It's a rough life.

Hello, friends! Thank you for joining me on my journey today. I got out of my truck this morning and remembered how much I hate the chill and wind, especially when I first get up. So, I got back in my truck and found a little restaurant called Alice's Cafe (have the voice in your head put a spanish accent on it). Alice was in no hurry to greet or help any of the customers, but when she eventually got around to it, she knew them all by name and asked them all about something specific going on in their lives. She was Manana Incarnate, and fun to watch for a while. I was writing in my journal, and she asked me if I was studying. I get asked this a lot when I read or write in public, which only makes me wonder how people can watch so much t.v.

Because life is tough out here in west Texas, I headed back to camp. I e-mailed my resume while a ferocious cat named Spike, who apparently lives at El Cosmico, rubbed against my legs. In the grove of hammocks, I kicked back and enjoyed an early afternoon beer with a new book. I forgot to mention that I packed a bag and a half of books. Wouldn't want to go without. I also packed postcard stamps, so get me your address and I will send you a postcard.

I had a picnic on my way to the McDonald Observatory, hummous and spinach with a great view of the Davis Mountains. One of the telescopes there is on the highest road in Texas, and it was gorgeous. I took telescope tours, and am going back tonight for their twilight program and then star party. The party ends at 11, so I'm starting to push some caffeine, with a delicious pizza in a little joint that has a tree growing through the roof. Maybe I'll sit and watch for the Marfa aliens after the star party. I just hope I don't sleep too late and miss the Cinco de Mayo parade in Alpine manana por la manana, but I would bet that it won't start "on time."

I think I could stay here a while. Peace.

Freakin' Awesome

If all I did for the next two months was drive west on I-10, I would be as happy as a billy goat with a straw hat. It's truly my favorite drive. For those of you who missed the wildflowers along the Brazos, go along I-10, especially around Luling. Driving along, driving along... Wow! Look at those windmills! Driving along, driving along... Wow! Look at those mountains! Oh, and all the baby goats!

This is the link to where I am staying. http://www.elcosmico.com/index.php It's pretty sweet. I'm going to stay in a teepee Sunday night. Yippee!

I had a to-do list a million miles long! I did almost everything. I updated my resume (which I'll be sending out tomorrow; maybe I shouldn't have mentioned Marfa aliens to a potential employer. oh, well, she got a taste of vacation ballew), I got info for my student loans, I addressed an envelope for June rent... so much stuff! There was one thing on my list that I didn't get to - only one -"Check tent." I should have gotten to that one. (Why are you leaving while Mercury is in retrograde, ballew? Because I am thirsty for the desert.) The elastic is shot on both of the crosspoles - good thing my truck is comfy!

The stars have come out, and I do not have to go inside :)

Trip Planning

Welcome to my blog. I'm writing this because Brandi and Alice told me too, but I hope it will be fun for all. As this is not a book, I do expect comments. No silent stalkers! It would even be fun if your pretty little face was posted over there to the left under "Followers." "Syd" is short for "Sydney the Cicada," my Tacoma. Syd recently got a new/used camper. She thinks it looks a little dumpy, but I assured her that it is very functional, and that we got a great deal on Craig's list.

I've been thinking about how much what we choose to take on a trip and how we prioritize that says about us. Here are a few things I've bought:
1. One pound of Verona, ground for french press. Three packets of instantly dissolving Columbian, in case of emergency. This may go with my anti-bacterial/viral tabs for the water, also in case of emergency. How the whistle I bought will help me in case of emergency, I am uncertain.
2. One national parks pass. Criminy, they've gotten expensive! I wasn't planning on Big Bend, but Big Bend or bust.
3. Beer.
4. A haircut. The ends keep ending up in my eyeballs and it makes me feel like one of those sheepdogs that make you say, "How can they see?". While I'm not packing my hair, I am taking it with me; the part I didn't put in the mail.
5. Dried bananas. I almost bought fresh, but memories of prior camping trip disasters with bananas came flooding back in the middle of the produce section, so I scurried over to bulk.
6. Salsa and Shiner for Jenny, who abandoned this glorious state with all of its... er, salsa and Shiner.

Off to sleep. Loading up in the morning, then off to Marfa, TX to chill with the west Texas hippies! Thank you for visiting my blog. I'll post tomorrow if I get reception. Peace.