Deer, armadillos and filet mignon.

What a day! I was awake before my alarm again and even Lara's! Granted her alarm tone is the most digitized, unflinching and annoying sound ever to burst my ear drums, she continues to use it. It had the potential of being some of the tones in a rough cut of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" before Spielberg slugged composer John Williams in the teeth. Wonder if it'll be different in the morning...maybe just this once for my birthday!

Anyway, woke to a great breakfast made by Dolores at The Lococo Bed & Breakfast before we high-tailed it out of there, en route to Springfield to find The World's Tallest Fork! Oh we found it...and at a whopping 35 feet tall, I was left with a feeling of...meh. But it was shiny.

I have also now decided a better name for the Midwest highways could be "The Slowest Safari You'll Ever See." We passed by opossum, raccoons, skunks, deer, dogs, turkey vultures AND armadillos. All dead, but still a cheap sight-seeing tour of the local wildlife. Have yet to see a live armadillo; something that I hope is remedied within the next few days. Another birthday present, mayhaps?

We dropped into Arkansas after driving through back roads. Not dirt roads or anything, but the equivalent of smaller route roads. Was enjoyable, and I know some drivers enjoyed my license plate. Or were they confused?!? Wondering if Rhode Island is really an island could be a precursor to a bad bout of road rage; especially when they learn the awful truth!

Hit the mountains around Garfield and I instantly had flashbacks of our ascent into Big Bear, CA years ago. Except this time...I was at the wheel! There were no incidents albeit we were on the inside of the road up. I hope not to have a panic attack tomorrow upon our exit. If we exit....dum dum dum....

Nonetheless, we arrived at Lara's Uncle Leroy's and Aunt Sharon's house, which is within "falling-down-a-hill" distance to a giant lake! The view is gorgeous, the house amazing and air clean! And dinner... Let's not forget dinner! Caesar salad and Filet mignon with steamed asparagus and hollandaise sauce. Was terrific and is settling well in the belly now. I am sure the ice cream with sliced strawberries is aiding in the smooth digestion as well. Washed it all down with a Bavarian-style beer from Texas. We swapped stories and it was wonderful to learn more about Lara and the history of her family. She is known for being her family's "glue." Hope I'm not known for being my family's "Goo Gone!" But they do say opposites attract!

To top it all off, after that amazing dinner and dessert, I step outside for a smoke and what is standing not ten feet from me? Bambi...well a relative for sure. I was frantic yet I wouldn't move to sour the moment. I did manage a clandestine phone call to Lara (who was inside) and told her to come out and approach the railing slowly! She got closer than I did! The deer was off but I waited outside a bit longer and it came back. Not to play, sadly, just to inspect. And then it was off again. Was still a sight!

Need to rest now. We have a boat ride in store for tomorrow (does a Bachak get seasick?), a drive to Oklahoma City and more of Lara's family to visit. Leroy warned me that the Thompson clan is a crazy fun family. But it's alright...I come from one too!

Night gang!