Welcome to the beginning of this virtual "road trip" through America.  Like all journeys, there's no way to tell exactly what will happen, or when, or how.

I love this country, even when it aggravates the ever livin' hell out of me.  I hope my family gets to see all the richness and beauty of this land someday.  For lots of reasons (no time, not enough money, and traveling with two little kids is a special version of torture I don't really enjoy), actually taking them to several of the "389,478 places to see before you get a root canal" isn't possible.

I may never get to take them home to Arizona to show them the Grand Canyon or Meteor Crater, but dammit.....I sure as hell can whip up a chimichanga and tell them the story behind its creation no matter where I happen to be at the moment, right?

So....let's start this thang!  You can ride shotgun, or even be a "backseat driver".  No worries about getting carsick, coming across a disgusting gas station bathroom, "did we miss the exit?" or the Motel from Hell with the green pool.

Like any good road trip, we may stay awhile in a place if we like it.  No reason we can't spend a month of Fridays in places like Louisiana or Texas or California, right?   And from time to time, I might even ask the peanut gallery if they have suggestions for an upcoming destination.

Only rules?  No pizza (unless it's Chicago Deep Dish.....we'll get there, relax!) and no burgers.  That's too easy.  

It's all good.  Enjoy the ride!