4.29.09

Exit Strategies
Season greetings from the Sin City.
If you think I'm blowing all my travel budget on blackjack and hookers, you're wrong. In fact, I don't even know how to play cards. Plus, I naturally have some innate ability to avoid such things as gambling and procuring prostitutes. So I knew traveling to Las Vegas would have to mean something more for me than the typical Vegas affairs. What was I going to do?

A week ago I was driving through a dark mountain pass into the Las Vegas city limits. I saw a sea of city lights emerge across the horizon as I came around a hillside. The amount of luminescent bulbs reminded me of being in El Paso at night and looking across the Mexican border into Juarez. They stretch on and on into the distance; too many to count and too many of them to be anything less than a city.
"Vegas" I thought to myself. "It has to be Vegas."
I called ahead to my friend, Nick (the person I'd be staying with) and said, "I've got an idea..."

Long story short.
5 days of droppin beats and spittin raps, two hours of compiled video footage, some vicodin and a few bottles of vodka later, the rap duo "Exit Stategies" is born and we have all the fixins for a multi-platinum career. Well, actually neither of us want to be full-time-thugs, so we probably won't keep up with these habits. But we certainly had a non-stop-party while creating this epic track that has yet to debut (sorry these things take time. You'll just have to check back.)
What better city to make a ghetto rap production than the ghetto meca of the world, Las Vegas.
So why do I call Vegas the ghetto meca? Because the city is downright trash. It's called the Sin City for a reason and it caters to some of the most seething greed and filth I've ever encountered. So while we're talking about it for a second here, let me just go on a rant and tell you about all the other dissatisfying things about Las Vegas, Nevada.

Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley (amongst others) truly made Vegas the attraction that it is today. Sadly though, I don't think any of those former iconic figures that lifted this city up with such prestige could or would embrace what it has become today. I'm sure that back in it's heyday, Vegas was a swinging hot spot and unrivaled as far as entertainment goes. But today, thanks to excessive pop culture and developers who want nothing more than to capitalize on the wallets of commercial tourism, Vegas is nothing more than an empire of hokey imitations; everything to celebrity impersonators to cheap replications of some of the worlds most monumental architecture. And for what? I'm sorry, but I'm not excited about seeing a scaled down version of the Effile Tower, or a piss poor imitation of the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. Vegas is like an absurdly expense theme park for disillusioned adults. It's clearly meant to have some lure of extravagance, class and temptation, but the only thing I can translate from it is a classic example of American trash. I'm sorry, but the more luxury cars I see on the road and ritzy Hotels that are only built to sustain a five year self life, the more and more pained I feel to be an American. It's like a dystopia. An epicenter for thirsty souls. I found the whole thing to be too easily dissatisfying somewhat personally demoralizing. Sure, some people hit it big from time to time but if you want to see the disparaged side of humanity, go watch the people who play the slots. Few things get me depressed in this world, but this is certainly one of them. And if sitting in front of a slot machine for hours at a time is your business, it might be time to consider a new hobby. By the way, to everyone else, you're coined as "cows" or "cattle". FYI.
But if you ask me, I'll just call you "counter-productive".
That's my rant... I'd love to here your arguments.

So while the first Exit Strategies video is in still in post production, you'll have to wait patiently. But here are a few other photos to look at in the meantime. Just a few though.

4.24.09

Sedona & "Flag"
I've seen a lot of places and have had a lot of thought's since Tucson. However, the opportunity to update this site doesn't always present itself. So let me attempt to bring you up to speed here.

Upon leaving the arid sands of Tucson, I felt I had made a new friend and was again abandoning a place I could have easily bummed around for a while longer, but the resources just weren't there. So after getting another late start and traveling through the night (I really need to stop doing that) I found myself without anywhere to sleep in Sedona, AZ. I spent the hours between 10pm and 1am looking for a dark street where I could park and sleep in my car. This turned out to be a total bust. Would you want someone to pull up in front of your house, turn off the headlights but never get out? Creepy... I couldn't bring myself to do that to anyone. I instead ended up paying $30 for a shitty motel room. The type of motel that runs their office out of another motel room. The type of motel that causes you to sleep with the lights on from fear of a late night break in or robbery. The type of motel where you can hear people walking through the hallway outside of your room all night long. Let's just say I didn't sleep very soundly.
It was recommended that I see the red rocks of Sedona and that was a great recommendation, but they should have also informed me (or forewarned rather) of the ultra-touristy nature of this place and the over priced hotels, and the lack of fellow couch surfers.
Yes, the geology is truly remarkable, but Sedona is an expensive place and all too cluttered with RV's. Here is a few tips I wish I'd had known before visiting.

• Don't stay longer than you need to. You can see a good portion of Sedona in just two days. Plan ahead and do a few day hikes. You can't possibly see it all, but it's not a place you should spend all of your gold coins on anyways.
• Camp outside of the park. Otherwise you'll pay $20 a night for their all inclusive campsites (that includes a pad of gravel and a pic-nic table). In Arizona, you can legally camp anywhere that isn't a state park and is at least a half mile from the road. For free.
  

You won't find a lot of unique businesses in Sedona because it's dominated by novelty tourist shops, but I did find this one treasures.

The Bike and Bean - Coffee/bike shop. Rent a bike, buy a bike or have your bike serviced. Have your coffee addiction serviced as well.


From Sedona I drove a little further north to Flagstaff.
By the way, If you're a local or just too cool to say both syllables, as in "Flag-staff" which I understand is a big chore... you can just say "Flag", and everyone will know what you're talking about. Flagstaff looks and feels like a quaint little mountain town that you might discover somewhere in Colorado. They have cool dry air and a snow capped mountain. Maybe I just spent too much time in the Southwestern desert cities because it was all very strange encountering this place in the middle of Arizona.
For some reason, Flagstaff is a hub for other travelers like myself. You will see a lot of people toting large packs on their backs and you will encounter many foreign speaking people.
For the most part, Flagstaff was pretty laid back. Kids play hacky sack in the town square and dogs run around the bars at night. I spent one afternoon going on treasure hunts with a fellow couch surfer and drinking toddys at an overpriced cafe. I met some really nice people, that if I had stayed any longer I would have considered them friends. They invited me to an afternoon game of Kickball and booze, and nothing says friendship like kickball and booze.
I also spent the afternoon looking for a used 10 speed which I had no luck with at all. I've discovered that a bike is going to be a crucial necessity for me as I keep exploring these new cities and towns. It's just too inconvenient to spend all of my gas money driving around, getting lost and getting side tracked. Especially in places as small as Flagstaff.

As for flagstaff, I would recommend.

Debous Hostel - For a cheap place to sleep. I didn't actually stay there but the two staff members I met were incredibly nice and they let me use their laundry facility and hang out in the game room til it was done. They also offered me some tea while I waited.

Late for the Train - Another Coffee shop. If it's not obvious, coffee is a favorite beverage of mine. I went here on a recommendation. Unfortunately they were closing down early but they made me a quality Red Eye.

Altitudes - this is more of a restaurant and a sports bar. Not exactly my preference of a watering hole, but if you make good with the bartender right before closing time, you'll do tequila shots with him and some other locals for free.

Bun Huggers - Ever been to Fudruckers? I can't understand why those places aren't more popular. Anyways, Bun Huggers is similar and maybe even a bit cheaper. Beer and Burgers, there isn't much else that can top that,



View some Sedona footage on the Video Page.
And to view all the photo's of Sedona and Flagstaff, Click here

4.18.09

Town of Color and Murals

I got a late start and had to travel to Tucson through the darkness of the desert. I was completely unaware of my surroundings and nervous about starting a new city, but I met up with a couch surfer named Levi who wiped away my tears and assured me I'd be okay. Just kidding... but he did take me to a bad-ass Drum & Bass show. Let me revise... A live, one man, drum and bass show. I'm talking about a guy sitting behind a drum kit! the real deal! If that's your candy then follow these links. KJ Sawka was cool as cocaine. However, the venues sound guy didn't understand that Drum & Bass means volume to 11! Oh, and I don't know if the word "Bass" being part of the genre is a dead give away, but we're gonna need some of that too... Where's the Bass at sound guy? hey guy... where's the bass?
It was still a standout show.
The next morning, I got my first taste of the distant mountains and my first visual observations of Tucson. After exploring for a bit, my first impression was, "Oh god! So this is where all the hippies went." I thought that whole movement passed a few decades ago, but lo and behold! hippies are everywhere! Crazy ones at that! Beggars! they really didn't bother me too much though, especially the one who warned me that my parking spot would warrant a $150 ticket if I didn't move. No so bad, right? They're more like a town fixture, like a novelty or tourist attraction. Nam is over, but these guys are still working hard to keep the peace. Good job guys!
Aside from the spectacle of dread-head, tie-dyed, pan-handlers, Tucson is a city plotted smack down in the desert between two mountain ranges. The mornings are some of the most beautiful I've known, The afternoons get pretty damn hot, and the sunsets could compete with those of the Midwest.
The city and neighborhoods are painted with color. Yes, more murals than I've ever seen in any concentrated space. In fact, every time I shot one I discovered another. More than I could even photograph. Here is a few of my favorites along with some other immortalized moment's.
There are many small homes (also know as casitas) made of stucco and painted an array of desert colors: vibrant oranges, pale yellows, soft reds or pastel greens. What a fun little candy coated town. In fact it might be the best I've visited yet. I couldn't live in Tucson though, simply because I require just a bit more energy and going ons. Something that is a bit more city like. I did discover that about myself.
But what else did I learn about myself?? Being in Tucson was the loneliest I've felt so far. I was left to myself a lot and really just wanted a friend to run around with. I also learned how much I miss my dog, my bike, and how much I need a camper van and a Camera battery that lasts more that 20 minutes.
Regardless, I had much fun. How anybody ever decided to build a town in the middle of the desert is beyond me... But somehow it's working.
Another day Tucson, another day.

As always, here is my City List.

- Grill - 24 hour cafe and bar - this place has been open since like 1903. They love their cafe and they mean it. Don't fuck around or you'll destroy a good thing.

- Cafe Zopa - They specialize in crepes and good sunny afternoon music. I think they played the entire Camera Obscura album while I ate an egg, spinach, and mozzarella crepe in the shade of their back patio. If your not into that you should probably go eat at the neighborhood slop trough.

- Shot in the Dark - Clever name for a 24 hour coffee house. The sign outside is literally a white piece of cardboard that somebody wrote on with a sharpie, so you might miss it. But if you do find it you'll encounter a total dive of a coffee bar, but in a good way if you can imagine that.

- Epic Cafe - maybe it's the name, or maybe it's named derived from it's popularity. This is a great coffee shop that also dishes up some great food. Vegetarian friendly and organic beans. If you can stand just a few college kids and a medium to long line, this is your place.

- The Folk Shop - Musical Treasures! A music store that specializes in acoustic instruments of the folk and gypsy persuasion. I bought a ukulele for $50. More on the Uke later.

- Brooklyn Pizza - Solar Powered Pizza. No Joke. They literally have a roof of solar paneling that powers everything but the gas ovens and the toilet! And their delivery driver cruises around in a smart car! Now that's innovative. If only other businesses would take note. Brooklyn pizza in Tucson??? pretty damn close.

- Lindy's on 4th - Have you ever had peanut butter on your hamburger? I have! But if your not into that you could get mac n' cheese on your burger, or potato salad, or pineapple and coleslaw. An unusual and delicious burger + $1 PBR hole in the wall.

- In & Out Burger - Right, I know these exist everywhere but this was my first experience. This place makes McDonalds seem like a tobacco spit under my shoe. This is nearly fresh fast food. Too bad we don't have them in the Midwest. Grow up Ronald McDonald and quit poisoning us!

- Plush - probably one of the best venues to see a show. Although, I can't be sure as it was the only venue I actually went to.

- The District - Located downtown. The have those really high ceilings which makes you feel like your your getting drunk in somewhere special. Plus they have an old CD jukebox with really good shit like The Pixies "Doolittle" and my favorite album by the Cramps (none of that "touch tunes" bullshit). If you order a "Special" you'll get a bottle of Highlife and a shot of old crow whiskey. Yumm a dumm dumm!

- Cafe Passe - The inside is too small to turn around, but the back patio is a paradise of aluminum paneling and plants. Cheep coffee too.

Here are all the photo's in case you missed the first link.

4.14.09

If I were Ansel Adams...

Sabino Canyon, AZ

vol. 1

4.13.09

A Man Amongst Monsters

Here's a quick post.
I spent the afternoon in the Sabino Canyon of Tucson, AZ and encountered a world of creatures I've only experience before in grade school textbooks and fabricated Hollywood movie sets.
The Cactus!
Cacti (that's the plural) come in a variety of shapes, sizes and characters. They are are a common fixture of the tucson landscape and a popular yard accessory for homeowners. To an Illinoisan however, they appear as alien creatures of the desert (not in a cartoon or fantastical sort of way, but by a manner of being so oddly foreign.) The most recognizable and visually present cactus is the infamous Saguaro, often towering as high as 30-50 feet.

Here's a few more fun facts for ya.

-The Saguaro grows very slowly, only about an inch per year, but eventually to great heights of 15 to 50 feet.

-The largest plants, with more than 5 arms, are estimated to be 200 years old.

-It is a flowering plant

-The Saguaro cactus is Arizona's state flower.

-The flowers bloom during the night.

-The Gila Woodpecker make their home in the Saguaro by chiseling out small holes in the trunk.

-The Saguaro has a surprisingly shallow root system in relationship to its great height and weight. It is supported by a tap root that's only about 3 feet long.

Crazy, right?
More on Tucson coming soon.

4.10.09

El Paso (The Pass)

(Juarez at night)

I've been in El Paso for a week now and I still stick out like a sore thumb. A very tall, white, gangly sore thumb. People seem to have a general curiosity about me (and that's not just wishful thinking). C'mon, I wouldn't talk about myself in that way. Lets look at the obvious specs here. I'm the tallest white boy with blond hair, struttin around a Hispanic border city. Here in El Paso i'm a minority and I kinda enjoy it. I'm pretty much the ultimate "gringo" (which only means "white person". No negative connotations involved.) It almost feels like I have a celebrity status, although I'm sure the inquiring stares are something more along the lines of, "you're not from around here are ya, kid?" But I've had opportunities to talk with many El Pasonites, and we've met on common levels of interest and generosity. I've actually not felt any racial tension during my stay here; the very opposite in fact. I have honestly felt more tension around the bullheaded people of my own race - white people...pshhh....
I don't want to deter my readers interest but the truth is, El Paso is a bit low-key.
It's a border city with Juarez, Mexico which has undergone a violent drug war over the last year and a half, so I was expecting a few more cut-throat attitudes and sketchy situations. But regardless of what is happening over there, El Paso remains rather calm. Modern American paranoia causes people to think and say things to me like, "be careful down there" and "are you okay in El Paso?" But the truth is, people are just downright reserved here. I feel more fear when I'm just driving through East St. Louis.

Since arriving here, I've been intrigued with Mexico and have probably come off as a bit irritating to my hosts because of my anxiousness to cross the border. It's fascinating to be so close to another country. You can literally look across the barbed wire fence to the poverished neighborhoods of Juarez. I could probably hit a few of the rooftops with a rock.
For someone who has hardly stepped outside of Illinois, it's pretty interesting to see two countries coexisting so closely. I guess at this point it would be fair to say that I'm pretty uncultured.
Anyways, the opportunity to visit Juarez hasn't exactly presented itself and I'm warned by my new El Pasian friends that as the mono-lingual white-boy that I am, it's probably not a place I should visit alone. Next time perhaps.

El Paso isn't as visually stimulating as I had hoped, but It does have a nice little mountain range. For the most part, people are generally kind and open minded. Maybe I just attract those types of people, but there seems to be an abundance of them here. The girls especially. They're very cute, but on top of that they are also engaging (they actually talk to you, not necessarily with an agenda, but just talk to you as a genuine person.) And who doesn't like the attention of a female? Even if she doesn't want to take you home.
I can see how EL Paso might resemble some similar characteristics to that of a more diverse and cultural Brooklyn (pre gentrification of course) but it's not yet too overwhelmed with culture clash and racal friction, which is exactly why ignorant white folk like myself shouldn't move in. We'd probably suck the life out of it. Which is too bad because I think I could sincerely enjoy a few years in El Paso

Here's what I was able to discover during my 6 days.

The Tap - If I lived in El Paso I'd be just another one of the regulars at this hole in the wall bar. This is where you're gonna get the best assortment of a people and varieties of sub-cultures. The jukebox has a strange assortment of music and If your hungry, you can eat some of the best authentic Mexican until 2 a.m.
Lucys - This diner will appear as somewhat of a dive and the seating is limited but the food is outstanding an the prices are affordable. Plain decor for the exchange of great diner food... I'm sold. Every time.
Crave - Slightly on the more trendy side. But the dinning room is about the size of your bedroom and you're gonna get what you paid for (as far as quality is concerned). A DJ will spin records while you eat. He's so close to your table, you could reach out and touch his little nose if you wanted to.
The Percolator - A coffee shop owned by a man who lived in Chicago for a while. If you didn't pick up on the association of the shops name with the mention of windy city I'll just go ahead and tell you. He named it after the song.
Ardovinos - Another small diner. Italian, if it's not obvious. Again; small, intimate, good food.
Kinley House - A very popular spot for coffee drinkers. I thought it might have been a chain after walking through the door. Let's just say you'll laugh and cry about the employees head walkie-talkies.
State Line - Really good Texas BBQ. But shit, you could just go for the bread pudding.


Okay, so the truth is, El Paso really isn't that visually stimulating. Sorry, no additional photos worth sharing.
But, check out the Video Page to see more about my time in the Guadalupe Mountains

4.4.09

The Tallest Man In Texas.

I asked you (the readers) where I should go, and you voted Albuquerque, but I found myself in the Guadalupe Mountains instead, and now El Paso, TX. Thanks to everyone who participated, but at the last minute, in a Lubbock coffee shop, I abandoned the whole plan and got in my car and continued south.
A bad gut feeling came over me as I drove along - partly because I was leaving yet another place I'd become too comfortable with, but mostly because I was finally going to be all alone in this world. You see, in Austin, I had friends and the assurance of a place to stay. And in Lubbock I had the same. But suddenly, I had nobody.
All these feelings merged and caused me one big mess of apprehension, especially as I back-tracked my route, pulled u-turns, and found myself cursing at random, nameless dirt roads. I was sure these were all signs telling me to turn back or go a different direction. However, I shrugged it off and continued my course, because dammit, I came out here for an adventure. I knew my gut would ultimately lead me in the right direction. And well... I climbed a Mountain.

I arrived in the Guadalupe Mountains just before sunset (which was visually overwhelming) and barely found a spot to pitch my tent before dark. I can't say I've ever camped alone before, so naturally I was a bit nervous. But screw it, do it anyways, you'll thank yourself for it.
Gotta look at the positive sides here,

• I'm in a tent in the Guadalupe mountains, drinking wine in the dark.

• When my bladder get full, I can step out into the most beautiful moon-lit landscape imaginable and pee freely.
  

That's not so bad right?

The camp ground grew incredibly quiet after the sun went down. You no longer hear voices, only nature. The night brought some of the most violent winds I've ever experienced. It's like this: they start way up in the mountains and sound like a distant highway. The noise continues to grow louder and louder until it violently strikes your tent, causing it to shake and cave in on one side.
Let's just say I didn't sleep soundly that night.
By morning, I realized that I was still alive and that I was possibly the worst camper in the world. I had no pillow, no padding, no fresh water, no food, and no town within 40 miles. Duh.
Anyways, I was in a National park surrounded by mountains. So what do you do? Climb a mountain!
Somewhere along the path, I came out of a surreal daze and realized, "I really am climbing a damn mountain! When the hell did this happen?" I was being led by some inner desire to do something huge and didn't even realize I was doing it. Or maybe I was just undernourished and extremely unaware. Either way, 4 hours later I reached the peak.
As I sat on the edge of the Guadalupe summit, I realized all of my previous apprehensions and fears were for nothing. To die at that moment would have been better than a thousand other deaths I could potentially die of. Everything was suddenly worth it and for a short moment in time, I stood taller than anything else in the huge state of Texas. That's 8,749 feet. What's that Nike slogan again.... eh... um... oh well, I don't remember. Doesn't matter.

So here's the lesson:
Things are going to be good and things are going to be bad. It's your attitude that will determine the degree of which these things effect you. I could have chose any number of routes and experienced any number of things that day. Your gut feelings or intuition could be wrong, and shit could go down at any minute, but that doesn't matter at all. What matters is that you went through with it. And once you get through it, it feels beautiful. It's the experience that makes anything in life worth it. Forget money! Forget Comfort! Give me experience!


As always, view all the photo's here.
Possible video coming soon also.

4.02.09

Lubbock or Leave it. That's what the locals once said.
The Hometown of Buddy Holly and that strangely attractive girl from the Dixie Chicks. But were not going to talk about either of those people because Buddy Holly is dead and the Dixie Chicks are just downright uninteresting... Oh, except for that one occasion when they made a remark about George Bush (W) at a French music awards show and caused the fine people of Lubbock to absolutely lose their shit. I've learned it is now taboo to talk about the Dixie Chicks while in Lubbock because of this incident. They were pretty much ostracized for it and are currently still banned from all Lubbock radio stations. What a joke, right?
But let's talk about something much more important. Something that effects us all. The real issue behind the former Lubbock slogan, "Lubbock or Leave it."
I was really hoping for a bumper sticker that displayed this phrase. However, I've been told that the once "clever" play on words isn't quite as popular as it used to be, and for a very obvious reason. Lubbock, like so many other small U.S. cities is becoming a victim to the ever present urban sprawl. It's beginning to thrive with the businesses and architecture that ties America into one aesthetically unpleasing mecca of strip-mall infrastructure and corporate logos. That thing that causes cities to lose there identity and distinguishable characteristics. Yes, I am talking about chain stores, franchises, and identical clusters of suburbia homes. I've seen this happen all over the place and let me be the first to say, I'm not a fan.
It's no wonder "Lubbock or leave it" is a saying of the past. Because Lubbock, is unfortunately becoming just like every other small city in the United States; washed over with Pizza Huts, Chilies, Hollywood Videos, Cold Stone creameries, Subway sandwich shops, McDonalds, Starbucks, Buffalo Wild Wings and Wal-Marts. The same old run-of-the-mill shit you get everywhere you go. The new Lubbock slogan should be "Lubbock or Go Somewhere Else That is Relatively Familiar or Exactly the Same". This isn't a slam on Lubbock Texas, but a criticism to all the small "developing" cities that allow these monopolistic companies to move in and flush out the unique qualities of small town culture and then profit off of peoples thirst for cheap convenience and lack of appreciation for anything that is original and good. I don't see much convenience in this at all, only a cause for greater amounts of traffic and a declining economy. Keep the money in the community!
Lubbock has a nice downtown area with a retro, old timey kind of feel; The feel of a place that could maybe be alive once again. But there is just one problem, a lot of the buildings are vacant, and I was the only person to be seen walking the streets. Buildings are boarded shut from head to toe, and empty store windows stare blankly onto the deserted sidewalks. I actually saw a tumble weed laying against a curb. No Joke.
But hold on for a hot minute! in passing, I took the opportunity to speak with two local bank employees who informed me that there are current efforts to revitalize the old downtown area. The Lubbock newspaper has also done a recent story on this as well. So it's not all false hope, but it's going to be a long climb back up since South Lubbock is undergoing a much larger expanse of unnecessary development that will probably only draw away more business from the downtown area.

Let's take a big breath.

Now that I'm through ranting, Let me tell you about all the upsides of Lubbock.
What else is there to do in Lubbock that I would recommend to others? Where can one still experience some Lubbock goodness?

-Prairie Dog Town. That's right, the infamous and progressive prairie dog society. Okay... so actually it's just a bunch of rodents behind a short brick wall and a plaque that vaguely describes the idea behind this seemingly unpopular attraction. But come on... the idea is there, all they need is a trainer and some flaming hoops, then they could start charging a cover.
-The Windmill Museum. Useful to today's clean energy concerns. The museum unfolds the windmill history from it's initial use on the farm as a water pump, to it's current evolution as a wind-energy turbine. Pretty interesting stuff actually. And I went there thinking I was going to find some sort of backwards humor. pshh...
Lubbock is a very windy town and may soon adopt a wind energy alternative. This could be a giant leap into the future of Lubbock. Props! Now if we could just get that urban sprawl thing under control.
-Sugar Browns Coffee shop. I'm seriously jacked up on the $3 bottomless cup right now as I write this.
-Triple J chopshop and brewery. Some fine and reasonably priced homebrews.
-One Guy Pizza by the Slice. I actually had a Calzone. And then I had another one.
-Bash's Bar. I randomly saw "HEALTH" play this venue and then continued to cut up the dance floor in my wrangler jeans. It's where the kids hang out I guess.
-Get to know some sheep. If you lucky enough to know or meet somebody who herds sheep you'll find that they're quite interesting animals who's poop will not stick to your cowboy boots.
-Befriend a roller derby girl. You can attend their practices and have Bloody Mary's with a few of them afterwards.
-Place your lips on a real piece of the Blarney Stone. In return you'll be granted the promise of eloquent speech. Although, I'm not sure that fortune was granted.
-Befriend some Med students and learn about the most attractive chronic disorders and the horrors of entry level anatomy class.
-Go to Adolph's on karaoke night and watch a fat cowboy sing all the words to Johnny Cash's "One Piece at a TIme" without ever looking at the TelePrompTer; and sing it well, man! This is the place to go if your looking to dice it up with the locals. Good Shit.
-Visit the Palo Duro Canyon just north of Lubbock. I've been told if you stack Palo Duro on top of the Grand Canyon you can visualize the entire geological history of the united States... maybe... I'm not sure that I buy it.
-Get a photo with the Buddy Holly statue. Did you know that every time you listen to Rock n' Roll you're listening to Buddy Holly?

So "Lubbock or Leave it"?
I had a great time, and met some really good and interesting people, but yes, I'm leaving it. Today!
To see all the Lubbock Photo's follow my Flickr.