Next Stop: Chicago

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Mapping out the shot list for a quick trip out to windy and cold Chicago. I arrive on historic, November 4, 2008, when everything changes. GO BARACK GO!

Sleepless List of Random Thoughts

• Talked to Marina last night who is now relocated to Azerbijan in the middle of nowhere in what sounds like a giant mud pit. "I've never seen or had to deal with so much mud before in my life,"she tells me as I catch her on her cell phone during breakfast, calling from my computer, just after finishing my dinner of bacon fried rice. We are now 12 hours apart in time but might as well be on different planets. She wants news on the election...
  

• I finally added Fairlights "Daily Polaroid' blog to my peeps who blog section.
  
• Reading Tim Cahill's 'Pecked to Death By Ducks' book of adventure short stories, first hand account of burning oil fires in the first Gulf War and sneaking up on Grizzlies in Yosemite, wondering what the hell I'm doing hunkered down in this urban wasteland, watching the economy go down the drain... worrying if I'll be able to make rent next month.
• "Oh yeah, not having a car is probably going to rule out most of my girlfriends," says Dave's friend when trying to figure out who she could possibly set me up with, not that I'm looking to be set up with anyone, seriously. "Really, hmm... never thought about that," I responded. "Actually, most girls are probably looking for guys like us to probably own a house by now too," Dave adds.
• Went to the horse track for the first time in years with Dave and aforementioned girl and picked 1st or 2nd in the first four races. Not bad for an ex-handicapper, even though I was only betting $2WP. It was free hat day, couldn't miss that.
  
• Cafe Biere across the street now has 12 taps with some really good beers on tap. They have a happy hour special now on weekdays btw. 5-7pm where these yummy pints are only $3. And Jenga is FREE!
• Yeah... stuff like that is what I've been thinking of. Don't spend money, times are tough, hunker down, it's almost winter, winter in America. Stock up on raw meat, just like that grizzly up in Yellowstone did. Then go bury yourself in dirt and take a long, long nap.
  

FRAUD! FRAUD! NO MORE JOHN McSAME!

WAKE UP AMERICA and say JUST SAY NO to John McCain and his dirty, nasty and FRAUDULENT lies! Shame on him, shame on them and shame you, you Patriotic Americans that voted for this current fascist regime, letting FEAR rule your lives, choosing to stay IGNORANT TO THE FACTS! We are living in scary times, because of YOU! HELL NO to this Made-By-McCain 'economic crisis' bail out bullshit and JUST SAY NO JOHN McFRAUD!

Road Trippin' in the Deep South

Cutting through one of Georgia's many Nature Reserves, this one right outside of Savannah.

Dripping Spanish moss that the Carolinas are known for.

"Gords For Sale" - Local resident drums up some extra cash on roadside weekend sales.

Just in time for Halloween - SCARY!

En route from Savannah, GA over to Hilton Head, NC.

Local fisherman on the side of the road.

"What are you fishing for out here in the swamp?" I asked, probably like a typical tourist, if a tourist ever actually stopped and talked to a local fisherman tucked down behind a deep bank on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

"Whatever," he replied.

"What are you using for bait?"

"Crickets," he said after a short pause.

"Pretty beautiful country you got here... all this swampland," I stammered, realizing that he had become a bit weary of me and my camera.

Pause

"Cept you get caught out there loafin' and you best be standing next to a tree," is what came out of his mouth next.

"Excuse me?"

"You get caught out there loafin' and you best be standing next to a tree," he repeated, almost exactly as he'd said before.

"What do you mean," I asked, hair rising ever so slightly on the back of my neck as I look out to where he was looking.

"Pigs... WILD PIGS!"

Tom and I laughed about it as we drove off down the deserted highway, passing one run down trailer house after another but deep down inside I really was afraid.