AUSTIN, Texas to LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, July 5, 2005 — We didn't get to bed early enough and neither of us slept well. Whether it was excitement, espresso or the fact that we didn't have the dog in bed with us, that 5:15 alarm came early. Fortunately, I had lists. And the excitement of a road trip on my side. I got a shower and got dressed and groomed. I packed up the last minute things for FFP including the razor he just used. I sent him to the car to put in his small bag and some pillows. Everything else we packed in the car last night. I made coffee and filled commuter cups. I put the computers into the desired states. We locked up, left final instructions to the housesitters. I put some water, juice, a few sodas, cheese and carrots in the little soft-sided cooler 'just in case' and

put in some blue ice and Tupperware with cubes to keep it cool. I checked my lists; we set the phone-answering service, armed the security system; we climbed in the car with two large servings of coffee and FFP took the wheel for leg 1: drive to the little town of West, north of Waco.

We got to West by eight. I stuffed myself with two special sausage and cheese rolls and took over the driving. Before I know it, I'm at the familiar Dallas bypass to the east which rolls right by where my aunt lives in the winter (our furthest north goal in Maine is her house in the summer) and where my parents lived for over thirty years. It is now a collection of every franchise known to man. We head east on IH30. We are eager to see something different. I remember Lake Ray Hubbard from years ago. But as we head toward Texarkana I don't see anything too interesting. Pine trees. Franchises. We stop for gas. I pump. FFP takes over the wheel. After a few miles the engine check light (the emission thing) comes on. We read the manual. It suggests the gas cap might be loose. I did the 'click, click, click' thing. We stop and click it some more. The book says it might take 'three trips' to go off. It never does. Maybe we are polluting the environment. Who knows? The car, of course, just had major maintenance. Oh. Well.

We pull off and wander off the freeway and find a place called Sue's Diner. It's full of good ole boys. I get a burger and fries and we eat. It's OK. It's not a franchise anyway. I think we are in a town called Nash.

I take the wheel again and it's onward to Little Rock. We get in around three o'clock. At the Hampton Inn where I've booked a room we see my name on a little board by the check-in desk. I am, it says, 'Guest of the Day.' It's not clear what this entails. We get keys to the room and go check it out.

Good things about the Hampton? Free Internet. Coffee Service. Adjustable deskchair. Breakfast at six. And some free snacks because I am, after all, 'guest of the day.'

We rest a while. It starts thundering and raining. FFP has a bit of a stomach upset. We wait around. Finally we go out anyway. Drive around a bit. It's pouring. FFP goes in a Subway and gets a sandwich. We go back to the hotel and rest and read. He feels better. He eats his sandwich. I eat some road snacks.

Must sleep. Need to get an early start tomorrow. The Real World set in Austin is on TV. Oh to be young and feel important.