Would you rather win a $1 million Nobel Prize or win a $25 million lottery?

New Catalogue Image

used for Photo New York advertising in Art in America and the Photo New York website.

These are all people that I have been told I look like.

Iowa

Iowa has Internet access at their rest stops. I tried it last night but it didn’t work; still, I appreciate the effort. Now I am in a café in Grinnell drinking a syrupy Italian soda while the sweat that covers my body solidifies so I can brush it off before getting back into my un-air conditioned truck.

When I drive I like to listen to books on tape. Yesterday I was listening to “My Dog Skip,” which I knew was a dangerous choice because the dog in a dog story always dies. When Skip finally died I cried almost as hard as when my dog died. I realized then that I have no more room for grief so nothing sad can happen for a while.

Hopes and desires:

I hope to never have cable TV. Please do not hold that against me while I am sitting on your couch or big leather easy chair watching your cable TV. I like your cable TV.

A wise woman once said, “Money can too buy happiness.” I would like some money. Just the right amount so I never run out.

That’s my list.

Colorado

Here is your road conditions report for Interstate 25 in Colorado, Saturday, August 19, 2006. Rainy with periods of driving rain, scary at times.

Heading East or Midwest

A few miles past Barstow I saw a sign that read, “Last Chance Fuel #2,” which I thought might be better named, “2nd to Last chance Fuel,” or “Penultimate Fuel.”

In Williams Arizona there is a café called “Java Cycle.” Java cycle is closed but the kid at the counter is kind enough to let me compute while he closes shop. Also in Williams is a beautiful, street flooding thunderstorm. I pulled over because the truck was hydroplaning on Interstate 40.

Back to the Midwest

Robert’s memorial service was Saturday at UCLA. I am still in LA until tomorrow when I will drive to Albuquerque, or half way. This is the start of my annual migration East. You know the routine: put dog to sleep, pack belongings, head to LA for memorial of dear friend, blah, blah, blah…

Good-bye

????-August 9, 2006