October 31, 2023:
High fire season.
Santa Ana time, inches from desert.
A firefighter died here. In 2003. Fighting the apocalypse started by a lost, panicked hiker in the canyon 100 yards west.
It's always fire season, nowadays. Artifact of greed, the Devil, and your own sense of failure.
October 30, 2023:
He's much, much older — and he wants a kiss. How is that appropriate? It's just friendly, a old world gesture of closeness. In American terms it feels exploitative. Afterwards you wipe your mouth on your sleeve.
October 29, 2023:
Your former Big Brother's adult daughter chats as she helps you pack. She has her own trip coming soon: Greece. The two of you grow enthusiastic as the others leave the room. With hands friendly on each others' backs, there could be a kiss soon.
- October 28, 2023: Wait — this is the wrong street.
- October 27, 2023: You should have parked closer.
- October 26, 2023: Street of houses on the summit before a very steep hill.
- October 25, 2023: Your former Big Brother is shocked that you don't have a financial advisor...
- October 24, 2023: Back in my world.
- October 23, 2023: What's that song?
- October 22, 2023: Motion: brilliant.
- October 21, 2023: Cook died here.
- October 20, 2023: The office empath declares me to be angry.
- October 19, 2023: There's a flaw in the system.
- October 18, 2023: Underground cavern inside the Gold Mine ride.
- October 17, 2023: 4,100 miles in six driving days.
- October 16, 2023: I am the KING of roadtrip junk food.
- October 15, 2023: "Actually, it is kindof clever how they punish philosophers."
- October 14, 2023: Of course...
- October 13, 2023: Highway cops in California hide from the road.
- October 12, 2023: Is there, in truth, a "will to live"?
- October 11, 2023: I wanted to study recording.
- October 10, 2023: The leadership is a cult.
- October 9, 2023: Between visits they replaced the outhouse with indoor plumbing.
- October 8, 2023: All over the midwest, all over Nebraska, all over the country.
- October 7, 2023: "So, how did you die, Mark?"
- October 6, 2023: "Count the number of trucks you encounter."
- October 5, 2023: Come down the pass on I-215 into heavy, brown haze.
- October 4, 2023: Desert exodus, I-15 South.
- October 3, 2023: The final two hours are annoying.
- October 2, 2023: Fifteen miles.
- October 1, 2023: I don't like the driving.
- September 30, 2023: I like the driving.
- September 29, 2023: She told her therapist, "He was perfect. I don't want to talk about him."
- September 28, 2023: Handpainted roadside sign on private property:
- September 27, 2023: Panorama:
- September 26, 2023: Night for day.
- September 25, 2023: It feels like an orphaned Twilight Zone episode:
- September 24, 2023: I learn from the CarPlay map that the Little Bighorn battlefield is an hour from Billings.
- September 23, 2023: The room smells of urine.
- September 22, 2023: Mighty far between towns, hereabouts.
- September 21, 2023: Some of the most spectacular roads are spectacular in only one direction.
- September 20, 2023: It's like an end-of-tour party.
- September 19, 2023: The white water looks fun.
- September 18, 2023: Father is driving us across a long, narrow, white-painted bridge high over water.
- September 17, 2023: Why are your books shelved in proximity with the store's books for sale?
- September 16, 2023: "Warning: driving aids temporarily limited: radar interference."
- September 15, 2023: 110 MPH outside Lincoln, Nebraska, and the friendly cop gives me a warning.
- September 14, 2023: Ugly scars in Nevada.
- September 13, 2023: You're nervously hoping the driver keeps her eyes on the road.
- September 12, 2023: The Expedition is excited.
- September 11, 2023: Desert traffic jam.
- September 10, 2023: Even with the new road...
- September 9, 2023: I was not here when they built the Amazon fulfillment center.
- September 8, 2023: I remember when they built the new road.
- September 7, 2023: Ladies in the pool.
- September 6, 2023: On the way there's a single obstacle:
- September 5, 2023: The HR lady arrives for a visit at home.
- September 4, 2023: To everyone's surprise but your own...
- September 3, 2023: You and the HR lady in a run-down highschool chemistry classroom...
- September 2, 2023: I hate that the kitty's terrified.
- September 1, 2023: "I love reggae music. But only Bob Marley."