So yesterday started out BEEEEEE-U-TEEE-FULLY!

I FINALLY got to visit Prairie Dog Town! I’ve known this place existed for about 5 years and have wanted SO badly to visit but we always pass it when it’s closed. I’ve been staring at the little brochure for over a year now… see that yellow thing? Yeah, that’s above my head, where I sleep on tour. An every day reminder that SOMEDAY I will get there.

It was cool. The owner, Larry was quite a character. Rattlesnake wrangler and teller of some pretty funny jokes. Apparently the place is for sale. He and his wife are just looking for the right person before they retire. Hummmm. I never thought I’d end up in Kansas but it is quiet, I could talk to travelers all the time, maybe we could build a studio…. I don’t know. Pretty tempting. Most of the animals are “….abandoned and rescued creatures, or unloved freaks who find companionship and a meal.“ My kind of critters…

The strangest part of the place for me wasn’t the 6-legged cow with two butt-holes but that the prairie dogs could come and go and it seemed like the little families within the group (100s if not 1000s) all had different places they liked. Some of them liked the dry cracked area by the entrance, some liked the poo filled cow and buffalo area, some liked the area by the pond, some liked it just outside the fence, and some hung out by the chickens. I personally would’ve set up shop by the pond. Even in it’s green algaeness… or maybe with the piglets. They were so excitable and SMART!

Here are a few pics, I won’t over do it… and we have video… this video thing might not happen till we get home and have a few hours to get it all started.

A lazy lazy boy…

BABY! I have a video of this little interaction…

Mrs. 2-butts on the ground there….

And the 8,000 pound Prairie Dog!

As we drove away we passed huge sunflower farms… they yellow blur = sunflowers…

So the day’s adventures continued… picked-up some hitchhikers, well broken down cyclists. I really thought Luis was joking when he yelled, “Hey Fuzzy, wake Kelly up. We’re going to pick-up three sweaty cyclists.” These three boys had ridden all the way from DC, their final destination was Denver and they ran out of tire tubes 50 miles out. We asked if they were disappointed and they said, “No. Please just give us a ride.” So we did. They were super sweet and cute and looked way older than they were… I guess that’s what a beard and riding a bicycle for 33 days will do to you! I can’t wait for our paths to cross again. Hope they find their way home without too much excitement!

Then after that… delicious food at Taki’s, a dress/gift in a bag (yeah, I wore it!), and two bad-ass bands in my favorite Denver venue!
The Allergies and Red Stinger at Bender’s Tavern.

After the show I was complaining a bit about our drive. I mean, 1100 miles and not long enough to do it! When someone volunteered to help out. So we said, okay, that makes 4 hitchers in 1 day. He must remain unnamed for now… at least until he gets fired because his boss finds out he’s NOT at his favorite uncle’s funeral.

So yeah. I’m now in Utah. We haven’t stopped except for a 2 hour nap (6-8am) at a truck stop and of course… Taco Bell to go.

We will be in California today and I have to tell you… that makes me very VERY happy.

So the past few shows, days etc have been rather enjoyable. I think tour, life, energy… everything just gets so compressed, smooshed, exaggerated when we’re in the Northeast. And strangely lonely without my phone or a computer. But things are just peachy today…

Chicago was great! Saw some old New College pals. Minneapolis was too much fun, NOFX said it best, “Seeing Double at the Triple Rock.” But really they’re just so cool there and we got to hang with our friends, drink with Glen and Alex AND THEN, somehow I DID LAUNDRY!

Then came LaCrosse and you know how I love Wisconsin. The Warehouse is one of the coolest venues and we got to play with the ever fun the Disabled. The only bad part is the 3 flights of stairs we have to lug the gear up! Oh and we found out… My Chemical Romance used to play all the time there and they said if they ever “made it” they would buy a lift for the place. I think they “made it” yeah? Where’s the lift?! Funny. Then to top the night off… we got to ride around the block in a limo someone (Shad) got for his girl (Taylor) as a surprise. We drank a little champagne and recorded voice mail greetings.

St. Louis was sweet, it was our first time at The Bluebird. They were super cool. We got to see a few people we were afraid we’d miss this tour and I even got to play MarioKart DS with some wee little girl fans.

So you say… yeah. That sounds real nice WELL guess what?

This morning we went to a buffet. It was a Sunday… we didn’t realize. UGH. And even though it was a little over-stimulating and the food was really bland, we did get to see some great suits and hats. We also got to see some “naturally deodorized” types cut in line thinking we’d all let it go! Well… we did. It was just easier WE WERE SO HUNGRY! I had lots and LOTS of salad and veggies and then to top it off…

I’ve got some blog ideas, you know, like stuff I think about that is not time-sensitive. I think I’ll save them for when we’re not on the road with silly little updates to give you.

OHHHHH AND… I downloaded 1 hour of Flip camera contents. We have a new YouTube channel and will start posting asap. Don’t worry. I’ll let you know.

I just finished watching “Tin Man.” Katie (sister!) and I used to watch the Wizard of Oz every day for years… she gave me a copy for the road. I had to finish watching today… I am in Kansas.

We have tonight off then a special little excursion in the morning. I can’t wait to show you photos!

Denver tomorrow!
Nighty bite!
ko

Okay, so I’m finally back in business. I hope. Gabe at Blackheart has perma-loaned me his old iBook and my new phone arrived in Minneapolis today. I won’t get the phone for a few days but at least I know it’s there.Tour can get kind of lonely. I know that might seem weird but it’s true. When I get really tired or sick on tour I have to sleep a lot and rest my voice and inevitably then I stop communicating via email, blogging, texting, whatever and I get stuck in my head. And when that happens… it happens. And I can either hide on my bench under the covers thinking or I can just write a blog. So today I will write a blog and be excited that I have a new-old computer and maybe I’ll even figure out how to start posting the video’s off of our Flip camera.Recent highlights:*Pittsfield, Mass*Randy Now’s house/museum and tour of Bordentown, NJ (I wonder how much houses cost there. I want one.) Saw skinniest house in NJ, Thomas Paine’s butt, Joseph Bonaparte’s old fence, and ate at Mastorie‘s Diner. *Meeting some old new friends in Boston*NY. After the show I drove from the venue to the West Village and parked with no help. No Map, no navigator (real or computer). I was proud. We also got to schmooze and eat bagels with the staff at Billboard. And went to Woozyfly. You’ll see soon.*Hung out with cousins both Ogden and Atchison in Hoboken!*I have a “B” at the Big Brain Academy on my DS. Yes. That’s good.I feel like my blogs are more fun with photos so I’ll steal a couple of my favorites from this week on the web…I really want to see this in person.92 days till we elect a new president! Talk soon. Promise.Xo Kelly