About Me

I'm an undergraduate Texan temporarily at the University of Maryland. I get restless in one spot. I think I'll be ok being tied down to a place, but then the travel and explore bugs creep up to get me. My goal in life (aside from the normal success and happy family goals) is to explore the world and see all I can before I die. I only have one life, right? So, I'll explore the world and keep this as a little online documentary of where I go. I hope you enjoy what you see and read tagging along with me online - I look forward to any feedback you want to give me!

In the meantime - a few things about me:
* I am a military brat, so it was practically etched into my soul that I can't stay in one spot for long. The longest I've ever lived anywhere was in a tiny town in south Texas for a grand total of seven years.

* When people ask me my favorite traveling destinations, I really have a hard time picking just one. I think you find different things in each place:

• Favorite place to get severe culture shock: Tokyo and Northern Japan.
• Favorite diving spot: Roatan, Honduras.
• Favorite places to get great cuisine: Rome, Italy. Sorrento, Italy. Tuscany, Italy. (See any trends?) And Bavaria - if only for their Apfelstrudel dessert - Apple Strudel for those of us who know absolutely 0 German. 
• Favorite place to run a road race: Milan, Italy (Stramilano).
• Favorite places to go if you have two weeks off: Roatan, Honduras. Cuernavaca, Mexico. The free state of Bavaria, Germany. Rome, Italy.  

* Classic rock is pretty much the best travel soundtrack you can have, in my opinion. 

* I usually pack pretty light for big trips - can't fly around the world being weighed down can you?

* I have a fantastic Golden Retriever named Lou. She is a goofy, high energy, borderline insane dog who loves anyone who walks in my door. Useless as a guard dog, but cute as hell. See? Aww.

 * I have never posted a blog before, so this is an online adventure. 

* I have never smoked anything in my entire life - grandma's lung cancer scarred me on that topic.

* I have absolutely no idea what I will do with my life once I graduate, and it's coming up fast!

* I REALLY like running. A lot. I will run my first marathon this spring and have done a few half marathons already. I will definitely post pictures.

* A little segue from running marathons - I am even MORE excited when it comes to running obstacle course challenges - ToughMudder is my thing.

* I like to collect post cards - a lot of times they are way better than pictures I can take!

* When I run, I sing "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner repeatedly in my head... I'm sure after 26.2 miles, I will be completely sick of this song.  

* I like to sketch, but don't get to do it nearly enough.

* I run really quietly - I like to sneak up behind people on trails and then cough to practice how quietly I can be. The higher the person jumps, the quieter I was. 

* I really like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and eat them often. However, I prefer most any other jelly to grape.

* I also love cooking - I try new and complicated recipes when I have the time to be creative.

* I have lived in several different places while I was growing up - Tyler, TX; Galveston, TX; Aurora, CO; Laurel, MD; Fort Riley, KS; Floresville, TX; and now back to the D.C. area to finish up school.

* I have a seriously creepy, old man neighbor who watches me from his living room window and offers me cookies at all hours of the night and day. Humorous in retrospect, I'm sure, but right now? Creepy.