cross country travels and time is ticking down

::Pittsburgh, PA USA::

Howdy folks,
I felt that introduction was justified due to the last week of driving from Seattle to Pittsburgh through, what could have been, the whitest areas I have ever seen. I did however secure a bangin' chicken fried steak and, more importantly, an insanely good butter roll.

The key highlights of my cross country road trip are as follows:
1. Spokane looks like Texas, and not the cool parts of Texas :o
2. Apparently Gonzaga is in fact in Washington (for all you non-WA peeps out there)
3. Mt Rushmore is very impressive in person. I do recommend just parking on the side of the road and walking up there instead of paying $10 to park. Before you laugh at me, it really isn't that obvious.
4. Crazy Horse memorial will probably never get done. This is more about the fact they charge you $15 friggin dollars, per person!, to see it 1/3 done. It is pretty cool though, so you should go to park and tell them you don't want to pay. A pissed off, old white man, will tell you to turn around at the bottom of the hill, after the gate. Proceed as directed and take all the nice pictures you want before turning around. Voila!
5. There is absolutely NOTHING in South Dakota between Rapid City and Sioux Falls. Literally nothing, we couldn't even find a McDonalds.
6. Gas station bathroom tuna salad sandwiches really do have worms in them. (Futurama reference, as well as the sad truth)
7. Chicago kicks ass. We spent a full day there with absolutely terrible luck. The bad luck was mostly about the fact that it was sunny and beautiful the night we drove in, and storming rain the day we were there. It was so cloudy that the street lights came on at 2pm and you couldn't see a building 30 feet in front of you.
8. Pizzeria Uno is much better at the original in Chicago, but Burt's is a better pizza joint overall.
9. Hot Dougs hot sucks.
10. I am in fact very allergic to cats. Although this is obvious to Deb and Danielle, spending 2 nights at a house full of cats was not the smartest idea. Although it was hella good on my wallet ;)
11. Chicago art museum is awesome, but after 20 minutes it looks like every other art museum in the world. This is something you learn while traveling through northern Italia, where that's pretty much all there is to do there.

So I have much more I want to say but I think that should suffice. I have 2 days left here in Pittsburgh before I board a plane to LA. One day there and I'm off to New Zealand. I am looking forward to meeting Frodo and Gandalf.

In the beginning...

::Seattle, WA USA::

Welcome kind Sirs and Madames,

This blog is all concerning, and all devoting to my soon to be travels. I was granted 6 months off from Boeing and I am ready to take off. The main concern is to figure out my life. As most people are, I too am very confused. But that is ok. I have the antidote, it is called traveling! C'est vrai!

So here we go, the engine is roaring, even though I have a few weeks before going. First off a road trip back east, where the folks and I can meet at least. In Pittsburgh, my brotherly travel companion, who is also referred to as Adam. We will then say our goodbyes and fly out to where the sun shines. A one day layover in LA, enough time to say hi to the friends out in the gray. We then fly to New Zealand, then off to Australia. Down unda' will be fun, well I'd just have to tell ya.

Then it becomes extremely tentative from there, I thought, with you guys, I'd just be fair. Thailand, China, Korea and then Japan. I think my travels through Asia will make me quite the fan. Then last we stop in Israel for an extended stay. I now have the answers! Well, I hope I shall say...

I am adding an excerpt from a book that, I think, summarizes my next 6 months down to every link.

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

....

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!"

- dr. seuss