What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
There shall be no entry for this wonderful, wonderful city.
See you in September!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Las Vegas
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
There shall be no entry for this wonderful, wonderful city.
See you in September!
There shall be no entry for this wonderful, wonderful city.
See you in September!
Saturday, August 20, 2005
California
AUGUST 20, 2005
Papa’s and Grandma’s
California
We’re in Apple Valley California at Liz’s grandparents house. This place is absolutely amazing, it’s like walking through a museum. But the good kind, because I’m not afraid to touch and look at things, and heaven knows if I ask about something. I’ll get every detail.
Papa is a fountain of knowledge, and I’ve never said that about anyone. He’s just so full of information, and it’s all so interesting. Seriously, he’s been everywhere and has seen a lot. I’ve never really had a grandfather, my dad’s dad died before I met him, and I was really young when my other one died. Liz’s grandmother is amazing too. She’s very into food and cookbooks and she let me look at her collection. She’s got a cookbook from 1915! No joke, she let me flip (carefully) through it. There’s another from the 40’s, and 2 whole collections of cookbooks from all over the world. She gave me some recipe cards, and I copied some things down, but so many recipes are so detailed that I couldn’t possibly.
We’re having a good time here, it’s nice to just be still and not have to do anything. I think all the tiredness is catching up to me though I’m exhausted. But it’s on to Vegas on Monday for 2 nights, and then on up to Washington. We’re staying at the Circus Circus hotel right on the strip. It’s actually only $50.00 a night, which isn’t bad at all, got to love Expedia.com
I’m watching Liz and her grandparents play Solitare. Yes, it’s a team game evidently. They’re playing some variation that I can’t understand, so I’m talking to Spencer on text AIM, and writing in my journal.
Peace
Papa’s and Grandma’s
California
We’re in Apple Valley California at Liz’s grandparents house. This place is absolutely amazing, it’s like walking through a museum. But the good kind, because I’m not afraid to touch and look at things, and heaven knows if I ask about something. I’ll get every detail.
Papa is a fountain of knowledge, and I’ve never said that about anyone. He’s just so full of information, and it’s all so interesting. Seriously, he’s been everywhere and has seen a lot. I’ve never really had a grandfather, my dad’s dad died before I met him, and I was really young when my other one died. Liz’s grandmother is amazing too. She’s very into food and cookbooks and she let me look at her collection. She’s got a cookbook from 1915! No joke, she let me flip (carefully) through it. There’s another from the 40’s, and 2 whole collections of cookbooks from all over the world. She gave me some recipe cards, and I copied some things down, but so many recipes are so detailed that I couldn’t possibly.
We’re having a good time here, it’s nice to just be still and not have to do anything. I think all the tiredness is catching up to me though I’m exhausted. But it’s on to Vegas on Monday for 2 nights, and then on up to Washington. We’re staying at the Circus Circus hotel right on the strip. It’s actually only $50.00 a night, which isn’t bad at all, got to love Expedia.com
I’m watching Liz and her grandparents play Solitare. Yes, it’s a team game evidently. They’re playing some variation that I can’t understand, so I’m talking to Spencer on text AIM, and writing in my journal.
Peace
California
AUGUST 20, 2005
Papa’s and Grandma’s
California
We’re in Apple Valley California at Liz’s grandparents house. This place is absolutely amazing, it’s like walking through a museum. But the good kind, because I’m not afraid to touch and look at things, and heaven knows if I ask about something. I’ll get every detail.
Papa is a fountain of knowledge, and I’ve never said that about anyone. He’s just so full of information, and it’s all so interesting. Seriously, he’s been everywhere and has seen a lot. I’ve never really had a grandfather, my dad’s dad died before I met him, and I was really young when my other one died. Liz’s grandmother is amazing too. She’s very into food and cookbooks and she let me look at her collection. She’s got a cookbook from 1915! No joke, she let me flip (carefully) through it. There’s another from the 40’s, and 2 whole collections of cookbooks from all over the world. She gave me some recipe cards, and I copied some things down, but so many recipes are so detailed that I couldn’t possibly.
We’re having a good time here, it’s nice to just be still and not have to do anything. I think all the tiredness is catching up to me though I’m exhausted. But it’s on to Vegas on Monday for 2 nights, and then on up to Washington. We’re staying at the Circus Circus hotel right on the strip. It’s actually only $50.00 a night, which isn’t bad at all, got to love Expedia.com
I’m watching Liz and her grandparents play Solitare. Yes, it’s a team game evidently. They’re playing some variation that I can’t understand, so I’m talking to Spencer on text AIM, and writing in my journal.
Peace
Papa’s and Grandma’s
California
We’re in Apple Valley California at Liz’s grandparents house. This place is absolutely amazing, it’s like walking through a museum. But the good kind, because I’m not afraid to touch and look at things, and heaven knows if I ask about something. I’ll get every detail.
Papa is a fountain of knowledge, and I’ve never said that about anyone. He’s just so full of information, and it’s all so interesting. Seriously, he’s been everywhere and has seen a lot. I’ve never really had a grandfather, my dad’s dad died before I met him, and I was really young when my other one died. Liz’s grandmother is amazing too. She’s very into food and cookbooks and she let me look at her collection. She’s got a cookbook from 1915! No joke, she let me flip (carefully) through it. There’s another from the 40’s, and 2 whole collections of cookbooks from all over the world. She gave me some recipe cards, and I copied some things down, but so many recipes are so detailed that I couldn’t possibly.
We’re having a good time here, it’s nice to just be still and not have to do anything. I think all the tiredness is catching up to me though I’m exhausted. But it’s on to Vegas on Monday for 2 nights, and then on up to Washington. We’re staying at the Circus Circus hotel right on the strip. It’s actually only $50.00 a night, which isn’t bad at all, got to love Expedia.com
I’m watching Liz and her grandparents play Solitare. Yes, it’s a team game evidently. They’re playing some variation that I can’t understand, so I’m talking to Spencer on text AIM, and writing in my journal.
Peace
Friday, August 19, 2005
Grand Canyon
AUGUST 19, 2005
Grand Canyon
Arizona
It’s 7am at the Grand Canyon, and it is freezing cold. I’m wearing a sweatshirt, wrapped in a sleeping bag and covered in 2 blankets. (Liz gave hers up, she’s not as cold.)
The Grand Canyon is gorgeous, and the climate here isn’t exactly what I’d expected. I guess I’d always thought of the Grand Canyon as desert, but it’s actually in the forest. You can smell the pine trees, which is nice since it’s been so long. There’s pollution in the canyon though.
Everywhere you look, there’s a bluish haze. You can’t see very far today, but I guess on some days you can see the mountains in the distance. Liz and I got these fantastic windbreakers at the store. They are green and blue and say Grand Canyon on them. Mine is too big, it’s a medium and I really wanted a small, but they were out, so I’m swimming in mine.
But it’s comfortable, and I can still fit it over a sweatshirt so it’s great.
JOK there’s a frog outside the tent and he’s really loud. I want to open the window to look, but that’d probably scare him off.We’re headed to Liz’s grandparents in California tonight. 400 mile drive. Probably about 7 hours. So much fun.
Peace
Grand Canyon
Arizona
It’s 7am at the Grand Canyon, and it is freezing cold. I’m wearing a sweatshirt, wrapped in a sleeping bag and covered in 2 blankets. (Liz gave hers up, she’s not as cold.)
The Grand Canyon is gorgeous, and the climate here isn’t exactly what I’d expected. I guess I’d always thought of the Grand Canyon as desert, but it’s actually in the forest. You can smell the pine trees, which is nice since it’s been so long. There’s pollution in the canyon though.
Everywhere you look, there’s a bluish haze. You can’t see very far today, but I guess on some days you can see the mountains in the distance. Liz and I got these fantastic windbreakers at the store. They are green and blue and say Grand Canyon on them. Mine is too big, it’s a medium and I really wanted a small, but they were out, so I’m swimming in mine.
But it’s comfortable, and I can still fit it over a sweatshirt so it’s great.
JOK there’s a frog outside the tent and he’s really loud. I want to open the window to look, but that’d probably scare him off.We’re headed to Liz’s grandparents in California tonight. 400 mile drive. Probably about 7 hours. So much fun.
Peace
Grand Canyon
AUGUST 19, 2005
Grand Canyon
Arizona
It’s 7am at the Grand Canyon, and it is freezing cold. I’m wearing a sweatshirt, wrapped in a sleeping bag and covered in 2 blankets. (Liz gave hers up, she’s not as cold.)
The Grand Canyon is gorgeous, and the climate here isn’t exactly what I’d expected. I guess I’d always thought of the Grand Canyon as desert, but it’s actually in the forest. You can smell the pine trees, which is nice since it’s been so long. There’s pollution in the canyon though.
Everywhere you look, there’s a bluish haze. You can’t see very far today, but I guess on some days you can see the mountains in the distance. Liz and I got these fantastic windbreakers at the store. They are green and blue and say Grand Canyon on them. Mine is too big, it’s a medium and I really wanted a small, but they were out, so I’m swimming in mine.
But it’s comfortable, and I can still fit it over a sweatshirt so it’s great.
JOK there’s a frog outside the tent and he’s really loud. I want to open the window to look, but that’d probably scare him off.We’re headed to Liz’s grandparents in California tonight. 400 mile drive. Probably about 7 hours. So much fun.
Peace
Grand Canyon
Arizona
It’s 7am at the Grand Canyon, and it is freezing cold. I’m wearing a sweatshirt, wrapped in a sleeping bag and covered in 2 blankets. (Liz gave hers up, she’s not as cold.)
The Grand Canyon is gorgeous, and the climate here isn’t exactly what I’d expected. I guess I’d always thought of the Grand Canyon as desert, but it’s actually in the forest. You can smell the pine trees, which is nice since it’s been so long. There’s pollution in the canyon though.
Everywhere you look, there’s a bluish haze. You can’t see very far today, but I guess on some days you can see the mountains in the distance. Liz and I got these fantastic windbreakers at the store. They are green and blue and say Grand Canyon on them. Mine is too big, it’s a medium and I really wanted a small, but they were out, so I’m swimming in mine.
But it’s comfortable, and I can still fit it over a sweatshirt so it’s great.
JOK there’s a frog outside the tent and he’s really loud. I want to open the window to look, but that’d probably scare him off.We’re headed to Liz’s grandparents in California tonight. 400 mile drive. Probably about 7 hours. So much fun.
Peace
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Grand Canyon
AUGUST 18, 2005
Grand Canyon
Arizona
We’re at the Grand Canyon, sitting on the shuttle bus that’s taken us most of the way along the south rim. My first impression of the canyon was that I felt really small.
Minute.
You look down and it just goes and goes.
You can see the trails down into the canyon.
Peace
AUGUST 18, 2005
According to the original plan, we should be in Sumner right now.Instead we are at the Grand Canyon drinking wine and playing Yatzee.Love This Trip!
Peace
Grand Canyon
Arizona
We’re at the Grand Canyon, sitting on the shuttle bus that’s taken us most of the way along the south rim. My first impression of the canyon was that I felt really small.
Minute.
You look down and it just goes and goes.
You can see the trails down into the canyon.
Peace
AUGUST 18, 2005
According to the original plan, we should be in Sumner right now.Instead we are at the Grand Canyon drinking wine and playing Yatzee.Love This Trip!
Peace
Grand Canyon
AUGUST 18, 2005
Grand Canyon
Arizona
We’re at the Grand Canyon, sitting on the shuttle bus that’s taken us most of the way along the south rim. My first impression of the canyon was that I felt really small.
Minute.
You look down and it just goes and goes.
You can see the trails down into the canyon.
Peace
AUGUST 18, 2005
According to the original plan, we should be in Sumner right now.Instead we are at the Grand Canyon drinking wine and playing Yatzee.Love This Trip!
Peace
Grand Canyon
Arizona
We’re at the Grand Canyon, sitting on the shuttle bus that’s taken us most of the way along the south rim. My first impression of the canyon was that I felt really small.
Minute.
You look down and it just goes and goes.
You can see the trails down into the canyon.
Peace
AUGUST 18, 2005
According to the original plan, we should be in Sumner right now.Instead we are at the Grand Canyon drinking wine and playing Yatzee.Love This Trip!
Peace
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
AUGUST 17, 2005
Today was a tragic day. I don’t even want to talk about it.
This morning, leaving the hotel, we had a miscommunication of the worst kind. Liz was packing the car and she pointed out a box that she had shoved some patches and the medicine wheel into. I opened the lid to look inside, but left it where is was since Liz was packing. S
he thought that since I had opened the box, that I had put it away. The was left on the trunk when we drove off, and didn’t realize it until a mile down the road. We drove back and scoured every block for a mile. I was dogging between traffic like Frogger, but no luck. Not even any debris. And we SEARCHED.
Tell me why we didn’t even find the paper things were wrapped in?
I think someone took it. Really. After searching more than an hour, we had to resign ourselves to the loss of 5 patches and a medicine wheel. Since I’d already told my mom about the medicine wheel, I had to replace it. We stopped at a Navaho trading post and found a very similar one. Hopefully a little searching online will help us replace the patches.
So, we’re already in a bad mood when we head out of town and drive an hour to Four Corners… which is literally in the middle of nowhere, only to discover that they won’t take checks or credit cards… and since we had no way off getting cash, we had to leave without seeing the monument. Disappointing to say the least.
Then, we headed south to the Petrified Forest, or tried to, anyway. Our route meant driving through the heart of the Navaho Nation. Now, the map shows one or two main road that go through it, but that’s because there isn’t funding enough (assuming) to fully map the reservations. And road signs are nearly nonexistent.
We didn’t realize our road had forked and we were on the wrong side of the fork until we were beyond the wrong direction. For the first time on our trip, we could honestly say that we were lost in America; or the Navaho Nation, specifically.
We couldn’t locate ourselves on the map because there was no map. It took some uneducated guessing and 35 miles on a broken down dirt road to get us back on track.
Eventually, we made it to the Petrified Forest, which was so much fun. Liz found a crow that thought he was a chicken, and I took tons of pictures of both the painted desert and the petrified forest. Gorgeous!
Some of those pieces date to 225 million years ago. That’s positively unbelievable. Tomorrow we’re going to the Grand Canyon, and tonight we’re staying in the stereotypical 70’s décor Route 66 hotel.Good Night!
Peace
Today was a tragic day. I don’t even want to talk about it.
This morning, leaving the hotel, we had a miscommunication of the worst kind. Liz was packing the car and she pointed out a box that she had shoved some patches and the medicine wheel into. I opened the lid to look inside, but left it where is was since Liz was packing. S
he thought that since I had opened the box, that I had put it away. The was left on the trunk when we drove off, and didn’t realize it until a mile down the road. We drove back and scoured every block for a mile. I was dogging between traffic like Frogger, but no luck. Not even any debris. And we SEARCHED.
Tell me why we didn’t even find the paper things were wrapped in?
I think someone took it. Really. After searching more than an hour, we had to resign ourselves to the loss of 5 patches and a medicine wheel. Since I’d already told my mom about the medicine wheel, I had to replace it. We stopped at a Navaho trading post and found a very similar one. Hopefully a little searching online will help us replace the patches.
So, we’re already in a bad mood when we head out of town and drive an hour to Four Corners… which is literally in the middle of nowhere, only to discover that they won’t take checks or credit cards… and since we had no way off getting cash, we had to leave without seeing the monument. Disappointing to say the least.
Then, we headed south to the Petrified Forest, or tried to, anyway. Our route meant driving through the heart of the Navaho Nation. Now, the map shows one or two main road that go through it, but that’s because there isn’t funding enough (assuming) to fully map the reservations. And road signs are nearly nonexistent.
We didn’t realize our road had forked and we were on the wrong side of the fork until we were beyond the wrong direction. For the first time on our trip, we could honestly say that we were lost in America; or the Navaho Nation, specifically.
We couldn’t locate ourselves on the map because there was no map. It took some uneducated guessing and 35 miles on a broken down dirt road to get us back on track.
Eventually, we made it to the Petrified Forest, which was so much fun. Liz found a crow that thought he was a chicken, and I took tons of pictures of both the painted desert and the petrified forest. Gorgeous!
Some of those pieces date to 225 million years ago. That’s positively unbelievable. Tomorrow we’re going to the Grand Canyon, and tonight we’re staying in the stereotypical 70’s décor Route 66 hotel.Good Night!
Peace
AUGUST 17, 2005
Today was a tragic day. I don’t even want to talk about it.
This morning, leaving the hotel, we had a miscommunication of the worst kind. Liz was packing the car and she pointed out a box that she had shoved some patches and the medicine wheel into. I opened the lid to look inside, but left it where is was since Liz was packing. S
he thought that since I had opened the box, that I had put it away. The was left on the trunk when we drove off, and didn’t realize it until a mile down the road. We drove back and scoured every block for a mile. I was dogging between traffic like Frogger, but no luck. Not even any debris. And we SEARCHED.
Tell me why we didn’t even find the paper things were wrapped in?
I think someone took it. Really. After searching more than an hour, we had to resign ourselves to the loss of 5 patches and a medicine wheel. Since I’d already told my mom about the medicine wheel, I had to replace it. We stopped at a Navaho trading post and found a very similar one. Hopefully a little searching online will help us replace the patches.
So, we’re already in a bad mood when we head out of town and drive an hour to Four Corners… which is literally in the middle of nowhere, only to discover that they won’t take checks or credit cards… and since we had no way off getting cash, we had to leave without seeing the monument. Disappointing to say the least.
Then, we headed south to the Petrified Forest, or tried to, anyway. Our route meant driving through the heart of the Navaho Nation. Now, the map shows one or two main road that go through it, but that’s because there isn’t funding enough (assuming) to fully map the reservations. And road signs are nearly nonexistent.
We didn’t realize our road had forked and we were on the wrong side of the fork until we were beyond the wrong direction. For the first time on our trip, we could honestly say that we were lost in America; or the Navaho Nation, specifically.
We couldn’t locate ourselves on the map because there was no map. It took some uneducated guessing and 35 miles on a broken down dirt road to get us back on track.
Eventually, we made it to the Petrified Forest, which was so much fun. Liz found a crow that thought he was a chicken, and I took tons of pictures of both the painted desert and the petrified forest. Gorgeous!
Some of those pieces date to 225 million years ago. That’s positively unbelievable. Tomorrow we’re going to the Grand Canyon, and tonight we’re staying in the stereotypical 70’s décor Route 66 hotel.Good Night!
Peace
Today was a tragic day. I don’t even want to talk about it.
This morning, leaving the hotel, we had a miscommunication of the worst kind. Liz was packing the car and she pointed out a box that she had shoved some patches and the medicine wheel into. I opened the lid to look inside, but left it where is was since Liz was packing. S
he thought that since I had opened the box, that I had put it away. The was left on the trunk when we drove off, and didn’t realize it until a mile down the road. We drove back and scoured every block for a mile. I was dogging between traffic like Frogger, but no luck. Not even any debris. And we SEARCHED.
Tell me why we didn’t even find the paper things were wrapped in?
I think someone took it. Really. After searching more than an hour, we had to resign ourselves to the loss of 5 patches and a medicine wheel. Since I’d already told my mom about the medicine wheel, I had to replace it. We stopped at a Navaho trading post and found a very similar one. Hopefully a little searching online will help us replace the patches.
So, we’re already in a bad mood when we head out of town and drive an hour to Four Corners… which is literally in the middle of nowhere, only to discover that they won’t take checks or credit cards… and since we had no way off getting cash, we had to leave without seeing the monument. Disappointing to say the least.
Then, we headed south to the Petrified Forest, or tried to, anyway. Our route meant driving through the heart of the Navaho Nation. Now, the map shows one or two main road that go through it, but that’s because there isn’t funding enough (assuming) to fully map the reservations. And road signs are nearly nonexistent.
We didn’t realize our road had forked and we were on the wrong side of the fork until we were beyond the wrong direction. For the first time on our trip, we could honestly say that we were lost in America; or the Navaho Nation, specifically.
We couldn’t locate ourselves on the map because there was no map. It took some uneducated guessing and 35 miles on a broken down dirt road to get us back on track.
Eventually, we made it to the Petrified Forest, which was so much fun. Liz found a crow that thought he was a chicken, and I took tons of pictures of both the painted desert and the petrified forest. Gorgeous!
Some of those pieces date to 225 million years ago. That’s positively unbelievable. Tomorrow we’re going to the Grand Canyon, and tonight we’re staying in the stereotypical 70’s décor Route 66 hotel.Good Night!
Peace
Monday, August 15, 2005
Ft. Sumner
AUGUST 15, 2005
Sumner Lake State Park
Fort Sumner, NM
I’m writing by moonlight on the edge of Sumner Lake in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
This morning we went to White Sands, and I’m really glad we took yesterday off and waited until today because the weather was perfect. Sunny, clear, and cool. Only 72 degrees. We found a great little picnic area and had lunch, and then I went out and played on the dunes.
SO BEAUTIFUL!
The dunes seem to go on forever and ever, and really they are 275 square miles so they sort of do. Afterwards, we drove on the scenic tour , and Liz had WAY too much fun driving through the puddles left by yesterdays rainfall. (“Puddle! Puddle! Puddle!”) I tried to shoot video, but wound up laughing through most of it. Oh well, we were having a good time!
Nothing wrong with that.
Next stop, Rosewell. Which is one alien-crazy town. Even the light posts are painted with Alien eyes. So cute, I have pictures. We toured the UFO Museum and Research center, which was amazing. I don’t know what I believe or what I don’t when it comes to the Roswell incident. I think it’s pretty clear that the government said they had a “flying saucer” and changed their mind when people panicked though.
Sumner Lake State Park
Fort Sumner, NM
I’m writing by moonlight on the edge of Sumner Lake in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
This morning we went to White Sands, and I’m really glad we took yesterday off and waited until today because the weather was perfect. Sunny, clear, and cool. Only 72 degrees. We found a great little picnic area and had lunch, and then I went out and played on the dunes.
SO BEAUTIFUL!
The dunes seem to go on forever and ever, and really they are 275 square miles so they sort of do. Afterwards, we drove on the scenic tour , and Liz had WAY too much fun driving through the puddles left by yesterdays rainfall. (“Puddle! Puddle! Puddle!”) I tried to shoot video, but wound up laughing through most of it. Oh well, we were having a good time!
Nothing wrong with that.
Next stop, Rosewell. Which is one alien-crazy town. Even the light posts are painted with Alien eyes. So cute, I have pictures. We toured the UFO Museum and Research center, which was amazing. I don’t know what I believe or what I don’t when it comes to the Roswell incident. I think it’s pretty clear that the government said they had a “flying saucer” and changed their mind when people panicked though.
Ft. Sumner
AUGUST 15, 2005
Sumner Lake State Park
Fort Sumner, NM
I’m writing by moonlight on the edge of Sumner Lake in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
This morning we went to White Sands, and I’m really glad we took yesterday off and waited until today because the weather was perfect. Sunny, clear, and cool. Only 72 degrees. We found a great little picnic area and had lunch, and then I went out and played on the dunes.
SO BEAUTIFUL!
The dunes seem to go on forever and ever, and really they are 275 square miles so they sort of do. Afterwards, we drove on the scenic tour , and Liz had WAY too much fun driving through the puddles left by yesterdays rainfall. (“Puddle! Puddle! Puddle!”) I tried to shoot video, but wound up laughing through most of it. Oh well, we were having a good time!
Nothing wrong with that.
Next stop, Rosewell. Which is one alien-crazy town. Even the light posts are painted with Alien eyes. So cute, I have pictures. We toured the UFO Museum and Research center, which was amazing. I don’t know what I believe or what I don’t when it comes to the Roswell incident. I think it’s pretty clear that the government said they had a “flying saucer” and changed their mind when people panicked though.
Sumner Lake State Park
Fort Sumner, NM
I’m writing by moonlight on the edge of Sumner Lake in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
This morning we went to White Sands, and I’m really glad we took yesterday off and waited until today because the weather was perfect. Sunny, clear, and cool. Only 72 degrees. We found a great little picnic area and had lunch, and then I went out and played on the dunes.
SO BEAUTIFUL!
The dunes seem to go on forever and ever, and really they are 275 square miles so they sort of do. Afterwards, we drove on the scenic tour , and Liz had WAY too much fun driving through the puddles left by yesterdays rainfall. (“Puddle! Puddle! Puddle!”) I tried to shoot video, but wound up laughing through most of it. Oh well, we were having a good time!
Nothing wrong with that.
Next stop, Rosewell. Which is one alien-crazy town. Even the light posts are painted with Alien eyes. So cute, I have pictures. We toured the UFO Museum and Research center, which was amazing. I don’t know what I believe or what I don’t when it comes to the Roswell incident. I think it’s pretty clear that the government said they had a “flying saucer” and changed their mind when people panicked though.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
New Mexico
AUGUST 14 2005
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Oh
My
Gods.
You are not going to believe what happened to us yesterday!
So we come out of the Bat Festival, which was absolutely amazing. We got up at 3:30, and got to the park just after 5 am. There were SO many people there. We got in line for breakfast and met this great older couple of ladies who gave us so many great ideas for our trip. We though we were going to miss the lantern tour because we were so late, but fortunately a younger couple decided to leave and gave us their tickets. SCORE!!!
As we were eating breakfast, the bats were beginning to swirl overhead, so we finished up and went over to the Bat Amphitheater. OMG. They say there’s something like 500,000 bats that call the cave home, but there have to be more than that. As the sun began to rise, all you could see was this line of black cloud that seemed t appear out of nowhere. As the bats doe down into the cave, you could HEAR the zipping of their wings as they buzzed by. It was louder than I had thought they would be.Afterwards, tickets in hand, we went into the cave for the lantern tour.
Let me tell you, it was really cool…for about 20 minutes. Then it was pitch black except for about 10 lanterns for 60 people. You couldn’t hear our tour guide so a good portion of out experience was just trudging along a winding downward path. But really, they only do this once a year, and only 120 people each time, so you really can’t complain.
After we’d descended 754 feet, we came into a lighted (FINALLY!) cavern, the Big Room. The stalactites/stalagmites were AMAZING. I really hope at least some of the pictures I took in there came out. That room made the hike completely worth it.Afterwards, we headed back to our campsite, had some breakfast, cleaned the car, packed, and got on the road. We drove from desert, through mountains and back into desert.
We picked out our campground and drove around for about 20 minutes, stopping twice before we found the perfect campsite. I mean, it had a shelter, picnic table, benches, a grill, and it was right next to the showers. Perfect. So, we sat down on the picnic bench, fixed some sandwiches, and had lunch. We pulled everything out of the car and set up camp. I mean, we did everything, the chairs, the gnomes, and we even got the chili pepper lights up. Liz spent ages getting them even, and I went over to sit on a bench to watch. She comes over to talk to me and freezes.
She points to the picnic table.
There, not 3 feet away, sleeping, is a rattlesnake.
Under the picnic table.
Where we just ate lunch.
And walked around about 20 times.
Oh
My
Gods.
We back up quickly towards the car and realize that the keys are sitting on the top of the table. This is like a B-Grade movie, really it is.
After a quick argument, Liz goes over and quickly snags the keys. We drive up to the visitor center, see that it’s closed, and the ranger is driving in the opposite direction. We go to the campground host, who call the ranger out. He captures the snake with a pole, and believe me that was one pissed off rattlesnake. You could hear his rattle all over the campground. Our neighbors call over their kids to see a snake, and the ranger sets the snake free on the edge of the road.
Afterwards there was no way I was staying there. We’d tempted fate a bit two much. I mean, how many times did we pass that snake?
So now we are checked into a hotel in Alamogorda. We were supposed to see Whit Sands today, but we were rained out, so we spent the day lounging around the hotel, doing laundry and watching T.L.C. We can take a day off and not feel guilty, right? Now we’re trying to plan the next few days, and it’s not going so well. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I don’t to camp in the desert anymore. One rattlesnake is enough. But it’s throwing a wrench in our plans, because now we have to change the itinerary.
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Oh
My
Gods.
You are not going to believe what happened to us yesterday!
So we come out of the Bat Festival, which was absolutely amazing. We got up at 3:30, and got to the park just after 5 am. There were SO many people there. We got in line for breakfast and met this great older couple of ladies who gave us so many great ideas for our trip. We though we were going to miss the lantern tour because we were so late, but fortunately a younger couple decided to leave and gave us their tickets. SCORE!!!
As we were eating breakfast, the bats were beginning to swirl overhead, so we finished up and went over to the Bat Amphitheater. OMG. They say there’s something like 500,000 bats that call the cave home, but there have to be more than that. As the sun began to rise, all you could see was this line of black cloud that seemed t appear out of nowhere. As the bats doe down into the cave, you could HEAR the zipping of their wings as they buzzed by. It was louder than I had thought they would be.Afterwards, tickets in hand, we went into the cave for the lantern tour.
Let me tell you, it was really cool…for about 20 minutes. Then it was pitch black except for about 10 lanterns for 60 people. You couldn’t hear our tour guide so a good portion of out experience was just trudging along a winding downward path. But really, they only do this once a year, and only 120 people each time, so you really can’t complain.
After we’d descended 754 feet, we came into a lighted (FINALLY!) cavern, the Big Room. The stalactites/stalagmites were AMAZING. I really hope at least some of the pictures I took in there came out. That room made the hike completely worth it.Afterwards, we headed back to our campsite, had some breakfast, cleaned the car, packed, and got on the road. We drove from desert, through mountains and back into desert.
We picked out our campground and drove around for about 20 minutes, stopping twice before we found the perfect campsite. I mean, it had a shelter, picnic table, benches, a grill, and it was right next to the showers. Perfect. So, we sat down on the picnic bench, fixed some sandwiches, and had lunch. We pulled everything out of the car and set up camp. I mean, we did everything, the chairs, the gnomes, and we even got the chili pepper lights up. Liz spent ages getting them even, and I went over to sit on a bench to watch. She comes over to talk to me and freezes.
She points to the picnic table.
There, not 3 feet away, sleeping, is a rattlesnake.
Under the picnic table.
Where we just ate lunch.
And walked around about 20 times.
Oh
My
Gods.
We back up quickly towards the car and realize that the keys are sitting on the top of the table. This is like a B-Grade movie, really it is.
After a quick argument, Liz goes over and quickly snags the keys. We drive up to the visitor center, see that it’s closed, and the ranger is driving in the opposite direction. We go to the campground host, who call the ranger out. He captures the snake with a pole, and believe me that was one pissed off rattlesnake. You could hear his rattle all over the campground. Our neighbors call over their kids to see a snake, and the ranger sets the snake free on the edge of the road.
Afterwards there was no way I was staying there. We’d tempted fate a bit two much. I mean, how many times did we pass that snake?
So now we are checked into a hotel in Alamogorda. We were supposed to see Whit Sands today, but we were rained out, so we spent the day lounging around the hotel, doing laundry and watching T.L.C. We can take a day off and not feel guilty, right? Now we’re trying to plan the next few days, and it’s not going so well. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I don’t to camp in the desert anymore. One rattlesnake is enough. But it’s throwing a wrench in our plans, because now we have to change the itinerary.
New Mexico
AUGUST 14 2005
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Oh
My
Gods.
You are not going to believe what happened to us yesterday!
So we come out of the Bat Festival, which was absolutely amazing. We got up at 3:30, and got to the park just after 5 am. There were SO many people there. We got in line for breakfast and met this great older couple of ladies who gave us so many great ideas for our trip. We though we were going to miss the lantern tour because we were so late, but fortunately a younger couple decided to leave and gave us their tickets. SCORE!!!
As we were eating breakfast, the bats were beginning to swirl overhead, so we finished up and went over to the Bat Amphitheater. OMG. They say there’s something like 500,000 bats that call the cave home, but there have to be more than that. As the sun began to rise, all you could see was this line of black cloud that seemed t appear out of nowhere. As the bats doe down into the cave, you could HEAR the zipping of their wings as they buzzed by. It was louder than I had thought they would be.Afterwards, tickets in hand, we went into the cave for the lantern tour.
Let me tell you, it was really cool…for about 20 minutes. Then it was pitch black except for about 10 lanterns for 60 people. You couldn’t hear our tour guide so a good portion of out experience was just trudging along a winding downward path. But really, they only do this once a year, and only 120 people each time, so you really can’t complain.
After we’d descended 754 feet, we came into a lighted (FINALLY!) cavern, the Big Room. The stalactites/stalagmites were AMAZING. I really hope at least some of the pictures I took in there came out. That room made the hike completely worth it.Afterwards, we headed back to our campsite, had some breakfast, cleaned the car, packed, and got on the road. We drove from desert, through mountains and back into desert.
We picked out our campground and drove around for about 20 minutes, stopping twice before we found the perfect campsite. I mean, it had a shelter, picnic table, benches, a grill, and it was right next to the showers. Perfect. So, we sat down on the picnic bench, fixed some sandwiches, and had lunch. We pulled everything out of the car and set up camp. I mean, we did everything, the chairs, the gnomes, and we even got the chili pepper lights up. Liz spent ages getting them even, and I went over to sit on a bench to watch. She comes over to talk to me and freezes.
She points to the picnic table.
There, not 3 feet away, sleeping, is a rattlesnake.
Under the picnic table.
Where we just ate lunch.
And walked around about 20 times.
Oh
My
Gods.
We back up quickly towards the car and realize that the keys are sitting on the top of the table. This is like a B-Grade movie, really it is.
After a quick argument, Liz goes over and quickly snags the keys. We drive up to the visitor center, see that it’s closed, and the ranger is driving in the opposite direction. We go to the campground host, who call the ranger out. He captures the snake with a pole, and believe me that was one pissed off rattlesnake. You could hear his rattle all over the campground. Our neighbors call over their kids to see a snake, and the ranger sets the snake free on the edge of the road.
Afterwards there was no way I was staying there. We’d tempted fate a bit two much. I mean, how many times did we pass that snake?
So now we are checked into a hotel in Alamogorda. We were supposed to see Whit Sands today, but we were rained out, so we spent the day lounging around the hotel, doing laundry and watching T.L.C. We can take a day off and not feel guilty, right? Now we’re trying to plan the next few days, and it’s not going so well. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I don’t to camp in the desert anymore. One rattlesnake is enough. But it’s throwing a wrench in our plans, because now we have to change the itinerary.
Alamogordo, New Mexico
Oh
My
Gods.
You are not going to believe what happened to us yesterday!
So we come out of the Bat Festival, which was absolutely amazing. We got up at 3:30, and got to the park just after 5 am. There were SO many people there. We got in line for breakfast and met this great older couple of ladies who gave us so many great ideas for our trip. We though we were going to miss the lantern tour because we were so late, but fortunately a younger couple decided to leave and gave us their tickets. SCORE!!!
As we were eating breakfast, the bats were beginning to swirl overhead, so we finished up and went over to the Bat Amphitheater. OMG. They say there’s something like 500,000 bats that call the cave home, but there have to be more than that. As the sun began to rise, all you could see was this line of black cloud that seemed t appear out of nowhere. As the bats doe down into the cave, you could HEAR the zipping of their wings as they buzzed by. It was louder than I had thought they would be.Afterwards, tickets in hand, we went into the cave for the lantern tour.
Let me tell you, it was really cool…for about 20 minutes. Then it was pitch black except for about 10 lanterns for 60 people. You couldn’t hear our tour guide so a good portion of out experience was just trudging along a winding downward path. But really, they only do this once a year, and only 120 people each time, so you really can’t complain.
After we’d descended 754 feet, we came into a lighted (FINALLY!) cavern, the Big Room. The stalactites/stalagmites were AMAZING. I really hope at least some of the pictures I took in there came out. That room made the hike completely worth it.Afterwards, we headed back to our campsite, had some breakfast, cleaned the car, packed, and got on the road. We drove from desert, through mountains and back into desert.
We picked out our campground and drove around for about 20 minutes, stopping twice before we found the perfect campsite. I mean, it had a shelter, picnic table, benches, a grill, and it was right next to the showers. Perfect. So, we sat down on the picnic bench, fixed some sandwiches, and had lunch. We pulled everything out of the car and set up camp. I mean, we did everything, the chairs, the gnomes, and we even got the chili pepper lights up. Liz spent ages getting them even, and I went over to sit on a bench to watch. She comes over to talk to me and freezes.
She points to the picnic table.
There, not 3 feet away, sleeping, is a rattlesnake.
Under the picnic table.
Where we just ate lunch.
And walked around about 20 times.
Oh
My
Gods.
We back up quickly towards the car and realize that the keys are sitting on the top of the table. This is like a B-Grade movie, really it is.
After a quick argument, Liz goes over and quickly snags the keys. We drive up to the visitor center, see that it’s closed, and the ranger is driving in the opposite direction. We go to the campground host, who call the ranger out. He captures the snake with a pole, and believe me that was one pissed off rattlesnake. You could hear his rattle all over the campground. Our neighbors call over their kids to see a snake, and the ranger sets the snake free on the edge of the road.
Afterwards there was no way I was staying there. We’d tempted fate a bit two much. I mean, how many times did we pass that snake?
So now we are checked into a hotel in Alamogorda. We were supposed to see Whit Sands today, but we were rained out, so we spent the day lounging around the hotel, doing laundry and watching T.L.C. We can take a day off and not feel guilty, right? Now we’re trying to plan the next few days, and it’s not going so well. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I don’t to camp in the desert anymore. One rattlesnake is enough. But it’s throwing a wrench in our plans, because now we have to change the itinerary.
Friday, August 12, 2005
New Mexico
AUGUST 12, 2005
Lake Brantley State Park
New Mexico
Odd coincidence today. We met a group of girls in the bathhouse.
We got to talking and found out that they’re road-tripping too - in the exact opposite direction as us! They started in Seattle and are heading to NYC, looping along the southern route, stopping at most of the major places we just came from. And they just came from Vegas, where we’re headed next! How odd is that, for us to cross paths sharing a campground in the middle of the New Mexico dessert???
We went out to the Caverns today, only to find out that we are exactly on time for the Bat Festival we thought we we’re going to miss!! The whole thing starts tonight at 7 when the bats leave the cave. There are 2 lectures, then at midnight there is a star party.
Turns out, the festival co-incides with the Perseid Meteor Shower and also the night Mars is supposed to be most visible. At 3 am (yes, am) there is a Ranger-led desert hike, 4 is a lecture on the bats, and at 5 am is a breakfast. The bats all return to the cave around 5:30/6:00 (sunrise), and then the first 120 guests get a free lantern tour of the cavern main entrance. We’re planning on getting there about 3 because we can see the Meteors from our campsite, assuming that those damn storms burn off.It’s been raining all day.
We went on a scenic driving tour of the National park and got caught in a storm. My poor car got quite the mud bath going through all the puddles though! Now I’m sitting on our picnic table watching a field mouse search through the cacti for some food. We have a family of wild rabbits that keeps showing up, too.
I should be napping for tonight like Liz is, but we just got this obnoxious family camping next door. Two vanloads of the LOUDEST people…. And the keep driving one of their vans somewhere and back again. The poor van must not have been serviced in a gas because every time it passes by, a huge cloud of black, foul-smelling exhaust kicks up. It’s horrible!I went out on one of the hiking trails since I couldn’t sleep. Got about ½ mile along and ran into a skunk. I figured it was time to turn around and leave before he decided that I was a threat.
So I did, and now I’m sitting here waiting for Liz to wake up so we can barbecue. YUM! Can’t wait! It’s been awhile since we’ve had good food.I guess I should add an addendum to my entry on the 10th.
My uncle did call at about 8:30 when we were nearly to Ft Worth. When I told him that we’d just decided to move on, he said he was disappointed and felt like he’d “chased us off”. (Well, guess what, genius, you did!) He said that he wanted to visit that night. (Um, we would have made it back to his house around 9pm if we’d stayed at the restaurant for 2 hours, and he goes to bed early so he can go to work in the morning.
Not to mention that we were tired and wanted to go to bed so we could drive 500 miles the next day.) No, he should have come home when he said he would, dammit! At least had dinner with us in the hour before his meeting. Visit, my ass. I’m sure he knew that I was going to bitch to my mom, (which I did), and start some sort of family fiasco.
Oh! Guess what we saw on the road today? A herd of wild cattle! O the road!! I managed to take a picture, hope it comes out. The male had REALLY big horns, and there was a calf who was nursing. On the road. Guess it goes to show you how far out in the middle of nowhere we are, huh?
Peace
Lake Brantley State Park
New Mexico
Odd coincidence today. We met a group of girls in the bathhouse.
We got to talking and found out that they’re road-tripping too - in the exact opposite direction as us! They started in Seattle and are heading to NYC, looping along the southern route, stopping at most of the major places we just came from. And they just came from Vegas, where we’re headed next! How odd is that, for us to cross paths sharing a campground in the middle of the New Mexico dessert???
We went out to the Caverns today, only to find out that we are exactly on time for the Bat Festival we thought we we’re going to miss!! The whole thing starts tonight at 7 when the bats leave the cave. There are 2 lectures, then at midnight there is a star party.
Turns out, the festival co-incides with the Perseid Meteor Shower and also the night Mars is supposed to be most visible. At 3 am (yes, am) there is a Ranger-led desert hike, 4 is a lecture on the bats, and at 5 am is a breakfast. The bats all return to the cave around 5:30/6:00 (sunrise), and then the first 120 guests get a free lantern tour of the cavern main entrance. We’re planning on getting there about 3 because we can see the Meteors from our campsite, assuming that those damn storms burn off.It’s been raining all day.
We went on a scenic driving tour of the National park and got caught in a storm. My poor car got quite the mud bath going through all the puddles though! Now I’m sitting on our picnic table watching a field mouse search through the cacti for some food. We have a family of wild rabbits that keeps showing up, too.
I should be napping for tonight like Liz is, but we just got this obnoxious family camping next door. Two vanloads of the LOUDEST people…. And the keep driving one of their vans somewhere and back again. The poor van must not have been serviced in a gas because every time it passes by, a huge cloud of black, foul-smelling exhaust kicks up. It’s horrible!I went out on one of the hiking trails since I couldn’t sleep. Got about ½ mile along and ran into a skunk. I figured it was time to turn around and leave before he decided that I was a threat.
So I did, and now I’m sitting here waiting for Liz to wake up so we can barbecue. YUM! Can’t wait! It’s been awhile since we’ve had good food.I guess I should add an addendum to my entry on the 10th.
My uncle did call at about 8:30 when we were nearly to Ft Worth. When I told him that we’d just decided to move on, he said he was disappointed and felt like he’d “chased us off”. (Well, guess what, genius, you did!) He said that he wanted to visit that night. (Um, we would have made it back to his house around 9pm if we’d stayed at the restaurant for 2 hours, and he goes to bed early so he can go to work in the morning.
Not to mention that we were tired and wanted to go to bed so we could drive 500 miles the next day.) No, he should have come home when he said he would, dammit! At least had dinner with us in the hour before his meeting. Visit, my ass. I’m sure he knew that I was going to bitch to my mom, (which I did), and start some sort of family fiasco.
Oh! Guess what we saw on the road today? A herd of wild cattle! O the road!! I managed to take a picture, hope it comes out. The male had REALLY big horns, and there was a calf who was nursing. On the road. Guess it goes to show you how far out in the middle of nowhere we are, huh?
Peace
New Mexico
AUGUST 12, 2005
Lake Brantley State Park
New Mexico
Odd coincidence today. We met a group of girls in the bathhouse.
We got to talking and found out that they’re road-tripping too - in the exact opposite direction as us! They started in Seattle and are heading to NYC, looping along the southern route, stopping at most of the major places we just came from. And they just came from Vegas, where we’re headed next! How odd is that, for us to cross paths sharing a campground in the middle of the New Mexico dessert???
We went out to the Caverns today, only to find out that we are exactly on time for the Bat Festival we thought we we’re going to miss!! The whole thing starts tonight at 7 when the bats leave the cave. There are 2 lectures, then at midnight there is a star party.
Turns out, the festival co-incides with the Perseid Meteor Shower and also the night Mars is supposed to be most visible. At 3 am (yes, am) there is a Ranger-led desert hike, 4 is a lecture on the bats, and at 5 am is a breakfast. The bats all return to the cave around 5:30/6:00 (sunrise), and then the first 120 guests get a free lantern tour of the cavern main entrance. We’re planning on getting there about 3 because we can see the Meteors from our campsite, assuming that those damn storms burn off.It’s been raining all day.
We went on a scenic driving tour of the National park and got caught in a storm. My poor car got quite the mud bath going through all the puddles though! Now I’m sitting on our picnic table watching a field mouse search through the cacti for some food. We have a family of wild rabbits that keeps showing up, too.
I should be napping for tonight like Liz is, but we just got this obnoxious family camping next door. Two vanloads of the LOUDEST people…. And the keep driving one of their vans somewhere and back again. The poor van must not have been serviced in a gas because every time it passes by, a huge cloud of black, foul-smelling exhaust kicks up. It’s horrible!I went out on one of the hiking trails since I couldn’t sleep. Got about ½ mile along and ran into a skunk. I figured it was time to turn around and leave before he decided that I was a threat.
So I did, and now I’m sitting here waiting for Liz to wake up so we can barbecue. YUM! Can’t wait! It’s been awhile since we’ve had good food.I guess I should add an addendum to my entry on the 10th.
My uncle did call at about 8:30 when we were nearly to Ft Worth. When I told him that we’d just decided to move on, he said he was disappointed and felt like he’d “chased us off”. (Well, guess what, genius, you did!) He said that he wanted to visit that night. (Um, we would have made it back to his house around 9pm if we’d stayed at the restaurant for 2 hours, and he goes to bed early so he can go to work in the morning.
Not to mention that we were tired and wanted to go to bed so we could drive 500 miles the next day.) No, he should have come home when he said he would, dammit! At least had dinner with us in the hour before his meeting. Visit, my ass. I’m sure he knew that I was going to bitch to my mom, (which I did), and start some sort of family fiasco.
Oh! Guess what we saw on the road today? A herd of wild cattle! O the road!! I managed to take a picture, hope it comes out. The male had REALLY big horns, and there was a calf who was nursing. On the road. Guess it goes to show you how far out in the middle of nowhere we are, huh?
Peace
Lake Brantley State Park
New Mexico
Odd coincidence today. We met a group of girls in the bathhouse.
We got to talking and found out that they’re road-tripping too - in the exact opposite direction as us! They started in Seattle and are heading to NYC, looping along the southern route, stopping at most of the major places we just came from. And they just came from Vegas, where we’re headed next! How odd is that, for us to cross paths sharing a campground in the middle of the New Mexico dessert???
We went out to the Caverns today, only to find out that we are exactly on time for the Bat Festival we thought we we’re going to miss!! The whole thing starts tonight at 7 when the bats leave the cave. There are 2 lectures, then at midnight there is a star party.
Turns out, the festival co-incides with the Perseid Meteor Shower and also the night Mars is supposed to be most visible. At 3 am (yes, am) there is a Ranger-led desert hike, 4 is a lecture on the bats, and at 5 am is a breakfast. The bats all return to the cave around 5:30/6:00 (sunrise), and then the first 120 guests get a free lantern tour of the cavern main entrance. We’re planning on getting there about 3 because we can see the Meteors from our campsite, assuming that those damn storms burn off.It’s been raining all day.
We went on a scenic driving tour of the National park and got caught in a storm. My poor car got quite the mud bath going through all the puddles though! Now I’m sitting on our picnic table watching a field mouse search through the cacti for some food. We have a family of wild rabbits that keeps showing up, too.
I should be napping for tonight like Liz is, but we just got this obnoxious family camping next door. Two vanloads of the LOUDEST people…. And the keep driving one of their vans somewhere and back again. The poor van must not have been serviced in a gas because every time it passes by, a huge cloud of black, foul-smelling exhaust kicks up. It’s horrible!I went out on one of the hiking trails since I couldn’t sleep. Got about ½ mile along and ran into a skunk. I figured it was time to turn around and leave before he decided that I was a threat.
So I did, and now I’m sitting here waiting for Liz to wake up so we can barbecue. YUM! Can’t wait! It’s been awhile since we’ve had good food.I guess I should add an addendum to my entry on the 10th.
My uncle did call at about 8:30 when we were nearly to Ft Worth. When I told him that we’d just decided to move on, he said he was disappointed and felt like he’d “chased us off”. (Well, guess what, genius, you did!) He said that he wanted to visit that night. (Um, we would have made it back to his house around 9pm if we’d stayed at the restaurant for 2 hours, and he goes to bed early so he can go to work in the morning.
Not to mention that we were tired and wanted to go to bed so we could drive 500 miles the next day.) No, he should have come home when he said he would, dammit! At least had dinner with us in the hour before his meeting. Visit, my ass. I’m sure he knew that I was going to bitch to my mom, (which I did), and start some sort of family fiasco.
Oh! Guess what we saw on the road today? A herd of wild cattle! O the road!! I managed to take a picture, hope it comes out. The male had REALLY big horns, and there was a calf who was nursing. On the road. Guess it goes to show you how far out in the middle of nowhere we are, huh?
Peace
Thursday, August 11, 2005
New Mexico
AUGUST 11, 2005
Lake Brantley State Park
New Mexico
Ah, New Mexico. Beautiful, beautiful New Mexico.
We drove 400+ miles in one day (told you we wanted to leave Texas behind!) and now we are camping on the edge of a lake in the middle of the desert at Lake Brantley State Park, New Mexico.
Tomorrow we’re going to Carlsbad Caverns, and hopefully going to buy tickets to the Bat Festival Breakfast on the 13th. Our campsite is BEAUTIFUL, you must see my pictures of the sunset. It’s too dark to write! See you tomorrow!
Peace
Lake Brantley State Park
New Mexico
Ah, New Mexico. Beautiful, beautiful New Mexico.
We drove 400+ miles in one day (told you we wanted to leave Texas behind!) and now we are camping on the edge of a lake in the middle of the desert at Lake Brantley State Park, New Mexico.
Tomorrow we’re going to Carlsbad Caverns, and hopefully going to buy tickets to the Bat Festival Breakfast on the 13th. Our campsite is BEAUTIFUL, you must see my pictures of the sunset. It’s too dark to write! See you tomorrow!
Peace
New Mexico
AUGUST 11, 2005
Lake Brantley State Park
New Mexico
Ah, New Mexico. Beautiful, beautiful New Mexico.
We drove 400+ miles in one day (told you we wanted to leave Texas behind!) and now we are camping on the edge of a lake in the middle of the desert at Lake Brantley State Park, New Mexico.
Tomorrow we’re going to Carlsbad Caverns, and hopefully going to buy tickets to the Bat Festival Breakfast on the 13th. Our campsite is BEAUTIFUL, you must see my pictures of the sunset. It’s too dark to write! See you tomorrow!
Peace
Lake Brantley State Park
New Mexico
Ah, New Mexico. Beautiful, beautiful New Mexico.
We drove 400+ miles in one day (told you we wanted to leave Texas behind!) and now we are camping on the edge of a lake in the middle of the desert at Lake Brantley State Park, New Mexico.
Tomorrow we’re going to Carlsbad Caverns, and hopefully going to buy tickets to the Bat Festival Breakfast on the 13th. Our campsite is BEAUTIFUL, you must see my pictures of the sunset. It’s too dark to write! See you tomorrow!
Peace
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Texas
AUGUST 10, 2005
Texas
Well, today sucked so royally that I’m only going to allow myself two journal pages to bitch about it because, well, I don’t want it to ruin the rest of the week.
Wake up to a rainstorm, which meant that we couldn’t pack up the campsite. Turns out Liz left her shoes outside too, and now they’re wrecked.We got on the road and bounced phone calls with my uncle, trying to get directions.
We headed North of Dallas, where Liz gets a hold of my uncle (she talked so I could drive). Turns out, they’re negotiating the purchase of a new home and have a meeting. No problem, we arranged to meet them for and early dinner.
They didn’t offer to let us stay there which was somewhat of a disappointment. We got lost on the way (vague, confusing directions!). And got there around 3.
My aunt bless her, is a sweet woman and she said that my uncle would be home at 5. Now, I’ve only met my aunt once before, and briefly at that, but we had a nice visit with her.5 rolls around… no uncle.
6 rolls around… no uncle. About 6:30 he shows up, says they have a meeting at 7:30, so maybe we “should go see my other uncle?” (He doesn’t even know I’m in Texas! I’m not about to pop up on his doorstep!)
He says he doesn’t eat dinner, so that’s out. Liz and I, (me being angry and just wanting to leave) tell him we’re hungry and are going to eat. He can call us when they’re ready.
So we go and treat ourselves to a very nice dinner at OG and decide we’ve had enough. We drove about 75 miles out of the way to see my uncle for 3 minutes? Whatever.
We checked ourselves into a damn nice hotel.
We’re getting the hell out of TX tomorrow.
Peace
Texas
Well, today sucked so royally that I’m only going to allow myself two journal pages to bitch about it because, well, I don’t want it to ruin the rest of the week.
Wake up to a rainstorm, which meant that we couldn’t pack up the campsite. Turns out Liz left her shoes outside too, and now they’re wrecked.We got on the road and bounced phone calls with my uncle, trying to get directions.
We headed North of Dallas, where Liz gets a hold of my uncle (she talked so I could drive). Turns out, they’re negotiating the purchase of a new home and have a meeting. No problem, we arranged to meet them for and early dinner.
They didn’t offer to let us stay there which was somewhat of a disappointment. We got lost on the way (vague, confusing directions!). And got there around 3.
My aunt bless her, is a sweet woman and she said that my uncle would be home at 5. Now, I’ve only met my aunt once before, and briefly at that, but we had a nice visit with her.5 rolls around… no uncle.
6 rolls around… no uncle. About 6:30 he shows up, says they have a meeting at 7:30, so maybe we “should go see my other uncle?” (He doesn’t even know I’m in Texas! I’m not about to pop up on his doorstep!)
He says he doesn’t eat dinner, so that’s out. Liz and I, (me being angry and just wanting to leave) tell him we’re hungry and are going to eat. He can call us when they’re ready.
So we go and treat ourselves to a very nice dinner at OG and decide we’ve had enough. We drove about 75 miles out of the way to see my uncle for 3 minutes? Whatever.
We checked ourselves into a damn nice hotel.
We’re getting the hell out of TX tomorrow.
Peace
Texas
AUGUST 10, 2005
Texas
Well, today sucked so royally that I’m only going to allow myself two journal pages to bitch about it because, well, I don’t want it to ruin the rest of the week.
Wake up to a rainstorm, which meant that we couldn’t pack up the campsite. Turns out Liz left her shoes outside too, and now they’re wrecked.We got on the road and bounced phone calls with my uncle, trying to get directions.
We headed North of Dallas, where Liz gets a hold of my uncle (she talked so I could drive). Turns out, they’re negotiating the purchase of a new home and have a meeting. No problem, we arranged to meet them for and early dinner.
They didn’t offer to let us stay there which was somewhat of a disappointment. We got lost on the way (vague, confusing directions!). And got there around 3.
My aunt bless her, is a sweet woman and she said that my uncle would be home at 5. Now, I’ve only met my aunt once before, and briefly at that, but we had a nice visit with her.5 rolls around… no uncle.
6 rolls around… no uncle. About 6:30 he shows up, says they have a meeting at 7:30, so maybe we “should go see my other uncle?” (He doesn’t even know I’m in Texas! I’m not about to pop up on his doorstep!)
He says he doesn’t eat dinner, so that’s out. Liz and I, (me being angry and just wanting to leave) tell him we’re hungry and are going to eat. He can call us when they’re ready.
So we go and treat ourselves to a very nice dinner at OG and decide we’ve had enough. We drove about 75 miles out of the way to see my uncle for 3 minutes? Whatever.
We checked ourselves into a damn nice hotel.
We’re getting the hell out of TX tomorrow.
Peace
Texas
Well, today sucked so royally that I’m only going to allow myself two journal pages to bitch about it because, well, I don’t want it to ruin the rest of the week.
Wake up to a rainstorm, which meant that we couldn’t pack up the campsite. Turns out Liz left her shoes outside too, and now they’re wrecked.We got on the road and bounced phone calls with my uncle, trying to get directions.
We headed North of Dallas, where Liz gets a hold of my uncle (she talked so I could drive). Turns out, they’re negotiating the purchase of a new home and have a meeting. No problem, we arranged to meet them for and early dinner.
They didn’t offer to let us stay there which was somewhat of a disappointment. We got lost on the way (vague, confusing directions!). And got there around 3.
My aunt bless her, is a sweet woman and she said that my uncle would be home at 5. Now, I’ve only met my aunt once before, and briefly at that, but we had a nice visit with her.5 rolls around… no uncle.
6 rolls around… no uncle. About 6:30 he shows up, says they have a meeting at 7:30, so maybe we “should go see my other uncle?” (He doesn’t even know I’m in Texas! I’m not about to pop up on his doorstep!)
He says he doesn’t eat dinner, so that’s out. Liz and I, (me being angry and just wanting to leave) tell him we’re hungry and are going to eat. He can call us when they’re ready.
So we go and treat ourselves to a very nice dinner at OG and decide we’ve had enough. We drove about 75 miles out of the way to see my uncle for 3 minutes? Whatever.
We checked ourselves into a damn nice hotel.
We’re getting the hell out of TX tomorrow.
Peace
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
AUGUST 9, 2005
Texas
Dear Texas,
You suck.
No love,
Me
P.S. Even the brownie points you had for being the home state of Nick Stokes are gone.
Texas is officially know as the “turn around state”. Why? Because we’ve had to turn around. A lot!
Followed a road almost to Galveston, realized it turns into a ferry only zone, turn around, lose 50 miles. (Rand McNaley again. The road connects on paper, and it’s not until you look at the detailed city of Galveston map that you see it doesn’t.)
So, we backtrack through Houston, (causing us to drive through the same torrential downpour 4 times from different angles!! Not fun when you hydroplane.)
Get all the way back to Galveston, and discover that our campsite has raised their rates to twice what we normally pay, and that’s without electricity and water. So we turn back around.
Told you it was the turn around state. Head back to Houston. I’m driving and Liz is on the phone trying to find hotel rates close to the Space Center. Everything costs too much.
So we start taking random exits, trying to find a cheap ass motel that’s unadvertised. Yeah. None.
Liz and I are both tired, frustrated, and cranky so we pull off at the Challenger Memorial Park to stop, sit and take stock.
It’s decided that our patience for the day is long past expended, and we decide to suck it up and stay at Motel 6. We order pizza and drink Cajun Bloody Mary’s. And watch a scary show about a 160 lb tuna.Good Times in TX let me tell you.
Peace
AUGUST 9, 2005
Texas
This morning we got up early, showered (ah, that was nice!) and headed off to Johnson Space Center. Realized ½ way there we’d have to turn around because we’d lot our ½ off coupon.
Ah, Texas, the turn around state.
We decide to get some breakfast, and I almost miss the turn, and I wind up straddling a random sideways-speed bump thing dividing the lanes for about 8 feet.
Tell me, Texas, what the fuck is that about??? Medians and dividers I understand. They serve a purpose. Dividing a lane for about 8 feet? W.T.F.?
But Johnson Space Center was absolutely worth the trouble. We got a great parking spot, got 50% off our tickets, and even got a nifty little MP3 player to use that plays information and astronaut interviews specific to whatever exhibit we were looking at. We toured the actual astronaut training facility, played on a flight simulator where you get to “land” the space shuttle, and toured the space gallery, where you get to see a timeline of space crafts from the Goddard Rocket, to Gemini, Apollo, and the shuttle.
It was fun!!Now, we are camping at ___________ Lake State Park. This place is gorgeous, our campsite is huge and right on the lake. And so far its been invaded by raccoons, and one completely oblivious armadillo. Seriously, we’ve seen about 20 deer here. They are all so used to people and cars that you can get pretty close. And the raccoons are fearless.
We were sitting at the picnic table playing checkers by candlelight when we hear scuffling. We ship the flashlights around and see a bunch of glowing eyes staring back at us. And they’re close, too. About 10 feet. The Armadillo just kind of wandered in, poked around a log for a few minutes, and wandered away.
We’re supposed to go see my uncle tomorrow, but our phones are out of service so I can’t call. And I don’t want to just show up on their doorstep. I know he works tomorrow, and I barely know his wife, so I don’t know what to do. I really don’t want to show up smelling like camp and DEET either. *sigh*
We’ll see what tomorrow brings, I guess.
There’s a women’s museum in Dallas. Maybe we’ll go check it out.
Peace
Texas
Dear Texas,
You suck.
No love,
Me
P.S. Even the brownie points you had for being the home state of Nick Stokes are gone.
Texas is officially know as the “turn around state”. Why? Because we’ve had to turn around. A lot!
Followed a road almost to Galveston, realized it turns into a ferry only zone, turn around, lose 50 miles. (Rand McNaley again. The road connects on paper, and it’s not until you look at the detailed city of Galveston map that you see it doesn’t.)
So, we backtrack through Houston, (causing us to drive through the same torrential downpour 4 times from different angles!! Not fun when you hydroplane.)
Get all the way back to Galveston, and discover that our campsite has raised their rates to twice what we normally pay, and that’s without electricity and water. So we turn back around.
Told you it was the turn around state. Head back to Houston. I’m driving and Liz is on the phone trying to find hotel rates close to the Space Center. Everything costs too much.
So we start taking random exits, trying to find a cheap ass motel that’s unadvertised. Yeah. None.
Liz and I are both tired, frustrated, and cranky so we pull off at the Challenger Memorial Park to stop, sit and take stock.
It’s decided that our patience for the day is long past expended, and we decide to suck it up and stay at Motel 6. We order pizza and drink Cajun Bloody Mary’s. And watch a scary show about a 160 lb tuna.Good Times in TX let me tell you.
Peace
AUGUST 9, 2005
Texas
This morning we got up early, showered (ah, that was nice!) and headed off to Johnson Space Center. Realized ½ way there we’d have to turn around because we’d lot our ½ off coupon.
Ah, Texas, the turn around state.
We decide to get some breakfast, and I almost miss the turn, and I wind up straddling a random sideways-speed bump thing dividing the lanes for about 8 feet.
Tell me, Texas, what the fuck is that about??? Medians and dividers I understand. They serve a purpose. Dividing a lane for about 8 feet? W.T.F.?
But Johnson Space Center was absolutely worth the trouble. We got a great parking spot, got 50% off our tickets, and even got a nifty little MP3 player to use that plays information and astronaut interviews specific to whatever exhibit we were looking at. We toured the actual astronaut training facility, played on a flight simulator where you get to “land” the space shuttle, and toured the space gallery, where you get to see a timeline of space crafts from the Goddard Rocket, to Gemini, Apollo, and the shuttle.
It was fun!!Now, we are camping at ___________ Lake State Park. This place is gorgeous, our campsite is huge and right on the lake. And so far its been invaded by raccoons, and one completely oblivious armadillo. Seriously, we’ve seen about 20 deer here. They are all so used to people and cars that you can get pretty close. And the raccoons are fearless.
We were sitting at the picnic table playing checkers by candlelight when we hear scuffling. We ship the flashlights around and see a bunch of glowing eyes staring back at us. And they’re close, too. About 10 feet. The Armadillo just kind of wandered in, poked around a log for a few minutes, and wandered away.
We’re supposed to go see my uncle tomorrow, but our phones are out of service so I can’t call. And I don’t want to just show up on their doorstep. I know he works tomorrow, and I barely know his wife, so I don’t know what to do. I really don’t want to show up smelling like camp and DEET either. *sigh*
We’ll see what tomorrow brings, I guess.
There’s a women’s museum in Dallas. Maybe we’ll go check it out.
Peace
AUGUST 9, 2005
Texas
Dear Texas,
You suck.
No love,
Me
P.S. Even the brownie points you had for being the home state of Nick Stokes are gone.
Texas is officially know as the “turn around state”. Why? Because we’ve had to turn around. A lot!
Followed a road almost to Galveston, realized it turns into a ferry only zone, turn around, lose 50 miles. (Rand McNaley again. The road connects on paper, and it’s not until you look at the detailed city of Galveston map that you see it doesn’t.)
So, we backtrack through Houston, (causing us to drive through the same torrential downpour 4 times from different angles!! Not fun when you hydroplane.)
Get all the way back to Galveston, and discover that our campsite has raised their rates to twice what we normally pay, and that’s without electricity and water. So we turn back around.
Told you it was the turn around state. Head back to Houston. I’m driving and Liz is on the phone trying to find hotel rates close to the Space Center. Everything costs too much.
So we start taking random exits, trying to find a cheap ass motel that’s unadvertised. Yeah. None.
Liz and I are both tired, frustrated, and cranky so we pull off at the Challenger Memorial Park to stop, sit and take stock.
It’s decided that our patience for the day is long past expended, and we decide to suck it up and stay at Motel 6. We order pizza and drink Cajun Bloody Mary’s. And watch a scary show about a 160 lb tuna.Good Times in TX let me tell you.
Peace
AUGUST 9, 2005
Texas
This morning we got up early, showered (ah, that was nice!) and headed off to Johnson Space Center. Realized ½ way there we’d have to turn around because we’d lot our ½ off coupon.
Ah, Texas, the turn around state.
We decide to get some breakfast, and I almost miss the turn, and I wind up straddling a random sideways-speed bump thing dividing the lanes for about 8 feet.
Tell me, Texas, what the fuck is that about??? Medians and dividers I understand. They serve a purpose. Dividing a lane for about 8 feet? W.T.F.?
But Johnson Space Center was absolutely worth the trouble. We got a great parking spot, got 50% off our tickets, and even got a nifty little MP3 player to use that plays information and astronaut interviews specific to whatever exhibit we were looking at. We toured the actual astronaut training facility, played on a flight simulator where you get to “land” the space shuttle, and toured the space gallery, where you get to see a timeline of space crafts from the Goddard Rocket, to Gemini, Apollo, and the shuttle.
It was fun!!Now, we are camping at ___________ Lake State Park. This place is gorgeous, our campsite is huge and right on the lake. And so far its been invaded by raccoons, and one completely oblivious armadillo. Seriously, we’ve seen about 20 deer here. They are all so used to people and cars that you can get pretty close. And the raccoons are fearless.
We were sitting at the picnic table playing checkers by candlelight when we hear scuffling. We ship the flashlights around and see a bunch of glowing eyes staring back at us. And they’re close, too. About 10 feet. The Armadillo just kind of wandered in, poked around a log for a few minutes, and wandered away.
We’re supposed to go see my uncle tomorrow, but our phones are out of service so I can’t call. And I don’t want to just show up on their doorstep. I know he works tomorrow, and I barely know his wife, so I don’t know what to do. I really don’t want to show up smelling like camp and DEET either. *sigh*
We’ll see what tomorrow brings, I guess.
There’s a women’s museum in Dallas. Maybe we’ll go check it out.
Peace
Texas
Dear Texas,
You suck.
No love,
Me
P.S. Even the brownie points you had for being the home state of Nick Stokes are gone.
Texas is officially know as the “turn around state”. Why? Because we’ve had to turn around. A lot!
Followed a road almost to Galveston, realized it turns into a ferry only zone, turn around, lose 50 miles. (Rand McNaley again. The road connects on paper, and it’s not until you look at the detailed city of Galveston map that you see it doesn’t.)
So, we backtrack through Houston, (causing us to drive through the same torrential downpour 4 times from different angles!! Not fun when you hydroplane.)
Get all the way back to Galveston, and discover that our campsite has raised their rates to twice what we normally pay, and that’s without electricity and water. So we turn back around.
Told you it was the turn around state. Head back to Houston. I’m driving and Liz is on the phone trying to find hotel rates close to the Space Center. Everything costs too much.
So we start taking random exits, trying to find a cheap ass motel that’s unadvertised. Yeah. None.
Liz and I are both tired, frustrated, and cranky so we pull off at the Challenger Memorial Park to stop, sit and take stock.
It’s decided that our patience for the day is long past expended, and we decide to suck it up and stay at Motel 6. We order pizza and drink Cajun Bloody Mary’s. And watch a scary show about a 160 lb tuna.Good Times in TX let me tell you.
Peace
AUGUST 9, 2005
Texas
This morning we got up early, showered (ah, that was nice!) and headed off to Johnson Space Center. Realized ½ way there we’d have to turn around because we’d lot our ½ off coupon.
Ah, Texas, the turn around state.
We decide to get some breakfast, and I almost miss the turn, and I wind up straddling a random sideways-speed bump thing dividing the lanes for about 8 feet.
Tell me, Texas, what the fuck is that about??? Medians and dividers I understand. They serve a purpose. Dividing a lane for about 8 feet? W.T.F.?
But Johnson Space Center was absolutely worth the trouble. We got a great parking spot, got 50% off our tickets, and even got a nifty little MP3 player to use that plays information and astronaut interviews specific to whatever exhibit we were looking at. We toured the actual astronaut training facility, played on a flight simulator where you get to “land” the space shuttle, and toured the space gallery, where you get to see a timeline of space crafts from the Goddard Rocket, to Gemini, Apollo, and the shuttle.
It was fun!!Now, we are camping at ___________ Lake State Park. This place is gorgeous, our campsite is huge and right on the lake. And so far its been invaded by raccoons, and one completely oblivious armadillo. Seriously, we’ve seen about 20 deer here. They are all so used to people and cars that you can get pretty close. And the raccoons are fearless.
We were sitting at the picnic table playing checkers by candlelight when we hear scuffling. We ship the flashlights around and see a bunch of glowing eyes staring back at us. And they’re close, too. About 10 feet. The Armadillo just kind of wandered in, poked around a log for a few minutes, and wandered away.
We’re supposed to go see my uncle tomorrow, but our phones are out of service so I can’t call. And I don’t want to just show up on their doorstep. I know he works tomorrow, and I barely know his wife, so I don’t know what to do. I really don’t want to show up smelling like camp and DEET either. *sigh*
We’ll see what tomorrow brings, I guess.
There’s a women’s museum in Dallas. Maybe we’ll go check it out.
Peace
Friday, August 5, 2005
New Orleans, LA
AUGUST 5, 2005
New OrleansLouisiana
DESIRE on Bourbon Street
Crawfish Bisque
Red Beans and Rice
Jumbalaya
Mint Julep
Bread Pudding
Chocolate Pecan Pie
I am writing on the 2nd deck of the Steamboat Nachez in New Orleans, LA. Wow, 6 days on the road and I still can’t believe this is really happening. We’re in New Orleans!
We were able to walk to the French Quarter from our hotel, have lunch/dinner on Bourbon Street (and yes, I had Bourbon, and Mint Julep), walk down Bourbon and Tolouse Street and now I’m riding a Steamboat on the Mississippi River.
OH! MY! GODS! I cannot believe this is happening, to thank about the apartment situation, my parents said it best, money is just money. You can always earn more.
And I’d rather be in debt for doing something amazing than something ridiculous like shopping.
Oh, look, my Cajun Bloody Mary is here, (a New Orleans specialty)… to be continued.
Peace
AUGUST 5, 2005
Pat O’briens
New Orleans, LAI
t’s funny, we're in New Orleans and all we seem to do is look at pretty things, eat, and drink. Because everywhere you go has either a signature dish or a signature drink. New Orleans is definitely all about the consumption. History too, but food and drink most definitely.
New OrleansLouisiana
DESIRE on Bourbon Street
Crawfish Bisque
Red Beans and Rice
Jumbalaya
Mint Julep
Bread Pudding
Chocolate Pecan Pie
I am writing on the 2nd deck of the Steamboat Nachez in New Orleans, LA. Wow, 6 days on the road and I still can’t believe this is really happening. We’re in New Orleans!
We were able to walk to the French Quarter from our hotel, have lunch/dinner on Bourbon Street (and yes, I had Bourbon, and Mint Julep), walk down Bourbon and Tolouse Street and now I’m riding a Steamboat on the Mississippi River.
OH! MY! GODS! I cannot believe this is happening, to thank about the apartment situation, my parents said it best, money is just money. You can always earn more.
And I’d rather be in debt for doing something amazing than something ridiculous like shopping.
Oh, look, my Cajun Bloody Mary is here, (a New Orleans specialty)… to be continued.
Peace
AUGUST 5, 2005
Pat O’briens
New Orleans, LAI
t’s funny, we're in New Orleans and all we seem to do is look at pretty things, eat, and drink. Because everywhere you go has either a signature dish or a signature drink. New Orleans is definitely all about the consumption. History too, but food and drink most definitely.
New Orleans, LA
AUGUST 5, 2005
New OrleansLouisiana
DESIRE on Bourbon Street
Crawfish Bisque
Red Beans and Rice
Jumbalaya
Mint Julep
Bread Pudding
Chocolate Pecan Pie
I am writing on the 2nd deck of the Steamboat Nachez in New Orleans, LA. Wow, 6 days on the road and I still can’t believe this is really happening. We’re in New Orleans!
We were able to walk to the French Quarter from our hotel, have lunch/dinner on Bourbon Street (and yes, I had Bourbon, and Mint Julep), walk down Bourbon and Tolouse Street and now I’m riding a Steamboat on the Mississippi River.
OH! MY! GODS! I cannot believe this is happening, to thank about the apartment situation, my parents said it best, money is just money. You can always earn more.
And I’d rather be in debt for doing something amazing than something ridiculous like shopping.
Oh, look, my Cajun Bloody Mary is here, (a New Orleans specialty)… to be continued.
Peace
AUGUST 5, 2005
Pat O’briens
New Orleans, LAI
t’s funny, we're in New Orleans and all we seem to do is look at pretty things, eat, and drink. Because everywhere you go has either a signature dish or a signature drink. New Orleans is definitely all about the consumption. History too, but food and drink most definitely.
New OrleansLouisiana
DESIRE on Bourbon Street
Crawfish Bisque
Red Beans and Rice
Jumbalaya
Mint Julep
Bread Pudding
Chocolate Pecan Pie
I am writing on the 2nd deck of the Steamboat Nachez in New Orleans, LA. Wow, 6 days on the road and I still can’t believe this is really happening. We’re in New Orleans!
We were able to walk to the French Quarter from our hotel, have lunch/dinner on Bourbon Street (and yes, I had Bourbon, and Mint Julep), walk down Bourbon and Tolouse Street and now I’m riding a Steamboat on the Mississippi River.
OH! MY! GODS! I cannot believe this is happening, to thank about the apartment situation, my parents said it best, money is just money. You can always earn more.
And I’d rather be in debt for doing something amazing than something ridiculous like shopping.
Oh, look, my Cajun Bloody Mary is here, (a New Orleans specialty)… to be continued.
Peace
AUGUST 5, 2005
Pat O’briens
New Orleans, LAI
t’s funny, we're in New Orleans and all we seem to do is look at pretty things, eat, and drink. Because everywhere you go has either a signature dish or a signature drink. New Orleans is definitely all about the consumption. History too, but food and drink most definitely.
Oak Mountain State Park
Oak Mountain State Park
Alabama
So, we had an intruder last night.
At some point, I sat up and swore there was someone outside. Liz said she didn’t hear anything, and neither one of us could see anything so we let it go and went to sleep.
This morning, I got up and noticed that the candle and towel we’d left on the table were muddy. And then I saw the trapdoor to our cooler across the table. And was streaked with mud.
And then I noticed that mud looked an awful lot like paw prints.
Damn!
Normally we leave the cooler outside because it’s pretty heavy + secure, and there’s not much in it besides water, ice, and occasionally beer. But last night it got dark really quickly so we cleaned up really fast. And we threw some snacks in through the trapdoor. Which I guess brought our “friend” in.
All in all, he didn’t get much.
But damn, I was really craving those pumpkin seeds.
Stupid Raccoon!On another note, we’re dirty and stinky, and the showers here leave a lot to be desired, so we’re leaving for New Orleans and our next campsite ASAP. In the tent last night:“What’s that smell?”*sniff sniff. Gasp* I think it’s us!!
Peace
AUGUST 4, 2005
I-65 South (Alabama)Mile Marker 65ish
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHADOW!10,000 MILES YOUNG!
Peace
Alabama
So, we had an intruder last night.
At some point, I sat up and swore there was someone outside. Liz said she didn’t hear anything, and neither one of us could see anything so we let it go and went to sleep.
This morning, I got up and noticed that the candle and towel we’d left on the table were muddy. And then I saw the trapdoor to our cooler across the table. And was streaked with mud.
And then I noticed that mud looked an awful lot like paw prints.
Damn!
Normally we leave the cooler outside because it’s pretty heavy + secure, and there’s not much in it besides water, ice, and occasionally beer. But last night it got dark really quickly so we cleaned up really fast. And we threw some snacks in through the trapdoor. Which I guess brought our “friend” in.
All in all, he didn’t get much.
But damn, I was really craving those pumpkin seeds.
Stupid Raccoon!On another note, we’re dirty and stinky, and the showers here leave a lot to be desired, so we’re leaving for New Orleans and our next campsite ASAP. In the tent last night:“What’s that smell?”*sniff sniff. Gasp* I think it’s us!!
Peace
AUGUST 4, 2005
I-65 South (Alabama)Mile Marker 65ish
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHADOW!10,000 MILES YOUNG!
Peace
Oak Mountain State Park
Oak Mountain State Park
Alabama
So, we had an intruder last night.
At some point, I sat up and swore there was someone outside. Liz said she didn’t hear anything, and neither one of us could see anything so we let it go and went to sleep.
This morning, I got up and noticed that the candle and towel we’d left on the table were muddy. And then I saw the trapdoor to our cooler across the table. And was streaked with mud.
And then I noticed that mud looked an awful lot like paw prints.
Damn!
Normally we leave the cooler outside because it’s pretty heavy + secure, and there’s not much in it besides water, ice, and occasionally beer. But last night it got dark really quickly so we cleaned up really fast. And we threw some snacks in through the trapdoor. Which I guess brought our “friend” in.
All in all, he didn’t get much.
But damn, I was really craving those pumpkin seeds.
Stupid Raccoon!On another note, we’re dirty and stinky, and the showers here leave a lot to be desired, so we’re leaving for New Orleans and our next campsite ASAP. In the tent last night:“What’s that smell?”*sniff sniff. Gasp* I think it’s us!!
Peace
AUGUST 4, 2005
I-65 South (Alabama)Mile Marker 65ish
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHADOW!10,000 MILES YOUNG!
Peace
Alabama
So, we had an intruder last night.
At some point, I sat up and swore there was someone outside. Liz said she didn’t hear anything, and neither one of us could see anything so we let it go and went to sleep.
This morning, I got up and noticed that the candle and towel we’d left on the table were muddy. And then I saw the trapdoor to our cooler across the table. And was streaked with mud.
And then I noticed that mud looked an awful lot like paw prints.
Damn!
Normally we leave the cooler outside because it’s pretty heavy + secure, and there’s not much in it besides water, ice, and occasionally beer. But last night it got dark really quickly so we cleaned up really fast. And we threw some snacks in through the trapdoor. Which I guess brought our “friend” in.
All in all, he didn’t get much.
But damn, I was really craving those pumpkin seeds.
Stupid Raccoon!On another note, we’re dirty and stinky, and the showers here leave a lot to be desired, so we’re leaving for New Orleans and our next campsite ASAP. In the tent last night:“What’s that smell?”*sniff sniff. Gasp* I think it’s us!!
Peace
AUGUST 4, 2005
I-65 South (Alabama)Mile Marker 65ish
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHADOW!10,000 MILES YOUNG!
Peace
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Birmingham, AL
AUGUST 3 2005
Oak Mountain State Park
Alabama
Dear Alabama,
Your interstates suck.
No love,
Me
Dear National Parks,
You need to re-evaluate your sign situation. Your current signs suck.
No love,
Me
Today we went to Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Monument, but only got to see 2 of 4 sites on the self-guided tour. Why? Because the park is spread out amongst a city, and the correct streets and turns are VERY poorly marked. I mean ‘oh-look-the-sign-oh-shit-that-was-the-turn!’ poor. We turned around 2 times to see the Kolb farm, only to discover that there is no parking area that is accessible. With traffic as busy as it was, we couldn’t cross over to the turn needed for Cheatham Hill. But, we did get to see Pigeon Hill and check out the view from Kennesaw Mountain.
You could clearly see downtown Atlanta, though there was a haze so I don’t know how my pictures came out.From there, it was on to Alabama. Alabama, your visitor center gets much love. True southern hospitality. The gentleman there was so kind, he even hand wrote us shorter directions to our campsite and made sure we walked away with a huge stack of brochures.
We drove into Birmingham with one goal; to see Kelly Ingram park. It’s this amazing park where they have all sorts of statues and monuments dedicated to the heroes and events of the civil rights movement.We didn’t realize that it was dead center in the city. Ah, nothing like driving through a major city you’ve never been in before. But we found the park with hardly any difficulty and paid .50 for two hours of parking. Can’t beat that.
I wish I could describe the park. I’m going to let the pictures do it fore me. There’s a statue of police attack dogs coming towards you that feels so real, your heart beats a little fast. The children’s statue (Children’s March) really got to me. There are two children standing on the steps of a jail, and engraved beneath them are the words “we aren’t afraid of your jail.” They’re looking at a jail cell turned upside down, with the engraving “segregation is a sin.”
Across the street is the 16th Street Baptist Church where MLK Jr. spoke and 4 young girls were killed in a terrible bombing. (Rent Spike Lee’s 4 Little Girls, damn powerful take on the events). We didn’t get to tour the church because it cost money and we were pressed for time, so instead we went to the Alabama Civil Rights Institute.
If you are ever in Alabama, this is the one thing you must go see. It is the most heart-wrenching and inspirational institution I have ever toured. The museum is an inter active walking timeline with plenty of vintage memorabilia (don’t touch!) accented by real footage of key civil rights events. You can tour houses and a church to see what segregation looked like, hear the music of the day, see vintage racist propaganda and see footage of MLK Jr. speaking.
My favorite part was the Freedom Rider Room where they had the Freedom Bus all beaten to hell, and pictures explaining what the Freedom Rides were. Most interesting was seeing the actual press coverage of the interviews with Freedom Riders (post-beating from a hospital bed) as well as the Governor’s support of support of the beating, and the Government’s response.The most touching part was the room dedicated to the bombings at the Baptist church.
It overlooks the actual church and around the windows are photos of the rioters, mourners, army guards with guns, protestors being arrested…. It was weird to look down at the church and think “there, in that spot off the steps, stood a guardsman with a gun, because of a protest.” The exhibit was unbelievable, I have to say it was sort of weird to be the two white girls touring, though we started the tour with an African American family, and the mother kept encouraging the little girl to read and learn about her history.
I kept trying to imagine how I would feel if the colors were reversed.It’s strange to look back and see the battles we were fighting not so long ago. (Battles we’re still fighting today!) 40 years ago Birmingham was segregated and in turmoil. That’s not far off at all. My parents were my age then. Wow.
Peace
Oak Mountain State Park
Alabama
Dear Alabama,
Your interstates suck.
No love,
Me
Dear National Parks,
You need to re-evaluate your sign situation. Your current signs suck.
No love,
Me
Today we went to Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Monument, but only got to see 2 of 4 sites on the self-guided tour. Why? Because the park is spread out amongst a city, and the correct streets and turns are VERY poorly marked. I mean ‘oh-look-the-sign-oh-shit-that-was-the-turn!’ poor. We turned around 2 times to see the Kolb farm, only to discover that there is no parking area that is accessible. With traffic as busy as it was, we couldn’t cross over to the turn needed for Cheatham Hill. But, we did get to see Pigeon Hill and check out the view from Kennesaw Mountain.
You could clearly see downtown Atlanta, though there was a haze so I don’t know how my pictures came out.From there, it was on to Alabama. Alabama, your visitor center gets much love. True southern hospitality. The gentleman there was so kind, he even hand wrote us shorter directions to our campsite and made sure we walked away with a huge stack of brochures.
We drove into Birmingham with one goal; to see Kelly Ingram park. It’s this amazing park where they have all sorts of statues and monuments dedicated to the heroes and events of the civil rights movement.We didn’t realize that it was dead center in the city. Ah, nothing like driving through a major city you’ve never been in before. But we found the park with hardly any difficulty and paid .50 for two hours of parking. Can’t beat that.
I wish I could describe the park. I’m going to let the pictures do it fore me. There’s a statue of police attack dogs coming towards you that feels so real, your heart beats a little fast. The children’s statue (Children’s March) really got to me. There are two children standing on the steps of a jail, and engraved beneath them are the words “we aren’t afraid of your jail.” They’re looking at a jail cell turned upside down, with the engraving “segregation is a sin.”
Across the street is the 16th Street Baptist Church where MLK Jr. spoke and 4 young girls were killed in a terrible bombing. (Rent Spike Lee’s 4 Little Girls, damn powerful take on the events). We didn’t get to tour the church because it cost money and we were pressed for time, so instead we went to the Alabama Civil Rights Institute.
If you are ever in Alabama, this is the one thing you must go see. It is the most heart-wrenching and inspirational institution I have ever toured. The museum is an inter active walking timeline with plenty of vintage memorabilia (don’t touch!) accented by real footage of key civil rights events. You can tour houses and a church to see what segregation looked like, hear the music of the day, see vintage racist propaganda and see footage of MLK Jr. speaking.
My favorite part was the Freedom Rider Room where they had the Freedom Bus all beaten to hell, and pictures explaining what the Freedom Rides were. Most interesting was seeing the actual press coverage of the interviews with Freedom Riders (post-beating from a hospital bed) as well as the Governor’s support of support of the beating, and the Government’s response.The most touching part was the room dedicated to the bombings at the Baptist church.
It overlooks the actual church and around the windows are photos of the rioters, mourners, army guards with guns, protestors being arrested…. It was weird to look down at the church and think “there, in that spot off the steps, stood a guardsman with a gun, because of a protest.” The exhibit was unbelievable, I have to say it was sort of weird to be the two white girls touring, though we started the tour with an African American family, and the mother kept encouraging the little girl to read and learn about her history.
I kept trying to imagine how I would feel if the colors were reversed.It’s strange to look back and see the battles we were fighting not so long ago. (Battles we’re still fighting today!) 40 years ago Birmingham was segregated and in turmoil. That’s not far off at all. My parents were my age then. Wow.
Peace
Birmingham, AL
AUGUST 3 2005
Oak Mountain State Park
Alabama
Dear Alabama,
Your interstates suck.
No love,
Me
Dear National Parks,
You need to re-evaluate your sign situation. Your current signs suck.
No love,
Me
Today we went to Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Monument, but only got to see 2 of 4 sites on the self-guided tour. Why? Because the park is spread out amongst a city, and the correct streets and turns are VERY poorly marked. I mean ‘oh-look-the-sign-oh-shit-that-was-the-turn!’ poor. We turned around 2 times to see the Kolb farm, only to discover that there is no parking area that is accessible. With traffic as busy as it was, we couldn’t cross over to the turn needed for Cheatham Hill. But, we did get to see Pigeon Hill and check out the view from Kennesaw Mountain.
You could clearly see downtown Atlanta, though there was a haze so I don’t know how my pictures came out.From there, it was on to Alabama. Alabama, your visitor center gets much love. True southern hospitality. The gentleman there was so kind, he even hand wrote us shorter directions to our campsite and made sure we walked away with a huge stack of brochures.
We drove into Birmingham with one goal; to see Kelly Ingram park. It’s this amazing park where they have all sorts of statues and monuments dedicated to the heroes and events of the civil rights movement.We didn’t realize that it was dead center in the city. Ah, nothing like driving through a major city you’ve never been in before. But we found the park with hardly any difficulty and paid .50 for two hours of parking. Can’t beat that.
I wish I could describe the park. I’m going to let the pictures do it fore me. There’s a statue of police attack dogs coming towards you that feels so real, your heart beats a little fast. The children’s statue (Children’s March) really got to me. There are two children standing on the steps of a jail, and engraved beneath them are the words “we aren’t afraid of your jail.” They’re looking at a jail cell turned upside down, with the engraving “segregation is a sin.”
Across the street is the 16th Street Baptist Church where MLK Jr. spoke and 4 young girls were killed in a terrible bombing. (Rent Spike Lee’s 4 Little Girls, damn powerful take on the events). We didn’t get to tour the church because it cost money and we were pressed for time, so instead we went to the Alabama Civil Rights Institute.
If you are ever in Alabama, this is the one thing you must go see. It is the most heart-wrenching and inspirational institution I have ever toured. The museum is an inter active walking timeline with plenty of vintage memorabilia (don’t touch!) accented by real footage of key civil rights events. You can tour houses and a church to see what segregation looked like, hear the music of the day, see vintage racist propaganda and see footage of MLK Jr. speaking.
My favorite part was the Freedom Rider Room where they had the Freedom Bus all beaten to hell, and pictures explaining what the Freedom Rides were. Most interesting was seeing the actual press coverage of the interviews with Freedom Riders (post-beating from a hospital bed) as well as the Governor’s support of support of the beating, and the Government’s response.The most touching part was the room dedicated to the bombings at the Baptist church.
It overlooks the actual church and around the windows are photos of the rioters, mourners, army guards with guns, protestors being arrested…. It was weird to look down at the church and think “there, in that spot off the steps, stood a guardsman with a gun, because of a protest.” The exhibit was unbelievable, I have to say it was sort of weird to be the two white girls touring, though we started the tour with an African American family, and the mother kept encouraging the little girl to read and learn about her history.
I kept trying to imagine how I would feel if the colors were reversed.It’s strange to look back and see the battles we were fighting not so long ago. (Battles we’re still fighting today!) 40 years ago Birmingham was segregated and in turmoil. That’s not far off at all. My parents were my age then. Wow.
Peace
Oak Mountain State Park
Alabama
Dear Alabama,
Your interstates suck.
No love,
Me
Dear National Parks,
You need to re-evaluate your sign situation. Your current signs suck.
No love,
Me
Today we went to Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Monument, but only got to see 2 of 4 sites on the self-guided tour. Why? Because the park is spread out amongst a city, and the correct streets and turns are VERY poorly marked. I mean ‘oh-look-the-sign-oh-shit-that-was-the-turn!’ poor. We turned around 2 times to see the Kolb farm, only to discover that there is no parking area that is accessible. With traffic as busy as it was, we couldn’t cross over to the turn needed for Cheatham Hill. But, we did get to see Pigeon Hill and check out the view from Kennesaw Mountain.
You could clearly see downtown Atlanta, though there was a haze so I don’t know how my pictures came out.From there, it was on to Alabama. Alabama, your visitor center gets much love. True southern hospitality. The gentleman there was so kind, he even hand wrote us shorter directions to our campsite and made sure we walked away with a huge stack of brochures.
We drove into Birmingham with one goal; to see Kelly Ingram park. It’s this amazing park where they have all sorts of statues and monuments dedicated to the heroes and events of the civil rights movement.We didn’t realize that it was dead center in the city. Ah, nothing like driving through a major city you’ve never been in before. But we found the park with hardly any difficulty and paid .50 for two hours of parking. Can’t beat that.
I wish I could describe the park. I’m going to let the pictures do it fore me. There’s a statue of police attack dogs coming towards you that feels so real, your heart beats a little fast. The children’s statue (Children’s March) really got to me. There are two children standing on the steps of a jail, and engraved beneath them are the words “we aren’t afraid of your jail.” They’re looking at a jail cell turned upside down, with the engraving “segregation is a sin.”
Across the street is the 16th Street Baptist Church where MLK Jr. spoke and 4 young girls were killed in a terrible bombing. (Rent Spike Lee’s 4 Little Girls, damn powerful take on the events). We didn’t get to tour the church because it cost money and we were pressed for time, so instead we went to the Alabama Civil Rights Institute.
If you are ever in Alabama, this is the one thing you must go see. It is the most heart-wrenching and inspirational institution I have ever toured. The museum is an inter active walking timeline with plenty of vintage memorabilia (don’t touch!) accented by real footage of key civil rights events. You can tour houses and a church to see what segregation looked like, hear the music of the day, see vintage racist propaganda and see footage of MLK Jr. speaking.
My favorite part was the Freedom Rider Room where they had the Freedom Bus all beaten to hell, and pictures explaining what the Freedom Rides were. Most interesting was seeing the actual press coverage of the interviews with Freedom Riders (post-beating from a hospital bed) as well as the Governor’s support of support of the beating, and the Government’s response.The most touching part was the room dedicated to the bombings at the Baptist church.
It overlooks the actual church and around the windows are photos of the rioters, mourners, army guards with guns, protestors being arrested…. It was weird to look down at the church and think “there, in that spot off the steps, stood a guardsman with a gun, because of a protest.” The exhibit was unbelievable, I have to say it was sort of weird to be the two white girls touring, though we started the tour with an African American family, and the mother kept encouraging the little girl to read and learn about her history.
I kept trying to imagine how I would feel if the colors were reversed.It’s strange to look back and see the battles we were fighting not so long ago. (Battles we’re still fighting today!) 40 years ago Birmingham was segregated and in turmoil. That’s not far off at all. My parents were my age then. Wow.
Peace
Red Top Mountain, GA
AUGUST 3 2005
Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top, GAT
his morning got off to a rocky start. I went up to the shower house and there were three teenage girls primping at the sinks. Y’know the type of girls who make you ashamed you were ever a teenage girl? Anyway, I do my thing and come out to use the sink…and they don’t move. Three girls and two sinks, and they can’t stop putting on makeup long enough to let me use one. (And who wears a full face of makeup while camping anyway???) I do the clear-my-throat-and-gesture-to-the-sink thing, and one of the girls turns around, tosses her hair at me, and continues gossiping with her girls.
Now, I’m usually not one to back down from what I know is my right, but cut me some slack, I didn’t have my contacts in. And if I’m in an argument with three bitches, I want to see all sides, alright?
So I pull open the door and one girl steps backwards. I catch the door with my hand before it hits her, but I let it get close enough to worry her, and she gasps. As I walk out, I hear them behind me.“Did you SEE that!?”“Like, ohmigod!”Whatever.Peace.
Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top, GAT
his morning got off to a rocky start. I went up to the shower house and there were three teenage girls primping at the sinks. Y’know the type of girls who make you ashamed you were ever a teenage girl? Anyway, I do my thing and come out to use the sink…and they don’t move. Three girls and two sinks, and they can’t stop putting on makeup long enough to let me use one. (And who wears a full face of makeup while camping anyway???) I do the clear-my-throat-and-gesture-to-the-sink thing, and one of the girls turns around, tosses her hair at me, and continues gossiping with her girls.
Now, I’m usually not one to back down from what I know is my right, but cut me some slack, I didn’t have my contacts in. And if I’m in an argument with three bitches, I want to see all sides, alright?
So I pull open the door and one girl steps backwards. I catch the door with my hand before it hits her, but I let it get close enough to worry her, and she gasps. As I walk out, I hear them behind me.“Did you SEE that!?”“Like, ohmigod!”Whatever.Peace.
Red Top Mountain, GA
AUGUST 3 2005
Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top, GAT
his morning got off to a rocky start. I went up to the shower house and there were three teenage girls primping at the sinks. Y’know the type of girls who make you ashamed you were ever a teenage girl? Anyway, I do my thing and come out to use the sink…and they don’t move. Three girls and two sinks, and they can’t stop putting on makeup long enough to let me use one. (And who wears a full face of makeup while camping anyway???) I do the clear-my-throat-and-gesture-to-the-sink thing, and one of the girls turns around, tosses her hair at me, and continues gossiping with her girls.
Now, I’m usually not one to back down from what I know is my right, but cut me some slack, I didn’t have my contacts in. And if I’m in an argument with three bitches, I want to see all sides, alright?
So I pull open the door and one girl steps backwards. I catch the door with my hand before it hits her, but I let it get close enough to worry her, and she gasps. As I walk out, I hear them behind me.“Did you SEE that!?”“Like, ohmigod!”Whatever.Peace.
Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top, GAT
his morning got off to a rocky start. I went up to the shower house and there were three teenage girls primping at the sinks. Y’know the type of girls who make you ashamed you were ever a teenage girl? Anyway, I do my thing and come out to use the sink…and they don’t move. Three girls and two sinks, and they can’t stop putting on makeup long enough to let me use one. (And who wears a full face of makeup while camping anyway???) I do the clear-my-throat-and-gesture-to-the-sink thing, and one of the girls turns around, tosses her hair at me, and continues gossiping with her girls.
Now, I’m usually not one to back down from what I know is my right, but cut me some slack, I didn’t have my contacts in. And if I’m in an argument with three bitches, I want to see all sides, alright?
So I pull open the door and one girl steps backwards. I catch the door with my hand before it hits her, but I let it get close enough to worry her, and she gasps. As I walk out, I hear them behind me.“Did you SEE that!?”“Like, ohmigod!”Whatever.Peace.
Tuesday, August 2, 2005
Atlanta, GA
AUGUST 2 2005
I-75
Atlanta, GA
On the road again, this time to Cleveland, GA and Babyland General Hospital, where Cabbage Patch dols are “born”. Hey, come on, I was born in 1980, I grew up with these things. How could we not? Even if it is a bit out of the way. We have no time table; we can go wherever we want. Oh, and we decided to stay at Red Top for another night.Peace.
I-75
Atlanta, GA
On the road again, this time to Cleveland, GA and Babyland General Hospital, where Cabbage Patch dols are “born”. Hey, come on, I was born in 1980, I grew up with these things. How could we not? Even if it is a bit out of the way. We have no time table; we can go wherever we want. Oh, and we decided to stay at Red Top for another night.Peace.
Atlanta, GA
AUGUST 2 2005
I-75
Atlanta, GA
On the road again, this time to Cleveland, GA and Babyland General Hospital, where Cabbage Patch dols are “born”. Hey, come on, I was born in 1980, I grew up with these things. How could we not? Even if it is a bit out of the way. We have no time table; we can go wherever we want. Oh, and we decided to stay at Red Top for another night.Peace.
I-75
Atlanta, GA
On the road again, this time to Cleveland, GA and Babyland General Hospital, where Cabbage Patch dols are “born”. Hey, come on, I was born in 1980, I grew up with these things. How could we not? Even if it is a bit out of the way. We have no time table; we can go wherever we want. Oh, and we decided to stay at Red Top for another night.Peace.
Monday, August 1, 2005
AUGUST 1 2005
Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top, GA
I’m in, quite possibly, the most beautiful place on earth. I can’t even put it into words; some write I am. Everywhere, all you can see is trees. And this park is truly in the middle of nowhere. And island in the center of a large lake.As I write, I’m perched on a boulder that somehow made it down the hill and into the water. A short jump from the shore was all it took to find the most inspirational writing spot I’ve ever had.
For the first time, I’m seeing Lightning Bugs and I feel like such a child. They sparkle all around me like glitter, and they make me feel like a little girl.For the first time on this trip, we’ve made a campfire. We bought wood from the office. Tell me, why can it take a stray cigarette butt to destroy acres, but it takes newspaper, cardboard, twigs, bark, and wood logs to keep a campfire lit???? But there is something so primal about making a fire and having it ignite. Making a campfire is pretty entertaining, but watching someone else make one, that’s ENTERTAINMENT!
Someone is jetskiing out on the lake behind me. Seriously, that’s how huge this place is. OH! Funny story.
On the way here, we got lost in Marietta. Well, “lost” isn’t the right word. We knew exactly where we were the entire time, it was the ATLAS that was wrong! Stupid Rand McNalley put the Kennesaw National Battlefield Monument about 25 miles from it’s actual location. That’s a BIG difference! We kept driving around Marietta, trying to figure out why there was no entrance.
Finally, we gave up and got back on I-75 to find our campsite when, lo and behold, 5 minutes up the freeway, we find the exit (err, CORRECT exit!) for the battlefield. DOH! Oh well, we’re going to stay here for the night (maybe two…) and go check it out tomorrow. Exit 269. Remember that. Because Rand McNalley couldn’t.
Peace.
Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top, GA
I’m in, quite possibly, the most beautiful place on earth. I can’t even put it into words; some write I am. Everywhere, all you can see is trees. And this park is truly in the middle of nowhere. And island in the center of a large lake.As I write, I’m perched on a boulder that somehow made it down the hill and into the water. A short jump from the shore was all it took to find the most inspirational writing spot I’ve ever had.
For the first time, I’m seeing Lightning Bugs and I feel like such a child. They sparkle all around me like glitter, and they make me feel like a little girl.For the first time on this trip, we’ve made a campfire. We bought wood from the office. Tell me, why can it take a stray cigarette butt to destroy acres, but it takes newspaper, cardboard, twigs, bark, and wood logs to keep a campfire lit???? But there is something so primal about making a fire and having it ignite. Making a campfire is pretty entertaining, but watching someone else make one, that’s ENTERTAINMENT!
Someone is jetskiing out on the lake behind me. Seriously, that’s how huge this place is. OH! Funny story.
On the way here, we got lost in Marietta. Well, “lost” isn’t the right word. We knew exactly where we were the entire time, it was the ATLAS that was wrong! Stupid Rand McNalley put the Kennesaw National Battlefield Monument about 25 miles from it’s actual location. That’s a BIG difference! We kept driving around Marietta, trying to figure out why there was no entrance.
Finally, we gave up and got back on I-75 to find our campsite when, lo and behold, 5 minutes up the freeway, we find the exit (err, CORRECT exit!) for the battlefield. DOH! Oh well, we’re going to stay here for the night (maybe two…) and go check it out tomorrow. Exit 269. Remember that. Because Rand McNalley couldn’t.
Peace.
AUGUST 1 2005
Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top, GA
I’m in, quite possibly, the most beautiful place on earth. I can’t even put it into words; some write I am. Everywhere, all you can see is trees. And this park is truly in the middle of nowhere. And island in the center of a large lake.As I write, I’m perched on a boulder that somehow made it down the hill and into the water. A short jump from the shore was all it took to find the most inspirational writing spot I’ve ever had.
For the first time, I’m seeing Lightning Bugs and I feel like such a child. They sparkle all around me like glitter, and they make me feel like a little girl.For the first time on this trip, we’ve made a campfire. We bought wood from the office. Tell me, why can it take a stray cigarette butt to destroy acres, but it takes newspaper, cardboard, twigs, bark, and wood logs to keep a campfire lit???? But there is something so primal about making a fire and having it ignite. Making a campfire is pretty entertaining, but watching someone else make one, that’s ENTERTAINMENT!
Someone is jetskiing out on the lake behind me. Seriously, that’s how huge this place is. OH! Funny story.
On the way here, we got lost in Marietta. Well, “lost” isn’t the right word. We knew exactly where we were the entire time, it was the ATLAS that was wrong! Stupid Rand McNalley put the Kennesaw National Battlefield Monument about 25 miles from it’s actual location. That’s a BIG difference! We kept driving around Marietta, trying to figure out why there was no entrance.
Finally, we gave up and got back on I-75 to find our campsite when, lo and behold, 5 minutes up the freeway, we find the exit (err, CORRECT exit!) for the battlefield. DOH! Oh well, we’re going to stay here for the night (maybe two…) and go check it out tomorrow. Exit 269. Remember that. Because Rand McNalley couldn’t.
Peace.
Red Top Mountain State Park
Red Top, GA
I’m in, quite possibly, the most beautiful place on earth. I can’t even put it into words; some write I am. Everywhere, all you can see is trees. And this park is truly in the middle of nowhere. And island in the center of a large lake.As I write, I’m perched on a boulder that somehow made it down the hill and into the water. A short jump from the shore was all it took to find the most inspirational writing spot I’ve ever had.
For the first time, I’m seeing Lightning Bugs and I feel like such a child. They sparkle all around me like glitter, and they make me feel like a little girl.For the first time on this trip, we’ve made a campfire. We bought wood from the office. Tell me, why can it take a stray cigarette butt to destroy acres, but it takes newspaper, cardboard, twigs, bark, and wood logs to keep a campfire lit???? But there is something so primal about making a fire and having it ignite. Making a campfire is pretty entertaining, but watching someone else make one, that’s ENTERTAINMENT!
Someone is jetskiing out on the lake behind me. Seriously, that’s how huge this place is. OH! Funny story.
On the way here, we got lost in Marietta. Well, “lost” isn’t the right word. We knew exactly where we were the entire time, it was the ATLAS that was wrong! Stupid Rand McNalley put the Kennesaw National Battlefield Monument about 25 miles from it’s actual location. That’s a BIG difference! We kept driving around Marietta, trying to figure out why there was no entrance.
Finally, we gave up and got back on I-75 to find our campsite when, lo and behold, 5 minutes up the freeway, we find the exit (err, CORRECT exit!) for the battlefield. DOH! Oh well, we’re going to stay here for the night (maybe two…) and go check it out tomorrow. Exit 269. Remember that. Because Rand McNalley couldn’t.
Peace.
AUGUST 1 2005
Tifton, Georgia.
Music: Queer As Folk Mix CD
We got up this morning to go take pictures of the Suwannee River around sunrise. It was gorgeous! Did you know that Suwannee means “dark/muddy water” in Native American? Sitting on a swinging bench, staring out at this lazy river, one can’t help but feel Southern. The trees stretch up towards the sky while the haning moss droops low, as if it has given up the fight. Everything is lush, green and new, but this land feels ancient. You can almost imagine the old steamboats and hear the sawmill that stands in ruins nearby.
On an apartment note, they called at 8:30 this morning to say that we had “trashed the place” and left so much stuff at the dumpster that they’re going to charge us to have it hauled away. Liz called them to let them know that we’re not the only people moving out, there were at least 3 other apartments leaving, and the whole conversation descended into a shouting/swearing match.Yes, a full blown shouting match on a cell phone in the parking lot of the Georgia Visitors Center. And if you know Liz, nothing gets a rise out of her.The apartment is just being horrible and is trying to charge us fore everything they can. My parents are going to try to deal with it, so we don’t have to while we’re on the road. OK, enough of that.
We just saw the World’s Largest Peanut Statue. (Does that mean there is more than one? Is this a common theme?) Don’t worry, we took pics, cause I know people are going to think I’m lying. And we stopped at this quaint little family-run fruit and veggie stand where we got some tomatoes and peaches. (‘cause, hello, GEORGIA!) The vender was very nice and so southern. He had his kids there too.Now we are on our way to Kennesaw National Battlefield Monument.
Peace.
Tifton, Georgia.
Music: Queer As Folk Mix CD
We got up this morning to go take pictures of the Suwannee River around sunrise. It was gorgeous! Did you know that Suwannee means “dark/muddy water” in Native American? Sitting on a swinging bench, staring out at this lazy river, one can’t help but feel Southern. The trees stretch up towards the sky while the haning moss droops low, as if it has given up the fight. Everything is lush, green and new, but this land feels ancient. You can almost imagine the old steamboats and hear the sawmill that stands in ruins nearby.
On an apartment note, they called at 8:30 this morning to say that we had “trashed the place” and left so much stuff at the dumpster that they’re going to charge us to have it hauled away. Liz called them to let them know that we’re not the only people moving out, there were at least 3 other apartments leaving, and the whole conversation descended into a shouting/swearing match.Yes, a full blown shouting match on a cell phone in the parking lot of the Georgia Visitors Center. And if you know Liz, nothing gets a rise out of her.The apartment is just being horrible and is trying to charge us fore everything they can. My parents are going to try to deal with it, so we don’t have to while we’re on the road. OK, enough of that.
We just saw the World’s Largest Peanut Statue. (Does that mean there is more than one? Is this a common theme?) Don’t worry, we took pics, cause I know people are going to think I’m lying. And we stopped at this quaint little family-run fruit and veggie stand where we got some tomatoes and peaches. (‘cause, hello, GEORGIA!) The vender was very nice and so southern. He had his kids there too.Now we are on our way to Kennesaw National Battlefield Monument.
Peace.
AUGUST 1 2005
Tifton, Georgia.
Music: Queer As Folk Mix CD
We got up this morning to go take pictures of the Suwannee River around sunrise. It was gorgeous! Did you know that Suwannee means “dark/muddy water” in Native American? Sitting on a swinging bench, staring out at this lazy river, one can’t help but feel Southern. The trees stretch up towards the sky while the haning moss droops low, as if it has given up the fight. Everything is lush, green and new, but this land feels ancient. You can almost imagine the old steamboats and hear the sawmill that stands in ruins nearby.
On an apartment note, they called at 8:30 this morning to say that we had “trashed the place” and left so much stuff at the dumpster that they’re going to charge us to have it hauled away. Liz called them to let them know that we’re not the only people moving out, there were at least 3 other apartments leaving, and the whole conversation descended into a shouting/swearing match.Yes, a full blown shouting match on a cell phone in the parking lot of the Georgia Visitors Center. And if you know Liz, nothing gets a rise out of her.The apartment is just being horrible and is trying to charge us fore everything they can. My parents are going to try to deal with it, so we don’t have to while we’re on the road. OK, enough of that.
We just saw the World’s Largest Peanut Statue. (Does that mean there is more than one? Is this a common theme?) Don’t worry, we took pics, cause I know people are going to think I’m lying. And we stopped at this quaint little family-run fruit and veggie stand where we got some tomatoes and peaches. (‘cause, hello, GEORGIA!) The vender was very nice and so southern. He had his kids there too.Now we are on our way to Kennesaw National Battlefield Monument.
Peace.
Tifton, Georgia.
Music: Queer As Folk Mix CD
We got up this morning to go take pictures of the Suwannee River around sunrise. It was gorgeous! Did you know that Suwannee means “dark/muddy water” in Native American? Sitting on a swinging bench, staring out at this lazy river, one can’t help but feel Southern. The trees stretch up towards the sky while the haning moss droops low, as if it has given up the fight. Everything is lush, green and new, but this land feels ancient. You can almost imagine the old steamboats and hear the sawmill that stands in ruins nearby.
On an apartment note, they called at 8:30 this morning to say that we had “trashed the place” and left so much stuff at the dumpster that they’re going to charge us to have it hauled away. Liz called them to let them know that we’re not the only people moving out, there were at least 3 other apartments leaving, and the whole conversation descended into a shouting/swearing match.Yes, a full blown shouting match on a cell phone in the parking lot of the Georgia Visitors Center. And if you know Liz, nothing gets a rise out of her.The apartment is just being horrible and is trying to charge us fore everything they can. My parents are going to try to deal with it, so we don’t have to while we’re on the road. OK, enough of that.
We just saw the World’s Largest Peanut Statue. (Does that mean there is more than one? Is this a common theme?) Don’t worry, we took pics, cause I know people are going to think I’m lying. And we stopped at this quaint little family-run fruit and veggie stand where we got some tomatoes and peaches. (‘cause, hello, GEORGIA!) The vender was very nice and so southern. He had his kids there too.Now we are on our way to Kennesaw National Battlefield Monument.
Peace.
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