Satellite WiFi Killer.

First and foremost, I need to congratulate Matt and Melanie on having their son, Caden Jakob, last week.






Oh, Matthew, how far we've come from dying our hair in motel bathrooms and taking way too much No Doze at 4am. Now, we're.... adults? Well, probably not quite. But still, I'm sure both of them are going to kick the crap out of parenting.

Well, true story, I'm in Albuquerque. Kinda didn't want to make a big deal about it, since I've only been gone a few weeks. But, I got offered a bartending gig and a couple other opportunities to make money presented themselves. So, here I be. Mass apologies to BN for not being in attendance last night. I've bee fighting off a cold all week and it seems that yesterday, after a full night of bartending, I was dead. I actually managed to fall asleep in the Golden West while there was a show going on. I was impressed with myself. I think the cold managed to drain itself into my brain and I was dizzy and discombobulated all day yesterday. Not exactly the state I needed to be in at the Launchpad. But, I did have every intention of showing up, and once again, I apologize I wasn't there. I was pretty sad about it.

I left Norman on Thursday. I was actually a little sad about it. I'm thinking of ways I might be able to make money there, spend a little bit more time there, etc. We shall see. I stayed Thursday night in Pampa emmereffing Texas, where my dad lives/used to work. No one was at his house, we was in Tucumcari, his wife was on a religious retreat, and her kids in Washington. So, I got the nice, little house all to myself, something very welcoming. The thing about traveling is that I'm with someone almost 24/7. For the most part, I'm a solitary primate, I like my space. So, just being able to lay around on the couch and watch all the cable TV I could fit into my brain, was great.

I told my dad, "Pampa Texas isn't the middle of no where, but you can see it from there." My dad's family has lots of roots in the Texas panhandle and my dad took the Chamber of Commerce job there for a few years. I spent some Christmas's there, with my uncle and extended family. Also, when I went overseas when I was 16, the tour group I went with was based out of Pampa. It's pretty typical small town America; local sports are god, everyone hangs out at the Sonic, and I'm pretty sure firin' guns off is good fun. But, relaxation is very possible.

I drove to Tucumcari the next day to have lunch with my dad. He's working there now, doing economic development. He made sure to scold me for being vulgur on my blog. What a good dad. :) However, my poor dad is stuck living in a motel room because, needless to say, there's not of real estate options in Tucumcari. Oddly enough, my great grandfather was ordained an elder in Tucumcari in 1917. You're never far from home.

After getting into Albuquerque, I went straight to bartending, which could probably explain my exhaustion. I'm looking forward to some hardcore relaxing while I'm in the Burk, as well as making some cash. If anyone has any opportunities for money, lemme know. I'll mow your damn lawn, slave away in a fireworks stand, whatever. I don't really care.

I missed you, desert heat. Thanks for getting me with such a warm reception. Jesus Christ.

Andy = Little, Russian Woman!

First real chaos of the trip happened today. My poor friend Andy, who always seems to find himself in the dumbest situations possible, fell at the Trinidad skatepark, knocking out a good centimeter of skin. Me, Mike, and Cody spent about an hour at the Raton Hospital Emergency Room, waiting for Andy to get sewn up. 3 whole stitches.

Before we got him to the emergency room, we made him wear my bandana as a kerchief, in a desperate attempt to stop him from bleeding all over.



Here is Andy being a Russian woman.



And here is the Emergency waiting room.



These boys truly are Raton’s gems. They are the reason Raton’s so great. Small towns breed amazing people. They have no time to be cliquey, or to be caught up in ridiculous trends. It doesn’t matter here. Everyone oozes character, sometimes very negative character. But, sometimes you stumble upon the ones who made it out okay. I’d rather spend my night driving around in a car with them with “nothing” to do over drinking at an Albuquerque bar anyday.

Raton is the kind of place that’s easy to hate. But, then you remember what made it pretty okay for a few years.

Tomorrow, I am off for Denver to see another precious stone, Sarah. In two days, I’ll be 23. Cue Jimmy Eat World, please.