Sorry guys...

I know I haven't posted in a while. I just came off a monster week where I decided to bite off more than I could chew and accept 13 different writing assignments, all due - you guessed it - Tuesday at midnight. Somehow I made it. Never again.

These were not lightweight pieces, either. I had to write about everything from the subtle differences between West Coast Rules and East Coast Rules as they relate to Beer Pong (dead serious) to the mechanics of investing in real estate within the framework of a 401(k) account. Good times.

Anyway... I'm back.

New Backpack

I recently purchased a Jansport Carson external frame backpack off of eBay. At 4,900 cu.in., its probably more room than I need, but I like the external frame aspect. Spending about $50, including shipping, makes it a very reasonable solution.

Today was the first morning to try it out on the trail. Packed with old clothes, she weighed in at 17 pounds. I took a 3-mile, one-hour hike on the bike trail near Lake Pontchartrain. It was a beautiful sunrise and the pack felt great. I've just got to keep training so I can do 5 times that distance every day for a month!



Thank goodness the pack came with a hip belt that expands to 52". Now I need to concentrate on the belly!

Rolf Potts Book Signing

What an interesting evening! As always, Dave has his finger on the pulse of cool events happening in our area. As a result, he let me know that Rolf Potts would be doing a book signing for his newest, "Marco Polo Didn't Go There." As I mentioned in an earlier post, I enjoyed "Vagabonding" and wanted to meet him. Rolf was both entertaining and inspiring. Learn more about Rolf and catch an upcoming book signing at http://www.rolfpotts.com/. And be sure to order both of his books through the rotating banner at the top of this blog (you'll be helping Dave support this site.)

The Blessing of No News

The summer between my sophomore and junior years in college, I decide to forego another hot, hard-working summer driving a loud, dusty tractor in the small wheat community I grew up in. I used my Spring Break to interview and get hired for a summer job at a nice resort in the Ozarks. Not only would I be in the air conditioning of the main restaurant, I could grab two nice meals each night for my roommate and I while he, as the bartender, grabbed the libations for after work. The group of college kids working there became quite close due to the surprisingly limited variety of activities available to us at the resort. Cable TV and 24 hour news channels had not yet been invented. We worked hard at night, partied harder into the morning, then napped near the pool the next day before starting the cycle again. We were so absorbed in our microsphere that we didn't know John Wayne had died for almost a month.

I am reaching maximum exposure to this year's election news. Debates, gaffes, experience, change, change, change...everything is dissected and over-examined. My patience is being tested every time I turn on the television or radio. The noise is so loud, I can't hear the soft, quiet voice inside me. I need to get away long enough to hear it again. I need "no news". I need to talk to someone about my thoughts, not listen to pundits about theirs. I need to actively participate in the world, not passively watch it on tv. I need to go for a long walk.

It can be scary to look back...

So, if Dave wants to throw down some old photos, see if these two photos could possibly be of the same guy. Here's my college photo...full head of hair, dimples, even sideburns.

Here I am after a night of drinking and a long brunch at the all-you-can-eat buffet. Fortunately Kim and Laurie were there to keep the other folks from pushing us back in to the water.



Yes, it will be a really long walk!

Funny Before & After Photos

My wife was digging through old boxes today, trying to decide what stays in storage and what goes to Paris with us. Somewhere she came across a few photos of me from my Marine days. I thought it would be fun to do a little Nutra-Systems before & after comparison.


This is me, circa October 1990. Note, in addition to the cheesy 70's porn mustache, the noticeable lack of padding in the midsection. Note also the lovely accommodations we enjoyed while guests of the Saudi king.

Flash forward to my son's fifth birthday last month. Note the irony of the O'Douls resting on the beer gut - all the calories, none of the buzz.



Note also the fat guy lounging in the far left of the photo. Yup, that's Randy.

This is going to be a really long walk.

A Morning Walk

This is one of the times of the year that its most enjoyable to be outside in New Orleans. I just got back from a walk, watching the sunrise pop up over Lake Pontchartrain, with a cool breeze that made me say out loud, "Thank you for such a beautiful day!" No clouds, low humidity and temps in the 60s. Its the perfect "Chamber of Commerce" day.

How many mornings might be like today while walking across Spain? No matter how many, I'm sure we'll appreciate each one.