New York. Two weeks ago I loved that city more then I have ever loved her. I even loved Brooklyn. Brooklyn, can you believe it? I loved the borough that I had often compared to NJ. The borough where I went to college, and got smacked in the ass by degenerate 10 year olds had become the borough where the happy reside, walking their perfect little puppies in the morning, in the quiet of the greatest city in the world...where there are trees, and parking spaces to accompany great big delicious apartments in beautifully historic brick buildings, where you get the best pizza on the planet, and live among authenticity that can disappear on the streets of Manhattan. I drank and danced, and cried while I wondered what the hell I am doing in LA. I smiled like a lunatic at passers by while I talked nonstop to my dog and sang to him as we cruised to the bagel shop. I spent time with an old friend, and got to know her again. I considered what it'd be like to move back. I fell in love with the subway, the cold weather, all the beautiful people, and the many new places that I inevitably discover every time I go back to that wonderful city. I spent time with a dear old friend, and marveled at the greatness of his new relationship. I got together with Joshua to cry our eyes out, and hug each other so hard that the sidewalk we were sitting on could very well have turned to dust and have blown away. I met with old friends in appropriately surreal circumstances, and even swallowed the true beginning of a transition that I hadn't yet fathomed. My pop and I got together to share a meal where his humor had me rolling and then in tears. Hello to uncles and cousins, moms and underaged drunk girls. Hello to the LES, driving again, the freakin DMV, walking around, jet lag, dog parks, and union square. Hello to awesome food, amazing television, radical conversations, 80's dancing and enormous kitty cats with stolen lazer beams. I had an amazing time, and an amazing/wonderful hello and goodbye in the greatest city in the world.
On October 22, at midnight, after spending a week in NY, loving and crying and getting all gushy inside, I called Yvonne to see if she and Kelly were ready to start our passage through this amazing country. We had intended to leave the next day but with the fuel of the deepest kind of thinking propelling my insane alertness, I suggested that we get moving. " I'm not going to sleep anyway, so lets just get going. I have somethings that I need to think about." 18 hours later, and a short pit stop at our nations capital, we were in Nashville Tennessee, eating dinner with Kelly's uncle Bobby, and his wife Bobby Joe. We slept there that night, in a house filled with plants from their property. The weather has fallen cold in good old Tennessee, so to avoid the sad funerals of hundreds of potted plants, Bobby Joe, decks the house in foliage. It's everywhere. Their house, is The Bio Sphere right now. It's beautiful and incredible. Bobby Joe is incredible. She is sweet and emotional, half Native American, a total hippy, christian, and in love with the color Green. Uncle Bobby adores her. He's sweet, and funny, and incredibly accomodating. They have a bathtub in their house that's at least twice as long as a typical one, and they've got a deep love for coffee that runs as far back as great grandparents with ancient coffee pots on display in their kitchen. Nashville was just fine, but Bobby and Bobby Joe, they were great.
Next up, Saint Louis. It may occur to you that you would pronouce this wonderful Missouri city, as Saint Lewis but we three girls will have you know, that in fact, Saint Louis is much more decadent...think King Louis, think french, think Louisville, think truffles, think anything that you need to think to get into thinking that Saint Lewis, is in fact the brave and possibly imaginary Saint Louis. Now, upon our arrival, " F- you you F-ing Whores. I'll kill you family!" Ahh yes, a wonderful greeting indeed. Kelly, in her most delicious Louisiana accent hollared, " Did we win?" ( Regarding the world series, of course) hoping to get a good response from the innebriated boy in his baseball jersey, but instead, was bludgened with the raw Saint Louisness that immediately turned us three girls on. " I like this city". " These people are crazy". It was a great city, and that arch, phenomenal. We ran into Jeff, an advertizing suit from Chicago on more then one occasion, possibly had a little too much to drink one night while waiting for the ultimately postponed baseball game to air, and stayed in the snuggliest hotel room that posh has to offer. Eventually, we bid our farewells to the rough beauty of Saint Louis ( remember proper pronuciation to get a good taste of the rhyme I just designed), and headed to Denver.
Oh Colorado. What a beautiful state indeed. We arrived in Denver at such and such a time to the open arms of Kelly's long haired brother Chad. Mmmm, homemade breakfast, and a nice rest in a bedroom fit for " I dream of Genie." Eventually, we showered, and visited Daniel Libeskind's Art Museum, prowleled the town to find the " grooviest" neighborhood, and finally warmed up a few barstools, before we headed out of town to sleep in Georgetown where we got our very first taste of a log cabin motor inn. It was beautiful, and freezing. Colorado had a big snowstorm the day before, and everything was covered in white. It was awesome. It even smelled amazing, and got me to thinking about a friend from Shanghai who grew up among all of this and I finally understood all the sparkles in his eyes when he talked about "home". Colorado is truly amazing, and I get it now. On our way through we stopped in the town of Glenwood Springs to ferment in the hot springs, and cruised on through to make friends with Utah in the grandest Zion National Park. We hiked, I rubbed river mud on my face and feet, and we ended up in that damed Honda Accord again to make our final trip towards Los Angeles. We stopped in Las Vegas along the way, had a drink, wasted two dollars and fifty cents, and finally, with another fire of thoughts brewing, the girls slept while I motored back to LA in record time. My weird car, abscent of rear speakers, likes to go fast, and so do I, so we negotiated the rest of our trip together, with a Moby song to keep me company, while Navigator and Instigator caught a few last hours of in-transit sleep.
Enjoy the pichers, ya'll!!!
Jeff, my buddy from Shanghai...stinking a little like the night before, bounced his way up spring street, where we hugged like there's no tomorrow.
Chocolate. Esther loves Chocolate.
Especially when she inhales the cocoa powder that makes her gag.
Jeff's enormous apartment on Bleeker Street. I freaked out. Amazing.
Jeff, Kris, and Emmit after a movie at Sunshine.
Panda, Esther's baby. One night I mistakingly took a little lazer pointer from Emmit's house and found it in my bag the next day. In my absent minded theft, Panda found the greatest new toy in the world.
Mikey!!!
Great Big Dog in Union Square eating an apple.
Esther, Kundalini.
Daina and I in the meat packing district at a diner that she really loves. It was great, and catching up with her was incredible. We rambled art, boys, death, and love. She's really great.
Joshua with the meanest Chihuahua this side of the border.
My home town. I took the train one afternoon to have a little hello, and one of my favorite bagels.
Misty Afternoon
Mikey and his grills.
Another really cute dog at Tompkin Square
Colors
Colin..he just gets it.
sky
Holland Tunnel!!! This is the beginning of our trip across the country. October 22, Day 1, Midnight.
KC in the driver seat, Von on Navigation, Kelly on Instigation.
3:30 am in Washington DC.
Healthy Start
A quick 18 hour treck from NYC, and we were in Nashville.
" I gotta wiz"
a cat nap, and more driving
Thank the Lord
Thats what 18 hours looks like. I can't wait to get my big rig license
Uncle Bobby is making me and Yvonne a bullet souvenier.
Uncle Bobby and Aunt Bobby's house with a million plants, and everything special in their life.
That morning we were treated to a proper country breakfast. Grits, and Bisquits, Apple Fritters and Eggs. MMM...
Cracker Barrell! My first time, and it was great!
Kristin and Kelly
Our Clan in Tennessee
Holy Eero, good job! The Gateway to the West is completely astonishing.
Mississippi River factory
The Budweiser factory
That grandpa was super cute.
Union Station. Its a pity we don't know how to travel anymore because that place is just beautiful. I imagined it filled up with movers and shakers, drinking whiskey, and smoking cigarettes in their black coats with briefcases on their way to some important location.
Nice Kelly. Always something nice.
Posh
Good Lookin Gals
Off the the right of the frame, there is our friend Jeff. We actually met him the night before during a taxi ride. We shared a cab to a bar, and then bumped into him again at the train station the next day. He was super sweet, from Chicago, and definitely loved the fact that three girls were traveling together. It was with Jeff that the term " Milky" came into play. Later on, Kelly and I further established the boy/man ranking system to include Yogurty and Cheesey. Later still, we figured out there was even more depth needed, which is where the term Gorgonzola comes from. Jeff, an attractive, married 38 year old,was Cheesey.
Gorgeous Gals
Kris and Kel
There's always time for aerobics, and vibrating chairs when you stop in Brookstone to buy a converter for your i-pod.
On our way up to the arch.
Twins with Double Chins
Oh boy.
The awesomest arch.
Gazillions of the laziest fish in the world.
After Saint Louis came a long drive to Denver Colorado. Colorado is so beautiful, she's definitely worth the drive, and then some.
perfect
Libeskind's museum in Denver. Too Private, Too expensive, but pretty rad.
The bar where Kelly's brother works in Denver called Skylark. I bought a Tshirt there.
KC and YV
Colorado Mountain Hotel. Corpse KC
Hot Springs
Hot Girls at the Hot Springs.
On the Road Again.
Utah, amazing.
Breakfast near Zion National Park
Zion
Weeping Rock and a weeping handstand.
Colors
Von and KC, while Kelly sunbathed down below
It was beautiful down there
Gladiator Vonicus
The fountain of youth.
Everywhere Beautiful
Completely Beautiful
Virgin Jail
Hello Paris, in Vegas
I can't wait for round 2!!!