I am utterly, overwhelmingly green with envy! While of course, being totally excited for the both of you. What an amazing opportunity while you are still in your twenties!!! I second Doug’s sentiments about this being “raw material”. You have inspired Michael and I to plan our own mini cross-country adventure for May of next year – taking 2 weeks off in a row to drive off into the sunset in a general direction, perhaps New England. Looking forward to checking in on your progress.

I am jealous, too! Y’all are going to have an awesome time. And if you get tired of visiting super cool places and want to visit someplace totally lame, you know where to find me!

I love that you have a pin for the Mall of America. Be sure to ride the rides (if there are any left). There’s supposed to be this really cool indoor water park nearby (or maybe just somewhere else in Minneapolis).

I know it’s really hard to blog while you’re doing so much and wanting to capture everything, but hopefully you’re more successful at it than I am. I can’t wait to hear how it all goes!

Flower, I thought the water park was IN the Mall of America. IT BETTER BE. We may not go there, though. We shall see.

Jen: Haha. Maybe we will!

Andrea: Thanks! Though Brian is, like, WAY past his twenties.

Now I think we’re not going to go the alternate route to the beach, so no Delaware for me today most likely. Apparently the hysteria over the traffic conditions on the bridge was a false alarm. We’ll try to go to Dover or Rehoboth or something during the next week, though. We totally want to include Joe Biden’s state on our tour des Etats-Unis!

Sorry for the dumb question: What does ‘holla’ mean after the words Ocean City, Maryland, in the first sentence??

And take lots of pictures. So much better with digital cameras than with wet film slides like the trip we did in 1979 covering some of the same territory. Don’t miss the Corn Palace in Mitchell SD. It’s a “must see”. As is Wall Drug, although there is plenty of signage (is that a word now?) to direct you.

Don’t forget to visit a Safeway! America shines best when the spotlight is on our commercial endeavors. What’s more American than that?

USA! (honks horn) USA! (honks horn) USA! (honks horn, runs out of gas) U…S… oh crap.

Holla’in!! (lol)

But you couldn’t PAY me to drive over the Bay Bridge. I’m having an anxiety attack just thinking about it. (lol)

Anyway, it’s great to hear from you two, and I’m happy (and so very jealous…lol) that you are gearing up for your great cross-country, itinerary-less tour; it’s the only way to go! I can’t wait to see the pictures.

(We miss you, Brian!)

Safe travels!!!!

Hey Isabel,

Hope your trip is going well. If you go through southern Utah on highway 12 (takes you though several awesome state and national parks) go to Hell’s Backbone Grill is Boulder!! It’s where Todd and I did our internship. Very cool place- organic farm and herb garden, local meats… great food made with love. Just don’t talk about us… we had a weird experience there. lol

Chelsea, I totally forgot the place where you did your internship was in Utah. That is awesome! Everything good is in Utah, I am learning. I just looked up the location, though, and it’s a bit off the path we were thinking of taking, so I don’t know if we’ll be able to check it out… but you never know!

Holly, you’re lucky you weren’t with us last night… driving over the Bay Bridge when it was pitch black outside and pouring down rain! I’m usually fine on the bridge, but I must admit that it made me a bit nervous. Thanks for your well wishes, I miss you guys too!