Iceland – Day 6 (Friday, October 10, 2014)

Playing Amateur Paparazzi Up until this morning, I caught myself taking the unseasonably warm weather for granted. As I woke up and looked out the window, I noticed the room was slightly cooler than it had been previously (I was still keeping the window cracked open), and frost covering everything outside that wasn’t concrete or … Continue reading Iceland – Day 6 (Friday, October 10, 2014) →

Iceland – Day 7 (Saturday, October 11, 2014)

The mood amongst my fellow travelers was a bit more subdued this particular morning. Traveling is fun, but it can eventually wear a person down. The rigors of departure from familiar routines and places, being active every day/more than normal, and constantly keeping warm were taking their toll. Long faces and slightly temperamental demeanors made … Continue reading Iceland – Day 7 (Saturday, October 11, 2014) →

Iceland – Day 8 (Sunday, October 12, 2014)

Having done a bit of traveling these past few years, something I’ve come to expect, but still can’t quite get used to, is leaving a place. It’s a strange feeling, developing a connection with a locale that you’re only at for a short time, and then leaving it for home. I’m amazed at how I … Continue reading Iceland – Day 8 (Sunday, October 12, 2014) →

San Francisco – Introduction (November 2013)

Life has a strange way of offering second chances. Let's hop in the H.G. Wells’ chair/Police Box/Bill and Ted's telephone booth/DeLorean wayback machine to a year ago. I was supposed to embark on a winery tour of the Napa and Sonoma valleys, finishing up with a few days in San Francisco. Sadly and frustratingly, I … Continue reading San Francisco – Introduction (November 2013) →

San Francisco – Day 1 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)

I’ll Be Gentle, Virgin America, It’s My First Time… Michael and I flew out to San Francisco early Thursday evening. I heard good things about Virgin America for a while now, and their competitive air fares were more than a little tempting, so I was looking forward to flying on their friendly skies. The timing … Continue reading San Francisco – Day 1 (Thursday, October 31, 2013) →

San Francisco – Day 2 (Friday, November 1, 2013)

In keeping with my usual traveling habits, I didn’t sleep well, and woke up in a sweat on top of that. Beyond the first night acclimation to a new bed/sleeping environment, the unusually warm weather and room’s lack of airflow made my room stuffier than nature ever intended (it took me the following evening to … Continue reading San Francisco – Day 2 (Friday, November 1, 2013) →

San Francisco – Day 3 (Saturday, November 2, 2013)

The Big Chill A cold front pushed through the bay area overnight, and I woke up around 3:00 AM to the soft and mellow droning of multiple fog horns into a mist that covered the city. My parents live close to the coast in Virginia Beach, so I’m accustomed to hearing a fog horn from … Continue reading San Francisco – Day 3 (Saturday, November 2, 2013) →

San Francisco – Day 4 (Sunday, November 3, 2013)

Pirates and Scotsmen and Drag Queens…Oh, My!(1) In addition to adjusting to a three-hour time difference all weekend, Daylight Savings Time began Saturday night/Sunday morning, and the extra hour of sleep was a welcome treat for recovering from the previous two days. Steve and Joël’s wedding was scheduled for mid-morning, and Alex and Michael showed … Continue reading San Francisco – Day 4 (Sunday, November 3, 2013) →

San Francisco – Day 5 (Monday, November 4, 2013)

All Good Things… Waking while still a little full from last night’s feast, I hopped out of bed and packed. My flight was in the mid-afternoon and hotel checkout wasn’t until noon, so I had some time to kill. Steve texted me about hanging out as his apartment, so after stuffing my bag for the … Continue reading San Francisco – Day 5 (Monday, November 4, 2013) →

West Virginia White Water Rafting – Introduction (September 2013)

Traditionally, early August to late September is what many in my profession refer to as the “feeding frenzy.” It’s a magical time of the year when the zeal of Summer is winding down and the promise of Fall’s cooler weather is just around the corner; parents are giddy with excitement over little Mackenzie-Britney-Hunter-Logan-Tyson-Madison heading back … Continue reading West Virginia White Water Rafting – Introduction (September 2013) →