A day late, as short as ever

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Well, I got going approximately one day and fifteen minutes late. And during the time I was not on my trip, I was vaguely rearranging it. Either that or I was still recovering from Aries, and driving sounded entirely too strenuous.

Regardless, here I am in Joshua Tree, at a blue and white parking lot motel that somehow manages to be mildly adorable while also looking like it's straight out of No Country For Old Men.

Take two of these and call me in the morning

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The town is just as hilarious: it's one street, and the psychics outnumber the liquor stores 3 to 1. Which surely comes in handy in certain circumstances. I got here around 2:30, was buzzed inside, chatted with the sweet little Indian lady working the desk, and drove the 20 feet to my doorstep, where I ran into the sweet little Indian lady's sweet little Indian husband. He said, "Shannon!" I thought it sort of odd that he knew my name, but just put my stuff in the room and asked him where some good hikes were. He made a comment on how it's the perfect time of day for a hike here, "not like Santa Barbara!" I realized they'd told me to register online, which was surely how he knew all my stats. Duh. (Aries brain.) And then I remembered that the registration form had a box to check for title: Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr...

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Dr. Kelley at your service. The easiest degree I'll ever earn. (As an aside, I highly recommend checking this box whenever given the chance. Does wonders for the ego.)

Anyway, Joshua Tree was awesome, totally Seussical. Perfect day, great time of year, I think- not too hot, lots of bright cactus flowers. I hiked for a while and then was somehow motivated to attempt a little novice scramble on one of those huge piles of rocks, which did not end as badly as it could have :) Met a young kid trying to pull an Into the Wild. I gave him my cell phone so he could call his mom.

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I'm off to Sedona tomorrow, but right now I'm waiting for Javier Bardem to bust into the room with a cattle gun and a really bad haircut...

But don't worry, I can handle him. I'm a doctor. Just turn your head and cough, sir.