Wow, so where to start with all this stuff buzzing around in my head... not real sure, so here's just some quick facts.

States I could never live in: Nevada (too hot), Arizona (too hot), Utah (too hot and too many mormons)

States I could live in if I weren't afraid of being lynched by the locals for not accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and savior: Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky... well, most of the ones we passed through, truth be told.

Things that suck about cross country road trips: No matter how many tapes you bring, you WILL get sick of all of them. Sleeping in a car/van isn't comfortable, and gets less and less comfortable as the days wear on. Through the middle half of the country, two thirds of all radio stations are christian stations. Unless you fork out the benjamins', it's highly unlikely you'll be bathing for a few days. Once you get to the desert, it gets hot and boring. Few things are as hot or boring as the desert. After a while, all fast food tastes the same.

Things that are cool about cross country road trips: For all the horror stories I was told about people in other states hating Californians, we weren't scowled at once, or given one damn ticket. This country is really freaking beautiful. I doubt there is one type of landscape we didn't pass through on the way home. Some parts of the desert are really beautiful to look at, and at the very least awe inspiring. Yes, I was as surprised as y'all are, but there actually are people living in the states between the coastlines.

Where to get a McDonalds Sausage Biscuit with Gravy (yes, gravy): Missouri.

Where to find trees: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and some of Colorado. Also, California.

Where to find dirt, and lots of it: Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. Of these, Utah and Arizona had the prettiest, most colorful, and coolest shaped dirt.

Most mullets spotted in: Utah.

First Del Taco sighted in: Barstow, CA, which is apparently the home of Del Taco... yay for the best imitation mexican food straight from the source.

more later.