Penolin,

Man, what a night. I think i may have pushed it a little bit with the little dipper but it was worth it. The irish coffee, decadent, may have had wheat in it, in how they process the whiskey?, or perhaps the sky high cream she put on it, or the dark chocolate and caramel swirling awesomeness, or the cheese with basil and garlic and all the delicious fruit- i couldn't sleep and so did some emailing, ate some yogurt, took another lactaid thing, and talked to my stomach about what i expected of it, and then when i got up later to go to the bathroom, all full up with liquor and fruit, i took a tumble down the treacherous stairs and have a nice gash of pain on my ass. But whatever. Still, worth it. Unrelatedly I think the dogs have a rolicking good time on my bed when we're gone. I suppose I don't mind it- but the nerve i tell you! My cacoonlike lovely bed. It's not its fault i couldn't count the stairs as i stumbled down,down,down. And lets remember the little dipper and the parking space right out front just as we were about to despair, and the bubbly waitress who likes to make strong coffee and partys in vegas. And all our ponderings on how awesome life is and how strange and sometimes foreboding and puzzling. But here we are nonetheless, in this space and time, eating fondue, and falling down stairs.

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.