Friedenville!

West-bound.


I left the red house in Little Ferry on Monday, as planned. It was a little sad to see it, and my grandfather waving wildly from the window, go but I had five great weeks getting to know him and getting to visit the bestest city in the history of the bestest. All my life I've wanted to see what it would be like to live in New York/New Jersey, to be part of that massive flow of commuters, to actually BE a New Yorker, not just an observer. Well, it turns out I'm an observer in general. But, I do feel like I managed to blend in pretty well.


My last view of 'er. I'll be there again soon.

I headed through New Jersey (amazing fact: I tried really freaking hard to find some NJ souvenirs, postcards even. I guess, no one wants to prove they were in New Jersey. I stopped at at least six places along the way.) for my Aunt Madeline's house in Pennsylvania. She lives real close to the Jersey border, so it was really just a prep drive for the massive driving I'll be doing the next two weeks.


Smile!


Aunt Madeline is, by definition, a cat lady. She’s just got a big heart. She used to have lots and lots of feral cats that lived around her house and she started feeding them in the winters. She always had one or two actual domestic cats inside, but recently the ferals have ventured inward, in more of an attempt to keep them from breeding. So now, she’s got seven indoor cats: Paulette, Simone, Unis, Timmek, Mitch, Carly and Trevor. She still has 4 ferals hanging out, a dramatic decrease from the 17 that were here last time I visited, but she’s managed to trap two of them (and many more over the years) and get them fixed. See, big heart.


Timmek's my favorite because he's only got one eye.


I spent a few very relaxing days in Pennsylvania binging on One Tree Hill and the OC on soapnet. What the hell is it about those two shows that lends themselves so well to mindless days? I hate them when I’m busy, but on sick days or vacation days, man, am I ever down with some Adam Brody. Nope, not proud to admit that. At all.

And today, I headed through Pennsylvania.


And Ohio.


To get to Michigan.

Almost 600 miles. Thankfully, I had someone with me to help with the driving.


The bitterly cold motor city welcomed me back. Detroit is the first “double up” of my trip, one of only two places I’ll visit twice. The other is of course, Oklahoma. I can’t ignore my room, now can I? My main reason for coming back was for Ben Folds and the Ann Arbor Folk Festival tomorrow night, but I think it’ll be fantastic to spend some more time with cousin Jackie. We might head to Cleveland for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I mean, why not?

But right now, sleep. Thank you.

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.