Tracks 27-29: Road Rage Breakdown (June 3, 2008)

“She’s Leaving Home” – The Beatles (June 1, 2008 – 41st anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band!)
“Road to Nowhere” – Talking Heads (June 2, 2008)
“Road Rage Breakdown” – Blockhead (June 3, 2008)

Before arriving in the desert a lot of people told me that 100 degrees in Phoenix wouldn’t seem so hot because it’s a “dry heat.” Guess what? It’s really hot. Dry and hot don’t cancel each other out – they feed each other, as any girl scout knows. Or does she? Are girl scouts allowed to camp and build fires or just sell cookies? My only knowledge of girl scouts are Thin Mints and Troop Beverly Hills (haven’t tried that recipe but it looks like a darn good natural alternative).

Above is a picture of the Alamo – after leaving Houston Sunday morning I drove through San Antonio and I thought I might as well go see it while there. I was very amused by all the people walking by – “Where is the Alamo? What is it? Is this it? What happened here?” – as with anything, I refer to Wikipedia.

I snapped a few pictures outside the mission but I didn’t linger as it was scorching and I had a lot of driving ahead. If you want to know what the rest of Sunday and Monday were like stare at the following pictures for eighteen hours or so:

By the time I reached Tucson my eyes needed a rest so Dorothy, my trusty copilot, lead me to the exact Whole Foods I visited a couple years ago with my then-boyfriend on spring break (I’m not a Cancun kind of girl. I wanted to see Saguaro National Park, Kartchner Caverns, and Sedona’s Red Rocks.) Back then it was still Wild Oats and we were on a licorice root hunt to try to quell my chronic cough. I thought the cause was the desert dryness, but it turns out I just needed to get something “off my chest.” The body never ceases to amaze me. I try my best to listen.

I talk to myself a lot (in the car all day, every day), and I especially like to check in with the past selves I cross on the highway. Life is like a record that spins round and round and round (who else is thinking of Dead or Alive right now?) which is also why I tend to listen to the same albums upon returning to that region. I am rambling. Anyway, I was delighted that a lot of the organic produce was on sale – the above carrots were unbelievably flavorful, though I couldn’t help noticing how bizarre it was to be buying all this fresh produce in the middle of the desert. I love coming to the Southwest, but these cities sure are examples of humans’ relentless desire to mold our environment to fit our needs. There ARE some local farms in the area, but nothing that I could pursue late on a Monday night.

Today I treated myself to a meal out for the first time since the beginning of spring tour. I went to Mandala Tea Room, an all-organic and all-vegan restaurant and tea room, as you might’ve guessed. The people were very friendly and they had the most beautiful urinal arrangement I’ve ever seen (see above). I had the totopos (nachos) to start and the appetizer portion was enormous. They were delicious. I had also ordered the macro platter which came with a delicious side of root vegetables and kale. I ended up taking half of everything home, which made a nice pool-side dinner. Yes, I spent most of the day horizontal. Tried out Burt’s Bees new sunscreen when I couldn’t find the kind I like and burned badly on my back. Annoyed. I don’t recommend it. Sure, I was sweating buckets but I reapplied after every time I swam and I am not typically a burner. Besides, it’s outrageously expensive (though 100% natural). Can’t complain though, because I didn’t sit behind the steering wheel once today! Tomorrow I am playing Three Roots in Tempe with Maybell Park opening.

A case for Brita filters:

The June Newsletter is going out tomorrow – if you aren’t on the monthly mailing list sign up here for tour updates and free mp3 downloads.

The Ultimate Road Mix So Far…

1. “Escapade” – Janet Jackson (May 6, 2008)
2. “Cars Trucks Buses” – Phish (May 7, 2008)
3. “Heart of the Country” – Paul & Linda McCartney (May 8, 2008)
4. “Why Georgia” – John Mayer (May 9, 2008)
5. “Runnin Down A Dream” – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (May 10, 2008)
6. “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd (May 11, 2008)
7. “I’m So Tired” – The Beatles (May 12, 2008)
8. “Tennessee Jed” – The Grateful Dead (May 13, 2008)
9. “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” – The Beatles (May 14, 2008)
10. “Tennessee Blues” – Steve Earle (May 15, 2008)
11. “Consolers of the Lonely” – The Raconteurs (May 16, 2008)
12. “Midwest” – Sound Tribe Sector Nine (May 17, 2008)
13. “The Big Country” – Talking Heads (May 18. 2008)
14. “Everyday Is A Winding Road” – Sheryl Crow (May 19, 2008)
15. “Omaha (1994 – Live at Elysee Montmartre) – Counting Crows (May 20, 2008)
16. “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” – Bob Dylan (May 21, 2008)
17. “Bandits” – Buck 65 (May 22, 2008)
18. “Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus” – Medeski, Martin, & Wood (May 23, 2008)
19. “Highway 61 Revisited” – Bob Dylan (May 24, 2008)
20. “Girl From the North Country” – Bob Dylan (May 25, 2008)
21. “Texas Flood” – Stevie Ray Vaughan (May 26, 2008)
22. “Hard Sun” – Eddie Vedder (May 27, 2008)
23. “Take Me To the River” – Talking Heads (May 28, 2008)
24. “Down South” – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (May 29, 2008)
25. “Southern Man” – Neil Young (May 30, 2008)
26. “Southern Cross” – Crosby, Stills & Nash (May 31, 2008)
27. “She’s Leaving Home” – The Beatles (June 1, 2008 – Sgt. Pepper anniversary!)
28. “Road to Nowhere” – Talking Heads (June 2, 2008)
29. “Road Rage Breakdown” – Blockhead (June 3, 2008)