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The same old dog....

...The newest, latest dog

Or...neon Sign?

Or me standing under a 50's style neon sign somewhere in the dark mountain depths of Franklin, NC?

Top 5 Records, 2006

I couldn't think of ten that came out this year that were really worth a damn:

5. Dixie Chicks, yeah, you heard me, what of it? --Taking the Long Way

4. Johnny Cash--American V, a Hudred Highways

3. Tom Waits--Orphans (probably only as low as 3 because I haven't actually gone out and plunked down the 45 bucks yet)

2. Neko Case, Fox Confessor, Blah blah blah

1. Garden Ruin, Calexico

Engaged!

Dawn and I took a positive step forward toward the rest of our lives together this weekend.

On the lift hill of the world's greatest wooden roller coaster, I asked her if she might be interested in gettin' hitched up with me. I gave her the length of the ride to think about it, and at the end of the ride, she said yes, and then I gave her a ring.

We had a lovely trip into the Smoky Mountains. We enjoyed Dollywood, we rode the rides, saw the shows, including my favorite, "A Hokey Mountain Christmas" aka Randy Jackson's "A Very Pitchy Christmas."

On the way back yesterday, we went to the "lowest place on earth" Tallulah Gorge. It's actually the deepest Gorge East of the Mississippi. So our travels have now taken us to the ultimate geographic highs and lows. At least the ones in the Eastern U.S. , since last year we went to the "highest place on earth" or, Mt. Mitchell, NC, the highest peak east of the Missisippi.

Highs, lows, ups, downs, curves, dips, drops, loops.

More to come. I'm sure we'll handle them just fine.

Interstate Update, or cringe. Body?

The morning traffic reporter nonchalantly announced that there was a body in the road at I-75 this morning.

The body's condition was later upgraded to...alive. Last I heard, it was observed from the air that the body was, in fact, moving on the stretcher.

There was also a giant, hot air balloon floating over I-85 this morning.

This place is getting so very, very strange.

Interstate Update, or, Shop Vacs and Truck Fires

The newest item to add to the strange list of things seen in interestate highways comes from co-worker Cal, who had to avoid a shop vac on interstate 75 South of Atlanta.

I myself yesterday saw a full set of four fairly nice looking wicker chairs on the side of I-20 eastbound, and right next to those a wheel barrow.

I don't know what's up with the rash of fires on Atlanta's interstates. Clearly, most truck drivers can't drive worth a damn--some asshole truck driver cuts me off at least twice a day....

So lets hitch 'em up to something flammable to boot? Just this morning, a tanker truck caused lane closures on the downtown connector, which is essentially the heart that pumps Atlanta traffic. Last week, there was a bus fire, a shooting, and a grass fire that negatively impacted traffic well past the regular rush hour hours.

Let's just all stay home?

Or, better yet, let's get big trucks around the outside of the city and charge 'em to use 285?

Ban them between 6 am and 9 am, 3 pm to 6 pm?