Since Highschool I've been wanting to do this huge road trip around the country. It wasn't my first goal, as I have always desperately wanted to go to other countries- all over Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand... anywhere and everywhere, really.

Then, a few months ago, I really buckled down and pondered the saying, "the grass is always greener..." and decided to explore and see my own country before I bailed out on it. Which I realize is very important- so many people get this travel bug and forget about their own back yards. And the US is huge! From snowy mountains to deserts, the grand canyon, redwood forests, the Adirondacks... All sorts of great food and amazing cities and sights!

It's a really adventurous world, and it's time for me to really plow into it.

Currently I am in Michigan with family. I've gotten a stupid mall job in my need for money, and one or two in the works to add on. The only thing I want to do from now until January is save money, read, write, and dream.

My goal is to buy a shit load of film before I leave (unfortunately I can't afford a digital SLR, but I'll make do, I have so far!) and shoot everything... from trees to kids, nude models to grandmas on rocking chairs, plates of food to landscapes. I want it all.

Calm before the storm.

I haven't decided to go through NY again or not, seeing as I've lived and explored that whole state my whole life, plus it'll add like 20 hours to my trip. But I'd like to see my mother and sister before I leave, seeing as I'm not sure when I'll be back... It really depends on if I can get paid work in NY, which I should be able to do, really.

So the rough plan is: Through NY State, hit up Washington DC, down along the eastern coast (I want beaches!!) to Florida, then to New Orleans, Austin TX, Phoenix, California and anywhere in-between.

Eventually I'd like to do the northern half, too. I'm just partial to the heat!