Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Montana: As big and scary as you'd expect

We're currently sitting in a parking lot in Wall, SD, stealing a wifi signal from a Super 8 because the horrific hotel we stayed in last night left us unable to update. Undeterred, we made it out of Wyoming and are trucking along hoping to reach Madison sometime tonight. Only 10 hours to go.

In the meantime, here's Emma with some captions.

In Eastern Washington, they had real horses as well as ones made out of iron.

I know I look tired, but we didn't walk up that hill. Pathetic, isn't it.
Here's where things started to go awry. Jane and Michael Stern sent us to Frank's Diner in Spokane. The diner is housed in a former railway car, and the food is exactly as good as that implies. Jane and Michael, ouch. My stomach is still mad at you. I don't know why there is a giant knife sticking out of my hamburger, by the way.
Mike danced a little when we made it to Idaho. I think it's because he knew we were only going to be there for fifty miles.
Which brings us to Montana. The problem started when the state sign was mounted over the highway, which meant that we couldn't stop to take a picture. The next time we stopped to pee, I decided to be cute and make little Montana gang-signs for you. Of course, I made the gang-sign for Missouri instead. You know, life gets hectic on the road. Must I really be responsible for remembering all those godforsaken abbreviations? It's as much Mike's fault as it is mine. Moving right along.

Contrary to popular belief, there is a speed limit in Montana. It is 75mph.

Since Montana had such a lackluster sign, we would like to suggest that it adopt this one.

In Missoula, we stayed at the Thunder Bird.
We were not the only laptop-happy road-trip bloggers there. I assumed that 'topless' referred to the driver's predilection for flashing her boobs, but then I realized it was because she was driving a convertible. Oh.
We were so excited to go to another Road Food stop in Butte. Sadly, it was closed, as was everything else. We ate lunch at a Subway-- the first chain restaurant thus far. It was salt in the wound that the Subway also sold scary, scary dolls, and had carpeting. Oh, Montana. You have done us wrong.
However, Montana did see the return of Dinosaur Gas. Here, I make like a T-Rex.
Billings announced its arrival with a statue of a skateboarder. Hmm.

Oh, Montana. I was so mad at you. Then you showed me your good side. Above, me with my giant bag of goodies from Montana Vintage Clothing.
Of course, the day did not end there. The reason we stopped in Billings was that Mike could spend some more time shoulder to shoulder with his brethren. Above, the crowd waiting outside the decrepit brewery where Against Me! was playing.
To say that I had reservations would perhaps not be adequate. Even Mike was a little scared.

And he was right to be scared. Unlike the civilized crowd in Seattle, this one fainted, bloodied its gums and punched hard.

Phew. He needed to change his shirt again, but no bruises or broken bones. Please note that despite the red Corvette in the background, this photo was not taken in 1987.

When we pulled over to take this photo of the Wyoming sign, there was an 18-wheeler mysteriously stopped, with no driver in sight. We were pretty sure that someone was about to murder us and take Chunky Monkey, but we still got out of the car. Why? Because we love you.

Next stop, Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug, and sweet sweet home.

love
E + M

Sunday, July 29, 2007

"And held hands in the streets of Seattle": Seattle #2

As our trip rounds its final corner, we spent our final days keeping busy in Seattle and trying to imagine ourselves living in various neighborhoods. We'll see what happens.

Now Emma with the comments, though I might pop in though for some "guest comments" in the Against Me! section...


Two-thirds of the Beaman family were in town for a visit. Tyler led us to the Baguette Box.

Behold, the Crispy Drunken Chicken Sandwich. We liked the place so much that we went back the next day.

After lunch, we went to the park. Some of Hazel's key words of the day: swing, slide, cool.

She was having so much fun on the swing that the boys wanted in on the action.
Hazel is also proficient in the art of the high five.
That night, John got us tickets to the play he's working on, Craig Lucas' 'A Prayer for my Enemy.' It was the very first preview, and so things weren't perfect, but an evening at the theater is always nice.

To thank him for his hospitality, we took John out to breakfast the next morning. As he put it, whenever he's borrowing a mansion, we are welcome to stay. Cheers. Jane and Micheal Stern told us that the 14 Carrot Cafe in Eastlake was the best breakfast in town, and as usual, they were right.

After breakfast, Mike and I went to Ballard for the Viking Seafood Festival.
Some large men in overalls were using these metal boxes as fish-y barbeques.
After another trip to the Baguette Box, it was time for the Capital Hill Block Party. Above, John Vanderslice in the sunshine. Looking at him, one gets the idea that he doesn't spend a whole lot of time outdoors.

While we were waiting for the other bands of interest to play, we headed to the park for a little friendly competition.
We each won a game, isn't that nice? I would have won a second, but Mike was losing so badly that he forfeited. Poor thing.

Just before Against Me! takes the stage, Emma starts to look nervous. All the boys with black shirts make her take a step back as I take a step forward.

As always Against Me! were perfect. What sets them apart from other punk bands is their complete professionalism on stage. They play everything perfectly while still bouncing around and smiling like it's the best show they've ever played before. Right now, I am a happy boy.

Oddly, there were a handful of people who gave the band the finger and the "thumbs down" every time they played a song off their newly released, magnificent album "New Wave". It seems a little weird to me to come to a show, scream and dance during the songs you like, then boo at the ones you don't.

After one of my faves, "Sink. Florida. Sink," the guy next to me said, "That was religious." I agreed.

My post-show happiness. I also partially lost my voice. Emma will explain how happy I was.

Let me put it this way-- Mike was so happy that he was drenched in sweat. We walked to the car so he could change. Above, back in time for Spoon.

Also, it got dark.
Our backs hurt. It was a long day. We went over to the side for a little Britt close-up. Mike, still panting a bit, said, "If they play 'Small Stakes,' then we can go." They did. We went.

The crowd in Seattle was remarkably well-behaved. You couldn't pay me to go to the Siren Festival, but this one wasn't so bad. Really, though, much like the pasty John Vanderslice, I enjoy being inside. Also, chairs. Chairs are fantastic.

The moon over Seattle.

Ok, people. We are now turning right and heading East. It's only a twenty-six hour drive back to Madison. Wish us luck, and stay tuned.

love
E + M

Thursday, July 26, 2007

The Summer of Grunge: Seattle #1

We arrived in Seattle yesterday afternoon and hit the ground running. Even though we have four days here before heading home, we decided to cover the entire city in a matter of 24 hours. We're crazy.

I will say that in comparison to the other major cites we've visited these last three weeks (!), Seattle ranks number 1. Seriously, this place is awesome. I love it here.

Here's Emma with her ever informative captions. I'm going to sit on the couch and digest the huge amount of sushi I just ate. Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures in the restaurant. There was a conveyor belt wrapped around the tables dispensing the sushi. You would have loved it.



The space needle.

Welcome to Seattle.

We were good tourists and went to the Experience Music Project. We skipped the Hendrix room and spent most of the time in the oral history wing-- you sat at a video screen, put on headphones , and decided whether you wanted to hear Odetta or Mike Watt or Mark Mothersbaugh chat. It was cooler than we thought it was going to be.

Our first meal in Seattle was at Salumi, Armandino Batali's closet of a restaurant. Mario's sister was slicing the salami. We felt right at home.

Assorted cured meats.

In the bathroom, another Batali's work was on display.

Mike's sandwich had figs, goat cheese, and prosciutto.

It was someone's birthday in the kitchen. We all sang. Then someone brought us some ice cream. Sigh.

Keith Hernandez? Someone confirm, please. We know nothing about anything, but thought we recognized the mustache.

The next stop on our movie location tour was the Singles house. Picture Matt Dillon with long hair.

Our Chunky Monkey needed a bath. Mike took him to the elephant. I know that cars are supposed to be girls, but Chunky Monkey has a decidedly male personality.

While Chunky Monkey has getting washed, I was at 8 Limbs Yoga getting my om on. Stephanie sent me to her friend Jenny's class. My ass was whupped, but in such a wonderful way.

This is the bar where the fishermen from Deadliest Catch hang out. Yes, we watch too much television. Do you have a problem with that? We also went to the Elliott Bay Bookstore, okay? Also, I just finished Harry Potter, and it was fantastic. I know some blog readers have a problem with teenaged wizards, but as far as I'm concerned, if there is no room in your heart for a teenaged wizard, then you have some serious, serious problems.

Even though John has been here for a month, the poor thing hadn't seen anything outside the theater. We took him to the Pike Place Market.

We went for the assorted dozen, because we are no dummies.

They had two New Kids on the Block buttons stuck to their sign. As if they needed me to love them any more.

They were still warm.

Legs.

John, taking in the sights.

For lunch, Mike and I went to Dick's. Above, Mike's love for fonts is revived.

They had good packaging.

Our entire meal-- two deluxe burgers, an order of fries, a coke, and a milkshake-- was $9.57.

This color is called 'My Chihuahua Bites.'

Just as we always suspected-- in Seattle, it is always the summer of grunge. I was on the phone with Nina as I took this picture, and she very wisely understood that this should be the title of today's post.

Next up, more Seattle.

love
E + M