Meet Lola, our trip mascot. On our last trip through the South and then up the east coast to Maine in 2009, our mascot was a stuffed animal, a coyote, with one eye. I like Lola better.

Bob and I have rented a cottage on the Back Bay near Milbridge Maine. We're bringing our kayaks, our art supplies, our musical instruments, books, computers, woodworking tools, and fleeing the blistering heat of the Arizona desert.

I just finished a project for McGraw-Hill, so we're starting to pack.

Thanks to the Wawro family for living in our house while we're gone and taking care of things for us.

I hope all of our friends and family members check in often and join us on this trip. We'll be leaving when we're packed and the house is ready for the Wawros--don't know exactly when that will be, though. Our first stop is Santa Fe, then Denver to see Sean and my cousin Sandra and her husband Mike. I'll be writing every night.