Universal Traveler

Just a dude with a backpack, a plane ticket, and a nasty case of intercontinental wanderlust.

Name:
Location: Minnesota, United States

Monday, December 20, 2004

One Month Countdown

Ah, it's so close I can taste it. Just one month until my January 19 flight to LAX and then on to Auckland. From this point forward, the time until the beginning of my trip will be measured in weeks and days, not months. It sure feels good to finally say that.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Update: The Great No-TV Experiment

Time for a status report. I am a little over a week into The Experiment, and doing well so far. My vitals remain at acceptable levels and I am in good spirits.

A crisis was narrowly averted last night when, for some unknown reason, I experienced a prolonged internet outage. Faced with the total absence of electronic entertainment, I began suffering classic withdrawal symptoms immediately (quickened pulse, sweaty palms, screaming profanities, cowering in fetal position, etc.). Eventually I realized that I still had a couple DVDs left over from my mass liquidation binge and happily settled in for an emergency screening of Being John Malkovich on my Cerner-issued laptop.

Now that my internet connection has been restored, prognosis for the remainder of the test period appears to be good. Updates to follow.

Friday, December 10, 2004

How to contact me

I have set up several ways for you, my adoring readership, to get in touch with me while I'm on the road:

  • Email: universaltraveler@gmail.com. This is probably the easiest and most reliable way to contact me. If you leave your physical address, I'll do my best to send you a letter or postcard.
  • Post comments: If you have something to say in response to one of my posts, click the "Comment" text at the bottom of the post. Fill out the form and type your message. Remember, everyone who reads my blog will be able to read your message. Therefore, please send all propositions via email.
  • Guestbook: Sign it here.

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Lessons I Have Learned: Installment One

Lesson: Always remember to poke a few holes in a potato before you bake it, otherwise it will detonate...

...like this:

Monday, December 06, 2004

The Great No-TV Experiment

I think this post would be best introduced with a Simpsons quote:

Homer: No TV and no beer make Homer something something...
Marge: Go crazy?
Homer: Don't mind if I do! (launches into a homicidal rage)


Looking back on my life, I don't think I've ever had to go more than a week without regular access to a TV. That's all going to change, now that I've sold mine. My big, beautiful boob tube is now in the hands of a fellow Cernerite, and I am about $400 richer. Clearly, I need the money much more than I need the TV (which would have done nothing more than depreciate in my absence), but I'm not sure how the next month and a half in my apartment is going to go. TVs are so deeply ingrained in American culture that I'm not sure I can just quit cold turkey without having withdrawal symptoms.

To give you an idea of what I'm up against, here's a picture of the gaping void left by my erstwhile idiot box:

It will be interesting to see how I react to the total absence of television. Obviously, I had better get used to it, since TV-watching is the last thing I ought to be doing while I'm traveling. At the same time, I want everybody to keep a watchful eye on me, in case I start making smug comments about not owning a TV or other annoying shit like that. If that starts happening, a firm slap in the face would be totally justified.