Today was kind of rough, I've been worrying so much about my girlfriend and mine's relationship lately its really an emotional hazard. I'm been pretty pissed off all day because of some little things she's done over the last week or so. And then on the way back to Kroger, The Kid took over again...

  For all of you out there, the Kid is my alter ego. Really, a super ego. He's my version of Superman and Jimmy Buffett mixed into one meaning that he is unstoppable by normal measures yet longs to be chilled and relaxing in the Carribean.  He is The Kid. Now the name was given to me by my fellow coworkers back home in Atlanta since I was the youngest employee by about a decade. Anyways the name is not important.  He is everything I want to be, and when I get caught up in the nonsense of this little world he is my relief. The Kid has no cares except where's the closest Margarita and hammock.

  So, as I was coming home from a little grocery shopping some Buffett came on and I begin giving myself one of those peptalks from The Kid. "What are you getting upset about? Is your life really that bad? No girl can control you like that...you run the show...." Now whether I actually run the "show" or not is debatable but the talk worked. Whatever she wants to do back home in Athens is her deal. I can't change what she thinks is right or wrong to do in a relationship so why waste my breath? The Kid doesn't put up with it, he states his mind and then moves on. Now, believe it or not this little "talk" helped me out immensely. I need to quit letting everything little thing get to me. I'm here for one reason, to get an education and get where I want in life that's what I'm going to do. If she says she loves me as much as she does, then she'll come around. There's nothing I can do to make the process go faster or force it, so why get bent out of shape over something dumb.

  To be honest, I thought The Kid died when I got back into dating and got into this relationship. I always thought of him as more of my "single-ego" that keeps me moving when things are rough. He's more than that, he's what's inside of me when I'm brave enough to be myself and don't care what people think. And believe it or not....I think The Kid is coming back....

   I was sitting here today, the longest Sunday of the year it always seems; just looking through my travel books and magazines.  The places around the world never cease to amaze me, and the travel bug once again takes control of my life. Then I walked out into my living room and The Wall caught my eye again...

  For those who haven't ventured into my apartment here in Oxford, MS there is a wall. A wall that is 10 feet tall and about 20 foot wide, that is completely covered from top to bottom with pictures, park maps, post cards, parking decals, etc. Everything we gathered over the last two years is pretty much up on our wall, and I love it. My life never ceases to amaze me, the things I've done and the oppurtunities that I have been given to see this country. The world is filled with many things that are proof of our Lord's power and beauty, but I for one think that America holds the most of these...

   See my America isn't split between Democrat and Republic, between Blacks and Whites, or North and South. It's split between mountains and oceans, beaches and deserts. My America is the most beautiful and magical place on our Earth. In these mere 50 states we have so many amazing things, and for a country that is only a couple hundred years old the culture and history is amazing. I've seen the whitest deserts and the tallest mountains, from the hills of the rockies I've eaten a hot dog, and from the coast of the Pacific, I've been sun burned.

  As much as I have the urge to travel the world round, I must never forget the things I have right around me. Even in the remoteness of Mississippi, there are things that can astonish even the most traveled person. For instance, less than an hour from here you can see where the God Father of Blues sold his soul to Devil at the crossroads. Or maybe you want to see the home where the Muppets were created at by Jim Henson? They are things....

  There wasn't really a purpose to this post except to remind of all those out there that are longing to cross the Atlantic or maybe even the Pacific that don't forget what's around you. The things that I cherish most in my travels are things that no one else knows about like the man walking a dinosaur in South Dakota, or the 7-story tall Jesus statue in Arkansas. Get out there and find something that is yours. Something that when you see a photo of it brings you back to the person you were when you were there, back to innocence of the unknowing. Make this your America as much as I've tried to make it My America...

   Well, I decided not to partake in the camping/coaster trip this weekend. Mainly because it was going to cost too much money, my lady couldn't come, and there is plenty of things to be done around here and possibly in Jackson. Jordan is coming up on saturday sometime to clean up his room a little and I'm seriously thinking about going to Jackson saturday night to see my grandparents (whom I haven't seen since the hurricane hit).

   I can't believe I'm not going though. That's not me. I'm the one that is supposed to be planning these things and going no matter what the costs are. I mean, what the heck? When did all this since of responsibility take over my life? ....probably about the same time I went into debt and lost my job.

  Its ok I guess. I mean there is always next year to conquer more parks and better rides. It just sucks really. Really dissapointed on my part. But I'm sure a weekend here full of nothing will also be good, haven't had one of those since school started. And there is a soccer game tomorrow night which I might take myself too. I feel like I've let my friends down on the one thing that I am supposed to be king of: Road Trips. Is this the end of an era? Are the days of leaving everything behind and forgetting about all things over with? Well to be honsest, I'm not so sure. There will be plenty of days of traveling in my future. After all, a person does not become a traveler, they're born one...

   So, after another amazing evening spent in Athens last night with my lady I'm back at my real home in atlanta. I just got done eating dinner with my grandpa and what an awesome guy he is. He's like me in 50 years, or atleast I hope to be something like him in 50 years. He's pretty tough and pretty funny, and he has no idea what's going on in today's world and pretty much doesn't care. Just living you know...

  So, here I am back downstairs on my old computer waiting on Jeremy to get here so we can go see some crap at the theatre (somewhere I haven't been since June). We used to go to movies all the time, what happened? Oh yeah, I'm freakin' broke that's what. Plus, nothing good has come out in like a year or so, what happened to all the good movies? I mean all my favorite directors have went to crap: Terantino, Spielburg (War of the Worlds? Come on...), and the writing for these have been worse. When is Shamalyan going to do another film, please save us from this repeatitive crap. And just another side note on the movies today....quit making them 3 hours long. That's really freakin' annoying, if you can't get the story in under two hours, you're doing something wrong....

   Well, what else....hmmm. Well the camping trip is getting pretty close and I'm really excited and dissapointed with myself at the same time. This weather is absolutely perfect for coaster riding and I haven't been doing any lately. So, I'm going to make up for it this weekend hardcore. I'm cashing in my change at Kroger Friday morning and buying my park ticket with that and I'm just going to ride. Heck, I'm going to ride just to ride. Already rode it that day, doesn't matter. Kids coaster that lasts about 13 seconds, I'm going to ride it 3 times. I need to remember why I'm going through this hell known as the Engineering Program. This weekend is needed and well deserved. So here's a big thanks to Garreth and the guys for talking me into going all the way to Branson this weekend.

   Well, I decided to head home this weekend mainly for two reasons 1) I'm dying to see Mysti and I just couldn't wait another week and 2) this camping trip that everyone is going on next weekend to Northern Arkansas sounds interesting.

   At first it sounded like a fun trip until I did a little research of my own. See while everyone else is out fishing and looking at trees and stuff; I'm going to sneak off a mere 38 miles to one of the most secluded and best parks in the nation: Silver Dollar City! Plus, they do have the #1 Coaster of 2005: Powder Keg!

   Now, I know what most of you are thinking: come on, it's camping. time to be one with the wildnerness and all that stuff. I love camping people I really do, I did it for six weeks straight two summers ago and loved every minute of it,  but I haven't been on a Coaster since June!!! I still will do all the camping stuff, but sneaking off for a few hours for a chance to go to a park I've never been to, that's a no brainer. Plus, how many times am going to be in Branson, MO during my life? Well zero is the count so far. So, I'm getting pretty excited and ready to go. And let's face it people, you're dying for another coaster video to be made :-)

  I'll make sure the pictures will be up whenever it is we get back, the trip is still a week and half away after all. And of course a video will be coming, but when is anyone's guess. Ahhh, I can feel that "Road Trip Urge" starting to settle a little...

The Kid is going through one of those weeks... Now to most people "one of those weeks" usually means a bad thing and that is no exception here, the thing is my bad week consists of this: not traveling and seeing something new. It's been far too long since I've put some miles on my car and for those of you that really know me, than that is a real problem for me. Life is too short to be spent in my Oxford apartment playing videogames with Billy on the big screen. And no, I'm not single anymore which has really taken some gas out of my traveling soul that used to play such a big part in my life...

See, this is how it used to be: Go a few weeks studying with tests and what not, and then I get this urge. And off I would go. Anywhere, and everywhere, it didn't matter where; as long as it was somewhere that was either a)new or b)had roller coasters. Ahh, how I long for the days on the road. It's my heaven on earth, its my sanctuary. And it's not that I mind not being single, I love my girlfriend with everything I've got, but its different; not bad different just different.

There is just something about getting up before the sun rise, packing a days worth of clothes and nothing more, and just driving. Seeing what God created for us and seeing what this place is without us in it. For some reason it breathes life into me knowing that I'm not everything in this world, which is forgotten sometimes I must say. Well, just to let all you know I've gotten the "urge" again and I've never been one to sit here when it hits me. As another journey starts to be planned I'm left with one real thought: this world is only beautiful if we see it.