January 4, 2012 Thursday

10:00 am- Ft. Hancock, Texas. Nice guy sells me some stamps. "Chile Limon" chips taste like barbeque fruit loops.

Noon- "Bowein's Running Indian" Outside Las Cruces. "Our culture's verson of checks and balances is a hinderance to my pursuit of kicks and speed across the continental USA" - Benjamin A. Pinel Post border patrol.

Stop in New Mexico, Deming. "Tacos Mirasol". This is the biggest cup of horchata I've ever seen in my life. I can barely grip the thing. 1.95 for a giant Pizza Hut style plastic cup. Dad excited as the server sets a 16oz glass bottle coke in front of him. He goes on about real sugar. He recieves another phone call from "hair club for men" out of northern Virginia. Benny says "You could grow tomato plants in my armpits right now" and he's very upset that I'm documenting it.

2:25pm- Arizona Welcomes you. Dad is unhappy rather freaked out by the state of my unshaven legs. Tells me now all of the different things members of the band "Rush" collect, golf, bicycle, baseball. New Order plays.

4:22pm- Mariana, AR - Elevation 2000 ft. The Ford Eclipse convertable at the Chevron pump is cherry red and the model name on the trunk is missing letters. It says "Lips". Deliberate? Likely. A Long blonde haired girl in the driver seat. Somebody abandoned their shorts in the women's room. "Abandon ship" I exclaim to some white haired lady.

The Southwestern United States. Casa Grande National Monuments. I can't believe I could be in 71 degree weather in January. I usually have Maddy with me in this part of the country. The orchards are great. Eloy city limits. Interstate 10. Good thing she ins't here. She doesn't like the 10 much. Or the interstate period. I don't much object to it. When time is of the essence, it is appropriate. Maybe one day soon, I dream it won't be.

"You were 164!"
"There were 140 quality line drawings before you. How do you feel about that miss special?"
"You thought you were the only post-sex-line-draw-girl!"
Maddy you are here in spirit. Myself and Benny

Near Blythe, California. A Carl's Jr. fish sandwich. Really fishing it out the last couple days. It's not bad. Dad is on the phone with Peter checking in. It's kind of crazy. I guess there's wifi here. Tons of people plugged into their computers. I wonder are they locals? Or are they travelers just like us? I remember trying to use McDonald's wifi in the desert at some point with Devon in 2008. Strange how culture goes. Dad continues to wine about the rolling suitcase he's borrowed from Charlie and Lena. Covered in African wild-life he calls it his "Kwanzaa Carry-On".