A - I

I have been singing since I hit Oklahoma. No real reason, except that it feels like the west. No, not the west, the West. I feel like I'm coming home.

I'm trying something new this time, memory wise. I hadn't been able to get to a computer in a while, so I was listing things in my head that I wanted to talk about. So here we go, the ABCs of How My Day Was.

A is for Animals. As in the sad, pathetic little guys at Prairie Dog Town, in Oklahoma, home of the world's largest Prairie Dog (a big block painted to somewhat remind you of a prairie dog), and living 6-legged cows. They just looked hot. Not very exciting, and kinda sad.

Hmmm. Are they just cows?

No, look! Right there... An extra leg!

B is for Boxdots. Does anyone get a furious thrill out of running over the little temporary flag boxdots?

C is for Camera. I lost a friend today. I've already gone through all the stages: denial (that wasn't my camera flying off the hood of the car, was it?), acceptance (yes. yes it was, you moron), and grief, which lasted a whole 30 seconds until I realized that this was my chance to upgrade to a brand new sparkly digital camera! Smarter! Faster! Shinier! This was followed by 2 hours of camera shopping online, while I should have been blogging, because I definitely can't afford one right now, and the idea of uploading pics at library computers is a little mindboggling. If they won't let me take a quiz on lipsticks because they think it's about sex, I really doubt they will let me plug my camera in. No, really, it's art...

The last picture ever taken by my valiant friend.

D is for Dog. In Nebraska I saw the best use of an Aussie ever. I was filling up at a station just off the main street, when a dusty truck with an old hay bale in the open bed pulled up. Before it had even slowed down, a gorgeous Australian Sheep dog had launched herself off the back, and shot under my car. I was worried, until I realized my car was just the beginning. She proceeded to run laps around the entire station. I finished up, and just before I left, I saw the truck taking off down the street. With no dog in the back. I was about to jump out and check under my truck, when I saw her racing down the middle of this mid-west Main street, happily in pursuit. The farmer didn't even slow down; I just assume she caught up to him eventually. Absolutely the ultimate in herding; she must lead a blissful life.

E is for Eden. As in the Garden of, in Lucas, Kansas, the Folk Art Capital of the World. Wonderful cement sculptures depicting the creators political views surround a small house, but the real... strangeness, I suppose, lies in the yard, where said creator's body is on display in a glass case inside a cement mausoleum. He's pretty mummified by now, and it was a jarring sight. I guess he really, really wanted people to see the message in his art, and he figured a dead body would be a huge pull. I guess it worked. Although for once, I wasn't the morbid one. I just came for the cement folks, I didn't even know about the body.

F is for Flat. Kansas is Flat. Very, Very Flat. I've been through some flatlands on this trip, but I don't think I had seen anything like this. It was a hot summer day, not a cloud in sight, clear to the horizon, and just... flat. No other way to describe it.

G is for Gnats. Due to the temperature, my window has been down for the last two weeks. As a result, I have had many unwelcome insect types come visiting. The spooky thing is that I haven't found a single little corpse yet, except for the guy that ended up in my hair (and I'm convinced I only found him because he was the size of a golf ball). Where are they? Are they really dead, or just injured? I bet they are all huddled together somewhere, waiting to jump out at me at the right moment.

H is for Hand. I have a callous on my hand, that can only have been caused by my steering wheel. Even cooler than a road tan (which I am working valiantly on).

I is for... iiiit's Texas! Okay, I didn't have an I, but I wanted to talk about Texas. I'll only be here a couple days, it looks like. It's sad, because Texas just feels good. Not physically; I'm sweating my own little river here, but in some other way. Mentally, psychically, whatever. It just feels nice.

I wanted to do a little medly that included all my favorite Texas songs, in honor of the Lone Star State that I must leave so soon, but since I'm trying to not sound like American Psycho again, I'll just leave you with the knowledge that...

...that's right, you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas,
That's right you're not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway.

It's a soothing thought.

Comments

[Carrie]

The story about the Aussie made me smile. I love seeing dogs do what they were born to do! Mine sit on the couch and watch me knit. :)

[christeeeeeeeeeeeee]

many songs about Texas there are. here's part of one (I think you'll recognize it):

I don't wear no Stetson
but I'm willing to bet, son,
that I'm as big a Texan
as you are

etc. etc.

see you soooooooooooooon

[maryse]

is that a lyle lovett song?

i'm sorry but every since W came into office, i've hated texas

[rachel d]

I just heard that song for the first time yesterday (July 1st, yes I'm behind in my blog reading). Which reminds me that sometime while you're here I would like to copy some of your cds.
Glad to have you back.
Love, Rachel