My arteries and liver continue their protest
So on Friday night, I finished stuffing my remaining earthly possessions in the car, leaving little room for much of anything. (I suppose the car waged its own protest considering the additional weight.) The Mascot pretty much insisted on tagging along as well. After warning him about the lack of space, he reminded me that he consists solely of a head with some line segments attached and said he’d “fit in somehow”. It was a bad choice, but that’s a story for later.
First, I spent some time with my parents, then grandparents and aunt/uncle/cousin. For lunch on Saturday, my parents and I went to this restaurant called “Food & Thought”. All the food is organic and the fare is healthy (well, the desserts are rich). I had a salmon cake with dill sauce, veggie rice, and juice, plus blueberry cheesecake. Very tasty and fulfilling. And my grandmother gave me several muffin cake thingys, made with peanut butter, nuts, and jam or something. After that, my cuisine went completely downhill.
For some reason, long road trips cause me to get hankerings for foods that I would normally not consider in a normal state of mind. Stopping to fill up my car, I went into the convenience store to get a drink or something, when I saw a hot dog heat lamping machine. For some reason, the hot dogs looked absolutely palatable, so I bought a couple, complete with chili squirted from some machine. Needless to say, they weren’t quite as tasty what my foolish brain insisted they’d be. Fortunately, they were free, because the cashier was completely out of it mentally, forgot to ring them up, and told me not to worry about it when I mentioned it.
Other foods consumed during the drive: Beef jerky (artificially flavored), Jack-in-the-Box something or the other, and Waffle House, including 3 eggs. [The Mascot says: You cannibal!] There was some more garbage foods that I don’t remember.
BTW, there does not seem to be any Southern hospitality left in Alabama. I simply tried to get out as quickly as possible, worried at being queried “Auburn or Alabama?” and answering incorrectly.
Car before packing
Car after packing
Note my impeccable taste in movies: the original Batman and Thundering Mantis
In Mobile, the battleship USS Alabama, which I suppose is a tourist attraction. Did you know the US Navy now has zero battleships in the fleet? I didn’t realize they were that obsolete.
I wonder if the hot dogs were free because they were legally too old to be sold to you.
Comment by Allen | 2 November 2007
Mobile! Our paths crossed! (Except you were two months late.)
I see your eating plan was based on the idea that a long road trip isn’t fun unless there’s a high level of risk of a gastrointestinal disaster in some filthy rest stop bathroom.
All that aside, surely the scenery was beautiful?
Did you stop for a beer and/or mullet toss at the Florabama?
Comment by Derek Slater | 2 November 2007
Donnie, the main ingredients are whole wheat flour, maple sugar, old-fashioned oats, peanuts, soy milk, maple syrup, peanut butter and bananas. Now that isn’t so bad, is it? Sounds healthy to me.
Love,
Comment by Grandma | 2 November 2007
@Allen: They tasted like it. The cashier was super ADD or something.
@Derek: Unfortunately, my goal was to get from Florida to Texas ASAP. Yes, that means no mullet toss.
@Grandma: Your stuff was good! The problem was the other “meals” that happened afterwards.
Comment by Donnie | 2 November 2007
BTW this also brings back fond memories of my move to New England in 1990 (when you were in pre-k, I believe). Had to similarly jam my (Dad’s) Dodge Omni such that the driver’s seat had to be pushed all the way forward for 13.5 hours up 95 North. (Tell me when I’m boring you and I’ll stop. What? Oh.
I like that your Grandma comments on your blog. That’s a cool Grandma.
Comment by Derek Slater | 2 November 2007
the absolute best photos, the work of shear envey
Comment by David K, Seattle | 2 November 2007
you’re like carlos, who will only eat street food or at restaurants where there have been 4 or more health code violations in the last year. Or where the staff doesn’t speak english. Meet some of that criteria and my hubby will eat there.
I am glad you are *finally* here. Now to work out this “hanging out” part… haha
Comment by annie | 3 November 2007
@Derek: Boring? Pshhh.
@David K: Really. Well, imagine what someone with real equipment could do. (In fact, Sworn Enemy is pretty big into photography.)
@Annie: Yeah, it doesn’t help that we have different days off. Maybe on some Friday/Saturday night, I’ll swing down and “cook” for you.
There was this Vietnamese noodle place Caroline and I tried–it was in some craphole-looking plaza and the waiter’s English was almost adequate. Must be right up Carlos’ alley. They have this salty lemonade drink which is interesting…
Comment by Donnie | 3 November 2007