Ashley Rae
AshleyRare
Ashley Rae
I've always thought to myself, "You know, I should really get a blog, or post my pictures, or SOMETHING." I'd start a journal at the beginning of my trip, start having too much fun (or too many beers), forget to write, then forget to catch up, and then forgot the feelings of the moment because it felt so long ago. Even with this blog, most likely it will be comprised of things I've done before, but am now remembering, am just getting around to, or more liking thinking/missing at the current time.
A little background about me: I am Ashley Rare from New Jersey, USA. I have a degree in cell and molecular biology, a Masters in pharmaceutical research and development, and am a bit of an eclectic old soul. A little over four years ago traded my lab coat for a suit and the open road with a job in scientific sales. Covering North America as my territory, I am on the road about 2/3 of the year traveling for work and pleasure...most of the time both.
Everyone always stresses over their five year plan. This is far from my state of mind. If you would of told me five years ago that I would be a successful business person, I would of laughed, called you crazy, and mentioned how I'm a scientist. Funny how awesome things can be if you keep an open mind and don't just look at your feet going one in front of another on a path you've set for yourself. My eyes are always open, looking all directions for the next best thing that suits me.
I will talk to just about any relatively safe looking stranger, usually take people up on any offer to go do something I am unfamiliar with, and am always trying to keep busy. I am a huge user and advocate of CouchSurfing.org, and absolutely love the community there and all the fantastic people I have met so far. If I don't know somewhere where I am going, you bet your ass I'll know someone by the time I leave.
I try not to stay in hotels, but find something interesting on AirBnb.com such as a 'tiny house', a tour bus, or perhaps a sailboat to lay my head at night. You will never catch me on the road at a chain restaurant, unless forces by company, but rather at a hole in the wall bar, the top rated cuisine in town, or a corner food truck. I also sometimes let Groupon decide my adventure, looking for new activities to try when I have some free time in between meetings or on a day off. That or just to save a buck here and there.
I have a laugh you can hear from across the room, and most of the time am told to, "keep it down." Sometimes I can be very vulgar and perhaps offensive to you, but please take everything with a grain of salt, as I am just speaking my mind with an unfiltered tongue. I am far from rude, but just very straight forward. I am spontaneous, quick witted, and very laid back in almost every aspect that makes me, me.
A Little About What This Blog May Be...Or Is: I want to share my experiences with the world. I want to show people that the world is not a scary place, that not everything and everyone is out there to harm you (except spiders...spiders are there to scare and harm you!). I want to show some of the beauty of the little things in life. I want to show the way the sun touches every crevasse and curve of the Earth, and even space. Also, (I guess) I want to make people jealous. More than jealous, I want to wake people up and perhaps inspire them to do more than play video games and sit at home all day, every day. I want to show people adventures in their own backyard, and friends living in the home next door. I want to show my life.
I plan on mostly doing photos, with some story time built in. Perhaps the occasional venting, but we are all human and have our bad days. Some photos may be things you think should be in a gallery somewhere. Some photos will make your stomach growl, and will make you add a new restaurant or food to your, "must try" list. Others will completely turn your stomach upside down and make you green. Others will make you laugh, or cry, or cry from laughing, not sure what your state of mind is now do I? All and all though I am looking to create a positive piece of internet space, but you never know where my chaotic mind will take us.