Dunder Mifflin

In the warehouse.


The touch-up mirror. Check out Tad's guns!


The wanted poster from the "flasher" episode.


The conference room.

The vending machines in the break room.


The green screen. What am I doing? Floating in the sky? Am I Spider-Man? Am I sitting on a chair? Who knows!

Uh oh! What's that behind me? A velociraptor? Maybe a building's falling on me? Maybe I'm catching a damsel in distress? Maybe I'm holding a party sub from Subway? All of the above!


Dwight's Camaro--gas 'er up and give me the keys.

The Timeless/Confusing Words of BonJae

Spanish Bird

Speak no more of ardent ways

When your troubles reached their zenith

The counted hours and numbered days

And the jollies that were ‘tweenith

Fly, little bird, swim away to Spain

And never bother me again

With your tulips and your gumdrops

That pierce’d my mind’s inner eye

As I turn and twist and flippy-flop

Through the barley and the rye

Fly, little bird, swim away to Spain

And let the Harvest Moon wane

You tickle my ear with “caw, caww!”

And awaken the humdrum night

Through burlap sack and man’s law

You’re perched—suddenly in flight!

Fly, little bird, swim away to Spain

And gaze through yonder window pane

“Never cry if ‘tis not in your heart

For in every tear is a lifetime

Kiss your fervent schemes, aye—depart

To sing, it cannot be a crime”

Fly, little bird, swim away to Spain

Winked I, “Until we meet again”

Gallup, New Mexico to LA

Good-bye Days Inn. You treated me kindly.


Rarin' to go on Day 2.


Planning ahead, wearing long sleeves so that my arm didn't burst into flames.


New Mexico desert.


Entering Arizona. The desert, she's big.


Arizona landscape.


Indian craft shops, cool geology.


More desert.


Rocks.


Driving into a sandstorm in Arizona--the desert, again.


The other side of the sandstorm--snow-capped mountains.


The Country Host Restaurant in Flagstaff, Arizona. Del's Diner's got nothing on this place. The chorizo and eggs were delectable.


Hitting the home stretch.


Entering Kaibob National Forest.


Driving down into the bluffs.


The first palm trees, just outside of Ludlow, California. Speaking of which, I didn't realize I was in California until I ran into the California Inspection Station. I pulled in and the officer asked me where I was coming from. I could barely hear him from the hours of being pummeled by the wind. Then he asked me if I was transporting any plants or animals or if I had any fruits or vegetables. I thought, "Who in the hell drives around with those kinds of things?" Then, about 10 minutes later, I realized I had a bunch of bananas riding shotgun with me. Oopsy-daisy.


Driving into the California hills.


My first taste of LA traffic. Pretty fun stuff.


Downtown LA--not as big as you might think.


Billboards are everywhere the eye can see.


Why go to two places when you can get both homemade soups AND homemade jelly at the Hungry Fox? LA is A-OK with me!


The Simpsons out enjoying the sunshine.


Finally: (Tad's) Home Sweet Home.


The church across the street.


Your typical LA parking sign. Piece of cake, right?


And thus, my first LA parking ticket. I've officially arrived!

The 'Ta to Gallup, New Mexico

And...begin! "On the run from Johnny Law. Ain't no trip to Cleveland." I shoved off from Wichita right around 9:30 this morning. I couldn't have asked for better road trip weather--clear skies, 80 degrees or so. Got a little bleary eyed with the folks. Eh, bound to happen.


Kansas, Land of a Thousand Wheats, I'll miss you dreadfully.


Blackwell, Oklahoma--I once spent the night in a van in the parking lot of this outlet mall (circa 1998):Perry, Oklahoma features small town charm and a unique downtown:


I started to get a little wind-blown after a couple of hours:


I got the first big rig of the day to honk at me after I conveyed the international gesture for "honk at me." Then I went about 0 for 25 the rest of the day. My high esteem for truck drivers suffered until I realized that all the truckers were looking down at this:


Does the Messiah give sailing lessons? Sign me up!


Shortly after I learned about Jesus' nautical abilities, I saw this:


I thought, "That must be the biggest cross in the western hemisphere." Until, that is, I saw this sign a few miles down the road that read, "Now approaching the western hemisphere's LARGEST CROSS." They weren't kidding:

I can't tolerate intolerance:


Wind turbines outside of Oklahoma City:



Oklahoma red soil:


Texas:


Shamrock, Tex. Everything was Irish-themed:


You know that old saying about Amarillo, Tex.? "Don't take a picture of the American Quarter Horse Association or you might miss it." Well, I pretty much did. Not a lot going on:


Texas steers:


Getting more wind blown:


Terraces in western Texas:


Texas tumbleweed farm:


New Mexico:


If you're ever in Tucumcari, New Mex., I suggest you swing by Del's Diner. The #G Plate is almost entirely edible!:


I think they call this "one-man cabin fever":


This is a picture of Smith's Food and Drug's sign. Somebody might have a copyright infringement suit on their hands:


It was getting dark and my trigger finger was getting a little slow, but this is my attempt to take a pic of Karl Malone's Toyota dealership just outside of Albuquerque, New Mex.:


The Dancing Eagle Casino 30 miles away from Gallup:


My horribly burnt left bicep and forearm:


My digs for the night, the Days Inn:


12 hours down, 12 to go!

Miscellany:

Things I spied along the way:

Hitchhikers: 4
Cyclists: 3
Love's Country Stores: maybe a hundred
Road kill:
-Skunks: 2
-Turtles: 1
-Snakes: 1
-Rabbits: 2
-Armadillos: 4
-Foxes: 2


OK, I'm calling it a night...