Thoughts of a Wonderluster

One of the great recent traditions between my best friends and I is to go on an annual trip to explore this great country of ours. It's a chance to spend time together like we used to a decade ago and remember old memories while we create new ones. The first two trips have been amazing and, selfishly, have helped me cross more states off my list en route to all 50 by the time I turn 30. This year's trip will be equally amazing - lots of great parks and driving in store this time around. Year Three Spokane, WA > Glacier National Park, MT > Yellowstone National Park, WY > Craters of the Moon, ID > Grand Teton National Park, WY > Salt Lake City, UT. Living in a city like I do, it makes getting out into nature even more thrilling knowing that I'll be in such an amazing setting with some of my best friends. Less than three months and counting... Year One Las Vegas, NV > Grand Canyon, AZ > Gallup, NM >  Cortez, CO / Mesa Verde > ...

This is a post in a series of posts that detail various trips I've been on over the years. Trips and stories will be posted nonlinearly. READ ME . Laissez le bon temps rouler. Thursday, May 11th, 2017 Like most of my trips, this one started early in the morning. Alarm rang at 6:00am and I had no issues getting up - much easier process than an hour later when I normally get up for work. Finished packing and fired up the Uber-machine - the first of many Uber trips over the next few days. Louis picked me up in his Nissan Sentra and we were on our way. I will always talk to my Uber/Lyft drivers regardless of time of day because I love hearing their stories. --- Here's the thing. Generally speaking, people need to do a better job of learning more about the people around them. Talk to strangers when it's appropriate. Talk to your driver. Talk to a front desk person. People that are willing to open up and share thoughts and opinions (good or bad) make the world a...

There are two books I've read by choice that have significantly altered my outlook on life. 1. Into the Wild - John Krakauer 2. Travels with Charley  - John Steinbeck I read both early on in high school on my own volition and what interested me initially (and still to this day) is that they deal with travel, self-reliance, and human experiences. Over the past few years I've done a lot of traveling domestically and abroad in large part because of my wander/wonderlust and I really feel like a more well-rounded and knowledgeable person as a result. To me, life isn't just about myself and how I feel like I fit in the world and environment in which I live - it's also about understanding how others fit into that same world. The human condition is a fascinating thing and what spurs me along, in part, are the myriad of people I've met across the globe along the way. On my journeys I've kept some form of notes, whether written or mental, but I've never sha...