Pic Post 2

Pictures from Reptile Gardens in Rapid City, SD.

A falcon (can't remember which type). They had a lure, but it flew away. "Don't worry, we have a tracker tag on it! We'll find her!"

Methuselah, their oldest tortoise. I touched this.

Maniac. Enough said. (that's his name, btw)

Did you catch that? 15 FEET 5 INCHES!! FRENCH THE LLAMA THAT'S HUGE!!

Pic Post 1

NOTE: pictures will be posted with some text explaining it or whatever.

They WILL be posted randomly and out of order. To limit the load of processing, only a few will be put per post.

I'm with Hank Green!!!!

Devils Tower National Monument, WY. Yes, there is no apostrophe. It got dropped at some point in the past (accidentally) and has never been corrected.

My first hardware love.

This just cracked me up. It's a kid's painting in the stairwell at the library in Albert Lea, MN.

More from Missoula

Sick of hearing about this city yet? No? Good. Because I'm not tired of talking about it.

After my 3 hour parking stint at the library was up (the time between the computer and the car- about 45 minutes- was spent upstairs trying to find Naruto. This library is big, and nice, and has a LOT of stuff. The manga section is 5 times bigger than Corydon's. Sorry Mother Dearest and Mrs. Burch) I went to find a spot back in one of the public lots.

Full.

Went to the lot I was in last night.

Also full.

And right next to an explosion of color.

Apparently from June-August Missoula has a lunchtime food and music festival EVERY WEDNESDAY from about 11-2, with food booths from local businesses and live bands.

The band that was playing did the best rendition of 'Epic' by Faith No More, a song found on Rock Band 1, that I have ever heard. I don't normally like that song, but I sang along. I think I

was the only one.

It was busy, but not crowded. Lots of families and young people (high school to college age). Oh and the University of Montana is just across the river from downtown. I'm going to check out their grad program online sometime.

Because I LOVE MISSOULA.

Back to parking.

Since that lot was full, I found my way back to the library lot and snagged the last spot left. For another 3 hours. Score.

Explored the lunch festival, and got food from the MacKenzie River Pizza Co., a place I wanted to check out from the brochure I got of downtown stuff yesterday.

2 small yet filling slices of pizza and 1 vanilla cream soda later, I am very full and content.

Seriously. The BEST cream soda EVER.

Sodas consumed: 4

Compared to Papalino's in Louisville, the slices were a third the area and 4 times as thick- not as thick as Wick's though. The dough, sauce, and toppings made a very hearty eat.

Yep, can't figure out Brian's blogging magic. Oh well.

If I can upload pictures here I definitely will.

I really like it here. Although ped x-ing is something else.

Apparently, as I found out a little while ago from conversing with a polite bike cop (name badge "Swanson"), pedestrians have right of way.

Always. FOREVER.

As in, you're driving down the street. There's a crosswalk, but no stop sign or light. Someone is standing at the corner. You are expected and supposed to stop to let them cross. By law.

Definitely culture shock compared to Indiana, and pretty much anywhere else. As Officer Swanson confessed, not even eastern Montana, where he's from, does that. There's also, according to him, some kind of city bike rental system. Sounds good to me. I won't be able to utilize that now, but maybe..... *scheme scheme scheme*

I love the downtown area. I haven't seen much of the residential area, and the business area is crazy. With signs, traffic markings and road parameters, it's actually a very confusing and sometimes hard city to get around by car. Some areas are much better for walking/biking. There are dedicated biking lines even out around the city.

I like it. You also get a sense of breathing, with a snow-capped mountain or two in the distance.

That's all for now. With the Old Time-y Nyan Cat melodically ruling my ears, I will now endeavor to try to post pictures.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDaayQj-vq8

Oh! One more thing. ALL the computers at the library here have names. I'm on Edith now, I was on Cheech earlier, and Buttons yesterday. Hint hint library ladies.

Hank Green VS Harry and The Potters

Dude.

It was.... MAGICAL

I've listened to a few of Hank Green's songs on Youtube, but I think he sounds much better live. He got really nervous and messed up some (some songs more than others- he couldn't play Phineas Gage), but none of us cared. It made him more human, less Internet Legend- just a guy doing something he loved.

Did I mention the concert was free? In the Missoula Public Library Parking Lot. About 60 feet from this computer through 2 walls.

I got a picture with Hank, his autograph, and hugged him and his wife Katherine (I don't know if it's a C or K).

Harry and the Potters were phenomenal. I've never heard any of their music before, but 10 seconds in I was an instant fan. I bought 4 cds of theirs ($5 each!) and a t-shirt for me and one for Leigh- to be paid back in cash or bagels and determined at a later date.

I didn't know the words, but the choruses were catchy and repetitive, so it was easy to join in.

Also apparently the two guys ("Harry Potter" and "Harry Potter") are brothers.
I got their autographs as well.

My journal has a page of awesome.

Did I mention there were like 50-60 people there? And most were there because it was a Harry Potter event sponsored by the library for the teen program?

I was there an hour early for sound check with Pita Pit for dinner (1 block away) and fell in with 3 Harry Potter nerds/ Nerdfighter girls. When they asked where I was from, "Indiana,", they said:

"Where is that?"

.
.
.

What?

"We don't know where that is- we're from Canada."

What?

Yep. 3 Canadian girls from Calgary. They were awesome concert-mates. I made sure to get a picture of them and their names. Facebook friends? I think so.
Meghan, Tatyaana, and Olivia.
Remember that page of awesome? Their names are on the back of it. #epicwinning
After the show the 4 of us talked with Hank about the differences between Canada and the US. I had to help them with a vending machine and US coins. Apparently Meghan ended up with some German coin or something "Gustav VI Adolf" ? Idk. I've never had to do that before #newexperience

Also they gave me a "looney" or a Canadian 1 dollar coin, so called because it has a loon on it. It's a waterfowl, for those of you non-outdoorsy types.

Also western Canada also doesn't have maple trees, something I thought odd.

I now have 4 more CDs to listen to and then get tired of in the car, which is actually a lot of music. It'll take me a bit to learn all the words.

After lunch, I'm going to go back to Wally World and do grocery shopping. Then I'll probably go swimming again.

Did I mention the KOA campground has a pool? And hot tubs? #freakingsweet

The campsite I got was a "more private one" according to the nice old lady yesterday.

Bull.

When I drove up to my spot, 2 kids from the site next door (separated by 3 feet and a small wooden "fence") were laying on MY picnic table.
And as soon as I opened the door of the car their dog started going ballistic. Not, Hey there's a person HI HI HI HI HI but INTRUDER ALERT INTRUDER ALERT RESTRICTIONS OFF KILL ON SIGHT

The pool was mildly crowded, but since I was the only person in the 5ft section over 4 feet tall, it was nice. The swim felt SO good. I can't wait for the Pacific.

After the concert and such, I walked the girls back to their hotel... which was literally around the corner. As soon as we said good night, good luck, and DFTBA (they had to drive 8 hours back this morning for Tatyaana's sister's graduation tonight), I walked LITERALLY 4 steps and was stopped by a random girl that needed a pen. BADLY. The one I dug out of my bag (I was prepared for autographs and such) went dry. I had another. Though she was writing as fast as she could, she still took a little bit to get whatever it was down. I didn't look, but it seemed less like a phone number and more like a if-I-ever-see-you-again love letter. She said I was a live-saver and ran off. Good deed for the night? I guess so.

I got back to my car, which was in a public lot off downtown (downtown Missoula is SO COOL). The public lots charge a 25-50-75 cent weird rate, so that from 7-5 is $8.50. I had gotten there at 4:05 or so, paid 50 cents for until 5, and stopped at the visitor information center to ask where I could move it after 5. I was told that after 5 it becomes free to park there. Sweet. I didn't have to move it because I wouldn't get a ticket.

Well, I got back to my car well after 10 and there were like 5 other cars in the lot. One RIGHT NEXT to mine. It would have been not so creepy except that car was full of ... stuff. Blankets, bags, newspapers- all sorts of stuff. Like even the front windshield was full of stuff. What made it worse was that there was a creepy crazy-cat/bag lady standing there. Just standing there. Between what I assumed was her car and mine. She had a hand in her pocket and I was seriously afraid I was about to get robbed or something. She didn't, and the crisis was averted. However, apparently just up the street there was some show at a theater and she asked me if I had been there. I hadn't, so she wandered away.

CREEPY.

I drove back to my campsite, only to try to go to sleep to the sound of the bratty little snot kid from the site on the OTHER side of mine, similarly separated. As in, the three tents were less than 20 feet away from each other. What. The. F.

All the way to 11:30 this kid was screaming and crying. Like bratty 7-9 year old, not a baby.

He started again at 6:30 this morning. SERIOUSLY?!
What kind of family lets their 8 year old get stay up until almost midnight, and who then gets up before dawn? On VACATION?!

I eventually got up at 7:30-:45ish, tired of the crying and whining. SOMEthing was hurting this kid, and he didn't want to do SOMEthing. I don't know.

KOA buffet is actually, like, breakfast. Real scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, etc. It was pretty good. I also drank a small cup of coffee. First one in months #letsseehowthisgoes

Oh right the soda meter:

Sodas consumed: 3

I had one of the Old Faithful Rootbeers I bought up at Tower Falls. It was more like Birch Beer, which I don't like near as much, and I realized why. It tastes like licorice. Licorice is gross.

I also found the Wally World on the way here and picked up a cheap pair of headphones for library use. #best10dollarsever

Did I mention that Montana apparently doesn't have sales tax? Like, a $10 pair of headphones costs.... $10. Either that or the tax is factored in. I don't know but I don't care #winningeitherway

The hashtags are fun #soaddictedatthemoment

The library also has 3 hour parking, so my car is safe for another hour.

WAIT I FORGOT THE CREEPY GUY

There was this creepy, thin, oldish guy that wandered up to the concert. The audience is almost entirely 17-20 year olds (minus me), library teens and sometimes their parents. There were a few little kids running around, being adorable... and this guy.

The kind of guy who may or may not be homeless but looks like it- clean at least.

He got really into the music. REALLY. Into it.

He walked around for 2 hours air-drumming along and telling everyone who would listen (and many who would not) about how this was great and he was a great drummer with at least 4 different bands (seriously, the name changed constantly). He seemed really overwhelmed by the atmosphere. He struck me as not all there, but honestly emotional about the experience. Also we could barely understand anything he said. I kind of felt bad for him.

He was also waving around a denim jacket covered in Sharpie autograph scrawls that he said was worth millions of dollars. If I get more time later today I'll try to post pics. I got one of him and the jacket, just in case. No idea what his name was.

Sorry this was so long, I've been writing this and on Youtube for the past 2 hours and I have 5 minutes left, with no renewal time after. Maybe I can get a later session.

Strike that 30 seconds THUNDERCATS ARE GO

DFTBA

Creeds to Live By

DFTBA: Don't Forget to Be Awesome [And decrease world-suck!]
-Nerdfighteria / Vlogbrothers


Be smart, be safe, have fun.
-Andrew Lasky ["Boss"]


....

Poo.

I forgot the third one. I talked to myself a lot on the hikes (it's what I do when I'm alone) and came up with the 3 creeds I like to live by the most (and I think are the most worth-while to live by!). Well, maybe not talk to myself so much as think out loud.

I'll be updating this when [if!] I remember.

Wed. edit: AAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHH I remembered it last night but then I forgot it again!!!!

MONTANANANANANANANANA

I'm in Missoula, MT!!!!

I'm super excited because I get to see Hank Green AND Harry and the Potters in concert. Tonight. For FREE. [Not that I've really listened to much of either's music but =P mulaaaaaa]

The KOA here in Missoula (where I'm staying tonight and tomorrow to get ready grocery shopping and such for Glacier) (tomorrow) is HUGE. It's like its own miniature city or country. And the nice old lady at the desk gave me a COLOR map of Missoula, so now I know my way around.

I SAW A BEAR THIS MORNING!!! THREE BEARS!!!!1!!1!

At ~7:57 am MST, traffic slowed to a stop on a plain northbound to the North Exit of Yellowstone. Because there was a mother grizzly and her two cubs!!!! SO COOL.

Then I saw elk after entering Montana on Hwy....90? Not sure. The one to Livingston from Yellowstone. 3 Elk!!!! AH AH AH.

Yellowstone was...phenomenal.
Legend- wait for it and I hope you're not lactose intolerant- DARY!!!

So big. So many trees. MOUNTAINS, GANDALF, MOUNTAINS.

Saw/heard plenty of 'foreigners' (says the kid halfway across the country)- Asians (Japanese? Korean? Who knows? I don't), French, German, and I think Scandinavian of some type.

IT GOT COLD. No rain, but ~35-39 degrees F at night. HEY BRO THANKS FOR LETTING ME USE YOUR AWESOME COLD WEATHER SLEEPING BAG XD
From what I've heard from Boss, it's going to be below freezing in Glacier. Ho Hum.

The tent's been holding up just fine. The tarp's been wet every single f-n morning and I haven't had a chance to let it dry. Maybe tomorrow. Because of the wet, it picked up dirt from the past 2 nights' sites, and has made my trunk a mess. Cap M. Car wash vacuum time (tomorrow).

There's a Pita Pit down the street. Might stop there for dinner, or just wander around downtown. Although I only have <2 hours before the concert!!

Leigh asked me to get a shirt for her and she'll pay me back. She's a nerdfighter too- who knew? We're both recent converts to the church of AWESOME. DFTBA.


I am SO getting Hank Green's autograph in my journal (which I haven't been using except to tally costs and what license plates I see- reminds me hold on a sec I got Maine and British Columbia today).


......


Up to 36 states and 5 Canadian provinces. Maybe I'll get all the states but Hawaii when I'm done (I've already got Alaska!)

Speaking of not using the journal- I've never had a journal before. I'm finding it very hard to jot down thoughts into paper because I can type so much faster than I can write. It's also more engaging. My thoughts tend to flow around like a water park so typing just helps me collect and write better, I think. It helped me write papers in college, at least. Because now I can say "back when I was in college". Teehee.

Back to Yellowstone.
I saw mountains, forests (lodgepole pine and Douglas fir, mainly. The latter in the northern reaches and the former EVERYWHERE), wildlife (YELLOW BELLIED MARMOTS SO CUTE. I was walking a ridge trail and one just ran out in front of me and perched on a rock over a cliff, looking at me almost to say "I'll do it! I'll jump! SO HELP ME!!!" I didn't get pictures of either marmot because I'd forgotten my camera on that hike. I did it again a few hours later, but no wildlife on that one), rivers, geysers, a waterfall, and lakes (some small and one HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE).

I don't want to stop and take pictures of everything or write down everything that happens because .... well, it's personal. To me the point of this trip isn't pictures to remember- it's to live and experience it to remember. And if I don't remember it- oh well. I won't be missing out because I won't remember how awesome the thing I forgot was. Although, I expect to remember everything sometime. You know how sometimes you'll see or think something that makes you go- "Huh. I didn't remember that before just now. I'd forgotten about that."? That's what I'm expecting will happen to those things I 'forget'.
When you're out here alone (and I mean alone- several times out was miles from anywhere and anyone and it was GLORIOUS), it can be a special kind of something. I'll eventually print pictures or put them online or whatever.

But everyone has secrets. Some that no one else knows.

Come out here and do what I've done, be where I've gone, seen what I've seen- and you'll know some of mine.


I really appreciate the support from all you guys reading this. Someone knows I'm having a blast writing it.

As Bob Dylan said of Tangled Up in Blue, it took him "10 years to live and 2 years to write."

Wyoming!

Started in Wall yesterday morning, after camping the night in town. I've been taking the occasional video clip, but didn't take any video or pictures from Wall. Why? I've been there before, many years ago, so it wasn't a place for me to ooh and aah like a tourist and take pictures of stuff. It was a time to refresh my memory of the things I had seen there.

Devils Tower was a lot cooler than I thought it would be. It's huge, monstrous, awe-inspiring and pretty cool.

Besides those highlights, yesterday was not fun. Why, you ask?

Speed limit 75 is no real problem when you go 65 and there's nobody to pass, and relatively few people on the road.
Mountain driving SUCKS. It is scary and the deer are bigger b******* than in IN. However, I didn't wreck, didn't get stranded.
I was driving past snow. SNOW. IN THE MIDDLE/END OF JUNE.
I've driven over 1000 miles from home, friends and family by myself.
Driving westward in the evening is a bad idea. Especially in mountains.
I misread directions and drove past my intended campsite(s) by about 30 miles before I realized it.
I made it to another campground just as dark was falling. Not having hot food in days, I prepared to heat soup in a can.
The lighter I have doesn't work. It won't spark.
I have matches in a waterproof container, but nothing to light them on.
The mosquitoes at the campground were awful.
It also featured a mineral spring pool, which means that the entire site smells strongly of sulphur- like getting stuck in the shower at Sapelo Island.
And when I got there, I paid 20$ to get told that I had to park my car not in a parking spot and pitch my tent not in a campsite spot.
I'm alone. Lonely.
I had cell phone service all of maybe 20 mintues all of yesterday.
Valve released Meet the Medic.

I haven't cried in a long time. Some of you reading this have heard my theory of the emotion meter. Basically, the way it works is that whenever strong, emotional stressed get you (anger, fear, sadness, etc.) they fill the meter a little bit. Happy, non-stressful times reduce the level. Think of it like water in a dam. Eventually, there will come a point where you get one drop to much, and the whole thing busts. That's when you cry. Different people have different meters, fill it up different amounts, and so one. That's why some people cry often and others hardly ever at all.

I couldn't remember crying for the past 2 years. That's a lot of stuff built up behind the wall.

Last night the dam burst.
I was lonely, tired, had a headache, mentally exhausted, physically sore from driving and sleeping on the ground (I'll get used to the latter), and all the things above just piled on top.

I bawled like a little b****. I had to rant and cry to myself out loud in my car because I didn't have cell service to call anyone. I cried though blueberry poptarts for dinner because I didn't have the energy or will to make a sandwich.

I drank the cream soda I was saving for a special occasion, like Sam joining me or getting to Seattle or something. I couldn't not drink it- my will was broken.

Sodas consumed: 2.

I just found out today going through Tweets on Twitter (gosh people post stuff all the time!) that Mario Marathon 4 started last night. I can't really watch or support, but oh well.

I have 2 minutes left of Internet time and this will have to do.

Later today, I'll be in Yellowstone. The adventure will continue from there.


PS HOLY CAARP MOUNTAINS

Day 2

After ending on a high note last night, today has been mostly.... not fun.

It's been overcast all day, still really windy, and has been alternating between not raining, raining, not raining, and drizzle. About every 5 minutes.
Took some more video today (I want to turn this into a sporadic vlog a la Green Brothers, but to find a computer with movie software...).

People driving suck. Especially Illinoisites and Minnesotians. In and outside of their respective home states. Iowans aren't quite as bad, but on the same level of Hoosiers.

In the past 2 days I've seen 3 windmill rotor blades in transit to respective sites. SO BIG ZOMG. Seriously, I think the new windmills are the coolest freaking things ever. EVAR.

The rain's really got me down (especially because my tent is still wet from this morning- I haven't been able to dry it out). Also my butt is getting REALLY tired of driving. I MUST BREAK YOU.
Currently in the library of Albert Lea, MN (NO idea how to pronounce it, and too afraid to ask). When I get done writing this I'm going to see if I can mess with my videos a bit or not.

A museum historical society had a booth at the farmer's market here in the AL Lounge, 60 feet away from where I parked, which also happened to be about 200 feet away from the library, but since the library was down the hill I didn't know that, I wandered around for about a half hour to just explore, walk and STOP SITTING DOWN. I went back to the farmer's market, got a Crumble Burger and a 7Up from the society and asked for directions to the library.

Sodas consumed on trip: 1

What's a Crumble Burger? It's exactly like a normal hamburger, except instead of a patty, the meat is just piled on a bun, exactly like a Sloopy Joe except without the special sauce. Still tasty.

With the way the weather has been looking (Iowa rest areas get top marks for user-friendliness- they have a weather computer in the lobby!), I am fully prepared to spend the night in my car. Not looking forward to it, but prepared to make that sacrifice.

With the little 1-hour timer going down in the corner, I feel like I'm watching my life tick inexorably away. Internet life, that is.

I'm going to head to Myre-Big Island SP, which is nearby, for the night, and we'll see what tomorrow brings.

DFTBA

EDIT: Video question answers NO. Libraries are consistently rating #1 for worst place for vlogging capabilities among travelling college graduates.

Blown Away... Almost

In a manner of speaking. Relating to many different things.

For starters, the wind has been blowing quite hard. All day. Worse when I got into IL. And then the rain. Oh god the rain. But more on that later.

Overslept slightly this morning, leaving a bit more than a hour after I meant to. For some reason I was really tired this morning. After Mother Dearest made me a cheesey omelette and helped pack the car, I was off! The thought I had going down the driveway was as follows:

"I feel like I'm driving away from everyone and everything I've ever known, into the greatest unknown and the rest of my life."

One of them "EEpiffanese", I guess. A "pro-found moment". Hmph. The old man inside of me says "Not on my watch!"

Within an hour I had almost screamed myself hoarse. Did I mention I have road-rage? It involves screaming (usually indignant insults) at anyone who pisses me off/is driving like an idiot, which is EVERYONE. Today was worse than most Interstate stints, though.
Then more shenanigans, including the N-bound I-74 exit being closed, being rerouted, missing a turn, and later (in IL) taking the wrong fork and parking on the semi-side of a rest area. I are best driver.

Then, feeling a little lonely and wanting to here a friend voice, I called my friend Shelley. As soon as she answered the heavens opened up and started raining so hard I couldn't hear anything she said. True story. After about 5-10 minutes it disappeared.

Then I made it to Galesburg, IL, near which I have a campground selected to spend the night. With Shelley's help I found the public library, where I'm typing this post on their "dollar-an-hour" policy for anyone without an IL library card. The librarian was really nice and seemed totally cool.
SAM TILMANS- YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY SEXY LIBRARIAN. HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU BUT THE TRUTH HURTS
XXXXXDDDDDDDDDDDDD

The library is really at odds with my senses, as it feels simultaneously cramped yet open. There's plenty of floor space, yet the shelves are CRAMMED with stuff (mostly books). It seems to be all one level, too, which is something alien to me.

I would take pictures, but 1) I don't have my camera on me and 2) that's probably illegal for some reason.

OKAY the 10 minutes left timer just freaked me out. I thought I lost this post. Gotta wrap this up, Amumu style. (I'll be lucky if 1 of you people reading this understands that joke.)

My plan now is to eat some dinner, find this campground and settle in for the night. If I'm lucky, I'll find a computer again tomorrow (I can't watch LoL replays because I don't think I packed headphones on this trip- my iPod is on the kerplutz and there's nothing else I need them for). If not, it may be a day or 2. Or more.

In any case, this is Teddy Lasky, signing off.

Well Then

I got some texts and stuff today (and all this weekend, actually) of people saying, "I thought you had already left./?" Well, I haven't. Not yet.

But tomorrow.
As in I am planning on leaving between 9 and 930 am EST (are we in DST? Bollocks if I know) from my home in Corydon, IN.
The reason I haven't left by now (after so many delays I almost feel like I should own Valve right now, if not be their spokesperson or whatever) is that I was trying a last-minute plot to get Scooby (Nate Golub) to accompany me. However, since I haven't heard from him and the dealine has been reached for when I told him to contact me with a solid y/n, I can only assume that he cannot come along. And if you're reading this, Scooby, I'm sorry and I hope you're not mad at me for something or other. Keep in touch. If you have a free week or two maybe we can finagle something to try to fly you out to meet me somewhere or something.

[Side note: considering that I KNOW my parents will be reading this {maybe grandparents too} I'm going to try to keep any cursing to a minimum and as PG13 as I can, but since this is going to be my main way of expressing my emotions and reactions to things for the internet's sake {I'm keeping a journal as well}, it'll still come out somewhat. So I apologizse {when I spell it I always want to do it the British way} if I offend anyone or seem "not the nice boy I thought he was". I recount via ranting to people IRL, and I'll probably do it here too.]

Also: proofreading occurs as I write things, so if I miss something I'm sorry. I managed to get through college without taking an English course #FYEAHWINNING

The game plan for tomorrow is to head north on I-65 to Indianapolis, take I-74 west into Illinois and probably stop for the night and camp in or around...Galesburg, I think. IL. Then, the next day, to pop up to I-80, take that over to I-35 (relying on atlas from memory- I'm at home on our old-ass Dell with AOL right now but too lazy to look it up). Probably camp at Clear Lake State Park (from hereon out, State Park and National Park and their ilk will be abbreviated SP, NP, NF, NM, etc. as it's too much to type out because I'm going to experience so many. States will also be abbreviated. So get used to the 'lingo'.) that night [Day 2]. Oh that's in IW...IO....IA...IOWA. Whatever the abbreviation is.

ATTACK OF THE PHANTOM PARENTHESES AND THEIR EVIL MINIONS BWAHAHAHAHAHA )(){}][][](])]0]([[])()))[}}}{] !!!1!!1!1!!11one

Day 3 should get me to Sioux Falls, SD. From there it should take me a day to get across SD to stop at Spearfish, SD for Night 4 (visiting the lovely Wall along the way- I've been there on a family trip before and it's flippin' awesome. Maybe I'll buy my dad a jackalope because he WOULDN'T LISTEN TO US and walked past an ENTIRE STORE OF THEM and then said, "Why didn't you tell me?" about 3 hours later when he realized what we were saying. I'm not bitter or anything. No, seriously, I'm not. It's just one of those things Dads do on vacations XD. I got a jackalope postcard there though.

Day 5 takes me into WY, visiting Devil's Tower NM and staying at... Horseshoe (just retyped that word 10 times and it looks weird every single way) Lake? Northern border of WY aways east of Yellowstone, as I don't think I'll make it all the way across WY in 1 day. Then to Yellowstone, where I plan to spend at least 3 days.

I'll update this as often as I can (probably with new posts- I don't like editing old posts because no one goes back and checks; least of all me).

So that's the beginning of the plan. And as my Dad says (along with a great many other things- seriously, the guy is an endless spring of awesome sayings and old quotes): "The best part of a good plan is its flexibility." And my plan for this trip is nothing but flexible.

As he also says, and I intend to live it, not just for this trip, but for life:

BE SMART, BE SAFE, HAVE FUN.

Path of Excellence

This is the general path my journey will take (up until Yosemite). However, the actual route will be slightly different from the picture, as I will be hitting Yellowstone on the way to Glacier. This was made in a hurry at the library a few weeks ago.

<("<) <( " )> (>")>
^Dancing Kirby!!!^

Preparation...

Been planning out how many days to spend where/travel time/etc.

Also been allowing my parents to ransack my brother's camping stuff.
When notified of this, he said he couldn't remember what he had.

And since he is currently halfway around the world, he won't miss anything for a couple months, right?

Have from departure to Washington kind of planned out. Will work on planning at least to Yosemite tonight, as well as finishing a supply list, picking a departure date, and deciding what food I will be packing.

In other news, I appear to have come down with a cold or some such the past few days. I hope it goes away by this weekend.

Prelude

Hey there! As a new college alumnus, I have time and willpower. As I also don't have a job, I don't currently have any ties other than friends and family (wonderful soft, fuzzy ties XD ). As such, I am undertaking a freat journey out West, to experience the national parks and sites I have always wanted to, and even some I didn't know existed.

As I go along and hopefully find internet spots, like in libraries and such, this will be updated so anyone following along can keep abreast of my exploits!

Departure Date: ??? [SOON]
First Attraction: Devil's Tower
First Park: Yellowstone National Park, WY
Next: Glacier National Park, MT