Where getting dressed up means putting on socks

(ARCATA, Calif.) — I can’t believe it has been so long since I’ve written. I know explanations (at least mine) are usually boring and kind of defensive, so I’ll just give a short one. I’m on shore leave from my trip right now, visiting California and my family (I flew out from Wilmington, N.C., where [...]

A Frank view of New York

(HARRISONBURG, Va.) —  When I look back on New York City, where I was almost a month ago, I see a blur of people, street food and jolting subway cars. It’s a happy blur now. But when I wrote my last blog posting about the city, I was at odds with it and couldn’t understand [...]

Like a swig of sweet tea

(HARRISONBURG, Va.) — The ups and downs of this trip take my breath away sometimes. Of course little is permanent in this life, but this journey is an exaggerated version of that rule, and effect is exciting, exhausting and stomach churning. I am not complaining — um, I don’t think. I am simply amazed. Boredom [...]

More fake blood and pop culture references, please

(LURAY, Va.) — It’s one of those slow nights in the middle of nowhere. All around me are green, rolling fields and cows and farms, but even at 5:30 p.m., it’s too black outside to see any of that. It’s also eerily silent, and I’m kind of into it. It reminds of why I moved [...]

Cultivated Boston, in pictures

(BALTIMORE, Md.) — Follow-through. It’s something I’m working on. You see, about a month ago, I spent one day — one short and rainy, yet sweet day in Boston. And only now am I posting the pictures. This follow-through thing is a process, I guess.

Everything went by so quickly while I was there, but I [...]