There and Back Again...

Today was killer. Not Dexter killer, but seriously awesome! The morning was kicked off with a latte from our new friend Teresa, who was kind enough to let us use her guest room for the night. The night previous, she showed me one of the best Castle episodes of Season 2. Gosh, I need to get back into that series. One step at a time. First, I need to get to or current residence... but I didn't notice Season 2 staring at me in Wal-Mart and Target in passing. Plus, who can pass up Stana Katic?


After we packed, we headed into downtown Mesa. The heat was not bad at all, since there was no humidity and by the time I sweat, it dried and got soaked up into the air. We ransacked The Kids Need to Read office, finally getting to meet Debbie and Denise in person! I have known Denise for roughly 3 years through Can't Stop the Serenity and Browncoats: Redemption and no matter which conventions we attended in those years, they were never the same one! Nevertheless, it was a great moment! They've been loving the movement with the Bachak as much as we have enjoyed producing it. While I know we won't raise alot of money for the organization through the Bachak campaign (though some Thompsons have already donated, wink wink), we're at least pleased that it has spread some further awareness for KNTR. Its a wonderful charity and one I feel needs to stay around for a lot longer. It has the most crazy and most dedicated staff I've seen in a non-profit!

After lunch with Denise, we got off to a late start into the desert. We jibber-jabbered forever, but it was amazingly worthwhile on all fronts so leaving an hour behind our schedule wasn't phasing. The landscapes that greeted us along the desert were some of the most beautiful pieces of America that I have seen in this trip. I never thought a piece of land so raw and unforgiving could possess such magnetism. Crossing into California, we were reminded at two border patrol check points that we were "a long way from home." As much as I love the icebreaker, its getting old. What's next, a "nice shoes" line?

The Cuyamaca and Laguna mountain ranges were spectacular and we crossed through them at the start of dusk. Made for some mesmerizing images!

And now we're here in sunny, temperate San Diego at my brother Greg's place! Time for some sleep before this laptop burns out from not being plugged in. We have a nice day of nothing scheduled for tomorrow, aside from waking up and going out to dinner for my birthday! Chat with you in the AM!