Has anyone noticed that it’s March 1st? It’s a special day. Can anyone else tell me what it is? Today is the 6th month anniversary of driving the Compass. It’s a beautiful thing. to celebrate our 6th month anniversary I’m thinking I’ll take the Jeep out on a date today. For starters we’ll go find some muddy dirt roads and get dirty. From there I’ll give the Compass a soothing bath, so it’s spotless and shiny. …

Why I just named this blog entry that I don’t know. But I did have a delicious chicken caesar wrap at Go Bananas (thanks McKenzie) yesterday, next to the record shop. And since I’m not longer in Stillwater it’s a rap. So if that makes sense to anyone else I guess that’ll be a good thing. Stillwater was good to me. For all of my readers out there here is one way you can tell I’m having an awesome time without even reading the blogs. …

Early on in the trip I talked to several different classes from Kindergarten and up. Well tonight I talked to a group of 50 college seniors. I’m about the same age of them and I was in the front of the class. I’m too young for that, I should still be in the desk taking notes, not people taking notes about what I ramble on about. But when a student comes up to you afterwards and says, “I just want to shake your hand” I guess something was meant to be. …

The two greatest movies about record stores are Empire Records and High Fidelity. I’m pretty sure the conclusion for most people is that High Fidelity is the better movie. Regardless, there is something special about independent record stores. Well last night I crashed at Happy Narwhal Records. From now on my intensions will be to never buy a CD from a big corporate store. This trip has given me the appreciation of locally owned businesses and how important a place like this is compared to Best Buy. …

“The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own homes.” – Harold B. Lee “Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.” – John Howard Payne “A good home must be made, not bought.” – Joyce Maynard “My home is not a place, it is people.” – Lois McMaster Bujold “I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself. …

Here’s the breakdown so far of where I’ve stayed… 32 houses: including town homes, victorian, old, new, etc. 14 apartments: from a pool house to and old place in Denver 5 motels/hotels: mostly to split up long drives, New York City, Utah, Wyoming, Oregon, California 3 Trailers: hey, nothing wrong with a trailer 1 B&B: Whispering Pines in Nebraska City 1 camp ground: Rapid City, SD Tonight may be another first, as I may stay at the Happy Narwhal Records shop in Stillwater with some people my own age who go to OSU. …

Want to become a millionaire? It’s simple, come out with some a men’s fragrance that smells like sawdust. Me and my dad have joked about it for years. Anytime he would be cutting up firewood* we would mention it. Hard working men across the world would be lining up to buy this. You could also introduce other fragrances such as barbecue and locker room. Now I have a lot of entrepreneur ideas, so consider this a freebie. …

To my surprise, this is one of the first times on the trip where my hosts have music playing loud throughout the house. My generation which seems to listens to so much music and coming from college, I’m used to every dorm room or apartment having background music. However, not many houses do. So this is nice, Chris and Debbie are one of the first for that and at that they’re jamming tonight. …

One of the biggest lessons for me on this trip is how to live simply. For an entire year I’m living with whatever I can fit in my car. I used to always want this and that for Christmas and my birthday, all kinds of stuff. I guess now I really think of just the things I need. I have no desire to buy more pairs of jeans, I’m perfectly happy wearing the same ones over and over. …

Dear Internet, Thank you for everything you do. I really like you a lot and I think you are really neat and cool. You make my life easier and more fun. It is really nice how you help me keep in touch with friends and family back home. And I get to hear from different people all across the country. You are my best friend. I like you a lot. …