This year before heading to WDS 2014 I was bound and determined to see more of Portland and at least a couple of the beautiful spots nearby. So I arrived a couple days early to explore on my own. After my painfully early flight touched down, I picked up my rental car and headed directly…
Thoughts on Living a Remarkable Life #WDS2014
For the last four years, I’ve been going to Portland, Oregon at the beginning of July for an event called the World Domination Summit (WDS). The weekend event is designed around the values of “community, adventure, and service” and challenges attendees to live a remarkable life, even in light of our conventional world. All jokes about…
Pan American Unity Mural by Diego Rivera
If you’ve been following along, you’ll remember that there are four murals painted by Diego Rivera in the Bay Area and seeing some of Rivera’s murals has been on my personal bucket list since I studied his work in college. I set out to see all four of the murals in the Bay Area, and this…
I’m Probably Not Going to be President
Or Secretary of State or Speaker of the House. There was a time when I harbored grand political aspirations, but that was a long time ago, when cable news was still new and still news. My life has taken a very different path since then. I don’t usually spend much time looking back, but last…
Struggling with the Meaning of Home
Standing over my cellphone, I’m at a loss for words despite the utter simplicity of the concept I’m trying to convey. All my mom wants to know is that I’m at my apartment safely after flying back to San Francisco from Dallas. Otherwise, she’ll worry. It’s a simple request, and I’m happy to comply. “I’m…
Grab Yourself a Post-It Note
Preferably one of the small ones. Now write down on that piece of paper the names of the people in your life whose opinion of you matters to you. If you’re anything like me, it will end up being a pretty short list. Last week, I came across this exercise part way through this great…
A Day Trip to Pescadero
I love day trips. What’s not to love? You get all the benefits of a road trip — time on the open road, seeing home fade away in your rear view mirror, and watching new scenery appear outside your car window — but without any of the hassles of a real trip. I also love…
Revisiting Mumbai
Forgive me for how quiet things have been around here lately. I’ve been in India… Ok, not literally in India, but figuratively I’ve been thousands of miles away, totally immersed in a trip I took to Bangalore, Udaipur, and Mumbai in January of 2011. Now three years later, I finally sat down to write the…
Who’s Hiked Half Dome in Yosemite?
10-14 hours hiking time. Elevation gain, 4,800 feet. Elevation at the top, 8,842 feet. Most strenuous day hike in Yosemite. 14.2 miles round trip via Mist Trail, up to 17 miles from other spots. After naming 2014 my year of tacking the remaining mountains in my life, my friend Charlie proposed that we head out…
The Curated Commute — An Alpine Murder Mystery
The Curated Commute is a series where I pick interesting podcasts or other audio treats to accompany you on your commute. Hopefully they’ll entertain you and maybe even help you learn a little something while you’re en route… * * * It’s been a while since I’ve shared a great podcast here, and I couldn’t wait…
