The Journey to the Wild West (Part 1 of 2)

My trip to Arizona was good. I left on Saturday afternoon (the 7th) and got there on Monday.  Please bear in mind that I did this road trip by myself and I enjoyed it!  I think what I'm going to do is break down the trip into two separate sections: Going out West & Returning from the West [and I will break it down even further by state].  I really hope I don't confuse anyone in the process; but, if I do...sorry!

                                        Driving out to Arizona

    North Carolina ~ I really don't remember driving in the western part of the state.  I guess this is because I always - and still do - driving it to visit Western [Carolina University a.k.a. my Alma Mater]. At least there were no rock slides on I-40 to delay me from crossing over into Tennessee.
     Tennessee ~ The Volunteer State! I really figured out the inner and outer beltways of the interstate highway systems when driving through/around major cities. Yes, I used to live in Washington, D.C.; however, when I lived there I either walked somewhere or took the metro.  I've only driven in Washington a few times and I always got lucky regarding how to arrive at my destination.  Well, I would sometimes find a metro stop and just leave my car and take the metro into the city via the blue line (so yes, I kinda cheated).  Anyway, Nashville is a place where I would actually like to spend the day and see the sites.  It is not, I repeat, NOT because I'm a country music fan.  Don't get me wrong, there are few country songs that I like and will listen to if the chance presents itself; but overall, I am not a fan.  I don't even watch the...well wait, I do watch the CMT Awards but that's different.  It's like attending a mini-GOP convention!
     Arkansas ~ This was the state I was so glad I drove through at night.  What the history channel does not tell us is that "the natural state" is a boring, flat land-environment which lacks any means of hospitality or courtesy.  I have not meet, or interacted with, a single person from the state that makes it look like a great place to live.  The one thing it has going for itself is that it sits in Tornado Alley...and I say that only because I am a storm chaser at heart! Also, Conway is not an ideal place to spend the night...at least at the Quality Inn Hotel just off of Interstate 40.
     Oklahoma ~ I didn't return through the Sooner State (which was a mistake in-and-of-itself), but I loved driving through it!!! Getting past my love for Tornado Alley, I really enjoyed the state and all it had to offer.  Once I crossed the state border, I immediately began to sing all of the songs from the musical and I even sung "Oklahoma" twice as I was driving past the huge wheat fields! I also promised myself that the next time I traveled though the state, I would spend more time in Oklahoma City (the capital for those of you who are rusty on American Geography).  The reason is simple: it looks like a beautiful city and I loved the traffic patterns.  In addition, I also enjoyed knowing the names of the Native American tribes that were forced to relocate there due to the Trail of Tears.  I believe this was the first state where I started to play a wonderful game entitled, "Guess how many Congressional Districts there are and name their member of Congress and their party affiliation!" Furthermore, I would also randomly shout out when I was entering a new congressional district [and its member of Congress]. It should be noted that when I travel, I channel my inner-President Bartlett. (Yes, that was a political reference for those of you who can't remember when he served ;D)  For example, guess with congressional district has a democratic member of Congress in Oklahoma? I'll tell you if you don't know, ha-ha! I guess I should also reinstate the fact that I was making this road trip by myself and I really loved it!
     Texas ~ As I continued my political game, I entered into the Lone Star State (a.k.a. "W" and Perry country).  The panhandle is so much easier, and quicker, to drive through than the central part of the state (as I found out on the return trip). Anyway, Amarillo was alright; but, the traffic signs were a little hypocritical. For example, you can turn left on red even if there is a sign saying it is illegal to do so.  There weren't even traffic cameras in the intersections. I guess things really are better on top!
      New Mexico ~ The only highlight in "the Land of Enchantment" was stopping at White Sands National Park....okay, and driving through a live Missile Testing range. It was so epic! I spent the night in Ruidoso which is a wonderful place.  Oh yeah, I also went to Roswell and it is indeed...out of this world! While I had no close encounters, I did have to pull over a few times because I thought I saw "something" in the sky.  One of those "somethings" was a Delta flight going from Austin to Seattle - with a layover in Denver (and yes, I am an avid fan of flights and the whole aviation field - I should have been born in the '50s, '60s, or the later years of the '70s...not the '80s). I also went through a border checkpoint which was...a first. I didn't have to provide any documentation or proof other than a "yes, I am" to the question of my citizenship.  I will surely discuss this on a later blog because there is a LOT I would LOVE to talk about regarding immigration and the stupidity of the Southwestern part of the country regarding this important topic of politics.

                                        Returning to North Carolina

     Arizona ~ It look less than two hours to drive and it was early in the morning. I listened to Lady Gaga just to keep me sane while leaving "the Grand Canyon" state.
     New Mexico ~ The people are nice and driving through the lower portion of the state was fun. I was singing and dancing along with Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson from "Glee") as he sang "Hungry Like A Wolf/Rio" as I drove across the Rio Grande. I even sent out a tweet (and yes I was driving and I also left out the "e" on Grande because of my stupid auto-correct feature on the I-Phone).
     Texas ~ I REALLY HATE THE STATE OF TEXAS!!!! Let me back up a second: there are people I know who are either from the state or who are living within the state so I don't hate all of the state.  There was a border checkpoint east of El Paso and what I experienced was 100% racial profiling even though I showed valid proof of my citizenship! I've never been so uncomfortable in all of my life.  I even wrote an e-mail to Secretary Napolitano and Governor Perry with my "concerns" regarding the checkpoint. Other than that horrid and inexcusable incident, the drive was so long. I'm really glad I didn't go to San Antonio as I originally planned.  I went through Dallas/Ft. Worth at night and even that was a nightmare.  They can't drive, merge correctly, or use a turning signal. Heck, I don't even think they knew how to change lanes properly. I guess everything really is bigger in Texas...except intelligence levels (remember, I am generalizing based on my accounts and it does not reflect ALL of the residents of the "Lone Star State"). I was so glad to leave the state even though I wanted to spend more time there. One thing Texas has going for itself is its history and historical points of interest. I'll see Deely Plaza, The Johnson Space Center, the state capital, and the Alamo the next time I visit. At least I drove through the hometown of George W. and Laura Bush (even though I didn't care and I'm sure nobody else does either).
     Arkansas ~ I also REALLY HATE ARKANSAS! I do have to say this though: I stopped in Hope, AR! Now, ten points to the person to say why this place is important (especially for someone like me)? Here's a hint: The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" person is famous here, Give up??? President Bill Clinton was born there!!!
     Also, I decided to drive up to Hot Spring National Park. Now, I drove up the side of a mountain, walked into the observation tower center and asked if it served as the visitor's center as well. Oh no.....the visitor's center is in town!!! So after I ranted - for ten minutes - about the stupidity I had just endured, I drove back down the mountain and into downtown.  Guess what my next rant was about...the vistor's center!!! I had to pay for parking! I really really ticked off by this point! First of all, my tax dollars - along with everyone else's who pay taxes- pay for the park and the visitor's center; second, there were no signs directing me towards the visitor's center (the only signs was for the stupid observation tower which I had no interest in because I am not an avid fan of heights). I refused to pay for parking since I already do more than that in a single year.
     Again, I hate Arkansas for these reasons - and many more. The drivers there are just (I am currently trying to think of a polite word to use)...freaking stupid! As a matter of fact, I believe they are a few notches below Dallas/Ft. Worth drivers - and that's saying something!
     Tennessee ~ I always get a thrill when I cross the Mississippi River. In a sense, I feel like I am either Lewis or Clark; or, I'm time traveling from the present to the dawn of the 19th century. I realize that last line should have been in the "going to Arizona" section; but, it does apply here as well (just reverse the time-frames).
     North Carolina ~ Okay, the only thing that was different is the fact that I crossed the state line around 11:15PM.  I'm glad Asheville had minimal traffic on I-40.  It felt great to see my very-surprised dog greet me upon walking into the house at 1:03AM.  Oh yeah, every time I passed the exit to go to Western Carolina University, I sang the fight song as well as the Alma mater!

I realize this is a long blog post. To be fair, I will post what I did during my time in Arizona in a separate blog post (coming soon to a computer screen soon). Don't worry, I'll post it soon, I promise!

A Potential Moment of Truth for the Politically Weak & Athletically Fit

     Well, we have finally come around to another primary day! This time, it is down south and it involves two states: Alabama and Mississippi.  It will be an interesting outcome indeed; however, I would like to briefly discuss the past weekend that endured within the GOP primary race.
     The past weekend involved four different caucuses with three of them having nine delegates awarded to the winner (the forth had 40 delegates).  Those four caucuses were: Guam, Kansas, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands - guess which one has 40 delegates [it is Kansas]. Rick Santorum won the Kansas caucus with over 50%, whereas Mitt Romney won the other three caucuses.  It should be noted that Ron Paul won the popular vote in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but because it is a...unique system it had Mitt Romney win the actual caucus.  Personally, it doesn't really matter because, like Puerto Rico, residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands are not able to vote in the general election...just the primaries and caucus (and yes, this makes no sense what-so-ever). Speaking as someone who actually knows people in Puerto Rico - hahaha - they have more important things to consider like statehood, independence, hurricanes, being home to the only rain forest in the United States (take that Hawaii!), and promoting tourism to help the economy of the country that they can't elect a leader to govern over them. Anyway, I digress...
     Okay, let's fast forward to today.  It is primary day in the deep south! I actually think Hawaii and the American Samoa hold caucuses today as well.  I guess we've had enough of caucus talk for the moment so we are only looking at primaries (Ron Paul would not be happy as his outlook is the exact opposite).    I always enjoy watching politics in the southern states...even though I never took Southern Politics in undergrad.  Anyway,  here are my predictions:

     2012 Primary (and Caucus) Predictions for the States of Alabama & Mississippi, Hawaii, and the United States Territory of the American Samoa:

Primaries ~

Alabama - 50 Delegates - Mitt Romney
Mississippi - 40 Delegates - Rick Santorum

Caucuses ~

Hawaii - 20 Delegates - Mitt Romney
American Samoa - 9 Delegates - Mitt Romney

***I know Gingrich has stated that he vows to stay in the race, but at some point he has to drop out because he can't win with two states.  If he doesn't drop out, then maybe Ron Paul will (I'm sorry Ron Paul supporters, but seriously....I'm not sold on him yet).

     Now before I get glares by the Ron Paul supporters, I am not saying he is a bad candidate or that he can't get elected....ok, I will say that much but I can defend that statement (at a later date). I am simply saying that he is true to his beliefs and he is very consistent when it comes to his voting records and positions.  Personally, I wish more people would read the Constitution.  Also, as a side note, he is a Duke graduate so that is always a plus - and now I'll be getting the glares from all my UNC friends, ha-ha!  I think he would make a more dramatic impact on policies, etc if he just stayed in Congress. I will continue to read up on his efforts and maybe, just maybe, I would consider voting for him.....but at the current time I am endorsing President Barack Obama for re-election.


     On a positive note, MARCH MADNESS is here!! All I'm going to say, at this point, is I hope Western Kentucky wins tonight's game! I still have to print, and fill out, my brackets! I want Syracuse to win (go figure and surprise, surprise.....give me a break I was BORN THERE!!!), but they have to face the University of North Carolina at Asheville. I have vowed to my UNC-A friends that I will remain neutral during their match-up on Friday afternoon. I do feel obligated to cheer for a North Carolina Public institution of higher education (and also was my back-up school if I didn't get into Western Carolina University). So for now.... GO SYRACUSE ORANGE[MEN] & GOOO UNCA BULLDOGS!!!!! The battle of the Bigs: Big East Vs. Big South!
     Oh,by the way, did anyone else see MY ALMA MATER on ESPN2 as they fought hard against Davidson on Monday night in the Southern Conference Championship game??? Two words - Double Overtime (and yes, I was on TV at least twice)!!! I am so proud to be a Western Carolina University Catamount Alumnus!  In fact, I've decided to forgo some of my other choices for graduate school and return to Western for my master's degree in.....Public Administration (not teaching as I once thought I was going to do; I'm too political).

If you want to contact me and discuss any political issues - or thoughts - then feel free:

E-mail: timoteohines@gmail.com
Facebook: Tim Hines
Twitter: @timoteohines