The Badlands National Park

After ten hours driving from St. Paul and night sleeping in the Mini Cooper in Wall, South Dakota, E's decision to take a flying leap into the canyons of Badlands National Park becomes completly rational.

Bugstorm

Before the five minutes of rain hit as we crossed South Dakota, an hour long bugstorm crossed our path. It's squeegee time.

Sisu

"Sisu" is the Finnish ideal of...well, read the cup. I've heard it described another way. A bunch of guys go out in the woods and find a bee's nest. They hit the nest with a stick. The last guy to leave the vacinity has "Sisu." Another nearly accurate English translation is the word "stupid."

St. Paul, Finland?

Who would have guessed that a random search for a roadtrip snack in St. Paul, Minn-ee-so-ta, would end in some Finnish comfort food. This place just happened to be down the block from E's Aunt's house.

Then we found another reference to the introvert capital of the world...Sisu Coffee and Tea. And, wow!

Another really goood espresso. Who would have guessed. Thought, I'd be outa luck till I hit Kerner Way.

Sheboygan Brats

After short stops in Chicago and Milwaukee (where I had a Kick *ss double espresso ristretto btw), we made it to Sheboygan, the home of my midwest relatives...don'tcha know?! ; )
We "fried-out" (aka charcoal grilled) a kabillion brats (aka bratwurst) and then took the requisite family portrait. (after being yelled at by the resident squirrel.)

Touchdown Jesus

I'm a geek. Not a jock. So this was the first time I had heard of this football mecca's main attraction...the mural sub titled "Touchdown Jesus." It's painted on the wall of the University Library at Notre Dame, right across from the stadium. How could we pass up a visit when we happened to be down the street visiting friends in South Bend on our road trip out/back to California. Despite the mural's tacky brilliance, I was really much more impressed by the 1st HMCo edition Silmarillion owned by E's friend's husband.

The Boomerang Tour

So...we left Harrisburg on Sunday afternoon. 3:00pm sharp with a jammed packed mini cooper and about ten boxes in the mail. One night on Staten Island visiting a friend, and then then it was a short jaunt up to Conneticut to visit more friends. Wed. morning we visited E's boarding school and then it was back down to New Jersey and dinner with her parents.
It's now Thurs. and we're headed back to Harrisburg...ugh! We have to ship a few boxes we left behind, and maybe get rid of some of the extra stuff we packed in the car. Then it's on to Ohio.
I can't wait to get back to CA.