Stop talking about your plans and maybe they'll start coming true

Two things have become remarkably clear:

1. The Chinese are powerful.

2. The Chinese hate me.

For quite some time I have been cursed with epically bad fortunes in fortune cookies. The bad luck began when eating with my brother. He opened his to discover that he is "the greatest in the world" while I learned "Don't take risks. It's not worth it." Similar incidents have occurred for years and on this trip the tradition continues, and what's more, is that the fortunes seem to be entirely correct. 

On the way out of camp, Becca and I stopped at Five Star Chinese for some surprisingly tasty food. At the end of the meal we got fortunes. Becca got "Your plans will come true by the end of the year." I got "Stop talking about your plans and maybe they'll start coming true." I kid you not. So, attempting to avoid taking risks (as I've learned it's not worth it) I tried to stop talking about my plans. However, I talk and I plan and thus was unable. The result: the museum in Roswell being closed upon arrival, Sea World being closed while we were in San Antonio, the site of the Waco Massacre being quite out of the way, and hurricanes and time making our jouney east somewhat abbreviated.

Regardless, things continue to move along in a good direction. San Diego finished up nicely with us at Becca's friend's house, hanging out on the beach, and the most awkward and spicy Thai meal ever ("How spicy do you want it? 1 2 or 3?" "2 please." "Medium?").  We then sojourned on and truly began our road life. 

We made our way across AZ where we unexpectedly got to hang out in Tucson with our friend Caitlin Peel over some tasty Mexican food and then crossed the border into New Mexico where we camped for the first time. The first time was rough. It was windy. We didn't use stakes. I'd forgotten how to arrange the poles. The rain cover kept flapping up and against the sides, mimicking the noises chupacabras would make when attempting to break in and suck goat blood. But we slept well and took advantage of the super clean bathroom facilities.

Next morning we woke up early and started our long drive to Roswell. As I mentioned, the plan was to make it to Roswell in time for the museum and a meal at the Crashdown Diner featured prominently in the awesome show, Roswell. Instead, we stopped at Shakespeare, a well preserved albeit closed ghost town where Billy the Kid used to wash dishes, Mesilla, a really cute little town with excellent food and the courthouse where BTK was tried and sentenced to hang, and made it to Roswell to late for the museum and disappointed by the absence of ANY themed restaurants. So lame. Deciding against spending the night, we continued on and made it to Pecos, TX where we camped with much greater success. 

The next day we made it to San Antonio, TX, one of our #1 destinations. Becca is really into the Alamo, so as soon as we arrived we made our way over to the former mission/battleground. Smaller than expected, we checked out the museum and grounds. I was actually pretty uninformed about the events, so it was an excellent learning experience and chance to see something that was such an important part of history. Also, we got to see Davy Crockett's hair and bear killing knife, so that was cool. After the Alamo we decided to check into a hotel. We found a reasonably priced Holiday Inn right on the River walk, and decided to make it our home. Now, up to this point we'd been travelling in our own car, going to nowhere places, and picking up ridiculous fanny packs and tank tops. We had become skeksies, in the words of Hobo Bob and Obsidion, our eerily likeminded friends from This American Life. We'd even picked out our own homeless names- Crazy Ike and Phantasmagor. Once in a legit city, though, with real accomondations, we attempted to clean up and be normal people. Judging from the few photos I took, it didn't really work. But anyhow, we ate a real meal at a delish restaurant on the river, had a couple of drinks that affected me far more than anticipated, and then passed out by 10:30. Next morning I woke up, eager to pet the dolphins I've been dreaming of for years only to find that Sea World was closed. So sad. So we packed up our things, grabbed some breakfast and food for the road, and skipped town again. 

Now, our original plan had been to keep going east through Austin and Houston over to Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and then up to Baltimore/DC for some excellent friend time. Unfortunately, bad weather made the trip through Houston impossible- San Antonio was actually full of Houston evacuees talking about 3 hr waits at gas pumps and power outtages, and our meandering ways in CA made a circumvention re-route a dangerous plan. So once again, all my talk altered my plans and the full east coast is looking like a no-go. I'm pretty bummed about this alteration, bc I really wanted to see Claire and Nena and the rest of the east coast crew, but I just don't think it makes sense. Sad day. 

Always improvising, we decided to make our next stop Nashville. I gave good ol' Laura Boyer a call giving her a paltry 1 day notice of our arrival and she graciously accepted our imminent visit, so we headed north. We stopped in Waco, TX, home of the Waco massacre and also Dr. Pepper. While the massacre site was not really visitable, the Dr. Pepper museum was a smashing success. I learned a surprising amount about this beverage that was created to taste like a drugstore smells, and had some delicious soda fountain root beer which I promptly spilled all over myself and my belongings. Always a champion. I cleaned up, bought a second round, and we were once again on our way. 

We made it to Texacana, AK for dinner, where we discovered just how aweome Cracker Barrels really are. I'd always made fun of my mom for wanting to go to them on the road, but let me tell you, I am converted. Chicken and dumplings, fried okra, mac n' cheese, and biscuits and cornbread. So so good. Becca enjoyed the hell out of her many side dishes, too, and we both enjoyed the clientele and the decor. Who knew? It was a superb dining experience that filled us up as we carried on to Little Rock, AK.

We camped yet again and a really pretty KOA and in the morning hit up Little Rock Central High School, the school where the Little Rock Nine were integrated. I've always been pretty into this piece of history, so I enjoyed this visit more than one might expect. The museum was small but fascinating and I got to listen to interviews of the students and townspeople while in the place it all took place. It's crazy, too, bc the school is super pretty and still in use, but you can totally imagine all the mobs there and the violence. Wacky. So that was neat. Our drive to TN also included a super silly stop in Memphis to check out Graceland. All I can say is so many Europeans and so many obese people. Also, wow. That mansion is the silliest place I've been in a long long long time. 

We were once again running slow, so we decided to indulge in some fast food. Maybe I ate fried chicken and Taco Bell. Maybe. But it was all worth it because now I'm in Nashville hanging out at LBo's sweet apartment! We went to an outdoor country concert last night, and today we're going line dancing. I'm pretty juiced. Becca's nervous. It'll be great. Then... I won't say. I want it to actually happen.