abstract concepts swimming in the river of humanity
04 November 2009
03 November 2009
on to the next one
Date: November 3, 2009
Time: 1:19 MT
Location: almost to Tucumcari, NM
Music: Delta Spirit “Strange Vines”
Weather: Sunny, but not happy sunny - mischevious “I’m gonna mess with you today” sunny
Jordan told me I’d have to roll with the punches on this road trip. I just didn’t expect a gravel road to do the punching.
As we were driving, Jordan felt the impulse to stop and take a few roadside pictures of the massive empty expanse that is eastern New Mexico. We did. It was windy and the pictures are fresh. In my excitement for windy freshness, I skipped back to the car. And I tripped… and I fell… I am not a small child. In fact, I do not consider myself to be clumsy, yet I tripped over something (Jordan blames my shoelaces - I think it was a rock) I attempted to catch myself - first with my feet. Then when that failed, my second option became my left hand and my right elbow, seeing as I was carrying the camera [thanks dad, you’ve taught me to care more about protecting the camera I’m holding than my own body J] I had a moment of panic – this feeling is so foreign. I am 20 years old and scraping myself up is certainly not in my age description. Nevertheless, there I was: stomach on the ground, smelling asphalt. I groaned a little and then, “Jordaaaaan. I fell.” In retrospect, did he not wonder where I went when I suddenly wasn’t on the other side of the car? He came over and helped me up and I began to examine the damage. “Skin is not supposed to do that,” I said. The larger-than-gravel rocks decided to take up carving and I was there practice material. We drove until we found a gas station, I cleaned myself up, bought some Neosporin, Band-Aids and Advil and we’re back on the road. I’m still giggling about it.
Gallup, New Mexico was rather uneventful, but sufficient in the Eat and Sleep Division and they win first place for Most Indian Stores. Despite stares from the locals at The Coffee House, we rounded up some hot drinks and hit it again. Until Albuquerque, we vlogged and discussed what body part we would allow to be bitten off – you know, if you were in prison… among biters…. and they let you choose. We both settled on a butt cheek. Who needs ‘em? Albuquerque satisfied our Starbucks fix and gifted us with The Avett Brothers’ new album “I and Love and You.”
And now we press on.
02 November 2009
might be the boring bit
Date: November 2, 2009
Time: 7:06pm MT (Mountain Time, Mennonite Time, Mingin' Trannies)
Location: Navajo Blvd, Eastern Arizona (just take a left at Flagstaff and you'll hit it in about 90 minutes)
Weather: a clear sky and an even more clear moon
Music: Laura Marling, Britain's finest female vocalist, singing sweet ditties into the collective Wiebe ear
Eastern Arizona's flat. Flat like a pancake griddle or a spatula or any other cooking utensil used for breakfast (except a whisp, used to make batter for previously mentioned pancakes.) Man, IHOP sounds good......actually, it sounds gross. Maybe a bit of both? Disagree to agree.
Jordan checking in. Where to begin? I've thoroughly enjoyed the time spent making the highways and byways my bizznle, although I had to tap out after a solid 575 miles. There's only so much one can do. In addition, I wanted to give the Hare (as she will be henceforth referred to) some time behind the wheel. She's doing exceptionally well, giving ample space for semis and signalling well in advance. What can I say, the kid's got talent.
We point our 'rich kid Volvo', as christened by one Bryan Feil, towards Gallup, Newt Mecksicko, where we will stop, eat, rest and try not to be picked up on by truckers. The road gets lonely and sometimes, folks will take what they can get. We will barricade ourselves in the hotel room, taking advantage of the free HBO and free WiFi provided by the generous Travelodge, which was ascertained by our main man William Shatner at priceline.com. Cheers, Mr. Trekky!
Sidenote: Anika just asked, 'can someone to go to jail for verbal abuse?' I'm afraid she's working herself up to an oral tirade upon me, unleashing the combined wrath, fury and wit of a British comedian and Bill O'Reilly.
Reflections on Arizona: Mountainous, desert-y, boring at times, thrilling at others. The folks in Flagstaff were pleasant enough. I greatly appreciate the state's placing of highway signs directly underneath the center of the overpass. aesthetically, it's pleasing to the eye and, in a way, more efficient than CA's insistence on stand alone signs along the right shoulder of the road. Saves money, looks better, a proverbial rejection of the culture of governmental 'pork', precious tax dollars being used efficiently. GBA!
Things to look forward to:
1. A detailed ranking of best possible locations for a utopian community on our route a la The Village
2. A daily morning vlog
3. Requests/conclusions for topics of discussion
Cheers!
and so it begins...
Date: November 2, 2009
Time: 9:02 am PST
Location: 99 South passing through Delano
Music: mewithoutYou “Bullet to Binary Part II”
Weather: Clear and Sunny - like Bono
After an hour of driving, I’ve written an introduction to the 3-5 page book response that was due 4 weeks ago. It’s a good thing I’m on top of things…
“Do you think we could listen to 6 straight “This American Life”s in a row? That’d be pretty crazy.” Jordan interrupts my writing with his game plan to pass time for the first half of today’s trip. Apparently I am the hare and he is the tortoise on this venture. Can you blame me? It’s my first legitimate road trip as a semi-adult with my older semi-adult best friend brother. I think I would rather have my newbie fervor for the open road though than his seasoned-road-trip-veteran lack of enthusiasm. It’s like our fat sausage dog Ginger and Trevor Jones’ two year old daughter, Berkeley. She is excited about life and falling on Ginger. Ginger is not. Unfortunately for Jordan, he has no beds to hide under… and I will fall on him.
So far this morning, we Starbucksed: iced coffee with 2 shots & Madeleine shortbreads / iced vanilla chai tea with soy & a banana. We bought Scanner 911 app on Jordan’s iPhone and thought about making some citizen’s arrests on our way. We read 1 John 1 and received our first phone call from Andy Ortiz – whom we had seen only an hour earlier at Starbucks (We love you Andy J) and now we make our first turn off onto the 58 East – new territory to both of us. Only good things are ahead.
Date: November 2, 2009
Time: 4:00 pm MT
Location: 40 East – somewhere between Kingman and Flagstaff (Arizoooona)
Music: Ben Harper “When She Believes”
Weather: Clear to Clear
I can’t pop my left ear. Son of a biscuit. Positives however: speed limit is 75. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! Jordan is contemplating a career as a dance instructor – dream big brother!
From the 58 East we worked our way toward Barstow. And wasn’t THAT a bust?! Made a completely pointless trip to Vons in search for Jamba Juice [What were you thinking Google maps??] However, gas at Valero, a free envelope from a girl who thought Jordan was cute, and Carl’s Jr: big carl, natural cut fries, coke / chicken stars, crisscuts, dr. pepper, satisfied anything that Barstow itself failed to fulfill. Later, we entered into some theological discussion and would like to extend the invitation to provide us with more theological issues to discuss. Hit us with your best shot!
Not too long after, I decided to take control of the music selection. Needless to say, Jordan was less than thrilled with my choice of “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus. (However, he was “nodding his head, like yeah” – it must be love) He proceeded to exile me to the land of large headphones and I suppose it’s a good thing because now - in 8 hours, I have a whole page of my paper! Somewhere in there Jordan slowed down to about 50 miles on the 40 to make sure we both got pictures of the Arizona sign, but then it didn’t come and then it still didn’t come… yet we precariously held up our cameras pointed toward where we thought the sign should/would be for a good 10 minutes. It finally came – I got a picture, so did Jordan… except without the word Arizona on it. Such is life.
01 November 2009
pre-roadie writing
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