I’ve recently moved to Marquette, Michigan. Since moving here I’ve been exciting to hear from several of my trips hosts. But I’d like to hear from more. I want to update everyone on where you can find me, network with me, send freelance work my way, talk about photography, travels, trip planning, or just share some good stories. First off you can find my new portfolio at www.bugsyrocker.com so you can keep up to date with what I’m working on. …

This is what 141 gas stations looks like. Average gas price: $2.63 At the time I thought that was expensive, and it hasn’t even been a year since it’s been done. …

On October 8th, 2007 I announced my final entry of Daily Fruit, “The Last Banana” if you will. After 6 years and 2,191 consecutive entries I needed a break. It’s back. And as Jay-Z said, “What’d you want me to do, I’m sorry, I’m back!". Hey, Michael Jordan came out of retirement too, even Celine Dion did. Give it a look, bookmark it, share it, and everything else. …

For the last 624 days I have been living out of my duffel bag. Tomorrow is the last time I’ll go to my duffel bag for a change of clothes. This is no exaggeration. I moved into my duffel bag on about August 23rd of 2006, while leaving Lansing and headed home before my trip. Tomorrow, I move to Marquette and will have a dresser and closet of my own. Two things I have not had for 624 days (not even while I was at home! …

I’m not one to get on my soapbox, but it’s time. THESE GAS PRICES ARE RIDICULOUS. Between September 2006 and September 2007 I spent $3,300 on gas money at 141 gas stations across the country. My trip average during that time came to just $2.63 per gallon, and I thought that was expensive. Only six months after finishing my trip gas prices are already $1.00 more expensive than the average of my trip. …

The tragedy at Virginia Tech happened a year ago today. At the time I had just woken up for my first night in Alabama, where I was staying with students who attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It was a pretty casual day and I turned on TV to catch up with the news in the world. Second only to 9/11 it was the most horrifying news I had seen in my lifetime. …

I have a hard time deciding after my trip if it’s a big world or a small world. There are stories of both. This would be one of those “it’s a small world” stories. A couple years before there the Hometown Invasion Tour existed I was the photography editor at the Red Cedar Log yearbook for MSU. It’s the largest yearbook in the nation with 21,000 copies printed. I had a staff of about a dozen photographers. …

(as posted originally on Yooper Steez) Ahh, the tee shirt (or t-shirt). It is the ultimate fashion icon of the United States as no other country wears more t-shirts than U.S. citizens. We love them. Everyone has got to have a dozen t-shirts (or several dozen like me). Communicating with t-shirts is something Americans know how to do best, they have it down to a “T” (insert laughter here). It can be at a bus stop, in a classroom, a concert, or anywhere else. …

For everyone out there wondering “What in the world have you been up to Bugsy?”, I can at least give you one update… JPG Magazine has published another one of my photos from the trip. This one I’m ESPECIALLY excited about. It was taken on the very last day of my trip, from the top of the Mackinac Bridge. Feel free to make a run to your local Barnes & Noble or Borders to pick up a copy. …

I’ve seen a lot of bars. Not because I drink a lot, I can assure you that I don’t drink very much at all. But when you’re a guest in all 50 states for a year people like to bring you to drinking establishments, and it’s the truth, you create a bond when you go out and have a beer. I ain’t lyin’. I may have to start a bar review. …