THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAVELIN' AND TRAVELING

So, Frank's all like I'm going to Asia for three months, living out of a tiny backpack, sleeping on floors, etc. Other friends have been to Europe, biked to Maine, toured this country in an old van playing shows to six people and loving it. I can be a jealous dude in one situation: experiences.

I'm talking to Sara and I just blurt out, "I'm going to drive to Portland, Oregon after I graduate (after the May 7th In The Face of War Final Show/Away With Vega Reunion, of course)." Apparently, she wants to go, too, which is sweet.

Here's the vision: Three to four weeks, Indiana to San Francisco to Portland back to Indiana, one car, sleeping at friends/friends' friends house, some camping, some car sleeping, lots of disc golf, good food, major bookstores, cool hiking, money spent mainly on gas.

I'm wanting to do this, because eventually I'd like to go overseas, but I really don't think I'm ready. I've hardly seen this country my own way, meaning no RVs or $25 meals like with Sara's family and no hotels and relative visits like with my parents. My goal is to focus on the trip, the sights, the sounds, the experiences I value. Adding Sara in the mix will help me from getting lonely and give me someone to bounce ideas off while on the road.

So, I'm looking for suggestions/help/etc.:
- Suggestions on booyeah bookstores between Muncie, IN and Portland, OR/San Francisco, CA?
- Suggestions on must-play disc golf courses between Muncie, IN and Portland, OR/San Francisco, CA?
- Suggestions on awesome food places between Muncie, IN and Portland, OR/San Francisco, CA?
- Suggestions on sweet hiking/nature stuff between Muncie, IN and Portland, OR/San Francisco, CA?
- Ideas about cheap/free places to stay between Muncie and Portland/San Francisco?
- Ideas about how to turn a car into a sleepable place?
- Any other ideas or suggestions?

Don't worry I'll ask again and again. I do that.

Really, this is something sweet that I've never had the time/energy/money to do, so I'm super stoked. Any help is greatly appreciated.

GUSHY GUSHY WOAH WOAH

1. Blogging explodes words, but why, ain't like the pressure is so high on the Internet, we can all keep cooling nice and fine on Facebook or Craigslist or whatever, right? Sometimes, we gotta scrapbook ourselves, like little collages with our faces and brain maps. Sometimes, we are soooooooo right and everyone has to know! Sometimes, we make friends and blogging is for friends (and others). Todd is blogging now, dishing out some cool links, and Ashley is on a 30 day challenge, where you can find some cool pictures of me thank you very much. These are two cool people and I'm glad to see what they have to share.

2. Yesterday at Hyde's Bookstore, I spent too much money on Who's Who Vivid by Matt Hart, Saying The World by Peter Pereira, Vacationland by Ander Monson, Actual Air by David Berman, and Notes Of A Native Son by James Baldwin. Yikes, my bad on the money dropping. But holy cow, who sells these gyms to a used bookstore in Ft. Wayne IN? Someone who loves me a lot a lot, that's who.

3. Don't buy your friend a bottle of old-fashioned root beer and put it in the trunk.

4. Sacha Baron Cohen is playing Freddy Mercury?

5. Here is one of the first I'm So Stoked poems I ever wrote:

Ode To A Deer

I’m so stoked
you are alive.
I’ve never killed
one of you, but
it is certainly
on my to-do list
and today I’d like
to cross it off.
I’ll give you a head
start.
Go.
Really, go.
Your blood is something
I need on my hands.
I know
it’s not fair
but I will catch you
and kill you
and eat you.
I can do this.
I am a human.
I have guns
and ammo
and camo gear
and you are just a deer
with a white tail
I can see
from a mile away
especially with my high tech
binoculars.

THANK YOU VON'S!

Peeping through the new arrivals and boom Todd pops me in the jaw with ANDER MONSON. Dude's first poetry collection beat on my soul (don't say soul!) and the few poems I consumed in store said this thing's gonna rule me more. Thank you.

To the new poetry aisle! To my list! David Shumate conundrum: buy the collection I read (and loved!) or his debut. Debut wins! Thank you.

Downstairs was used book heaven, part creepy, part comfortable, decent smell, oh yeah. I pick up Back Country by Gary Snyder and can't put it down for some reason, it's glued to my hand, my soul. Todd looks at me like what? Thank you.

THREE MERWIN'S USED 5 BUCKS EACH! MR. LAUREATE! BUT I CAN'T GET THEM ALL! FLIP FLIP FLIP! STRAWBERRIES AND QUESTIONS FOR TOURISTS STOPPED BY A PINEAPPLE FIELD IN OPENING THE HAND! THANK YOU!

Wonder down to criticism. Question: Is criticism cool? I like words and hearing words, other people's words, and writing words about words about words. So, maybe? Anywoah, Jarrell is there, two copies!, I chose the cheaper, but still, used and beautiful and words. Thank you!

I passed up things like a Diagram Anthology, a Wallace Stevens selected poems used, My Alexandria (used) by Doty, a few other prose poems books (Byrne, Gary Young, etc.) what's my deal with pp's?, other wordz. Thank you anyways.

It's the next day: no regrets. Thank you.

BEST BOOKSTORE I'VE VISITED! TATTERED COVER I'M COMING FOR YOU IN AUGUST!

Thank you.