Today I tried crawfish etouffee over rice.
An etouffee is like a creamy stew, starting with a roux.

Recently reading: Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche.

Nothing to cheer you up like a nineteenth century German nihilist. No, seriously!!!

Added some more lines to TaleWOW.
Also, improved the antispam features, so now comments should be smoother.
This is post number 100!!!
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, time for a big announcement.
I have decided to stop my travels. As of now, I will settle down here in Lafayette, Louisiana. Already I have found a position doing some accounting work. The people here are very welcoming, and I feel at home. Something in the air has really captivated me. The food tastes great, the flowers are beautiful, and I like the quiet pace of life.
Thank you for supporting me in my travels. Now in this time of transition, it will be a period of adjustment. I'm going to start by taking a few days, maybe weeks, off, and just do nothing but veg out. This should give me a chance to catch up on many of the thoughts and emotions that have been swirling through my mind over the last couple of years. Afterwards, it'll be time to start looking for a more permanent place. Who knows, maybe a house?
Anyway! Now, to set my schedule for this time next year... :)

What a lovely city!
The natural scenery is utterly beautiful, and the people here generally seem really beautiful and friendly too.
There's a livable central area, unlike a lot of American cities, and it also has a spacious extent.
All the roads in Louisiana have along the sides colorful beads from Mardi Gras. I also occasionally come across a parked parade float. One yard here in Lafayette even has lots of colorful beads in place of leaves on its trees!
Occasionally, the way I speak English differs from the way locals speak English, to the point of confusion, e.g. Louisianan: "...boiled shrimp..." me: "balled shrimp? is it in a ball?" Louisianan: "no, there's no ball, it's boiled."
A few more foods here include shrimp burgers, shrimp fried rice, (shrimp gumbo...), fried corn, jambalaya, po' boys, and more!
Lots of inspiration here, and I'm planning to spend a few days before carrying on.
The upcoming region also should be really great!

Writing a quick update in Rayne, Louisiana, self-proclaimed (and undisputed?) Frog Capital of the World.
Just recently, I passed through Crowley, which calls itself Rice City, the main rice place in America.
Today I tried a shrimp stew with roux.
This is Cajun Country!!!
Also, got some more progress done on Astrotripping!
And, added a few more codes at CodeWOW!
Gonna hit the road again soon, continuing towards Lafayette, Louisiana.
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Added a bunch of new data to CodeWOW!
Continuing to ride east through Louisiana!
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!

CodeWOW now features Semantic MediaWiki.
This means that the repository of behavioral codes has gone from basically a library -- a collaborative collection of documents and media -- into a database. Now we can interact more subtly with the information, providing and receiving analysis through manipulation of the new data modeling, all the while continuing to use its existing functionality fully.
If that's gibberish, just keep on going and we'll clear things up over time!
At this stage we're still just growing, lots more to come!!!

I crossed into Louisiana. Right at the river crossing, it was quite picturesque, with a boat on the water, lots of greenery, and just generally looking very different than the desert I still sort of have in mind.
Then, still just after entering the state, a state policeman pulled me over, and very unprofessionally told me it was illegal to ride on that road and threatened me with jail. I hitchhiked with a cool couple, who were off to have a fun weekend birthday away from their kids. Now in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
A few interesting food tidbits from the area. Have tried gumbo nearby, with shrimp and chicken and sausage. Also, BBQ crab, boiled crawfish, and other gulf seafood. Boudain is a Louisiana sausage with rice and stuff built right in. Kolaches are a Texas thing, kind of a sausage or whatever wrapped in dough. Barbecue is everywhere, and perfumes the air with its wood smoke. And donuts and tacos seem popular.
I've seen warning signs with reptiles on them, and heard warnings of snakes and other animals.
Bicycle going through lots of changes and repairs, now going fairly smoothly, although still with room to improve.
Would have some awesome photos, although my phone battery has been empty the last few days.
Meeting tons of cool people along the way.
Also, lots of sunshine, music, fresh air, brilliant colors, and so much more!!!!
Oh yeah, and they call Texas big?!?!
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also while in Galveston, I learned to surf, fulfilling a lifelong dream!
Muy buena onda!!!