Following the Yellow Brick Road

Well - just settled into the Comfort Inn in Hays, Kansas.  Hmmm....not sure this fits in with where I would like to stay - but the choices were pretty slim.  Left Taos and drove through some of the most beautiful scenery in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.   Breathtaking.  I went North until I got to Colorado Springs - The Broadmoor - and then turned East.  What I didn't realize that East is miles and miles of flat Heartland in Kansas.  Everyone says Florida is flat - we have nothing on Kansas.  Basically, you see nothing for miles.  The one highlight I was really looking forward to was stopping at the Prairie Dog Museum.  I saw at least two hundred miles of handmade road side signs - advertising all the special things you can see at the Museum including the world's largest prairie dog.  All the hype got my hopes up and sure enough, I stopped and they had just closed....so I had to at least take a picture of what it was all about.

Sounds like it might be worth a trip back!  (NOT)..... Anyway off to sleep to get up early and drive.  I am 800 miles from Louisville and beginning to think - the scenic part of the trip might be behind me...

Hitting The Road

Well - it's time to go.  And I am happy to be hitting the road.  Sad to leave Taos - but ready to come home.  It has been a great experience. A trip of a lifetime.   Met wonderful new friends, listened to some great music - ate lots and lots of tamales....my mid section proves it. 

And now....the time has come to hit the road.  I leave in about one hour.....I am going to go thru Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and then finally Florida.  So stay tuned for some fun posts along the way.  Can't wait for the final leg of this wonderful adventure.

In the meantime - here's one of my favorite pictures of the wild horse sanctuary in Southern Colorado.  

Well - yesterday afternoon was quite the experience.  All of a sudden - the clouds rolled in off the mountains and there was a thunderous noise and it started hailing like something I have never seen.  The hail were as large as quarters and so hard - it was like being bombarded by thousands of golf balls.  I was taking it all in - when all of a sudden, I realized in horror, that my car was being pelted with these golf balls.   I had such a sinking feeling that it was being destroyed.  The hail was so strong I couldn't even run outside to see what damage was being done.  Many things went through my mind - would my insurance cover the damage, can the ding wizard get these out....how bad is my car going to look?  Then after about ten minutes of freaking out... I started laughing thinking I would look like Chevy Chase's Vacation rolling back into Miami with a thousand dings in my car.  Once it finally stopped.....it looked like it had snowed there was so much hail on the ground - and sure enough - not a dent in my car - that good old strong German metal hung tough!!!  

Room with a View

4th of July weekend was great.  Very peaceful.  Met a few new friends here and that has been quite enjoyable.  I went to a very interesting church in Chimayo - about two hours from here.  The drive was beautiful.  The Church is known to be very spiritual, with sacred holy water and dirt that is suppose to heal.  It was founded over 200 years ago by The Spanish.  It was really a special place and I am glad I went.  I asked a friend if the legend about the healing powers were true and his answer was - only if you believe.  With that, I took the holy water and sacred dirt - made a paste and spread it on my forehead, chest and heart.  I figured - when in Rome, do as the Romans do.  I don't know if it had anything to do with it - but that night and every night thereafter, I have slept the most peaceful in years.  So I decided to bring a container of the dirt and water back - what better cure for insomnia.

The trip has been fantastic.  It has been amazing just to relax and spend quiet time reading, relaxing and just having a great time.  I am expecting a friend later in the week and am really looking forward to her visit.  I have been planning lot's of different things for us to do.  Off for a run and then a massage....Life is good.  

My First Pot - sort of.....

Okay - here is my first creation....I actually did not make the pot myself...the pieces I made are not ready to be glazed yet.  One you make a piece, it has to sit for at least 24 hours, then it is fired in a kiln.  Then you can glaze it - which is a process like painting.  You have different glaze colors and the interesting thing is - you have no idea what it is going to come out like.  This is a pot that I actually glazed with four different colors - it came out beautiful.  Once I glazed it - it went into the kiln for 1 1/2 hours at a temperature of about 1700 degrees.  Then you pull it out - carefully of course, with supersized long tongs - and put it in a pit with newspaper on fire...this is called reduction.  It burns in the paper for five minutes - then you dunk it - quickly - in a bucket of cold water and thats when the colors come out. If you don't dunk it all at once, the pot will break. 

My creations are being fired, hopefully today...so more to follow!!

How can you be so busy doing nothing??

Well - time has flown.  I can't believe I have been gone 7 days and have been in Taos for three full days.  It has been fantastic.  On Tuesday night - I went to an outdoor concert - with many local bands.  It was spectacular to sit outside and listen to music and look at the mountains.  It actually got cold out - which was a nice change from the hot weather.  The concert was all about Love Songs - and it kicked off the Taos - "Summer of Love" series....which is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the movie - Easy Rider, which was filmed in Taos in 1969.  I went to the house today where Dennis Hopper edited the film...that was pretty cool.  I went to my first pottery class and was amazed that I actually have a knack for it.  My instructor Alex, is a cool 26 year old guy from LA who is an artist and ended up in Taos 9 months ago.  I took what is called a throw and fire class - which teaches you the in's and out's of pottery.  Then of course, I got on the wheel...which I was dying to do - channeling my inner Demi Moore from Ghost - and when I started off - I was spinning the wheel about 90 miles an hour - he looked at my like I was some sort of freak...he was like .... why are you spinning that wheel so fast??  I told him - I come from a place where the fastest wins....so I just can't help it.  He said the slower you go, the more control you have and the more you will enjoy it.  What a novel idea.... So as soon as I slowed down - the clay started coming to life.  It was cool.  Tomorrow I go back an glaze my pieces - so stay tuned for the pictures.  I have been running in the mountains (slow of course) and just enjoying things.  The house has fantastic views - this morning when I got up, I looked out the back window and was amazed.  There was a whole herd of cattle right in my back yard grazing...even little babies - not more than 5 feet away from my patio.  I walked outside and they all ran away scared - except this one guy - who stared me straight in the eye. It was love at first sight!!  

The Land of Enchantment

Well I am finally here in Taos.  Drive on Monday was the best of all.  As soon as I left North Texas the scenery changed into New Mexico and it was spectacular.  Most of the drive was breathtaking so I took my time and really enjoyed the view.  One of the highlights of yesterday was Route 66.   It was so cool to see some of the old motels like the Palomino Lodge and other old motels that are still in existence today.  All the rates were $21.95.  Except one was $22.95...so I guess that one was the Loews Miami Beach Hotel of Route 66.  There are many, though that are boarded up and abandoned.  Same for old diners and gas stations.  I went through the town where the Grapes of Wrath was filmed.  I stopped at the old Route 66 diner in Santa Rosa, NM for lunch.  It was awesome.  All original red vinyl booths and stools at the counter.  Had a grilled cheese sandwich.  Didn't dare try the fish sticks.  Anyway - the house in Taos is fantastic.  Great views - on both sides...Taos Mountain in the front and agricultural land in the back - with cattle grazing!!  

Well - I'm off in a bit for my first ever pottery lesson.  Should be interesting using the wheel.  

From Five Star to No Star....

Today was pretty uneventful. The Spa at The Mansion was wonderful.  Hit the road purposefully late -  no rush to get to the Holiday Inn on I-40 in Amarillo.  This is just a resting stop for tomorrow's journey on Route 66.  Originally, I was planning to go straight to Santa Fe and stay there tonight  - hope Route 66 is worth it ...because this is definitely roughing it.  The ride today was easy - very rural through North Texas. Nothing too remarkable except it is really strange that your driving on a highway going 75 miles an hour and then all of a sudden - your in the middle of a little town.  It's almost like I-95 all of a sudden going through a neighborhood. Then the highway starts again.  Anyway - I arrived at the HI and of course, immediately accepted the Front Desk Agent/BellMan/PBX Operator's (talk about combining job duties) offer for a small fee to be upgraded to "pool view" instead of parking lot view.  (I'm still not sure why I cared..I guess it's habit)  Anyway - I lugged my stuff up to the second floor - entered a dark little hotel room, I opened my drapes and I see a view of the world's ugliest lobby.  So much for pool view.  Now I am off to the hotel restaurant for dinner - where I'm sure I'll have a choice of country fried steak, fried clam roll - or maybe even some fried chicken livers.  I decided I'm taking 3 Tylenol PM's at dinner - to knock myself out - and I'm hitting the road at sunrise.  Tomorrow - The Cadillac Ranch on Route 66 and then finally - Taos. 

Breakfast in The Big Easy - Dinner in The Big D.

Today started off on a great note.  Had breakfast with Flo Marcello and Kim Talluto, Gina's Mom and sister.  We had a great time catching up.  I went to Gina's grave yesterday - it was so nice and peaceful.  At first I had anxiety since I had not been there since her burial in March 2006.  But then it was nice.  She is buried in a perfect resting place.  A traditional New Orleans cemetery with above ground tombs.  In front of her tomb is a beautiful grassy area.  Before I left, I decided to walk around all the tombs surrounding her - to see what kind of people fate put around her.  She is buried near a Brigadier General, a US Magistrate Judge, some infants from the 1900's up to the 1960's, and most of all -  many heroes from WWII and a few from the Vietnam War.  I could not think of better people to be around her.  In true Gina fashion though - right around the corner is Ruth Chris - in her $1 million tomb with her best friend next to her in another $1 million tomb that Ruth bought for her.  Gina was always in the best of company!

 Tomorrow - a spa day at Mansion at Turtle Creek (who says I have to suffer?) and then off to Amarillo for a great nights sleep and the historic Route 66.  

Five Lessons of Life on the Road

Just rolled into New Orleans.  It was a really easy drive from Mobile.  Passed through Mississippi.  I have learned several road lessons on this trip so far:

1) My navigation system doesn't know the difference between a good neighborhood and a "not so nice" neighborhood.  Saw some of Mobile's finest this morning on my way out of town.  Thank goodness I'm driving a low key, humble looking car so I didn't look so out of place..  :)

2) Make sure that you pay attention to the gas gauge.  That's critical.  Close call for sure.

3) There is an entire cottage industry of Adult SuperStore Sex Toy Shops on some of America's finest highways.  Who the heck are their customers?  Maybe that is why there are so many roadside Inns.

4) Don't get sandwiched between two 18 Wheelers going 85 miles an hour.  It causes great anxiety for you and becomes a sick twisted game for them! 

Now off to the French Quarter to The Bottom of the Tea Cup.  Last time I was there was 1994.  

Sweet Home Alabama isn't as sweet as I thought

The drive from Orlando to Mobile was great.  It was easy, great scenery and very smooth roads. Kicked back, listened to great music and had a nice day.  I arrived at the Berney Bed & Breakfast earlier than I thought...and was anxiously awaiting to check into the Presidential Suite.  Well - I thought it had the word Presidential in it - when I read the description on the website but I have to admit - I did scan it and didn't read all the details.  I of course, was immediately hooked when I saw the words Presidential, poolside bungalow....need I say more?  I immediately went to the book me icon and reserved it.  Well you can see from the photo that Presidential it's not, bungalow it's not - but YES - it is near the pool.  The cloudy pool that does not look like it has been cleaned in a really really long time.  I think it is more like a converted garage....but the neighborhood is nice and there are some really nice looking Victorian B & B's that I could stay in next time...since I know I will be in Mobile again (YEAH right).  Well what can you expect for $112 incl. breakfast...oh well - it's all fun and part of the story. 

Well, things didn't start out as smooth as I would like...

Finally just made it to Loews Portofino.  Much later than I expected.  Everything started off fine...got my nails done and decided, what the heck, I'm not in a rush - I'll get a pedicure too and then hit the road.  Well - somehow between the salon and my car (which is a grand total of about 15 steps) I lost my car keys.  Yes, as dumb as that sounds.  I could not find them, ripped my car apart, pulled everything out of the trunk - no keys.  After 20 minutes and some anxiety, I finally had call Mario - as he has the extra key.  That was the last call I wanted to make - I wasn't five miles from home - he already was worried about me going on this trip and I hadn't even made it to I-95 yet!! Anyway - as I was on the phone I found them.  Off I went - one last stop at Fresh Market on Biscayne Blvd for fruit - and to my horror I realized I could not find my trip files, with my maps, confirmations, house information - basically my life for the next 3 weeks.  I ripped everything apart again and AGAIN had to call Mario who found the files in my closet.  He drove over to Fresh Market with them.  As I waited in my car for him, I fired up my laptop and signed up, right then -  for the Premium Level Super Duper AAA Roadside Assistance Membership.  I figured if I am having this kind of trouble getting out of Miami - what will happen if I get a flat tire on Route 66?  Anyway - Alabama - here I come!!!

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go.....

Okay - I'm all set. Everything is packed. I am traveling amazingly light. Well - light for me.

So - I have about five important things to do at work tomorrow...and then I have a 6:00 pm nail appointment (gotta keep my priorities..who knows if there is a nail place in Taos) and I will hit the road at 7:00 pm tomorrow night.

I decided tonight that I am calling an audible - and driving back an entirely different way - and stopping in Louisville KY to see my brother and his girlfriend. I also decided that I might take the hisotrical Route 66 for part of my trip. More to follow on this.

Revision #1 to The Itinerary - Amarillo Texas here I come

Okay - well I decided that it will be too aggressive to drive from Dallas to Santa Fe on Sunday. And I really want to enjoy Mansion on Turtle Creek. So I now revised my schedule today to spend Sunday night in Amarillo, Texas. At the Holiday Inn no less. I think that seemed to be the nicest hotel in Amarillo. Hmm...outta be very interesting.

Stay tuned for the pics - as proof.

Mastering the To Do List

Today I finished packing for the trip. I did a major swing through Neiman's and Saks to see if there was anything I needed for the trip. Okay - that made me realize I still have some work to do...but anyways...they were having major sales.

I crossed off almost all my stuff on the to do list. Just have to get my books on tape from Sarah, my 8 and 15 pound weights from Target, because I swear I am working on my neglected arms on this trip.

I was a little worried because a friend from Taos called me to say that they went by the house I rented and there were huge pot holes in the dirt road (what DIRT ROAD???) going to the house. And they were worried about my car being so low to the ground. Yikes, I called the rental agent who had the owner call me from Guyana (she is in the Peace Corps..where am I going for god's sake...???) who assured me she was there two weeks ago and I should do fine on the road. Oh well - I will know on Monday when I arrive.

So work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - then I hit the road.