Day eight

Day eight, July 16, 2011

Talk about time flying when you're having fun!  One week down, one more to go- at least for me!  Big ballers over here still have a month left!  Hell, if I had the entire summer off or was being paid by Obama I presume I would hop on the band wagon as well!  Just kidding guys, you work your tushes off and deserve all of this and more!  I'm sure we will always remember this road trip -minus New Orleans and I'm positive Las Vegas-and talk about it for years to come.  I, for one, look forward to scrapbooking!  Two memory cards full of pictures and a head full of our own memories will definitely make for a lengthy and priceless scrapbook.

Another sunrise, another cock-a-doodle-doo, another continental breakfast, and time to say Adios to our amigos in New Mexico.  It was a brief stay in New Mexico, but from what we were told, New Mexico is almost as exciting as Wyoming, aka find somewhere else to go site seeing.  Jeffrita made our stay worthwhile after a quick flick of the power, she approached a fellow employee and inquired about what had just occurred.  After understanding that it was merely a  reboot of power she confessed she was relieved, she thought she might have been tripping.  Who knows, maybe in New Mexico they do those sort of things...

Next destination was Page, Arizona, but not without scenic routes and pitstops on the way. Running our normal half an hour behind, the boys hurriedly packed the clown car, Jen and I crammed into the back seat and we set off on our journey.  Mesa Verde National Park (translation: Green Table) was our first scenic route.  It was quite the sight to see after staring out the window at wide open nothingness for the previous three or so hours.  Things we were informed to be aware of included: falling rocks, bears and leaving boulders in their designated places.  Undoubtedly, the first thing I wanted to do was show off my super strength and toss some boulders around but to my surprise the rule book said no!  Instead we decided to take lots of pictures and a few videos.  The views were absolutely amazing; it's so peaceful up in the mountains, all I wanted to do was grab my book, my iPod and a blanket and spend the day right there.  Yes, yes, Belle brought books with her!  Do you expect anything less?? Unfortunately, our road trip rules are similar to the No Child Left Behind Act, so I didn't even bother asking if I could book worm it up.  We traveled higher and higher up the mountain and could feel the air pressure dropping and our ears popping.  The bag of Lay's potato chips could barely handle the pressure and came close to popping as well! Eight thousand five hundred seventy feet elevated and we hit the highest point of the park!  Here is where we found out a fun fact about Matt, he is afraid of heights!  Heights smheights!  Take a risk baby!  

Next stop: pueblos and wigwams!  I felt like I was back in sixth grade in Mrs. Peterson's social studies class taking notes via the over head projector.  Little did I know, years ago, when studying about the indigenous people of Arizona, that I would be in the presence of their miraculous structures!  Robert, being an engineer, was as giddy as a school girl to see structures dating back as far as 1200 AD!  On our way down to the pueblos, we were all a little weary about the trek back up.  Jen Of course suggested an elevator or escalator be added with a $5.00 lifting fee.  I'm sure the Indians would be delighted about that addition.  On our way down, our photographer spotted a few wild flowers and of course took professional close ups.  Finally we made it down to the pueblos.  The intricacy used while building and sculpting them could still be seen all these centuries later!  The Puebloans must have been a very patient group of settlers.  There were stairs, shelves, beds, ceremonials rooms and elegant carvings.  The ceremonial room was underground! There was a wooden ladder that led down to this room that, according to the park ranger, could fit up to forty-five people.  Forty-five people my ass!  Maybe forty five midgets stacked up on each other!  What were all Puebloans anorexic?! After exiting the ceremonial room that was smaller than my bathroom, we made the trek back up.  Oh wait, another fun fact about Matt, he is apparently immune to poison ivy.  Hmm..now how does one go about figuring this out? Unbeknownst to me, I  suggested Matt roll around in it, trial and error.  He was touching every bush on the way down and testing their scents.  His favorite was the skunk bush, he just kept smelling his hand after that one... Sometimes I wonder...

Back in the car with my cranky pants half way on I was in need of any type of food ASAP!  The next stop was the Four Corners and of course there was not a restaurant, fast food place or even hot dog stand in sight.  I was losing my cool very quickly, but I just put my nose in my book and hoped the time would go by lickety-split.  I started to feel a bit better when Jen searched on her GPS and noticed there were about fifteen chain restaurants around the four corners.  I'd prefer anything besides chain but at this point beggars can't be choosers.  To my dismay, an "uh oh" was uttered a few minutes later.  Jen searched restaurants in the four corners area but clicked on the link for restaurants in New Mexico.  My hopes skyrocketed and plummeted in a matter of minutes.  Back to the drawing board it was.  The Four Corners upon us and after $3 per passenger we were ready to cross this off our bucket lists.  We walk into the monument and sweet baby Jesus, there IS A GOD!!! In the back corner, a yellow banner with red lettering bares the words Navajo Taco!  I don't care what it looks like, tastes like, or smells like, I just need something in my system before I got kicked off the Roadtrip!  The Angel on my shoulder said don't do it!  You are going to regret it!  The devil looked me in the eye and said eat the damn Navajo taco, so I did.  It wasn't until that taco wrapped in fry bread was inhabiting our stomachs for hours that I realized the Angel on my shoulder was actually Face and he was whispering "avoid burrito stands at all cost". Once again Face, point to you.  

After bending over backwards to position myself in four states at once, and then positioning each of us in a different state we set off for Monument Valley for a hot second.  There were various monuments made out of eroded clay and sandstone that mimicked shapes such as an elephant, mittens and a thumb.  It was interesting to see because these monuments were not manmade!  Finalllllly we had enough of the scenery and bought a one way ticket to Page, Arizona!  Thanks to Jeff Gordon, we picked up a little bit of time and made it to the Dam Bar and Grill minutes before the kitchen closed.  Luckily, I know how to speak waiter talk and was able to schmooze our waitress over into not caring that we walked in so late.  She was originally from Georgia, she was an easy one.  Thankfully she made the mistake of ordering wings instead of boneless wings, I told her it was the best mistake she made all night.  Good news!  The ABC app was working last night and J and I were able to watch One Life to Live and General Hospital, you can assume there were no complaints about the day.  Peace, love and happiness, The Nomads! <3