My summer

OK, so I realize it is still a little early to actually talk about my summer thus far, but the weather jumped from a foot of snow to hot conditions. Granted, the last week of straight rain and humidity has not been the greatest but to me it is only summer and winter which is sad because I like the cooler air of the spring and fall.


I really haven't documented as much as I should have, but here is a quick summary of what I have been doing (excluding the work aspect of the whole thing).

I have been trying to spend some time outdoors

I did spend some time in my vacation house...


and relaxed in my backyard...


I have been hanging out with some friends...


and focusing my efforts on getting back in shape.... (just note the arm workout and balance training)


So far this summer is a flying by, but not like the last couple I have enjoyed in South America and Europe respectively. I have been working, which "work" is still my least favorite four-letter-word, but I hope to have enough funds pooled here shortly to head back out again on the travel. Wish me luck.

Why work?

So I am entering the workforce again after my 2 year vacation... this sucks. I am not sure any other words can fully encapsulate it better than that. Of course, as I do with all things in life, I am not just getting one job but technically 4. I know what you are thinking (He is crazy) but I figure that if I work 4 jobs I can get back to my vacationing 4 times faster.


The jobs are as follows.... I am doing lawn work (mowing 3 lawns, mulching, painting doors, weed eating, trimming hedges), Working at the local GNC, Working for the US Census as a census taker, and picking up some hours acting (as a patient for the medical school so they can practice). I have been mowing for a few weeks now but the others all start in the next week. Speaking of which, I am due to start at GNC in 10 minutes and I am not ready.... hope they don't mind it if I am late for my first day. Gotta run....

Caving - Lost World

I realize that I haven't really been updating this but life at home seems different than it used to so I am still trying to re-acclimate a bit to it while still keeping up my sense of adventure. Recently my friend Ashley invited me to do some caving at Lost World Caverns here in Lewisburg and I couldn't pass it up.

Basically I spent the day living like a spider monkey (one that lives in caves that is)

I did manage to see some cave geckos, crickets, and bats while I was down there.


I blindly charged into compromising situations and luckily didn't find out that I was claustrophobic halfway through.

I also decided that a nice relaxing bath in sub 50 Fahrenheit water miles away from the entrance was a good idea to clean myself off a bit. Ashley told me that this was the first time she had ever heard of anybody doing such a thing.

Bath or no bath, I still needed a shower after over 3 hours underground... maybe I will take one someday.

T.O.O.T Lewisburg (Taste of Our Town)

Annually my hometown closes down main street and one other for a day of food and celebration of local businesses. With live music going at multiple locations and vendors selling samples of their cuisine either to draw in new potential customers and to raise funds for Carnegie Hall.


Music is a staple


There is always someone manning a grill


It is just a time to eat, relax, and mingle.

Training for some hiking

Apparently I will be heading to do some hiking on the Appalachian Trail at the end of this week for an undetermined amount of time. I have a couple of friends that have made their way into Virginia and I am hoping not to slow them down too much so I have upped my game running and riding the bike here recently.

Sadly this means a little less of practicing my curls...

Hopefully a little sacrifice now pays off in the long run...

Artsy Bar Pics - Sweet Shop

So nights at home can be a bit slow so I took some pics while out. Let it be noted that I am not capable with a camera.


The pour
yup
locals


Cheap pitcher of Amber Bock
Live tunes by this guy...

Del Sol - Worst Wings on the Planet?

Recently I headed out in my hometown on a Wednesday to hit up wing night at a local bar. I have long know that a wing night existed at Del Sol Lounge here in town and hot (buffalo) wings are one of my favorite foods on the planet, but this was my first trip down there for them due to my lack of interest in spending too much time there.

I ordered 12 of their traditional buffalo wings (no choice of hot or mild) and found myself yearning for the pieces of celery and carrot that sat near the edge. The meat itself was good but the sauce was terribly disappointing. It carried only a slight smell of spice but only managed to make the chicken feel oily. 12 wings were also discount priced at $6 so it really wasn't a special when you consider that you can get them around town (normally in the sacrilegious boneless variety for cheaper). Needless to say I will not be doing this again


There were 2 business travelers parked next to me and they ordered the wings before asking my recommendation. I actually felt bad when their order came out. I finished mine because I refused to waste the food but they finished maybe 3 of their 12 and then decided they would do dinner somewhere else.

So wing night is not worth it and on Friday's they want to charge $5 for entry to pay for the DJ. Just to put this in perspective... a DJ in WV can only be compared to going for a nutritious and pleasing meal at a strip club - enjoyable at first but at the end leave you running toward the door (a bathroom door in the case of the strip club).

Trail with Padre - Bald Eagle

In my new pursuit of fitness I hit the trail with Padre to log a few miles on the bikes. Why join a gym during the summer around here?


Of course I took the faster/lighter bike because he logs a lot more miles a year than I do.


At mile marker 8 on the trail we looked across the river and spotted what we believe to be a bald eagle. There are a few that live near here though neither of us have spotted one here before. I managed a quick if blurry pic from where I was at before he flew off but he definitely looked the part. (On the rock in the center... click on the pic to blow it up).


Here are the stats from the ride. I logged 16 miles in total and dranke1.5 bottles of water (I am a little out of shape still).


I did manage to post the fastest speed of the day with 24.62 mph so that was a plus.


Sadly Hector couldn't make this trip but I might have him out again tomorrow...

Driving my hometown... video

Where I'm From

Here are just a couple of shots from the small town life that I am back to. This first one is from the main stoplight in the center of town... the Brits should not that we drive on the right side of the road.
And here is one coming back from the main drag to the grocery store, banks, and fast food etc.

Parents went crazy with the sign!!

I was greeted this morning by this photo from my parents... which was great, but they have continued with the trend...

Now my Aunt is in on it
As are my grandparents
And they have even recruited my cat to get in on the action... this is where it may have gone overboard, but I figure since I put my parents up online I should put these pics up as well. Hopefully I won't get too many more before the day is over.

Birthday Love from West Virginia

I awoke this morning to find in my email a photo from my parents that serves as an ecard.

I did splotch-out the age because I still contest that I am roughly eleven-years-old.

Return to the USA

With my pack finally ready to go I headed back to the USA a couple of days later than expected and more than a couple weeks later than my plan in January.

The trip was great and now I am gearing up for England. I will be moving there on February the 11th for the next six months.

Right now the focus is on packing, some schoolwork, and trying to catch up with a few friends before heading out.

Amy the Outlaw

Guns are illegal in England, but permitted in the US so we took Amy out for some shooting. She is a natural.

Here is a vid of the rounds.

Out in the Burg

Had to do it up big the other night. Forget what country I am in, there is a party

Tis the Season, to Party

Last night I kicked off the holiday season by attending a holiday gathering with friends.

Sadly it was not here because I could have had a crazy night with all of the lights.


The party was here and the lights were substituted for food.

Steps to own the night:

Step one: A kitty Christmas sweater
Step two: A santa hat


Step 3: A game of power hour


Step 4: unnecessary trip to the bar


All in all a good, if not remembered night.

Like a Hermit - Speaking for the very first time

I need to stop trying to sort stuff out and get back to the road, but sometimes a little legwork has to be done before you can get the legs working again.

The Snow Keeps Coming

Another night turns into another morning of waking up with a covering of snow on the ground. This winter looks to be one of our biggest in years if this keeps up.



Consider this snow claimed in the name of Jonny Walker

Lewisburg Music Scene

Caught some local music last night downtown at the Wild Bean here in Lewisburg http://www.thewildbrew.com/

Here are some clips from the show.

Shots of Work and Home

Now that I am back in the US I am getting ready to start work for the winter. Here are some shots of where I work and where I live.