What's Wrong With This Picture?

I took this picture in March of 2002. Overcome with frustration, disappointments, and meaninglessness, I quit my job for the second-to-the-last time and in a frenzy of Kerouac-ian inspired driving headed out to San Francisco to visit my friends. The country was still reeling from the attacks of 9.11, and people wanted to show their support. There were a lot of flags. There were pictures of the Twin Towers from the internet printed out in makeshift shrines. This gas station was somewhere along I-40.
Recently, this photo popped up on my computer screensaver and I was unexpectedly stunned by it. At the time, I had sensed some feeling of irony in the simplicity of the message "USA" and then "ATM Inside". They say it's all about the money. Well, there you go. But it wasn't the words that resonated with me the other day, it was the GAS PRICES. And this was only six years ago, early in to the Bush-Cheney-Oil-and-War-mongering administration. I mean, I knew that prices had gone up, but here was recent physical evidence slapping me in the face. Mission accomplished, indeed.
Now, lest you deride me for being some sort of Hybrid-driving (and yes, I drive a Prius) peace-freak-liberal-loving-conservative-hating (well. . . OK finish your thought) anti-American (that's where I thought you were going), then let me enter in my defense this photo:
Where else but in the beautiful United States of America could you stand and photograph yourself in the four states of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico? That's right, nowhere else. Take that, Canada.

Self-Congratulations

I was visiting Baines up in Portland so we took a drive up to Seattle. I'd never been up in the Space Needle, so we decided to check it out. It was actually a beautiful day by Seattle standards and we had a wonderful view of the Puget Sound--over our shoulder there is where they filmed part of Sleepless in Seattle. As with all great attractions, you exit through the gift shop. I was particularly taken by these hats:
I almost bought one. But I didn't think anybody else would understand the humor. You see, you ride an elevator to the top of the Space Needle. That's right, a hat that brags about your accomplishment of riding an elevator. Beautiful.

Always Open, Now Closed

I was in Texas, just outside of Dallas. It is a place that looks like civilization just vomited. It's ugly. And miserable. And just when you think that this wretched landscape has nothing to offer, there it is. An abandoned 24-hour diner, with the only intact pane of its sign claiming "Always Open". I found it pretty damn appropriate. So I took a picture with my phone. William Eggleston, eat your heart out.
Note: If you click on the picture, you can see a much larger version and appreciate the busted out sign with its erroneous claim.