A letter from TD's son..

“Yeehaw!!

Woke up this morning, on Day three of our journey in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
That's right--in only two days of driving, we have traveled over a thousand
miles, and across two time zones. Not only that, but my car hasn't broke
down, AND we're not even dead yet!! Here's a list of a few things that have
happened so far on the trip; all of them are true except one...let's see if
you can guess:

1). We went to a bar in Oklahoma City, and the jukebox played almost nothing
but Skynyrd.

2). A Mexican hombre cut off us on the freeway, and I started talking smack
to him out the window...and then he chased us for a few miles!! (don't worry,
we got away, though)

3). While asking for directions to Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, a big black
dog chased me through this woman's yard and bit the back of my pants!

4.) Byron spent last night with a hooker across the border (he's at the
doctor right now getting checked out).

5). We tried to break into West Texas State A & M University, but no luck.

6). We ate at a restaurant in Oklahoma called "Pure Country Restaurant", and
our waitress marveled at our eating abilities.

Anyway, I guess that's enough details for now. Hopefully, by this evening,
we'll be in Flagstaff, Arizona, ready to get up tomorrow morning and check out
the Grand Canyon. If you have any questions, suggestions, or dirty pictures,
feel free to write back and hopefully, there'll be another computer somewhere
between here and California.

Forever pimpin', never slippin'--that's how it is,
Fox and Byron”

“That's right, we're in Vegas. In case you're curious, last night we were
offered drugs, we did see hookers, and we did gamble at the Mirage (but less
than 20 bucks, I swear...oh yeah, and we lost it all). We also saw Caesar's
Palace, and a lot of filthy folks. After I go change the oil in the ol'
Jimmy, it will be time to get on the road and head to Los Angeles, city of
angels, meaning that YES--we are about to make it to California! Hopefully we
won't get shot in Compton; I'll be sure to turn the Doctor Dre down when we
ride through South Central.

Yesterday was the most ballin' day ever, because we hiked part of the Grand
Canyon in the daytime, and managed to make it to Las Vegas by midnight. I
took all kinds of pictures, and there's really no point in me trying to
describe the last few days in detail, but if you see me in Knoxville this
summer, be sure not to ask me any questions unless you want the LONG answer.

Also, let me say that New Mexico was absolutely incredible. We stopped over
in Alberquerque and saw some of the coolest scenery, and ate some great food.
The desert is absolutely gorgeous.

Anyways, I'm about to run out of computer time, and I realize that I really
haven't said much of anything. Just know that Byron and I are having the best
time, and that I don't see how it's possible to live in the Southwest and not
be constantly locked in a state of deep thought; so much to look at, and lose
yourself in. Also, thanks to everyone who has emailed in the last few
days...made me feel like I was at home for a moment. I look forward to seeing
you guys in a couple weeks.

Peace out,
Fox and Byron--heading west in search of fame and fortune”

“Pretty cool. How old is he TD?”

“You turkey, you came through Albuquerque!”

“I'll be comin down the Fourth of July Pathman for work detail if you got time for a beer?”

“sent you an email griz.”

“Town dawg is down with Dr Dre?...what's up with that??..”

“TownDawg, why's your son going to California? It sounds like he's having a blast getting there! I hope he continues to have a good trip.”

“Great to hear about your roadtrip, TownDawg, except for the rabid dog butt biting incident. Keep us posted and drink lots of coffee!”

“He may be the next Hunter S. Thompson, TownDawg. Good job raising him.”

“Albuquerque!!!!

I'm homesick!”

“hey phaedrus, lots of turnover, should be some jobs opening up. LOL”

“Pathster, you're a cruel, cruel man.”

“newgirl: "Pretty cool. How old is he TD?"

He's 22, newgirl.. graduated from UTK last Saturday.. summa cum laude.. anda torchbearer.. :).. picture of him here.. http://towndawg.tripod.com/rodeo.htm and a mp3 of him singing.. (picture is way down at bottom)

pathman: "You turkey, you came through Albuquerque!"

hehe.. he don't know none of us.. well he knows a few.. InaRae and Kelly and Skully.. but that is prolly it.. :)

OPIE: "Town dawg is down with Dr Dre?...what's up with that??.."

Dang opie.. you don't read very well do ya. .hMm.. alabama schooling? TD's son!

Skullcap: "TownDawg, why's your son going to California?"

hehe.. graduation present. We gave him a $1000 and told him to go enjoy himself.

LindyS: "Great to hear about your roadtrip, TownDawg, except for the rabid dog butt biting incident."

hMmm.. another one you can't read?.. where did YOU go to school? (TD's son!!)

newgirl (again): "He may be the next Hunter S. Thompson, TownDawg."

He gets it natural.. there is no genetic code that could have produced HIM.. :).. but thankies.. he majored in English/Creative Writing/ and Religion.”

“Oooooooh, is he available?

I'm only joking TD. No men for me right now, but he seems like a great guy/son.”

“CMB will be so disappointed, newgie...”

“What can I say . . . taken a big 'ol vacation from the men folk, Bit. My radar for picking the nice ones seems to be off and I need sometime for adjustments.”

“Periodic calibration of equipment is very important, newgie. Use the time wisely....”

“*confused*...the way the responses are it's TD's son that is experiencing all this and posting it....or did i miss something really bad?

And the fact that forever pimpin never slippin was posted i'd say this isn't TD posting..but what do i know...i was too busy making alabama the #2 party school while i was there”

“They are letters TD's son is writing to him as he travels across the frickin' country. Pretty cool, eh?

Bit, I will use it very wisely. It's been 3 months and I seem to be getting wiser by the minute. LOL!”

“*clicks*....AHHHHHH....glad that's cleared up..now i can get back to drinking”

“Is he heading to law school after the Summer? Kind of sounds like "On The Road - 2002"”

“True Fact: McDonald's in Compton has bullet-proof windows in front of the
cash registers!!

Whew--Byron and I drove into California yesterday, and I'm already in love
with basically everything I see. I guess I just didn't know what to expect,
but the scenery on the drive from Vegas to L.A. was incredible, with the
deserts and the ridiculous sky...I wanted to take a picture every couple
minutes or so. Oh yeah, and we also saw cows, which was a pretty big
surprise...and manure here smells the same as manure in Tennessee. Byron and
I stayed last night in Anaheim, saw Edison Field, and went over to Disneyland,
but it was pretty much closed by the time we found it. We also ate at a
Denny's...for those of you who plan to make this time sometime soon: be
prepared--Denny's is bigger than Waffle House over here! You can get two
eggs, two pancakes, two pieces of sausage, and two strips of bacon for 2.99!
Damn, I'm healthy.

Today, we got up and drove through the city, Anaheim to Fullerton to Long
Beach to Compton to Watts to a bunch of other places, and finally into
Hollywood. I DID see the big letters on the hills pulling into the city,
Byron tried to take a picture, so maybe it came out, and y'all can see it
later. We're about to go to the Hollywood Bowl, continue walking down
Hollywood Blvd. this afternoon, and probably see as much of this city as we
can before 4 am.

Tomorrow, we're driving up Ol' Highway 1 on the Pacific Coast, in route to
stay with my friend Erin Loughran in San Francisco, former RA in the glory
days of Clement Hall. For the first time in the trip, we'll be hanging out
with someone who knows what they're doing, so expect some cool stories from
that. Well, the clock is telling me I have one more minute, so I've gotta go.
Thanks to all of you who have written us, and I swear I'll send personal
replies soon.

Rockin' and rollin' with KROQ 106.7,
Fox (because Byron's about to send you guys an email)”

“TD, this is too awesome. I totally wish I was doing something like this. Are they coming through MT on the way back? Maybe they'd love to road trip w/ me?! How do they feel about a 20 month old? She is nearly potty trained. LOL!”

“Very cool letters TD!

8)”

“heh.. I have no doubt the two of them would luv to come see you, NewGirl -- but since they don't know you?.. I hate that.. but hey.. I will let them know what a cute girl they missed.

:)

By the way.. water pump went out on them in Utah.. they have been stuck up in some hole in the wall hotel for a couple days.”

“TD's son gets home tonight, in about an hour.”