On the way to LA (that's Louisiana!)

I'm now in East Texas, about 20 miles outside Houston. And, yes, it's still hot. But not as hot as it was back in West Texas.

Speaking of West Texas, I spent the night parked in a tiny little town called Van Horn. In the morning I had lunch at a great local joint called Papa's Pantry. I asked them for an avacado as an appetizer and they gave me a plate of the biggest, tastiest, butteriest (is that a word?) slices of avacado I've ever eaten. They sliced it and peeled it and delivered it to me while I awaited my "to go" order. Now THAT'S what I call service! :-)

After the avacado, I drove around the corner to the Veteran's Park -- a cute little playground and ballfield not half a mile away. Though it looked clean and well-kept at first glance, it was obvious on closer inspection that it probably wasn't a place that little kids visited very often. The usual playground devices were there (see-saws, slides, etc.), but they were missing pieces and looked like they hadn't been played on in years. There was also a LOT of broken glass scattered around... as if the place got a little rowdy on the weekends. Not exactly the kind of place you want your kids to be running around in (especially if the kids are like I was and ran around in bare feet all summer!)

I don't mean to paint a poor picture of the place. It was actually pretty interesting. And, as I stated before, it did look fairly well kept. The grass was mowed, the landscaping was tidy, and the ball field was in great shape. I guess it's just the broken beer bottles that threw me.

And it's that bit of information that got me thinking... is this playground a symbol of our times? Is it a symbol of a changing America? I asked myself, "Why don't kids play here anymore? Has this place become the local hangout to drink away one's troubles? If so, why?

Best not to think too deeply on these kinds of things. After all, I am an outsider looking in, and I only caught it in a singular moment in time. I'd actually love to see a ball game there some weekend...

Another hot one!

It's gonna be another hot one folks! (Damn, I sound like a local weatherman...)

It was another scorcher today -- up to 106 as I passed through New Mexico.

But, I've made it to... where am I again? Oh, right. Van Horn, Texas --

a tiny little town less than 40 miles from the Mexican border.

And, now... as the little hand on the clock makes its

way to join the big hand at the stroke of midnight... I await that splendid moment when the temperature dips

below 90. Any minute now...

I heard I was in town...

(apologies to my hero, Jimmy Buffett)

Well, BABS should be rolling in to Atlanta (well, Alpharetta, specifically) by noon Wednesday. Now, to find a place to park this Big Ass BuS...

Some folks in my parents' neighborhood were going to let me park in their cul-de-sac, but they had a neighborhood meeting and changed their minds. Aaah... Such is suburbia.

So, let's see if we can be creative and find a good place to park this billboard on wheels while I make my hometown famous. Shouldn't be too difficult... should it?

In the meantime, my family is helping me find sources for used oil. Since I'll be in Alpharetta for at least two weeks, I'll have time to lay some groundwork and cultivate relationships with various restaurants who might be willing to help out. Hmm... that reminds me... anybody have any oil?

Now for some really good news: The Vanishing America project has had its first donation! My friend, Barbara Dubkak, from Deer Park, Texas, was so impressed with what I'm doing that she took $150 of her hard-earned money and put it into helping keep me on the road.

THANKS BARBARA!

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Do you like what the Vanishing America project is all about? Do you want to help out too? Drop me a line at holt@vanishingicons.com. Every dollar we receive will help keep BABS on the road a little longer.

If you would like to become a part of the Vanishing America project in a bigger way, we're always on the lookout for sponsors. We have room for logos on the website, the Land Rover, and, of course, BABS herself. And, sponsorship can be achieved by infusion of cash or product.

Is there something you'd like to promote? Want to see your product on the news, in the documentary, raved about on the blog? Let me know. We're talking National exposure here! If it's something that can benefit the project, and has minimal negative impact on the environment, then let's talk!