So here I am in Denver again... ;)

It took me two and a half days to get here, but I didn't drive that much each day -- only about 10 hours the first two days... It takes about 27 hours from Washington, D.C. to Denver.

It was an interesting trip though, because I was listening to these audio books all about the history of the U.S. I listened to a great biography of John Adams, and one of a recent book called Greenback, a history of the U.S. Dollar... The biography of Adams especially was truly amazing.

All of this got me thinking about how incredible the achievements of the U.S. really are. At the time when the founding fathers, including Adams, created the constitution, most other civilized nations were still essentially monarchies. The idea of a republic, grounded upon the rule of law, with checks and balances between different aspects of government, was revolutionary -- pure innovation.

I pondered all these things as I drove past the mines of Pennsylvania, the arch of St. Louis, and the huge expansive plains of Kansas...

Finally, when I was still 100 miles from Denver, I spotted the Rocky Mountains. The day was so clear and beautiful -- a stark change from the freezing sleet I had left in D.C. Seeing those mountains rise up above the plains is a truly awe-inspiring experience. Everyone should try to take a road trip across this country some time... I still have so many places in the U.S. I haven't seen yet, especially in the South-West... someday I really want to take the time to see all of them.

It's insane how you go for months sometimes waiting for things to happen, and then they all happen at once. I would have blogged more of this before, but for my crappy dial-up connection...

So the first cool thing happened while I was out skiing in Jackson Hole for a week with my family recently. We were there from the 4th through the 11th, and it was a great time... My parents have a timeshare there in a place called the Teton Club, right on the slope, so it's really nice...

Well, one of the other owners at the Teton Club happens to have bought a Segue and keeps it there during the year... So Yuki and I got to ride it all around the building! That thing was really cool. If you ever get a chance to ride one, definitely check it out -- it's a thrilling experience. :)

Then, we came back, and I've gotten some really good news from law schools... I'm still not sure how things will turn out, but now I finally know that I'll be able to go somewhere, possibly somewhere really great. :)

And, I'm going back out to Denver for 3 months to do some work for my old company Quark... :) It will be tough being away from Yuki so long, for both of us, but it's a good opportunity and it'll be nice to see my friends out there again...

I'll be driving out so I can have my car while I'm there... I'm bringing a lot of audio books. ;)