7th Street

            I went to 7th street where Dan lived next. I don't know where on seventh street Dan lived exactly, but my experience there was really scary. I was taking photos of the street sign and a house when I saw this 40 year old looking man on the opposite side of the street. He was in a big hat and had a huge trench coat on. The kind of trench coat where I could definitely see him pulling out a huge gun and shooting up the street. It could have been an older version of Jimmie. So my observations on seventh street were cut a little short because I was pretty creeped out and wanted to get the heck out of there. Seventh street is really close to downtown and has a bunch of older style houses. I can tell that some are just being rented out since the yards are trashed. There were a couple nicer homes though. I tried to imagine Dan living in one of those houses with his dog hanging out in the yard. Then I get to thinking about the chapter where Allison comes looking for Dan on seventh street since he hasn't been into the diner in a couple weeks.

            This is a huge turn around point for Allison; it shows she actually cares about someone. All her life she never really has anything special with anyone. Her relationship with Jimmie was one that was shallow and driven by fear; Allison never really cared about him. What makes Allison reaching out for Dan such a turning point is Allison gets to see Dan in his most venerable state. He is a complete wreck and at a low point in his life. Allison knows what this is like since she seems to allows seems to be hitting low points in life herself. Dan's low point makes Allison realize that she isn't just the only person that has a difficult time with life. Allison helps Dan get back onto his feet in life again. Since Allison and Dan have both been so hurt in life they are perfect for each other.

            All in all, Seventh street is the place where Allison goes and turns her life around. She creates a relationship that is healthy. By having this she gives herself a will to live. 

The Cal Neva

            The next place I visited from Northline was the Cal Neva Casino where Allison spent a ton of time working at the Top Deck diner. I actually went here right after I ate at the Nugget so I didn't get to eat there. Getting up to the restaurant from the ground floor was fun. The elevator was the sketchiest elevator I have ever ridden in. Honestly it looked like a standard diner nothing special. To Allison it was nothing special either she worked there just to occupy her time. It was something that allowed her to get by without going insane. The most important part about the Cal Neva in the book is the fact that she meets Dan there. At first Dan seems like nothing special just like the restaurant.

            When Allison first arrives in Reno she is a wreck and by the end of the book she has some direction in life. The misdirection is obvious at first because she gets super drunk and depressed and misses work at the Cal Neva. When she gets re hired it is like life is giving her a second chance in life. It is very clear that she is hesitant in making any commitments to guys after her completely unhealthy relationship with Jimmie. Jimmie is a complete loser and probably the opposite of Dan. When Dan first makes a move on Allison he does it with a snowglobe in the Top Deck. Allison is very skeptical and has a hard time accepting the gift. Clearly, Allison is very timid about anything she does after leaving Reno especially when it comes to guys. As we see Allison's personality progress she begins to accept Dan into her life. This is a huge leap for her character because she is making changes and learning to trust people.

            All in all, the restaurant represents Allison getting back on track in life.  To me it was just a bland old place with nothing special, but sometimes something bland can turn into something really important for some people. It's all about who we meet and where we meet them. Dan just happened to go to that diner and not some other one. That is all it took.

The Little Nugget

        My adventure in mapping out locations from Northline led me to lunch at the Nugget. After going to spin class with my girlfriend Demi Cole we went to lunch at the diner. It was a pretty horrible day to walk down there because the wind was relentless. It cut through my body. It reminds me of when Allison felt the cold weather of Reno for the first time. Anyways the burger was great here is a picture of me eating it!!!

            I tried to imagine Allison and Penny eating dinner inside the Nugget on the little stools. Penny would probably almost break the stools. The burger was great and it definitely is one of the "greatest burgers" like Penny said. No one really strikes me as a Penny or Allison type in the Diner when I was there for lunch. Everyone seems like tourist going there to eat the Awful Awful burger which won some award on food network. The diner advertises the heck out of it. That burger is probably one of the main reasons the whole casino is still in business.

            The conversation that Penny and Allison have here is about relationships. Penny talks about here unfortunate relationship where she ends up horribly obese by the end of it. This makes it kind of ironic that they are eating the Awful Awful which is a pretty large burger. Penny hates what she has become but has just dropped into a rut of acceptance. I think that Penny acts as an example of what life can do to a person if that person doesn't fight for what they want. Penny encourages Allison to go get her GED and then go to college. To Allison college is almost unattainable. Yet Penny has no goals except to get fatter. Penny goes to food to make herself happier and cope with life while Allison goes to alcohol. It is clear that if Allison keep going to alcohol for comfort she is going to kill herself.  I can imagine Allison a super skinny girl that looks like she needs a good home and more sleep. Allison describes here awkward relationship with a video store nerd in high school. It seems unhealthy and not normal. This relationship demonstrates that Allison started dating on a bad note and was not hanging around the right guys, but it is not like her mom was a positive role model. 

Northline The Quad

            This is the first of four entries on the book Northline by Willy Vlautin. I began my journey by venturing into the quad on the campus of UNR. Although the book does not specify the quad, simply stating college grounds, I felt the quad was where Dan getting beat up would of occurred. It has the quintessential college feel making it the most appropriate for the scene. What is strange about standing in the quad during the daytime is it doesn't really seem like I would get beat up there, in fact it is inviting and a place I enjoy spending time at. The grass and trees are perfect place for a mid afternoon nap or reading a good book.

            The thing is campus is a different place at night. The shift from day to night completely changes how it feels. The quad doesn't feel as safe at night the long shadows from the trees make it menacing. I understand how Dan could of been completely terrified on that night walking home from the party. I saw a guy with long hair walking through the quad. He looked sort of like a hippy. That could have been what Dan looked like in this scene of the book. He describes himself as having long hair. To get beat nearly to death in the quad at night like Dan would make me hate that place. Honestly, I understand that these people went after Dan because he was somewhat different, but I don't see why anybody would have the reason to do that to me or anyone else on campus. Form the people I've met on campus thus far everyone has been super friendly. It is scary to think that things like this can happen and they do happen. Although not in the quad, someone working in the residence halls got stabbed a few weeks ago. College can bring out some crazy people from time to time. My friend Yuchen goes to USC and they just had a shooting on campus! That is really scary and this demonstrates that Dan getting beat up in the quad is not an unlikely event in real like and could really happen. 

What's on My Mind

        So I got to go home this weekend. It was great; I haven't been home in over a month because I've been traveling and cycling all the time. The stress of school was starting to get to me. This weekend at home was much needed. I was able to focus up and get school work done. I also got to see my parents and brother who I miss everyday. I went for a little walk around the block when I got home. I took the usual route that I used to run. 

        Have you seen the video "If Money Were No Object." If you haven't you should really watch it here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siu6JYqOZ0g . I thought about this video as I went on my walk. I contemplated the education I was pursuing at UNR. Is biochemistry really right for me. If money were no object I would go into the ski industry and pursue a film career. That's what I really love. So what am I doing here? Money must be an object for me. I want to just go and do what I want to do so badly but money has created such a barrier for me. 

        This video has an important message for everyone. Follow your dreams. The problem is people need to start doing this before anybody will actually take it seriously. I'm not helping the cause. Today I looked up film school on google. I made the first step, but will I continue to pursue my passion? Only time will tell if money is an object to me. 

Mapes Hotel

So my historical site is the old Mapes hotel. It was located on Virginia St. next to the Truckee River. Well what once was the Mapes hotel. This historic land mark struck my interest because it was featured in the book A Doubtful River by Robert Dawson, Peter Goin, and Mary Webb. The hotel's history goes way back. It was one of the first skyscrapers built after WWII in the west coast. It represents the rise of casinos Vegas style in Reno. To me this was a good thing for Reno at the time. Reno was a bumping place to be and this got the whole casino thing going.

            What now remains are the sleazy remnants of what the Mapes hotel influenced. All the casinos on Virginia Street are not classy, but rather a novelty and nothing else. The Mapes may have started out the casino scene in Reno classier, but the casino scene has since deteriorated. As I walk down Virginia Street I take it all in. What was once so grand is beginning to wear out. Things seem cheap. The whole street could use an uplift. The river does, however, provide a nicer area on Virginia Street.

            I feel as if the Mapes hotel was something that tainted the river. The river is such a bringer of life and something so unnatural and unneeded was built right next to it. The Doubtful River seems to try and get across the point that we need to think of water and the river more highly. Clearly back then we didn't care. When it was destroyed Mary Webb reported that it sent junk flying into the river. To me this symbolizes that the river has reached the point of no return and we will pay for the consequences of misuse soon.

Architecture

As I walk through Reno's beautiful campus. Yes, beautiful. Surprisingly beautiful when compared with the rest of Reno. Reno, especially downtown ,is ugly to me. Lake Tahoe is what makes Reno worthwhile as well as the mountains. Anyways back on topic. The campus is beautiful because some of the architecture. All the old buildings down by the quad are super cool looking and have such an old flare. They give that old school east coast college feel which is a very academic yet inviting feel. The quad is by far the coolest place on campus. The vast columns and brick buildings make it have character.

            The next best architecture on campus is all the modern buildings such as the Joe, the Knowledge Center, and the Davidson Math and Science buildings. There modern flare and style reflect UNR's newer side well. They point towards the campus being scientific and researchy. Yes, I just made that word up. The university is in fact very sciencey and researchy. Also these buildings offer modern appeal that makes it look really cool to younger people.

            The worst architecture on campus is those buildings that were built in that awkward period of time like the 70's and 80's. For example the, Leifson physics building or the Cain hall. The architecture they have has once modern age, but has since lost its appeal. It's like cars. When cars are really old they are cool. When cars are really new they are cool. When cars are from the late 80's they are not cool yet. I honestly don't know if these buildings will ever become neat looking for future generations. They have this pasty off white color that is just hideous.

            Overall the universities architecture is reflective of an institution of learning. A few ugly building here and there are counter balanced by the modern flare of some buildings and old style college buildings.