Thursday, May 26, 2011

The Cliff Notes...

Here we are. Over two years after the roadtrip ended. And I still haven't finished writing the story down. I have, however, just now finished typing up the notes that I started taking during the trip when I stopped blogging. There's a little bit of repetition at the beginning, but after Maine everything is new. Everything is word for word what I wrote at the time, whether I remember what it meant or not, except for any notes in [brackets]. Those are present-day-me (as of May 26, 2011) commenting. Have fun trying to decipher!

MA: Greena, church, Diana;

ME: “junk” store, ME pretty, Lynn, Sandy River General Store, emotional, wise/helpful/anger/let go/love mom, Jeremy WA, morning parted :’( /awake kinda, electricity out --> nap (lol), left, gas station, up road? sure?, waiting, Pat, Jerry, Ally --> tug, pics of all, charm, steak dinner, splits (yum!), Bangor, book/thighmaster --> older guy, Dover/gma/funny --> dog 8 years to 6 years but not 2/looks/gpa came in/”for Christ’s sakes” lol Pat said, small talk but nice --> Gemini sign/left, Pat & I shared/bonded, Jerry changed oil/fuse :D --> Hannah’s Subarus, got cars, home then Bville Jnc, Gpa’s/mom’s house/pics/small town, back home, Pat store, both home --> Kylia (sp?) for moose but none, home/dinner (yum! again), joking/friends :), tv, bed, kiss on forehead, dog barking/coyote? moose?, gas station/drama :), old man spandex boxing dress shoes, lighthouse, Acadia/pretty, Pat on bed/chatting, called Debbie, said bye, meet Deb/stories, Smith’s/Martin?/shirts;

NH: Middlesex, pretty drive (again);

VT: Stowe “mtn,” Burlington, hotel, dinner, Bham vibe, early bed/H[ot] C[hocolate], still rushing, bfast/ warm milk, Muddy Waters/cold HC, co-op/jobs/Whistler sticker, Burton?/ask/found/pics, Vergennes/ lunch, Middlebury/bookstore/Alpine/Dave lol/Breadloaf/Rob Frost/same air/creepy, back to NY/bridge closed, Borders stop, cabin, movie/freaky, cabin/bad vibe/all night drive, 24 hrs!, sunrise over Atlantic/random/bad directions [Long Island], Han annoyed/I slept & drooled;

PA: A[dam] & C[hristina]’s/no answer -->Shawnee Gnl Store (again), [note found], pump bad -->mom’s house, 10ish mile walk (woops)/thru woods/up hill :P, Fern Gully, dinner, bingo/Geana, Zoe, Warren, read/crash on couch, morning/church?!/not feelin’ it/good message, Home Depot/nope, home/nap 4 me;

CT: YWAM/time Δ, goodbyes, White Castle, donuts, New Haven, Rebecca (Illinois?) & Olivia (Arkansas) kitchen chat, txt/stranger, Jeff Pratt/convo/in house, updates, stuck in bathroom/rescued @ 5am, love146/peeing from armpits/great!;

NY: Nickleback/”whine whine whine,” dark tunnel/Han glasses forgot/lights on car;

MD: “Maryland, Maryland, Maryland”;

VA/DC: Kim, Vince, Karlyn, Sierra, Trinity, rad [orange] polish, rest & Arlington, dance in car, no Southeast WH :(, Smiths, Kennedy Center, smile trip, WA plate, Cap tour & LOC (bored & wander), Ben/3rd floor/Mt B aker, WA/snowboard/history/kind & friendly, protests/hat man, air & space, WA mon, rainbow Lincoln, Vince pickup, Fudd[rucker]s/crazy, Fri morn/Han sleep/cards, Holocaust/genocide, Lincoln, Vietnam, home/stuck in lot/traffic --> late :s, mall pickup in [stretch] Hummer/lots of 13-yr-old girls/quiet/loud, night sights, crosswords, Michelle/spiderman/Af. work, sat me slept, hang out --> WV/Maryland/App Trail (short :()/makeout/couple met by Jeff rock, home, scrabble, Han sick/church/suffering/compassion/huge, soccer! --> goal, Mario Kart/movie/late, morning left/hugs, bagels/coffee, Williamsburg/pay?, Aura Lee, candy shop, Han mems/Jamestown/Lamestown;

NC: Katie/Carmen/Sam, sleep in/write/relax, rain tramp [in “hurricane”], dinner/HS sex/preggos/dump cake/movie, siren/tornado?, D sis/awk, Shelby Star/Amy/not there --> note;

SC: Columbia/Hannah/Josh/Erin, Chilis, sml room, Lauren, Glee, awk kid, apples [to apples], ENT, talk to my friends/chill, EarthFare, hangout, donuts, Buffy/Angel/B&B dream, food hunt;

GA: Karen/Pete/Petra/Buddy, college group [at Emory!]/Hunter (superman)/Bob/Ross/Dan/Erin/Lisa/Steph/Marissa/Michelle/Joey/Luke/Tim/Nathan, Daniel(?), Ben Mindy, Alex, Dave, Tuan, Anise(?), Nathan, Mafia, “juggernaut,” city sky view, John Rocket songs, Coke World/high pitch/4D/tasted Beverly :P, MLK/eternal flame, run/talk/stories :), pizza, dog gas & kid with balloon etc (giggles), Ezekiel?/hats/awesome/hands, oil search/store, Stone Mtn/”bike” trail, turk din/Kathleen, playtime/learning, good talk/prayer;

FL: sbucks search, rock out fway friends, “come in behind me” truck guys/4D/wave/goodbye, car leak/guy help, Han sleep/me wake/guys!/NOT cute, Jan & Mike, “sleeptalk,” Han swim/noodle, crosswords, cards, beach!/80°/sun/warm ATLOC, fish, pelican attack, harpoon boys, burn :S, spaghetti, Michigan Rummy?, bike ride/ali[gator]s, oil Δ/sketch/nice, Nancy [Mindy’s mom]/verse/Ps 145:15-16, early/Han slp, dancing woman in car;

AL: beach/sand/sting ray, no sleep;

LA: NOLA!, Donna/Jim/George/Dal!, dinner/Indian/gelato, setup room/hotel, Hook/grocery/games/B & J, fam arrive, sleep (kinda)/ 1:30[am] arrive Cans, early morn/lots ppl, setup/pics/vid/fliers/called in on, [no rain – barely!], lots pple/food gone/Eugene – music-Houston/Gary – pic/Corey Hicks – rap/do nothing but bless 2 D/Reggie – here/Steph – NY/John-Sandra-John-Kasey-Bethy (friend)/Cans!-Steve/Erin/Graeme, Robert, playing with kids/camera, end circle, exhausted, showers next door, laughing with Cans/snoring on vid, groc store, puzzle, milkshake/fries --> fail, fun! night/Steve accidentally farting/ “we’re from WA” guy: “same f*n thing”/tip girl/penguin/ “I just remembered. I don’t know how to get there.” [Steve driving]/mud/lake view/clean up/hilarious/home/talk til 3am/Erin’s story (amazing)/bear (God perfect)/just incredible/ “won’t sleep” 1 min, out next :D lol/cuddle w/bear all night, church (All Nations)/late but calm, Tabitha’s story & dance, great worship & sermon, day w/Lashon/Krong “Krunk” (Cambodia)/Manuel (Columbia)/L’s house/parking L: “Thank you Lord” M (in deep voice): “you’re welcome” LOL/Po-Boy fest/music (Rebirth Brass Band)/strip dance/M’s questions/air drum/beat box in car/French Quarter/beignets/ walking, mon: clean up/goodbyes, Paul’s Café/small bathrm;

MS: Sandy & John/not feel good, tues: job hunting/movies, great convo w/J & S, wed: Townes & Katie/Blind Side attempt/movies, Thxgiving w/MS fam: Mime/Skipper & Terry/Britt/Jeffrey/Jennifer & Ken? & Max? & Page/ J & S/T & K, great food & fun/pool, Mime/piano/John sing, Blind Side/good, writing, Canton Lights, creeper John/candy/ “Ave Maria”/lay on floor, cleaning stuff, football/John cats, church/morning/wine/strict/Sandy --> hell/LOL [b/c me wine?], evening/sneeze/good, woman on comp just kicked out by fiancée & on singles site, Han job/Cell South, me/FCS/Robert George/Devin (air force)/Ashley (finish school)/GiGi (school)/Ian (FL, “martial arts”)/Tabs (40ish?)/Brian (Bellhaven?), housesit/Don/Jen accident/move out/old dog/funny/Winston, meteor/ “random” clearing, thunder storm, move to Shana & Brad’s in boonies/Zeus/Roxy (diaper), Cell South dinner/bar/Fenians, party/Gus/ “toe strap”/puke couch/Christian & Keith/Han bath-pee/Chris-smart/facts/belch/Kelly & Bradley “shining”/David/abstinent/drink/all puked, sick @ work Sunday, deerscetti (yum!), Brad: “Kelly said can just shoot if crazy”/tats/strip club after :), coupon Christianity, McD’s girls/friends (lol) lang, Kashandra/guy/ “kick me” sisters HAHA!, Christmas @ Don’s & Mime/Jen’s, Kayla/ “kooky”/talkative, last days at work/skipper [stalking?], left Jackson --> Skipper’s/New Year’s/fireworks/intolerance/ bathroom write, [sleep] floor idea/bad, North/Pojo/Jennifer/Page/Max/Bear/Boo, kids funny/tramp lips/Guess Who “can’t wead” [when I guessed Page’s person]/Corky’s waiter pic [in KY]/finger bite/max/ “like pink”;

KY: tiny ferry on MS river [to MO], cat sneeze, “Prairie Queen”;

AR: Han’s MONSTER sneeze in car/laughing, Fayetteville, AR/Olivia/CT/Linda & Niel/self sust. house/ “Selah”/dinner (yum)/birds/write/fav author/SNOW/COLD, morning talk;

OK: OK city, motel hunt & barter – studio 61 $40/very nice ppl, real Indians, pizza, awk/cute guy dance @ store, chill night, left early, check engine light (bad timing)/nice rental mechanic peeps (no charge);
TX: Amarillo/Mexican (yum!)/Sbucks & B of A, almost off road 4 lid (lol), tumbleweed!, giant cross;

OK [again]: BEAUTIFUL sunset/scenes --> OK ranch!, gorgeous/cold/dogs (9?) + Babe Ruth, drive diesel/fee cows & horses/pellets & hay, Han scared @ night/weapons, shooting/.22, “hike”/climb/tough but pretty (great view! of all land & cliffs & winding river)/Han “lost”/both worried/dog near end, Mike & Bill Bailey/trappers, dino stuff, Roy Young, Paul/young cowboy/shot own leg/swears, good convo w/Roy on everything, dirt rd into Colo./no one;

CO: talk to Shelli, DENVER!/oil Δ, Liz getting ready…, party/HUGE contrast to South/all black :), grocery hunt, exhausted/time Δ/pass out, to Shelli’s!/Nathan tall &facial hair (boxing)/Savannah 16!, lotta fun, GB game :(, Hangover, Stan! --> “cheesy,” “is that Denzel Wash?,” cookies, Sav pic/ “Orphan” identical, Pho, music stealing issue, into mts!/pretty, Meghan Costa, tour/sliding, Lomo, Caitie, Jess, Erika/wrist, Jeff “Skittles” (not Chris), Hangover/Chinese, BORING 1st day/alone/Office, shopping around Breck, outlets, SFC (foodspitting/jumping LOL!)/chill/good, ULLR fest --> wrong way car, Bham for Boomer’s debate/nope, breakfast/free skis/David/no pass/Mickey/free runs/Han ski/City Year, girls Bible study/ Ewoks/Dutch Blitz, sleep/finish AmCorps [I’m in it now!], pizza/Kevin/Mickey/Lomo/Jeff/Costa --> prank calls: hamster [selling]/Blockbuster msg – Jon – callback Ben phone/Gamestop – Dan, “your mom,” telephone Pictionary LOL/bucktooth Einstein farting, church/Spirit, Office, SFC/crowded/random ppl, Erik’s/Noah/Brett/David/Audral?, ride home/distractions/me: “fav form of apple?” H: “round?” me: “apple sauce?,” 7-11 TP stop/guy: “hope no one’s turtle heading at home” me: “nope, it’s preventative,” Denver/movie/Shelli/Sav/Nat/Reader/Jeff B-day bail/Han drive/snowboard/Caitie, Kevin & Erika wrestle /Scott/Forrester, leaving/sliding freeway/accident/we stopped/Han panic/me “plz help,” Cali angels [a bigger car following/leading us?];

UT: beautiful!, bald eagle, Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile, Arches/walk w/noname guy/Nashville, TN/photo/where we were, sticker in DEEP snow/Han Δ pants side of road;

CO [again]: couchsurf/Donna/son & friend (Aaron? & Nick) check us out, STORIES/dogs/Mia/bed, plunger/no GC, 4 corners;

NM: drive [just to be there…there was ice!];

AZ: snow everywhere!, Jim & Jackie’s (Rachel’s rents)/HUGE!, both very nice, Rolls Royce to Blockbuster, Angel/McTrifflin, Bella & Diesel (XTREME), to dentist/HUMMER/walk around/ “Arizona Territory”/cool stuff/barter, walk w/Jackie, hot spaghetti, cool talk w/J & J about right guys, go to stores – looong time, cookies/burn, Office, Kev & Heidi’s/din/Yogurtland (mmm!)/Holy Grail, Which ‘Wich/antiques/homes/ shops/mall/walk/make friends/pizza/tax fam/triv. persuit/hard/scene it x2/Han outburst/Kev win/ church/glass selves/fam, Deb/lunch/talk/great, Heidi fam/dinner/very cool/Office/ Red Dwarf/Lobo (dog) – cute/Frankie (cat-hiss-autistic-shortbus)/Luna (cat-fat-hid a lot), back 2 Jacque’s, make pudding [not sweet enough haha]/ James/Sam/Ashley, S & J loud talkative/funny/Jim annoy, poker lol, “party left” – Sam, no cownie [?], bye Jacque, lots of WA,BAD smell, Yuma/Susie/Bob/lunch/tour/neat;

CA: Salvation Mtn!, Leonard in store!/SO cool/[gave stuff]/cat, SMELLY drive, Taco Bell/ “no Spanish”, PST!, Roxy & Dennis/travels/poker/fun, POT in bathroom, beaches/seals/cute!/pretty, yummy dinner!, WALL-E, drive to Carmella, Boys & Girls Club/volunteer/Katie & Kristen/Jose, try to find Lindsey/Mexican, grocery store/Han’s awkward “convo” w/store guy, Maverick (dog)/Jack & Linus & Colby (cats), “Yes man,” 2nd vol day/paint!/ping pong, Life!/new :S, In & Out/men, Drunk Kate cuz :(/Bugles dump in purse & car/forgot Hannah’s name --> “I’m sorry, I’m drunk” LOL, superbowl/not fun/ timeshare/SWEET!/Colts lose/Saints win, exercise, bed in wall, no Disneyland :(, Huntington Beach/not nice/cold/pretty ocean/dolphins?, Han taxes, exercise, candy, me Dland tix/not Han, free Denny’s attempt/too busy --> freeway to Vegas!, starving, kept trying for Denny’s/IHOP instead;

NV: arrive at timeshare/far from strip, Goodwill for “nice” clothes/awesome white heels but no, dress-up & then shuttle/barefoot a lot in rain, Caesar’s Palace, Planet Hollywood restaurant (not real casino – oops)/ Peter Sellers & Pink Panter/married guy gawking/Han flashing? lol, hurting feet, tour Caesar’s/watch 3-card poker & guys taught, slots 1st time/won 5 & lost ticket, shuttle home, more comfy shoes/touring/ me 16?!/lost $ in slots…a lot, ppl helpful, Han saw Orcas guy, decided to walk back/BAD decision/6 miles/offered ride right in front of timeshare, saw Azena/Joshua (12!)/Martin (9!)/Isaiah (4!), in bathroom asked cop where poker was, out to Fremont/cool/El Corazon & roulette win $/:)/guy at table nice, light show pretty/KISS, Han margarita/cowboy boot/Thomas/TWSS/”want stiff? long black? thick? I can go deeper”/check out butt when leave, kid w/dad: “I feel uncomfortable,” Han tipsy & funny/ “stiffler blow brains out in car --> b/c of tram falling (so random), $1 burgers/ waitress: “you want 2 burgers too” me: “NO.”/almost hit girl in line/A1 bottle dropping/extra burger like diaper/not to alone lady, drunk lady gambling, home/argument/good?, not wake up on time, SF not good time, Disney tickets!/try to find lodging in LA/nope;

CA [again]: hurried to Disneyland/Splash Mtn/Sml World/turkey leg (bad idea)/Indy/Space Mtn (couple hands up)/young girl “this is the best day”/guy comment --> random woman “and then he left to war,” pizza, drove all night on Hwy 1 – BEAUTIFUL/COOL, SF, Borders/not nice/brushed teeth with stranger in bathroom, Lomard St./bricks/Fisherman’s Wharf/Alcatraz/Golden Gate, timing bad so to Bend, Soceiletio (?)/lunch/pretty, Napa Valley, looong drive, Shasta pretty, Subway girls/watching for cops;

OR: Bend! OR weird, Sadie & Dan, showers (ahh), Zeus (pretty dog), Han hike, yummy stir fry, Winterfest/Scott & Chris/snow ramp/Hells Belles (ACDC tribute but WOMEN – awesome)/lots of chips/ guy hit on me “ran into”/ -“is that good coffee” –“is HC” –“tastes like coffe” – “good” – “no, it’s not”/awkward tent moments/ “you need to rep this” (guy w/b4 it melts tee)/lost Scott (?), Han & I home, Han issues, S & D finally home/found guy in bar, breakfast, drive to Salem/PRETTY, mom’s/good talk/drove Claus/haircut/card, up to Portland;

WA [again]: Dad & Robin’s, Emma’s/Jacque/wine (only Em)/really cool open & honest talk (God/religion/sex/guys/etc), to Julie & Rick’s, to Mormor’s/Nancy/bruises/eye surgery/Orcas/puzzle/Bonnie, Jack/tall/6 pack/proud, Hoover hurt/dogs lost & found, green tree frogs, “Into the Wild” --> :S, Luke & Holly, Mark (Irish painter) ferry back/Kincaid puzzle, Kristin hangout, New York talk :S PLEASE! [it happened! I moved to NYC to work for Operation Exodus as an AmeriCorps VISTA!]

And that's how I drove to 48 states. The end...

Or is it?