Fri, January 20, 2006
Moving Faster—12:03 AM
To silence all the haters out there who are saying our stops are too close together, we decided to make some serious progress today. So, we bent Texas over our knee and made it our bitch – crossing it all in one 10+ hour driving marathon. (In other words, we messed with it.) This involved fun things like a visit to the DQ for cool treats, as well as not-so-fun things like being pulled over by a Texas State Trooper for driving 77 in a 70 while displaying California plates. (We got off with a warning, but it meant I had to be extra careful for the rest of the day, because I damn sure wasn't going to give any money to the Texas government.)
Texas was as hateful and awful as you'd expect it to be. Big rig drivers, perfectly docile and polite just moments ago, immediately morphed into lane-hogging asswads upon crossing its border. Previously attractive roadside terrain became featureless, flat desert. We got out as fast as we could. (We did have a lovely dinner at Johnny Cace's in Longview, including scrumptious steaks and a first-rate creole gumbo.)
Now we're in Shreveport where we've already made a friend – the desk clerk at the Holiday Inn whom we bantered with as we registered for our room. (The clerk at the Jameson Inn down the street was far less amused by our antics, as well as my attempt to finagle a "Jameson Discount." We'll try again in Mississippi.) I've instituted an all-Britney channel on the iPod in recognition of our visit to the home state of the starlet-turned-baby-factory. We'll see how long it lasts tomorrow.
PS – Happy thirty-xxxth birthday, Brandon!
PPS – Mom, call the spa and reserve me a massage for Sunday afternoon. 10+ hour driving marathon!
"Z" — Mon, 1/23/06 2:18pm
Roadtrip? This would explain why I couldn't raise you on the phone for the past week. (So much for my first guess – drunken bender in South Central.) Have a blast. I'll keep my eye on the developments and will enhance my dull existence by living vicariously through you for the next few days.
"AC" — Mon, 1/23/06 7:22pm
Seeing as how we're nearly to Day 6 of Day 6, I'm getting worried that they were somehow sucked into the void of the deep south... Let's keep those fingers crossed!
"Holly" — Mon, 1/23/06 7:35pm
Ha! But you make it sound so negative. Maybe they fell in love with a quaint South Alabama town and ended up staying there, buying a used pickup, and opening a fried okra 'n' grits stand. I know I've been tempted. And Jameson has always been such an uncynical, drawl-talkin', small-town kinda guy.
Bee Boy — Tue, 1/24/06 9:57am
Eep. Sorry no new posts. I wanted to fix the timezone thing first (the re-rebee!), and it's been nonstop activity since we landed (Sat. night). More updates forthcoming!
"Alicia" — Wed, 1/25/06 1:18am
Jameson!!
We miss you!!!
Also, I'm smugly glad to hear that Texas is just as horrible as I figured it was. Now that you've been there and reported on it first hand, I don't have to go myself.
Keep the updates comin'!
"Chelsea" — Mon, 9/25/06 7:00pm
Sorry about our troopers here in Texas but glad you enjoyed a meal at one of our most prized establishments! Hope you stop in Johnny Cace's again on any other trips through Texas!