Leaving Texas- Oct 4th: Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado

The cliff dwellings were amazing- we got to walk around and explore them, it was overwhelming to think of how old they are

We were very, very high off the ground

Worth the trip- we were there for a few hours hiking around, checking out the view, taking pictures. They had all sorts of side trails you could explore as well. It was awesome.

Leaving Texas- Oct 3rd: Santa Fe

From the time you hit New Mexico until you end up in Santa Fe, it's pretty much open, beautiful space punctuated with really cheesy, slightly trashy truck stops/gift shops... Exhibit A:

But seriously, some of the most beautiful country to drive through- I gave up trying to get a good picture, we were driving, it was blurry, and there was just so much of the sky and the landscape that the impact was lost on my little camera- I did the best I could.

We got to Santa Fe around 5 p.m., unloaded our things in the hotel, and then kind of crashed for a much needed hour of sleep after the previous night's sleep in a cold tent. We went out for some of the best Indian food I've ever had, and just spent the evening walking around downtown.

Downtown Santa Fe is amazing- packed full of local businesses all surrounding a beautiful historic square and a gorgeous Catholic church is right down the street from it- bear in mind my little camera, at night it takes pictures that are either fuzzy and yellow like the one above, or washed out with the flash like the one below...

I was pretending to be in jail, but this was just a parking lot

Fall in the square

Here's where my little camera came through- we propped her up on a rock, set the timer, and just stayed veeeeeeeeery still. Santa Fe was great- full of art, clean and lively downtown, great food, beautiful natural scenery. And we were especially grateful for the hotel to sleep in :)

Leaving Texas- Oct 2nd/3rd Amarillo and Cadillac Ranch

We drove all day the first day, hit Palo Duro Canyon, and then made camp- it was about, oh, 30 degrees. The next morning we hung out at Cadillac Ranch, and then drove another 4 hours before we got out of Texas- it's a monster. We then made an on the fly decision to go the Santa Fe, New Mexico...

A Short Story about Seeking Government Employment

For the past 4 months or so I've been traveling everywhere, writing my thesis, and furiously job searching. Since I've landed back in Dallas however, I've found the pickin's to be mighty slim. As luck would have it though, the Constitution of a little place called the USA happens to call for a census to be taken. Apparently the US Marshalls used to take it, but that was eventually deemed a little intimidating, so they've been recruiting citizens ever since. That's how I found myself sitting in a rec center downtown-ish, applying to work for the government by going door to door and asking questions of the people answering said doors.

Let's just say it was... an interesting bunch. There were about 6 of us, and unfortunately a few couldn't read the map, which is arguably an important skill for traveling about unfamiliar neighborhoods. And then the actual process- the government is still using pens and papers and manila folders ya'll. I think we *might* save a little extra money by going digital, but hey, that's just me- I love technology, and unlike Timberlake, I am *not* tired of using it. So, the whole ordeal was weird, socially awkward, and we were seated in a side gym with huge poster board butterflies hanging from the ceiling above us, and a fake wood fire next to us. But in the end I aced the test, and hopefully that plus my supervisory experience plus my grad degree and the fact that I don't have a felony will earn me a spot on the team. It's actually a pretty decent job for a temporary, part-time hourly gig at $17-$19 an hour, so I'm hoping I can keep this up through the spring and pair it with a real full time job. I'd like to take this moment to give a shout out to having no debt, and only car/health insurance and a cell phone to pay for. It's awesome, and without it I'd probably be too stressed out/insane/wandering the streets crying to be able to spend time making thoughtful blog posts like this one :)

Moral of the story- government jobs pay well, but are sought after by strange people. Also you should strive to live debt free in case you are ever unemployed. Perhaps an addendum to the moral of the story is that rec centers make questionable decor choices.

Oh, L.A., of Course You Did

My last night in L.A., Puppy Bob and I happened upon this....

I've Been Everywhere Man

I absolutely despise, with all of my being, blogger and the way putting pictures up is a supreme pain in the ass. But I was just thinking of everywhere I've been since Oct 2nd, and I figured at the least I could put up a list, so I can go back and make individual posts soon. Theoretically. I might come back here in two months to this post shaming me, but that's a risk I'll have to take. These are not drive throughs, but actual we stopped and visited, stayed the night, touristed it up, etc. places.

Palo Duro Canyon camping in Amarillo

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Mesa Verde National Park in Cortez, Colorado for the cliff dwellings

Camping on the Colorado River in a canyon in Moab, UT

Arches National Park

A week in Salt Lake City

Provo, UT for a day hike and a hot springs trip

North Rim Grand Canyon National Park

Las Vegas for good daytime sightseeing and yummy food- famous vegan donuts!

Los Angeles for a week, including day trips to Santa Monica and the beach, but most we ate a lot of vegan food :)

Seattle- took the train up the coast from LA, favorite city of the trip

San Francisco- almost 10 days all over an hour wide radius of the city and surrounding areas, culminating in 5 days of researching and writing in a little coffeeshop 4 blocks from the ocean

Back to LA for an abrupt pack up.

Phoenix, AZ- exactly how I imagined it would be

Las Cruces, New Mexico- weird Mexican food joint, also from El Paso to Dallas is pretty useless, we should give it back to Mexico.

And now back to Texas! I think we'll be heading to New Orleans sometime soon, and we might be going spelunking in Arkansas. Who can say. Right now, I'm just glad I'm

DONE WITH MY THESIS!!!!

which is really the only reason I had time for this ridiculous and largely pointless blog entry :)

Abruptly Back in Texas

I am so far behind on this little blog I'm not even going to try and apologize for it. I'll get around to posting eventually I'm sure, but first a quick update- while in Seattle Jess texted me with a little change in plans..

Ok, wait, let's just stop for a moment. Right above me, "texted" is underlined in red. Seriously blogger? Can you maybe dip your toe into the 21st century and recognize totally commonplace things like texting? Oh, wow, texting is "misspelled" as well, because clearly such a thing as a text message doesn't exist. Nice. Why don't you go jump in your dune buggy with your hoop skirt and take a nice Sunday drive blogger. Clearly you can't handle 2009

... sorry. Anyway, there was a change in plans. Jess's sister had sublet the room I was staying in beginning Dec. 1st, and as a result I would need to leave about two weeks early. I then realized it would be pointless to leave November 30th and miss Thanksgiving by a mere 4 days, so I got with the boy and planned out a surprise homecoming road trip. After three days of hard driving we made it back at 2 a.m. Thanksgiving morn, and I walked into the house full of family while I was talking to my Grandma on the phone "from California" ;) It was a good day. But ever since
then I've been working on my thesis, which is due in two days. So, with 4 pages left before I'm officially a master of something I'll leave you with a little Thanksgiving leftovers- everything minus the turkey, though, gross.