Blogs from East Lansing, Michigan, United States, North America - page 2

So We've officially crossed our 14th state line in 3 weeks. We're only going through a total 16 new states on the tour, so you can imagine how much criss-crossing we'll do to fill the time from here on out. Which seems fine to me; repeated chances to visit or revisit favorite areas...like the JACK-A-LOPE capitol of the WORLD, Douglas, Wyoming. Meet Douglas, our team Mascot. We picked him up in a little novelty shop, and have since velcroed him to our dashboard. He faces the road, into the sun, into the future with the dignity of...Mr. Bean. You know, Rowen Atkinson? Trust me, if you know what I'm talking about then you know what I'm talking about. ANYWAY, two tastey items that I must share with you. In Madison, Wisconsin I tried Blu Creek blueberry ... read more

My early worries before the trip were baseless. While my usual planning was as helpful as always; Thailand was more than ready to open its arms to Colin and me. Perhaps even more than western Ireland, the Thai people displayed true hospitality and showed us that they were very happy to have us in their country. Thailand is a wonderful place. Before we began planning this trip, Thailand, Bangkok, and Southeast Asia in general seemed like some of the most distant and exotic places on the planet. Movies I had seen (such as “The Beach”) combined with songs like “One Night in Bangkok” created an illusion of unpredictable dangers. In reality, Thailand, including Bangkok, seemed a lot safer than Chicago and I was underwhelmed by expected challenges. While the sex shows in Pat Pong, markets with ... read more

I confess to being a control freak. Whether it’s with a campaign or with a trip, I like my environment and my future to be scheduled with everything arranged and in its proper place. While my duties at work often exceed those of anyone else in the office, my desk is nearly bare by comparison to those of my co-workers -it appears that I do nothing. I don’t deal well with uncertainty and a lack of organization. I’ve realized through my planning for this upcoming trip that Thailand is far from predictable. This country is so laid back and chaotic that it is impossible to acquire the feeling that I’ve adequately prepared for this trip. My favorite haunts, Ireland and Toronto, fit my personality well. I know exactly what to expect from them. The TTC (Toronto’s ... read more