Things I learned while driving cross country... in no particular order of importance:

• Personal moving trucks may have a "speed governor," which limits its top speed to 75. Having now driven such a vehicle, I will now have a lot more patience when I see one on the road.
• The side view mirrors on trucks rule.
• New York is a BIIIIIG state. Seriously. It cost like $30 on the Thruway to get clear across it.
• No insect, no matter how big, can survive impact to a truck window.

• Cracker Barrel restaurants have evil puzzles on their tables.
• After a week of midwest "home cooking" you suddenly feel the need to own a ford 4X4.
• Omaha, Nebraska is a pretty stinky place. As in, it smells like manure. In downtown. I thought that the odor might have something to do with the rodeo going on, but residents tell me it is somewhat the norm. Yick.
• The midwest is totally obsessed with football. And the Fox News Channel.
• Eastern Wyoming is super windy. As in, Chicago has NOTHING on Cheyenne.
• The farming resources in this country are astounding. It took 4 days to drive through it.
• It is not possible to be at all "sneaky" when observing wildlife while driving a 12 foot, yellow Penske moving truck, no matter how hard you try.