In trying to create posts about the goings on of the trip i thought it would be helpful to start with a list of all the places we saw. This will probably help me stay motivated and not give up due to being overwhelmed. Well probably...whatever, here goes...

Cape May, NJ
Baltimore, Md
Smoky Mountains, TN
Nashville, TN
New Orleans, LA
Austin, TX
El Paso, TX
Santa Fe, NM
Flagstaff, AZ
Grand Canyon
Canyon De Chelly
Monument Valley
Dana Point, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Big Sur
Point Lobos
Oakland, CA
San Francisco, CA
Muir Woods
Eel River
Clam Beach
Redwoods National Forest
Eugene, OR
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA

followed by 4 days of 10-13 hour drives to get the eff home which included sleeping in...

Butte, Montana
Sioux Falls, SD
Elkhart, IN
and then finally arriving on August 14 in Chesterfield, NJ to sleep in a real (clean) bed at my moms house before heading back to Cape May, NJ.
Super weird arriving back at the place it all started in.

Really only one word to describe everything i've seen and experienced during a month and a half of seeing America...Epic.

I'm back.

So i was a big fat liar when i said i would update this thing throughout the summer to keep you all posted on the goings on of the journey. Now here i am sitting back on the east coast without a single blog update. The new plan is to periodically whenever i feel inspired, try and recreate the trip from memory. I am kind of excited about this new plan because it's a great way for me to relive the amazing experience of a summer in America.

Picture Blog

Yeah well i don't have a camera with me, so if you want to see what we are up to you can check out Nic's Ameriblog....and one of these days i'll explain the last few days or so of adventures.

And go...

So i'm already behind on this America trip blog thing...being that it started Wednesday. Whatever, i'm way too busy being on vacation...

So...Day one down at the beach in Cape May. We stay here till Monday so hopefully i'll be able to get rid of this pasty skin i'm walking around with. Had an awesome breakfast at McGlade's. Omelette with lump crab, asparagus, goat cheese, and tomatoes...delicious.

Didn't make it to the beach on Wednesday due to the weather playing games. It rained so hard they closed the beach while we were eating breakfast. By the time the weather got nice enough to go to the beach, we were knee deep in some couch sitting/movie watching. Made a nice dinner since it's probably one of the last times we will be able to cook all summer. Veggie sandwiches with roasted zucchini, yellow squash, tomato, red pepper, and red onion. Layer the veggies on a toasted everything bagel with melted mozzarella cheese and some hummus. Fantastic.

Day two...beautiful day for the beach. Had a light breakfast before heading out. Time to get some color on this body of mine. The water was the perfect temperature. Spent a few hours in and out of the ocean before leaving due to hunger. Got some more fun gadgets for our trip before heading back to the house. Made repeat dinner with leftovers before heading out to see some fireworks. The house is a half block from the bay which is where the fireworks are shot off from. We got to see the tail end of the sunset before the fireworks. I might remember to take some pictures one of these days. Or i might leave that to Nic and steal them from him...either way, the journey will be documented.

Day three...another beautiful day in Cape May. Nic's family got down today, i got to meet his sister Jenn and her husband Alex. We spent the morning talking and drinking tons of coffee. We got ready for the beach and headed down. A few hours, some awful food, a lost beach tag, and some sunburn resulted in our beach departure. Shrimp tacos for dinner with sangria. Headed out for a few drinks at the local bar Harpoon Henry's.

Great start to an epic adventure.

America

Well Philadelphia, it seems i will be leaving you for quite a while this summer...
The plans are made...
Nine days and counting...

Yeah so..

I guess i'm one of those bloggers that get all excited and filled with words and blog like crazy, then stop completely for no reason other than laziness. Well thats the way things go i guess. I will probably, more than likely have tons to blog about this summer on my epic journey across America. So rather then deleting this wonderous blog, i'll keep you all waiting in anticipation for my next super-awesome post.

That guy

If you follow me on twitter, then you will know who i'm talking about.

This was the gentleman who tried to impress me with his running moves, followed by his extreme stretching capabilities. Work it dude, work it..

Ten Questions

This is the famous "Ten Questions" as popularized by James Lipton on "Inside the Actor's Studio," originated by French television personality Bernard Pivot, after the Proust Questionnaire.

1. What is your favorite word? words that end with -ly are generally my favs..they just sound so refined and classy, although i can't think of a good example currently..oh wait.

2. What is your least favorite word? see this is hard because there are words that i use sometimes that i hate when others say..like retard, or fag, or any racially derogatory word. but sometimes i like to say someone is a fag, its all about context people. and as long as you say something in a joking way, i'm mostly kinda generally okay with it.

3. What turns you on? passion for life, relentless, undying, passion for living and life. and laughter, best shit ever..

4. What turns you off? boredom and being settled. blah..

5. What sound do you love? the birds chirping in the morning and the sound the grate on the bridge to Ocean City makes when you are going to the beach. ahh summer

6. What sound do you hate? people i care about crying..it makes me sad

7. What is your favorite curse word? this might be difficult for me to choose just one because i generally curse like a sailor..lately i've said a lot of effs, C.U.N.T., and whores...cause i'm classy

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt? i might enjoy being a college professor, although i guess that is pretty much the same thing i do now with older brats..

9. What profession would you not like to do? any job that doesn't allow me two months off during my favorite season.

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gate? i'll let you in even though you totally killed my son..whatever.. i don't care. have some kugel..

Tuesday Mexican

That's not take out bitches...yet i can't take the credit...awesome

Thriftway Dos

So remember this, yeah well they ran out...

and this is all that is left... notice the selection of 12 grain, whole wheat, and light bread... apparently all unacceptable choices in my hood...

Thriftway

It sounds so dirty...

Clearly you will benefit from a trip to my supermarket...

Hiatus

So i guess i should let all my yearning followers know that i have been a lazy blogger. I have pictures anxiously awaiting to be delivered to the masses, but I sat at my desk Friday for 90 minutes staring and impatiently waiting instead of posting. There was an honest effort to share the recent insanity, but I failed miserably at succeeding. These things take time people, so stop yelling at me already damnit. Okay now we can make up and be bff's again. Phew, glad we got through that.

Monday Ravioli

Monday night, ravioli, garlic bread, fresh tomato sauce, wine, wine, wine...perfect.

Wine is Fine

Someone was about to have a fantastic evening, followed by the worst hangover ever invented..

The Old Joint

As much as i miss South Philly, i'm in a much better place now than i ever was there...

A Fishtown Adventure

In a desperate attempt to find entertainment, Fishtown gets ransacked..

First stop, CVS on Aramingo and York...what you don't shop in stiletto hooker heels all the time?  I know I do..

Next stop, Thriftway.  Um, yes that is an entire aisle of white bread.  Not a whole 

grain in sight. Apparently my only choice is to become morbidly obese.  Awesome.

Whoever put this display together was clearly high on something, or a genius.  Calling all single, lonely, cat ladies on Valentine's Day!!

This is perfect for me for work, it really accommodates the diverse needs of the people i encounter daily.  I feel so fortunate being surrounded by such forward thinking fashion.

And if you can believe it, this is only the beginning.  Next up, the rainbow variety of sweatpants/sweatshirts available at your (my) local RiteAid!!

Heavy Load

Driving to work this morning..

Look close..you'll see..

Spring!

Not sure what the gloves are for in a bathroom at Trader Joe's..

But look Daffodil's!  Spring is here!

Dirty Jerzee

This was my lovely view on the drive home friday..

I have no comment for this..

Family

This is a pic of a pic so i apologize for the quality.  

We are some good looking people...mmm

Does your snowman have a mustache? I didn't think so..

Snowmen in Fishtown are way cool.

In the spirit of kittens

This is how i spent my time after work day from hell yesterday.  In case you can't make out the image, that is the worlds most ridiculously adorable cat.  She was curled up under the blanket and snoring.  

Soon after this picture, i was forced to move so i wouldn't vomit from the cuteness.  

Coffee Shop Madness

I had the pleasure of being a part of this couple's conversation during my day off yesterday.  Or should i say i had the pleasure of listening to the lady yell her conversation throughout the shop.  

Getting started

I can't help but become inspired by all the wonderfulness that is my new home, Fishtown.  More on this later, for now i must complain.  

Living in South Philly was fantastic.  Now i'm forced to find new (crappy) supermarkets where you can't take your cart past the front door.  Thats classy..

People think of me as a hipster as soon as i say the word Fishtown.  They look at me with their judgmental eyes.  That guy over there...he's a hipster...I have a job people, hence not a hipster.  

I find myself getting inspired to take random pics..see urbanity, not mine but the inspiration for whats to come

So i guess i'll use this blog to do a number of things;  capture the wonderful images i see, bitch about the crap i encounter, and whatever else i feel the need to say.  

Bear with me people, this might make sense eventually.