Days 7 and 8: Kansas City and Iowa

Last night, we read at Mud Pie Vegan Bakery and Cafe in Kansas City, thanks to WICK (THANKS WICK!) and it was magical--our biggest turn-out yet! We just feel like we have so many shout-outs.

SHOUTOUTS

1. Wick!
2. Aunt Michelle, Uncle Kelly, Josh and Kayla
3. Megan and Sunny, for allowing Amy to pass out on their couch
4. John Paul and Brittany, for allowing Amy to pass out on their couch
5. Vea, for coming to Kansas City on the MegaBus (for real)
6. Courtney and Brett for having us at their house, here in Bettendorf, Iowa!

After the reading, we had some beers at The Union and celebrated. In the morning, we had to leave Kansas City and got on the road to Iowa City. We listened to some Janet/Michael Jackson, drank gas station coffee, snacked, talked, and then, at a Philip's 66 in Urbandale, Iowa, things got crazy. We all changed into shorts (get it, girl!) ate PB&J sandwiches out of the van for the 75th time, got into a water fight, and danced around in the parking lot with no shoes on. It was reminiscent of other great literary tours.

Anyway, we rolled into Iowa City (it's a cute one!) about an hour before we had to be at The Java House for our reading. We decided to check out Uptown Bill's (Vea had to pee and made Jakob stop somewhere) and we are just so excited to read there. We were introduced to Tom, Tom and Tom and were shown our reading space for tomorrow. It's a little raised stage with little black boxes (which they called "props") and there are snacks and tea and books everywhere. Gosh, it's going to be cute.

Vea went to the MegaBus station (bye, Vea! we miss you!!) and we went to The Java House and met Luke, the gracious events coordinator. They had their reading. It was small but we got to meet Debra afterwards, a playwright from the Iowa Writer's Workshop. Honestly, we aren't sure what people thought but we both gave good readings.

So, now we're at Courtney and Brett's. We made dinner (pasta with black beans, NOT peanut butter and jelly) and are feeling a little delirious. There's been a lot of laughing and laughing...and crying. There are two dogs here, and they are lovely. We have to go, now.

We probably won't get to update until we get home. Tomorrow we go home after our reading at Uptown Bill's!! We can't wait to see you. Unless we won't.
xoxoxoox