Home Of The Phoenix?: Phoenix, AZ

So, is this like, THE University Of Phoenix?

Raising Arizona: Phoenix, AZ

Wandering the desert doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

A couple of months ago, I casually mentioned to a friend of mine how close Phoenix is to Los Angeles (relatively speaking). In less time than it takes to drive to the Bay Area, you could be in the Arizona desert. She agreed with me, and casually mentioned that she and a few others didn’t have any plans for the weekend. Five days after bringing up the subject, we were in Phoenix.

Acclimation: Los Angeles, CA

Making it.

How long does it take to acclimate? A few days? Two months? Seven and a half years? When does it become real? Is it gradual, or is it an epiphany?

Lost In The Hipster Triangle: Los Angeles, CA

Pictured: The Most Beautiful Pollution Ever.

I’ve had some growing pains lately. The price of change is never small, and right now I am paying heavily. Three weeks ago, I got a little bit risky, took a chance, and moved across town to the Los Feliz neighborhood of L.A. Instead of being surrounded by UCLA students, luxury cars, and crippling traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard, I’m now surrounded by hipsters, hybrid vehicles, and crippling traffic on Sunset Boulevard. My address still reads “Los Angeles”, and it’s a “short” 12 miles across town from my old apartment, but I may as well be living in another city now. To say that there’s some culture shock involved with adjusting to life on the “East” side of town is a MASSIVE understatement.

This Is How We Do: Santa Barbara, CA

Straight stuntin’, yeah we do it like that.

Today is January 29, and I sit here right now miserably sick with the flu. The honest-to-god, body-ravaging, flu-shot-should-have-prevented-this-what’s-the-use-of-even-getting-a-flu-shot, flu. I can deal with body aches; that’s what Advil is for. I can deal with a fever; that’s what Tylenol is for. However, I absolutely cannot deal with not being able to eat anything except toast and yogurt. I can’t handle that. I’ve been sick since early Monday, and that means that I’ve now gone 48 hours without any real food. I would kill for a burrito…

The Road Ahead: Ventura County, CA

Dear Future, I am ready.

2014 is going to be a year of change! No really, I mean it! After my grandiose plans for 2013 were sidetracked by a pair of injuries which forced me to tone things down (read: do practically nothing) for half of the year, I’m ready to get back out there and make things happen! I’m ready to move forward into 2014, and get rid of 2013 for good! It starts now – no more 2013 talk, I’m only looking into the future from here on out! So, the first thing up on my list to write about this year is… my last road trip of 2013. Hmph.

The Road To Freedom: Freedom, CA

FREEDOOOOMMM!!! YEAH!!!

When you’re driving down a road, especially once you’ve been driving for, oh say, seven hours, and you see a sign which advertises “Freedom – Next Exit”, surely you interpret it as a sign straight from the gods themselves. Once you’re presented with the option to exit the well-traveled highway to the unknown (actually, Half Moon Bay), or take the exit to Freedom, there’s only one correct choice: You take the Road To Freedom.

FREEDOM!!! (Blvd.) [3]: Santa Cruz County, CA

Why yes, I would love to listen to some Rage Against The Machine, that seems totally appropriate right now! Thanks for the suggestion!!

FREEDOM (Blvd.) [2]: Santa Cruz County, CA

Fight and you may die. Run and you will live at least a while. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies, that they may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom!

Freedom (Blvd.): Santa Cruz County, CA

Follow me! FOLLOW ME TO FREEDOM!!!