The year began busy for my company in 2004 with overlapping activities. By then, however, we had enough people to handle two different events in the same month. I was still the only Company Sales Representative and the person most experienced at dealing with our consumers, so I carried a lot of the burden and worked both shows. (The names in this journal have been changed to protect the guilty.)

I had never been to Chicago before, so when a business engagement came up in the city, I decided to go early to spend a day exploring. A year earlier in England, I had picked up a brochure for a Chicago hostel so I called the number and booked a reservation for the night before my company would start paying the bills. Chicago is a great city and I had a terrific time. =D (The names in this journal have been changed to protect the guilty.)

My trip was mostly business, visiting various lumberyards and home centers go sell our products into new retail stores, but I had a good time spending a night island camping at Lake George. (The names in this journal have been changed to protect the guilty.)

As the Company Sales Representative, it was my duty to support our outside sales people and distributors’ sales reps. The Sales Manager of my company sent me on a ride-along with one of them in Martha’s Vineyard. After taking the ferry back, we visit one last store in Cape Cod as well. I didn’t write about the trip, but do have a few pictures to post. It was a beautiful island and a fun day.

After a layoff from my first job out of college, my friends began asking what I’d do. I jokingly responded, “I think I’ll go to Ireland.” But the more I said it, the more it sounded like a good idea, so I started looking into it. I compiled several travel itineraries I found online - for Ireland as well as the UK. With some free maps from AAA, I highlighted all of the points of interest, connected the dots, and made my own itinerary. And using my credit card points, the airfare was free.

In the spring of 2001, I graduated with my bachelor's degree from Central Connecticut State University and took some time off to enjoy the summer before finding my first job. I took a few short trips and tried some new and fun leisure activities.

I spent 7 days in Sicily and a day in Rome (and about a day in the air getting there and back). We toured all over Sicily (Ortigia, Siracusa, Catania, Taormina, and Agrigento) and our final night was in Rome. The trip was incredible! This was my first time leaving my home continent, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place to go.

With some free time on my hands and a little savings to spend, I wanted to take a summer’s end trip. I’d first considered visiting a friend in L.A., but had already been to California once and figured someplace else might be more enriching. So I decided instead to head north into Canada. It would be my first trip beyond the national bounds of the United States.

The whole San Francisco Bay Area is awesome - totally worth the trip!

As a new student at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), I had joined the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) student club on campus. Our team made Central’s debut entry in the annual ASCE & Master Builders Concrete Canoe Competition. We’d been working on the project since October of the previous year and the competition was held in April.