From Moving Road Trip

Today's drive should be the longest drive of our trip, and we made it to Chamberlain, SD after driving up through WI and across MN. Southern MN was pretty boring, as it was mostly flat and there wasn't much to look at other than corn and soybean fields. South Dakota is also relatively flat (at least the part we've seen so far) but we're starting to get into some hilly terrain, at least near the Missouri river which is very near to our hotel. Jess and I did a little exploring at a rest stop that has a nice view of the river valley after dinner today. Tomorrow we're planning to drive through the Badlands and the Black Hills, so the drive should be beautiful.

Phase 1 of the cross-country odyssey is complete - we made it to Madison unscathed, and got a lovely taste of traffic on the Kennedy/Jane Addams as a parting gift. Awww, you shouldn't have. Really, you shouldn't have.

Bunsen is slowly adapting to the idea of the move, but I've now heard the poor guy get into vocalizations I didn't even know he was capable of - he's got this bizarre yowl/yodel combo that sounds like someone's trying to remove his toenails with pliers. He had rather a substantial spazz when he got let out of his crate after the movers left and discovered the apartment was empty, and ever since he's been rather unwilling to let us out of his sight. Poor pumpkin.

And can I just say that the burliest of our movers is probably among the more impressive sights I've seen recently? I'm not normally one to be awed by feats of physical strength, but DANG! I didn't know that it's possible for one person to carry our recliner strapped to his back. Or the three-high stack of boxes, with the top one containing a chest of silver flatware. Dude is not messing around, and I have a distinct feeling I'm going to wish he was there at the other end of this trip.

Hey all - we are officially en route! So long Chicago and hello Portland! We're currently figuring out the best way to avoid the Kennedy and a gross accident

So the packers came and boy did they pack. Now its all just a bunch of boxes. Were off to the aquarium for a bit since its now pretty boring at home.

Hard to believe the Farewell Tour is wrapping up and pretty soon, Chi-town is no longer my town. I'm actually getting sentimental, which is a strange experience, and let me say that when you're in that frame of mind, "Up" is so not the movie to go and see. The whole "I just have something in my eye" excuse is not plausible when you're blowing your nose as well.

Today we've been running around doing last-minute prep for the movers and trying to get things labeled so that they and the furniture donation pick-up guys know what goes where, because I really don't want to end up in Portland with two dining room tables and no bed.

Anyway, we'll check in periodically and share our cross-country adventure with you - Bunsen might even chip in some thoughts about how interesting everything smells when he's not trying to kill us with his toxic dog breath. I've yet to figure out how it is that what appears to be a tuna fish factory fits inside his mouth. Yeck.