Random photos from my life and adventures around our big, beautiful world not covered in my other travel blogs and shots from TravBuddy meetups. The pictures will be changed and added when I can dig them up and need a good laugh. Also included are my nifty nine lists of top travel destinations :-D

James (pearcetoyou) & I co-hosted a sensational summer extravaganza in Kansas City. The fun began with a Thursday Welcome Dinner for Yadi (yadilitta - Lima, Peru) in Westport. The shenanigans continued with a Friday Pre-Party in the Power & Light District, a Saturday morning/afternoon Sightseeing Tour & a Saturday TravBuddy Meetup in both the Country Club Plaza & the Power & Light District. Like the song goes, "We had some crazy little TravBuddies there..." BLOGS & MORE PICS COMING SOON :-D

I met up with old and new friends in Los Angeles for a TravBuddy Pre-Party and Meetup. 20 TravBuddies chatted, laughed, belly danced and smoked hookah pipes on Friday. The next night, 35+ of us dined at an Italian restaurant just off the Pacific Ocean, then spent a marvelous evening at the local Marriott Hotel.

I had the privilege of attending my 7th and 8th TravBuddy meetups the last week of April in both N'awlins and the Big Apple. 13 of us gathered in the French Quarter of the Crescent City on Thursday, April 24 on Jazz Fest eve. That weekend, I joined over 50 TravBuddies in lower Manhattan for the first New York City TravBuddy Friday pre-party and Saturday shindig.

What a wild and wonderful winter night! Over the evening, we had 24 fabulous folks join in a mythical maze of merriment: 2 for 1 cocktails, superb Japanese food, presents for every attendee, a wonderful scavenger contest that had some of us wandering happily all over London, the first TravBuddy sleepover... I even got engaged. This certainly was a TravBuddy Meetup to remember :-D

Saturday evening, at the Amsterdam TravBuddy Meetup, I was fortunate to sit at the same table with Sanne (sannekoek) and Raphke (Raphje) at Humphrey's. During our dinner, I asked the gals if they would be willing to show a crazy American around their hometown of Maastricht if I took a train there the next day. They graciously volunteered to give me a Sunday tour of Maastricht. Little did I know how marvelous my adventures in Maastrict would be with my two new fabulous friends :-D

I had one of the most dynamic and diverse days in my life on January 26, 2008. Early that morning, I conducted a graveside service outside of Amsterdam for one of my friends from England who lived his final five years in the Netherlands. At the end of the funeral, I had the honor of praying with five individuals who accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Later, I attended a fantastic TravBuddy Meetup in Amsterdam where I became fast friends with over 30 TravBuddies from six countries.

Several of us left our hearts in the Golden Gate city and took home great memories. 41+ TravBuddies and friends gathered on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at Jade Bar for the first San Frncisco Meetup. The night before, I met up with Catalina, Chris and Oliver and went sightseeing Saturday afternoon with Catalina.

I had a wonderful time touring Kansas City with Joan (scubagirl76); her husband, Jarod (bluskyflyr); their daughter, Skyler; and Joan's sister and new TravBuddy, Kristi (kristi_rene85). We saw many things in an afternoon, including: Kansas Speedway, Liberty Memorial National World War I Monument & Museum, Beautiful vista overlooking Union Station & Kansas City, Westport area, Country Club Plaza (lights, gelato and cappuccino) and Mission Hills.

Hi-dee-hey! Me, Jake and Elwood (the Blues Brothers) broke out of the slammer and went back to that same old place, Sweet Home Chicago! 15 TravBuddies and friends plus 2 new recruits gathered on Saturday, December 22 at People Lounge in Wicker Park for the first Chicago TravBuddy Meetup.