Always wondered how we fell this way.

I maaaaaaade it.

And I even made it on Friday, which means I got to see BOTH Hot Water Music shows. The driving wasn't really that bad. It was warm enough that the roads were pretty clear, just slushy. And speaking of Chicago, this place is slush.


Other than giant random faces in the middle of city parks, the city itself is kinda a mess. I don't think there was any urban planning involved, at all, so parking is seriously the worst thing in the world. I mean that. Of all the frustrations I've experienced on this trip, the single most frustrating hour I had was circling block after block looking for a place to park. My car is currently being stored in a parking garage in Lincoln Park that's $18 every 24 hours. I'm staying with one of Mattlahoma's friends named Ashley, as him & his friend Chelsey came up from Oklahoma for HWM. Her apartment is really great and she's been an awesome host, but seriously, screw this parking nonsense. Also, you would think that with such a parking problem that public transportation would rule, like New York. Incorrect observation.

But enough on the negative. Chicago's got some really awesome architecture. Their downtown and the magnificent mile is pretty great, but Wrigleyville and all the old buildings closer to the stadium are even better.


The Fields Museum also rules. WHO KNEW?


But really, how was the Hot Water Music?

The thing that's always gotten me about that band is their fan base. There's just this group of punk rockers who heard them sometime in their teens, maybe early twenties, probably at a point in their lives when they felt just a little bit lost, and Hot Water Music just made so much sense to them. And they really are one of those bands that just stick in your life; their fans never forget. I'm gonna say the female attendance at both the shows I went to was probably under %15. Everyone else there was a 20-something male with a beard. And they knew all the lyrics and they had the time of their life. At one point, the guys standing next to me toasted with the phrase "Here's to being 16 again" and it was pretty much the perfect summery of that experience. I like Hot Water Music and all, I think Chuck Ragan is an amazing song writer, but they've never fit that place in my life. I always had Rancid to take care of that for me. But, just to stand there and watch that comradery was an experience I haven't gotten since I was 15 years old and going to local punk shows in Colorado. Pretty great. Also, the theater it was in, the Metro, fantastic action.


Of course it's been a little snowy and a little cold. So I think we've been trying to limit our adventures to mostly indoor spaces. Besides the museum, we did a little shopping and a little eating today. Chelsey and I went to the Mac store, where she helped me get a new Studio Fix, as the first step in preparing myself for fancy-pants job interviews.


We also went to Dick's Last Resort, where the staff is mean to you and you pay $4 for a Miller High Life. But, it's all part of the gimmic. We went with Eric and it was nice to see him. He seems to be doing well and surviving art school, bless his heart. His creative will is much, much stronger than mine.


Meow.

We stayed late today, so we'll be leaving early tomorrow and it's a very long 12 hours to Norman. Matt's joking about just parking as much as possible, FOR FREE, along the way. I'm trying to think of it as my car getting a fancy hotel room. She needed it, right? Right? See, look at me getting upset again.

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.