Billie's 27th B-Day

Billie's B-Day Bash was a s hit. We had a good time at the Red Hot, Engine House, and Hanks. This is a picture of Michael and Jana showing Billie's age (27) with their fingers in the back of Meghan's car. More pics on my flickr site, tagged "Billie."

HOME!

It is so great to back in the PNW. I'm totally happy to be at home. Pretty much just hanging out, living in Tacoma and working back at the Rosewood. I'm staying here through the holidays. Then I'm not sure what my plans are and I'm okay with that!

PIC: Hike on Snoqualmie Pass with Kara.

I've got tons of new pics on my flickr site - check it!

Key West = F-ing Awesome!

OMG! I think that I'm in love (with the people and the weather down here). Melinda, a native Conch, and my personal tour guide, said that people come down here on holiday and never leave. They just send for their stuff back home, and I can totally see why.

All anyone does down here is party. It's amazing. I've met a lot of Melinda's friends and they all have the same idea. Sleep in until 11 or so, start drinking around 12, if you have to, work at night in some bar or restaurant (make tons of money from tourist). September is the slowest month here for tourism so most of her friends have taken the month off. They spend their free time either on one of their beautiful beaches, or drinking cocktail poolside. I can't describe how socially acceptable this lifestyle is here. Everybody, regardless of sexual preference, age, race, or socio-economic class, has the same agenda (party!).

So far since I've been here I've ate really good sushi (probably the best I've ever had) and Cuban food (I don't have anything to compare this to). In fact I've ate a lot of really good seafood every place we've went. I haven't really been drinking any beer because there are aren't any good micro brews down here. Instead, I've been on a strick diet of vodka, gin and tequila in various forms. Amazingly, I haven't gotten sick. I think it's because I've spread out the drinking all day, instead of just at night. I tell you, it has taken some conditioning to get used to this. I've certainly never partied like this before.

The drinking and the eating are just the back drop to all of the other fun stuff that I've done here. I also went shopping, rented jet skis, swam in the ocean, watched tons of college football, saw a drag show, and biked the entire island. It is so nice to be on holiday after working my ass off all summer.

Thank God, I'm leaving on Wednesday, because I think that I could really get used to this. As for the rest of my time in FL... Tomorrow, I plan to get my hair cut. Tuesday, Melinda and I are going to rent a car and drive to South Beach (Miami) for the night. Then I catch a plane home on Wednesday at 1 pm, FL time. It is going to take me three flights and 12 hours, but I'll be home by 9 pm on Wednesday. Even though I'm having a blast in the Keys, I'm still really excited about coming home. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Rockaway, NJ

Sucks! Rockaway is where the East Coast Trek operations are located. In between trips and during our final wrap up, we stay at the Best Western. After one whole day here I've come to the conclusion that NJ is really lame and that there is absolutely nothing to do in Rockaway, except drink. Every time that I've been here before there has been several other tour leaders, which makes things fun. Unfortunately, there is just one other tour leader here, Katie, who is really fun, but we really miss having guys around. I'm excited because tommorow there is supposed to be like four leaders in the office to finish up their season. This could be fun.

Thursday I leave for Key West!

DONE !

Yeah! I finished my last trip today. This gives me a huge sense of accomplishment. Tonight, to celebrate, I'm going into NYC for some fun and excitement with some fellow tour leaders.

PIC: Cappucchino from my favorite East Coast cafe, Murky Coffee, in Virginia.

DC....

....Again! I think that I'm just about a professional DC tour guide by now. Last week I led my first DC tour with no wrong turns, a huge victory in my field. I have a feeling tonite's tour will go just as well.

I'm just about done with my second Freedom Trail and very excited about wrapping up for the season. My last day with Trek will be September 26. From Jersey I'm going to Key West, where I spend one week partying with my friend, Melinda, a fellow tour guide. This girl totally knows how to party so I'm pretty excited. After Key West I'm headed home, and couldn't be more excited. I've definitely had enough of the East Coast for awhile.

If you're wondering why I haven't posted any pictures lately it's because there is absolutely nothing cool over here to photograph, with the exception of Boston, but both times I was there I forgot my camera. The only thing really exciting about my last trip is that I have five Aussies who love to party. I've never seen anybody be so excited about finding Milwaukees Best Ice before, furthermore, I'ver never seen anybody drink as much ice beer as these guys. Every night so far we have had a fire and they keep threatening to burn my trailer or a picnic table if we run out of wood. Luckily it hasn't come down to that yet. Other than that this last trip has been rather boring for me.

Excited about seeing everyone back home soon! Peace

Niagara, again....

I'm already half-way through my third trip. So far it has been pretty fun and very wet. I'm just about ready to be done with tour leading for the season. I'm kind of a fair weather camper and it is getting way to cold.

Boston was awesome though. We ate at this cool Italian place. Next week when I'm back there, I'm going to rally my troops to go out to a nice seafood dinner in Boston. I haven't ate seafood since I left the PNW last July. Tomorrow, we are off to DC, where I'm going to try to meet up with my friend, Travis.

Anyways, I'm still having a blast but ready to come home. I'm going to try to spend a week or two in Key West before I come home for the winter.

Hope everybody is doing well. Keep it Real