Obviously, no call-back from the local truck outfit and I wasn't interested enough to harass them with calls every morning to see what was up.
Weather, sore foot, hotel unavailability, and gas costs made me choose to not go to New Orleans for the Jazz Fest today (1000 miles round trip and 3 nights hotel for a long day of touring the quarter on foot followed by an 8 hour day of standing in the sun t the fair grounds).
Did a little favor for a friend hauling a fridge for him the other day and got out to the pub for a couple of nights, but otherwise have spent the days planning the upcoming trip. I sent out a follow-up email to the Ernie Ball company asking the status of my job application for the "Battle of the Bands" tour driver gig. I asked her to let me know ASAP if I'm not being considered so I can start on my trip a little sooner and get back here to work a little sooner as well. Otherwise, I plan on leaving in two Fridays - taking the car and will buy a tent and camp stove to try and cut a few hundred dollars off my hotel/motel budget. I'm crossing fingers that temps that are peaking now at 60 days, 40 nights, might warm up a little bit more before I cross into Canada and hit the Rockies. True camping will start with a night in a teepee on the Blackfeet reservation in Browning, MT.
Oh! I am now officially a published photographer! My shot of my Trucker Buddy kids in their classroom in Iceland is in the May issue of Challenge magazine at Pilot Ttravel Centers (free!). I've got 30 issues packaged and ready for the post office tomorrow - ouch, it cost $140 to get guaranteed 3 day delivery, I'll have to take a chance the $40 one week service for the 15 pound box will get it there before classes end.
