It feels good to be back in a routine. After a summer spent crossing the United States I am happy to be back in my corner of Colorado again. I like seeing the new crop of students every Fall. I have time to read, think, and write. I don’t have to think about where I will be sleeping every night. I have all my books around me and the TiVo at home. I might also start working on shedding some of the road weight that I put on.
I had some good times on the road. The highlight was a brunch in Athens, Ohio (Meeting some new friends and colleagues in DC runs a close second.). I still have so many friends in Ohio that it feels like my second home. I was feeling so nostalgic that I finally got around to putting an OU banner in my office.
Some observations:
I like Kansas. The Eisenhower library might be the best place to do research in the United States. The staff is very, very good. The hotel rates are cheap. And the Chinese buffet place has invented something that I hope catches on—the all-you-can-eat ice cream is real ice cream, not soft serve. I stopped going there for the Chinese food (not that good) and considered it an all-you-can-eat ice cream parlor. Lawrence is a great city also. They have a nice quality of life without being pretentious.
I actually liked most of the places along I 70. Between I 40, I 70, and I 80, I think 70 wins hands-down. Utah was much nicer than I remembered.
The drive from DC to Chicago went faster than I expected. Chicago doesn't look so good on the approach but I love it once you get into town. San Antonio is very hot and humid. The Alamo is next to a mall. The stretch from Needles, CA to Barstow, CA is the still the ugliest part of the United States. The Mexican food is better in California, but I like how they put green chili on everything in New Mexico. Gallup, NM is still full of pawn shops but it is much nicer than it was say, ten years ago. DC is still impressive. It was nice to spend more time in the Library of Congress. It was also nice to meet some politicians and remind myself that some of them are good people.
Best Chinese food is still at Luby’s in Fresno (except for the hot and sour soup at China Fortune in Athens, OH). Best Clam Chowder is still at the Splash Café in Pismo Beach (they just opened another place in San Luis Obispo). Best salsa is at Henry Salazar’s in Visalia, California. The best place to see bands is now Howie’s Pizza in Visalia. How do they get those bands there?
I love my country.
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3 comments:
My favorite part of your trip was when you told a crowded elevator in one of the house office buildings that you felt like Billy Carter because of the way you were dressed in comparison with everyone else. I don't care who was in that elevator...that was funny and I nearly blew snot out my nose.
Sounds like a great journey. Sorry I missed you in Ohio this time. Don't forget to look me up the next time you're in the neighbourhood.
Good times
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