Road Trip: Day 4

Goodland, KS to Fayetteville, AR by way of OK

It was nice to be woken up by natural light in the morning. Not that I've been waking up to an alarm. We took our time in the morning before hitting the road until we remembered that we would soon be crossing into another timezone and would thus "lose" an hour. Bummer.
And we drove and we drove and we drove. And we drove. And some more. But not to Topeka. Though we are some real Topeka people.

We headed south and went through Oklahoma. What did we even do that day? Oh yeah. Pizza buffet. Our friend Spring compared buffet to a lost and found for food. Yummy. We got into Arkansas sometime after 8pm where we stayed with Spring Rose Wood. Yeah. Obviously we were meant to be friends. Spring Rose Wood and Hanako Kalimba Sarabanda Moondance. Yup yup yup. And we actually hit it off as friends. Not just cuz we have hippie names.
Delicious black bean burgers and sweet potato fries for dinner. Random chat and viral videos until everyone tired out. Except me. I decided 3am was a great time to post all the pictures I had been too busy and drunk to post.

Road Trip: Day 3

Lafayette, CO to Goodland, KS

Woke up to a beautiful Colorado sunrise. Then rolled over and slept more.

Dana and I took Mali for a walk in the morning close to the house, then came back for some morning yoga (she just completed a yoga teacher training in Santa Barbara). We then headed over to a local coffee shop for a bev and wifi (as usual- but mostly to plan our next moves route-wise). We met Ari for lunch at a pizzeria and discussed post grad impressions of our alma matter, Wesleyan University. I also learned that the cat's name was also Mali, but since that was the dog's name, they changed it to Malinche. I'm sticking with Lady Meows-a-lot.

Dana, me, and Ari

Outside of Ari and Ivonne's house

Inside

Then off to University of Colorado, Denver (or whatever its called- I'm just the permanent passenger guys). Dana had a meeting about potentially going there for grad school for physical therapy. I sat under a tree and drew.

Before heading out of Colorado we stopped at a Target. Not sure why, but I really like going to other chain stores in different places. Like they're gonna have different stuff (which is kind of true). I bought practical things- like slip-on heels, a sun dress, a cheap bathing suit top, and kung-fu panda folders.

The road to Kansas is endless. And flat.

Drove a couple of hours until we got to a boarder city in Kansas that had a Camp site area. We set up camp (literally!) and stayed up talking and drawing for a bit. Told Dana a bit of the story my dad used to tell me when I was little called The Golden Pears, (though I didn't get very far- that sleepy bean). I eventually dozed off.

Road Trip: Day 2

Salt Lake City, UT to Lafayette (Boulder County), CO by way of WY

Dana and I took it easy today since we didn’t have to go as far today as we did yesterday (7.5 hrs vs 9 hrs). We did a bit of a caravan (of fun!) to Brooke’s work, Brooke and Daniel in one car, me, Dana, and all of our stuff in the other. She showed us around her work and then over to a café with good juice, pastries, and wi-fi, where we said our goodbyes.

Dana, Brooke, and Daniel

Brooke also suggested that we check out the Salt Lake City Public library. I know I work at a library, so of course I'm excited about it but who couldn’t help to be flipped out about a place like this?!?!



One of the librarians gave me some info on the architect, Moshe Safdie.
www.msafdie.com

Go to Projects, then By Location, then haga clique (click on) the part of the US that is Salt Lake City, UT. The pictures on there are waaaaay cooler than the ones I took. But in general it's pretty awesome.

We started our drive out of Utah (woo-tah) stuck in Salt Lake City traffic. What a lovely parting gift. Though once we were out of the city it was actually a real treat- green, and hills, and beautiful sky. A much nicer drive. We got into Wyoming soon enough with plenty of that (thanks y'all).

Some random fast (actually) food stops along the way, which means looking for something more nutritious later. We did the drive-up thing at Sonic, which thinking back is kinda silly, cuz on a road trip where you are cramped in the car, why would you not want to get out of the car? Hrmmm.... But I did get a corn dog and a cherry limeade for $2.

We crossed into Colorado in the early evening just in time to catch a beautiful sunset. In about 30-40 different snapshots. You know, just in case.

We got to the house of Ari, my godbrother, and Ivonne, his wife sometime after 9, which worked out nicely since everyone had been busy all day and everyone was now thus tired. We got a wonderful welcome from them and their dog Mali and cat who's name I dont know, but for now I will call her Lady Meows-a-lot. Guess why.

Road Trip: Day 1

Mammoth, CA to Salt Lake City, UT by way of Nevada

Dana and I started out from Mammoth a little after 8 am with an iPod, Portuguese lessons on CD (I can say "I speak a little Portuguese" in Portuguese. Spell it, not so much), some (healthy) snacks, and a readiness for travel.
The first two hours were pretty nice in terms of scenery (green, trees, mountains, ect- pretty much what Dana lives in a lot of the time). Then- the desert.

What else is in Nevada besides Las Vegas? Well. Rocks. Um..... Oh yeah, a town called Ely (pronounced E-Lee) that had a gas station and a nice little park to sit in while we ate lunch.

Then- more desert. So much flat area that I am far from used to. But pretty, I guess in its own way. Some areas it just looked like the world ended beyond the vastness.

We arrived in Salt Lake City a little after 7pm where we met Brooke and Daniel, friends of Dana's and our hosts for the evening, for a bit of Thai food and good conversation. She works for the IRC (International Rescue Committee) where she helps refugees who have come to live in the Salt Lake area, and he is a Fireman. Yeah. They're awesome.
Then to sleepies, to sleepies, jiggity jig.

pre-mini road trip

This is the beginning of the beginning!
I just arrived in Mammoth, CA to meet up with my friend Dana (pronounced Dana) for a road trip to Memphis, TN (thats my stop point- she goes all the way to NC)
I got from Downtown LA to Mammoth on $43.75, and about 8 hrs of travel time (over the span of 11 hrs). Hey, at least its cheaper than gas.
Never having been to places like Lancaster, Mojave, and Ridgecrest, I have become more aware that I am in fact a city girl.
Oh. And its hot.

July Guerilla Drive-in

The Legend of Billie Jean/Ghostbusters double feature!
Who didn't have a good time?!?!?

But if you haven't seen The Legend of Billie Jean then do it. Then call me. Then lets flip out about how awesome it is. And lets be super friends. And wear one dangly earring. And say "Fair is fair" as we do fist pumps of righteousness.

And if you haven't checked out the drive-in in Downtown LA, then do it.
Every month.
2nd & Beaudry.
Madex's Guerilla Drive-in. My space that ish. And love it.
http://www.myspace.com/micheltorenamovienight

I fly over yall fools

I got to meet up with my friend Dana (sounds like "Donna") last night as she is back in LA for a spell after her travels abroad. For a more than special get together she asked if I was afraid of heights and small planes. Now I'm thinking sky diving. Now I'm thinking not so much. But she means flying with her brother and her friend Darrius in a small plane over Los Angeles in hopes of catching some fireworks. Now I'm thinking rad. (Look at those arteries of lights!)
Did I mention flying NEXT TO the HOLLYWOOD sign? Over the Downtown Standard and its roof pool? Along side Sunset? (Hello Silversun Liquor!) Past Dodgers Stadium? O yeah. Shit just got serious.

Dana and me: co-pilots of F.U.N. on the SkyHawk II

Meant to be: TheHawk and (Sky)Hawk II

Roger that: Yo- the control panels look like the Delorean. What happens when we hit 85MPH?

Old School Digital

I can't help but want this so badly. How radical. A mix tape case with a USB inside that fits 64MB of music- just about as much music as you would get on an actual mix tape. No flipping.
Check it out at A+R store here:
http://aplusrstore.com/product_detail.php?show=product&pid=264&cid=56

I'm gonna see if I can't make it myself. Take apart an old tape and place a USB stick inside. Hrmmmm.... I'll let you know how that one goes.

I'm a sleepy bear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5c0X4MW_zE