Notes from the field: Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall…
After I finished my draft of Dead Man on Campus on Friday and handed it over to my editor, we threw the kids in the car and hit the road.
In honor of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, we’re taking our kids on one of the truly horrifying wonderful summertime traditions: the great American road trip. Nothing beats the magical bonding time of spending hours on hours trapped in a car with people you know so well, you’re not worried about social niceties.
Part One:The Mall of America (Minnesota)
I have to admit, visiting The Mall of America has been a bucket list item of mine. Also admittedly, I have a lot of weird things on this list, and this is no exception.
Because nothing says ‘Murica as effectively as gross consumerism, we booked a room in a hotel attached to the gigantic mall. We can stroll directly out of our room into the mall. Four levels of stores, restaurants, retailers, movie theaters, kid museums, an aquarium, and a theme park…
4091571-Lego-playground-inside-The-Mall-of-America-0
My kids are losing their minds. While I…I’m usually good at orienting myself—I have a decent sense of direction—but with multiple locations of many stores, I keep getting lost.
moamap
Here are a few more sights and sounds for your enjoyment. Okay, not sounds—but it’s loud here, so imagine screaming and roller coaster noises. Or maybe those are my arteries. Because mall food...to the power of infinity.
(Click the images to embiggen.)
Screen Shot 2016-07-03 at 3.42.24 PM
Screen Shot 2016-07-03 at 3.43.45 PM
Screen Shot 2016-07-03 at 3.45.58 PM
Screen Shot 2016-07-03 at 3.47.18 PM
It's all about memories. And these are the kinds that last a lifetime. Or at least, until we find the next crazy thing around the corner.Happy 4th.--Emily
Coming up… Part Two: Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, Deadwood (South Dakota)
The next Josie Tucker mystery, Dead Man on Campus, is available for pre-order on Kindle.