Back from Nebraska!

We had a good trip, very busy, but fun.

We started by leaving in a torrential rain that caused us to be soaked for the first hour or so of the drive, but we fortunately drove out of the rain and saw no more rain until sunday night's return. I'm so glad it did not rain while we were at camp.

We stopped for lunch at the subway one mile from my mom's house. I called but she was not home. We went into the gas station next door to buy a case of water...but put it back when we learned they charge $23.75 for a case! Is it liquid diamonds?? Craziness.

Less than an hour up the road, in Mound City, we had to stop and wait for an hour and a half because our tire wall was cracking. Luckily there was a car dealership that was able to replace the tire for us. While we waited we took a walk around town.

The town is the most demonstratively patriotic I've ever seen. One entire store is called Red, White and Blue and You. The entire store is nothing but Americana merchandise. EVERY store window had some kind of patriotic display happening. They really take it seriously.

However, funny things abounded, also. It was at this point that I wished I had not forgotten my camera.

By the McDonald's, there is a rock. From a distance you can see a plaque and a frame on this rock. Curious, we approached it to see what was being displayed. The plaque said "Sponsored by the local Kiwani's." In the frame was....3 sticks of gum. Yes, gum. Doublemint, Juicy Fruit and Extra Cinnamon to be precise, sun faded to white, but the writing still readable. Who pays to frame gum on a rock????

The local grocery store takes "no shoes, no shirt, no service" to a different level, also. Their sign reads "Wooden floors. Splinters. Shoes required." See, all along, I thought it was for sanitary purposes. Nope, it's for splinters.

Another store had a sign directly above the doorknob that said "You must turn doorknob to enter." Personally, I would not have put the sign up. If someone cannot figure that out, I would not want them in my antique shop.

We also saw many signs advertising a "Hugh Garage Sale."

Finally, we were back on the road and on our way to Nebraska. Passing through Hamburg, Iowa, we stopped for a malt at Stoner Drug. True name.

Also, while the flooding in Iowa is not at all funny, the sign we saw in the flood was reason to laugh. As we drove down a single lane of highway, all other lanes covered in water, we see a sign that says "Restoring America's Wetlands." Well, they can stop now, mission accomplished!

We stopped in York for dinner and to go to Walmart for water (and bait for the men).

When we arrived at camp we found that the most abundant population of Nebraska is apparently the mosquito population. I have many bites, even while wearing Off.

We had a great time with our 4-7 year olds. We did crafts, played games and pretended Donald was a dragon. Of our 8 kids, only one gave us any trouble. A couple really bonded to us and sought us out at all meals to play or talk.

I swam in the lake, played on the water trampoline and went down the water slide. I attempted to climb the giant iceberg inflateable in the lake and found it to be impossible. (I also hurt my ankle jumping off the dock and finding out it was only 2 and a half foot deep there.)

We returned last night and I now need to begin the packing process all over again, as mom picks me up tomorrow! It's bittersweet as I want so badly to go home and see my mom and family...but to be away from Donald for 11 days will be tough. I'll miss him a lot. (And worry if he's eating....and remembering to feed my pets.) I'll get to meet my nephew, Sage, for the first time. He's now living with my brother and the hearing to determine custody is this Wednesday.