My Getaways: Back East

Over the last couple of months, I've made it a point to actually use my vacation time, and I've gone home every time I had some time off. While I love going back home, the last few times I've realized that I need a real vacation. I don't think I have the time or money to go on my dream vacation, but I would like to explore more of the country.

I'll fully admit that I'm a West Coast kinda guy. I've been missing the Pacific Northwest terribly, and I'd love to spend some extended time in San Francisco, but I think I need to check out the Eastern U.S. to see what it has to offer.

There are a few stops that would be mandatory, but I'd like to changes things up a bit too. New York City is a no-brainer mostly because I want to see why so many people heart NY. I don't think I could actually live in a city like NYC, but visiting every once in a while could be fun. Another stop that I'd have to make would be Boston, which for some reason is the only East Coast city that I could see myself living in despite never being there before.

I'd like to go back to Washington, D.C. since I was young when I visited last time, and I'd think I'd appreciate it a lot more a second time around. Another city that would be interesting to check out would be Philadelphia. Again, it's a place I don't think I could settle down in based on what I know about it, but I definitely want to experience it.

Other cities like Pittsburgh and Baltimore would make the expanded list, and since I'm a beach person I'd like to hit up some of the coastal getaways. Oh, and Miami. I'd even be up for visiting places in Connecticut, Maine, and the rest of New England. For an international flavor, I'd be willing to check out Toronto.

Seeing all of theses places is a lofty goal, but one I'm totally willing to strive for. Honestly though, if I'm able to get to a few of them, then I'd be happy. Now, I just need to start saving up...

My Dream Vacation

I'm convinced that if I ever toured the Mediterranean I would never come back, and I'd be totally fine with that.

The thought of seeing Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Israel, Turkey, Morocco, and Egypt is exciting. While, I probably won't have the chance to hit all of those places, my goal is to visit a few of them, which is totally do-able.

Also, Australia would be a really cool vacation spot. In reality, all I really need to be happy is the water and a beach. Simple, right?

My Getaways: America's Past-Time

With today being Opening Day of the 2010 Major League Baseball season, I couldn't help but be reminded of one of the earliest goals that I set for myself, which was visiting all of the Major League ballparks. I know that this is not a dream unique to just myself since many have reached this feat before, but it's still something I'd love to do. The thing is this goal has lost some of its luster since most of the old school parks have been replaced with state of the art stadiums, but there are a few I'd like to see sooner rather than later:

5. Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Baltimore Orioles

For some reason, I will always see Camden Yards as the forerunner of the modern day ballpark, and according to some sources, it's the blueprint that so many other organizations have copied. I just remember the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards being such a big deal, and it's always stuck with me, which is why it's one the short list of stadiums I want to see now. Plus, it has one of the best names in baseball because it's simple and void of commercialism. Good job Baltimore.

4. AT&T Park: San Francisco Giants

While on my roadtrip home from Oregon to Texas, I spent a few days in San Francisco, and while I didn't actually go into AT&T Park, I did get to drive by it. Even from the outside, I could tell that it was a nice park. You know that it's a modern park with some old school charm. Also, the idea of McCovey Cove is brilliant, and I wouldn't mind spending a few games just floating around waiting for home run balls.

3. U.S. Cellular Field: Chicago White Sox

To be honest, I could careless about the stadium (which has lost some of its appeal when it changed names from Comiskey Park to its current moniker), but I've always been a fan of the Chicago White Sox, so I would love to watch a home game on the South Side of Chicago. I'm still glad that it was the Chi-Sox that beat my beloved Astros during the World Series. I wouldn't have had it any other way.

2. Wrigley Field: Chicago Cubs

Since I'm a White Sox fan, I have no desire to support the Cubs (plus they're in the NL Central, which makes them divisional rivals of the Houston Astros), but I have to admit that seeing Wrigley Field would be an amazing experience. The old school parks are becoming a rare breed, and Wrigley is one of the few still around. I need to see the ivy-covered wall and the rooftop seats before the Cubbies decide to follow in the footsteps of every other club.

1. Fenway Park: Boston Red Sox

The only team I like less than the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees is the Boston Red Sox. I really don't have any ill-will towards the franchise, but their fans are insufferable (even more so now that they've actually started winning championships). With that being said, I'd love to watch a home game amongst them because any baseball fan has to. I'm pretty sure for many going to a game at Fenway is a religious experience, and it's one that I'd like to partake in while I still can. Plus, I really want to sing "Sweet Caroline" during the 8th. You don't get to do that just anywhere.

So, there you have it, the top five ballparks that I'd love to see. Sure, I wouldn't mind seeing dumps like Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Rays) and Sun Life Stadium (Florida Marlins) someday, but these five parks are the cream of the crop in my opinion, and I need to experience them before it's too late.

I can just smell the hot dogs...

My Getaways: The Great Outdoors

I don't consider myself to be an outdoorsy kind of person, and this was proven during my time in Portland. I was the guy who thought it'd be OK to camp-out with nothing but a bed sheet during an Oregon summer (trust me, it gets cold at night up there). I'm also the guy who saw two of his buddies almost float down a river while being stuck in the middle of the water holding two fishing poles (wading was a foreign concept to me at the time, and still is). To be honest, I'm surprised I survived living up in Oregon.

While I'm not the world's greatest survivalist, I did develop a respect for the outdoors, and my interest in being more in tuned with nature was sparked while living in Portland. Plus, now I have a ton of camping stuff that I'd like to use more than once, so the thought of a camping road trip sounds mighty fine right about now.

A colleague of mine at Texas State mentioned that she once went on a camping tour de force that took her from Lubbock, TX through northern New Mexico and Arizona, down and over, and then back up. Honestly, her story prompted my urge to rough it for a few weeks, but I'd extend the trip.

Ideally, I'd start out in Big Bend, TX and work my way up north through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. Then I'd hook a left towards the Pacific Coast which would take me through parts of Idaho and Washington. Down the coast through my old stomping ground and NorCal before cutting right to hit up Nevada and Utah. Then I'd travel through Arizona, back across New Mexico and my old home of West Texas, which brings me back to Central Texas.

Of course I'd be camping, hiking, and fishing the entire time...you know, like men do. Now, I just need to learn how to do those things or at least have a guide that would keep me from freezing my ass off. Either way.

My Luck of the Irish

It's hard to believe that it's been 4 years since I spent St. Patrick's Day in Ireland. My good friend Kelly decided to leave Portland to be with her then fiance (now hubby) in Ireland. While I knew that I was going to miss her, I totally understood. Plus it gave me a reason to visit her.

I remember my friend Adam and I were sitting in a PDX bar, and I said how I wanted to head over the Ireland for Spring Break to visit Kelly, asked if he was interested in joining. The next thing I knew we were booking flights to Dublin. Pretty sweet.

Spending a week in Ireland, and celebrating St. Patty's Day over there, was one of those wonderful times in my life that I'll never forget. Especially, since I had the chance to have this awesome experience with some of my favorite people in the world. We all grown up (well Kelly and Adam have at least), moved on to new adventures, but we'll always have Ireland.

My Getaways: Islands & Beaches

Last week was spring break for the student's of Texas State, and while I did have to work, it was nice having a slower week before the craziness that is registration ensues. I do have to admit that I was a little bit jealous of those that had the chance to get out of town for a bit. I need to get away too.

I know that I've blogged about traveling in the past, but seeing the world is one of the goals that I'm really adamant about, and I feel that it's is a pretty obtainable one. The only things standing in my way of being a globletrotter are my lack of funds, time, and travel buddies. If I had all three I'd be writing this entry from a beach somewhere. C'est la vie.

While I may not have to resources to travel the world right at my fingertips, I do have the drive to do it sooner than later because I don't want to have any regrets. Ten years from now I don't want to say, "I wish I had seen ______ when I had the chance". Money's starting to collect in the bank, the excitement levels are rising, and now I just need to spin the globe and pick a place.

My top destinations are pretty standard compared to the well-traveled's point-of-view, but it's all new to me. Italy is very high on my list, and while I'd like to do the standard stuff like see Rome, Venice, etc., I've heard nothing but good things about Cinque Terre. It's like some mythical place based on all of the hype that I've been told. I just need to see it for myself.

Second on my list is Greece. I don't think I'd be all that into Athens, but one of the smaller islands would probably blow my mind. I've said it before, and I'll say it until it happens, I will never come back if I ever make it to Greece

Speaking of islands, I've just jumped on the Majorca bandwagon. I really don't know much about the Spanish island except for the fact that I want to go there. I think it's because it is an island, which means water, which is a must in my book. That's reason enough for me. I'm sure I'd enjoy mainland Spain as well. Apparently, Barcelona is the place  to be, but I wouldn't be opposed to making a stop in Madrid either.

Hmm, where else? Australia is also very high on my list. Of course big cities like Sydney and Melbourne would be must-sees, but I'd like to spend as much time on the beaches like Surf Coast and on the Great Ocean Road. See why I want to pick up surfing?

I wouldn't say no to Hawaii or Mexico either. As you can tell, there's a theme going on here. Give me the three Ses (sun, sand, and surf), and I'm a happy man. Sounds reasonable, right?

My Stumptown

For some reason I've really been missing Portland lately.  Maybe it's because of all of the Leverage that I've been watching, but I have a feeling there's more to it than that.  I just miss the culture and vibe, and more importantly all of my PDX friends.

I was lucky to have met some of the greatest people on the planet while living up in Portland, and while it was hard leaving them behind, I knew that I had to at the time.  Now, I'm kicking myself a little bit for taking off like that, but I'm still convinced that I needed to come home, even if it's only for a little while.  Maybe my path will take me back to the Northwest...you never know.

The crazy thing is, I didn't think I'd be missing PDX like this, but the old adage is true, you don't know what you have until it's gone.  I took Portland for granted, and didn't take full advantage of what the city had to offer while I was living up there.  I just need to make sure I don't make that mistake again, and I need to live it up in Austin while I'm in Central Texas because I don't need anymore regret.

Luckily for me, I have plenty of reasons to visit Portland and places to crash.  This time around, I won't let the charm of the city go to waste.

My R&R

So, I know that I've only been on the job for about three months, but I'm ready for a vacation, and when I say vacation, I mean "vacation".  I know that I'm probably going to be headed to Houston soon to see the new baby, but seeing family for the weekend doesn't usually count as a getaway.

If I had my way I'd be hitting up the Bay Area, traveling up and down the East Coast, or cruising around the Mediterranean (if I had the cash).  Really, all I'm looking for is an excuse to get out of town for a little bit so I can clear my head, so maybe the place isn't as important.  Although, a trip back to Hawaii wouldn't totally suck.

Too bad I don't have the money or time to get some rest and relaxation.  Oh yeah, and the lack of a travel buddy makes it hard to get motivated to hit the road.  Sure, I can travel solo, but it's more fun to have someone to share the experience with.

Until I find these things, I'll just have to keep on taking these vacations in my mind...

My Getaway(s)

I've decided that I need to travel more.  Sure, I've had my share of adventures, but for some reason I feel that something's still missing.  My passport is lacking stamps.  I have this need to get out of San Marcos, get out of Texas, get out of the country.

I have a list going in my head, and it's getting longer by the day.  Some of the places on the list are practical.  It's always nice heading to Hawaii to visit family.  Others are ambitious, like Japan for example.  Some are just selfish, such as Italy or Greece (I'm convinced I'd find my future wife if I traveled to either place).  And the rest are no-brainers like New York City, Chicago, and Sydney.

Regardless of the place, I need to see some new places so I can scratch this itch.  Obviously, seeing these places is easier said than done, especially when you're lacking the funds, but it's a goal I've set my sights on, and usually I can achieve my goals.

My Local Motion

So, I'm finally back from my trip to Hawaii, and it was amazing. First off, I was in Hawaii so it doesn't get better than that, but it was also nice to be away from Portland for a little while. For those who are interested, here's an abbreviated version of my trip:

Monday, March 23
After a five hour flight to Maui, I was pretty spent so I had dinner with my mom and grandfather. We went to this place called Zippy's, which I guess is the Hawaiian version of Denny's, because my mom insisted that I get their ramen. It was good, way better than Top Ramen, that's for sure.

Tuesday, March 24
We took a little trip to Lahaina, Maui, which is a former whaling village that has become one of the top tourist spots on the island. Going to Lahaina is always fun because it's been able to remain quaint while being touristy at the same time. We were lucky because there weren't too many people in Lahaina, so it was pretty chill. We had lunch at Bubba Gump's (yes, it's a restaurant based on the movie), and it was good food albeit pretty commercial.

Wednesday, March 25
This time around we hit up Paia, Maui which is located up country on the Northshore of the island. I really dug Paia because it was nice, quaint, and had a chill atmosphere. We had lunch at a place called Milagro's which was some kind of Mexican-Hawaiian fusion type place. Pretty tasty stuff. After lunch we headed over to Hookipa Beach where all of the windsurfers play. There weren't many windsurfers, but plenty of regular surfers that day. I didn't try either, but it was nice being on the coast and seeing the ocean.


Thursday, March 26
We left Maui for a bit, and headed over to O'ahu to visit my uncle and aunt. I really love hanging out with those two, and it's a shame that I don't get to see them that often. I was also able to see my cousin and her new baby, and he was adorable. Usually, I don't get gaa gaa over babies, but this kid won me over. My uncle also drove us around the University of Hawaii campus, the Chaminade University campus, and a local community college because part of my trip was to see if I'd like to live and work in Hawaii. Lunch was at some Chinese place, and the food was OK but not great, and later that night we watched a UH baseball game. The Rainbows lost, but the opposing pitcher did throw a no-hitter so that was exciting.

Friday, March 27
I spent most of the day on the UH campus to get a feel for the environment. It's a pretty decent campus from the looks of it. It's not the most amazing campus I've ever been on, but it's far from the worst. Plus, I had to but some UH gear for the trip home. After walking around UH for a while, my cousin picked me up and we went to this nice Japanese restaurant to meet up with the rest of the family. Before I knew it, my mom and I were on a plane back to Maui.

Saturday, March 28
This was a busy day because we had a memorial service for my grandmother, who passed away four years ago. We went to evening mass with some close relatives before meeting up with others at this local hotel for dinner. It was nice seeing some of my extended family, even though I didn't quite know everyone there.

Sunday, March 29
Headed back to Portland :(

Overall, it was a great trip. I had a blast hanging out with my mom and grandpa, and seeing my uncle and aunt is always a plus. I also realized that being in Hawaii feels like home. I could definitely see myself living there in the future.

My Spring Break

One of the few upsides to being in grad school is I still get a Spring Break, so I'll be on a plane to Hawaii in less than 24 hours! It's been a while since I've been back to Hawaii, and I'm really excited. It'll be nice to see some family, relax on the beach, and not have to worry about stupid school stuff for a whole week. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts...

My Christmas Vacation

So, I made it back to Portland safely, and the overall trip was easy despite the snowy weather in Oregon. My outgoing flight was delayed only an hour, and there were not any complications coming back from Houston, so I lucked out.

The trip itself was your typical Christmas. I had the chance to visit with my loved ones, received some great DVDs, and I had the chance to relax a little bit. Not a bad trip at all. It was also good to be back in Texas, even if it was only for a few days.

The only downside of the trip is the fact that it was cloudy and rainy for most of the time while I was there. I swear I can never leave the rain to save my life. I think rainclouds just follow me around. It was also very humid in Houston, which isn't anything new, but it just reminded me how much I've gotten used to the weather up here in Portland.

Being in Houston also gave me something to think about, especially when it comes to my next big move. I realized that I really, really, really don't like the heat and humidity, which could rule out Houston (or any where on the Gulf Coast) as a possible destination. Combine this revelation with the fact that I really enjoyed the snow in Portland, and I think I have a better idea of where I might belong, i.e. somewhere that has sun but also gets cold and snowy with little to no humidity. Where could that be?

My trip home was good, and it was nice to see the family again, but I was really excited to be back in Portland. Part of me actually missed the cold and snow, and for the first time in a long time I referred to Portland as home...maybe that will factor in my next decision as well.

My Snowball

So, apparently Portland's going to be buried under snow for the next couple of days. The storm really rolled in last Sunday, and it's been off and on, but it really came down today. We got like 8 inches.

I like snow well enough, but even I think I've hit my limit. It's not the snow that I mind; it's the being stuck in the apartment that is starting to get to me. Also, my hot water heater decided to spring a leak, so I had to deal with that. My apartment manager and I ripped up part of the carpet to avoid mold, and hopefully people will be by on Monday (assuming the city isn't shut down) to fix things up. It's kind of a bummer, but it could have been worse; it could have leaked while I was gone thus flooding my entire apartment. That's me, always looking at the bright side.

Back to the snow. It's been really beautiful seeing the entire city blanketed in snow, but I just wish the roads weren't so bad. Cabin fever's setting in, and I'm starting to freak out about my flight next week. Things are supposed to be slightly better on Tuesday (the day I fly out to Houston), but snow and ice are still in the forecast. We'll just have to wait and see. It has been a nice little preview for me though because I've always said I'd like to live in Colorado, and for some reason this is how I picture life in the Rockies.

So, sure it's been kinda boring being shut it, but I had the chance to watch Eureka: Season 1, had some hot soup, and I have a warm place to sleep. I really can't complain in the end.