Watch out East Lansing, it’s your turn to be invaded, I’m back! It’s a little strange to be back. For the first time in a year I know my way all over town, after visiting around a 100 towns in the last year. After that many new towns and never being familiar to any of it, it’s a little strange to be in a familiar place. This year the unfamiliar became the familiar, and vice versa. …

Back in Michigan! I left a year ago, went to all 50 states, stayed with over 100 households, had good times, bad times, and saw more of the United States than I could have imagined. After all this time of being full of thoughts, I’m just not sure what to write about. I’m a little overwhelmed to be back, maybe a lot overwhelmed. The last few weeks have been some of the busiest of the year. …

Last night (Sep 7) I found myself in Chicago with two of my best Spartan friends, Amanda and Kevin. It was the eve of the most anticipated day of the year, my return to Michigan after a remarkable and unpredictable year. I always wondered what September 8th would bring as it has been so long anticipated. I had no idea how it would turn out. I can easily say that it couldn’t have gone any better. …

Today I will return to Michigan for the first time, exactly one year after leaving my home state. I have had a lot of feelings in my life, but nothing so quintessential as this. I am humbled and speechless about what has happened in this last year. Well, I guess I cant be that speechless if I’m writing something about it. I guess what it has done is open my eyes and given me more experience than I could have ever imagined. …

Wow, Bugsy and I did it. Well mostly him, he just brought me along for the ride and I didn’t have much of a say. Heck, I never even got to meet any other squirrels, not any live squirrels anyways. Just a stuffed dead squirrel and one stuffed animal. I guess I can’t say too much for being a fake plastic squirrel myself. Bugsy, thank you for making this trip what it was. …

Rice, you have become a great friend of mine. Through this entire year there have been three big things on this trip, the Invasion Mobile, myself, and you. Those are the three big topics people want to know about. And through this entire year the only two constants I have had are you, a fake plastic brown squirrel, and my Jeep Compass. Well, I congratulate you Rice. You have become the first squirrel to visit all 50 states. …

I am still blown away by the beauty and size of Alaska. To summarize this state or even my short experience here seems impossible. If there was one thing I had to report about Alaska it is this: every person who lives in the United States needs to visit this place. Alaska is truly a unique place that stands out in more ways than any other state. Of all 50 states this is the single state that every American needs to visit. …

There are many ways to see Alaska. Unfortunately on my plane ride over the mountains I was stuck in the middle, no window seat for me. But I did have an amazing six-hour boat tour on the shores of the Gulf of Alaska. Of course you can also see sites by kayaking, biking, rafting, etc. But if you ever find yourself in Alaska don’t leave without seeing it by rail. The historic Alaska Railroad Corporation runs all the way from here in Seward to Fairbanks. …

I’m going to prison! This trip is all about new adventures, new experiences, and trying to get a good strong picture of American life, and prison life is very much a big part of it. Prisons always seem to make populate plots for movies or even songs from Johnny Cash. The Spring Creek Correctional Center is the only maximum-security prison in all of Alaska and it happens to be right here in Seward, just across Resurrection Bay. …

Today I was treated to something special. I have seen many National Parks on this trip. Some of my favorites are Redwoods, Arches, Badlands, Arcadia, even a plane tour over the Grand Canyon, and several other parks. It’s hard to admit over the Redwoods, but I may have a favorite new National Park. Today’s adventure was a six-hour boat tour around Resurrection and Aialik Bays in the Gulf of Alaska around the edges of Kenai Fjords National Park. …