3 year later and none the wiser
On February 2nd, 2004, I updated this very livejournal with an image map of the places in the United States I have visited. It looked a little something like this:
At that time, I vowed to myself that this would change. I was adamant with myself that if I didn't get out and experience this state I live in, or this continent it resides in, or this hemisphere it is situated in or this goddamn world in which we all exist, then I was going to die a miserable, depleted, inexperienced, uncultured, unknowing, comma-abusing fool.
Almost 3 years later, I'm still the depleted comma-abusing fool I was then.
For reasons unknown to me, I've decided to use the middle part of my twenties, my good twenties mind you, on working. Dabbling in school a bit, but mostly working 40 hours a week 52 weeks each year. I've found good time to buy a house, maybe visit a few places I've already been but mostly inhabit the 20 or 30 square miles in my general vicinity as if I was tethered to it like the 5 year old child I once was. It's ridiculous, really.
I left my last job with close to 250 hours of vacation time at my disposal. Of course, this vacation time was paid out to me (quite handsomely I have to admit) but pointedly was not used for the purpose in which it was goddamn designated! Those 250 some-odd hours equates out to over a month and a half of leisure time to be used at my leisure! Alas, these weeks of vacation were carelessly cashed in to pay off debts. It's a great feeling to pay off debt, but I argue it's as great a feeling to go into debt knowing that it was spent creating memories, experiencing new places and simply getting drunk in a different area code!
I guess I should share my updated map. It reflects the culmination of the last 3 years travels:
As clearly demonstrated, I've only touched foot in one state represented by the Mason-Dixon line. The other difference between now and 3 years ago? New fucking Mexico. It's important to point out that my business in these new states was purely work-related, thus no time to be an actual tourist or to do anything remotely interesting whilst there. I could however tell you more than you wish to know about the continental breakfasts or when you can expect the USA Today at the foot of your door.
I guess some may ask what the point of this whole update is. Well, it serves as a cup of self-loathing, mixed in with a shot of embarrassment, chased by a tall frosty dose of reality. I am not getting out of my life all that I want out of it and I have no one to blame but myself. While I may have been able to find a girlfriend, figure out what I need to do to finish school and even how to fucking retire in 45 years (long gone are the days of retiring at 30), there are many things that I want to accomplish before I get too old and too responsible.
I don't know what the fuck I'm trying to say.
At that time, I vowed to myself that this would change. I was adamant with myself that if I didn't get out and experience this state I live in, or this continent it resides in, or this hemisphere it is situated in or this goddamn world in which we all exist, then I was going to die a miserable, depleted, inexperienced, uncultured, unknowing, comma-abusing fool.
Almost 3 years later, I'm still the depleted comma-abusing fool I was then.
For reasons unknown to me, I've decided to use the middle part of my twenties, my good twenties mind you, on working. Dabbling in school a bit, but mostly working 40 hours a week 52 weeks each year. I've found good time to buy a house, maybe visit a few places I've already been but mostly inhabit the 20 or 30 square miles in my general vicinity as if I was tethered to it like the 5 year old child I once was. It's ridiculous, really.
I left my last job with close to 250 hours of vacation time at my disposal. Of course, this vacation time was paid out to me (quite handsomely I have to admit) but pointedly was not used for the purpose in which it was goddamn designated! Those 250 some-odd hours equates out to over a month and a half of leisure time to be used at my leisure! Alas, these weeks of vacation were carelessly cashed in to pay off debts. It's a great feeling to pay off debt, but I argue it's as great a feeling to go into debt knowing that it was spent creating memories, experiencing new places and simply getting drunk in a different area code!
I guess I should share my updated map. It reflects the culmination of the last 3 years travels:
As clearly demonstrated, I've only touched foot in one state represented by the Mason-Dixon line. The other difference between now and 3 years ago? New fucking Mexico. It's important to point out that my business in these new states was purely work-related, thus no time to be an actual tourist or to do anything remotely interesting whilst there. I could however tell you more than you wish to know about the continental breakfasts or when you can expect the USA Today at the foot of your door.
I guess some may ask what the point of this whole update is. Well, it serves as a cup of self-loathing, mixed in with a shot of embarrassment, chased by a tall frosty dose of reality. I am not getting out of my life all that I want out of it and I have no one to blame but myself. While I may have been able to find a girlfriend, figure out what I need to do to finish school and even how to fucking retire in 45 years (long gone are the days of retiring at 30), there are many things that I want to accomplish before I get too old and too responsible.
I don't know what the fuck I'm trying to say.