Day Nine: Many Things

Why is this here?

The day started off pretty awesome when my sister introduced me to one of the most awesome convenience stores I've ever experienced. This chain has everything. It's like 7/11, McDonald's, and Dunkin Donuts mixed together, but if everything those places served was delicious as fuck. For my east coast readers, you may already know what I'm talking about - mo'fuggin Sheetz.

Sister got us some breakfast sandwiches and coffees while I made a spectacle of myself as I took in the splendor of their coffee bars and fresh baked goods. Seriously, this alone has made me legitimately consider moving east.

We took off for the local river to have a nice view while we ate. As soon as we arrived, we got to send off a crew of kayakers, who were so efficiently organized they were gone before I could snap a photo. Sister picked a good spot to sit, with a spread of carved stumps before us.

Of course we had to mosey up and down the bank after eating, so we could get up close and personal with the artistically preserved trees and make more locals look at me sideways.

I forget where exactly this river is, or why it's there. I know my sister had explained it, but all that has stuck with me was how pretty it all was, and how cool it felt here compared to the very Louisiana-like humidity of the rest of the town.

We had moseyed long enough to have hit the lunch hour, and sister had a basement diner in mind to share, where we both had epic burger action and I got to try deep-fried macaroni. Also, Guinness cake.

Angelic Choir

We didn't stop there, as sister and I went full cliche domestic and visited an antiques store. I was so giddy, seeing classic-coke tin signs and hand crafted wood furniture from wall to wall. Another glory of the east coast that we lack in California is all the lengthy history. If I had all the dollars, I would have spent them there on all the things.

And theeeeeeeen...
We hit up a small shop that functioned like a Ross or Marshall's, with some ridiculously low prices. Shopping was had, including some cute sweaters for my planned drive home across the northern states.

This sister, she has come to know me well.
Across the street from all this was the Clearfield Park, where we rested before the boyfriend finished at work, molesting the local mallards and such.

These ducks were bold little boogers, coming at us like they knew us, quacking disapproval with their beady little glaring eyes when they figured out we had nothing for them but cameras.

The only time they fled is when an enthusiastic labrador came with his people, petitioning them to live out his biological purpose.

He was a very cool dog, who we got to hang out with for a bit before we had to leave and torture - ahem, meet with - the boyfriend.

At this point, I'm pretty sure my sister was just trying to kill me with exhaustion or something, because these kids dragged me to the local mall. It was a fun, quick trip luckily, as they had just wanted to share their favorite home decor stop and pet store, which is where I made a new discovery.

Those adorable little emotional terrorists are silky-poos. They are a mixture of silky terriers (like the Nana owns) and miniature poodles that know exactly how cute they are. Were it not for fear of Husband's rebuke, I would have adopted two new puppies that day.

By the time we zipped in and out of the mall, dinner was due, and the boyfriend wanted another shot at gaining my approval through food. We hit a steakhouse, where steak and potatoes were had and enjoyed. That wasn't enough to him though, as the boyfriend insisted we make one more stop at their town's ice cream parlor for maximum brownie points.

It was at this point that things came to a screeching halt, unfortunately. As we stood in line I got the call that the Nana had passed, and I was needed in Louisiana ASAP. My sister and the boyfriend did their best to be comforting, as the boyfriend came outside with perfect timing and peanut butter ice cream. Me being me, and not wanting to cry in front of strangers, sucked it up pretty quickly and made a game plan with my sister for a route down south.

And this is how my lengthy journey ended, with an impromptu twenty hour shot down to Lousiana, where a whole new journey would begin.