Well I was right when I left Boise knowing that I had a bunch of new friends for life. Now that I’m close to Boise my friend Kayla from the crew came to visit me for the day and tomorrow. We wandered around the town. I bought a new pair of jeans finally and even tried on a pair of shoes. I think it’s been almost three years since I’ve tried on a pair of shoes. …

I’m in state #16, Utah, where I’m staying in Ogden about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. It’s a pretty big town along beautiful snow covered foothills at almost 5,000 feet elevation. Once again I have changed climates. I woke up the last two mornings to a temperature of the mid twenties and a beautiful view outdoors of the mountains covered with snow. This feels much more like home than the dessert did. …

I wanted to make a big list of all the stuff going in the car with me when I left on this big excursion. Well that was one of many other things that never happened. But right now there is a collection of some pretty random and interesting things in the Compass. Christmas helped me to add a few things to the collection and it is just about as messy as it can get. …

I have a feeling that I’m a little more mature than four months ago when I left on this trip. Of course I have no constant to compare it with either since my atmosphere is changing every week. Some might argue that my maturity decreased when they see photos from the sweater party and gang green. But I’ve come across a lot so far that I haven’t stopped thinking of and haven’t stopped learning from. …

It was the middle of October while in Casper, Wyoming that I first heard about Melissa’s story. If you haven’t read the entry about her on the website yet I suggest you do. Read her story here. For a couple months I had a link to her story featured on the site. She was given three months to live with her current liver. The family’s, and the community of Casper’s, greatest Christmas present was a new liver for Melissa on December 5th. …

For a long time I knew I was going to be driving through Utah during the middle of winter. That means lots of snow, big storms, just like home in Michigan. I was ready for it, anticipating it, and it came along tonight. Oh well, it happens, I’m crashing at a hotel for the night. In only about 10 miles or less I believe I counted 7 or 8 cars in the ditch, two that were rollovers. …

Now that I wrap up Nevada 15 states are to be counted for, 8 months and 35 states to go. There were several highlights in the last couple days to finish it off. Though there aren’t many stories, most of it is summed up by lots of photographs, I hope you will all enjoy them once they’re posted. Monday was a day of catch up and relaxing and getting back up to par after being sick. …

One of my biggest worries on the trip was to get sick. Well that was the case starting the night of Christmas. It definitely set me back. There is no place like home when you’re sick, and when you’re sick away from home you want to be at home more than anywhere else. It’s a little embarrassing to get sick at somebody else’s house. I felt bad for Kirstin and Ricardo. …

2007! The fact that it’s 2007 and I’m still on the road with this trip is a huge milestone. I’ve been driving the Compass for four months as of today. It’s been 1/3 of a year! Wow! I’ve come a long ways. And now New Years is probably one of my favorite holidays, it’s great to turn on the TV and see that people are celebrating something together across the world. …

Wishing a happy new year to everyone! Cheers, to an amazing year to come, let’s all make ‘07 great. Last night I rang in the New Year with my brother, his fiancé, and her crew. Funny thing today is the Rose Bowl. My brother graduated from University of Michigan and Kimmie graduated from University of Southern California. They’ll have lots of comments in the airport today when they are each wearing the sweatshirt of their alma mater. …