My packing is coming along well (glad I started a week in advance) and I’ve prepped my resignation letter for delivery Monday morning. I’ve chilled out, and am dubbing my videos on VHS to DVD. It’s a small thing, however it’ll save a little weight and space in storage. Plus, who owns a VCR anymore?

The first video I popped in was a collection of concert/interview footage from one of my favorite bands, Pennywise (official site). Fast, aggressive new school punk from Hermosa Beach, California. I bought Unknown Road back in 1994, during the start of my freshman year in college. It was inspired by Robert Frost and Thoreau (or was it Emerson?), and mostly written by their late bass player, Jason Thirsk.

Their music has given me some of the strength I’m drawing upon to take this backpacking trip around the world, and I thought I’d share some of my favorite lyrics…

From Living For Today:

you look around what do you see?
I’ll tell you what I see is a world belonging to me
take time to find what you may dream
it’s all right there within your grasp
just beyond what you can see
we’re the ones, the only ones, strong ones, proud ones
we’re living for today
those for the past and tomorrow they’ll have hell to pay
and if your life is going by to fast
it’s time for you to slow down
time for you to make it last
before you trip and slip and you will miss this happy little stepping stone
just before eternal bliss your life goes by before you know
you gotta take time to slow down
better take time to veer off the road enjoy the sights
while you are here there’s nothing to fear but fear itself
who knows when the end is near
don’t make plans with your hands tied
you’ll never know you’re missing out
repeatedly on the things that help you grow
you’ve got to own your soul
you’ve got to take control
find a one day plan young man get this straight
live for today

From Every Single Day:

I got time on my side twenty four hours in my life
Can’t hang on to what’s in my past
Full speed ahead hard and fast

From Unknown Road:

“…two roads diverged in a wood, and i - i took the one less traveled by, and
that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost

So you’re currently content with your surroundings
You possess a vague sense of accomplishment
Did you give all you had to give or did you
give conservative
Do you think that all the years that passed you
by we’re all well spent
Pictures of everyday life spark memories
And certain things pull triggers in your mind
What would be different now if you were
there than here.
What passages, what fantasies lie just
beyond the unknown road

Lyrics to all Pennywise albums.

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I’d like to give a shout-out to my mom, who once again helped me put things in perspective. I called her because I spent my Saturday feeling increasingly stressed by all the things I told myself I needed to accomplish.

Just trying to pick the right size and quantity of plastic containers was throwing me for a loop - and don’t get me started on the packing supplies that were taunting me in the store. And were the quality of the containers at The Container Store any better or worse than those at Target? And why did Target’s parking lot look like the last weekend before Christmas?

So post-conversation with mom, I started to remember this is suppose to be fun! Yes, I’ve decided to take on a GIGANTIC change in my life’s direction, however I’m the one who is in control. Why have I been placing so much pressure on myself? Can I really choose the wrong type of plastic bin to store my stuff? Can stopping in Tahiti instead of Fiji be the end of me?

Saturday night, I drove back to The Container Store, and bought two bins and some packing tape. I decided to start small - packing my pots and pans. If the bins weren’t the right size, I’d just return them. As I drove the short distance back home, I passed all the people out and about for the evening. It’s the big party night for Halloween, and I couldn’t help but think of how I was about to take an off-ramp from American societal norms.

The bins turned out to be the right size - perfect actually. I cut up the heavy plastic bags which I kept from my new mattress/boxspring and used it as wrapping.

Tomorrow, I’m going to show my stack of books who’s the boss!

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I saw that my life was a vast glowing empty page and I could do anything I wanted. – Jack Kerouac

The Dream -

Traveling around the world has been a dream for me since I was laid off from my first post-college job in March 2002. It has taken me over 5 years to make it happen, and I am at once ridiculously excited about the possibilities, and a bit uneasy about this whole lack of a job and income idea that goes along with it.

Dare Me! Activity -

Dare me to do something funny, embarrassing, strange, adventurous or pedestrian.

Tell me about it by leaving a comment, or sending me a message, along with a suggested donation amount (and web address if you have one). If I accept, then I’ll write about it, post pictures and/or video on the blog, and show my thanks by adding you to the Dare Me! page.

Here are a few ideas…

• Visit a certain monument (beach, park, etc.)
• Eat a strange food (insects, birds, brains, etc.)
• Spend a day trying to get the phone number of a Parisian woman (note: this is hard enough when you speak the language!)
• Obtain and mail a souvenir
• Go 5 days without a shower (warning: this might happen without the dare)

To give you a sense of how fun this could be, check out “Challenge Steve” at the Savage Files. I learned about this site after I had already committed to the premise of using dares as a way to create interactivity with readers (and earn a little $).

Here are a few of Steve’s challenges:

Take a photo of you AND Maria drinking a Fanta in front of the house where Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar. I just love Zanzibar, and I threw in the Fanta because it’s really hot there and you’ll be thirsty.
Reward= fifty US dollars
Status= pending…

Challenge for Morocco: Take a photo of you enjoying a glass of mint tea at a local hangout. Reward - US $10
Reward= ten US dollars
Status= COMPLETED!, and the funds have been put towards some hair restoration treatment!

Please note, you can submit your dares any time! Like Steve, I’ll simply list them as “pending” until I make it to the appropriate part of the world. If a dare is completed, donations can easily be made via PayPal or credit/debit card using the “Make a Donation” button on the left sidebar.

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With my backpacking adventure less than 40 days away, you’d think the money earned from the sale of my worldly possessions would go straight toward my savings account, however I’m a bit tired of saving all the time.

Here’s where the money is going…

1. DC United soccer games (including lots of hot dogs and beer) - I caught the last 2 regular season games, and have plans to attend the first home playoff game, and the MLS Cup, and hopefully the Eastern Conference Championship as well. It’s not just to support the home team, it’s a great way to bond with my friends before leaving.

2. Massage - Oh…my aching knees! Just kidding. The massages are a luxury - and yes, they’ll be cheaper on the road. Still, I did do a little networking, and if I head to Paraguay, I’ve got a local connection!

3. Paper Plates - I’m about to freecycle my dishes.

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Super soundtracks make a good movie great, and Modern Gonzo’s video showcasing his adventures from around the world sets the bar high. I can’t wait to try some of these activities out myself!

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Stacy from Rambling Traveler was visiting a friend in the DC area with her husband Doug this past weekend, and suggested we meet up for a drink.  I steered us toward Ireland’s Four Courts in Arlington.  We laughed, we ate 7-layer dip and chips, we enjoyed a few beers, we talked about blogs and travel, and they gave me advice about a surly woman from Craig’s List who berated me earlier in the day.

Next time I’ll be sure to flash my pearly whites for the camera!

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Did I hear my Dad right? An opportunity to pick any restaurant in the DC area for my 31st birthday dinner? The gauntlet had been thrown down, and I was all too eager to face the challenging task of picking a restaurant to enjoy my last gourmet meal (presumably) before hitting the road.

Marcel’s, a French Belgian restaurant in Washington, DC, was ranked #9 on Washingtonian’s Top 100 restaurants of 2007. Upon walking into the entrance, I immediately noticed the live piano being played in the bar area to our right. Directly in front of us, up a few stairs, was a view of the kitchen. The host was slightly to our left, and quickly arranged for us to be seated (we were 30 minutes early for our reservation). On the host’s table, there were four pairs of spectacles laid out for those who might need a little extra help reading the menu.

We were immediately shown to our table in the dimly lit main dining room, which looked exactly like the photograph on the restaurant’s website. The understated interior design was one of the reasons I picked Marcel’s. From my seat, I had a slight view of a female chef in the raised kitchen. The ambiance was comfortable, and the service fantastic.

After a round of cocktails, the chef sent out a small treat, an amuse bouche of salmon with capers. I learned about such treats on Bravo’s Top Chef. They’re usually a one-bite palette cleanser served at the start of a meal. Little surprise dishes “from the chef” are a very good sign of things to come! For my appetizer, I chose an Alaskan Salmon Ravioli. My Mom went with Gratin of Mussels, Roasted Garlic Cream Fondue of Tomatoes, and Baby Spinach. My Dad chose a house specialty, Boudin Blanc with Celery Root Puree Truffle and Red Wine Essence. Boudin Blanc is a creamy mousse of chicken and pheasant shaped in the form of a sausage. It wasn’t quite what my Dad had in mind, though I enjoyed it!

I was not shy about using my camera, however I didn’t realize the “indoor” setting wasn’t appropriate until I was photographing our main courses. Yes, I have no shame, and I’m sure the multiple flashes caught everyone else’s attention. It was my birthday though, and I was about to eat a meal I didn’t want to soon forget.

I’ve eaten a lot of filet’s, however I’m hard pressed to remember one so perfectly cooked to a medium rare, and seasoned to perfection, as the specimen placed before me during this meal. The foie gras was pure indulgence (my apologies to geese), the asparagus tender with a nice crunch. The sauce was very rich, and I only wanted for a little more of the mashed potatoes.

I always gravitate to chocolate desserts, so I went with the souffle.  It was served with a chocolate ice cream, though the exact name of the flavor or brand was something unfamiliar to me.  I thought the candle and “Happy Birthday” was playful in a sophisticated way.

Additional Large Photos (links will open in a new window):

• My Filet Mignon with Foie Gras, Onions, Asparagus and Potatoes
• Mom’s Lamb Tenderloin wrapped in Phyllo Dough
• Dad’s Beef Tenderloin
• My Chocolate Souffle with Ice Cream and Raspberry Sauce
• Mom’s Chocolate Sponge Cake with Banana Brulee and Passion Fruit Ice Cream
• Dad’s Mousse Dessert
  

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Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s Marcel’s is located at 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20037. Dinner is served 7 days a week, starting at 5:30pm. Reservations are accepted online through OpenTable.com. Phone: 202-296-1166.

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Alastair Humphreys spent 4 years bicycling 46,000 miles around the world for charity. I’m tired just thinking about it!

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