Hippie life update

It's been a long time since I posted anything on here.  Clearly I am not very good at keeping up.  Life has changed.  A lot.  More than I could ever imagine possible when I left the east coast to move out to Las Vegas.  I have grown substantially, through trials and tribulations that I was certainly not ready for.  I moved across the country for a girl, I was too stubborn and ill prepared and life has kicked me around a lot for my mistakes.  Karma has certainly caught up to me.  I've been in Las Vegas for 20 months now.  I've managed to ruin multiple valued pre-Las Vegas relationships in the wake of the move, to damage or neglect some of my most cherished ones, to shed the person that I knew myself to be.  I've wrestled with what I want out of life.  On my own with but a few regular people in my life to keep me sane has proven quite the challenge.  But it has also proven to be a very powerful time in my life.  One that is priceless to me and I feel has led me down a path that I can finally say I am fully satisfied with.  I would go through everything again and again if that was the price I had to pay to be who I am today.  I am very confident in the substantial progress I've made as a person and look forward to the rest of my life.  I am happy, content, and yet restless.  I don't know how much longer I will let work be a part of my life.  It's taken me a while to truly grasp that money and happiness are not the same thing.  That my life should not be in any way controlled by money.  Hard work and dedication, certainly, but towards an end that I deem worthy and fulfilling.  And so I am restless as I wait for a day when I feel comfortable enough in the rest of my intended future to reach out and grab it.  I sense that day's approach, as I have been preparing for months now to take on a task greater than myself.  Exactly how is yet to be seen.  And so I search vehemently on for the next step I take, carefully, thoroughly and with much concern for ensuring it to be exactly what I want to do, because I don't intend to go back from it.  Certainly it will be for the betterment of humankind in a sustainability-related field.  Exactly how is yet to be seen.

The purpose of this post is to share something I wrote.  Last night I was in bed and got out to write down a line for a poem that popped into my head.  I felt it needed to be written down, and I haven't had an urge to write anything in a long time.  Last night, though, it flowed.  And so, without further ado, I give to you...Untitled!

I'd been walking sightless in this world
Without a dream to carry me forward

Shackled by the times

I wanted to show my worth

Deceived by the currency

I was repressed henceforth

Never aware of where value is derived

I placed it in things contrived

By the mind of man and not out of necessity

Ideals that today just make no sense to me

Because the sun rose that day

Winter cold departing

The roots of ancestors my support

As my life was again starting

Buried deep within my making

Sprouted a life for the taking

Climb upon my branches

As I reach for the sky

And I will show you the meaning of life

Together we are not denied

Waterfalls and canyon walls

Fed my starving being

For nothing is more beautiful

Than the majesty that bears witnessing

I don't know what was

But I know what may become

We control our destiny

Let us march united on

As righteous a people as we are

We can be so easily misconceived

What holds us back

Is a world where ignorance leads

to foolish things being believed

Where value is ill placed

And people are deemed worthless

Where hatred and disconnect

Are much easier than co-existence

Where brotherhood is reserved

For those who are brothers

And we must fight to keep preserved

The lands that are our mothers

From cradle to grave

We are one with our home

Yet our children's rights we waive

Due to near-sightedness syndrome

We can't march to the same beat

And keep delaying the inevitable

We must join hands

And learn to be rational

For the betterment of mankind and society

And the preservation of this world

Together we survive

Divided we go the way of the dinosaurs

Oneness with the land and your fellow man

Can lead a man to be more than a man

For no one is but themselves

As we strive toward a larger goal

Let it not be for selfish purposes

That we spend our every breath

For, a breath taken for another is a breath worth taking

Anything that can end the soul's aching

And help start another's awakening

If you think we are forsaken

You are understandably mistaken

End the petty oppression of fellow man

Judge not by appearance

Beliefs or who one loves

But by the content of one's character

As we've grown numb to why we've advanced

The truth is

Together we survive

Divided we go the way of the dinosaurs

Road Trip to NV: Day 2

So, the story continues.

We ended up accidentally staying in some form of VIP section of the hotel, I clearly fail, and were on the 17th floor.  Here is the view from the next morning....

So anyway, that morning we decided to go to a breakfast place called Eggtc. (get it!?).  We arrived and immediately recognized it was a good decision.  I ordered the Turkey Florentine sandwich (Sliced turkey, scrambled egg, swiss cheese, spinach, avocado, tomato on wheat with side of hollandaise) and it was awesome!  The coffee was also very good.  Good decision all around.  

As we ate, we actively googled things to do on our phones.  I found something I absolutely had to go do.  Carson found something he absolutely had to go do.  Mine was very close to Eggtc., and his was very close to I-70 on the way out.  It was meant to be.  And so, we drove to mine first.  

Yes, badminton birdies.  Because, how can you be in a city having this as art and not go see them?  Four in total, spread out around the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  We looked at them.  Then, logically, we hit them.

Opposite the museum was this cool looking building, not sure what it is and too lazy to google it.

I'm not sure if this art was meant to look like it was about to be moved somewhere else, or if it was about to be moved somewhere else, but I had to try to squeeze into the coat thing.  I did not have much success.

We continued around to the back of the museum where we spotted a bunch of tourists hanging out.  Carson went to say hi.

I soon concluded that I was getting tired and zen I took a nap.

Refreshed, we continued on to this street corner parking lot.

Actually, that's 18th and Brooklyn.  Oops.  I took a picture somewhere....


Anyway, not sure if it is the right parking lot that I took a picture of anyway because we were going to the famed 18th and vine.

Behind this building stood a statue of Charlie "Bird" Parker, one of the fathers of jazz.

For this reason I can only assume that this statue stands where he once stood in the parking lot of 18th and vine jamming out.


Across the street was this nifty statue/thing depicting jazz musicians jazzing it up.

Also in the 18th and vine area is the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which, along with the Jazz Museum, was closed until later in the day (whomp).  

And so, it was time to hit Denver.  On the way out, we spotted a YMCA which was pivotal in the creation of the Negro League, soon to be a historic landmark as well.

It was saddening to leave Kansas City behind, as we both really enjoyed it there.  The atmosphere, the beautiful women (side note: St. Louis was desolate of those--I think they all moved from STL to KC), how green the city was, the nice temperatures and minimal bugs, the beauty of the city, the activity downtown and so many other things that immediately grabbed us.  It had a very laid back, beach city feel to it (while not on a beach) and has most definitely been added to my list of cities I want to live in.  Preferably not during tornado season.  AND on top of all that, we didn't even get to try Gate's BBQ!  We will meet again, Kansas City.

Once we got on the road, it was quickly apparent that Kansas City and Denver are far apart.  After about 50-100 miles of getting past all the quick GPS directions, we see our longest next-turn mileage of the trip.  Luckily, we are both refreshed and ready to go.  

Luckily, we passed exciting things on the way, and exited accordingly.

Unfortunately, the Road to Oz Highway was actually 9 miles out of the way to reach the Oz Museum.

So, we continued on.

And on.

And on.

Until finally it was time to stop.  I had been driving for a full tank of gas and then some, and my driving arm showed it.  One day I will learn.

Carson then took over and, of course, was immediately pulled over by the Kansas Highway Patrol.  He said he wanted a souvenir, what better souvenir than this!?

83 in a 70.  "I'm giving you a warning.  It's 70 in Kansas," said the cop.  Little did he know, we are used to 55, 60 and 65 back east.  


We continued on, me laughing at the situation (I had seen approximately zero cops while driving and he had driven by at least 10, or more), Carson saying it isn't funny.  But it was.


We soon hit the mountainous state of Colorado!

Little did we know that the mountains dont start until after Denver.  Which was still...really far away.  Disappointment was evident, to say the least.


But, we livened up when we reached none other than the "Point of Interest"!

We immediately exited.

What the hell could it be?

Um.  What?

....This tower was down a gravel, bumpy, pot hole road.  Needless to say, neither of us wanted to die that day.  So we continued on.  From the road passing by, we were able to see this:

What could possibly have been inside besides a torturous death, we will never know.


Hours later, we reach our destination.

Even in Denver, you can't really tell there are mountains looming past.  What the hell!?

We drive on, as Carson has a friend living in Denver who has graciously agreed to let us stay at her place for the night.  Her place just happens to have this awesome view:

Nay, we did not go to the amusement park--though that is AWESOME that a city has one so close to it.


Instead, we continued on to give away something we had transported across the country for the gracious host.  A can of east coast Yuengling.

Then it was time to venture out into the city and have some Denver experiences.  We started at a place called Tilted Kilt, which is alike to Hooters but with, well, a kilt theme.  This was along a really cool stretch of downtown Denver, 16th Street, where the road is exclusively used by free shuttles, and the things to do are endless.  


Then we went to a local Micro-brew, Wynkoop where we sampled all their beers.

I will say the Cowtown Milk Stout was fabulous.  It was a very rich, dark beer and I ordered another.  We were not aware at the time that 5280 feet in the air causes alcohol to hit twice as hard as sea level.  And, Washington DC is approximately 25 feet above sea level--I checked.


Later, we went to the top of the Hyatt where there were just countless women and no men.  Looked like a good place to be.  It also looked down on the B.A.B. (Big Ass Bear).  This picture is a side shot from driving by it earlier.

And now the shot from above.

And the view from the roof of the hotel.

Denver also has a tram service, which goes right through the streets and would more than likely end my life if I lived there.

Finally we made our way back to Liz's (our gracious host), and all passed out for the rest of the night.


Day 2 ends in Denver.  Preview of whats to come: Day 3 features the morning in Denver and the evening in Moab, Utah, sight of the climbing movie 127 Hours, where the guy gets his hand trapped under a boulder and has to cut it off with a dull knife.

Road Trip to NV: Day 1

The stage was set.  The plan was decided upon.  A general itinerary was created.  Carson was kind enough to agree to drive with me across country to Vegas to assist me in moving.  These are our stories.  Dun, dun.

Early in the week, I emptied my office.  I returned to retrieve my pens and other various goodies I left behind, only to find my office supplies had been ransacked by some (insert very vulgar terminology here).

Thursday and Friday were spent packing, packing and packing after Wednesday was spent getting my car from Delaware.

Some goodbyes were had and some were not, I apologize to everyone who I didn't see before I left!  Red, Hot and Blue was part of the last meal.  These cheese fries...epic.

Friday night, I was anxious to get the hell on the road.  The plan was to leave at 12:30am Friday night and show up early in the morning in Columbus, Ohio (stop #1) to have breakfast and check out the city.  So, instead we get on the road at 11pm due to my excitement.

We reached Columbus, Ohio but realized long prior that it would be 5am or so and nothing would be open, and it would still be dark.  (this pic fails but, i swear it says like a million cities--cleveland, columbus, cincinnati, ...indianapolis maybe?)

So, instead we continued on to the next city, Indianapolis!

We exited where my GPS told me to and, we realized that I had brought us directly into the ghetto of Indianapolis.  Strangely enough, a mile or two down the road we turn right and immediately see houses like this:

We arrived safely and, having yelped a good breakfast place, showed up at Cafe Patachou just when they were opening!  I got an omelet with avocado, jalapeno, cheese (cheddar maybe?) and sour cream, side of fruit and cinnamon butter bread.  Delicious!

Carson then noticed the local newspaper as we were leaving the restaurant, about to embark on a journey to investigate the city.  Neither of us were aware of what was in store.

The newspaper said "Race Day" or some such.  Yes, we had managed to be in Indianapolis on the weekend of the Indianapolis 500.  Not only that, but the 100th Indianapolis 500.  Oops.  It was Saturday, so there was a parade being held.  We drove through town a while and checked things out.  A lot of the main streets were blocked off, however.

So, we drove around and happened to pass the Lucas Oil Stadium where the Colts play.  Very exciting.

Then, you can't be in Indianapolis during the Indy 500 without checking out the track.  So, we headed out to the track down this nice road along the river.

The area around the track was crowded with RV's, people barbequeing and just lots of excitement for something that was happening the NEXT day.  We managed to make it to the track unscathed without too much of a traffic delay, luckily!

Then, after a quick CVS pit stop for icy hot (my neck hurts when I drive for more than a few hours--wtf!? and Carson hurt his during ultimate frisbee on Friday), it was decision time.  At this point it was 10am, the parade wasn't for another 2 hours--so we decided to swing through the city and try to see something and then disappear into the night--er, early morning.  We, unfortunately, did not see anything worthy of posting pictures of.

We leave Indianapolis behind.  On the road again, when we stop for gas, we see some exciting things in the convenience store.  First, it sold clothes, all sorts of electronics, car parts, convenience store things, as well as had multiple restaurants of a connected Subway and an in-store place.

The bathroom also offered cologne to those in need (me?).

Next stop--St. Louis, Missouri.  Neither of us know much about St. Louis, besides the obvious Arch.

Carson's cousin Kevin suggested we google Man Vs. Food locations around the cities we go to.  In doing so, we discover a place called Pappy's Smokehouse.  Driving there, I had once again brought us directly into the ghetto of the city.  When we reached the place, one of the cars parked on the road had shattered glass and clear signs of being broken into.  Note that my car is filled with my entire life.  We turn down a side street to try to find exactly where the place is and discover a very long line out of the door and, luckily we were able to park in clear sight of the line.

We waited.  and waited.  And waited.

We finally got in the front door and then realized the line wrapped around the hallway then again around the entirety of the restaurant.  Total wait time was at least an hour.  But, we stuck it out and by the time we were able to order we were ready to ravenously destroy their food.  While in line, I had previously decided on the pulled pork sandwich.  Then, in looking around and seeing EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. eating the ribs, I realized what needed to be done.

So, of course we both got the ribs (I dug in without taking a picture, luckily Carson took this).  They were hands down the best ribs I've ever had, and are reason alone enough to at least go to St. Louis.  We didn't find many other reasons, though I'm sure there are, but these were sufficient.  Long story short, if in St. Louis, Go. To. Pappy's. Smokehouse.

Next, we decided to be tourists and went to the Arch.  To get there, we parked in a lot and had to walk along the flooded Mississippi River.

Carson felt obligated to touch it.

We reached the Arch, which is an astounding 630 feet tall of uselessness/pointlessness.

Nearby a few people were shooting off old school rifles trying to be cool.  We decided they would be cooler if we took pictures with them as props.

While in the spirit of fun pictures, the Arch was decided upon to be a basketball hoop.  Dunking ensued.

Now, I may have been a tourist, but I had just walked by the river and the Arch.  The following water flow direction fail made me facepalm.  Yes, it goes the other way.

We both needed to pee, which is important to the story and so I tell you, so we walk back towards the car and happen to pass by a cop on a bicycle.  I approach him and ask him if there are any nearby bathrooms.  This police officer says no but directs me to the nearby underpass below a bridge....  Then mentions there are bars nearby down a side road, so we decide that option instead.  The area looked like a great nightlife spot, shuttles to and from the bars, seemingly fun atmosphere, we just arrived too early.  The beer we had was the only one on tap at the bar we chose, was a local St. Louis beer and the bartender didn't know its name.  And it sucked.  All in all, St. Louis did not win us over.  But alas, Pappy's would bring me back!

We decide to move on to Kansas City.  At this point it is maybe 4pm.  The drive to KC was torturous to say the least, and after STL we had no expectations from KC.  We arrived late at night and tried to book a hotel downtown for the night and failed miserably.  Everything was booked.  After an hour of searching, I end up calling a place that says it has rooms because it is called "...at the Convention center" and we had passed the convention center whilst in the heart of the city.  The first warning sign should have been when my GPS couldn't find the street in Kansas City, Missouri.  The second should have been when they told me adjacent streets that were also not locatable on my GPS.  Finally, we realize there is another convention center and, the full name "Sheraton Overland Park at the Convention Center" is actually in, well, Overland Park, Kansas.  Oops.  It was a solid 15 minute drive from downtown.

We showed up, checked in and realized it was time for bed.  Driving through the city that night had made it look very possible as a fun spot, but instead we went down to the bar, sampled some local beers (very good!), ate some delicious food and passed out for the night.

And, so ends day 1 of the journey to Las Vegas!