Our nomadic adventure began in two waves… Erin, Coraline and Vega flew to Minnesota with Kelsey on July 2nd — just in time for a family reunion in Iowa. I remained in NY to pack…

The task, she was daunting. At some point, I was literally overrun.

Naturally, I had to pack my other babies carefully for the sojourn.

Smoking in a box is frowned upon, but Don Draper doesn’t play by anybody’s rules… not even his own.

Morgan Freeman is wearing the appropriate, weary expression for such a road trip.

My last night as a resident of Manhattan (for now). I toasted the boys over a Singha, while I ate pad thai on my floor mattress.

Waving goodbye to my good friends in Brooklyn.

The kitchen, once full of food and hi-chairs… now empty, and in the acceptable “broom-ready” condition. I shan’t forget painting Mindscape Vega next to the stove right after Vega was born.

Speaking of Vega… she was born in this very living room.

And Coraline was born in this bedroom. We signed a two-year lease as man and wife… and left as a family of four. Beware future renters… this is an extremely fertile domicile.

Four lives packed into a 17 foot truck.

My awesome Dad offered to join me on the road trip… we’ve had many adventures on the road, including a cross country trip back in 1993. He taught me everything I know about driving.

The first night, we stopped somewhere in Pennsylvania… we had Yuengling, but I do appreciate this Bud sign.

Dad gave me a serious ass whipping in pool. Something like 5 games to 2. Moments before the shellacking, I retrieved two beers at the bar and the tender said, “$4.75” — which I assumed meant $9.50, because, New York. I gave her $15 so I could “tip accordingly”. She looked at me like I was a big-town idiot, said it was $4.75 total, and handed back my extra five-spot in disgust.

Brown Hill… established in 2006… a fine place to drink and play pool.

Five star lodging all the way.

Saw this at a gas station… apparently, these are horses.

Buy the ticket. Take the ride.

We ordered one fried chicken platter a piece… each one contained approximately seventeen birds.

What’s this? Our first Perkins sighting… Tom’s favorite place to catch lunch with the boys.

Reflecting with Dad.

I promised the man a game if he came along for the ride… we caught what appeared to be a 6-0 slaughter by the Tigers. However, the tables turned, and the Twins slammed home seven in the bottom of the 9th to win. Unfortunately, we left in the 7th inning. Wah, wah, wahhhhhh.

Me and my two Dads.

My first order of business? Get the studio up-and-running, just in time to finish Guggenheim #7.

My big goal was to reach Minnetonka in time for our 4th wedding anniversary… and we did! Here we are, the moment after saying, “I do.”

And four years later, to the day, same archway, only this time, we have the two kids we vowed to co-create.

There we are… on our wedding day.

Me and the boys… blue suit, red glasses, red shoes, no tie, spare tire secured firmly around the waist.

Erin and her gorgeous bridal party.

Us and our Moms on that very special day in July of 2011.

The reward for driving 2/3’s of the way across America with your son? A smiling Coraline. We will be in Minnetonka until September 30th… from there? It’s off to Jackson Hole until mid-December. As for what I’ll be painting here? Time will tell…