The road to no where

I'm tired. exhausted really. The phrase "road weary" finally has meaning in my life.

I've been on the road for 12 days. (technically there is a few hours more but Mom says I'm not supposed to count those...) I still have another 13ish.

So far, I've:

hit an animal in Wisconsin,

admired wind turbines in Minnesota,

slept in a super sweet mom and pop motel in South Dakota,

watched bison walk in front of my car in Wyoming,

driven over mountains in the dark in Montana,

been amazed at the beauty of Idaho,

left my heart in Washington,

conquered Pike's Place in under 2 hours in Seattle,

got VD in Portland (voodoo donuts),

heard seals in Northern California,

stood in trees in the Redwood Forrest,

ridden world famous coastal curves in Central California,

and walked the Walk of Fame in Hollywood.

Currently I'm in a writing lab in Santa Monica, CA. This is the first silence I've had in weeks. I'm enjoying every bit of it. I'm also, unexpectedly, getting a lot of work done while typing this blog. Batteries are charging, thank you notes are being written, pictures are being uploaded, and breathing is happening. hooray!

Oh, I should mention Catie and Kelly are at LAX waiting for their flights. It was good having them with me. I'm glad they were able to come. We had quite a few laughs, most of which over meals (sorry about that, Kelly!). We had really only one major fight and only a couple scuffles. not too bad, if you ask me. I have decided though, adding people adds stress. I'm glad it's just Leann when she joins me in 4 days.

During this journey, laden with adventure, I have still not forgotten my goal. I am constantly straining to hear God's voice through all of this. I'm seeking wisdom everywhere I turn. I'm asking questions and listening to the answers. However, I must admit, at this halfway point. I'm more confused than ever. I fear other things have become distractions in my mind.

There are three things I need: housing, job, and healthy, healing church. I have discovered this:

Chicago - job

Cincinnati - housing

Kokomo - church

hmm... so maybe not any of those options...well, then things really get hairy.

New Zealand? I tried not to think it's "God's will" every time I hear an accent or see a NZ t-shirt (there have been a surprising amount).

Deer Park? oh, I'd love too but I feel this one is out of my hands.

LA? no thanks. I've been here 20 hours and I'm done.

Where else? I don't know...

I know what the answer is. The answer is pick somewhere, anywhere. Plant yourself and do God's work. The rest will work itself out. I know that's the answer. It has to be. That is what everyone says. Besides doesn't God call us to just be content?

I picked up the Bible and opened it as we were speeding down the coast yesterday (it seemed fast, it took over 10 hours!). I decided to let the Bible fall where it fell. It fell open in Job. It was one of the passages where his friend is telling him to give up. After reading that, I skipped ahead to God's response. I just kept thinking two things over and over. 1: "I love God's sarcasm. This guys cracks me up." 2: "I know I'm not wise. I know nothing. So what now?" I still don't have that answer.

Do you?

--the nomad

I've sat so long my legs hurt

Good news, we made up the 4 hour first day delay time. (In your face, car trouble)

Bad news, hours upon hours of car time today.

Today we traversed over the Big Horn Mountains, through Yellowstone, and, as I was just informed by the hotel clerk, around places Lewis and Clark once stepped.

It was a long day. a long, exhausting day.

These are the things I have learned today:

1. The Eastern half of Wyoming is the most boring place in the northern section of the US of A.

2. The Western half of Wyoming may be the most exciting place in the northern section of the US of A

3. My pointer finger can actually get tired after hitting the shutter button on my Nikon over 900 times in one day.

4. My Nikon doesn't not need it's shutter button pushed over 900 times or else the battery will die at very important times, ie: Old Faithful. (thank goodness for my Droid)

5. Driving through tunnels made of mountains in the mountains freaks me out.

6. Driving by bison as they graze on and off the road also freaks me out. (but kinda in a good way. "Oh my gosh, look at the bison, take a picture!")

7. Driving by deer at night while they graze right off the interstate while I'm going 75 definitely freaks my out. (and not in a good way at all! "Ah! Don't hit me! I need my car for 23 more days!!!")

8. My mom will befriend people in a gas station because she saw them laughing at my car. (I have an "I Love Cincinnati" bumper sticker next to my Indiana plate, so what?) She will also befriend and receive a mini-Bible from a Vietnam vet while his fiancee is using a Yellowstone port-a-pot. However, if I chat it up with the hotel clerk while she waits outside, she worries if everything is ok. :)

9. Old Faithful is cool but so are the others.

10. I'm a huge fan of the bubbly hot springs. Don't hate on them just because they smell like eggs.

11. Only you can prevent forest fires, especially if your name is "God." However, you can also sit on a folding chair and watch the forest burn, especially if your name is "fireman."

12. One of mom's favorite words is "desolate." One of mine is "Mooooommmm...."

13. I could not be a rancher's wife. I would worry all the time because I wouldn't be able to get in touch with him. There is no cell phone reception out there. How long would he have to be gone in the wilderness on horseback before I was allowed to worry if something terrible had befallen him?!?!

14. Watching sheep get herded right up to the road and being waved to by the old cowboy from his horse was one of the highlights of the day.

15. Western Wyoming looks like the pictures I used to draw in second grade. I'm not kidding. I always, always drew pictures of mountains with one little house all by itself tucked in somewhere. Though my pictures normally included Johnny Appleseed.

16. Bears will not come out for a photo op if you sing "bears, bears, where are you bears?" at them through the open window while driving through Yellowstone.

17. When I wish for something to happen, it normally does. Today I wished to see one wild animal in Yellowstone. I saw 3: Bison, Elk, & weird deer-like things. I forgot to wish for a bear.

18. Gas station pizza is not always horrible.

19. Mom talks to me more when the sun goes down. I like it. She made some excellent points in this "what next" discussion. I like what she had to say. Anyone else think it may be time to work on my Master's?

20. I yell a bit too much if awesome photo opportunities are missed. I should work on that.

21. Montana will probably be beautiful when we see it. The last 4 hours have been driven in the dark. As mom says, "You CAN drive over mountains in the dark!"

21. After 13 hours of mountain views, you get tired of them.

Speaking if tired, I'm exhausted! It's 2:30 am Mountain Time but I couldn't forget about you. Sorry that the past 2 days have been lists. I look forward to actually writing soon. I wish I had wifi in my car.

the nomad

Bits and Pieces (print edition)

1. South Dakota is really, surprisingly pretty.

2. Wyoming is not. Until you are getting close to the end. Then there are mountains and they mock you because they are hours away.

3. I will never be able to sleep in the car. Yesterday I was taking everything in. Today, every time I closed my eyes Mom would “oh, wow, that’s beautiful. No, go ahead and sleep…” Yeah, that’s gonna happen

4. Taking silly pictures at Mt Rushmore is much harder with my fancy camera that insists on focusing on the closest subject.

5. That will not stop me from trying to get really, really silly pictures and inspiring strangers around me to do the same thing.

6. I have a new appreciation for the phrase “cattle on thousand hills.”

7. I really love prairie dogs. We did not go to prairie dog town.

8. I tried to take a picture of 1880 Town and ended up with a picture of a dinosaur. Not quite sure how that happened but I like it.

9. I also got the pictures of 1880 Town.

10. I saw where Dancing with Wolves was filmed. Mom is currently watching it at school so she was geeking out when we passed it.

11. Everyone and everything in the northern plains loves their stuffed animals.

12. I went to Wall Drug. I just didn’t go in.

13. I took over 700 pictures today. I am my mother’s daughter. There will be a slide presentation when I get back. Keep in mind this is day 2. J

14. The Badlands aren’t as really all that “bad.” You just don’t know their sweet side. I suggest buttering them with flowers and chocolates.

15. Our parking ticket into Mt Rushmore is good for the rest of the year!

16. Mom would like me to mention the friendliness of the manager at McDonalds. He was quite friendly. He chatted with everyone, made sure everyone had internet that wanted it, and gave us directions. Nice guy.

17. The ‘free WIFI’ at McDonalds didn’t work.

18. We pilfered internet from the restaurant next to McDonald’s. score.

19. Trains are the best part of Wyoming. However every train we’ve seen has had 3 engines. One backwards on the end and two on the front, one of those also backwards.

20. John is finally my text friend! Hooray.

21. I'm not sleeping in Yellowstone tonight. boo.

Mom is trying to move her ticket to stay another day. We are quite a bit behind.

Pray for our 13 hour drive tomorrow.

goodnight

-the nomad

Bits and Pieces (picture edition)