2/6: Phoenix, AZ- Deja Vu

It was clear Saturday morning that I probably had contracted at least a mild case of bronchitis; my lungs were on fire. When I was young, I came down with something-bronchial about once every winter, but had avoided anything beyond chest colds for many years. My primary concern now was getting either Pneumonia or Swine Flu... which was making its rounds through Phoenix. Chris had given me some generic antibiotics, but in my eagerness to cut weight, I had deemed them unnecessary and mailed them home on Tuesday! If this WAS bronchitis, and I were to resume traveling from Phoenix, it would be Mucinex, rest, and simple hope that allied with my immune system.

2/5: Phoenix, AZ- The Famous Final Scene

Thursday night's incessant sneezing turned into Friday morning's "Crud." I woke up with my throat killing me, and was collecting stuff in both my head and chest although other than that, I felt great!

When Chris had Oscared off Thursday, the idea was to connect Friday morning and figure out a time to meet at REI. After all, that was the flame to my Slab City Moth! The hipbelt on Chris's pack had gone to hell, and as mentioned, the rubber on the shoes Lynette had bought me had already begun separating from the leather, and I was going through the now-standard cycle of obsessing about weight and contemplating downsizing my backpack if they had a suitable model in stock. Yes, by the time we learned Chris was already there, it was obvious that hours of fun was to be had at REI! Literally.

2/4: Phoenix, AZ- Run! Runaway!

If an unfortunate sap were cruelly assigned the task of writing my headstone's inscription it might read, "Here lies a prick." A more perfect truth has scarcely been uttered!

Another may season my eulogy with: abrasive, angry, antagonistic, blunt, calculating, condescending, crude, demanding, driven, excitable, flippant, grudged, honest, hurtful, idealistic, intense, incensed, judgmental, keenly observant, loyal, manic, narcissistic, obnoxious, obsessive, opinionated, passionate, quirky, rebellious, reckless, relentless, rude, stifling, troubling, unforgiving, vengeful, willful.. . XYZ will silently stand for the for my "less savory" adjectives!

2/4: Phoenix, AZ- Peasant Rage

ple·be·ian

adj.

1. Of or relating to the common people of ancient Rome: a plebeian magistrate.

2. Of, belonging to, or characteristic of commoners.

3. Unrefined or coarse in nature or manner; common or vulgar: plebeian tastes.

n.

1. One of the common people of ancient Rome.

2. A member of the lower classes.

3. A vulgar or coarse person.

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the common people

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plebeianism n.

plebeianly adv.

plebeian; pleb: In British, French, Irish, Australian, New Zealand and South African English pleb is a derogatory term for someone thought of as inferior, common or ignorant.

1/28: Phoenix, AZ- El Jefe

El Jefe liked the idea of a road trip out of Phoenix and agreed to take me to either Indio/ Coachella, California or all the way to Slab City itself which is adjacent to the Salton Sea (the huge body of water in S. California that you can see on the map- and from space). The plan for Thursday: hang out after he got out of work. Friday morning: west along I-10 into California.

1/27: 2010 Launch- Viva El Perro Sucio!

The ONLY reason Greyhound still conducts business is because it's a monopoly. Every year, they find new and astounding ways to baffle me with what I believed to be futility. I've since realized that "futility" is not the right term. They just don't fucking care... they don't have to! Why has this company been granted National Bus Line status? More on this latest vulgar display to come...