Well I’m in Paris but I don’t know that it really counts.  I’m sitting is the AirFrance Skylounge having an espresso and a croissant.  That’s about as French as this trip will get I think.  I’m joined at my table by a couple of Norwegian men and a lady who won’t talk to any of us.  It is crowded and feels very European.   I have slept about an hour and a half in the past 24 and have one more flight before arriving in Norway later this afternoon….  hopefully if I confuse my body enough it will automatically adjust to Norway time and boom I’m a rockstar.

Again I have been delinquent in my postings but rest assured I have been out and about.  Charleston was great and I enjoyed catching up with old co-workers. I loved Savannah and can see why people end up staying after a visit.  Thanksgiving in Florida was lovely and it was great to be able to spend it with family.

I have left Gordy in the capable hands of able bodied Floridians and am off to Europe for a couple of weeks.  I’ll try to reflect more later but until then… enjoy the photos.

 

Look….. it’s a Bulldog in front of a Bulldog.  We’re in Charleston.

 

Folley Beach… I guess we have the place to ourselves!

 

That is not a treat Gordy…. it’s a horseshoe crabshell.

 

 

Just chillaxin with the Gordy. I was going to write down my reflections but did this instead.  You can imagine how deep my thoughts were.

 

Looking out the rear.

 

 

Downtown Charleston.

 

Gordy Wasn’t sure what to do with the water fowl.

 

These are the best people a guy could have shared a weekly phone call with for the past couple of years.  The group at MUSC that worked with the data for the trial I had been working with.  It was nice to be able to stop in for a  visit and see everyone.

 

What’s up Emily…. Are you ready for this?

 

Gordy can be very particular about who he befriends and the time that this may take.

“No.  I will not talk to you”

 

“You are talking to me… I will act indifferent.”

 

“Why did you stop kissing my ear… you are my new best friend”

 

Tybee beach in Savannah

 

 

 

 

I like to see the different groups of people that gather to share a beach at sunset.

 

 

 

The first in my series of “people taking selfies”

 

Am I out with Miley?

 

These two are obviously awesome.

 

She’s jacked.

 

Miley and friends again.

 

Savannah Kubb nights.

 

Hanging on the porch enjoying the evening.

 

Then the circus came to the backyard.

 

 

This is just how the G-Man rolls.  Welcome to the van.

 

The Spanish Moss was pretty great everywhere.  This was headed into a state park.

 

Just a typical Tuesday in Savannah.

 

Bike Tours.

 

 

HEEEEEEYYYYYYY!!!!!!

 

Don’t miss Mrs Wilkes’s… it was awesome.

 

This is totally the meal I should have chosen before trying Bikram for the first time.  Kris teaches and invited me to class for the night.

 

Hanging at the Bean.

 

 

Finally making Emily learn a little of the city history on a carriage tour.

 

If you’ve seen Forrest Gump you might be asking where the feather is….

 

This was the yard that Emily so generously shared with us during our stay.

 

And when thrifting in Savannah you might find a 1991 Twins World Series Pennant.

 

 

Hanging out at “Old Fort Jackson”

 

Savannah is a major shipping port in the U.S.

 

Gordy got on the officer’s bed.

 

 

These guys are professionals.

 

Totally normal to take a walk in the woods in your tux and red had.

 

Wormsloe is awesome.

 

 

Thanks for the memories.

 

Busch League.

 

This is a 600 year old oak in St. Augustine.

 

I need to stop here for now with the captions because my plane is leaving… I’ll edit the post later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I left my house 12 years ago, late for class, I knew that a plane had crashed in New York.  My class was cancelled and I went back to Lincoln Manor to watch TV with my housemates and tried to comprehend why this crash was so different than any other.   As the day unfolded, I realized that this was a “where were you when” moment.  The word “terrorist” didn’t mean then what it does now and I didn’t have to take my shoes off when I went through airport security.

Life happens and sometimes it isn’t pleasant.  We learn from the past and strive to be better in the future.

Some things are harder to move past than others but all we can do is our best.

Remembering, not forgetting, and hoping for a better tomorrow.

Today was my last day of employment at the university and I now find myself self-employed as the founder and CEO of ETM Trial Monitoring Services.  At least the name sounds good!

It’s been an interesting week as I’ve been wrapping up loose ends at the University while at the same time opening up many cans of worms for the road that lies ahead.

I’ve been posting and selling things like mad on craigslist… thank you craig… and the house is starting to look like… well it looks the same.  I have a lot of stuff.

My friends have had several babies in the past couple of weeks and that’s awesome.  I’ve even been able to see some of them.  Unfortunately they don’t quite fit into my old clothes yet so bags of them would be inappropriate gifts….or would they?  I could be like, “Hey, here are some vintage clothes from the future for your baby!”  Everyone’s a winner!

I also received a call that there is a showing of my house set up for this Sunday.  I’m hoping that if they aren’t interested in renting the house that they will at least have an appreciation for the movies I don’t want anymore or some good second hand chairs.  Everyone needs chairs and they probably want to watch “Drumline” or “You Got Served!” at some point.

What it really means is that things are moving along and my master plan is falling into place.  And if it doesn’t, you can be sure that I’ll pretend that that wasn’t my master plan to begin with and that whatever ACTUALLY happens was REALLY my master plan.

I won’t blink.

I’ve never been a blogger, or a blog reader.  I have however, on many occasions, talked about how starting one would be a great idea.  I guess we’ll see if I was right once this little experiment finds its legs.  In any case, it would seem that blogs, as do all things, need to start somewhere and that’s where we are now, the beginning.

I’m 33 and doing my thing…. whatever that is.  The structured life of “things that are supposed to come next,” ended for me a while ago and I’ve been cruising through life ever since.

My most recent adventure involves the purchase a small RV and the decision to move out of my house in exchange for life on the open road.  You’ll meet her later and I’m sure there’ll be more to talk about then.

Now back to figuring out how to move the contents of a five-bedroom house into a 21 foot RV.

See you at the river,

-Erik