Train to Coachella

Wanted to get this out as fast as possible...

For those of you lucky enough to go to Coachella this year, and you know who you are, consider taking the Coachella train out there instead of using your own gas. Granted, you have to have the 3 day pass and plan to stay all weekend becuase the train leaves thursday and returns Monday. We can bet there will be some shenanagins going down on that train ride. What happens on the Coachella train, stays on the Coachella train? maybe.

For more information and tickets, find them online at: Coachella Amtrak Ride.

For the rest of you not on the west coast, Coachella is a huge 3-day music festival in the desert. Kind of on the order of SXSW or Bonnaroo or Woodstock. Except this is in the desert where temps easily climb past 100 and theres realy no place to stay. So dehydrated hippies in the desert sleeping in tents and causing chaos and getting down. Really big acts show up each year, including this year's surprise guest: PRINCE!

Park Your Car

If you're not already doing it, consider choosing one day a week where you simply don't drive anywhere. Sad but true, most of us can't walk to work, so we need our car for our commute. If that is the case, then choose saturday or sunday where you leave that car in the garage. Walk, bike, carpool, whatever, just no direct driving. This will help slow down your life too as you learn to use the resources in your neighborhood and take time to just "be."

For the more ambitious out there in the audience, take one day a week where you choose to bike or use public transportation or even walk to work. This will save on gas, parking, tolls, wear/tear on your car and also your sanity. It might take a bit longer to get to work, but you might have less stress as you can just sit back, read a book and leave the worry of driving to someone else.

An Alternative to AAA

You probably have a AAA (American Automobile Association membership, right? Who wouldn't when its pretty cheap and you get 24 hour car for anything that happens to your car. Especially for those of you here in southern California, where public transportation doesn't exist in our vocabulary, chances are you're going to run into car trouble at some point.

But did you know that AAA lobbies against fuel emission and gas mileage standards? Bummer. But did you also know that there is an alternative to AAA? Yay!

The Better World Auto Club offers all or more of hte same benefits of AAA and also gives money to protect the environment. The prices are pretty cheap and they'll even insure your bike if you just get around with pedal-power and need help in the event of a flat or accident. Check them out online at: Better World Club.