down by the river: beer, tattoos, country music, pick up trucks

most humid day. you had to slug your weight a few blocks before having to retire on hot steel benches as you gathered enough stamina to make it to the next block. came to a large roman building made of marble with a rolling, grassy lawn that had 2 ten foot shuttlecocks planted in the grass. also scattered throughout the lawn were perfectly pruned shrubbery, red walkways, and fountains. it reminded me of alice in wonderland. it was the kansas city art museum. checked it out.
when i left it started to rain. the rain was hot and not refreshing, as i am used to. went to a restaurant called Oklahoma Joes Famous BBQ. It has been winning the best bbq in the world since 1992. The best part about it was that it was in a gas station.
got back and made mixed tapes for our car ride to the Huzzah river. Huzzah is an expression. HUZZAH!

filled up the tank with gas and bought .49 cent fountain drinks. we passed the worlds largest rocking chair, vast sprawling forests, armadillos, turtles, badgers, deers, and other exotic animals dead on the side of the road, and the meramec caves. we passed towns called vienna, vichy, cuba, and versailles. apparently here versailles is pronounced (ver-sails). after a while down a dusty road and passing a town with a population of 200 we made it to the river. there was a group of folks lounging about all sprawling like in the sun. a bunch of guys came in pick up trucks and parked right by the water blaring the top ten of country music. actually there was only two or three radio stations, a country radio station, a baseball game being aired and the news which was about australian minimum wage. their entire family was present, aunts, uncles, granddad, and even the wee ones. A fire was started while children jumped off the bridge into the water. there were horse flies out to get you when you emerged from the water. caitlin found a crucifix on the bottom of the river. the water felt great and we swam, lounged and had beers until sunset.
we were able to stay at caitlins brothers place, even though he is lancaster california working with nasa, his girlfriend lives at his house in a town called Rolla. we ate a a mexican restaurant and had cheese burritos, cheese enchiladas and cheese with a side of cheese.
there was a dog that had to be at least 15 years old named "baby girl" at caitlins brothers house. it was no larger than a shoe. watched some good old american programming and went to bed.
woke up to rain and thunder that rattled the entire house. i thought windows were going to break it was so loud. the house is next to a baptist church which is next to an alcoholics recovery centre. had breakfast at a walmart and started our journey home.
ive been reading and am now about to go for a nightly bike ride. caitlin has to work at 6am. im going to sleep in and figure out what to do before she gets back and we start another drive, this time to St. Louis.
oh i saw a hard core mormon in the grocery store.