The only thing you have to be by the age of 23 is yourself.

Well, that's upsetting.

I told Eric today I've been honestly pretty lucky weather-wise this trip. I've had to delay arrivals and departures by a day or two, but considering that I decided that it would be awesome to take a 3 month road trip through the North East United States, I've done really good. But, OF COURSE the one time I have a set date to be somewhere, there's a giant freaking storm right in the path to Chicago.

Hot Water Music is playing two reunion shows in Chicago this weekend and I have tickets for both, one's on Friday, one's on Saturday. Mattlahoma's a crazy person, and he's driving through tomorrow. I however, drive a truck and trucks turn into slip n slides under those conditions. So, I might not make it to Fridays show, something that really makes me sad. But, at least I still get one. I shouldn't be greedy.


Instead, I'll probably get to hang out with Motley and Ozzie.

So, after Chicago, I'll be in Norman for a few days, then Tucumcari for a night or two, then home. Home, sweet emmer effing home. I'm excited about big, open skies and of course, green chile. Look for me on the 8th.

It makes me feel very hungry and sad.

I try, for the most part, to keep my political opinions to myself on the internet. Mostly because I really hate flammers. It's not because I don't have strong conviction in what I believe in, it's that I really don't feel like getting into any more typed wars with people halfway across the globe. So much drama for no reason. But, it's no secret that I'm a liberal, a proud product and supporter of social programs. I protested the war and believe me, I hate George W. Bush. A whole lot.

Today, I really was genuinely sad today when John Edwards backed out of the race. I liked his platform and I liked him. I was excited to vote for him. I honestly felt about as defeated as that tragic day back in November of 2004. I know he was running out of money and he wasn't gaining much national support. But I really was hoping that he would pull a Kerry and weed his way through the drama and the media coverage surrounding the other candidates.

I don't give a crap about race cards or gender cards, or who Oprah thinks I should vote for. It's all more of the same. I'm not saying that Edwards was some magical go-getter who was above it all. But I think his platform was strong, he had some good ideas. He really was a moderate in what has become a mess of the democratic presidential campaign. So, now it's back my drawing board, figuring out who I want to support now. I think I'll just focus on Tom Udall for a while.

It's a real world.

Why yes. Jimmy Eat World did film a music video inside the American Museum of Natural History.



Life is slow. Yawn.

No further questions.

Where I be resting.

Notice my freaking killer blur filter so you won't come try to play with my cousin Jackie's awesome dogs. There's just something odd about all of these perfect little houses, all lined up in their perfect little rows with their perfect yards and decks, all of them with two Fords in the driveway. It's like life in duplicate, but not. The outside is all the same, but the insides really couldn't be different. It all seems so safe.

And on the subject of movies, in case you haven't seen this...



In Step Brothers, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly will play coddled guys who live with their respective single parents. Their folks fall in love and marry, making the guys stepbrothers. The script was co-written by Adam McKay and Ferrell, directed by McKay, and produced by this one dude Angie really hates named Judd. This will also probably be the greatest movie ever made.

Stella Dora Breakfast Treats.

Other discussion about the An Arbor Folk Fest: I have this really vivid memory of Jason Simms calling me while I was on my way to Bert and Emily's after a Spank show at the Launchpad. The discussion went something like this:
Jason: Two things. Guess how many beers I can drink in a minute?
Cat: Uhh..
Jason: I can drink 4 (I think it was four, anyway). And the other thing. Guess who's washed up?
Cat: Uhh..
Jason: (An Albuquerque jam band whose name I can't quite remember and probably shouldn't type for the sake of good karma)'s washed up. I gotta go.
Cat: Uhh..

So, guess who's washed up? Toad the Wet Sprocket. I know, I know, I just crushed all your 1994 prom memories and you're shocked.

Today Jackie said, "You know, I think I like a lot of different music. But I don't think I like folk music." It was pretty great.

I've been waiting to get to a decent internet connection to upload these precious memories, the movies from New Years Eve mayhem in Times Square. Well finally, here they are.



One correction: We had been waiting for FOUR AND A HALF HOURS. Also, that look on Maria's face at the end, when she's undoubtedly thinking about chicken wings, slays me every time I watch it.



The final countdown! This is the last minute before the clock struck midnight. On a funny side note, there was a building behind us that had a clock on top of it that was 4 minutes fast. People around us, without cell phone clocks, were getting pretty upset. "Why haven't they started it yet? What a freaking rip-off!"Jackie

Ben Folds is not pissed off.

There is a man with a piano on that stage.

And how was Mr. Ben Folds? Well, he was pretty awesome. As a preformer, he managed to get probably the most diverse crowd I've ever seen totally in sync. Not easy.I thought his set was going to be a lot of older material since he wasn't touring to support an album. However, it ended up being a preview of lots and lots of new material since he's working on a new album. And oh man, what a great album it will be. He didn't seem to have it all together yet, some words and parts were still improvised. That's a great musician right there. He closed with "Bitches Ain't Shit" because he said it was appropriate for a Folk Fest.

The actual folk festival was okay. Neal Copperman prepared me well in the field of folk, so I definitely could appreciate what I heard, even though it's not my favorite. Natilia Zukerman was probably my favorite of the other artists, female slide guitarists are always okay by me.

Lots of sleep has been happening and I think I really needed it. No real, set plans for the week and I like it that way.

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.