On the Road Again

At DW's suggestion:

I was born a poor white child....wait that's a Steve Martin movie...regardless, it's accurate :-)  Yep, I'm a true West Virginia Hillbilly.  I lived in the same house from the day I was born until the day I went into the military at age 17...yes, my mother had to sign the papers.  It was the single best decision I've ever made and I am sincerely honored to have had the chance to wear my country's uniform.

I am a Travellin' Man...since enlisting, I have been to all 50 states in the U.S. and somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 countries.  Since retiring, I've had 3 jobs...all of which required extensive travel.  Over one 13 week stretch this year, I was on the road for ten weeks!!!  I've actually woke up in hotels and for several seconds couldn't remember where I was!!!  I was in Vegas last month and will be in California in February.  I think I currently have10 trips scheduled for 2011.  Believe it or not...I think I've finally gotten tired of travelling.  I'm working very hard at the moment to minimize the amount of time I spend on the road....I'm getting too old for this crap :-)

The worst place I ever lived was Idaho...if you're from there, I feel for you.  Face it, if the best slogan you can come up with for your license plates is "Famous Potatoes"....your state doesn't have a lot to offer.  I actually think we should dig a moat around the whole state and make it a penal colony!!!  Of course, being the fair-minded person that I am, we'd give current residents the opportunity to relocate if they want...see, I'm not so bad :-)

If I ever screw up so bad that I get deported...I want to go back to Australia and live....living there was a fantastic experience.  Great place, great people, and needless to say...great beer :-)  I'll write more about Australia in a seperate post.

I've been to a number of places in the Pacific...loved the cultures...the food.....and since  was a young, single man...yes, I loved the women :-)  It was also the only area where I felt tall :-)

I also spent some time around Central and South America...it wasn't bad but I doubt that I'd elect to go back. 

I've never been to Europe...although I tried very hard to make it happen!..The one place I want to visit is Egypt.

Here's a few things I've learned in my travels:

• People are people, no matter where you go...some good and some bad
• The average American has no concept of true poverty
• Attitude is everything...if you're willing to find the good, you will...except in Idaho
• You really shouldn't drink everything you're offered in a foreign county
• You really, really shouldn't eat everything you're offered AFTER drinking everything offered in a foreign country
• Other culture's beliefs and customs are just as valid to them as yours are to you...even when they seem whacked out :-)
• The phrase " I love you no shit G.I" may not be 100% sincere
• If you've already eaten three pieces of kagogi before discovering that it's dog meat, there's really no sense in stopping :-)
• There is not enough alcohol in the world to get me to "suck balut"...google it :-)

Have a great day and may all your travels end in happiness!