Chapter 5, Page 32 The Mother Carpet

Yep, the vacation's over. Sorry if the transition is a bit rough but there are a few things I want to fit in before the summer is over and the vacation arc was running a bit long.

Chapter 5, Page 31 The real shojo effect

Just my way of having fun with a genre. ^_^ Mary doesn't know what shojo is yet.

Chapter 5, Page 30 Magical

It was, indescribable. Trust me, I've tried to. When the stream came out through a storm drain it fell into a perfectly circular pool. It was incredible. Everything was incredible. I'd like to go back someday.

Chapter 5, Page 29 Crouching Pain, Hidden Stream

It really did. Honest. Going under the road was understandable, but I still don't know how it went underground the second time. Very interesting.

Poor Dad. That path isn't really handicap accessible.

Chapter 5, Page 28 Secondhand volunteer

It isn't that unreasonable a request, really. Who'd come all the way to the biggest fresh water lake in North America and yet *not* see it up close?

By the way, Lake Superior is *huge*. I think maybe the word 'sea' would be better used to describe it, except that word usually assumes a body of salt water.

Chapter 5, Page 27 The Depot

Look! Look! Trains!

I do seem to remember being more enthused with that museum than everyone else with the definite exception of Dad. I don't think anyone could be more enthused than him, what with being surrounded by trains and all.

Then again, the rest of the family is also a great deal more subdued in their expressions of delight than Dad and I are.

Those train whistles were cool. Drove Mom and Dad kinda nuts, which made them cooler.

Chapter 5, Page 26 Make monkey noises.

This really happened! Dad was less than thrilled about the heart attack he nearly had. Still, very funny in hindsight.

Under that cold, stoic, Germanic exterior lies a rather excitable woman, with a wide but difficult to access vocabulary. Looks like I get it from *both* sides.

Chapter 5, Page 25 Glensheen

Yep! A real mansion! And I really wish I could have slid down that banister!

Glensheen. Really cool place. As I recall there were separate wings for the daughters and the sons. Wow.

Chapter 5, Page 24 A very cool ship.

This actually happened to me, and I was a lot more annoying over a longer span of time than is shone here. I just didn't think that the joke was worth stretching it out for a full page.

And I didn't get why the tour guide suggested that until after Dad explained it to me. ~.~;

Chapter 5, Page 23 A ship?

The William A Irvin is a really cool ship. And, yes, I did get those two mixed up even though they don't sound anything alike.

Chapter 5, Page 22 What not to say.

There should be a list of things not to say. Like, "It can't get any worse," "What next, [fill in the blank]," "Even God can't sink this ship."

Remember the Titanic? That last quote came from some reporter describing that magnificent disaster before it became a disaster. Really should have known better.

Chapter 5, Page 21 It's perfect!

Okay, it isn't quite what one might expect when they're told they'll be staying in a cabin. But it was still doggone cool! That strip down the middle there is a stream, by the way. It'll feature in a later sequence.

One of the tough things about this medium is that it can take weeks to portray events that occur during the course of one day. And this vacation lasts about four.

Chapter 5, Page 20 All this way, for this?

With current gas prices, Dad's question is valid, but there is a lot more to Duluth than this. Really!

They just happened to pick the week went most places were closed for one reason or another. Go figure.

Chapter 5, Page 19 Snacking.

Almost there, I promise!

Mary does have a habit of snacking between snacks. ^^; Might be safer if she weren't the one closest to the food.

Chapter 5, Page 18 Psycho Goat

That goat had issues. Big issues.

Mary was minding her own business chasing geese when BAM! this psychotic goat bursts out of nowhere and chases her! Finally ended up treeing her at the top of a slide. I'd illustrate the whole thing but we gotta get to Duluth sometime this summer. lol

Chapter 5, Page 17 Sweet, painful memories.

Again, this is a case of parts of the state of Minnesota being moved. If you're ever north of Park Rapids I strongly recommend checking the place out. It's fun!

There was a petting zoo on the way to Duluth (specifically, slightly south of the main Metro area of St. Paul/Minneapolis) but it was dull. This place was a lot more fun.

And I have the feeling they won't be forgetting me any time soon.

P.S. The psychotic goat comment will be explained in the next episode.

Chapter 5, Page 16 Vague memories.

It was after I'd already drawn out this and the following sequence that realized (Dad told me) that the road to Itasca is nowhere near the road to Duluth. Unless we went a couple hundred miles out of our way.

Oops. ^^;

Okay, so I moved parts of the state of Minnesota around. I'm the author! I can do that!

Chapter 5, Page 15 Not so idle threat

Never complain about the length of the trip to the guy who's driving. Really.

And I'm so sorry this is late! I completely forgot about it! Aaaa!

Anyway, I'm sure that any of you who are parents have experienced what Dad's going through. And those who remember their childhood most likely remember doing what Mary's just done.

She's also going to be in big trouble with Ruth and Conny.

Chapter 5, Page 14 Does it count as traffic?

It's a little late for Mary to ask to go out, anyway, since Conny's done with the potty. That's why Mom's holding it in both hands in the first panel. She's just going out far enough from the street to dump it. Not sure how far is far enough, but I guess there's some politeness standard for this sort of thing.

Now to figure out how they get back in line. Maybe I'll skip that part. (Being stuck in traffic is funny from a distance but stretch it out too long and it gets tedious for everyone involved.)

Chapter 5, Page 13 Potty Break

This is why Mom kept a little blue potty-bucket in the van for a long time. I think it might still be in there somewhere.

At least Peter's asleep. Things could get very loud if he wakes up.

Oh! And sorry this is so late. I was on the road to my folks' place when I realized I had to update today. Of course, it was too late to turn around to pick up my flash card so here it is. At least it's the right day, right?