to not say anything to this guy - this has to. has to. has to happen! I can't be a nervous Nelly all of my life, and if he's not going to put on his big boy pants I will have to get this done.

As I am about to say something, he gets up and goes down to another cart.

RATS!!! I thought. Could this be anymore like a Lifetime movie? Jeebus!

I then continued to tweet out my frustrations and nervousness, receiving incredible support from twitterverse.

A few moments, and 50 @replies later - I see him walk down the cart.

YES! This is it I thought. I sent out one final tweet …

Now that I had made the declaration - there was no going back. The internet holds me accountable, man. I gotta go balls out if I say I am going to.

Deep breath … and go.

I turn to my right, casually glancing over - then gesturing to my ear signaling for him to remove his headphones.

He takes off his DJ style phones and I ask, what kind of headphones are those?

Skull Candy, he replies.

Look - he says motioning to the top of the phones, there's even a bottle opener in here for your beer.

Wait, WHHHAAAATTTTTTTTTT!!! You are combining two of my all time favorite loves right now - big, noise and life canceling headphones, and BEER?!?!? WHAATTTT!!!!!

That is literally the coolest thing ever, I say.

Hi, I'm Jen I say outstretching my hand.

Hi, I'm (let's call him …) Brad.

<tangent> He actually had the hottest name ever, btw. It was redic. Not only did this guy look like a super skinny Ryan Gosling - but he actually had a hotter sounding name. AhMAZING! And FTR, Ryan Gosling is perfect as is. This dude being skinny wasn't necessarily a bonus or negative point - but rather for storytelling, this way you have a better visual. </tangent>

Where ya headed I ask?

Oakland.  How about you?

Seattle.

Oh wow, long trip!

Yeah, but I have a lot of work to do,  I say.

I then go into the other standard, I've just met you question - so, what do you do?

Electrical engineer he replies.

No shit, I say.

You can't be this smart and this hot. HAHA!! This is going to be FUNNNNNN!!! Where the hell do I find these people???

We then start talking, and before I knew it two hours goes by.  No - literally - TWO HOURS!! I know this because I tweeted out again that we had been talking, and twitter said my last tweet was 2 hours ago.

Friggen ahmazing!

He told me about his life, and passions. We discussed green technology and about his field in general. Really fascinating stuff. Electrical engineers have it made, man. People don't fuck with them!! Their services won't ever not be in demand, and it's the ONE thing you won't skimp on financially. When people don't understand what you do, they aren't naturally going to ask a lot of questions. They will do their research, review you, ask around - whatevs. But you're the expert! And people trust that, because they don't know better and their egos don't want to allow them to feel stupid, so they shut up!

Best job ever, I thought.

We then kept talking, and kept talking - he's a really good conversationalist. Everything flowed super easy, and the entire time I was thinking, I might just add train sex to my life list.

See, trains are naturally INCREDIBLY sexual. All of the seats fold almost totally down, so here we were both TOTALLY relaxed while flirting, and the vibrations in the rail add that extra, uh, value for females.

It's totally doable btw. There's no arm rest in between the seats, so each grouping of two chairs are naturally INCREDIBLY close together. The dude could come in from behind, just put a blanket over you while you both lay down on your side. The female will have to do most of the movement, but if the two of you work together it's totally feasible, and as long as you do it at night around 12 after everyone's asleep or about to fall asleep, you're fine.

I, of course, was breaking down the logistics of this the entire time we were talking. Then, I thought about it - nope, no condom. Plus, he's getting off in Oakland - we were scheduled to be there by 9:30; people were still awake.

Ah, another time- I thought. I was excited though that again, this is TOTALLY doable and for the female particularly would be a fucking INCREDIBLE experience. This train doesn't stop shaking!!! Fuck vibrating beds!! TRAINS is where it's at!!

Plus for the voyeurs (like myself) the added risk of getting caught heightens everything.

OMG - I have to stop thinking about this … I am too turned on, and can't do anything about it until later. ::sigh::

Back to the story …

So, I had briefly explained what I did - that I ran a site, and had been tweeting about my experience on the train. As we were nearing Oakland he asks if he can have my twitter handle so he can follow me.

I laugh thinking - oh god - he's going to read all of my tweets.

He pulls out his Samsung Galaxy tablet, what is it?

I grab the tablet entering in my twitter handle, and hand it back to him.

He scrolls down glancing at the tweets.

Wow, you're popular - he said. This is a lot of tweets.

Yeah, it's my thing.

I nervously wonder if he is merely viewing the volume of the tweets or what they actually say.

He starts laughing - omg this is great.

Yep, he's reading I thought.

Let me explain, I say - see, I don't reveal people's identities but merely provide my inner monologue for the world to see. It's kinda weird, but it's my thing - I don't just run the site, I lifecast on it, and you're now going to appear on it, I say nervously. (Dudes, this NEVER happens to me face2face. Guys will normally check out what I do aaffftteerrrrr. They never read my tweets while I am there. Awkward! Awkward! Why is this feeling so AWKWARD!!!!!!! Whatever I think - own it Friel. Big girl pants!!) 

<tangent> I should totally make t-shirts to hand out to guys, btw. "I went to XXXXXX and all I got was featured on TalkNerdyToMeLover.com and this lousy t-shirt." Yes, brilliant! </tangent>

He flashes his million dollar smile one more time outstretching his hand thanking me for the 4 hours of conversation.

I'll follow your adventures, he says. It was great meeting you.

YES!! I think!! Hot guy and one more unique to the site. I will take every one I can get spank you very much!!!

He then gets off, and I realize because I spent literally all night talking, I forgot to grab dinner.

I go downstairs to the cafe, and to my surprise, their prices were actually reasonable! I wasn't sure if we were allowed to bring food on, so I only brought a small thing of crackers thinking if they got taken I wouldn't be upset. To my delight, you are in fact allowed to bring food and I now know for the trip back down.

I then look at the menu (which again to my surprise was pretty full) - and saw a hot dog.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!! I am the BIGGEST HOT DOG FAN EVER!!!!

One hot dog please! I said.

That'll be $4.50.  (not bad considering these people have you by the balls as far as food goes. You don't have enough time when the train stops to go out and get food. THEY. WILL. LEAVE. YOU. They tell you no more than 100 times during the trip - do NOT leave the platform. WE WILL LEAVE!!!)

I smile, and pay while I take the dog upstairs and sit in the recreation car eating it.

I visualized having a wiener in my mouth for the last 4 hours, kinda funny how the laws of attraction end up manifesting. Next time be more specific, and also get a condom sponsor. (No glove, no love!)

So there you go nerderinos!! That's been my train experience so far!! I'm writing this a few hours outside of Seattle, and I have spent the ENTIRE day working on my proposal. Totally going to have it done by the end of the ride back - SUH-WEET!!!

I'm not even kidding you, this has been HANDS DOWN one of the best trips I have ever had, and it hasn't even begun yet!! I STILL have my adventures in Seattle, and my mission of doing it all on $50 a day!

Very excited to check out the hostel tonight, and even MORE stoked to tell the hostelers about @inbedme. There were already about a thousand people on the site when it formally launched this week, but Mashable just did a post on them the other day - so I'm sure even MORE have signed up by now.

Loads more adventures coming up guys!! If you're in Seattle and want to play, totally hit me up on twitter - @JenFriel. If you'll buy me a beer too, I'd love you even more - hahahaaha! (so shameless!) Dudes, it's expensive sightseeing! A trip to the space needle alone is $20! Hoping the hostel has some good deals - either way, I'll let you all know what I can find.

I WILL get all the bang for my buck that I can afford while executing the mission.

YAY for new friends and YAY for new adventures!!!!

Special thanks again to InBedMe for the Amtrak ticket, and for the hook up at the hostel. It's funny, I actually have my own private sleeping quarters. Normally at hostels you sleep in dorms with as many as 8 or 16 to a room. I guess because of my equipment and what not, they wanted to make sure nothing happened to my tech gear. Totes makes perfect sense. Would be bad PR.

Let's do some cool shit, nerds! I'm at your mercy!! Tell me where to go! What to do! Who to see! Let the adventure begin!!

WHOOP WHOOP!!!

#nerdsunite

#YayLife: Bye Bye LA, heelloooooooooo Seattle and Tampa!

By the time you nerderinos read this - I will be preparing for my BIIIGGGG trip to Seatle (courtesy of InBed.Me) and my trip to Tampa (courtesy of my parents for my birthday).

I'm pretty stoked!! InBed.me is a fucking GENIUS concept (they help you to find hostels, beds and couches -see who will be there during your planned trip and then allows you to connect before you get there, share tips, and have adventures. AHH-mazing, and run by a bunch of dudes that actually travel so they get the lifestyle and built the site off of a need they saw.) and they're sponsoring my amtrak ticket and my time spent in the city. OMGGG totally a bucket list item! I've been wanting to go to Seattle for YEAAARRRSSSSS!!! Big big big deal in the life of Jen.

Very excited, very grateful.

On the way up, I am going to be writing my proposal for A Nerd's Guide to Being Unapologetically Awesome. See, back in June, I got fancy pants management that a few months later hooked me up with a lit agent in NY - and they were super inspired when I told them my story and told me I needed to get it down on paper and let it act as a guide to our new generation on how they can lead a fulfilled life. The problem is, writing a book is in and of itself a fulltime job. Dudes, running this SITE is a full time job - you want me to add ANOTHER full time job onto that? Do you not realize there are only 86,400 seconds in the day? So basically, I have now trapped myself on this train for the next 34 hours up, and 35 hours down in the hopes of getting the first draft of the proposal done.

It's nuts too, you have to do all this market research, and write out close to 100 pages of every detail the book will include - and then, why you are the best person to write it. Writing a book is totally a new experience for me, and while I remain hopeful - if I can't bust this out of my ADD brain on this trip, I'll just have to leave the book writing up to the professionals.

Kinda nervous about this one, not gonna lie. OH!!!! And for those of you following me on twitter, I totes took a picture of the super hot guitar guy from the bus last night. I'll update you all on that story in a bit - lemme get out the door first.

OMG OMG OMG he was so hot. ::sigh::

#kthxbye

Travel schedule:

11/30-12/1 in transit

Night of 12/1 - morning of 12/5 Seattle

12/5-12/6 in transit

Night of 12/6 sleep at LAX airport

12/7-12/11 Tampa

TOTALLY hit me up on Twitter if I'm in your city!! Let's hang out! xoxo @JenFriel

Special thanks to InBedMe for the sponsorship. Dudes, totes not even kidding - it's a GREAT idea for a site, and you should totally check it out if you travel, or want to in the near future. FREAKING GENIUS!!!

click here to check out the site and click here to follow their updates on twitter