tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88237277068241660892012-02-13T03:48:48.762-06:00"At every moment of our lives, we all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss..." ~Paulo Coelho, 11 minutesLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.comBlogger1861100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-62925698639080978292009-04-17T18:27:00.001-06:002009-04-17T18:28:31.742-06:00

I should have posted this a loooong time ago, but I've had a new, self-designed blog up and running through Wordpress for quite awhile now. You can find it at www.giramonda.com.

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-70660348565843318462008-05-28T00:23:00.001-06:002008-05-28T00:23:30.261-06:00

"Instantes" (Instants)If I were able to live my life anew,In the next I would try to commit more errors.I would not try to be so perfect, I would relax more.I would be more foolish than I've been,In fact, I would take few things seriously.I would be less hygienic.I would run more risks,take more vacations,contemplate more sunsets,climb more mountains, swim more rivers.I would go to more places

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-77414610149189277152008-05-27T16:53:00.002-06:002008-05-27T16:57:50.417-06:00

...I have some periods of free time coming up and I'm planning to use that time to visit people across the state of MO and beyond. And, I've decided to head out on bike to do it.Someone asked me why. Here's why:to do something I love: traveling...while doing something I love: exercising...all while doing something I love: being out in naturewhile doing yet another thing I love: new things that

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-79687987221664537132008-05-26T17:40:00.004-06:002008-05-26T17:46:19.713-06:00

Check out this vid of me cruising around in a street legal two-seater IndyCar. Just one of the many perks of covering the Indy Racing League!I do have to warn everybody now... I've got in my head to become an IndyCar driver now. So, I'm going to be making a habit hitting up the local go-kart joints. That along with my Muay Thai boxing training of course!Anyways, here's the vid:Also, check out

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-88487127712652368762008-05-13T18:10:00.002-06:002008-05-13T18:15:14.964-06:00

I just had a friend call me the "Perpetual Traveler." Hahaha... I liked that one too.Fav nicknames to date: Lala - given to me by the fam many moons agoPluto - given to me by my good friends on Madrid Lane.Renaissance Woman - Dustin's fine remarksPerpetual Traveler - in the words of Bart

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-56539739663515736562008-05-12T17:11:00.004-06:002008-05-12T17:47:35.225-06:00

...or swing around like a monkey. It all depends on how you look at it. Either way... I'm determined to learn how to do this! It's called Parkour:Here's another oneI don't know why it says "Hated" at the end... whatev...

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-20149322105808612672008-05-09T20:45:00.004-06:002008-05-09T20:53:23.984-06:00

We've all been hearing reports about the cyclone that barreled through Myanmar. The Death toll has reached 100,000 and is still climbing. Yet, the government still won't open its borders. And to think I was right there, literally next door, just a little over a month ago. Read the account of one CNN reporter. It's pretty unbelievable.In our Behind the Scenes series, CNN correspondents share their

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-51981497407904059382008-05-09T19:27:00.003-06:002008-05-09T20:30:26.192-06:00

I finally caught up with my friend Dustin through the phone last night. You know, the filmmaker/screenwriter who put together the video just below. Long, thoughtful phone conversations with him were a favorite hobby of mine before I left. Dustin is an excellent listener and an even better thinker and challenger. In our discussion, we hit upon the quote in Shantaram that seemed to completely throw

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-33584412895197884362008-05-09T18:50:00.006-06:002008-05-09T19:24:05.258-06:00

My friend Loic, the couchsurfer who hosted me in France, just emailed me. And, even through an electronic email, I was so affected by his enthusiasm and pure spirit. I said before that Loic is a treasure, a simply stunning person. I can feel his zeal for life through his words... I mean I really feel it. Can you?For me it's more than busy, and I have taken the time to analyse whereI am, and where

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-40225749303660848782008-05-08T12:10:00.004-06:002008-05-09T19:25:13.457-06:00

A friend of my mine has made a comical little spoof on living as a "starving artist." Dustin is a filmmaker/screenwriter living in Chicago who is working on getting his career off the ground. I met him through couchsurfing. He's become an invaluable friend.Check out his video. His dry, easy-going performance should crack a few laughs!

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-54856271335751417382008-05-08T01:13:00.007-06:002008-05-09T19:25:54.184-06:00

So this is pretty crazy. I just stumbled upon news that the book Shantaram will be adapted to motion picture. The movie will be released in 2009, starring Johnny Depp as the main character Lin. Kinda crazy since I just read the book not even two months ago. Interesting because the book was such a pivotal, inspiring and thought-provoking book for me.Here's a recap of my previous postings about

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-30301798435831960182008-05-08T00:52:00.005-06:002008-05-08T01:01:36.426-06:00

I'd rather be the ship that sails and rides the billows wild and freeThan to be the ship that always fails to leave its port and go to seaI'd rather feel the sting of strife, where gales are born and tempests roarThan settle down to useless life and rot in dry dock on the shoreI'd rather fight some mighty wave with honor in supreme commandAnd fill at last a well-earned grave, than die in ease

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-80229319809619527202008-05-07T05:56:00.009-06:002008-05-07T06:48:23.577-06:00

My global wanderings have taken me to just four countries outside the "Western" world. In Thailand, I saw a country that was rapidly developing and "Westernizing", but still clinging to many of its Eastern traditions and characteristics. In Cambodia, I saw a poor nation still trying to rise up and start again from the murderous Pol Pot regime, a nations still struggling after 30 years of civil

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-29575207995563573742008-04-30T12:24:00.003-06:002008-04-30T12:25:08.641-06:00

This is dead on...

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-74150748629608727542008-04-23T08:47:00.006-06:002008-04-24T07:52:52.821-06:00

I really liked what a friend of mine from the Netherlands had to say about dictators. Here's what Lourens wrote:Stories about 'the killing fields' are always fascinating to me. It shows what can happen when people or regimes (governments) claim that only they posses the 'real truth'. Therefore we should ALWAYS question those who make that kind of claims. The difficulty is, however, that those

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-11531811785421813592008-04-23T08:34:00.003-06:002008-04-23T08:42:24.627-06:00

Everyone is making a big deal about this priest who is arrested in Russia. While it is unfortunate that he is being detained and while I would like to believe he intended no ill-will, he tried to enter Russia with a box of ammo. The priest, Philip Miles, says it was ammo for "his friend's new Winchester rifle." Miles has also been going to Russia for the past ten years for mission work. But,

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-12639135401764121782008-04-23T08:01:00.004-06:002008-04-23T08:13:35.699-06:00

Most of you probably don't know who Pol Pot is, but he is THE man responsible for the mass genocide in Cambodia in the late 70s. Remember this picture of the pile of the cracked skulls? It was that remains of the victims of the Khmer Rouge at the killing fields... well, that some more bones, some bits of clothing and dozens of mass graves. That was all Pol Pot's doing. Remember the jail I walked

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-6123448556655923582008-04-22T16:23:00.002-06:002008-04-22T16:24:31.839-06:00

...that the world is exciting!!!More on that later...

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-56682561985244571392008-04-22T16:18:00.001-06:002008-04-22T16:19:45.688-06:00

"Enthusiasm comes with the revelation of true and satisfying objectives of devotion; and it is enthusiasm that sets the powers free." ~ Woodrow Wilson

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-90551996610975940692008-04-21T20:51:00.003-06:002008-04-21T21:08:15.544-06:00

One of my main goals since I've returned to the US is to get rid of most of my possessions. Why? Because I want to be back to wandering the world in October and not have to worry about "junk" I've left behind.I stumbled upon this verse today and found it inspiring:“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-45553896942036551412008-04-20T07:59:00.003-06:002008-04-20T08:03:10.778-06:00

I just learned about the killing fields, seeing the remnants of them myself, last December. Now, I learn that Dith Pran, a Cambodian journalist who survived the killing spree, has died from cancer. The movie, The Killing Fields, was the popular film that told the story of the murderous Khmer Rouge. It was based off of Dith's character.NEW YORK (AP) -- Dith Pran, the Cambodian-born journalist

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-63427146109413079812008-04-18T14:54:00.004-06:002008-04-18T15:14:07.979-06:00

One of my roommates during college just posted this video on my profile in Facebook... It's a video that EVERYONE should watch. It's long, but worth every minute. It's priceless... and it made me tear up.Randy Pausch Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood DreamsCarnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007,

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-87785267588670633992008-04-15T18:23:00.002-06:002008-04-15T18:36:12.446-06:00

This sounds like a step in the right direction...The following op-ed is by Nihad Awad, co-founder of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be contacted at: nawad@cair.com.As one of 138 Islamic leaders and scholars from around the world who last October signed the first-of-its-kind "A Common Word Between Us and You" open letter

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-47414590641863432092008-04-15T15:32:00.002-06:002008-04-15T15:34:58.567-06:00

"You could not live your life in the fear of the unknown. You made your plans, took the necessary precautions and then you played the game." ~Mohammad, The Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-45679389040517371882008-04-15T13:46:00.005-06:002008-04-15T13:55:22.090-06:00

Once again, I've got a ton of catching up to do. And, for those of you who don't know, I am back in the U S of A.I was just parusing Ben's blog since he's still living the dream and... well, I'm not at the moment. I'm thinking I shouldn't read his blog for a bit... it just convinces me that I made the wrong decision. After trekking to base camp on Mt. Everest, he is back in Bangkok just in time

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-30100576737442376282008-04-06T05:52:00.002-06:002008-04-06T05:58:51.914-06:00

I had wanted to make this certain point in my discussions with Silviu: Too many coincidences have become entangled into the story of my life for me to actually consider them coincidences. Silviu is, as I mentioned before, is a self-professed atheist or agnostic (depending upon how you look at it). And, as I also mentioned, we consistently found ourselves delving into debates about spirituality,

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-31270620680580133762008-04-06T04:28:00.003-06:002008-04-06T05:51:44.192-06:00

Shantaram“We can know God, for example, and we can know sadness. We can know dreams, and we can know love. But none of these are real, in our usual sense of things that exist in the world and seem real. We cannot weigh them, or measure their length, or find their basic parts in an atom smasher. Which is why they are possible.”“The truth is often found more often in music, than it is in books of

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-6485308949443775692008-04-05T08:15:00.004-06:002008-04-06T04:28:23.574-06:00

…far far away, in the land of rolling hills and rocky cliffs, lived the Von Trapp family. Okay, okay. I know, my posts are enough of a novel as it is… But, Salzburg, the city that served as the storybook setting for the movie The Sound of Music is, well, something out of a storybook. Churches, shops, jewelry stores, banks and apartments of old Austrian design are huddled between an alcove of

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-66552609062349126672008-03-31T16:30:00.001-06:002008-03-31T16:30:41.674-06:00

My head was still in a deep contemplative fog when I arrived in Graz, and that wasn’t a good mix for trying to find the connecting train from Graz to the small village outside of Graz where Claudia lives. Long story short, a major bout of absent-mindedness meant I added two hours to my journey back to Claudia’s house. It wasn’t so bad though. I was able to indulge in more of my books, thus

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-3804757256438214662008-03-31T16:24:00.004-06:002008-04-01T00:58:02.084-06:00

It was late, half past eleven, when I finally met Vincenc in Vienna. So my first hours in that thriving city of European crossroads were spent getting acquainted with Vincenc while he and I scurried about in the windy chill of the night, catching the various trams and busses we needed in order to find our way to the warmth of Vincenc’s small dorm room. Vincenc is a student from Kosovo who has

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-51306955117262190802008-03-30T17:09:00.006-06:002008-03-31T16:24:42.330-06:00

I feel like everything inside of me is going topsy-turvy. False illusions are crumbling – some quickly, others decaying rather steadily, but slowly. And that’s a good thing, because my desires and dreams are coming to fill the voids that these crumbling illusions leave behind… and my desires and dreams are becoming more of my reality everyday. I’m learning that so many “truths” that have been

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-64524108297440100802008-03-21T06:46:00.017-06:002008-03-21T23:26:31.324-06:00

Ha! It's been what... nearly a month since I've posted. Sorry bout that...Munich was a shock to the system. The air bit at my skin, sending shivers of chill that I had completely forgotten about in SE Asia. Wasn’t in March? What’s going on here? Everywhere I looked, it was mostly white people, people similar to my height and build… something I found… strange. I have been mostly surrounded by

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-26878005206423815422008-02-21T01:45:00.002-06:002008-02-21T01:49:08.248-06:00

I just made it to Phuket today... what a haul! On the overnight bus I met this cook chick, from, you guessed it... Australia. She was on her way to Phuket to go to this Muay Thai boxing training camp. Can you guess what I'm doing now? Training for Muay Thai boxing!!! I'm really excited! It's going to be hard core exercise for a few days!! Not sure how long. I also want to shoot down to Koh Lipe

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-36090751026029908582008-02-18T06:09:00.003-06:002008-03-21T09:24:39.378-06:00

Not too much going on. I'm back in Bangkok just trying to get caught up on random things. I'll be heading out in a day or two for the south of Thailand. I've been corresponding with old travel buddies. A lot of us seem to have migrated back to Thailand for some island action. Ran into a couple here in Bangkok. Anyways, back to the boring task of trying to settle some real world stuff. I'll post

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-75762099369499943122008-02-17T14:08:00.014-06:002008-02-18T06:26:45.091-06:00

What can I say? I'm an adventure junkie. It was back to days of cycling, caving and rock climbing. I even got some pointers in lead climbing. That means I'm on the rock and the rope that's holding me is actually clipped in below me for most of the climb. If I were to fall, I would fall double the length that I've climbed since the last clip in. That can be a bit dangerous... No worries, though. I

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-33743205524459489542008-02-11T10:21:00.001-06:002008-02-11T10:21:51.769-06:00

Ever since I arrived in Bangkok I’ve been wanting to try piloting a motobike/motorcycle. SE Asia is perfect for a first crack at it. Cheap and no need for a special license (or any license for that matter). Finally, today was the day. Joee offered to coach me through my first moto-driving session. Turns out, I didn’t need much coaching. It took me about 5 minutes to get the semi-manual ride under

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-78994966738858188452008-02-11T10:20:00.006-06:002008-02-17T18:12:49.339-06:00

Again, tubing in Vang Vieng’s claim to fame… and there’s a reason for it. It’s a blast and it never gets old. Joee was new to Vang Vieng so I thought there was nothing better than to christen her with the true Vang Vieng experience on her first full day. Another day of tubing, flying off zipcords and swings from massive heights, meeting new travelers, sand volleyball and… drumroll please… sand

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-14193178775085607152008-02-11T10:19:00.002-06:002008-02-17T16:27:37.072-06:00

First evening back in Vang Vieng was back to bliss. I caught up with Joee and she had managed to snag some tents on the little island in the river in Vang Vieng. Sweet! Nothing sounded better than camping in this beautiful, laid-back city. Unfortunately, I had already reserved a guesthouse so I would have to wait on the camping until the next night. But, Joee’s surprises didn’t stop at camping.

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-52711992981608276232008-02-09T04:04:00.004-06:002008-02-17T16:22:36.590-06:00

I definitely made the right move in buying that ticket to the Land of Oz. I just met a Canadian girl who has been traveling for nearly 3 years straight now. Wow! She lived and worked in Australia for a year and also lived in worked in New Zealand. Her stories and tales of adventure have me determined to follow suit.But first, how we met… the day after booking my flight to Australia I found myself

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-48955964285682660942008-02-09T04:04:00.001-06:002008-02-09T04:04:43.837-06:00

Vang Vieng is everything I’ve ever dreamed of... There’s no question it’s a small town that’s thriving from the influx of backpackers that migrate here and seem to find it hard to leave and that means it’s not such a local experience. But, it’s paradise nonetheless and there are plenty of locals that have adapted to catering to this backpacker haven. It’s actually a bit ridiculous. The bus

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-44708976083669985382008-02-09T04:03:00.003-06:002008-02-09T04:03:56.254-06:00

Talk about all your problems melting away. There is no room for stress, or bad moods in Laos. The country is laid-back. The people are genuinely friendly and they don’t hound you for a thing. Laos is just… chill. Vientiane is the capital city and rush hour seems to amount to no more than 15 cars being on the road at once. The capital has adapted to catering Western tourists well and there are

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-16992719544210300362008-02-09T04:03:00.001-06:002008-02-09T04:03:30.911-06:00

As I headed north, I seemed to catch up to the rainy, gray weather that I thought had disappeared. My symptoms also seemed to re-emerge in the 12-hour bus journey. When I finally reached Hanoi, I discovered it was also frightfully colder. A tropical storm from the south carried a nippy chill with it as it moved over northern Vietnam. I had wanted to stay in Hanoi and schedule tours to visit the

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-16156488702901118002008-02-09T04:02:00.001-06:002008-02-09T04:02:56.923-06:00

Dong Hoi is not on the backpacker/tourist trail. The Lonely Planet guidebook said as much and that’s what attracted me to the place. That and the fact that the city was just an hour motorbike away from what the guidebook calls Vietnam’s most spectacular cave system. I hopped on a sleeper bus and it all worked out well enough actually. The sleeper bus meant I had my own tiny little bed thing and

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-36372143372647895582008-02-09T03:59:00.000-06:002008-02-09T04:02:16.731-06:00

In Hoi An, Pieter had to immediately head back south. He had been traveling south and had already been to Hoi An, but didn’t want to pass up the 5-day motobike trek and went with us back north for the trip (he did it the boring way by bus along the coast on the way down). He eventually needs to catch back up with his old travel buddies. Markus and I spent one day together in Hoi An before he had

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-34679411753447883332008-01-28T21:52:00.005-06:002008-04-15T15:15:32.241-06:00

We arrived in Dalat in the evening. The air was crisp, cool and fresh. A beautiful lake shimmered in the dimming light as the day turned to dusk. The Guesthouse Markus and I found was not only reasonably priced, but luxurious for a guesthouse. What a nice change! Dinner was delicious and cheap… Lonely Planet hit the mark right on with that local recommendation! On the bus to Dalat Markus and I

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-74071236831734034122008-01-28T21:49:00.001-06:002008-02-17T17:19:56.757-06:00

…just kidding. But, with some of these pictures I might just be able to fool you. I’ve never seen sand dunes before! But wait, I’m getting ahead of myself… again.Massimo and I bussed it to Mui Ne, a beach resort along the southern coast of Vietnam. Along the way, Massimo started chatting with a laid back and amusing German guy, Markus. By the end of the ride our little party of two became a party

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-24178196275397649602008-01-28T20:20:00.000-06:002008-01-28T21:47:27.764-06:00

So, back in Rach Gia, we hiked back to the guesthouse where I stayed before. The woman there had treated me well, so I was more than happy to give her more business and book our bus tickets to Saigon through her. She gave us a fair price and within a half hour we were on the bus, headed for Ho Chi Minh City. Massimo and I arrived in the evening at the bus station. Again moto drivers hounded us to

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-68570895735975183022008-01-28T20:19:00.001-06:002008-02-11T10:19:13.334-06:00

In Rach Gia (not to be confused with the pic of Phu Quoc to the left)I was introduced to my first taste of delicious Pho’. Pho’ is the popular soup in Vietnam that is little more than some rice noodles, bits of beef and greens, water and oil… but, they must spice it right with something because 9 times out of 10 it’s delicious. The woman at my guesthouse in Vietnam was exceptionally helpful and

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-63504145817249617022008-01-13T08:39:00.000-06:002008-01-13T08:45:47.420-06:00

Article published on Google News about the first person to ever reach the Summit of Mt. Everest. Just thought it was interesting since I'm slowly making my way to that particular moutain.EDMUND HILLARY, short of breath in the freezing wind, took “a few more whacks of the ice ax” and surmounted the top of the world, Mount Everest, as high as anyone can aspire and still be rooted on terra firma. At

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-29655540991893629852008-01-12T10:07:00.000-06:002008-01-12T10:12:20.862-06:00

...is a sort of paradise really. Lush, postcard perfect beaches lined with palms. Great seafood and ridiculously cheap prices. Awesome snorkeling!! I will elaborate, but just wanted to say the exotic island was great (but almost trapped us). I'm learning that Asian's are out to scam you big time everywhere in SE Asia. But, now I'm in Ho Chi Minh City with Massimo. Literally, at this moment. Just

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-30495638992618536212008-01-12T10:01:00.000-06:002008-01-30T23:29:40.632-06:00

I headed back to Sihanoukville because my previous one-week jaunt there made it a familiar place with familiar faces. It’s more lively with more backpackers so I also thought I might have a better chance of finding some people to travel with there. Lo and behold, I found an Italian. Oh great. Italians are trouble. Of course, since I’m an Italiana at heart, Massimo and I hit it off well. We

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-5568647205299431612008-01-12T10:00:00.001-06:002008-01-30T23:16:22.750-06:00

After a week of days melting away on the beach in Sihanoukville the Aussies and I decided it was time to stretch our feet again and get out and do something. So, we scheduled a little excursion to the quaint and charming rivertown of Kampot. We left early in the am so we could arrive before noon. It’s just a two-hour taxi drive away. The taxi cost the three of us about $7 each. When we got to

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-92191672039223806642008-01-12T09:58:00.001-06:002008-01-12T10:00:07.004-06:00

The days just seem to melt away in Sihanoukville. I can’t say I did too much while there. I mostly just chilled on the beach, read books, took a several dips in the ocean for long swims, catch up on work, struggle to find a quiet place to record some work, gobble pancakes with banana and chocolate, suck down banana coconut shakes, play futbol with the locals, motorbike it with the Aussies to the

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-44127422879466731772008-01-12T08:48:00.000-06:002008-01-12T09:51:02.734-06:00

There’s more to do in Siem Reap. But, we were on a mission to get to the beach sooner than later, so on Christmas day we made an early go of it and took off for Phnom Penh. You can go by bus for about $8 or by boat for $25. Rumors of floating forests and floating villages enticed us to take the boat trip. It was well worth it. The rumors were every bit of true and that meant the entire trip was

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-24577633313141747732008-01-09T02:46:00.000-06:002008-01-12T22:23:15.108-06:00

So suddenly on my own… but not really! The Kiwi, Carl, and the French guy, Franc, were off to New Zealand and were leaving the English guy, Russell, behind. So, Russell and I decided we would travel together for a while. We got back from the trek and Chiang Mai with all options before us. Christmas was coming soon… where were we to go?? The beach sounded nice. But, it’s the thick of the high

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-77473435663334410762008-01-08T09:05:00.001-06:002008-01-08T09:07:50.481-06:00

Trekking started off with a bang. Ben and I piled into the back of this tiny, covered pick-up… squeezing in with 8 or 10 other trekkers (can’t remember how many of us squeezed in there really)… and we were off. While the pick-up bumbled out beyond the outskirts of Chiang Mai, Ben and I enjoyed chit chatting with our fellow, squashed travelers. Eventually Ben climbed onto the roof to ride and I

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-73607017310770368472008-01-06T06:23:00.001-06:002008-01-06T10:39:12.373-06:00

After a few days of chilling and prep and a few stories from travelers, Ben and I decided that the trekking we heard about in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand sounded fun. Elephants, mountain villages and bamboo rafting? Awesome! So, we took off for Chiang Mai in an overnight train. On the train we met a great Dutch couple (hey! I was just in Holland!) that made the 12-hour trek go by like a

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-61648516382404144502008-01-06T05:55:00.000-06:002008-01-06T10:42:34.261-06:00

I was going. Nothing was stopping me. But when I earnestly planted myself on that plane… that is, after I had to drop another $450 for a return flight home because they wouldn’t let me board the plane to Thailand without proof of a way of exiting the country… I couldn’t help but think, ‘What am I doing? I’m on a plane… with a bunch of Germans on my way to Bangkok.’ I can’t help but wonder… ‘Am I

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-91893070533286723842007-12-21T03:22:00.000-06:002007-12-23T10:28:37.091-06:00

So... need to write more about the amazing jungle greens and deep blue skies and amazing waterfalls and elephant rides and bamboo rafting and white water rafting... all a part of the trek I did just outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Need to post pics too...But, first I'll catch up on where I am now. I'm making this brief because I just wrote this and lost it once already. Anyways, I'm in Siem Reap

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-33059878531945518192007-12-10T04:16:00.000-06:002007-12-10T04:35:56.008-06:00

I need to get more pics up for this one... but this is a pic of Moritz, Peter and I.This Christmas market in Graz, Austria is bigger than the one in Saarbrucken, Germany. A little more ornate… more bells chiming… the same cozy, comfy feel of bringing the people together. That’s where I spent my third and last night in Graz with Claudia and Lisa (last night at least for awhile). We had spent

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-55743037939688719932007-12-10T04:03:00.000-06:002007-12-10T04:16:24.174-06:00

This is written so poorly... but... you get the gist.It’s cliché, but really… the Austrian Alps are breathtaking. Julian and Maria had driven through the night… I was going on just a few hours of sleep… throughout the drive we were all struggling to stay awake in a sleep-deprived delirium… but when those jagged points in the horizon became looming peaks, which seemed to be just an arm’s length

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-10595894401671821192007-12-07T04:32:00.001-06:002007-12-07T10:27:41.753-06:00

The plan was to either meet Moritz at the train station… or not. Heh. Moritz had given me the directions from the train station to his apartment and said if I didn’t see him waiting there then I should just head to his place. I didn’t see Moritz when I arrived… so I immediately took off in the direction he told me to. You can walk from one side of Saarbrucken to the other in about 15 minutes, so

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-6380165681385905152007-12-07T03:35:00.000-06:002007-12-07T04:26:57.156-06:00

****I´m not in Paris anymore... far from it. But, finally, here´s a bit about my stay in that incredible city.**Loic is going to change the world. What am I talking about. He already is changing the world. He surrounds himself with people who are going to change the world… hence, he hosted me. ; ) I’m kidding. I’d like to think I will have a part in changing the world though. If I surround myself

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-25652959407827332652007-11-26T18:52:00.001-06:002007-11-26T18:54:06.198-06:00

Paris is just as magical as this photo looks. I can't wait to write about it on my train ride to Saarsbrucken, Germany tomorrow! But, just wanted to throw this pic up as a teaser!!

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-20349151824809370572007-11-26T06:36:00.000-06:002007-11-26T18:24:09.677-06:00

***I'm in Paris now. Have been for the past two days. Wrote some of this on the train to Paris and the rest just now. Paris has been inexplicably incredible. Must write about it soon. Life is happening so amazingly fast. But, now is the time to catch up on Holland!***Arnaldo greeted me with the traditional Dutch greeting… three kisses on the cheek. It’s funny learning the differences. It Italy it

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-29172015349293974062007-11-26T06:32:00.001-06:002007-11-26T06:33:57.404-06:00

Lourens, a fellow free lancer that I met at Agritechnica in Germany, filled me in more on Belgium. So, I thought I would fill you guys in on what he said. Thanks Lourens!Hello Laura,Your report about Belgium needs a little adjustment I think.As you pointed out correctly, the situation is rather complex, caused byhistorical contexts, and money(of course).An important date in European history is

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-49902795471405573792007-11-21T12:36:00.002-06:002007-11-23T07:41:13.938-06:00

***I meant to post this a couple days ago when it was written. Sorry. I've actually been in Holland for the past three days now. Heading to Paris tomorrow. Updates will follow.***Bruxelles… where was I… ah yes… dragging too much stuff through the cobbled streets of the center of the EU, staring at the city’s grandeur in the frigid night cold. After cramming my luggage through a tiny door in a

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-46301641660497818782007-11-20T05:37:00.000-06:002007-11-20T07:21:49.045-06:00

...a little better. For you family and friends out there concerned about the people I might be staying with, here´s a clue: check out Luis´s old blog about when he just up and left his cozy life to go help war-torn Israel/Palestine for 3 weeks. I have so much admiration for what he did! If you go to the blog... be sure to start with the last post in the August archives and go from there so

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-3169506184284801872007-11-17T19:52:00.000-06:002007-11-26T10:35:44.580-06:00

Just one day before I was planning to head to Koln, I sent out a last minute couchsurf request to find somewhere to crash while there. It seemed the moment I had hit send, Luis shot back a warm affirmative… he and his roommates, an Indian couple, were available to host me at such a short notice. I was ever so grateful! Luis’ profile looked rather interesting… a Portuguese neuroscientist working

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-82610965697137032752007-11-16T03:40:00.001-06:002007-11-18T11:33:02.315-06:00

Deutschland has treated me incredibly well so far... and it's certainly time to get up to speed. After Heidelberg , our group of "America's top agriculture editors," as the German Agriculture Society described us, toured the John Deere factories in Mannheim with our awesome JD hosts Barry Nelson and Kelly Schwalbe (And when I say awesome, I mean awesome!) I've never seen the inner workings of

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-78225381409545374292007-11-08T14:56:00.000-06:002007-11-09T01:14:16.420-06:00

The gray sky couldn't fully mute the reds, yellows, greens and oranges of fall that were sprinkled throughout the rolling hills surrounding Heidelberg today. The colors popped through a lacy mist draped over the valley. The fall hues weren't the only colors stubborn enough to stand out from the gray haze. "Heidelberg is known for it's colorful rooftop landscape," said Charlotte. Charlotte was the

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-30645779491518083702007-11-08T05:25:00.000-06:002007-11-08T05:39:46.066-06:00

Ahhhh… the feeling of adventure on foreign lands is coursing through my veins once again… finally! It’s been a year since my last trip to Europe! I really can’t describe the feeling of elation that washes over me whenever I embark on a quest to discover new lands, new people and new cultures!I really started getting excited at lunch in Dallas with some of the clan with the John Deere Tour Group.

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-31738521230531628312007-11-08T05:15:00.000-06:002007-11-08T05:24:52.805-06:00

The Passion event is touring the U.S. and will soon be appearing at venues across the world. I can say first had the event is time well spent! It’s a weekend of delving into your relationship with God while listening to great music from the likes of Chris Tomlin and Watermark and Matt Redman and others.Louie Giglio gives one empowering speech after the next and John Piper delivers a

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-68653232138364206362007-11-08T03:10:00.000-06:002007-11-08T05:19:29.215-06:00

Okay. It’s finally time to get caught up on Atlanta… especially since plans are in the works to rendezvous in Asia with one of the incredibly adventurous guys I met while in what’s affectionately known as “Hotlanta.”I traveled to Atlanta to cover an EPIC E85 pump promotion for race week. The Petit Le Mans was scheduled for the upcoming weekend and this year the American Le Mans Series introduced

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-85985313642395224122007-11-01T22:37:00.000-06:002007-11-01T22:46:17.626-06:00

Just a few pics of my brother Jacob messing around with Vanilla Bean! Tug-'o-war, treats and kisses!

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-12690090356690148932007-11-01T03:33:00.000-06:002007-11-06T20:57:03.240-06:00

It's been so long since my coverage of the Peak Antifreeze Indy 300 - the last Indy race of the 2007 season - and honestly, I can't remember much. I met the new Team Ethanol Driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay and worked with him throughout the weekend. Sweet guy. I also met PJ Chesson at the ethanol pump promotion. He's one of those mischievous troublemakers, you know, the ones that are fun to be around.

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-20185471383254707152007-11-01T02:24:00.000-06:002007-11-01T11:50:33.644-06:00

Most of you know, before I started doing my own online multi-media contracting work, I worked for a statewide radio network in Missouri: the Missourinet. That meant my oh-so-smooth voice was all over the Show-Me-State. Before that, my voice and video was all over Italy, Australia, Japan and on EWTN in the U.S. with my T.V. work for RomeReports. And still before that my voice, vid, and pretty

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-7676332249443586362007-10-30T15:21:00.000-06:002007-10-30T15:27:01.514-06:00

Mothers, daughters, sisters, wives and girlfriends. Here's the answer to what to get the men in your life for Christmas... and any other occasion for that matter."Guy's guys" who were previously left out in the cold when it came to gift registries and giving, now have a home on the Internet -- www.ManCrib.com. The ManCrib.com registry site, launching today, will be the internet parallel to that

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-65779589413441009732007-10-30T10:54:00.001-06:002007-10-30T10:56:06.998-06:00

Does this enrage anyone else?!For the article on the Daily Herald Website click here. But, here it is verbatim below:As you read this, Buffalo Grove High School may have already held a state-mandated moment of silence today, but the courts may yet have more to say on the subject. A federal judge Monday turned down a motion by the daughter of local atheist Rob Sherman for a temporary restraining

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-17257559857277229722007-10-26T23:49:00.000-06:002007-10-27T03:41:12.449-06:00

Links to albums from the ridiculous number of pics I took at Indy 500:Indy 500 Practice 2007Indy 500 Parade 2007Indy 500 Race Day 2007

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-87046543803314774972007-10-26T22:58:00.001-06:002007-10-27T03:43:06.691-06:00

More Tijuana pics are now uploaded to flickr. You can check them out by clicking the link below. I was going to include the audio from Fr. Tom about the border in this post since I have finally looked into how to get audio on this blog. However, I can't find the file. I'm very disappointed about this. The file was sitting on my desktop forever. I just did some desktop organizing and cleaning

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-53403526511742800722007-10-26T22:08:00.000-06:002007-10-26T22:13:50.821-06:00

I found pics of my little sister Serena too...

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-17712334495927260362007-10-26T21:32:00.000-06:002007-10-26T21:55:35.274-06:00

I own a camera... what can I say?

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-28948886465006251602007-10-26T21:09:00.000-06:002007-10-26T21:12:52.307-06:00

A few pics I just found of my brother Jacob playing Wii. He always gives me the "look" when I try to take his picture...

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-4486888183201879472007-10-26T18:23:00.000-06:002007-10-26T18:30:33.074-06:00

I didn't have my flickr account set up when I wrote the about my adventure to the Channel Islands, so here's the link to the album on flickr. They're not great pics... during most of that trip, I was just enjoying what I was encountering.Channel Islands Photo Album

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-70490348248455791132007-10-25T13:15:00.000-06:002007-10-25T13:23:56.286-06:00

Those who know me know my car is the bane of my existence. While I do appreciate being able to drive around... it is literally one thing after another in car trouble for me. Latest couple of incidents... I get hit by an acquaintance. He doesn't want me to turn into his insurance, because as it turns out and which he didn't tell me, his policy was null and void because he didn't pay the premium

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-70991431669945818792007-10-25T12:49:00.001-06:002007-10-25T13:07:01.805-06:00

I'm looking forward to seeing Bella, which comes out tomorrow. Here's the synopsis of the film."There comes a time in everyone's life when something happens that changes them forever and their life will never be the same. If it hasn't happened to you yet... it will. BELLA is a true love story that shows how one day in New York City changed three people's lives forever. Powerful, passionate and

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-46549177845091009852007-10-25T12:35:00.000-06:002007-10-25T12:37:50.389-06:00

How many starving children could you save by losing a few pounds yourself? "More than you might guess," says Terry Dunkle, CEO of Diet Power, Inc. His company has launched a new website, www.DonateYourCalories.com, that calculates dollars you'll save and children you can feed with the calories given up during a weight loss diet. Tell this new online computer that you're a 37-

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-57379149097108865502007-10-24T11:58:00.000-06:002007-10-24T12:04:23.926-06:00

A while ago, my aunt sent me a link to a CNN series called Lifting the Veil, a series that uncovers some of the realities women in the Middle East face. From self-burning to child brides the harsh realities some of these women face are heartbreaking. Some episodes can be viewed on the website. Watch them. They're eye-opening.

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-30054114794641415302007-10-24T11:10:00.000-06:002007-10-24T11:14:18.238-06:00

Cool new site:GodTube.com, has announced the launch of a new social network to connect the 2.1 Billion Christians around the world with the introduction of two new, advanced safety and internet broadcasting tools: the "Video Police" and the "GodCaster"The GodCaster is a revolutionary viral video broadcaster that allows users to stream live video from GodTube.com to millions of websites on the

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-12874969710131635942007-10-23T16:28:00.000-06:002007-10-23T16:37:53.675-06:00

I just wanted to give a shout out to my friend Ben who's on his own in the oh-so foreign lands of the East. He's been keeping his blog updated on his adventures in Korea extremely well and each of his posts have been great reads. I met Ben in Atlanta... still need to catch up on that trip. But, in the meantime, check out Ben's blog. You won't regret it! Here's a recent post of his I thought

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-15698335846024101332007-10-23T01:48:00.000-06:002007-10-23T02:12:48.095-06:00

I ran across some poems I wrote way back in high school... seems so long ago now. Anyway, I just wanted to throw them on the blog... more for myself... so I would have them in everlasting electronic format. They surprise me... the things with which I was in tune. I had a bit of a rough time of it during the early years in high school... but I don't remember being anywhere near the place from

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-59832749432777361862007-10-14T08:24:00.000-06:002007-10-24T10:30:16.062-06:00

Wow... it's already been more than a month since I was able to enjoy the craziness of Austin, TX during its famed Austin City Limits Music Festival. I headed to Austin to cover the Propane Technology Forum. Let me to tell you, they are doing some really interesting things with propane these days. You can read more about it from my coverage on Agwired (just do a search for propane). Funny enough

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-60834007346168157462007-10-12T09:16:00.000-06:002007-10-12T09:25:00.405-06:00

Officially it's Myanmar, but I have friends that identify themselves as Burmese. So out of respect for them, I call it Burma. There's an article on Christian Today about the Christian perspective of what's going on in that country right now. Keith Simon at The Crossing Church pointed out the article on the Church's Blog "Every Square Inch". Both Keith's post and the article are good reads. I

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-89124474046857901812007-10-10T19:11:00.000-06:002007-10-10T22:24:24.240-06:00

This wonderful trip now seems so long ago... I'm racking up so many amazing experiences and I'm not writing about them... and that is weighing on me. I've lost a lot of details from my first trip to Chicago, so there's going to be less narration and more "this was cool" and "I did this" type stuff. But here goes:Alright, I'll just throw it out there: I originally packed my bags for this trip to

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-77706628028560332162007-09-27T21:18:00.000-06:002007-09-27T21:20:17.175-06:00

Whirlwind continues... I don't have the energy to update. But I did want to do a quick post of this little truth we all need to be reminded of at one point or another. Thanks for passing it along Jonathon!One of Kidd's favorite on-air stories . . . "Daddy Daddy""Daddy, how much do you make an hour?" With a timid voice and idolizing eyes, the little boy greeted his father as he returned from

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-54597558852930336642007-09-25T11:31:00.000-06:002007-09-25T11:40:43.302-06:00

...is not all that hard to imagine for the minds behind Republic World News. The RWN Web site creates its take on the futuristic reality of America in 2036. As you can see from the map, most of the land is occupied by Islams with the American "rebels" cornered in the southeast. The whole concept of the Web site is based off a new book Prayers for the Assassin by Robert Ferrigno.This is

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-76565524790505783712007-09-16T22:12:00.000-06:002007-09-16T22:20:51.103-06:00

The story idea Audra referenced in her email was a story about Famecast.com. It's an online version of American Idol with different "stages" for different genres of music. One of the couchsurfers I'm staying with in Austin introduced it to me. He works for the site and gets to travel and organize video production of different participating bands (how fun!). I suggested Audra to do a story

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-12012816861856834362007-09-16T21:26:00.000-06:002007-09-16T22:11:58.459-06:00

I'm in Austin. I've just spent an incredible weekend full of incredible music at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The people who are hosting me via couchsurfing.com are incredible. The people I've met through them are incredible. All following two incredible trips to Chicago, full of more incredible people.I still need to write about all of that. Life is moving too fast and I can't keep

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823727706824166089.post-90210158095763856902007-09-07T21:11:00.001-06:002007-09-07T21:17:34.902-06:00

Time to play some more catch up. Last weekend I ventured out to Chicago on my own on a kind of spur of the moment whim. I looked up a few Chicagoans on Couchsurfing.com, secured a free place to crash and off I went!I wound up staying with a couple of local playwrights, one of whom dabbled more in acting than in playwriting. They had me meet them at the Neo-futurarium to see a production of The

Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04343075614106429853noreply@blogger.com0