I want photos with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one stating the significance of Lord Xenu’s plan to rid the world of psychiatrist’s and SPs and explaining how Tom Cruise “knows the history of psychiatry’… Otherwise, you can just go sit on the Group W bench until you have handled your enthatas…

A lot of Swedes ended up in the Northwest because of the seafaring and lumber industries.

I’ve never had a Swedish meat pie, but there’s a lot of dishes I haven’t had.

It’ll be tough, but give Ash jobs to do, and while it’s sometimes a PITA to teach her, it pays off big time. You’ll find that she will feel very grown up and responsible. Even if it’s a job of spotting cop cars, it can help. Stop, get her and the dog to run. That will use up some of the energy. You probably already know all of this. It’s my unsolicited advice. Maybe that’s the remnant of my missionary upbringing.

I seriously am considering giving Ash the job of being medically unconscious during the drive back. 🙂 Somehow I think that really won’t be an option.
🙂

You’re swedish!! How cool! There is a town up here (on 99!!) where there is/was a big settlement and now they have a Scandinavian Festival. With SWEDISH MEAT PIES.

God, I’m slobbering.

And like I said, we don’t celebrate this day. But we DO hang out and play scrabble. 🙂

Pretty good. I’m just doing some stuff around the house. ATMs are open. 😉

I’m probably gonna fix some burgers and have some corn with a buddy of mine.

That’s a long drive. Up and down the Central Valley of California, I like to take 99 instead of I-5 from Sacramento south. It’s a little slower and longer, but all the towns make it more interesting.

For cheap gas, I hit the Costcos in Lodi, in the north end of Turlock, and in Bakersfield. They’re usually cheaper than other places.

There’s a lot of agricultural smells, but I often pull off and do a little exploring. Kingsburg used to be predominantly Swedish, and is much more integrated now, but I know where to go to find limpa bread, which I grew up with. I had to ask at a couple of cafes.

Useless fact: If you go through Stockton, think of the poem, Mighty Casey at the Bat. Mudville is reputed to be Stockton. All of the hydraulic mining that took place in California after the gold rush turned the waterways around Stockton to mud. The writer of the poem covered baseball around California for the San Francisco Examiner.

99 also has more diversions for a small kid when you stop. Give her the job of spotting airplanes or trucks of a particular kind, like hay haulers.

Good luck. Enjoy your 4th. I know farmers never really get the day off.

I dont think anyone else will find this interesting but I just realized that that “gift” and “give” are the same word. Like . . . “car” and “char” (Canadian french) . . . . I love this shit.

I LOVE pets and kids and people and stuff.

And cake. But I’ll provide that. 🙂

I just had your post tattooed on my forearm. NO REALLY I DID.

The feeding thing is starting to scare me actually. I read a thread on a twinny 🙂 board in which people started shooting the shit about the fact that they developed inch long nipples. I was nearly sick. REALLY? Nobody told me this. No one mentioned inch long nipples to me. It’s all just getting a little distressing.

🙂

Still here . . . . 🙂 We’re having a good long visit, and I can guarantee you that I’ll be dragging my feet at the end. Plus Ash’s birthday is in a couple weeks and I want her to have a proper fun time with loads of people and cake and presents. And – I hope – someone will gift me sedatives for the drive back to LA. For Ash, me, AND the dog. 🙂

It’s lovely here and the 4th of July, which my family has never celebrated. So we’re all hanging out in front of the fan being irritated that the bank isn’t open. That kinda thing.

How you doing sweets?

Hey, monkeyknickers. Are you traveling again, or are you working hard at your parents’ place.

Don Rickles doing Tom Cruise or John Travolta. Or both.