Well, a week later I've finally got some of our photos from our trip to Seattle.  All I have to say is that it was too quick of a trip, and we'll need to make our way back out there sometime to take some time and appreciate the beauty of the area.

Seattle 2008 Slideshow

So I'm here in Seattle for the next few days, tagging along as my wife attends a nursing conference. Seems like a nice area, and the surrounding environment, with all the thick evergreen forests, is definitely different from the normal view I'm used to seeing back in Ohio and Pittsburgh. This afternoon, we'll be spending time exploring the city. Expect some pictures to follow in the next few days.

Until then, I'll just be enjoying myself on this little vacation.

I have one word to describe our recent trip to Las Vegas for a 5-day getaway: Surreal. We had a fantastic time, but it was almost like an out-of-body experience. When you account for the time change and the 24x7 nature of Vegas, it's easy to see why.

While there, we not only got a chance to check out both Cirque de Soliel's Mystere (a very good show that was funnier than I expected) show and the Blue Man Group (which was just a friggin' AWESOME birthday treat from my wife), but we got to take in some of the amazing dining experiences available. Though it can be a bit on the pricey side, just the experience of trying things like Kobe beef (oil seared and raw, no less) and tender Cod with a sweet glaze (those who know my eating habits will know how uncharacteristic that is!) was just plain fun. It was also some of the best food I've eaten in my lifetime.

The rest of our time, we spent wandering up and down the strip, in and out of shops and casinos ranging from the outrageously opulent Wynn to the down-and-out feeling Frontier, and everything in between. We did take the time to check out a few games, and I even tried entering a cheap Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament at the Tropicana. I definitely didn't win, but I had fun nonetheless.

And I think that's the attitude you need to take in Vegas. Especially if you're the guy who we watched drop $10,000 on the roulette table in about five minutes while celebrating a Wisconsin basketball win over Pitt (that should have been an easy call, which I'm sure is where he got most of the money). Seriously, we watched him bet $4,400, $500 and $5,000 on red, only to see it come up black each time (he also threw $100 on 17 in there too, which he missed on as well). My wife almost had a heart attack, but they say not to bet what you can't afford to lose!

All in all, Las Vegas felt like another world! Especially our hotel, the MGM Grand, which was so large you could literally spend your entire trip within the building. It's definitely an experience worth the trip, and I know my wife and I plan on making that trip again sometime.

Well, I'm back from a nice 4-day weekend on the Jersey Shore. It was definately a break I needed from everything to just unwind and relax. Even just being away from the computer for 4 days was surprisingly relaxing.

Even our dog got a nice vacation. Even though Jake couldn't come with us, he did get to go to Columbus with my dad and get to play with my parent's dogs and run around in their backyard.

Now, it's actually kinda nice getting back in the swing of things again.

Well, I've returned from sunny San Diego. As usual when I encounter beautiful weather, I've come back with a bit of a sunburn. Oh well, it's always worth it. I got to spend a lot of time walking around and exploring San Diego, and loving the outdoor venues they have. One was an ourdoor mall in the middle of a city block which had colorful and unique structures and walkways. It was a place that you could easily get lost in, and offered a nice place to explore since it was right by our hotel.

The other place I liked was called Seaport Village, which was a collection of restaurants and shops right on the edge of the bay by downtown. It was a peaceful place to explore many one-of-a-kind shops by day, and a great place for music and entertainment in the evening. Also sitting right by one of the main marinas, it offered many great views.

And those were just the start. We also got to spend some time at the distincive (if pricey) restaurants of the Gaslamp Quarter, and even caught a Padres game Monday night.

However, the best part was just to get away for a little bit. I enjoy my life in Pittsburgh, but sometimes it's nice to get a taste of somewhere else (sometimes just to appreciate the reasonable cost of living we have here). I'll try to get the pictures uploaded into the photos section soon!

Oh, and if you've been reading but haven't dropped me a line yet, feel free to do so!