The odes, oddities, and O Deities of a world traveler

In Which We Have Hot Dog Tea

The summer after Italy, I was determined to rectify the small sore point that my parents, Brendan, and I had gone to Yellowstone without my sister. She was on her way to work in Crater Lake, and I was on my way to school…the long way. Instead of heading down to Tucson, we…
Did you know: BIG Mars

Mars has a mountain twice the height of Mona Kea? It also has a series of canyons that would stretch across the United States.
Ode to the Scent after Rain

The scent of rain is a hymn of the faithful. The Earth rejoices in the fulfilment of a promise, and in the desert it is a precious gift of life. It is hard to pin down exactly what the scent is or where it comes from. Perhaps it is the leaves, or the flowers,…
Did you know: Jellyfish Eyes

Jellyfish have rudimentary eyes?
Ode to Rafting the Grand Canyon

Rafting the Grand Canyon is the best experience. No really, if I suggest one thing for you to do in your entire life, it is: raft the Grand Canyon. From motor trips to oars, it is one of the few places of epic majesty that can be experienced. The feeling of stepping into another…
Did you know: Snake Eaters

king cobras can grow to 18 feet and look a full grown person in the eye? Their Scientific name Ophidiophagus is also Greek for snake-eater.
Ode to Soda

Soda is carbonated sugar acid. It is amazing. I already have a palate that prefers sweet to savory things, and to that you add water, just a little tang from the acids, fizz, and some extra flavoring. It helps me stay awake (or maybe puts me to sleep) do to the caffeine and sugar…
Did you know: BIG Church

the Statue of Liberty would fit inside the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica?