April 02, 2004
All and Sundry
Posted by nerdling | April 2, 2004 09:40 AM
I have currently visited 24 of the 50 states, or 47% of the good ol' US of A. What I don't understand is how I have missed Washington and Florida. When you look at a map of my travels, it's obvious that I don't get to the Midwest or Northeast very often, but I've obviously been all over the West and Southeast, somehow completely missing the northernmost and southernmost continental states on each coast. I just don't get it.
Despite missing those two, though, I think my travels have been fairly complete. I've been on buffalo and boar hunts, been rafting on the Flathead River, hiked along (not in) the Grand Canyon, hiked in Sedona...yes, all in all I've been blessed with excellent travels. I've even been to Mexico and Montreal, and I made it back alive and unscathed by the loathing of the French Canadians.
Oddly enough, I've never been to the three states I probably should have: Nebraska, Missouri and Illinois; the birthplaces, respectively, of my grandfather, grandmother and mother.
I might fill out some of the conspicuous gaps on my map soon, though. I'd like to get together the money to attend the Allied Media Conference at Bowling Green this year, but that isn't guaranteed. I'd also love to make it to this year's Paper and Book Intensive in Portland, but I really don't think that will happen either: I've already used up my travel budget for the year. Barring a miracle I will be at home this summer, drinking beer and listening to my records, which really isn't a bad way to spend time.
