what a fantastic story Peter! i fully enjoyed it, it just sucks you had to go through so much to be able to tell it. I had to share it with my parents and aunt kate and cherie and they loved it. They were really impressed with your writting and infact thought you should submit it with your college paper. love you guys tons! have a very happy new year! oh and congrats Dennis on the acceptance and AMAZING scholarship! we are graduating this year!!!!!!!!

Home in Urbana at last. Summary of my travels with Greyhound:

Newark to Pittsburgh: Every seat full. I sit next to a 40 year old bald white guy who never seaks, never stopps sweating, smells like RANK B.O. and cigarettes and has no control over his right arm whenever he falls alseep. (i am of course, sitting to his right and unwanted touching ensues).

Pittsburgh to Cleaveland: sit next to cool dude from Newark who's pissed at Greyhound for losing his luggage with all of his clients' keys in it (office cleaning service). Dude also refers to the city as "Ku-Klux-Kleaveland."

Cleaveland: take a break. Bus will not resart. Wait an hour. Switch boarding doors four times. Hear an Amish guy drop the f-bomb. Tranfer all luggage and passangers to a new (very old) bus.

Cleaveland to BFE Indiana: I am the ONLY person who does not get a seat to himself but has to share... albiet with the cool dude from Newark who's now even more pissed because we're 2 hours late and they still don't know where his suitcase is. Heating and interior lights on bus fail.

BFE Indiana: (4 AM) stop for a break at Hardees. Bus will not resart after driver finishes his thickburger. Driver goes to sleep on Hardees formica benches. I consider calling my ex girlfriend in Michigan at around 5AM to ask if she can pick me up. Decide against it. Fellow passenger calls a mechanic. Dude from Newark is FUMING. Three hours later, guy comes and recharges the battery. Heat still doesn't work.

Chicago: arrive 2 hours too late for my connecting bus to Champaign. Decide to wait 2 hours for the next one. Realize i cannot find my ticket for the last leg of the trip. Give up on Greyhound, walk 6 blocks to Union Station, hop on the Amtrak and go to Champaign.

Chambana: ride my glorious, foolproof, reliable and beloved bicycle home exactly 24 hours after i left Newark.

o man guys i really miss you all already! It is absolutely necessary that we find some time to all get together, like this summer, inbetween everyones working, and annie's traveling, and all that good stuff. lets go camping on the beach! anyways, how is everyone doing? life back to normal (or as normal as it gets)? btw Den. you look straight out of the getto! ooo ooo and i got accepted to Pittsburgh University yesterday, i am gonna be a college kid! (reality sets in...) love you all!