Silly Autumn Welles, galavanting around the Western United States with her friend Jason. You should follow her to keep up with her interesting stories.

amwelles:

Spent the weekend with my dad and stepmother. He was nice enough to get a hotel for Jason and me for three nights. We went swimming, jammed out, and had some good food while we were there. Then we left and it’s been the least best part of the trip since then, heh.

First night away from Oceanside, we were really close to the USA/Mexico border. We were on a kind of secluded highway out in the middle of the desert and had some serious issues finding a place to sleep. First, we tried a library, but people kept driving up and making us feel sketchy. Then we found a place on the side of the road, almost fell asleep, and border patrol came over and started interrogating us and telling us we had to find somewhere else to sleep. They seemed confused when we said we were going to work on a farm. Then they asked if my dad was okay with me “running off” to the desert. When they checked the back of the truck, I was back there and they asked if I had all my clothes on. I did, of course. Then they told us we should go sleep in the casino parking lot, which we did, though it was terribly hot and uncomfortable and we woke up early (7am-ish) yesterday.

Yesterday was maybe the hottest weather I’ve ever experienced. We didn’t drive very far at all (El Centro, CA to Yuma, AZ). The first town was creepy, but Yuma was pretty nice. We found a sweet park there and had a hobo meal (complete with one of those old-timey can openers). We ended up sleeping (or trying to) in a hotel parking lot. More or less uneventful, although I swear I sweat a bucket or two.

Today hasn’t been too bad. We woke up early again, but we were able to get to sleep at a somewhat reasonable hour last night. We’re in Tucson now, headed to a farm about an hour south of here. Planning on staying there about three weeks. It’s a vegetable farm and the guy sounds super nice and seems really excited to have us there.

The American Dream

Top comment on Digg.

Credit card: Don’t buy what you can’t afford.
College: It’s called community college and not going out of state to an expensive college.
Car: Buy a car you can afford, preferably with cash.
Taxes: Getting in debt for taxes? You’re doing it wrong.
Marriage: If you have to get married you don’t have to go all out. Use common sense.
Mortgage: A house is an investment. Also if you pay more a month towards principle on your mortgage, the interest paid goes down a lot.