Diana Ross & The Supremes.

I went to the DIA today. Also known as the Detroit Institute of Arts.

It was a fantastic place with a great collection. It's newly remodeled, almost $30 million worth of remodeling. The collection was extensive, all of it well segregated into its own little halls. Of course, I loved all the contemporary stuff. They also had 5 or 6 Degas, which I loved. And they had this...


Look where I ate lunch.

They enclosed the courtyard of the oldest building and turned it into a cafe. Fantastic! Because really, NO ONE needs a courtyard in Michigan. Freakin freezing up here.


We also took a mini detour to downtown Detroit.


Hi, Kitty!


From the way back to Southgate... Hello, I would like to a 16mm projection onto these.


Featuring film of these. Thank you.

Canada in three days.

Bud Light tall boys.

Happy holidays! Buy discount!



Wednesday was a happy trip to the largest outlet mall I have ever seen. While I am on all kinds of a budget right now, I did spend $5 on a Liz Claiborne wallet and $12 on Vicki's panties. Good buys, good times.


Found at the calendar store. Annie will never be this basset.

And today. I did the most Michigan thing of all...


Car shopped at a Ford dealership.

And how am I finding the Great Lakes State? Yesterday was the first time I drove through the actual city of Detroit and found it to be a lot like other mid west cities. Lots of industry, lots of abandoned industry, lots of places I want to explore. I've been given a lot of strict warnings about how horrible Detroit is, how high the crime rate is. But, I seriously can't see it being any worse than Albuquerque. Don't be a dumbass and dumbass things won't happen to you.

The thing that always gets me about urban ghettos is I never think they're ghetto. I guess it's because Albuquerque ghettos are so freaking different. I mean, I see brick and think that everyone's rich! (thanks, desert) I'm just so fascinated by them, I want to run around taking hundreds of pictures and explore every building. I hear you're not supposed to do that in the "actual ghetto".

But, possibly more interesting to me are the history of the unions here. I really wanted to learn about all that while I was here. But, how does one just LEARN about something like that? No museum for it, so I'm gonna look for a book. Same deal goes for motown.

I guess a big part of me wishes I could be in the city of Detroit, experiencing all of this. But, I doubt it would be any more satisfying, as I'm staying with a real life auto worker and union member. There's nothing less real about suburbia, I think I need to remind myself of that more. People'll be studying that in 50 years just as intensely. Living history.

On that note, how important is it that I go to Niagara Falls? I'll be on the Canadian side, which I hear is much better, but I'm still on the fence. Tell me!

Joseph Smith is dum, dum, dum, dum, dum!

I was in my car for more than 20 hours on Sunday & Monday, driving over 1,000 miles. I'm now residing in good ol suburbia: Southgate, Michigan. 1,000 miles? That's a lot of state lines and photo opportunities.


It's not actually the world's largest McDonalds. But it likes to think it is. Still pretty impressive that it's a bridge.

Located in Vinita, Oklahoma, it's pretty much the most interesting thing from Norman to St. Louis. Normally, I'm a huge fan of driving through the Ozarks. It's like a mythical fairy land in the warmer months. The winter leaves it cold and a little post-apocalyptic feeling.


Missouri state line: Saddened, no sign to prove my accomplishment.

I stayed the night in a Motel 6 in Fenton, Missouri. This action; booking a motel room and staying in one, ALL BY MY LONESOME. Call me a sissy girl, but staying the night in a random motel room in a city you know little to nothing about was a kinda scary move for me.


Luckily, some White Castle helped my situation.

The next morning, I had a mission: eat breakfast under the St. Louis arch. I loved that structure as a kid, when me and my mom would hop on a Greyhound and go see her sisters in New Jersey. I loved driving by it, and secretly hated St. Louis for not having their bus station closer to its arch.


Up thure.


It was an eery morning, no warmer than 20 degrees. But, more than that, NO ONE was there. Just me and my Krispy Kreme, all alone under this giant freaking arch.


But still, mission accomplished.
(kinda in love with that photo.)


St Louis is my kind of town. I hope, I hope, I hope I find a magical, free place to stay on my way back, so I can spend hours upon days exploring all of the bridges, the abandoned buildings and factories. It's a city of jazz and I found myself so drawn to its eeriness.


Fretting in Illinois after no sign and rest area to search for sign. Has my plan to take pictures at all state lines been completely foiled by the department of transportation?!?


90% of my drive looked a lot like this, as some big ol rain clouds followed me the entire way. Most of the time, it was just pleasant, nothing threatening. And I got to break in my new tires!

Also, saw another giant, freakin cross. I like the one on I-40 better. It has a gift shop.


Indiana state line: Look how happy this jackass was.


Almost as happy as when she found a Hardees in Indianapolis.

Speaking of, cities in the midwest are my new-found love. All of this abandoned industry, there's a railyard every mile, each with their own stories, their own preservation societies, their own protective neighborhoods. Just to make way for new factories that'll be vacant in another 50 years. I'll go explore them, all of them, someday. All of this gives me so many fantastic ideas for video instillations. And where I need to spend more time on the way back.


Ohio State Line: Thanks, Ike.


I took lots of detours in Indiana and Ohio, exploring the small town farms and industry. Also, kinda fell in love with it. This trip is terrible for how much MORE it makes me want to do and explore.


Michigan State Line: Where you at?

I'm doin well in the Great Lakes state, spending lots of time with my cousin Jackie, and sleeping off a long drive. Tomorrow, we head to the Detroit Institute of Art and I will blog about driving by 8 Mile and outlit malls tomorrow.

Comfort food.

Toby Keith loves his bar & grill.

Back talk!

The scene is afternoon, somewhere near Wyoming and Menual in the great city of Albuquerque. 2 friends, Cat and Jennifer, are sitting on a porch couch, enjoying a nice day, while 2 other friends, Kyle and Kenneth are doing some basic car repairs on Cat's 2001 Toyota Tacoma. The truck is in desperate need of body work. Jennifer's husband Ben is inside, watching a football game.

Cat: "I'm worried that headlight's going to be too low, no matter what we do."
Jennifer: "You should stick a potato under it. That would help."
Cat: "And smell really good after a while."
Pause.
Cat: "I wonder what we could stick under there that would hold it up."
Pause.
Cat: "Kenneth! Could we stick something under the headlight to hold it up?"
Kenneth: "Umm, I guess. Maybe. Like what?"
Jennifer: "Maybe a tennis ball?"
Cat: "Umm, that might work."
Jennifer: "Benji! Didn't we steal a tennis ball from the tennis courts the other day? Where is it?"


Body Work 101: Be Creative.

Current Talk!


Biggie

I went to Bricktown last night, which is OKC's downtown. I went to see the purdy lights in the botanical gardens, but it ended up being the Christmas Tree lighting fiesta. Me and Tyler got free Starbucks out of the deal. I had a good night of exploring OKC's version of downtown revitalization. Now, if people would only go there. It might have been the night, but it was deader than Albuquerque's downtown on a weeknight. I didn't mind too much. What sober person wants to be run over by drunkies?

Speaking of drunkies...



Tyler took me to a bar called Tapwerks, at which I will be immediately applying if I ever move to Oklahoma. Over 100 bears on tap, 150 in bottles. Also in a nice, historic building. Hellllo. But, they also had "trays" of beer, which had 4 5oz glasses of different bear. Pictured above is the mystery tray! G-Dub, are you taking notes?

Weather depending, I'm truckin to St. Louis tomorrow. I'm a little nervous, as this is the real, official kick off into the unknown. But, I'm more excited about all the state lines I'll be crossing the next few days. 5, count em!

Plea from a cat.

If anyone in the whole, wide world has seen my white coat with the black toggle buttons, also known as best-coat-in-coat-world, please notify me immediately! I miss it so and need it desperately for the north country. :(

Land of the pines.

Gobble, emmer effers, Gobble!


I learned today that the McHughes family does up Thanksgiving right, with a feast that took up 4 folding tables, including drinks and dessert. Of course, that fed 40 people, but considering that my turkey day's rarely been larger than seating for 3, I was pretty taken. And also really, really, really, really thankful that they let me share it with them. I somewhat invited myself, after some drunken banter with Matt, but really, I couldn't have felt more welcome.

Like Cari, here's 10 things I'm thankful for.
1. My dog having an awesome home, even though I miss my wiggle butt a lot.
2. Both my parents having nice, warm homes to go to for dinner today.
3. Hint of Lime tortilla chips. Tasty!
4. My truck. Even if the headlight is being held up with tennis ball (picture to come later)
5. The lovely weather! Not a hint of bad driving in sight!
6. Maria, cuz she's a BADASS and coming to NYC to meet up with me over New Years. Time Square, here we come!
7. Hot buttered rum, made by Amy.
8. This computer still working, after how many times I've managed to drop it!
9. My boyfriend, for spending his entire day texting me about how much he wishes he was in Oklahoma. And no one wants to come to Oklahoma!
10. Wagon wheels on family farms at sunset. <3

Ma-at!

I've been having mouth issues. It all started after a too hot mug of cider from my beloved Frontier, which resulted in one of those terribly annoying top-of-the-mouth burns, the kind that you can not help but run your tongue over, therefore making the situation much worse. And I know this is kinda graphic, but normally when that happens, the top-of-the-mouth skin just peels off and it's fine after a day. Not this time! It's been worsening since I left Albuquerque. Today was the only day I've shown any kind of improvement.

Unfortunately, I came to Oklahoma, a place that averages 80% humidity. So of course, Cat-from-the-desert's body has a freakout and my allergies go zany. My throat's been all itchy and gunky since I got here. It doesn't help that Mattlahoma's a smoker.

Also, being in Oklahoma makes you burn through water. My mouth's constantly cotton (that sounds like a tea). I drink what feels like three gallons of water a day and never pee.

And now, you know everything you ever needed to know about my mouth. Fantastic blog!

Well, alright then.

Caution, this blog is jumpy.


It’s different this time.

I just re-read my intial departure post, where things were even more scary. I knew even less of my destinations and my intentions. But, this time, there really is a lingering sense of sorrow about leaving.

I still feel like this all snuck up on me, even after prolonging my departure date over and over again. This time, I was delayed because of two things; 1. Evolution announced they were looking for a new counter person. I put my name in the hat, for what could have become my dream job one of these days. However, two weeks after applying, no call back. It’s cool, I’ve always wondered if working there would destroy my love for that place. 2. I stayed to take my little brothers to Modest Mouse. That ended up being one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long time, since it was the first time Chase and Max had ever been to a concert. Max later declared it was the high point of his year. That, my friends, makes me one happy Gata. I’ve got this thing for live music, you see. The kind of thing had made me work for minimum wage at a venue for 2 years. And being able to share that with someone who’s never gotten to experience it was pretty incredible. Not to mention, the band wasn’t half bad live, either.

I really need to thank Kyle, Kenneth, Kate, Anderbenmans, Jennifah and Emoly for letting me sleep on their couches and futons, use their showers and eat their tasty food. I’m so lucky to know so many people with such big hearts that take such good care of me. Without you guys, there's no way I would be able to do what I'm doing. All of you are little hospitality angels.

Speaking of hospitality angels, I'll spend Thanksgiving in Norman with Matt and his family, much better than driving to Detroit tomorrow. I'm tired. No big plans while I'm here, just hanging out with good friends. And hopefully, not eating Fat Sandwich, since Matt works there now.

I'll probably head out of here on Sunday, giving me enough time to experience the madness that is Bedlam (and what's that?). By the way, if anyone has any tickets for that they'd like to give me, I'm down, since online tickets are anywhere from $70 to $5,000. But, please don't make me go alone.

Speaking of tickets, I know officially have to be somewhere on February 1st and 2nd. Chicago.


Dang!

A slow and constant ride.

At 6:37 this morning, the one known as Gata pulled out of her mother's driveway in Edgewood New Mexico and officially began her exploration of the great beyond.





Gata is currently in her second bedroom in Norman Oklahoma, where she will spend the Thanksgiving holiday.

There's a lot more to say about this. And about the fact I don't have hair anymore. But, all the Gata wishes to say right now is this:

SLIM JIM.

Drunkington.

Okay. I leave Sunday. Probably. Don't ask. Just expect blog posts from different cities. Sometime.

The point is...





It's getting colder.

All my life, I've had no manifest destiny, no desire to go west. Everyone wants to go to California, not this lady. And when I do finally go to California, bad things seem to happen. I've always felt the pull of the east. Tall cities, every museum I could ever want, the best public transportation in the worls, dozens of languages, constant beanie weather, steam rising from sewer caps, people who can't say their "r's", that's my place.

My mom was born in Harlem. She lived in New Jersey until 1978, when she came to Albuquerque with the lot of New Yorkers who bought land in Rio Rancho. Her dad had the same job as a super at the famed El Dorado condos across the street from Central Park. He's never had a drivers license or owned a car. He still lives in the same house in Little Ferry New Jersey, which he bought for $20,000 in 1953. It's now valued at $400,000. There's a bus stop 2 blocks from his house that will take me to Port Authority in half an hour. And from there, New York City. Don't even get me started.

And Quebec is family. It'll be like being in Northern New Mexico again, except I'll actually be related to people this time. I guess I'll be in Quebec City for it's 400th aniversary as a city, which means it'll be one big, giant party. But I'll spend most of my time in the smaller towns, getting to know my gene pool, something I've never done and something I'm fantastically excited about.

Can you read my excitement?

Anyway, here's a few photos.


This costume resulted in a major national protest against OUR Spirit store from catholics. We got calls from as far away as Missouri. Funny stuff.


Jennifer got married. I took pictures at her wedding. Sadly, most of them were of sneaking shots before the ceremony. And those don't live on my camera. But it was an awesome day. And I hate weddings.


The people at Putt Putt are really nice about you climbing on the animals if you ask first.


Alcohol consumption at Golden West after hours resulted in this photo, as well as my bruised tail bone from a spill I took off the ultility cart at about 15 mpa. That's fast for a utility cart. It hurts to sit.

Coen brothers.

I leave in 10 days.

Sorry. My world has been a haze of retail overtime. I have grand plans to back blog, but who knows when that will happen. Just know that I'm nervous. But really excited. And that I sold Halloween costumes to Minus The Bear.