Saturday, November 20, 2010

Welcome to the desert ...

Busy day today! We're all exhausted. It's one of those days when you look at your phone, expecting to see that it's 11pm, but it's only 7:30!

The landscape here is quite different from what I'm used to. We really are in the desert. There are more cacti than trees. The saguaro are especially impressive. The ground is flat and rocky as far s the eye can see until it suddenly shoots straight up at the the foot of a mountain or mesa. It's very beautiful.

And very dry ... my lips feel like I've been standing next to Lake Michigan in the middle of January!

We had a good turnout today, but unfortunately I was pretty busy and didn't have much time to visit. Chatted briefly with Virgil and Anne. Virgil is originally from North Dakota and Anne is originally from North Carolina and they met in DC! Pretty neat story.

I also got to meet Stewart and Katie. He's a hospital administrator, and she's from Gilmore City, Iowa - just a hop, skip, and a jump from Humboldt!

Unfortunately, I didn't get to chat much with our other visitors.

After things quieted down around camp, Gram and I ventured into the bustling metropolis of Apache Junction. I dropped her off to get her hair washed and did some exploring. Check out this funeral home I found! I had to take a picture!

We decided to go to Grand Buffet for dinner, because it was the only non-burger restaurant we could find in town. We were lured in by the crowded parking lot. It was rough. The chicken dishes were only distinguishable by their color and the size of the chunks. I ended up eating a lot of green beans and crab rangoons just because they had some flavor. I suppose when you're the only Chinese restaurant in town you don't have to try too hard.

Gram got a pretty crazy fortune - it said "If your cookie is in 3 pieces, the answer is no." Unfortunately, she didn't know she was supposed to ask a question or make a wish so it was all for naught.

This picture is going to take a little bit of explaining. I found this drawn on the back of a bathroom door in a gas station in New Mexico. Did I feel a bit skeevy whipping out my camera in a bathroom? A touch, but it was a one-holer with a locking door, so it wasn't too bad. I have no idea what this is supposed to be or mean. So my idea is that I thought I'd have a little contest!

Tell me what you think this little bit of art is. I'll pick the best answer (read: my favorite) and the winner will get a fabulous prize - a hat just like the one Gram is sporting in the picture above!

We'll be here all day tomorrow, so come see us!

5 comments:

Micah said...

That's almost cool enough to be a nominee here.

I'm guessing it's the entrance to the gas station (I see a double door and two handles -- typical gas station entry). Or it's the Chinese character for "poo poo times."

Anonymous said...

A wad of sad toilet paper knowing what's coming. Lori

Anonymous said...

Obviously it is an alien space ship entering earth atmosphere. It was left as a sign to direct other aliens to area 51. Others that is that can read kardasian (not Kim). Translation... Two cluck clucks from albuquerque then left.
Send me the hat

brandon said...

Email your address to bjdodgen@gmail.com!

Anonymous said...

Oh I think you already have my address so send it already! BTW can I get a 10% discount if I buy another Born Free?