children have a passion for gambling too.

I'm in Maine for real. The connection is slow, but I'll do my best to keep human contact maintained.

Federal financial aid does not consider me to be a dependent any longer.

Mars wasn't as big as the moon.

One of my hometowns is underwater. Wes Anderson includes an underwater shot in each of his films, but I don't think this is what my story is trying to say.

Pirate-looters. Washing away past sins and a few saints. Sharks on the motorway.

And Matt's brother is playing Noah with his girlfriend and a menagerie of pets in Mandeville [north shore of the Lake].

We want them to come to Maine, and it's hard to think of any other alternatives. Matt's parents' home will swell from two to six, and winter will be filled with Beatles tunes and course culture-babble. A family.

I cross my fingers for that region of my childhood tapestry and every soul struggling to keep it from unraveling in their hands.

Things work out well. Such as:

 

-Matt's car being in better shape than mine. Extra funds to go toward yurt [!!!] camping in Vermont or Mass.

-Amazing card playing skills in last night's family match. Impressive.

- 'B' in crappy Lit. course after refusing to turn in last assignment. I still don't know who wrote what, but [dammit] I can write a damn good criticism about it.

- Knowing answer ["What is Monticello?"] to Final Jeopardy. Downfall: it was Teen Jeopardy. Whatever.

- What seemed to be last Athens phone bill is actually credit. Dope.

- Etc. Etc. Etc.

Unlike previous streaks of good luck, I'm not going to be a bitch and sabotage any of this. No sir, I'm putting a little of it in my back pocket and yanking up my britches for the ride.  

In addition, I'll be in Maine by month's end [for curious minds]. Also, I know I've been neglectful in Buzznet society, but I haven't forgotten all the good folks and brilliant examples of prime photology [and now journalogy as well!!!].

I haven't taken many photos. I even forgot to take one of my Mom while in Jacksonville. :( Obviously, photojournalism is not in the cards for me, since I get too wrapped up in becoming involved and forgetful of documentation. So, here's a quick rundown of what we saw:

-Bridges with no beginning and no end.

- Mosquitoes.

-Towns based completely upon cycles of destruction and rebirth.

-My own destruction and rebirth.

-A city severely lacking in natural landmarks, although Krispy Kreme comes close.

-A stingray.

-The curious lives of hermit crabs.

-Throwing boiled peanut shells out of car windows.

-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

-Good Chinese Buffet.

-Matt's shedding skin.

-My niece eating my super fantastic salmon chowder.

-My little sister sitting up by herself.

-My grinning until my mouth hurts.

 

I'll try to take more pictures for the rest of the trip. Certain aspects are falling through to make things more streamlined, but these friends/places will be revisited in coming months. Next comes the quiet part, the seclusion of the middle journey, the link between past and future. My feet will get dirty, and may begin to smell a little.