http://www.plasticparade.org from trash to tipi Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:29:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Throughout the day, I develop and revise lengthy to-do lists, and usually feel somewhere between inadequate and overwhelmed when I eventually set them aside for the formal activity of sleep. And then I wake up every morning and realize that my expectations for production are rather high and, quantitatively, ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/09/27/its-a-long-one-but-its-the-last-one/ I think we left you hanging somewhere in Minneapolis, which isn't a bad place to linger.  Apologies for the absence, but the tour from there on out maintained an extremely rigorous schedule, and our laptop charing cord just happened to light on fire one morning while preparing to post.  Drama, ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/08/09/retroactivate-wisconsin/ I am overwhelmed, positively.  We spent a few days in Minneapolis, and I have decided I must move there immediately, after a 2 year stint in grad school.  I have never been so in love with a geographic point where I don't approve of the weather.  Although we were lucky ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/07/22/northern-exposure/ I am at a library in suburban Minneapolis, and the computer is notifying me that I have only 8 minutesleft for explaining an absence of updates this week, so I apologize in advance for unruly, runon sentences that might have various mistakes, in accuracy and grammar.  Recap(itulation): We were in South Dakota, where ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/07/18/mini-soda/ We've long-since completed our tumbleweed act, barreling our way West out of Texas and North into South Dakota (in a few hours.)  I don't want to sound like a lagging, out-of-touch journalist, relaying the highlights of each day that are no longer relevant, however if we treat this like a ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/07/14/chapter-update/ Woah, horsey.  We're packing up again.  And again, it seems all too soon.  I feel somewhat guilty and privileged as I'm situated in an air-conditioned facility, saturated with iced espresso and bombarded by the comforts of Mellow Johnny (Lance Armstrong's bike shop/pit stop).  Meanwhile, the crew is breaking down the ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/07/08/over-and-out-again/ Folks, we're in Texas. It's true, everything is bigger. Even the, well, everything. But, before I gloat the glamor of Austin, let's backtrack a bit...Many exhuberant thanks to City Park and The Front Gallery for hosting us in New Orleans, and to our most gracious hosts, Billie ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/07/06/yee-haw/ Well.  We had quite a time in New Orleans.  I don't feel the need to ever go to a sauna again.  We spent the last day exploring.  Originally we had planned to stay at the tents, guarding them and fielding questions from inquisitive visitors.  I don't know why I thought ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/07/05/new-orleans-to-austin/ Let's go back in time.  2 whole days.  Has it only been 2 since we puttered and gurgled down a North Carolina dirt road, marking the first tenth of a mile?  It feels much longer, but that's only because we're joggling and sweating in a bus all day.  At first, ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/07/03/post-parting-impressions/ In preparing for the arduous bus ride (and to attend my sister's wedding), I drove my un-air-conditioned boat of a car from Greensboro to the approximate middle of this country last week.  1500 miles round trip.  A bout of restless leg syndrome. Sing-a-longs with an antiquated collection of cassette tapes.  ... http://www.plasticparade.org/2009/06/18/from-the-desk-of-sarah/