Everyone's Dad Should be a Pilot

You've all seen my "where in the world have I been" Map. (If you haven't scroll down to the bottom of this page.) I've been places. Granted, there are many people in the world who are more widely traveled than I am, but I don't need to join the army to see the world! My Dad is a pilot for good ole UAL. *Many prayers to the deity that they clear the bankruptcy courts soon and with flying colors. - Maybe without red though-* As such, he and his family get to fly free -standby space available- but free. And so, we got to see the world. Now that he's retired, our seniority is even better, and I get to enjoy it as long as I stay in college. Not only is that a good reason to be a super senior, it’s my Number 1 reason to stay in college. That's why I'm goin' home this weekend to catch the first snows of the season up in the good ole Rocky Mountains at some of Colorado's finest ski and snowboard resorts! Free flights baby! All the way! I've realized though, that some people don't travel as well or as much as I do. My roommate has never been out of the country. Some of the other girls in my section are amazed that I drove my car back from Colorado. Its only 14 hours. That’s not even how long it takes to get from here to Turkey or Italy. You just have to stay awake the whole time for it. One girl is scared of driving her car from South Dakota to Iowa in the summertime. The other girl from Colorado doesn't think she could do it alone... Its weird how so many people get their small mindedness ingrained into them and think nothing of it. At least they stay out of trouble, which is something I wish I could do more often. Speaking of all that- A lot of girls/women/college age people wish they could go to Europe. I've been there at least 5 times and I don't see why anyone would make it their hearts desire to go there {especially if they had to fly coach!} - Perhaps its cuz I've never seen Ireland- The water tastes bad. There is no traffic etiquette. Their cars are tiny. The public transit systems are dirty and over crowded. The streets and cities don't make sense. They don't speak our language, or any other civilized language. (Italian is the language of barbarians!) Everything is incredibly expensive, especially the bottled water. And since it’s so dang hot and they don't have air conditioning anywhere, you really want to drink the water, which tastes like oil and river water. Cheap lodging? Nice. Extensive public transit? Nice. Railroads going all over the place? Nice! Seeing a different culture? Nice. Buying beer out of vending machines? Very Nice! Pickpockets that make a living off American tourists? Not so nice! Ah well, it’s a tough world. You always want what you don't have. Right now, I'm wishing for a 4-day weekend or something. Enough to make the 7 hour drive down to Kansas and visit 2 friends and get back here on a decent amount of sleep. Or enough make the 14 hour drive to Wyoming and see another friend. I like traveling! Always gotta be in motion, this one. And now, the motion I'm gonna make is to bee-line it to my beautiful bunk and get a record five hours of sleep before class tomorrow.

Road Trip!

This weekend, I drove my car from my home to my school. ~Now, I’ll have you know that I am accustomed to long drives, not having gone to school that is closer than 10 miles from my house since 6^th grade, but the Colorado-Minnesota trek was a little more taxing than the typical hour-long commute in Denver {by about 13 hours!}

By the time I arrived back in my dorm, I felt like a really tired zombie. One never really realizes how much effort goes into holding on to a steering wheel. The aching buttocks? -That can be understood… Sitting for 2 days is not so good for that which is sat upon. However, it is a little known fact that the steering wheel does nothing to support your arms, which are, of course, sticking straight out in front of you. Semi drivers have the right idea – putting the wheel down low and then resting your hands, on the giant wheel that is comfortably placed at knee level. I should be a semi driver when I grow up!

Another rant – Iowa! Speed limit: 65! What on earth were they thinking!?!?!? The whole dang nation drives 75mph, yet the state that is most boring, most empty, and most farming or small town oriented slows people down. Hello! It’s a huge fine if you drive your farm equipment on an Interstate Highway Anyways! Next time I drive across the country, South Dakota, here I come! Their speed limit is 75. And then I can add another state to that beautiful map I have posted below… How nice!

Dark and Light

I admit it.... I did go over to the dark side... But I only went over to pick up a few things. I'm back now. Really!

Where I've been

Have you ever seen those magnetic maps on the backs of campers or RV's that show which states have been visited by that mobile home and its owner? Yes? No? Maybe so? Well, here it is: the human version: *Not that I am going to paste it on my forehead as a trophy of my travels... Though I do take pride in it!*

As you can tell, one side of the family is from the East Coast, the other is from the Upper Midwest, I have been to both Disneyworld and Disneyland, and I've practically driven across the whole country trying to get to college. Oh, and my Dad has a penchant for taking family vacations at least 500 miles away from home. When it all comes together, this is a representation of where the humble Village Idiot has been, at some point or other, in the Good Ole United States of America:

On a global scale, this is where I've been in the world. Yeah, I'm much better traveled if you only lokk at the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

And, as you can see, Europe is about the only place outside of North America to which I have been. Thus, I give you a map specific to my travels in Europe.

I had fun with this. It’s kinda a lighthearted type of amusement for the amateur traveler that doesn't require internet games or travel guides. Check out this awsome website and Try it for yourself if you like! *And no, I don't expect you to wear it on your for head, your camper or your own blog if you don't like!*