Vacation at last . . .

Apr 202004
 

Ah, vacation at last. It’s shocking how much work it takes to go on vacation. I’ve been frantically trying to tie up loose ends during this last week just for preparation for this short junket. Then when I get back, I’ll have a stack of other stuff to go through. Almost makes you wonder if taking these rounds of relaxation is more or less stressful than not taking them. Not really of course, but I do love to complain.

I didn’t get out of the city as early as I was trying to, but early enough. I took I-40 East towards Arkansas. While, interstate driving really isn’t much on the scenery there was enough to keep the eye distracted. What really made the drive worth while was the weather. Storm clouds were overhead almost all afternoon but never started to rain. The air was pungent with the smell of a storm which is one of life’s great pleasures.

I had dinner in a nice little roadside grease stand called the Hungry Traveler. After well filling myself with a chicken fried steak, I headed on down the road. Now for those of you not familiar with the chicken fried steak, I should point out that it’s narcotic effects are very strong and this one particularly so. So, about 30 minutes down the road I started to feel a very strong desire for a nap. It was then that the conspiracy became abundantly obvious. At the next exit, I noticed a large sign advertising the well located Sleepy Traveler Inn! Some sort of marketing genius has been drugging his diners and leading them to his hotels. What a fiendish plot!

I fought through the effects however and made it to Fort Smith for the night. Unfortunately, there is a PGA golf tournament going on tomorrow so hotels are scarce. However, Horst at the Wellesley Inn has put me up quite comfortably for the night. Tomorrow I get off of the Interstate for most of the day and get some good back roads driving. I’ll report more when I can . . .

On My Way Home

Jan 062004
 

Well, the vacation is over. It has been wonderful and I am feeling livelier than I have in many months. It was wonderful to see my old haunts and good friends in Chicago. I had a wonderful life there and it was nice to take a nostalgic trip. However, I am ready to be back home and I finally have a good idea of where that is. It’s kind of weird, but somehow, even though I have been away for almost two years, I have still considered Chicago my home. I had convinced myself that my life was in some sort of time freeze awaiting my return to the big city. The fact is that my life moved on when I did. Time cannot be stopped by anyone. Even if I pretended to stop time, the world certainly didn’t. Well, I never was a quick study. However, it is nice to know that while Oklahoma may not be my final destination it is at least my current one and it’s not such a bad one at that.

[Listening to: Old Smoothies - Steve Goodman - Affordable Art (04:15)]

Happy New Year

Jan 022004
 

Well, it was an interesting last couple of days. Tuesday, I had a spectacular dinner at probably my favorite restaurant on Earth, Rose Angelis. However, my affection for the wonderful food of this establishment is probably somewhat mixed up with the beautiful dinner companions that accompany me there. And that night was no exception. I hadn’t seen or spoken to Vicki in over a year but like all of my dearest friends, it was as if only been a day. I often think that the truest sign of friendship is this strange mystery of prolonged absences that don’t seem so. I think it has something to do with really having a connection of commonality that allows us not to worry that everything has changed since we last met. In any case, we caught up, drank a little too much wine and generally had a good old nostalgic time.

Consequently, I woke up late on the 31st. Yeah, I know, my sleeping late has been a constant part of my trip, but hey I’m on vacation. I spent the day being pretty lazy. Due to travel issues, Andy and Lisa weren’t going to make it for the official New Year moment. I then decided to accompany Shea and entourage to another Humphrey’s McGhee show. Well, I guess the wide open plains have had an affect. I broke out in a serious anxiety attack. There were just too many people and too few doors. So, I bought a bottle of scotch and toasted the new years in the streets of one of the greatest cities in the world. Though alone, it wasn’t a bad way to welcome the New Year.

All I can say about yesterday is, football, football, football. Today, I’m going downtown to have a sub sandwich that I have been missing for years and then off to the Museum of Science and Industry to make my way through the German U-boat there.

A quick update

Dec 302003
 

Well, I just thought I would give you a quick update on the last couple of days. I arrived on the afternoon of the 27th. God, I’d forgotten how much I missed this city. As I climbed off the train, I was struck with a nostalgic smell of exhaust, food and a cacophony of other smells carried on cool crisp air. I climbed on board the Brown Line headed north and was pleased to see that once again the Phoenix was arising from its proverbial ashes. New towers of glass were arising from what were either vacant lots or small structures when I had left. It was like some sort of Randian wet dream. The march of the condo’s continued its inexorable path towards downtown, eating everything in their path. Everyone was holding down on their car horns for no particular reason. People were walking determinedly down the sidewalks avoiding eye contact. And commerce rained supreme. All in all, everything that I loved about this town is still here.

That evening I met up with my old friends Shea and his girlfriend Tresa, the newly engaged Gina and Rob and the ever eccentric Dennis. The celebrating was enthusiastic to the point that I was bowling (albeit extremely poorly) at 3:00 AM. Consequently, the next day was spent mostly recovering and convincing my liver that I still loved it.

However, yesterday I invaded my friends Shea and Tresa apartment for the rest of my extended vacation. Their generosity may have no bounds but I’m going to find out for myself. After an afternoon of general carousing we attended a concert by a local Jam Band called Umphrey’s McGee. While I have some strong reservations about the genre (best saved for a later discussion), they did have some very salty performers; their lead guitar player especially. Plus, there are some acts that just put on a good show, and they filled that bill. A good time had by all.

Today, I’m going to try to go run some Chicago errands like getting my hair cut which is desperately needed. Then I have dinner with another dear friend, Vicki. All is well and just what the doctor ordered. More soon . . .

Creative Hunters and Other Excitement

Dec 272003
 

Unfortunately, sleep was a little inconstant last night, just couldn’t quite fall into a deep sleep. However, I still felt relatively rested this morning. Took a nice hot shower which I’m sorry to say was hotter and with higher water pressure than my shower at home. Had a wonderful breakfast of quiche, fried potatoes and toast and retired to my room with a hot cup of coffee.

We crossed over the Mississippi about an hour ago with a beautiful shot of the St. Louis Arch shining in the sun (pictures to come). A few minutes into Illinois and I saw a very unusual hunting techniques. There were about three or four hunters lined up against the train tracks looking out across the thick grasses that lined the tracks. As we passed, the train scared up a flock, bevy, or what ever they are called of pheasants and the hunters blazed away. Quite a bit easier I guess that hiking through the thick grass. However, I do say that shotgun blasts outside your train window is a little unnerving. Something like waking up and finding yourself in a bad western.

Now, we are just leaving Alton where we had to stop for paramedics to pick up some poor woman who was in the middle of a massive anxiety attack. Now, the engineer is pushing us along at 82.5 miles an hour now on not so smooth tracks, so I know a little of how she felt. Nothing like the excitement of the train.

Train Travelogue Continued

Dec 262003
 

There isn’t really going to be too much to this travelogue on board a train thing as far as I can see, but I’m writing them anyway. We continued on into East Texas as the sun slowly begins to set. As much as I’m enjoying train travel, I should advise those looking for beautiful scenery and general quaintness to look away when pulling into a town. For some reason, people of means don’t seem to want to live next to the train tracks. However, I have discovered that there is a whole plethora of categories that can be applied to the generalized concept of “junkyard”. Treatise forthcoming . . .

Anyway, I watched the world go by, listened to an audio book and generally wasted away the time. There were some highly amusing sites along the way, but all going by too fast (nearly 80 miles an hour) for a good picture. Well, let’s see there was the “Beer Barn” which was literally an oversized barn that allowed you to pull in to the “barn” where strong attendants would load the beer of your choice into your vehicle and send you on your way in no time flat. The other unusual sight was a miniature horse farm. If they only had miniature cowboys, it would have been perfect.

Had a wonderful dinner (which is the great thing about train food) of New York strip steak, rice, corn and green beans. My dinner companions somehow were all of the “world is a horrible place and getting worse everyday” variety and complained the entire meal about conservative politics, global warming and bad architectural taste. But what did I care; I had wine and red meat. Nothing could get me down.

I had a wonderful bad habit in the crowded but convivial smoking “lounge” and headed off to bed. The rocking motion has already almost put me to sleep, so till tomorrow . . .

What a way to travel . . .

Dec 262003
 

Well, if you haven’t already guessed, I’m on vacation. I don’t think I have ever needed it more either. I was feeling about as burnt out as I could for the last couple of weeks and I needed to get away from all that has become routine. I decided to head off to Chicago for a couple of weeks, see old friends and generally forget about work as much as possible. I’m taking the most leisurely form of transportation that I can, the train, which is really quite wonderful. I had a nice roomy coach seat from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth. It was a wonderful journey through the plains, grasslands and the ancient Arbuckle Mountains. Now I’m resting quite comfortably in my small but quite reasonable sleeping quarters.

We just passed the infamous Daley Plaza and got a unique view of the shooting grounds. Now we’re stopping at the Dallas station before heading out west. I’ll post a little more of this rambling travelogue after dinner.

Aug 112003
 

Below you will find the first entry from my Southwestern Road Trip travelog:

Travel Journal Day One: 7-30-2003

Began the great southwestern trek in the first rain Oklahoma has seen in almost a month. I left town later than expected so I was forced to take the not so scenic I-40 from Oklahoma City to Amarillo. However, even this drive had a vast variety of charms. I had forgotten the beauty of Western Oklahoma with its rolling hills and lush farms. I had also forgotten the enormous change that takes place almost immediately after crossing the Texas border when the land opens up, the hills disappear and there is nothing but golden grasses for as far as the eye can see. While this is not very astounding while on the interstate, the moment I dropped off onto the scenic highway 60, the effect was truly wonderful.

But nothing in the Texas panhandle prepares you for the majestic solitude of New Mexico. Hwy. 60 takes you into New Mexico via Clovis which is admittedly, not very scenic. However, if you are a military aircraft buff, its proximity to Cannon Air Force Base gives you some spectacular views of fighters performing maneuvers. Continuing west, the land quickly beings to change into the desert landscapes where the imagination runs wild with visions of gunfighters on main street and dusty cowboys herding cattle. All of this imagery is perfectly suited for the high touristy site of Billy the Kid’s grave which you hit in Fort Sumner. About 20 miles outside, you run into the modern ghost town of Yaso where I got some wonderfully melancholy pictures.

Just outside of Yaso, the rain began to pour, a real frog strangler to be sure. But the storm was short lived and soon the air was fragrant with the smell of dust, pinion and sage brush, one of the best smells in the entire world. Soon the mountains began to appear, the car started to slightly strain and the temperatures dropped. I had dinner in Mountainair at the Shaffer Hotel beautifully decorated in southwestern colors and covered with swastika. Darn that Hitler for stealing such a striking symbol. However, the irony of listening to “Take the Skinheads Bowling” by Camper van Beethoven while pulling up was enough to keep my chuckling for some time.

I am camping tonight in the Cibola National Forest high in the Los Pintos Mountains. I’m the only one here and the silence is deafening. But my sleep should be wonderful, so I will be wonderfully prepared for the adventures tomorrow.

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