It's hot.
I know, I know. I know exactly what you're thinking. You're in El Paso, Texas, one of the hottest cities on the planet. And you're there in the middle of the summer. Temperatature's around, oh, let's say it left the century mark for a couple of minutes by noon. So, what would a trio of young adults do on a day like this?
We went to the multiplex, naturally.
Bry, Layla, and I went to check out the movie it seems like EVERYBODY's checking out, Transformers. Layla's little brother, Miguel, tagged along because, well, he's a kid and wanted to see robots beat each other down like nobody's business. I had a couple of video files of the original series to get myself ready. He thought the cartoon looked "too old." It was before my time. I am only 18. The cartoon was almost over about the time we were born. Moma was a fan though.
Bry sat next to Layla, and just before I sat next to her, Miguel ran and sat right next to her. He told me that I wasn't as cool as Bry (if he knew the truth). I wasn't trying to impress a nine-year-old, so, I didn't argue. I just wanted to enjoy the movie.
By the time it was over, the whole audience was pumped, almost as if they wanted more or something. I've never seen anything like that on the movie screen. I don't think we live in an age where fully sentient robots exist, but science is coming mighty close. But that's comic book stuff at best.
I never realized Layla was just as big a geek about things like Transformers as Bry and I were. Though he enjoyed the movie (we bought him one of those frellin' huge Optimus Primes), Miguel looked at me and said "Geeks must've wrote this movie, 'cause they don't usually get the girl in real life." Bry heard that and basically defended me.
"Well," he said, "geeks rule the world. I'm a mechanical geek. Quen's a science geek. Our dad's a nature geek, and he married a supermodel surfer. So, geeks do get the girl in the real world."
"And sometimes the geeks ARE the girl," Layla surprisingly told her little brother.
"You should know, Layla," Miguel told her. "you used to spend all that time at the university in the chem labs."
You should have seen the look Layla darted at Miguel before she chased him around the parking lot. Oh, need I remind you again that it was still over 100 degrees here? Layla explained that she was a chemistry major and interned at Laudertech Florida a year or so ago.
It's funny. She was just a total stranger earlier in the week, but now, it seems like we've known Layla forever. Which is why Bry and I decided to ask her if she wanted to leave with us in the morning before we ate dinner. She said yes, and, our roadtrip gets a third rider.
And a cute one at that.
We're heading north to Denver because I told Bryton I wanted to go there. Next stop (and the next time I'll talk to you) is this lodge. Wonder how the weather would be up there.
Until next time, mahalo and latahz.
- Quen
7/4/07
Day 33/34: The Girl Snores
I guess you know by now that we have a third party travelling with us. Her name is Layla. She comes up to my chin and kind of cute. The thing is that she's probably trouble.
Not that I don't trust women. My girl Karen works on television. She's my age and we've grown up together. Layla is a few years older than Quen and I. I think that Quen's just blinded by her looks at this moment. She came out of nowhere, and we somehow trusted her for some reason.
For all we know, she could have been a drifter who planned to kill us in our sleep. But she isn't. We've travelled together for a couple of days now, and we're spending the rest of the week at her family's house in El Paso. The Terrells seem like good folks. Hard workers, close family unit, kind of like what I wanted with moma, pops, nana Vana, and Kumpei.
Okay, I'm jealous.
Still, Layla snores. Loudly. I think she wants to join us for the rest of the trip. I think she's trouble, but then again, so are we. If she wants, I think we can fit her in.
Oh, just looked at the clock. It's the American equivalent to Canada Day now, i.e. Independence Day. The Fourth of July. The Terrells are having this huge cookout/barbeque in the afternoon. Can't wait for that.
Until then, Happy Fourth, and see you on the road.
- Bry
Not that I don't trust women. My girl Karen works on television. She's my age and we've grown up together. Layla is a few years older than Quen and I. I think that Quen's just blinded by her looks at this moment. She came out of nowhere, and we somehow trusted her for some reason.
For all we know, she could have been a drifter who planned to kill us in our sleep. But she isn't. We've travelled together for a couple of days now, and we're spending the rest of the week at her family's house in El Paso. The Terrells seem like good folks. Hard workers, close family unit, kind of like what I wanted with moma, pops, nana Vana, and Kumpei.
Okay, I'm jealous.
Still, Layla snores. Loudly. I think she wants to join us for the rest of the trip. I think she's trouble, but then again, so are we. If she wants, I think we can fit her in.
Oh, just looked at the clock. It's the American equivalent to Canada Day now, i.e. Independence Day. The Fourth of July. The Terrells are having this huge cookout/barbeque in the afternoon. Can't wait for that.
Until then, Happy Fourth, and see you on the road.
- Bry
7/1/07
Day 31: Drenched, Tired, and She's Alright With Me
Texas sucks.
Okay, that's not entirely fair to say, but over the past couple of weeks, I've realized that Texas is not for a surfer like me.
For starters, the dude ranch we went to was actually a working ranch, meaning we had to work the whole time we were there. No work, no grinds (that's "eats" for you haoles). It was no problem, but I could tell Bry had a bit of problem with Mr. Carroll, who was the head rancher. We actually went on a cattle drive a week ago, before the rains came. There were a few problems, Mr. Carroll's rival, Mr. Lewis, wanted to shut down the ranch. So, we helped raise money and actually helped save the day in the end.
That doesn't sound bad, right?
Well, that was actually the best part of the trip. Like I said, it rained, and rained, and rained there. I almost felt like I was growing gills at one point. I wanted to just dry out. To make matters worse, the ragtop ripped. So, we spent a lot of time trying to stay dry. Then again, maybe I was wrong.
Maybe Texas IS for a guy like me. Still, it's too much rain, and at least at home, I can chill in the warm, quartz-covered beaches under a piercing, merciful sun. Too much rain.
Yesterday, the sun actually came out and we were back on the road. Funny thing is that by the time we got to the hotel, we heard a thump. Didn't pay it any nevermind at first. Come the next morning, which is today, a woman woke up in our backseat under the sheets screaming.
She was just a few years older than us. Red hair, slightly tanned skin, a few freckles above her nose, piercing green eyes. Now, knowing that we probably should have called the cops on her, there was a sense of warmth and trust my brother and I felt around her. She told us her name was Layla. Coincidently, that's the song that played on the radio minutes after she introduced herself. I took it as a sign of sorts. Bry thinks I'm nuts.
So, at least for one more day, the brothers are now a trio of road warriors. We're heading to El Paso, her hometown. We might end up spending the rest of the week down there. Still, tonight's sleeping arrangements have been a bit . . . interesting to say the least. We had two twin beds and a couch. I was a gentleman and offered Layla my bed.
I challenged Bry for the other bed, to which he said "Well, you're the fool who gave her your bed." Still, island rules applied, and I had to play jankenpon, best two out of three.
I'm on the couch in the other room. Layla divided the quarters in half (wouldn't that technically be dividing the quarters in eighths?) splitting her side of the room from Bry's. That's why I'm typing so early tonight. It's going to be a long night.
Hope you guys up in Canada have a great Canada Day tomorrow while you folks in the States enjoy Independence Day on Wednesday.
Until the sand and the ice met, mahalo and latahz.
- Quen
P.S. I don't know what Jeff's planning at The X Bridge after the fourth, but I'm keeping my eyes on it. I asked him what's it all about, and all he told me was "wait for it." Good guy, but a little loopy in the head. Mahalo and latahz.
Okay, that's not entirely fair to say, but over the past couple of weeks, I've realized that Texas is not for a surfer like me.
For starters, the dude ranch we went to was actually a working ranch, meaning we had to work the whole time we were there. No work, no grinds (that's "eats" for you haoles). It was no problem, but I could tell Bry had a bit of problem with Mr. Carroll, who was the head rancher. We actually went on a cattle drive a week ago, before the rains came. There were a few problems, Mr. Carroll's rival, Mr. Lewis, wanted to shut down the ranch. So, we helped raise money and actually helped save the day in the end.
That doesn't sound bad, right?
Well, that was actually the best part of the trip. Like I said, it rained, and rained, and rained there. I almost felt like I was growing gills at one point. I wanted to just dry out. To make matters worse, the ragtop ripped. So, we spent a lot of time trying to stay dry. Then again, maybe I was wrong.
Maybe Texas IS for a guy like me. Still, it's too much rain, and at least at home, I can chill in the warm, quartz-covered beaches under a piercing, merciful sun. Too much rain.
Yesterday, the sun actually came out and we were back on the road. Funny thing is that by the time we got to the hotel, we heard a thump. Didn't pay it any nevermind at first. Come the next morning, which is today, a woman woke up in our backseat under the sheets screaming.
She was just a few years older than us. Red hair, slightly tanned skin, a few freckles above her nose, piercing green eyes. Now, knowing that we probably should have called the cops on her, there was a sense of warmth and trust my brother and I felt around her. She told us her name was Layla. Coincidently, that's the song that played on the radio minutes after she introduced herself. I took it as a sign of sorts. Bry thinks I'm nuts.
So, at least for one more day, the brothers are now a trio of road warriors. We're heading to El Paso, her hometown. We might end up spending the rest of the week down there. Still, tonight's sleeping arrangements have been a bit . . . interesting to say the least. We had two twin beds and a couch. I was a gentleman and offered Layla my bed.
I challenged Bry for the other bed, to which he said "Well, you're the fool who gave her your bed." Still, island rules applied, and I had to play jankenpon, best two out of three.
I'm on the couch in the other room. Layla divided the quarters in half (wouldn't that technically be dividing the quarters in eighths?) splitting her side of the room from Bry's. That's why I'm typing so early tonight. It's going to be a long night.
Hope you guys up in Canada have a great Canada Day tomorrow while you folks in the States enjoy Independence Day on Wednesday.
Until the sand and the ice met, mahalo and latahz.
- Quen
P.S. I don't know what Jeff's planning at The X Bridge after the fourth, but I'm keeping my eyes on it. I asked him what's it all about, and all he told me was "wait for it." Good guy, but a little loopy in the head. Mahalo and latahz.
6/11/07
Day 11: On The Road Again
Ho boy, how can I explain this . . .
Me and Quen were in jail for a couple of days. Okay technically not jail, but rather a holding cell in this podunk town in the middle of Arizona. All because Quen wanted to play the role of hero on the night that Ottawa got their butts kicked by Anaheim. Of ALL nights, game five of the Cup!
You wouldn't believe me anyway, but here's what happened.
That night, we heard an explosion. I think Quen was doing some typing here. He wanted to see what happened. There was a bank robbery and a large guy, with a Southern twang (not Texan, but more of a southeastern accent) behind it all.
He turned himself into a sand creature and started attacking us. Quen and I fought back, but it was for naught. Anyway, just as the police got there, the criminal disappeared and we were still there, surrounded by sand and paper money flying everywhere.
We were arrested and charged with arson and larceny. We didn't resist arrest, and we got questioned by this huge sheriff who had what Quen called "kim chee breath." We spent a couple of nights in the jail. We had to the remainder of our vacation money, save $100, for bail money (we had about $40,000 for the year thanks to pops). We had to find the jerk that framed us, and lo and behold (does anybody actually say that anymore?), there he was. This time, we had a plan and captured him, quickly disappearing from the scene. We got cleared of the charges, but we didn't get our bail money back.
Unbelievable.
So, we left Arizona, but had to pick up a few things with the remaining funds. We were on our way back to California to cut our vacation short. I used the ATM, and the unthinkable happened . . .
Not only did we get the $100 back, but we also had more than double the funds we had at the beginning of the trip, namely $90,000. There was also a note that came out the ATM. Here's what is said:
The incident in Arizona was unfortunate,
but you did redeem and clear your names.
You have potential.
We're keeping an eye on you
and will make sure
the rest of your trip is comfortable.
No more money problems either.
Happy trails.
Mr. K.
That . . . was so cool! But who is Mr. K., and what does he want with us? Is he a friend or a foe? Who cares? We have 50,000 more reasons to continue our year-long road trip. Quen and I ate at a local restaurant, spent a night at another hotel, and left this morning.
The trip continues, and it's going to be a fun trip. Guess we're going to Texas. I heard about this dude ranch my friend back home told me about that's the real deal. I can't believe Quen never rode a horse before. That's gonna be fun!
We'll be there for a couple of weeks, so, I'll catch you then. See you on the road.
- Bry
Me and Quen were in jail for a couple of days. Okay technically not jail, but rather a holding cell in this podunk town in the middle of Arizona. All because Quen wanted to play the role of hero on the night that Ottawa got their butts kicked by Anaheim. Of ALL nights, game five of the Cup!
You wouldn't believe me anyway, but here's what happened.
That night, we heard an explosion. I think Quen was doing some typing here. He wanted to see what happened. There was a bank robbery and a large guy, with a Southern twang (not Texan, but more of a southeastern accent) behind it all.
He turned himself into a sand creature and started attacking us. Quen and I fought back, but it was for naught. Anyway, just as the police got there, the criminal disappeared and we were still there, surrounded by sand and paper money flying everywhere.
We were arrested and charged with arson and larceny. We didn't resist arrest, and we got questioned by this huge sheriff who had what Quen called "kim chee breath." We spent a couple of nights in the jail. We had to the remainder of our vacation money, save $100, for bail money (we had about $40,000 for the year thanks to pops). We had to find the jerk that framed us, and lo and behold (does anybody actually say that anymore?), there he was. This time, we had a plan and captured him, quickly disappearing from the scene. We got cleared of the charges, but we didn't get our bail money back.
Unbelievable.
So, we left Arizona, but had to pick up a few things with the remaining funds. We were on our way back to California to cut our vacation short. I used the ATM, and the unthinkable happened . . .
Not only did we get the $100 back, but we also had more than double the funds we had at the beginning of the trip, namely $90,000. There was also a note that came out the ATM. Here's what is said:
The incident in Arizona was unfortunate,
but you did redeem and clear your names.
You have potential.
We're keeping an eye on you
and will make sure
the rest of your trip is comfortable.
No more money problems either.
Happy trails.
Mr. K.
That . . . was so cool! But who is Mr. K., and what does he want with us? Is he a friend or a foe? Who cares? We have 50,000 more reasons to continue our year-long road trip. Quen and I ate at a local restaurant, spent a night at another hotel, and left this morning.
The trip continues, and it's going to be a fun trip. Guess we're going to Texas. I heard about this dude ranch my friend back home told me about that's the real deal. I can't believe Quen never rode a horse before. That's gonna be fun!
We'll be there for a couple of weeks, so, I'll catch you then. See you on the road.
- Bry
6/6/07
Day 6: The Grand Canyon
I've never seen the Grand Canyon in real life before until yesterday. Just on movies and television. Oh, and books.
Bry and I saw it yesterday. I . . . I can't put it into words. It took centuries and centuries to create this wonder of the world, and I finally saw it. The Grand Canyon.
Certainly not just a hole in the ground. Far more than that.
Bry tried to convince me to walk on that silly clear walkway. I have to tell you up front. I'm afraid of heights. Sure, I've surfed the Malibu pipeline as well as tamed 50-foot waves on the Big Island, but that's the flimsiest looking thing I've ever seen.
Anyway, we're at the hotel. Bry wanted to see Anaheim kick Ottawa's butt tonight after what he calls "Ottawa's fluke win" over the weekend. And - - -
. . . the heck was that?!? Just heard this explosion outside. I'm going to check it out.
Until next time, mahalo, and latahz.
- Quentin
Bry and I saw it yesterday. I . . . I can't put it into words. It took centuries and centuries to create this wonder of the world, and I finally saw it. The Grand Canyon.
Certainly not just a hole in the ground. Far more than that.
Bry tried to convince me to walk on that silly clear walkway. I have to tell you up front. I'm afraid of heights. Sure, I've surfed the Malibu pipeline as well as tamed 50-foot waves on the Big Island, but that's the flimsiest looking thing I've ever seen.
Anyway, we're at the hotel. Bry wanted to see Anaheim kick Ottawa's butt tonight after what he calls "Ottawa's fluke win" over the weekend. And - - -
. . . the heck was that?!? Just heard this explosion outside. I'm going to check it out.
Until next time, mahalo, and latahz.
- Quentin
6/1/07
Night One
Well, it's almost day two. Quen let me type a little on this blog of his. Let me say, I'm definitely glad I'm not in Ontario this week.
For starters, the Championship's in Ottawa this week. Anaheim's up 2-nil and now, they're on foreign soil, um, ice. The fans are going crazy up there, and Ottawa will definitely have the upper hand. All of Ontario's proud that a Canadian team could, once again, hoist Lord Stanley's cup for all to see.
Well, almost all of Ontario. Us Torontonians aren't exactly too thrilled about Ottawa's crowning moment. We're part of the Original Six. They're still . . . the expansion team. Yeah, we haven't been good since the lockout, but, it's cool.
Listen to me, like I'm on the team.
Now, you're probably wondering, why am I talking about Canada when I'm here in the States? Why am I Canadian? Well, that's my pop's part, I guess. He's a Canadian ex-pat who just happened to marry a Hawaiian surfing champion, i.e. my mama. Stuff happened that's too complicated to talk about at this moment that caused a rift. Quen stayed with mama. I went with pop.
He stayed in touch with his Hawaiian roots while I embraced my Canadian roots. We're different as night and day, but we remain close, writing, e-mailing, that sort of thing. Quen's always ribbing me about why my hair is spikey with highlights. No matter.
So, last Christmas, we decided to take a year off of everything (he was about to take an internship while I was ready to head to University) to see the USA. Like our ancestors did.
Wait, no. Pop's from the great white north while Mama's from the jewel of the Pacific. We're the first Frosts to ever travel around the country. Pioneers!
Let's see. It's late, almost midnight in the west. Letterman's a repeat, as is Conan, so, I'm about to call it a night.
Oh, right. Name's Bryton. Me and Q aren't going to be on again until Monday. Got a lot of traveling to do.
I'm hitting the sack, and see you on the road.
- Bry
For starters, the Championship's in Ottawa this week. Anaheim's up 2-nil and now, they're on foreign soil, um, ice. The fans are going crazy up there, and Ottawa will definitely have the upper hand. All of Ontario's proud that a Canadian team could, once again, hoist Lord Stanley's cup for all to see.
Well, almost all of Ontario. Us Torontonians aren't exactly too thrilled about Ottawa's crowning moment. We're part of the Original Six. They're still . . . the expansion team. Yeah, we haven't been good since the lockout, but, it's cool.
Listen to me, like I'm on the team.
Now, you're probably wondering, why am I talking about Canada when I'm here in the States? Why am I Canadian? Well, that's my pop's part, I guess. He's a Canadian ex-pat who just happened to marry a Hawaiian surfing champion, i.e. my mama. Stuff happened that's too complicated to talk about at this moment that caused a rift. Quen stayed with mama. I went with pop.
He stayed in touch with his Hawaiian roots while I embraced my Canadian roots. We're different as night and day, but we remain close, writing, e-mailing, that sort of thing. Quen's always ribbing me about why my hair is spikey with highlights. No matter.
So, last Christmas, we decided to take a year off of everything (he was about to take an internship while I was ready to head to University) to see the USA. Like our ancestors did.
Wait, no. Pop's from the great white north while Mama's from the jewel of the Pacific. We're the first Frosts to ever travel around the country. Pioneers!
Let's see. It's late, almost midnight in the west. Letterman's a repeat, as is Conan, so, I'm about to call it a night.
Oh, right. Name's Bryton. Me and Q aren't going to be on again until Monday. Got a lot of traveling to do.
I'm hitting the sack, and see you on the road.
- Bry
Day One: The Trip Begins
Bry just picked up me up at the house in Malibu a few hours ago.
One year on the road with my twin brother. Learning about our powers, we have a whole year to catch up on everything. Life, love, and all things decent. He'll teach me about hockey. I'll teach him the way of the wave. Hopefully, no humbugs.
I'll be typing up what I've seen and done throughout the year. Now, if there was only a way to show you everything. Video camera's busted right now. No mike either.
But first, formals. Name's Quentin Frost. Typical haole name, I know, but I'm a half-Hawaiian/half-Canadian scientific surfer. Just turned 18. Just graduated from high-school. Second smartest in my class (Lois was just a bit higher than I [I'll talk about her later]). I'll give you the details another time.
Gotta go for now, we're pulling up on the interstate.
'Til the sand and ice meet again, mahalo, and latahz.
- Quen
One year on the road with my twin brother. Learning about our powers, we have a whole year to catch up on everything. Life, love, and all things decent. He'll teach me about hockey. I'll teach him the way of the wave. Hopefully, no humbugs.
I'll be typing up what I've seen and done throughout the year. Now, if there was only a way to show you everything. Video camera's busted right now. No mike either.
But first, formals. Name's Quentin Frost. Typical haole name, I know, but I'm a half-Hawaiian/half-Canadian scientific surfer. Just turned 18. Just graduated from high-school. Second smartest in my class (Lois was just a bit higher than I [I'll talk about her later]). I'll give you the details another time.
Gotta go for now, we're pulling up on the interstate.
'Til the sand and ice meet again, mahalo, and latahz.
- Quen
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