My North American Days Galleries

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA : While I was in Southern California for work in December '08, I took an Arizona run during the few free days I had. This was a day trip to The Petrified Forest, where trees weren't so much turned into stone as they were replaced by various minerals in a very detailed manner. There were also some petroglyphs around made by the Pueblo Indians back in the day, and taking pictures of pictures is always fun.

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA

While I was in Southern California for work in December '08, I took an ...

Updated: Jan 10, 2009 10:17am PST

Meteor Crater, Arizona, USA : While I was in Southern California for work in December '08, I took an Arizona run during the few free days I had. This was a day trip to Meteor Crater, the site of a very large meteor impact. It was so windy I got lifted off my feet when I tried to go up to the lip of the crater. That was totally sweet.

Meteor Crater, Arizona, USA

While I was in Southern California for work in December '08, I took an ...

Updated: Dec 26, 2008 1:15pm PST

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA : While I was in Southern California for work in December '08, I took an Arizona run during the free days I had. I spent 3 mights at Bright Angel Lodge which is a hotel situated right on the rim of the Grand Canyon. I blogged about it here.

Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

While I was in Southern California for work in December '08, I took an ...

Updated: Jan 10, 2009 10:13am PST

Trona Pinnacles, California, USA : I was sent to Ridgecrest California in December '08 for work, and while there I heard that at a nearby site named the Trona Pinnacles many Hollywood movies were filmed. Most famously, the original Planet of the Apes. Don't these pictures make you think of a certain "really quite very off limits" zone? Captain Kirk rolled around in the dirt here a few times also, I'm sure. UPDATE: I visited the area again in June of '09 for work, so this time I went out at night and got some night shots of the pinnacles too. They begin on page 4 of this gallery.

Trona Pinnacles, California, USA

I was sent to Ridgecrest California in December '08 for work, and whil ...

Updated: Jun 09, 2009 6:50am PST

Flagstaff, Arizona, USA : While in Southern California for work in December '08, I went on a jaunt down to flagstaff. Saw the Lowell Observatory. Percival Lowell thought he'd discovered canals on Mars back in like 1895 with this very telescope! What a maroon. I'd loved that story since hearing about it from Carl Sagan in Cosmos, which I'd read long before seeing the TV series. Because of his mistake, he fired up many a young boy's imagination with thoughts of Mars and Martians, culminating in HG Wells' War of the Worlds. Pluto was discovered here, as well as the observation that the galaxies were receding from us very very fast which lead to the discovery that the Universe is expanding. Good scientific history. The telescope was also awesome to visit because it just looks so damn cool. Very Steampunk. Those are truck tires which rotate the roof of the observatory so that the telescope can be pointed at any direction in the sky. Stayed at the Monte Vista. Parts of Casablanca were filmed there, and it's one of those places that movie stars love to stay in. We stayed in the room Lee Marvin stayed in while filming some western or other. Wicked.

Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

While in Southern California for work in December '08, I went on a jau ...

Updated: Dec 30, 2008 11:00am PST

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA : I got a paid three day trip to Las Vegas for work. You might think I'm trying to be funny by saying Ho-hum, but I'm not. I'm not a gambler (well, except for in the stock market) and I dislike the blatantly cheap flashy commercial spectacle that is Disney World for the silly grown-up people. But you know, always good to make the best of a bad situation. Got some nice shots. My full Las Vegas report can be found here.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

I got a paid three day trip to Las Vegas for work. You might think I'm ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2008 9:52am PST

Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA : So I went to Cape Cod in June '08 for a nice relaxing vacation from my stressful job. You know, I had to get away from all that constant work travel. Anyway, my family on my Dad's side is from the Cape. My Grandfather owned a grocery store in Osterville until it burned down. It was really nice to drive up the cape... Eastern Massachusetts has that incredible mix of smells of cedar pine and sea salty air blown in from the ocean. There is some truly invigorating air there. I spent the majority of my time on the Cape in Provincetown... turns out, it's somewhat of a Gay Haven up there. Didn't know that when I booked my hotel... ah well. It's a beautiful town and I'm glad I went! For the full story, check out my blog entry, here.

Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA

So I went to Cape Cod in June '08 for a nice relaxing vacation from my ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2008 9:43am PST

Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA : So I went to Cape Cod in June '08 for a nice relaxing vacation from my stressful job. You know, I had to get away from all that constant work travel. Right. But it was really nice to drive up the cape... Eastern Massachusetts has that incredible mix of smells of cedar pine and sea salty air blown in from the ocean. There is some truly invigorating air there. I stopped at Plymouth on the way up, and here are some random pix from the area. For the full story, check out my blog entry here.

Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

So I went to Cape Cod in June '08 for a nice relaxing vacation from my ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2008 9:38am PST

Chicago, Illinois, USA : I traveled to Chicago for work in May 2008. I love New York? Bah! I love Chicago! What a fun city. Clean too. Good vibes all over the place. If you're into self-flagellation, feel free to read my Chicago blog post here. Hey, I'm not judging.

Chicago, Illinois, USA

I traveled to Chicago for work in May 2008. I love New York? Bah! I lo ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2008 9:29am PST

Seattle, Washington, USA : I was sent to Seattle for work in April '08 and in September '08. I'd been there once before way back in '97 on my way to Alaska, but I didn't have time to do a whole lot then. This time I had friends there from my time in Germany, Jordan and Alison, who let me crash at their place for a few days while I saw some sights. For the full adventure, and only if you've got nothing better to do such as beating yourself with a whip coated in lemon juice, feel free to read this.

Seattle, Washington, USA

I was sent to Seattle for work in April '08 and in September '08. I'd ...

Updated: Sep 29, 2008 6:57am PST

The Coral Castle, Homestead, Florida, USA : I went to Fort Lauderdale for work in April '08, where there is nothing to take pictures of. However, about an hour south of there in the town of Homestead lies The Coral Castle. Some wackjob named Edward Leedskalnin built it for his lost love. The Billy Idol song, Sweet Sixteen, is totally based on his story, and the video was shot there. The thing about the coral castle is that nobody saw him build it, and he built it by himself. It's one of those weird mystery kinds of things. Some people think he rediscovered the secrets of the Egyptian construction guys, although apparently it's not really a secret anymore how they built the pyramids. I can't verify that, it's just something I heard. I'd go into more detail, but you know, the wikipedia page on it probably tells it better than I could. I'll just show you my pictures from my little day trip down there, how does that sound, dearie? [Granny voice] For a full atrocious accounting of my visit there, read this.

The Coral Castle, Homestead, Florida, USA

I went to Fort Lauderdale for work in April '08, where there is nothin ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2008 9:17am PST

3 Border Towns In Mexico : In December 2007 I was sent to McAllen, Texas for work, which is only about a 10 minute drive from the Rio Grande. I was really excited about this because I'd never been to Mexico, but it kind of turns out that border towns, at least in this part of the country, are mainly mostly characterless industrial areas which cater to Texan daytrippers. I visited Reynosa, Nuevo Progresso, and Matamoros. Still, it was cool. To read my sordid account of borderland, go here.

3 Border Towns In Mexico

In December 2007 I was sent to McAllen, Texas for work, which is only ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2008 9:12am PST

The Clinton Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA : When I was in Neosho, Missouri back in December '07 for work, I took a day trip down to Fayetteville, Arkansas. There wasn't really much there, except the Bill Clinton Museum! It's in the house which Bill bought for Hillary as an engagement present. I miss Bill.

The Clinton Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA

When I was in Neosho, Missouri back in December '07 for work, I took a ...

Updated: May 22, 2008 9:07am PST

St. Louis & Hannibal, Missouri, USA : I was sent to Neosho, Missouri for work in November/December '07 for two weeks. I had more fun there than I would have thought, but I was still glad to leave! I got to take a few days to drive up to St. Louis and then to Hannibal, the town where Mark Twain grew up and where he got much of the inspiration for Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn from. In St. Louis, mostly the photos I got were of the Gateway Arch, so be ready to get overarched. It's a good thing it looks different in different kinds of light and from different angles. It's pretty much the only interesting thing to look at there, though it did seem like a fun city and I wouldn't have minded another day or two to look around in. Oh well, maybe next time. For the full hot aired regaling of my trip, read this.

St. Louis & Hannibal, Missouri, USA

I was sent to Neosho, Missouri for work in November/December '07 for t ...

Updated: Sep 06, 2008 9:08am PST

Neosho & Branson, Missouri, USA : Let me just say right off that this gallery is a tad sparse. I was sent to Neosho, Missouri for work in November/December '07, and there's really not much in the area. I wouldn't even have created this gallery at all, except that, in the otherwise dull "Las Vegas of the Christian midwest", Branson Missouri, I found Yakov Smirnoff! I'd wondered where he'd got to. And just outside of Neosho, there was the George Washington Carver museum, which was erected on the site of the farm he grew up on. It was pretty cool, actually. I wanted to go because I felt that I owed him a visit to pay homage to the man who invented peanut butter, considering how much of my life's diet has consisted of the food of the Gods. For the full, possibly sort of kind of interesting account, read this. Oh, and this, sorry. Thanks.

Neosho & Branson, Missouri, USA

Let me just say right off that this gallery is a tad sparse. I was sen ...

Updated: May 22, 2008 9:06am PST

Atlanta, Georgia, USA : I was sent to Atlanta for 2 weeks in October 2007 for work. Most of my time was spent in a hotel room staring at computer screens, but the few times I was able to get out went pretty well. I visited the Aquarium, and saw the Dalai Lama give a speech in the Olympic park! That was sweet, but for the rest of it, Atlanta is pretty damn dull. For a fuller account of my run-in with His Holiness, please go here.

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

I was sent to Atlanta for 2 weeks in October 2007 for work. Most of my ...

Updated: Oct 27, 2007 2:50pm PST

The Space Coast, Florida, USA : My job sent me to Orlando for a week in September '07 to do about 3 days worth of work. So I had around four days worth of free time, and I toured a bit of the Space Coast. I went to Kennedy Space center, Cocoa Beach, took an Air Boat ride on the St. John's river, and took the plunge and hit the Magic Kingdom for the first and last time in my life. Extra extra, read all about it. Work work work.

The Space Coast, Florida, USA

My job sent me to Orlando for a week in September '07 to do about 3 da ...

Updated: Oct 27, 2007 2:46pm PST

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA : I spent a few days in July '07 in Martha's Vineyard just because I wanted to. It may look all rich and snooty, but that's only because it is. But it also has a seedy underbelly...

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA

I spent a few days in July '07 in Martha's Vineyard just because I wan ...

Updated: Oct 27, 2007 2:40pm PST

Los Angeles, California, USA : I went to Orange County, CA in July 2007 for work. I took a day off and went to LA... man, what a shithole.

Los Angeles, California, USA

I went to Orange County, CA in July 2007 for work. I took a day off an ...

Updated: Oct 27, 2007 2:38pm PST

Wyoming, USA : I was sent to Wyoming for work in June '07, and had loads of free time to go run around and see all the good stuff... in Wyoming, there is a whole mess of empty space to run around in, too. My favorite part was Devils Tower, of which I took far too many photos. I actually didn't even post most of them here. I also visited Yellowstone and Sundance, and got to drive through the beautiful Bighorn National Forest. For my usual hot air, feel free to visit my blog entry.

Wyoming, USA

I was sent to Wyoming for work in June '07, and had loads of free time ...

Updated: Jun 26, 2007 8:18am PST

South Dakota, USA : I was sent to Wyoming for work in June '07, and had loads of free time to go run around and see all the good stuff... I had time to make a brief foray into South Dakota where I got to see Mt. Rushmore and Deadwood. For my usual hot air, feel free to visit my blog entry.

South Dakota, USA

I was sent to Wyoming for work in June '07, and had loads of free time ...

Updated: Jun 26, 2007 8:27am PST

Washington D.C., USA : I went to D.C. in eary March 2007 to tie up some loose ends with my former company in Iraq, and took advantage of some extra time to have a look around. Federal architechture is insipidly dull and uninspired, but I did the best I could.

Washington D.C., USA

I went to D.C. in eary March 2007 to tie up some loose ends with my fo ...

Updated: Mar 12, 2007 10:37pm PST

Centralia, Pennsylvania, USA : Creepy Christy, Scott, Miss Luongo and I took a day trip on Martin Luther King day (Jan. 15 2007) to Centralia, PA. It's the town that the video game and subsequent horror film, 'Silent Hill', were based on. It was a thriving anthracite coal mining town when in 1962, a trash fire inadvertently set off a vein of exposed anthracite, starting an underground fire which has been burning for the last 45 years, and could continue to burn for another 250! It's essentially a ghost town, with 12 die hard residents still remaining. Sink holes, noxious gases, and spooky atmosphere abound. As usual, for more details on our intrepid adventure, please feel free to visit my blog.

Centralia, Pennsylvania, USA

Creepy Christy, Scott, Miss Luongo and I took a day trip on Martin Lut ...

Updated: Jan 16, 2007 1:50am PST

Petersburg, Alaska, USA : Talk about ancient history! These pictures are from '96 & '97. Alaska is where my travels all started. I worked in a fishing cannery and crab boat for two summers to make enough money to go to Europe. Also, I made detours to Juneau and Anchorage at some point, but few pictures from there survive, to my great disappointment.

Petersburg, Alaska, USA

Talk about ancient history! These pictures are from '96 & '97. Alaska ...

Updated: Jul 07, 2006 8:21am PST

messiestobjects' messy photographs

"Where you come from, is gone. Where you thought you were goin' to, weren't never there, and where you are ain't no good unless you can get away from it." - Jesus Built My Hotrod