Journal
Dinner by the Pound
It’s only day 3 of living in Austin, Texas and I’ve already eaten more BBQ than I have in my whole life. And no, I haven’t eaten BBQ for every meal since I got here. This was all in once sitting. Yes, the meat here is served by the pound. Off to the left you’ll […]
The Flooding of the Yards
In this time of year, Phoenix weather is damn near perfect. Low 90s during the day, low 80s at night. Here, the saying “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity”, is proven by contrapositive, because nestled in the Sonoran desert, Phoenix has no humidity, and the heat just feels nice. This is why I’ve taken […]
Desert landscaping
The number one thing I was looking forward to when arriving in Phoenix was the heat. In the 10 years I lived in the bay area, I never left the house without my jacket, because regardless of the weather during the day, the evening was always a few degrees too cold. It was a mindless […]
Just Pics – Red Rock Canyon
Just 30 minutes west of Las Vegas is a set of large red rock formations creatively named Red Rock Canyon. A one-way 13-mile road loops around the whole thing, with parking lots at regular intervals, leading to the area’s many hiking trails. Given my short time in Las Vegas, I never got a chance to […]
Las Vegas, NV
During my first trip to Las Vegas, about 9 years ago, I learned two important lessons. First, the place that we all refer to as Las Vegas is actually called Paradise, and is adjacent to the real city of Las Vegas. Consequently, the opinions I form about the strip shouldn’t affect what I think about […]
Grocery Culture
A main goal of this trip around the country is to learn enough about each city to determine where I want to establish my new home. This means that I have to live in each stop for long enough to really absorb the vibe, the culture, and the feel of everyday living. Before my journey, […]
The Post-Pandemic Las Vegas Strip
I’ve heard rumors of the desolate wasteland that used to be the Las Vegas strip. It has been described to me as eerie how the neon lights and sounds are still in full force, despite nobody being around to enjoy them. How it’s creepy at night because the only ones wandering the floors are the […]
Straight nothingness
If you trust Google Maps’ bird’s eye view of the route from Mariposa to Las Vegas, you’d think I spent 7 hours slowly turning left. But once I was on the road, and the navigation was just a series of “126 miles until the next direction”, it really felt like one straight line. Absolutely nothing […]
Mariposa, CA
A very special first stop on my trip, Mariposa, CA checks just about none of the boxes I outlined as must-haves for a home. I don’t think Amazon Prime has even heard of this place, let alone their urban-focused grocery variant Prime Fresh. I’ve had zero cellphone signal this week, and the AirBnB’s self-described “Zoomable” […]
Home is where I keep my chocolates
I’ve been warned by a few close friends about how this trip could adversely impact my mental health. It’s not always going to be wild adventures and sightseeing. Not every neighborhood will feel safe. Not every drive will be clear skies and open roads. But most importantly, there will be long periods of time when […]
Goodbye, San Francisco
Feels weird to have already left San Francisco, and to not have a set destination. Felt even weirder when I reached into my pocket last night to find only a key fob for my car, and no other keys. I really don’t have a home, unless you consider the forwarding address I gave to my […]