Eighteen hours of driving, five thrift stores, many Yuenglings, and one decapitated deer head on Interstate 84 later, The Professor and I have returned from our mini-vacation in Pittsburgh. Road trips can make or break a coupling (ahem, The Orange) but I must admit that, if anything, the past four days only endeared him to me more.
Gag.
I love crossing "The Independence State" because Pennsylvania changes not only its slogan but also advertising campaigns quicker than a motorist can blink an eye. Stinks for those inmates pressing the license plates, eh? The new ad campaign, which pairs a truly non-grammatical "So Whatcha Wanna Do Is..." with non-color corrected photographs of unruly Pennsylvania fisherman, hunters, and race car drivers (?) promises to bring the least amount of tourism OR transplants to PA yet. Well, that campaign or the new winning bumper sticker, "I Break for Shoofly Pie" (a Dutch Country favorite.) Sadly, the contest's press release proudly relays that "The exciting competition was neck-and neck until the final minutes; the winner barely edged out the runner-up, 'Pennsylvania - State of Independence.'
WHAT?!?
People, that's just the state's name and slogan -- did anyone notice? Holy farkin' shizat. Personally, I thought some of the runners up had snazzier idears, namely whoever came up with "PA ROADTRIPS...ARE YOU THERE YET?" and " YINZ LOST?"
Come on!
Below, a few photographic highlights of our trip...
Here, I use a diorama of sparring elks to signify The Professor and I's "battling iPods" during the drive.
My boyfriend or a grizzly? Tough call due to similar amounts of facial hair on both...
Squirrel Hill's finest dive bar, "The Squirrel Hill Cafe", known to locals as "The Squirrel Cage", re-named by me as "The Squirrel Hole"
What you find in a Western Pennsylvanian squirrel's hole: DEEP FRIED HOT CHEESE BALLS! Heh heh.
Mom-orelli despises my art direction when we take photos together...but here I managed to get her to do a modified Chin (#31: Casual Support Hand)
The Professor, pondering the "Game Night Special" and about to ingest more fried food than he has since college
I know, it's like you can't throw a stone near me without hitting a baby these days! Geesh. Here, I catch up with my favorite townie girl, Kendell
I can't believe she's already almost 6 months old, the little minx!
Blogorelli, why can't I post images? This is an I brake for shoofly pie magnet:
http://www.supportourribbons.com/m/78278
This one is a dumb joke:
http://www.supportourribbons.com/m/78277
Word.
Posted by: Jake | Thursday, 29 March 2007 at 11:30 PM
Why, General, it's a "wonderful good mix of molasses, brown sugar, flour, and shortening."
There's even a recipe PDF if you follow the bumper sticker link.
Posted by: blogorelli | Tuesday, 27 March 2007 at 02:50 PM
I love using the analogy of "The Orange" as that moment when you shoulda known that a relationship would go bad. I've had plenty of "Oranges" in my day that I still kick myself for not getting a clue earlier.
I think we need a phrase for that epiphany moment when you realize you got a good one though who would peel an orange (or whatever) for you... I'm sure you've had many with the Prof by now. Maybe this is a future Friday MeMe.
That and personal slogans could make a good MeMe... the professor seems to already have one here with the ranch and the FF (although I'm more of a mayo girl).
Can't wait til Friday!
Posted by: dairy queen | Tuesday, 27 March 2007 at 01:41 PM
Explain Shoofly pie.
Posted by: General Disarray | Tuesday, 27 March 2007 at 01:37 PM
Do you think there will ever be a slogan about ranch dressing? or french fries? for the great state of PA? How about... Ranch and FF what more do you need?
Posted by: The Professor | Tuesday, 27 March 2007 at 12:13 PM