Dear Pentalope,

The bags are packed, the snacks are at the ready- granted my bag is way smaller than it um, used to be so i may have to wear like 8 pairs of clothes when i do fly back. We've got 3 books on cd, an ipod full of music, club soda in a cooler- and my nails are freshly painted. What we need is a list on why roadtrips are awesome, despite the destination- remember, screenplay- that screaming into the abyss or standing by the sea or staring ponderously at all the weird people... its the journey that matters.

But let that go, lets be worried about my now spaztic onset- the dropped eggs this morning, the spilled water (twice), the gash on my ass... The early rise time which should theoretically be ok since i only got 6 hours of sleep last night and am trying to go to bed earlish tonight... i say all is going to go well... we'll ponder that i actually had two funeral appropriate funeral outfits in my bag and at the ready, one randomly purchased here before we knew we were going and then that weird coincidental ponderance of yours- it seems a thing meant to be.

We Love You Sour Pickles

here's the list so far:

-welcome to scranton picture opp

-the dundee awards picture opp

-time with mendacious priceless

-snack food

-scenery

-chocolate

-fizzy water

-solitude

-peace

-stories!

-going to take shots in her honor

-discussions of death, wishlists and celebrating life

-no whining children

-eat whatever we want, whenever we want

-visitation of unseen states, non-specified

-utilization of new laptop bag and fancy birthday purse

-opportunity to sing 'life is a highway'

-opportunity to sing ' do you like pina coladas...' ("escape")!

-taking on a roadtrip 'persona'

-observation of family and all the personalities there in

-traversing the oldest orogenc belt in the continental US

-1/2 hour from the origins of penelope

-seeing the newish bean m.ro

-pictures opp's of us aplenty

--- uh, allright, bed time. more from the front when an internet connection surfaces.

signing off-

godspeed and travel mercies.

m.

Dear Pentrified,

So hello you,

I wanted to point out the obvious issue of how differently we eat oatmeal. I mean you heat your water up and then pour it in, you prefer a smaller bowl and let it sit to gain consistency. Totally strange. I mean i prefer a bigger bowl and cook it into a nice hearty consistency. Not soulless as you contend. But I digress.

Next up obviously is how your kids love me. So that's awesome. And I do like giving them a hard time. The ferry was great and the aquarium entertaining. I mean how do fish exist in the world- i do not get it! I mean there they are- the sea horse! my favorite puffer fish?! Wow.

And we did it- action packed day-- roadtrip, ferry, aquarium, snacks, shooting range (which i'll totally tell you all about tomorrow), cornbeef brisket and cabbage, and fondue! Increab. Oh man, such a good time. It was so nice. I think we, sans kids, just sunk back into our chatty selves, maybe me more chatty after the irishcoffee. But I like us, i really do, which of course brings me to the fact we're going to go on an a surprise road trip, (friday) of which screenplays are written. Possibly we're too cautious for it to be a true misadventure, and granted it is on the way to your grandma's funeral but it seems meant to be-- we'll do the 10 hours, and the visitation, and the funeral- catholic mass and all and i'll get a ride into new york with your brother. I resist random but then I gravitate toward it at the same time. So this seems inline. And I'm happy to be there for you. Obviously also, I demand fizzy water, dark chocolate (no soy) and other snacks and lots of fruit and a good book or two on tape but otherwise, besides a good lunch, comfortable clothes and letting me sleep the first few hours, i demand nothing at all. ;)

m.

tasty things from greektown...

from the world of mendacious

Sent to me via MMS from... somewhere in... Nebraska? It's crazy, man. Mendacious, come home soooon!

xo,

pen

road-alalie

Preperations for my roadtrip underway... things packed: travel connect four, special artfeatured playing cards, $5 in change, and a hat.

Places i'm not going: Yellowstone, GrandCanyon, New Orleans. Expected places we'll stop: Hastings Nebraska- they have a great koolaid and natural history museum. Search for: the biggest ball of stamps. Hope to: go waterrafting in Colorado. Eat at the taste of chicago. Buy high-grade fireworks.