In case you haven’t heard there is this really big canyon in Arizona. In matter of fact it’s one of the world’s seven natural wonders. Like, OMG it’s totally so big! I think it’s called like the Grand Canyon or something like that? Have you heard of it? Huh? Have you? Have you? Alright enough of that kind of chat. Today I had one of those experiences on the trip that could be a once in a lifetime kind of thing. …

Las Vegas is said to be the fastest growing city in the United States. With that in mind it was just a couple months ago that it was that the United States reached a population of 300 million people. Something I’ve seen people point out, talk about, and have seen for myself in many of the tows I’ve stayed in is growth. New subdivisions are being built in all directions, new malls, new shopping centers, and everything between. …

Now that I’m in Las Vegas I can take a break from the blog, because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Well, not on this trip. It wouldn’t be an invasion if I didn’t tell all. I made it here later in the evening. The drive was all new scenery to me out in the Arizona desert. Although it was night the highlight of the drive was crossing the Hoover Dam as I entered Nevada. …

Here are a few of my favorite family Christmas stories to share with everyone. Enjoy! Christmas Bulbs Adam and I were really young at the time, just young little boys. It was the Christmas season and the tree was decorated. One afternoon my mom was out running errands and such and my dad was responsible for watching after Adam and I. Well, my dad was deep asleep on the couch, probably watching football on a Sunday afternoon. …

I thought it would be a good thing to share some of the family traditions from back home. I miss it a lot right about now, and those traditions are really what makes Christmas to me. When you’re away from home you realize how much more family traditions mean for whatever season. So here are a few Christmas traditions from home. But to start it off this is a picture my mom sent me on Christmas and it made my day. …

Today was my first Christmas away from home. To me Christmas is at home in the living room with my parents and brother, snowy and cold outside, but toasty warm in the house. We would laugh constantly and have one of the most relaxing enjoyable days of the year. I missed that today! I think it could be worse though. I know I would miss home more if there was fresh snow on the ground or if I was only a days drive away. …

Twas the night before driving, with 10,000 miles down, Not a Bugsy was stirring, not even the blog. In the driveway the gas tank was full, Where the Jeep Compass was ready to roll. The blog is updated with comments to come, And 36 states to go with no clue what will become. Mamma is back at home waiting for me to call, While I dream of hosts to last through next fall. …

On this trip I’ve watched all kinds of people go to work. Some moan and groan not wanting to go. Some people merely mention anything. And only a few said they love work. I’ve seen a selection of various jobs so far, log truck driver, radio DJ, community college marketing director, elementary art teacher, rancher, producers, film crew, waiters and waitresses, Mary Kay and Pampered Chef sales, real estate agent, and one of my favorites is Dave from South Dakota who worked at EROS where they do satellite imaging. …

Today wasn’t a traveling day, but it was a driving day. I distinguish the two this way, traveling you change locations and end up at a different spot than where you left, where as driving you end up at the same spot you started from. So today was a driving day, 326 miles north, which is quite a lot for just site-seeing and just returning to the same place. The trip put my miles counter over the 10,000 miles mark since leaving Lansing. …

Wait, what did I just say? Hockey night in Phoenix? It’s supposed to be Canada, not Phoenix. What am I doing going all this way to watch hockey in Phoenix, one of the hottest cities in the country. You mean they have an NHL team here? Ok, ok, so it’s a little weird for me to picture hockey in Phoenix, maybe that’s why, sadly, that the arena was so empty. Of course they are struggling to come up with some wins. …