Life has been nothing if not exciting these last few months. It's been a while since I've actually written anything about this passing time. Since my last wordly wrote, I've seen the sun crest snow capped Bavarian alpines from the romantic conclave of an ancient Inn nestled in the shadow of the (some say) Worlds greatest castle. Heard tales of Kings and Priests, of warriors and marching armies. I've watched as the city of Munich exploded in a kaleidoscope of smoking color: 360 degrees of bang and pop, boom and sizzle. Waltzing in Munich as The rockets red (green, blue, yellow, white...) glare lit up my soul. A New Year on which it was only proper to see the sun rise whilst dining on the fine cuisine of the only open restaurant, Burger King.

Returning from one land of ice and snow to another. I embarked on a frigid onslaught of well established and lightly populated trails. Where the exploration of snowy mountains was made all the more invigorating by the highly anticipated arrival of my Dirt Bag frame, unlocking doors I am only now realizing are ,metaphorically, "off the hinges."

I was recently discussing with a new friend how difficult it's going to be to reassimilate again into the US culture. Having only been gone for a year and a half, I'm simply not ready to be home for any real length of time. I only think of my next destination. Having lived the last year appreciating the company of well travelled people; folk who have explored the real essence of their destination, not just the bus ride from the airport to the hotel, but have gone to the "farthest" regions of the earth with little more than a back pack and a smile; their words linger in my mind and fan the flames of dread that have kindled at the thought of US life. I need to keep exploring. One of the greatest reflections I've had since my departure from Candy Land is that I truly live day to day. So rarely do I dwell on my life and "where I'm going." My favorite reply to the "what's next" question is, "we'll see." A visit home will be just that. The thought of putting down roots and all would be hard. Not saying that with the right job and situation I wouldn't be happy, but it'd have to be just that.