bloomington....or...the hunt for john cougar mellencamp

an hour before matt and i were supposed to leave for our weekend away, we still had no clue where we were going. desperation, and no clear direction, led us to strips of paper and a feathered fedora. little towns in west virginia and pennsylvania and indiana and michigan were all tossed in together, out popped bloomington (the home of indiana university and john mellancamp), and we were on the road.
(that hat has yet to do me wrong, except for when i try to wear it)

we set out, the two of us, with no technology...only paper maps and local radio.
20 minutes into the drive the radio was off and i was soaking up matt's tales of selling men's perfume and time shares in his early 20's. i think that's what i love most about road trips; being trapped in the car with someone brings out the chance for real conversation and juicy past-life gossip.
that, and traveling through indiana will lead you to funny gentlemen bookstores in trailers and truck stop omelet/indian food restaurants.

 bloomington was great. 

the weather was flirting with spring, so we walked and walked and walked. we ate interesting foods and sifted through some pretty amazing vintage stores (one had a working 1920's peep show booth for a quarter and taxidermy animals lining the tops of bookshelves). we made each other paper napkin valentines over coffee, spent $30 at the candy store with little remorse, took in the local art, jaywalked, and slow danced on the sidewalk to elevator music. there's something really wonderful about the anonymity that a new town gives you...and bloomington was the perfect hideout.

this trip was a risky venture for the planning kind of girl that i am. but it truly paid off.

it's an easy and laid back weekend when you fly by the wind. and really that's just what i needed. even if we were only a couple hours from home.

but in all honesty, i would travel to the backyard with this guy if it meant that i got spend the day with him.