Waitin' on the world to change

Well folks its been pretty slow here in Jackson since I returned from my road trip. The off-season has been fun as we have a good amount of free time on our hands. (some cheeky and fun shenanigans, some evil shenanigans) We have gotten some good snow fall, although it has been pretty warm in the past few days. Living next to the Teton mountain range is absolutely gorgeous once the snow starts to coat the tops of the mountains. We are eagerly awaiting the opening of the resort although the season has already begun. If anyone would like to make a trip to ski this winter please contact me.  My roommates and I would be more than happy to have visitors!

Snow King after a light snow

Sunset from the porch

All you can drink mimosas/bloodies...with this view!

Pretty much the back yard

1 Month, 6 states, 2 cracker-barrels and some grab ass

Well folks Im currently typing from the VIP loft in "The Penthouse" (what we have named our condo) in Jackson Hole. I came over  the Teton pass and was greeted by a magnificent view of the mountains. After a month on the road, I look back at all the adventures that I had and what an amazing trip it was.

Clarence gave me a great tour of USC. Thanks Clarence.

I was able to then head north on the coastal road. Let me tell you that this drive might be one of my favorite parts of the trip. I stayed a night in Shell Beach (if you read this, ask me for the story someday) and then headed up to San Francisco to stay with very old family friends Cal and Jack Kennedy. We determined that it had been almost ten years since we had really gotten to hang out. We played video games. Some things never change.

I then headed to Pescadero, California. My Aunt Cathey and Uncle Dan live in a beautiful house on top of "Alice Hill" with their two dogs, Lili and Sally. They have an amazing olive tree farm and are looking to produce some oil this harvest! Looking forward to a taste test! Anywho,  it was an amazing way to wind down my trip with some good family lovin'. Thank you again Aunt Cathey and Uncle Dan for everything.

After a depressing loss for the Broncos, I took off for salt lake city the next morning. Stayed with Woody one night and Beebs the next.  Cruised home.

After the whole trip with nothing happening to the Black Pearl, I accidently left the lights on last night and the battery died. I'll let her sleep for a few days. Good work Pearl.

My travels have come to an end for the moment as the job fair for the mountain starts tomorrow. I would like to thank everyone that hosted me throughout the trip. Without you, the trip would have never happened or been nearly as exciting. I love you all.

UGH...milk was a bad choice

After a marvelous week and a half of sweet San Diego livin', I hit the road again last night. I am now currently sitting in a 24 hour Subway restaurant across the street from the University of Southern California. I was able to crash last night at an old friends place. Thanks Caroline!  (FYI Los Angelas is a very stressful place with little parking and a lot of honking)

Anywho, one of the main purposes of this road trip was to get to San Diego to see some of my best buds! I want to start off by saying thank you to Ben Meyers. (Id think twice about stepping into your closet) I would also like to thank Matt Alaimo and my two best buddies John Brow and Paul Lipcius. And who can forget the legendary Peter Kim, Chris Martin and Matthew Hughes! Thank you all for your hospitality and for putting up with my shenanigans for the past visit. 

It was truly an amazing experience for me. I am not sure I could have laughed any more than I did in the past week. I was able to meet up with Janelle Sauve and Alyssa Kelly who had just recently moved out to what I now think of as paradise. Thanks for sharing your doll house! I was also fortunate enough to see John's mother while she was visiting. It is always a pleasure Mrs. Jake.

Evan came out for an epic taco Tuesday full of mega margs and we even got to go surfing! I was able to surf three times while in San Diego. Once with Paul (got crushed by the uber swell comin down from Laguna), once with Evan and Paul (surfed some sick waves at La Jolla) and once with John (pretty much just paddled out and floated). 

Unfortunately Matt, Ben's friend and roommate, had to return to Connecticut for awhile. He threw one hell of a denim bar crawl for his going away party. Most fun I think I have ever had on a bar crawl. Best wishes Matt!

I would like to congratulate John Brow on his new job as well as Ben Meyers for becoming a homeowner.  Traveling itself is an incredible learning experience for me but what is truly special is to be able to go see some of your best friends succeeding in this crazy world. The relationships they have built has created a home-like atmosphere that I am grateful for and will cherish forever.

Anywho, I now highly anticipate my lunch with Clarence Cheung and his tour of the USC campus. I have a dinner date with Miley later. Forever and always, "You stay classy San Diego". Till next time.

Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial (Favorite spot in San Diego)

 The president of the memorial happened to be there

 Too epic

 Down at La Jolla with some surfer bro gettin' ready

 The Black Pearl kickin' it with the vett

 This was the first bar...

Thats that good good

My road trip has taken me from Salt Lake City, through Moab and then down into Phoenix to visit my old buddy Nick Hewett. On my way from Utah and into Arizona I tried to visit the Grand Canyon but unfortunately the government has shut down and the park was closed. This was the first I had heard about the government shutting down so it was a shock to me. Although somehow I feel blessed that I was able to find out because it affected me directly rather than reading or hearing it in the news.

I slept in the desert on my way through and had one of the most epic night of stars. It is an incredible feeling to be completely alone with absolutely no lights in the desert. I hopped up on top of the Black Pearl and star gazed for what seemed to be hours before I ended up falling asleep under the magnificent universe. I encourage everyone to look up on a clear night and wonder.

Anywho, Hewett showed me a fantastic time full of great weather, awesome bars (one kind of sketchy but it had horseshoes) and a pool! Phoenix is a pretty great spot and my man is doing it well. Thanks Hewett.

The next stop was SAN DIEGO. Translation was lost many moons ago...

Hewett in his oddly shaped, baller pool

Kickin' it by the pool all day

 Evan and Paul being badass

 John crushin', Paul pinchin'

 Where the koalas at?!

 Panorama of La Jolla

"If I lose my keys its because of the mormons, if my car gets stolen its because of the ski bums"

Well folks the road trip continues and I have now left Denver and have traveled to Salt Lake City, through Moab and now am currently in Phoenix. (Inside a Mcdonalds escaping the blistering heat produced by the sun). I left Denver Friday night and drove about half way to Salt Lake City and then crashed in the back of the van.  I woke up the next morning quite refreshed and hoofed the other 5 hours to enter Salt Lake City!

Let me tell you that I love Denver and all that it has to offer. I think it is my favorite city to date. However, the view of the mountains that you get when you are in Salt Lake City is leaps and bounds better than the view in Denver.  Anywho, I was able to help one of my best friends, Woody Franklin, begin to move into his new apartment. He now lives in Salt Lake City. Right next to the Utah Republican Party and a whole bunch of churches. Also just a few blocks from downtown and bars!

I was also able to meet up with my "sista from anotha mista" Lindsay "Beebs" Beebe and meet her boyfriend and roommate. After a delightful dinner full of questionable judgements (Beebs) and laughs with Woody's dad and sister, Marga, we hit the town! The night was packed with reminiscing and ended with excess flesh being shown to strangers. (Take that as you will)

The next day Woody and I watched the best team in all the land crush the stupid Eagles. Snitches get stitches Vick. Go Broncos!

Anywho, now I wait for my friend Nicholas Hewitt to stop taking it from the man and show me Phoenix. Next stop: San Diego!

Drive to Moab

 Headed to Salt Lake City

 Hey Look!

 There's Woody!

 He looks good!

 The Black Pearl

I also regret to inform you but Woody did beat me in a chugging contest for the first time in life. Congrats, 1-300 aint bad.

Special Guest Blogger: Donovan Walsh

Last Saturday, I flew out to Denver to visit one of my favorite people in the world. Unfortunately, he was working when my plane landed, so Eric picked me up.

I'm having a hard time putting my trip into words, so I'll just give you a glimpse into some of the adventures we shared. 

While I was not able to take in a show at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, it did not fail to leave an impression on me. Before my visit, Evan and Eric expressed to me how beautiful it was, but you really have to see it in person. To give you some perspective, I loved it so much that I spent nearly three hours at work today just reading about the historic performances that the Red Rocks has witnessed.

Fun Fact: In 1913, a band called The Cremation of Care and the Arrival of the Goddess of Prosperity performed. Rolls of the tongue, huh.

When I first met Eric at school, I was a little scared. Not because he's ugly but because, well, he's Eric. Still, that random roommate assignment might have been one of the greatest chance encounters of my life. Almost six years later, I still find myself with my arm around this guy.

Fun Fact #1: Denver's altitude did not affect me until this hike. I've never felt more out of shape.

Fun Fact #2: Eric can hike very well. I think it's the beard.

Fun Fact #3: He refused to carry me up the mountain like Hector Zeroni in Holes. I hope he and his future children are cursed with poor luck.

When it comes to disc golf, I'll be the first one to tell you that I am not very good, but I was able to make it through the second hole without losing my disc like Eric (I lost my disc on hole 10).

The real beauty of this game was that I got to hang out with these two broke jokers. Sure, I threw a disc once in a while but mostly I just laughed at their tosses. 

Of course, I cannot write about our disc golf outing without mentioning Evan's miracle shot. Without getting into too much detail, let's just say that when his disc hit the chains, he ripped his shirt off and celebrated like Game 7 of the NBA Finals. 

Fun Fact: I regret not taking my shirt off and waving it in the air as well. It was that awesome.

Much more happened, much of which might be best left undocumented, but it was all in good fun. I'll be back in the spring, Denver, so don't miss me too much.

Fun Fact: Evan works way too hard. And he's way too nice of a friend. Thanks Ev.

PS  I am not scheduled to go to China anytime soon despite what Eric's post says. I just like sushi a lot.

Hair is the ceiling of the mind

Well folks it has been a crazy couple months and I am sad to say that the summer days have past and life in Jackson is getting pretty cold. As excited as I am about the upcoming winter months, I was just not ready for the cold. Solution: Head on a road trip from Wyoming and end in sunny San Diego.  Along the way I will be going to Denver and the surrounding Colorado area, Salt Lake City, Moab, Phoenix, Reno and then end in San Diego. 

Now you may ask yourself "Gosh Eric, how does one just take a month off from work and go on an epic road trip?" Well its pretty simple. Jackson Hole is mainly a tourist town in the summer. Through the months of October and November the town is pretty ghost like. Since my job with the kayak club is over and the work at the bar will be limited to none, I have some free time. I think ill use it wisely. 

Anyway I arrived in Denver on Saturday, September 21st just in time to pick my buddy Donovan Walsh up from the sketchy as ever Denver International Airport. It was Donnys first trip to Denver so there was anticipation in the air as to what shenanigans we would get up to.  We got downtown and hit the bar! 

The next few days included disc golf, two baseball games (total of 5 innings....baseball sucks), a fantastic hike where Evan and I were reunited with our ghost friend Jeff and lots of laughs. It was great to see Donny and catch up with whats going on in his life. (hes going to china!) Here are some pictures that I have on my phone. Donny may do a guest blog and post some of his so stay tuned!

The Black Pearl

 Donny in front of Coors field

 Donny at Red Rocks

 Donny as Bill Clinton

 Broncos!!!

 There was a really cool moose in the bar

 Evan and Donny fight sequence 1

 2

 3

 Donny and that same moose eating sushi

Donny at Coors field with moose

 Couldn't help some sunset shots in Jackson

 View from my bedroom in Jackson one morning

 Sunsets are awesome