Ahh, road stories. There are so many. Where to begin? How about here: Yes, we drove across the Mississippi River three times. The first time we were already on the bridge before I realized what we were going over, and we couldn't see the river from it anyway, so we had to return to the east side and find a place see the river properly. Yes, I was super excited, 'cause the river marked the farthest I had been west to that point! 

Here's our next tale: We got hassled by Halliburton! We came upon a convoy of  trucks hauling hauling some strange, large industrial equipment on I-40. Coming closer, we discovered they were Halliburton trucks. I told Andy to take a pic of the door of the truck, because you just don't see a truck from such a controversial headlining company everyday, do you? (at least not in Ga.) So she took the pic as we passed, then the truck honked it's horn a minute later. Then it got weird...some other Halliburton trucks ahead in the convoy pulled beside each other and started slowing down to about 50 miles an hour (this is on a 70 mph interstate), backing up all the traffic on the highway, boxing us in, for what seemed like 5 minutes! They eventually dispersed,but it was strange. 

We also visited the site of the Oklahoma City bombing. 

Quite sobering. All these chairs in this pic represent a person lost in the tragedy.

There was also a reflecting pool placed between two large obelisks that represent the moment before and the moment after the blast.

It wasn't all intrigue and sadness today though. We stopped in Clarksville. No sign of a train station. We spent some time on Garth Brooks Boulevard in Oklahoma, as well as huge windmills. Pics soon (the internet is being cranky).

CONTEST: WIN YOUR FIVE MINUTES OF FOLK ART FAME

So we are going to Cadillac Ranch Monday night or Tuesday morning. This is the place where some guy from Texas decided to sick 10 Cadillacs in the ground with their rear-ends sticking up in the air. This is in the middle of a pasture off I40 (part of route 66). Visitors are welcomed and encouraged to leave their mark in spray paint on the cars.

Since this is a musical journey Scott has chosen 5 quotes from well known “travel songs”. The person who gets the most correct gets their name (or favorite phrase) spray painted on one of the Cadillacs.

RULES
No cheating, no googling, just search the back of your memories and post it here.

1 point for song title
1 point for artist

Here You Go:

1) “Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup”

2) “Take it hip to hip rocking through the wilderness”

3) “Well I went to bed in Memphis And I woke up in Hollywood”

4) “Shoe the children with no shoes on their feet”

5) “We’ll have time for coffee flavored kisses and a bit of conversation”

A MOMENT IN MEMPHIS

Posted from 819 PM CST

MEMPHIS
I am not sure if I have ever been through Memphis but if I have I do not remember. It seems like a very old town with tons of old vintage Mountain Dew signs like the ones you would find in Hutch and Jen’s house. They are faded and announce stores that have been abandoned for what seems like decades. I wonder if there was a time where these storefronts were bustling with activity. I wonder what happened to all those people.

Many of the beautiful old warehouse buildings in downtown are also abandoned and missing windows like teeth. It feels like things happened there but then one day it was just left for time to do its thing to the buildings, roads and landscape.

Places like this make me sad that there are not tons of people downtown rehabbing the buildings and enjoying a little city with such a nice skeleton…. Not to mention that the city is bordered by the amazingly huge and ominous Mississippi River.

THE LORRAINE HOTEL
As part of our venture into Memphis we wanted to stop at the Lorraine Hotel where MLK Jr. prematurely left us. The museum was closed but I don’t know if anything could top my first visit to the MLK Museum in Atlanta anyway. But at the Lorraine Hotel you can stand only a few yards away from Room 306 on the second floor where someone thought it was there place to make their own statement on social change by killing one of our visionaries. Now as I reflect on it – it just plain pisses me off that people can be so stupid! Ok, enough of that.

Scott was so super excited to cross the Mississippi River (I will let him tell you why) that he made us cross it THREE TIMES and then we found a way down to the riverbank. 

While down there I could only think of the time that I saw Juliana Hatfield play a brand new song live that was sweet and melancholy and sounded really important. I listened carefully. She got to a line that said “And the Mississippi River has a mean undertow” and I started to tear all up because I knew she was talking about the departed Jeff Buckley who earlier that summer in 1997 had thought it would be a good idea to go swimming in the powerful waters that are now below us.

I paused.

Exhaled.

So far Memphis meant the loss of two of our beloved optimists. But there are more of us, right?Optimism can be contagious if you let it be.

I met Jeff Buckley on several occasions when he was in Texas. His drummer used to be in a band with my bands keyboardist or something like that. He told me he thought I was funny. I blushed and that sealed itself as a flashbulb moment I will always remember.

Bless you JB and MLK.

4 States Down So Far

Written 644PM EST

Well, we are half way in-between Tupelo Mississippi (where apparently Elvis was born accd to Scott) and Memphis where we plan to stop at the National Civil Rights Museum where MLK was shot.

We did not get out of Atlanta til around 1pm. And I have realized that even though I am pretty portable, I still require way way too much stuff!!! I swear I went to Goodwill 5 times this month to give stuff away – how could I possibly have MORE?

I am still BEAMING with a big grin on my face from the heartfelt send off I had last night. Again, I am so lucky. I am serious when I say come visit. Book your tickets and I will take you to wine country, the redwoods, where you want!

The pups are behaving sans being drugs with medication – so I am impressed. They have made beds out of gig bags, pillows and our suitcases. It must be nice to move around in the car and sprawl out wherever you wish.
Scott s entertaining us with his road trip and traveling playlist. A “Name that Song” quiz soon to come: We give you lyrics, you guess the name of the song. More info coming.

Oh! We just crossed the Tennessee state line! 4 states in one day so far. I used to live here. I want to get out and go to a convince store just to here people here talk. I remember when I was a kid I used to think they were speaking a different language because I could not understand their thick accents.

GAS TALLY
Full up #1:
Gas Price: $3.99 a gal
Cost: $42

Could I Ever Imagine

The car is loaded. The dogs are ready. I have yet to bath which I assume Scott probably would prefer, since I did not bother to bathe after the party last night. I am ready.... a little scared still but ready to get in the car and DRIVE.

But guys, I could not imagine a better send-off party as last night. I have such amazing, amazing friends. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. I just love you all so much!

Highlights of the night included having three ER nurses have to use their skills on one of our party members and hanging out with the Grady EMS (note photo above ;)

But even more cool -- my dear dear friends made me sob like a baby when they gave me the sweetest heart shaped box with my favorite quote on it "We dont' remember days, we remember moments". AND inside were lots of little slips of paper each with a very special notes of memories that we share.

They did this as a ploy to make sure I return! ;) I know it. Of course, I have been known to give gifts and cards that make people cry so I really had it coming. But it caught me so off guard that I could just not hold back the tears and could no longer speak..... now THAT is a feat. My crying made Molly cry too which was so sweet. Then we went onto drinking ;)

Anyway, I will read through my special box when I feel homesick....and it will make me feel MORE homesick but it will also remind me of how loved I am and how god d#(m lucky I am.

To all who came Molly, Bree, Jessica, Kristi, Ben, Michelle, Hutch, Jen, kim, Dana, Sara, Tracy, Susan, Mary-o, Michelle RN, Christine RN, Ramon, Tamara, Gary, Dallas, Kirk, Allison, Matt C., -- and all that could not be there. I will miss you while away and you have given me so many reasons to come back ;)

Count Down is On

So it is now 1 week until I leave for the Pacific Ocean! My oh my.

Our route is pretty much formulated, our hotels booked, the dogs have lots and lots of treats and toys and drugs just in case. This week Scott (being the very useful and skilled friend that he is) applied some crossbars from a Chevy Blazer that he got from a junkyard to the top of my Vibe and saved me about $200. My car now sings (actually kind of howls but it is neat and will be very useful in carrying my crap across the country.

My car will look something like the above photo --- i dare to wonder how much my gas mileage will suffer! Maybe I should keep a tally of the cost of driving across the country and the gas prices. That should make everyone in Atlanta feel better (where gas is $4.10 rather than $5.50 like in the west.

Andy is a Snob

I got a macbook pro this weekend and I am completely addicted. I already had the apple sticker on my car before I got the computer so I think I have turned into a convert. My big ole PC is gathering dust and looks older just in the last couple of days since the mac entered the house. PC's have their place of course. I am just in love with this new mac like when you get a new car. And MOST IMPORTANT -- now I can easily update the blog during our trip!

Scott is worried I am going to become a Mac Snob.

The jury is out. I have not destroyed by pc. it is still plugged in -- just turned off ;)