I am pretty sure I drove more today than I have any other day this month. We left South Dakota, skimmed through Minnesota and nearly conquered Iowa. In the end, the corny corn state conquered us.
Did I tell you about the corn yet? Iowa has corn. Lots and lots of corn. In fact, there is so much corn I may be suffering from corn overload. Gazing out over dark green wave after wave nearly drove me insane. If it weren’t for the solid patch of asphalt stretching out in front of me and my kids constantly yammering for my attention in back, I may have lost myself forever in a renewable resource jungle.
I didn’t take many pictures today, so this one is of George attacking the toilet paper just after he escaped his bed. I like to call it Whirling Dervish. 
Items of interest: South Dakota is much more beautiful than most movies portray.
Minnesota is full of water.
Did I mention the corn yet?
I will never live anywhere that has to post a lighted sign at every on ramp stating: “Closed When Flashing” accompanied by a large red and white bar to block escape. Penalties for ignoring this sign can be as high as $750.
What the what??? If someone needs to get out of town so bad they are willing to jump a flashing bar in a blizzard, I would let them go. I would probably also cheer them on and beg them to take me with them.
Last will and testament: Please, children, burry me by the sea. If I never see another flake of snow in my life it will be too soon!
Exotic Animal Sightings: I’m fairly certain I saw a flock of dodo birds in the heart of Cedar Rapids. I definitely saw red winged black birds – my favorites, if not exotic – and a chipmunk. No llamas. Sigh.
The world’s largest Corn Palace (that’s right, a palace made entirely of corn) is in eastern South Dakota. Daddy said we’ll see it next time. Wink, wink.
You can also find lots of other interesting things there, like a tractor museum and Wall Drug. I have no idea why people love Wall Drug. It’s one of life’s great mysteries. But now that I’ve been there, I feel a warm kinship when I see a Wall Drug bumper sticker on the vehicles of fellow motorists. No idea what I’m talking about? Google Wall Drug, SD.
Once we survived the corn of Iowa, Illinois surprised us with fields of soy beans. My oldest daughter exclaimed from the back seat,”Oh, mommy! That’s a whole world full of edamame!! Definitely a life time supply!”
And last, but not least:
Dear Midwest,
Please consider changing the name of your most popular gas station, Kum&Go. Please? Ugh.
Also, I’m pretty sure the producers of Drop Dead Gorgeous got together and opened the chain of hotels named AmericInn. Haha… It cracks me up every time I say it. Ha!
Deep breath…
Signing off now from Normal, IL (awesome name for a town huh?!?) in the worst hotel since Gallup,NM. At least the doors lock and the sheets are bleached within an inch of their lives.
Hope your bed is soft wherever you lay your weary head tonight.
Almost home…
