One less canine, many more miles

And here we are again. I am freshly showered and I have smeared a peel off hydroxy masque thing all over my face so I am technically multitasking. I feel like I am doing my face a huge favor here. Who knows, maybe I am?

Mobile was… well, Mobile. It was like Jack at the dog park said. It’s a good place to spend the day but that’s about it. Speaking of dogs, we saw three. The first one was this big old boy pit bull looking beast coming up the street. He was interested in killing all the dogs in the car. Bruce totally thought we could take him but we drove away leaving a big question mark behind us. The second dog we saw was a traumatized little thing. It was left in the car while the fire works went off and it was freaking out screaming for help while it’s owner stood not 20 feet away. The last one was on the side of the highway all bloated with dried blood all over it. Road kill.

Side note: This got me thinking about making a coffee table book on road kill. There is some interesting road kill out here after all. I mean the crock and all the armadillos are an exotic loss but I bet I could easily fill a book. I’m going to ponder this thought.

So as much as the swamp (read: mosquito breeding grounds) really touched my heart, there is just no way Jim and I could set up shop somewhere like that and actually make a decent living. Not that the people in Mobile seem into making a decent living… Most of the neighborhoods were run down sad little places. Along the water there were some very pretty houses and the ocean was very pretty (as the ocean usually is). The cool part was how still the ocean was, so at certain times in the day it looked like it went right into the sky. Once you got near the downtown area there were large beautiful homes (although most of them have been turned into offices), but that’s about it. Well, no, that’s not it. They have strip mall after strip mall with everything anyone could possibly want, but nothing you could possibly need. I also want to tell you about the zoning laws, or lack there of. Awesome. You could have a small warehouse next to a house, next to a Taco Bell, next to a school. Bizarre but I like it. Oh right, and then there is the burning hatred for northerners. Burning. Hatred. When people caught our accents they visibly stiffened and their faces would contort like our voices entering their ears became bitterness in their mouths. I honestly believe we ruined some people’s meals and most likely, the rest of their day to boot. Interestingly enough, that on it’s own makes me want to move there just so I can torture people for a little while. Yeah, that’s all me, and it would probably get wearing.

Now that I have no schedule I am learning how to drive in a nice relaxed manner. I roll around admiring everything I can. No more need to rush about at warp speed. I am the one in the slow lane driving everyone mad. Live it up fast laners, you don’t know what you are missing. I am sure I’ll go back to the mad dash at some point but until then I go as slow as I can without being a hazard.

Once out of Mobile I took route 10 West. Nice little drive really. It meant that I went through Mississippi twice but I had the idea that worse could happen. And it probably could, provided you are not driving. These people are fucking psychotic. I’m talking suicidal psychotic speed demons. They were kamikaze-ing each other for no other reason than they could. People would get on the highway going about 80 and then three lane drift without a glance around them. Wild. I went that way, as I wanted to drive through New Orleans. Going into New Orleans was something. The bridges went on forever. You can totally understand how flooding could be an issue. Ha ha. I’m glad I visited but not due to the happy sense you usually hear people proclaim that. The devastation was moving. I was about 10 (?) miles from the city when I started noticing the wreckage. It started with businesses. Boarded up windows, no windows and the general feeling that something bad came this way. You’d get the feeling even had you not known the story. The newer buildings amongst the old were strange. Bursts of fresh and color surrounded by sunken and abandoned. Then came the neighborhoods. There were entire neighborhoods that are clearly nothing but ghost towns now. Like the people just walked away. I suppose they must have. There were ruins of houses with mobile homes perched on the front yard. Then there were the scattered homes that were rebuilt or in the process. They were few and far between in some areas. The experience left me feeling overcome. We had it pounded into us over the TV didn’t we? A large thank you to the media for making me overwhelmed to the point of no emotion. Do you ever get the feeling you are being prepped for a colder harder place? I’m glad I visited as it helped me understand just how huge it can make you feel and just how huge the problem really is.

I was going to get off the highway to get pictures until I was reminded of the roving gangs (New Orleans has a big time gang, drug and crime issue) and the fact that people are shot there daily on general principle. The shameful part is how Mardi Gras alone glamorized New Orleans. When you pick past the shiny plastic beads, bared breasts and drunken party you’re left with a run down, poverty stricken place located below sea level where some of the worst things are every day life and accepted. I just personally don’t enjoy seeing ravages as they make my heart heavy with compassion for the people that didn’t deserve it. Even a little. I’m not saying I want the job of who deserves what. I’m just saying.

Oh, that’s right. New Orleans had the coolest graveyard I have yet to see. I sort of wish I had had someone with me so I could have comfortably got off the highway and snapped some shots. Every time I went to get off the highway however, I got very creeped out and ended up staying on. I was reminded by that little person inside me (that is packed full of sense), that empty houses rarely, if ever, mean no people. Ah well. Maybe next time I can hire a large “scout”? Heavily armed would be on the job description.

After New Orleans I headed up 55 North. This is a very pretty, very boring route that starts with some of the longest bridges I have ever crossed. They went through nothing but swamp. Sometimes the clouds would come down to meet the half dead swamp trees but that was it for excitement. I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from visiting the swamp mind you, it’s very pretty in it’s own stagnant quagmire way. After that came the greenest highway I have ever driven. Luscious vegetation filled my eyes for miles and miles and miles. Mississippi is basically a green hole with lots of livestock. Every exit had little to nothing to offer but fast food and gas. Yeah, I filled up for 2.74 a gallon today. That’s the best price I have seen so far!! YAY! The people were friendly enough but not the brightest. Hey, at least they didn’t seethe abomination at me eh? Do you think a confederate flag on my truck antenna would help my cause? I’m practicing my southern accent. So outside of the exits was lots of… space. Lots of space filled by livestock. Ooo!! There was a sign broadcasting mini ponies for sale. If I see another one I am going to go and grab one up. Taylor thinks I should see if they make sneakers for the little guys. It’s a good idea considering the damage they might do to perfectly good hard wood floors. I wonder how they travel. It would have room in the back seat and can’t be any larger than Charles.

Speaking of Chuck, he’s gone with Taylor back to Atlanta to live out his new masculine life. It’s true, there were a couple of times I reached in the back seat to pet him like I am used to, just to find a vacant dog bed. I miss him, true. But I have a solidly good feeling about him living with Taylor and there is something to be said about that. You know, considering how I am about other people owning dogs. Ha! Yeah, I said it!! Oh right, dogs. Saw one running down the center of the highway today and didn’t stop. He had purpose. I have promised myself the only dogs I will help are the ones that are clearly lost and clearly scared. I’ll drop it at the local pound or something like that. I think that is a good deal. This way I can fulfill the need to help them but not totally and completely fuck myself in the process. I’m so smart.

Anyway, I stopped in Grenada, MS and found a place that takes the James. It’s shockingly nice for the price and the fact that pets are allowed. It even has a coffee maker. Go me. There was enough room so I tried jump roping on my busted toe but that lasted about ten whole minutes. I did all the other exercises instead. I’m liking this whole work out thing (kind of). Oooo… I am so an hour behind you guys! Sweet!

I just want to mention the fact that this driving about wouldn’t be *half* as pleasant without my drive and play that Mike and Marcia gave to me as a going away gift. This thing rules and without it I would be stuck with country, rap and gospel without respite during some of the ride. That is so not cool I cannot even begin to explain it. Anyway, I play my iPod through the drive and play and get to listen to all the music I love the most. That’s good for the heart, mind and soul as good music is so imperative for long road trips. Take it from me.

I never thought I would say this but the overcast weather was exactly what I wanted today. It cooled everything down and gave my eyes a rest from all that sun. It was perfect and I loved every second. I am so homesick that any distraction is a good one you know? I’m not regretting one second of this but I miss everyone terribly. Memphis is going to alleviate some of that by distracting me. I need to get the truck serviced and Memphis sounds like a blast. I’ll tell you all about it. I’m thinking about getting one of those little voice recorders so I don’t have to type while driving and walking about. What do you think? Remembering everything is tough. J Oh yeah, btw, online service sucks here so the pictures are going to have to wait. I have to sit in my doorway so it doesn’t really work for me. Oh well. Ciao baby!!