Ah, The West is the Best!

I think I finally have my computer back functioning and thought I'd stop here in Lubbock TX to update... Not easy keeping a blog while traveling with a piece of shit computer!! Let's just say perserverance is the key ;)

I don't know where to begin I've seen so much over the last several days... I was thinking last night that I was in such a hurry to update I left out a bunch of stuff I should have documented last time. First, just wanted to say how great it was to see some old friends and meet some new ones in Long Beach. Thanks to my good buddy Mike for letting Chili and I crash at your pad! All his neighbors were really cool and enjoyed hanging in the courtyard. Also wanted to thank new buddy Rich for taking me out Kayaking, too bad the jellyfish weren't out! Had a great time too playing beach volleyball :) It was great to see my buddy Lee who's been travelling on this cancer journey for about the same time I've been. We both had good scans last time and looking forward to the the next good report.

(Little BBQ action in the courtyard in LB)

(Getting ready for "Plan B" at La Cave, Mike far right, Lee middle black cap)

Also wanted to thank Brian for letting me crash at his phat pad in Vegas! Good to see Brennan too. See you in Green Bay man! I was hoping to look up fellow Hodge friends Alison and Adrienne but unfortunately Adrienne is dealing with Pneumonia right now and I ran out of time. Always rooting for you guys! http://adrienne95070.blogspot.com/

(Brian saving Brennan from falling to his death ;)

(Heavy on the cheese please, ha!)

The next part of my journey I'll let the pic's (and the captions) speak for themselves!

(Meteor Crater - Flagstaff AZ)

(Petrified National Forest, AZ)

(Santa Fe, NM Outside Lorretta Chapel and the "Mysterious Staircase")

(Legend says that to find a solution to the seating problem, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later, the elegant circular staircase was completed, and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. After searching for the man (an ad even ran in the local newspaper) and finding no trace of him, some concluded that he was St. Joseph himself, having come in answer to the sisters' prayers.

The stairway's carpenter, whoever he was, built a magnificent structure. The design was innovative for the time and some of the design considerations still perplex experts today.

The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. Also, it is said that the staircase was built without nails—only wooden pegs. Questions also surround the number of stair risers relative to the height of the choir loft and about the types of wood and other materials used in the stairway's construction.)

(Took a drive up to Chimayo NM just outside Santa Fe and got lost in the hills! Found an entrance to Santa Cruz Lake State Park lake view and did the one mile hike back to the lake, stunning!! Chili was extra excited doing circles around the picnic table where I had my camera sitting :-D )

All in all, this has been an awesome trip so far, so glad I'm doing this! It was a little hairy last night driving out of Santa Fe on my way to Texas. The winds were unbelievable, I was pretty much white knuckled most of the time. It was the first time the drive actually felt like "work". Really going to miss the scenery out West...

So, I'm off to Austin to indulge in some good BBQ and live music, can't wait! What an adventure!

Cheers!