I’m wondering how long it will take to stop feeling so tired. The trip, the emotional stress, the time difference – it’s all wreaking havoc with my body. I can’t really put today into actual paragraphs – too much work! – so here are the highlights of my exploration of the city with Keeley and Ella:
- Checked out the “green house” that I found on a real estate website months and months ago. Turns out it’s gray, not green. We weren’t able to look inside but I am still enamored with it.
- Drove into downtown Harrisburg. Rolled up my windows and locked my doors.
- Found the capitol building on a lovely, charming street with ample parking.
- Walked to the park along the riverfront. Beautiful. So, so, so beautiful.
- Continued to drive around downtown. Locked my doors again. Keeley laughs at me. I’m definitely a small-town girl.
- Discovered that PA’s liquor laws are actually crazier than Utah’s. Am still baffled about it.
- As the GPS is taking us home, I discover that it doesn’t account for detours around the ghetto.
- I seem to have a twitch that causes me to quadruple check if my doors are locked.
- Can’t handle Ella’s screeching anymore. Offer to sell her to some gypsies we saw downtown. They agree until she screeches. I’m pretty sure she’s the first baby to be refused by gypsies.
- After we have settled down at home, Ella decides to boogie to a song on the TV. I’m glad the gypsies didn’t take her.
- I wonder if I’ll ever get used to living here. Am feeling good, despite all the door locking. This could work.
And so the adventure begins. I guess now when people complain about Utah’s liquor laws I can say, well at least it’s not as bad as PA. You already called it home, I think that is progress.
The gypsies bit was so funny I almost forgot about the grammar issue in the first paragraph. ๐ What? You think I was going to not say something? Puh-leeze ๐
Glad the trip across the country was successful! Sounds like through it all Ella did a great job. Hope you are getting settled in alright, its hard moving to a different state, let alone cross country from good ol’ utah. But sounds like you are taking it like a trooper! Good luck out in PA! It really is a beautiful state, I have been there many times. Smiles!
Speaking of gypsies, in our London guide book it says to watch out for gypsy looking women with unusually quiet children. They are part of a scam group that is affiliated with a large gang based out of Paris. When I read that I wondered what they meant by “unusually quiet children”, but now I’m guessing the gypsies would not have taken your screaming child because she would have stood out too much.
I said I was tired! Give me a break – my grammar is bad on a good day.
Kari – if you want to borrow a recording of Ella’s screeching to ward off gypsies – I’m cool with that.
I’m anxious to see the Gypsy Amish myself – native to Pennsylvania, they have horse-drawn buggies, shirts lacking buttons, and they kidnap children by luring them with tasty treats like fresh pretzels. I’m not worried about Ella, though – her shrill shreiking has already warded them off.
Hey!
I’m an editor and I didn’t notice any problemsโI had to go back and reread the intro!
I remember driving into Monterey at night. We passed the street we were supposed to turn on, and we thought we could just go around the block. Thirty minutes later, we found the street again. Then I had to take Monte to Oakland to go into the army. I thoought I could get back on the freeway by just driving parallel to it until I came to an entrance. Two hours later and a trip across the bay, I found the southbound freeway!
Now I’ve really given Maiken something to complain about!
By the way, My ceramics teacher was from PA, and she said the liquor laws were stricter than Utah’s. That was quite a few years ago, but I guess they just haven’t gotten in step with the times.
Love, you lots!
Hi Mom. I miss you. Lots.
Wow, thanks Mom. ๐ Britta had written “here’s the highlights” versus “here are the highlights.” I can’t imagine where I learned such things. ๐
Michael and Patsy were here yesterday with their dog Gypsy. Michael says she named the dog after him. I told him the Gypsies refused to buy Ella. He said she’s better off with you.