Via Del Dios

I've been thinking since my friends first got me to set this account up about what I'd put in here for "about me" and I don't have a clue what to say.For the past several years my life has "revolved" around my health. I have Celiac disease, and for someone who didn't know more than the basics of cooking, and had no idea what went into foods, Celiac Disease is a tremendous challenge to learn to live with. If I eat the "wrong" thing my entire digestive system shuts down for up to 6 weeks... I was diagnosed when I was gradually/slowly dying of starvation and malnutrition, which was progressing at a horrific rate in part because I knew I was hungry and kept eating... the more I ate the more I starved my body. It wasn't fun... but now I'm learning what's in foods, thinking about everything before I consider eating it, and living a MUCH healthier and happier life. In it's own way the challenge of living with Celiac Disease has taught me a lot about myself, and my outlook on the world around me.As for the more basic and mundane stuff, I can't think what to say, how I sum myself up isn't how must people think of themselves, or so it seems. I can't come up with concise words for myself... rather, when I think of myself I think of things like my love of travel... I've been to more countries than years I've been alive, and yet I feel as though I've hardly seen the world, or met many people... in part because I love experiencing different cultures, seeing new places and exploring the world at large. It's not just "adventure" that draws me... but widening my horizons, meeting people and seeing things that I can in turn share with those around me.I was in Germany a few months before the Berlin wall came down, I was in St. Petersburg 6 days before the coup... these are experiences that I saw how managed to "take advantage of" and I got to speak with locals who talked with me about what was going on around us, they shared with me their insights and their understanding of what was to come... and gave me a great deal to think about.I try to do a major road trip every year or two, and SEE the United States as well, seems odd to venture to other countries as part of a desire to see the world and yet overlook my own country... to me at least. This year I've got a huge roadtrip planned for the fall with my best friend, I'll be hitting 11 states on it! I can't wait!We won't be staying in any one place long, and won't be spending any more $$ than we have to... but we will be SEEING the country, meeting people, and just getting a sense of what these other places are like.I love the flat open expanses of Texas... and in California the places where you can be just 30 minutes from the beach, or 30 minutes from snow! North Carolina has beautiful stretches of roads with large trees swaying in the breeze and looking like they might some day (if NCDot lets them) bend together and shelter the road from a coming storm... it seems every state I've been to has something wonderful to love, and an environment that I can't help but think "yup, I could happily live here."Anyway, those aren't really concrete "facts" about me, but it's the best way I can think of to give a sense of who I am.