Go West

After a couple nights in the periphery of America (Big Bend, West Texas), we made it out alive and well. Though, it was a rather bizarre time. Last night in Balmorhea involved out of control winds, dust, and no real plumbing or electricity. Today was an insane amount of driving. We are now in Hollbrook, Arizona chilling for the night. I assume Andrew will be following this one up with his world-famous hour-long uploads, so stay tuned! Showers and recharging will precede the Grandest of Canyons to-morrow. Still having a great time! 

P.S. Albuquerque is really beautiful, and it embraces its Rt. 66 heritage with a look backward and forward. There were like 15+ sushi and coffee places each along Central Avenue, which is served by Rapid buses! I came away from that relatively progressive oasis very impressed with its aesthetics and I naysay all the elders who claimed it wasn’t a town worth visiting. I’ll be back one day soon; either by flying into the Sunport or arriving in what looked like the nicest Greyhound station ever. 

Kirsten and Sam found a great new apartment not too far from their old one. They have been great hosts, putting up with our constant political tangents and bickering. We’ve had good coffee, been swimming, and watched a great double feature at the paramount (China Town and L.A. Confidential). Today is Josh’s birthday, at his request we went to the Spoetzel Brewery (Shiner) out in Shiner, Texas. Ezra and Josh like the city, though I think Ezra is bothered by how necessary cars are. It does seem rather impossible to walk anywhere in a reasonable amount of time or hardship. We plan on staying with the Christensens tonight, who are gracious enough to put us up. Of course, we’re going to Chuy’s first …

We stayed at Carol and Alan’s house over the night and stayed up really late with my Uncle Thom Kurtz.  Drove all day past windmills and desert to Big Bend.  It’s beautiful

Ah, the future! Who knew? The Internets will not provide the future for you. Political news is slow motion, despite relatively good news coming out to-day. Texas is interesting but I do not want to draw out some rambling that attempts to define it all right now. Andrew is currently defending the entire futon for himself in Austin…bastard.

Kirsten and Sam are generous hosts. 

After spending half an hour around Dealey Plaza I can tell that the Warren Commission report is bullshit. The sixth story of the book depository is so high up and at such an odd angle from where the motorcade rode. Also the grassy knoll is so close to the parade route, someone had to have seen something. This being said I have no idea what actually happened. I don’t know if anyone ever will.

After riding through the triple underpass we headed to the Cotton Bowl, which I was eager to see until it became clear that God did not approve of this venture. The cotton bowl is surrounded by a labyrinth which the van had to be navigated through. Also god dropped a tree branch from heaven and sent a trash can up from the underworld to impede our progress. Once we arrived at the Cotton Bowl we saw that it was undergoing construction. 

More about God. According to Andrew God has forsaken Missouri, because according to Andrew it sucks. However, God is alive and well in Kansas, which although being quite flat has a beautiful sky. I would like to go to Montana and see which sky is bigger? In Kansas we also read selections from Revelations which taught us the complexity of understanding anything. 

After the Cotton Bowl we went to Walmart to purchase spinach, humus, cheese, and cooler. Then we went to see the Texas Rangers play the Cleveland Indians. The ballgame provided a nice time to relax before driving to Austin.

We’re once again spending the night at a coffeeshop. Its funny how urban cynics decry the arrival of caffienated types coming into their cities, but what about places like Kansas City that lack anything of the sort? I mean, this coffee place had free wireless and Choddies ( a milkshake with chai and cold pressed coffee)! Kansas City, with its absolute lack of a center and local rail transit, could clearly use such destinations, no? This isn’t even about politics, its just about having some place to go that isn’t just a national chain. Some cities (mainly in the northeast) should be happy with what they have but even then, there will always be the dozen urban outcomes that have been curiously lumped under the singular title known as ‘gentrification.’ Whatever.
It was a good milkshake and the female clerks bit each other on the ass while changing the DVDs for “Angel.” At the nearby Uptown Theater, DJ Tiesto and Ted Nugent are coming to town this month. Not at the same time.

I would also like to second the praise for Arthur Bryan’ts BBQ.

We woke up and broke down the tent.  It was a pretty cush campsite, had heated water and showers.  After we had moved out of our campsite we went to Independence Missouri, hometown of President Truman.  America’s contemporary attempt to mythologize itself continues to both baffle and entertain me:

-He was a man both dedicated to his family, and lacking any sense of self-importance.  

-He a lover of music, like Chopin!

-Truman read five newspaper’s a day, and wanted to be buried in the courtyard of his library so he could walk to his office.

I wonder very much that these are the important details of the man’s life and presidency.  Where’s the nuance, the indecision, the personal triumphs?  It’s not that it has to be honest, but I’m looking for something more compelling.  This is what was said about president during the end of World War II and the beginning of the Korean War?

We spent a large portion of the day wandering around Kansas City and being indecisive about where we were staying on the way to Texas.  Had some pretty good barbecue.  Our AAA road guide was wonderful, I have only good things to say about the Kansas City AAA office.

Today we went to Aruther Bryant’s, an amazing BBQ restaurant and split two pounds of meat between the three of us as well as a large order of fries and some baked beans. By the end, I was thoroughly food stoned. The spicy sauce and burnt end were particularly good. I also enjoyed the fires. The Negro Leagues  Baseball museum was closed because it is Monday. A disappointment.

I was paced out while Andrew and Ezra went into the AAA store. We had much difficulty trying to find a place to  stay tonight. I am not sure where we will be.

Quote of the day: “So what you’re saying Andrew is that women can’t be both beautiful and good looking.” – Joshua

Apparently, my brother Zachary went through the same realization at this age when he went on some trip to somewhere dry and warm. I also kinda knew this anyway….but its true. Just like Harold Pincus, I don’t like being videotaped while eating, I read out loud the signage of anything remotely remarkable (this includes all White Castles) and I want to walk into every single establishment and order the cheapest thing possible. Thankfully, I am held back by a lack of driving skills….just like my father! However, I maybe turn it up a notch with a personal desire to document every mid-century typeface there ever was.

Just kidding, but seriously folks. The bi-dimpled picture of me next to Josh in the end of the the May 31st picture-gallery-thingy says it all.