21st August 2007 St Louis

Well at the stop, train empties and this gives me a chance to secure my seat and access to the power supply - it has already started filling up and well everyone jostling for a power point for cell phones, laptops and a myriad of electronic equipment. The problem is there is only three powerpoints in the carriage and to get to one is difficult.

Back to my previous statements and conclusions.

I am of the opinion that we are formed by our upbringing to act, think and behave a certain way. Without challenging these bounderies we remain sheep. Sheep to be controlled and minipulated by corporates and governments and power hungry people. There are a myriad of them out there. I coined a comment earlier when trying to illustrate this point to Virginia from yesterday, the spinster who stays in Laguna beach California. If you want to see the affect of power and corporate industry, consider the fact that McDonalds have spawned a nation of obessety. Sure not single handedly but rather as a pivotable point in a fast food industry. So much so that they have now created a milkshake made out of donuts. Essentially blended donut in a glass. You will no doubt enjoy the familiar flavour, and delicate tastes associated with donuts. Wow, have a glass and choose where you want to keep it. On your thighs, bum or stomach area. Or just split it half and half and add on a set of love handles on. But please keep in mind that we do choose these activities or past times. I have fell foul of the exact same influences and carry a few extra pounds, and shamefaced I admit that I am too lazy to work them off. Drive, bus or train everywhere. Failing that we will fly. So yes the shirts I bought where from Jeepbecause of the label and I would like to think the quality.The shorts I wear are board shorts with trade names like Billabong or Surf gear etc why? Because it looks cool or I wish to show the world that I am not getting old. I can still turn an eye. But lo and behold I am striving to ignore that as I wish to believe that I am now 'al naturale' and choose my own activity and pre-occupations in life. It would be very easy to fall into the trap of just lying down and bumming it. I seriously doubt that i will get to that as I have personal goals and ambitions to accomplish. The difference this time around is that I have chosen these myself and not conforming to societies, pre-concieved ideas or notions of what someone of my race, age and upbringing should be. The beauty of what I am doing is that I chop and change as my needs take shape and form out of necessity, rather than working to achieve a societies expectations. Maybe I am discovering this late in life and maybe I am one of twenty or maybe one of twenty million that have thought of this or come to the same conclusions. If so then that too is ok. I am just pleased that I have got there.

[Interuption]

I am amazed at the lack of discipline and the absolute lack of control American parents have over their children. This is a generalisation and an observation that I know will attract comments or criticism. But based on my experience and exposure the American children are spoilt brats, and they are growing up with a warped sense of reality. The parents are not disciplining their children and the children back chat, swear at and ignore their parents blatently. The worst I have seen is a mother bribing her obesse child of ten or so years with Oreo chocolate cookies, saying that if he behaves himself for ten minutes without wailing he could have a cookie. Now that is bad, but even so, as if that is not bad enough, he lasts all of thirty seconds and then starts wailin again and she gives him an Oreo to shut up. No we now have a chocolate cookie to shut up, bicycle to do your homework and possibly a car to go to college, and who knows a business to get employement. But in the case of the rich and famous a car of your choice on every birthday. Or maybe that californian home or appartment in the Trump building. The point to really strive for is when the the world celebrates when you go to jail and criticise the authorities for sending you to jail for commiting a crime in the first place. aka Paris Hilton

You can not stop that type of behaviour. Take a look at the way we were bought up, disciplined tightly because our parents were disciplined the same way, but now what about when the ten or so year olds here get to parenting age. They have absolutely no guidelines for raising kids. Even as we speak with all the social issues and such that face the american teenagers today, respect, curtesy, honour all fall way short of the criteria. Kids sue their parents for giving them a hiding. The amazing thing is that the parents are amazed by their badly disciplined kids.
# Case in point, announced by the train conductor asking parents to please escort their children through the train as they are running and screaming between the carriages and causing problems for the other passengers. The guilty party is sitting here in the observation car drinking and playing cards and missed the whole announcement due to the noise level of the kids and the contributing noise level of the parents shouting at the kids to 'shutup'. The announcement comes to and end and one turns to the group and askes them if they heard what the conductor had just announced. They all respond in the negative and carry on with their activity.

They are ordering a massive amount of liquor and they 'will' definately be getting out of hand later. I need to finish off and shake a leg outa here. I hope the conductor has not assigned my seat to someone els efor the night. The seats here are not the same as on the other Amtrak train and will not be comfortable enough to sleep on. Going to grab a coffee so long, desperate for a shower and a clean set of clothes. Thats not going to happen till tomorrow evening the same time. Damn !!! I confess I hate being dirty. I am however going to wash my hair and at least sponge before then - way too gross otherwise hey?
So coffee in hand, tasteless brown stuff, and M&M's [peanuts] and oodles of power, where to now? I befriended Michael (possibly Mike) who said that I 'may' find a power point underneath the last table in the bottom section of the carriage under the seats. So when all this noise gets too hectic and the bottom snack bar closes and the place empties out I may wonder on down and see if I can find it. But sleep is possibly the priority here, he says with a coffee in hand., The group of African Americans [i thinks thats pc] here doing the drinking are slowly getting rowdy and will no doubt get out of hand soon enough. And they look around when people comment as if they are hurt of picked on by 'other' folk. They are loud and the language etiquette disintergrates as the flow of alcohol increases. Kids start wineing as they are being ignored and the Amtrak officials start looking around nervously as they anticipate trouble later. You see this is what I was on about earlier when discussing choices. I, here choose to ignore the language and behaviour ( I used to get up and do something about it) and I choose to go to bed, rather than face this negativity and display of drunkeness. When I wake I will not even remember it and my day will start off with one less issue to pack into the 'to sort out' day pack.
The laptop is almost charged anyway and I need to make use of the restroom downside so I am going to call it quits. It is according to my PC 21H30 but i know that i have been through three time zones in the last twenty four hours so it could be anytime. It feels like 23H00 to me so will hit the sack soon - till later Ciao

05H30 Little Rock on route to Dallas Texas.

Slept well enough last night, and got up early. Changed my shirt for a less dirty one as they are now all dirty, but this one I only wore for one evening so it is theoretically clean. Last 'clean' one left so washing to be done tomorrow for sure. Hopefull a warm bed tonight. A bit of TLC won't go astray either. Chatting to the woman across the aisle from me who seemed to be frozen stiff, so I gave her my blanket to warm up. She did not argue so she must have been cold. She is a correctional services employee and is on her way to visit her youngest daughter who lives in Arlington Texas and, she has an African boyfriend. Cant remember his birthplace but I haven't heard of it yet so it must be relatively small. She hasn't seen her daughter in over a year so this is a special 'surprise' visit that only mothers can pull off by the way. Anyone else tries it, gets slammed but not mothers, they have an "All Pass" to these type of things.

We are wizzing through some obscure town and hopefully we leave most of it in tact. The speed has really picked up as we are at least two hours behind schedule now, which is pretty good by Amtrak standards so, yeah lets see what happens. I desperately want to write something meaningfull this morning but I dare say my mind is frozen by Amtrak airconditioning. It is set for daylight hours and they do not reset it at night so the temperature drops dramatically. Also their blankets are for hire not just too use.

What can I say. Twenty three days touring and when you look at it I didn't get that far or see that much but it has been my best roadtrip to date. I truly think I am blessed to be able to have this opportunity and dont know when I will get it again, if ever. The coffee mechanic has just arrived to tend to his snack station, and please do not think I am being derogitary about calling him the coffee mechanic. Anyone that knows me realises how much coffee means to me so will understand that as far as occupations go the guy that makes my coffee surpasses any other designation I come into contact with. I will give him ten minutes to settle in and get his house in order. It is a strain knowing that his coffee is proberbly already brewing but alas i will restrain myself long enough to allow him time to settle in. Also I wait untill the first person goes down to see if the coffee is ready, then casually rush down at break neck speed to claim my first cup.
there has been a pause here while i check out some pictures from Denver Colorado and am a bit concerned that the bulk of my pictures are on my hard drive and hope that I have not lost any information there as I thought all my pics where already on this PC. Need to check. But even if they have been lost, the memories are irreplaceable and wont be easily forgotten. You have at times just stood in awe, but must also tell you that South Africa on the whole is still the most beautifull country I have been to.

WELL COFFEE IN HAND, I am able to venture forward, with renewed energy and purpose. Yet another stunning Amtrak sun rise and well I just can't get enough. Taken some pictures and I know some of them will be fine, even if I say so myself. Look forward to doing a coffee table book about this trip. Even if its not in story form it will be a nice collection of photographs. Both edited and uneditored will be fine as is. Grand Canyon is limited as I did not get the time or opportunity to explore the valley but those I have from the rim are an good start. I will definately be back for some more and this time around it will be a twenty one day backpackers pass. Then you can camp at designated spots and move around the canyon freely. I can then recreate images of old and get a feel for the canyons character and take pictures that are perhaps out of the ordinary but will display the grandness of the canyon. There have been so, so many pictures taken that it will require a diffrent approach or a fresher approach and presentation. I must tell you that photography is not about taking a picture but rather capturing peoples interest and imagination. If you get one of those two right your are amongst the top ten percent of photographers. If you have both you are in the top five percent and if you combine those two attributes with personality, it is my assumption that you will definately make it in this world.
So that is what I aim to do. Interest and Imagination I think are achievable but the personality bit will take some work.
So we are motoring through some picturesque town, name unknown and the locals are starting their days activity. Cops are arriving at their stations, builders are on site, griping steaming cups of beverage. Moms, walking their kids out to the car, husbands and fathers pulling away on their way to work, while the kids and mom wave goodbye. The athlete is out running, water bottle in each hand, earplugs with music playing. The bulging mom walking the dogs, nibbling on some health food type item. The fireman have opened their doors to let the sunlight shine in and warm the interior of their garage. The apprentice or learner firemen are polishing their rides. Shop owners are sweeping the entrance way to their store before the first customers of the day arrive. Bread delivery vans are making their stops at the rear of the stores dropping off a fresh batch of sweet smelling bread and buns. Newspaper delivery men of all shapes and sizes roam the streets, from the kid on his bicycle to the delivery van dropping off the days quota at each business. Stopping on street corners they fill the vending machines for their daily pedestrian discharge. There is so much that goes on in any town, irrespective of size or location that just to be aware of all the activity in itself is quite a feat.

Just passed through Hope Arkansaw [spelling] where President Bill Clinton was born. Took picture of his house but alas think I may have missed the actual house due to trees and whatnot. Typical tourist type 'she-ite' jump at any opportunity for a picture. But it will be awhile before I pass again so take the opportunities as they come. Stop in Texarkana comming up which hopefully will be a smoke stop. Need a bit of fresh smoke in my lungs. I should be climbing off here to see Shara's people but admittedly as much as I would like to see them I would prefer to sped time in Fort Worth and catch up later this side. Callinhg it quits for awhile - chat later DBT 07H31

08H45 Just left Texarkana I have found out that the name Texarkana is named because half of the town is in Texas and the other half in Arkansaw [spelling?] So thats where Shara's brother and oldest daughter stay with their respective families.
AND I have found one extra powerpoint with the coach attendants help from yesterday and that is located in the Canteen area of the observation carriage. I am now hooked up and rearing to go. Subjects to discuss unknown but opportunity abounds. The conductor type chap that runs our carriage is an oddbod! I have tried engaging him in conversation on numerous occassions but to no avail. He is one of those dedicated to his task type people and does not want to be interupted. He is a compulsive something or other, as he cleans all the railings that he touches when he is loading or unloading passengers. He holds onto everything with a tissue in his hand. Strange to me but here in the USA those type of oddities are normal and no-one frowns upon it or treats him differently. There are so, so many ailments and conditions in America and everyone is prone to some [from my perspective] ailment of dubious origin. I have no doubt that the ailments are genuine and do exist but they have a name for every type of oddity and people write books and do studies regarding these obscure ailments. Back home kids are told to just stop screwing around and get on with life but here the parents pamper to everything and in my opinion, they create illnesses to disguise weird behaviour. But be that as it may, they may just be more advanced than us back home and we will get all these weird and wonderful ailments some time or another. I also think that because the population is so much greater here you as an individual you are exposed to so many people from so many different walks of life that you are bound to find out of the ordinary people and circumstances. So where does this leave me. On the straight and narrow. I do not need anything in my life to clutter up my day and the less there is in my day the less there is to clutter it.