Friday, May 28, 2010

Masayuki in Colorado; Don't forget to look down; Reflection

I wanted to scream! I can't stand sitting in traffic and the anticipation of getting out of town just made it that much more frustrating. Finally I get to Danny's apartment and get some relief as he picked up a Little Ceaser's pizza as a pre-trip meal. Who can't be happy about a pepperoni pizza? So with a full belly, tank full of gas, Red Bull, Lemonheads, beef jerky, flatbread (wheat - you know gotta think healthy here), and Masayuki in tow we were headed west. We hit some bad weather between Baton Rouge and Lafayette and it rained much of the way to Shreveport. 10:20 pm and we cross into Texas. About 2:30 a.m. we crossed into CLAY county (holla!). A few Red Bulls and Lemonheads later, we stopped about 4:00 a.m. to take a quick snooze...well we tried anyway. Not really getting any good sleep we pressed on and since we were making very good time (that's what driving without sleep will do) we drove up to the top of Capulin Mountain and got a glimpse of the snow-capped Rockies many miles to the west. At this point I figured it was time for Masayuki to see the light of day. We took a couple pics for her scrapbook so she can prove to her buddies sitting in the box back home that she was actually there. I think there are some trust issues there, but she doesn't really say anything about it. While I did glue her head back on, she still has an "aid" present to keep it in place just in case. Should the glue not stick in this high altitude, I would not want her head to mistakingly fall off, roll down a mountain, and be discovered many years later by an archaeologist who thinks it is a 1000 year old Japanese relic and have history books re-written to show the American Indians were preceeded in North America by Chinese doll makers. Pics to be posted later...I'm too tired to explain. On the way out from Capulin we stopped along the road where there was an old car and windmill that was too photogenic to pass up. While I was walking around taking shots from different angles I was reminded of a rule for travelling in the southwest...don't forget to look down. There are rattlesnakes that might not appreciate photographers tresspassing in their hood to get photographs. Luckily, he knew who was boss here and he quickly retreated to his hole. I didn't stick around long enough to see if he was going down there to get some buddies or a .45 to welcome me to the neighborhood. But seriously tho, rest assured I will play closer attention to where I am walking. A hospital visit is NOT in the plan here. Tomorrow we are heading into the high country via some old twisting and turning dirt backroads. Gonna check out some old mines (from a distance as they are VERY dangerous), ghost towns, and beautiful scenery. Masayuki is a little nervous, but a lil shot of Tequila should take care of that for her.
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I have to say, this trip has been one of reflection and quite emotional. It's only been about a month since Dad has been gone. Throughout this journey I have been reflecting on the many familiar places and recalling memories of the many trips we took through here when I was a kid, and the last trip we made as a family back in 2008. We had so many different vehicles over the years, from the LTD ex-police car to the many vans, motorhomes, and station wagons. We always stopped at the gas station near where the railroad tracks pass over highway 308 in Denton, TX. This was always the spot that I remembered as the "beginning of the adventure" for here is where we bid adieu to the interstate for a long, long time. Hundred and hundreds of miles of two lane and four lane highways, all the way to extreme northwest New Mexico where we would jump on I-25 and head into Colorado. When I passed that station yesterday what I saw was a dark, closed station with no one around. But what I saw in my mind was my Dad pumping gas into the old Rockwood motorhome while I waiting inside for him to come pay for it so I could get more junk food that I didn't really need because we had plenty already. I remembered riding in the bed that was over the van chassis and looking out onto the plains of Texas, waiting for a train to pass to add some excitement to what, at the time, was pretty boring. I certainly don't think the same when I make the same drive now. I was looking for the picnic area just before Decatur, TX but I think it is gone now. They are widening the road to a divided, 4 lane highway instead of the old 2 lane it was forever. I was heartbroken to see that it appears to be gone (I'll check when I pass in daylight on my way back). I remember so many stops there to eat lunch. We even stopped there in 2008 and it looked the same to me as it always did. To me, it was a sacred place and if it is gone I will feel as tho a small part of me has gone with it. Driving through the small towns along Hwy 287 I recall the places we ate. I'm sure we hit every Pizza Hut and Dairy Queen along the 400 or so miles of it. Another special place for me is the park In Dumas, TX. We used to take a break from the road, eat some sandwiches, and swing on the swings. It was a nice chance to run around a bit before the last push onto New Mexico. I remember looking out the window from my high vantage point in the motorohome; the bed above the van-front end in the class "C" Rockwood. This was the best seat in the house. I could see so much from up there; the rows planted in the farmland that made patterns that seemed to "flicker" as we passed them at 65mph; the old farmhouses off in the distance; the never ending highway that seemed to fade into the horizon as the heat from the blacktop blurred the line between land and sky. One of the biggest thrills was waiting for Capulin Mountian to come into view from behind Sierra Grande. As the highway snakes around this mountain, which by the way is the largest "single" mountain in the U.S., it strategically hides Capulin until you get to the northwest side. The very top of Capulin is the first view, and because of my vantage point I was able to see it first. As we rounded the mountain more and more of Capulin is there until alas, the whole beauty of this extinct volcano is there for the weary traveller to see. We always stopped and took pictures even though we had taken then from the same spots so many times before. As we came upon her today I felt the same anticipation and excitement as I always had. I was waiting to get that first glimpse of her summit and as usual, she was there as she has always been. I drove up to the top and looked out at the Rockies in the distance and remembered seeing this same view through these same eyes that were a bit closer to the ground back in the days (hey I was short, what can I say). But a piece of me was missing. This was the first time I had been up there without my Dad. Mixed emotions to say the least, as this has been as much a travel back in time as it has been a new adventure. Knowing my Dad had seen these same sights for 35 years in a row and how it never got old to him makes me appreciate these same sights today and that is never gets old for me. He loved this and I have acquired that same love, although it took me years to realize it and see everything around me, not just look at it. So tomorrow again I am going places that I have not been to without my Dad being present. Having Danny along is a big help as we talk about things and it keeps my mind occupied. And, well, I guess I'm not totally without my Dad on this trip. I am wearing a ring of his that his mom gave him when he was 16 years old. It's a small ring with a "C" on it, but it is larger than life in meaning to me. I'm off to get some more sleep. Thanks Dad for introducing me to the beauty that this wonderful country has to offer, and for the years of great memories we had exploring it. I will pick up where you left off and continue the journey...

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Inside Job


Well...I guess I can't blame anyone but myself. Maybe I should have waited to start talking about those ugly gifts. Maybe I should not have told anyone I was going out of town. Maybe I should have taken my key back from my sister's house. Maybe I should have burned all those ugly gifts when I had the chance. I arrived home from work today, thankful to see no Santa on my porch, toilet paper in my trees, or the rubber arthritic see-through hand stuck to my front door. But, as I walk inside...damn! Right there on top of my suitcase...well...you can see the pic. The first thing I thought of was...I would like a vanilla wafer. But the second thing I thought of was "those suckas done got my family involved in this racket". So I stopped by my sis and of course she "tried" to act all innocent, but the smile on her face told me otherwise. Besides, she has a key and lived 2 doors down so who else could it be? I didn't see any broken windows so I knew she either put it there or let them in. So after holding her little doggy Prissy hostage, she confessed. Revenge shall be mine and now my only, OLDER (of course...duh) sister is in the mix.


More to come from the road soon. Oh, and by the way, Masayuki is repaired (somewhat) and she is ready to roll! See ya soon!
P.S. Cat, I didn't mean any of that. Thanks for getting my mail and watering my plants. Or should I wait and thank you when I get back, just in case you water my mail and get my plants?

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Masayuki loses her head **WARNING: GRAPHIC PICTURE **


So after going to the grocery, also knows as visiting "Wally World" I got the truck all washed up for the road trip. That is one of those crazy little things that I MUST do. I can't go on a road trip with a dirty truck, knowing full well that I'll be hitting some dirt roads and it will be filthy in no time. Call me crazy but it is what it is. When I got done with that, it was time to head to my sister's house for some birthday celebrations. And of course, Masayuki made an appearance and was gonna take some pics with the birthday boy and girl. BUT...I left her on the kitchen table and I went into another room then I heard those dreadful words..."oh no". I figured either she prematurely went for the cake or she was shattered to pieces. Then word reached me that she tipped over and her head fell clean off. It just rolled around the table like a marble...well a marble with an ugly hairdo. I thought it was a joke at first but as you can clearly see in the picture, it is true. At least she did not share the same fate that Mrs. Claus did at my 40th birthday party. Thanks to my great friends I received the "ugly gifts" in front of my friends and family. All I could say was "I'll have to explain this to you all". Then gravity somehow grabbed a hold of Mrs. Claus and she was history. So Santa makes his way through the world, landing on porches and hiding in closets, as the merry-go-round of ugly gift re-giving keeps on happening. At this point Masayuki will be repaired, either by crazy glue, duct tape, or both. Whatever it takes, she is coming with me on this trip, head or no head. So fear not folks, there will be updates with her travels as originally planned. That's all for now..there will be plenty more when I get on the road real soon.
A great quote I recently received via email: "Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." Wow that is so, so true if you think about it.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Ups and downs











Well...today started out just fine. I woke up before 8 a.m. without an alarm and that certainly is a rarity. Had the day planned out...cut the grass, water the flowers again so they know I love 'em, run some errands, and show up at the two functions I was invited to. Well...got the front grass cut, did a lil cleaning, and took a break for lunch. Well...the lunch part wasn't bad but the "break" wound up lasting all day. I sat by the computer and that was a wrap. I figured while I was waiting for the food to cook I would do a little more planning for the road trip coming up here shortly. I don't normally do a lot of planning...just kinda go where the wind takes me...but I'm trying to cram a lot in to a few days so I'm plotting out my moves. What got me today was that some of the places I'm planning on visiting are areas I haven't been to since I was a kid. It made me think about my dad. It hit me when I was looking at the Maroon Bells area near Aspen. I was looking on Google 3-D Earth maps (man that thing is freakin crazy cool!) at the lake in front of the mountains. You can look at it from ground level, just as if you are standing there. The last time I was there was with the whole family, many years ago. Well, one thing led to another and all I kept thinking about was the great times we had on vacation. Dad and I made up our own "highway" games to pass the time...especially for the 600+ miles we always drove through Texas...each way. We would try to predict what type of car would be coming in the opposite direction on the highway. We would do that for hours. And he always kept in the game until I was the one who got tired of it...he never ended it because he knew it entertained me. I also thought back to our last trip together. In 2008 we all took two weeks and went up to Wyoming. I'm SO SO SO thankful that we were able to go. Lots of GREAT memories just like the rest. It was a far cry from our very first trip out there...1975...with 7 of us piled into a 1971 Ford LTD ex-police car. Good thing gas was cheap back then...that thing probably got about 7 miles to the gallon. I have never been the same since that first trip. The love of the mountains and the west run through my blood...and I have my dad to thank for that. With the memories of all the vacations running through my mind...nothing else got done...it's been a rough day. So...here I am...mentally exhausted. I'm going to watch some TV and try to think about something else for awhile. Goodnight world. Goodnight Dad...thank you for so many great memories...I miss and love you very much.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Masayuki joins "guys night out"




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Pic # 1 (standing) Mike, Shawn, and me (sitting) Danny, Chris (with his hand wrapped lovingly around Masayuki - keeping her safe), and Craig

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Pic#2: Our GREAT waitress Dena and our chick Masayuki.


So today started out with a trip to my old stomping grounds in Chalmette, La. I didnt venture too far in, just to the funeral home and to Discount Tire to get the tires rotated and balanced on the Avalanche for the upcoming road trip. Ate at Wendy's (spicy chicken nuggets are the BOMB) and headed back to the North Shore. All that rain we had on Sunday and Tuesday seemed to do nothing for the flowers in the garden so I watered them before they hired a lawyer and sued me for abandonment. But then again...damn...it's Friday so I guess they could use a little attention. Looks like the grass can use a cut too but that will have to wait. With the watering out the way I stopped by my Mom's to drop off some paperwork and headed to get the oil changed in the truck. Two things done before the road trip and now it's time to head over to the Beach House bar in Mandeville to get together with the guys. Of course, I HAD to bring Masayuki along for her first night out in 6 months. She's been couped up in the house so I had to get her a night on the town before she hired a lawyer and sued me for abandonment too. And what a fantastic night it was. The 6 of us went to school together...and not just high school. Throughout points in elementary, middle, and high school we were together, and now many, many years later here we are all having some beer and talking about where our lives have taken us since way back then. Band practice has given way to jobs, wives, ex-wives (not you Shawn) and grey hair (well, just me). It was an absolutely great night and I'm looking forward to the next go round (who's buyin next time?). And damn...the Beach Burger with bacon is slammin! Masayuki really didn't have much to say...could be because she spent most of the night in my camera bag. But she really did enjoy being in Chris' hand for a few minutes. Most action she has had in a long, long time (that I know of). Could be like Toy Story...when I leave for work she could be partying with the Precious Moments dolls. I did notice that some of the vodka was missing....hmmmm...
SPECIAL THANKS to Dena for taking care of us and being a great sport and letting me take a pic with her and Masayuki.
So...who knows where Masayuki will wind up next...stay tuned...



Thursday, May 20, 2010

Meet Masayuki...the one-handed Japanese woman "made in China"


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Pic #1: Me (dig the long hair) and Masayuki moments after our introduction.
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Pic #2: Masayuki posing next to her half sister who goes by her Indian name "Hair that looks like a squid coming out of my head".
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For the entire picture library of her travels visit my website at www.clayisbell.smugmug.com and look for the "Where in the world is Masayuki" gallery.
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So...Christmas 2009...a time of caring and sharing. A time for celebration. A time for remembrance. A time for giving hideous and vulgar gifts. What would Christmas be like without ugly gifts? So it was then that I was introduced to Masayuki (which means "happiness" in Japanese). We had a lot of fun, especially when we hid all of the ugly gifts bestowed upon us that night in strategically placed areas around Pam's house. Some were hidden better than others and they were all eventually found...and after calling all of us some choice words the retaliation began. I arrived home after spending the New Year in Austin to find my long lost Japanese bombshell on my front porch with a note (I will keep this blog "PG" so it shall not be repeated here). As an added bonus, my rocker was removed from my porch and was in my driveway, and seated on it was the ceramic "Santa" that has been passed around quite a bit (more on him later). Alas my porcelin skinned sweetheart was home with me. So there she has sat on my dresser for months...awaiting her fate...who's house would she go to next? Of course all this time I'm plotting my next move...who gets her and how? Mr. Claus has been painted to represent Tulane University, Peyton Manning, left on lawns, in trucks, and in closets and was recently dressed in a Saints jersey with a bag on his head. So I had been cooking up some ideas (I won't share them here 'cause I still might need them) until I thought about this: I'll take her on my travels and document it. I'm preparing for a road trip and I'll have her along for the ride. Who knows where she will go or people she will meet. For that...stay tuned to this blog. For now, she has only been to Mandeville and Abita Springs (at least since I got her). I'm sure before she came to me she spent a lot of time cramped up in some shipping container on the Pacific Ocean on a Russian vessel with a French crew. At least now she has some air conditioning and doesn't have to deal with those pesky rouge waves.
So...to Lisa, Chris, Chris, Stacy, Pam, Kenny, Melissa, Anthony, John, Shawn, Rob, Tanya, Erin, Vincente, Dale, and Jen...just because Masayuki is coming with me on my travles don't even think for a minute that I don't have a replacement for her. Will Christmas come early for you? Maybe, maybe not....more to come.
If you like ghost towns as much as I do, check out the website www.rockymountainprofiles.com

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Are they crazy? Am I crazy?



So this was supposed to be posted last Sunday night...however me and anything that requires a password cannot play nice lately. So...now that cooler heads have prevailed...on with the show...
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The whole house shook...my first thought was that someone ran through the fence and into the back of the house. I jumped up and soon realized it was a rumble of thunder that woke me from a deep sleep in about 2 milliseconds. Having your backyard up against a busy street with trucks that rumble down the road, you get used to hearing the rumble but not where it sounds like the windows are about to shatter. So after I got my heart out of my throat I sat down and listened to the rain and watched as the lightning flashed through the blinds. Thunder right after so it was a bit unnerving. What do I decide to do? Great day for a drive out in the country. A friend of mine told me about an area around Philadelphia, Mississippi that had a lot of old barns and houses, things I really like taking pictures of. So I figured why not, even though I knew I wouldn't take many pictures, if any today. So I gathered up my gear, set the trip odometer to 0, and set out on the road. Of course I had to stop at the gas station right up the street and get an Icee. They have the best around. I always have something to drink with me when I go on the road...whether I am thirsty or not. It's like I think I'm gonna get dehydrated or die of thirst, or just habit. Not quite sure yet. So I head out, driving up north towards Franklinton and there are not too many people out today. Gee, perhaps it could be the torrential downpour but who knows. As I am gettin into Miss. I'm seeing a couple old gas stations and mark them on the GPS to come back on a better day. All the while I'm getting my orientation right...this one is on the east side of the road so I should come back in the evening for the best light...check... As I am driving up Hwy 27 I see a group of motorcycles. About 12 in all driving down the highway in the pouring rain. Of course my first thought is "are they crazy?!!" But soon after saying "wow" a couple times (I think I may have even said it out loud) I start to think...maybe they are just doing something they love to do and who am I to think they are crazy? Just because I wouldn't do it doesn't mean that someone else wouldn't. People may think I'm crazy for driving my truck in the pouring rain, listening to Armin Van Burren's "A State of Trance 2010" while getting excited about finding abandoned buildings when most of the "normal" people would not go out if they didn't have to on a day like this. So it made me think about something...who figured out that a "day" is not actually a full 24 hours long...it's 23 hours and 56 minutes? And who's idea was it to add all those minutes up and give us February 29th every 4 years? Wow. 464.9 miles later I am home. Some observations on my trip:
  • I saw lots of potential photographic subjects, but I already knew the weather was not going to cooperate. One of the very few shots I took is of the lonely railroad tracks posted here. I stood in the rain a few minutes thinking about those that have travelled up and down these tracks...
  • There are a lot of chicken farms in Miss. And I saw where farmers proudly display who they are affiliated with...Tyson...Sanderson Farms...etc. Then I wondered. If these competing farmers should have a dispute, do they egg each other's houses? I mean, they don't have to drive down to Winn Dixie and buy a dozen eggs like we do. They have all the ammunition in the world and it is reproduceable.
  • The church building business has to be lucrative. There are churches everywhere. There were a couple spots where I could have stood in the same spot and thrown rocks and hit 3 different churches. Well, maybe thats not fair cause I can throw rocks pretty far. But anyway, you get the point. And the parking lots were all full. I could have stolen all the pink flamingos off front lawns that I wanted to and no-one would have ever known.
  • Since we are talking religion, I found myself driving alongside a hazardous materials truck on I-59 heading home. I was nervous enough...then when I saw the vehicle number (for the company I suppose) on the back of the cab...it was 666. Well, with all the lightning and stuff from earlier on my mind, I gunned it. I didn't want to be anywhere around that thing. Then I thought...perhaps the place where they pump down the chemicals that keeps hell burning must be somewhere in southern Mississippi. If I had that exact location...hmmm....maybe I should have just followed him.

All in all it was a great trip. I was able to relax (which is usually the point of me getting on the road anyway) except for the whole Devil's truck thing. There were places where I crested a hill and I could see for miles around. It was really beautiful in spots. Oh, and the tip was a good one. There were some really good photo ops so I'll have to head back on a better day. Another tip I was given...don't eat at a particular chicken restaurant up there. I won't say the name of it...but the initials are KFC. She found something in her food...perhaps from a pissed off farmer?

So check out www.roadsideamerica.com. One of my favorite websites. Remember the muffler man? Find out where there are some left...fun!