grace.kindness.peace.disruption.pain.processing.rinse.repeat.have a nice day.

After 14,000+ miles my road trip is coming to an end. Tonight constitutes the last night that I will spend away from my house before my car returns home. The odometer will roll over 60,000 miles shortly after crossing into Indiana. Not too shabby considering the odometer rolled over 50,000 miles as I passed over Meridian on my way out of town. Ten thousand miles … in this car .

The drive back from Vancouver has been beautiful. The "Canadian" Rockies are absolutely magnificent. The panorama is filled with exposed rock as you drive through Bamff "National" Park. It's worth the drive if you ever have the chance.

The guys at the border were ever so friendly. Having slept in my car the night before in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, I had not the opportunity to shave before reaching the border. I must of looked stunning (-ly shady) as I attempted to explain myself with as little detail as possible. Here are some excerpts:

Yes, I was visiting Vancouver. Yes, I know that's over 1,500 miles away. … I crossed into the country from Washington state. Sure, I'll pop the trunk. … Why I would love to pull into the garage to have my entire car searched.

Three men lacking senses of humor and lacking the facial muscles to smile greeted me. They had prepared a stark waiting room with one opaque window through which I distinguish their figures examining the multitude of bags, books, choice beverages, and flotsam and jetsam scattered throughout my car. After twenty minutes they retrieved me from the room and said to leave. I don't think they appreciated my popping my trunk to examine their attempt to repack my trunk. Life if based on trust: they didn't trust me; I didn't particularly trust them (I am bringing a good deal of tasty beverage back to share with friends). I offered one officer a bite of beef jerky. He declined. I was on my way. (As a side note I believe that I'll be "randomly" selected for airline searches for the next few years.)

I spent last night at Shabotz's apartment in Minneapolis, MN. We had good conversation and stayed up way too late for a group of people of which at least one has to get up and be responsible in the morning (read: go to a job). We continued our very international conversation at the International House of Pancakes the following morning. Good times. Good pancakes.

So I'll roll into Indy tomorrow. I'm looking forward to my arrival. The last two months have been truly memorable, full of people, stories, and experiences that I won't forget for a long time. The time has been great to process the first part of my year and to ponder life in general. While I'm not 100% certain of what I'll do next, I'm much closer to a decision than I was two months ago. For this, I'm very thankful for my time and for the people along the way that have helped me along the way.

To whom it may concern: "Canada" continues to provide me with beautiful views of nature and lots of people with accents, eh. One thing it doesn't provide me, however, is a cheap way to use my cell phone. Apparently, Cingular does not consider the large land mass directly north of the lower 48 to be "in network." My phone will continue to be on throughout the "Canadian" leg of my journey, but it will be reserved for emergency purposes and imminent logistical needs. So, until I return to my homeland, you'll probably get put through to voicemail. Remember that you are loved … leave your message after the beep.

New Pictures in the Road Trip Gallery.

Thanks, Weird Al.

The day has come and come again. I had not shaved my goatee area since January 27, 2006, my last day of work at a small pharmaceutical company. I hadn't shaved the remainder of my beard area since I got malaria in mid-May. The result was thick bush on my chin and a socially backward-looking beard. People prayed for me after a single look. It was a lot of fun while it lasted, but it was getting a little too fuzzy. After a new friend described it with a phrase of horrible accuracy that will not be repeated here, but will be told in person if you ask, I decided that the day had come.

I took over two inches off the chin and trimmed the sides. I decided to have some fun on the way down so I turned the shears off and left me some mutton chops. The result was a beautiful picture that can only be titled "Get off my land!"

I'm going to meet people today that I may one day need to think well of me. I didn't think showing up with joke mutton chops would be a good way to make a first impression that says, "I'm responsible, intelligent, and don't frighten children." As a result, the mutton chops are no more.