DAY ONE: Today's the Day!

I awake bright and early at 7 am. Later than I intended, so I don't actually get on the road until 9 am. But, no worries. I have plenty of time, and plus I drive really fast. Reeeaally fast. SO, I'm on the 15 North, talking to Kenny on my cell phone and all of a sudden, "roo roo roo," Mr. Police Man is pulling me over. I think it's for the cell phone thing. No, he tells me I was speeding. Moi? So I decide to play really sweet and when he hands me the ticket he says, "You were going 98, but I only wrote you up for 90 because 98 would have been reckless endangerment. At 90, you can still do traffic school." What a sweetie! Right? I say, "I can't believe my car can actually GO 98, especially loaded down with all my stuff in the back!" He then informs me that I was coming down a hill, and I was following an SUV that was actually going a little faster than me. Yesssss... Faster than me. So, of course I can't resist: "Oh, so I was the lucky one to get pulled over?" Sheepishly he replies, "Well I can't pull over more than one car at a time, it wouldn't be safe." "So, you nabbed me, the SLOWER of your two SPEEDING choices?" And here I thought he was so sweet! I mean, you think you know someone! Sheesh!

Needless to say, I keep it to a sedate 80 the rest of the day.

When I get to Arizona, I'm greeted by snow in Williams, a blizzard in Flagstaff (10,000 elev.), then another blizzard in Gallup NM. I get some great photos and video! Safely, I assure you.

I'm really responsible and only talk on my phone a couple times, to Aunt Carol and Monte, the whole rest of the day. I listen to music lectures, and an audiobook, oh and some Go-Go's, Beauty and the Beat, around 3 to wake myself up. I do trade a couple quick texts with Sir Greg of LaVoi and Kenny, but only when traffic was nil. I swear!

The sun is setting by 5:30 (or 6:30, I can't remember which time zone I was actually in!), and my phone rings. BLOCKED. That usually means Mat and Elena, so I answer. Some guy named Larry that I guess I talked to a couple years ago about painting my house, wondering if I had reconsidered and was ready to get 'er done? It's almost dark, I'm driving in a blizzard (snow swirling around my car constitutes a blizzard. I'm from Michigan. I should know), I'm heading toward a much-needed sabbatical, and I'm yanked back into the reality of my life. My house needs painting, it really does. But I tell Larry to call me back next year. I should be well rested by then!

I finally pull off in Albuquerque at the Best Western because the billboard says restaurant, and I'm a little hungry. I've eaten very little on the ride and could use a good nosh. The restaurant is about to close, so I quickly scan the menu and see they offer paella! No freakin' way! I'm so excited! I get the dish to my room, turn on the Sci-Fi Channel and take a bite. Its the most disgusting, vile, nasty food I've ever tried to eat. No joke. It's not even palatable enough to call fuel!

BUT! I've got lots of photos and videos to go through, and I want to be on the road by sun-up tomorrow, so, things to look forward to.

But I will be getting breakfast somewhere else!