SOLVED. Burnt out protagonist crosses America with girlfriend Trix, runs into Vegas, President, epic adventures [s]

[Jan]

Read around 2008 or 2009. The main character is depressed and bored when he runs into a female character named Trix, or Trixie, who claims to be able to listen to car traffic the way shamans used to listen to distant hoofbeats of horses to divine the future. He travels cross country with Trixie for plot reasons I can't remember. They go on an epic adventure, ending up possibly with a group of miscreants -- bikers? fetishists? -- who like to pump up their genitals with water (he is not happy about this scenario, but Trix is excited), and eventually landing in Las Vegas. Something about Jesus condoms. (?) Something about a steakhouse. Something about meeting the President at his ranch, where the President is a foul, wildlife-hating Republican creature who has animal heads on the walls of his living room.

Bizarre plot, but the book isn't obscure at all. What am I thinking of?

[Andria]

Crooked Little Vein by Warren Ellis

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Sure does sound like Crooked Little Vein, based on the reviews...

[Jan]

That was absolutely it. Crooked Little Vein. Thank you so much! I'll have to re-read it.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Oh good.