If you are well prepared and still afraid then you need to push through that.  While talking to many people about traveling I get the same questions over and over again.  "Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?  Aren't you afraid of being robbed?  Aren't  you afraid of being attacked by snakes?  Aren't you afraid of getting into an accident?"  They heard that there is a lot of kidnappings in Colombia.  They heard that there is a lot of violence in El Salvador.   It's the same questions over and over again.  When I first started traveling I was afraid.  I was afraid of everything.  My first time to Costa Rica I was afraid of getting onto a bus with local people.  Thinking back to it now it's kind of funny.   Seeing this big tall white dude with a woman's spring jacket getting onto a bus with his back up.  He's ready for anything.  The more experience that you have in uncomfortable situations the less that they will feel uncomfortable.  Embrace feeling uneasy.  It sharpens your senses and makes you feel a rush.  It's like a drug.

You obviously still need to use common sense in every situation.  You aren't going to go downtown Medellin, Colombia on your own at 1am.  Would you go to downtown Harlem at 1am?  I know that's a bit of an extreme comparison, but it's just as stupid.  Sometimes some of the simplest and cheapest things that I have done have been the most rewarding.  Climbing a mountain in Nicaragua, traveling five days to the lost city in Colombia, and hiking Corcovado in Costa Rica especially stand out.  Seeing a Tapir out in the wild.  Being able to approach it and actually pet it.  Probably not the smartest move that I have made.  It worked out.  When we were in Venezuela an anteater came into the village we were staying at and just wandered around looking for ants.  It was the coolest thing.  Things like this I remember. Having a margarita on the random beach that I was at three months ago.  Not so much.  Some people will always be resort people, but they will never know that they aren't until they try something else.

It takes some time to come out of your comfort zone.  People always want to do what they are good at over and over again.  My specialty was sitting on a beach and drinking beers.  I am still really good at that.  I still really enjoy it the odd time.  If you would have known me when I was younger you would never would have thought I would grow up to be this person.  Terrified of everything.  Just wanting to stay sheltered.  It's not just with travel.  It's also with food.  I thought people were crazy that were eating curry.  Sara would want to stop there after a night in the hometown.  Now I crave curry.  Just stepping outside of my own bubble is comforting.  Knowing that I can travel to almost anywhere and be able to manage is a nice feeling.

If I could offer any type of advice.  If you are looking to step outside of the everyday travels of Cuba, Dominican, and Jamaica.  Start with something fairly close by.  Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, Panama, and El Salvador.  Stay at hostels.  Check reviews online.  Hostels are wonderful for helping travelers.  Always have things on the go within the area that you are in.  Take local transit.  Eat at local restaurants.  Don't drink powdered milk.  Seriously though, there is very little danger in nearly every one of the country's that I have ever visited.  I am not going to the jungles of the Congo anytime soon.  There are so many things to see and a short time to see it all.  You can still fit in that beach time if you want next year.  This year do something a little more memorable.

Some people don't have this built in them.  At least go and find out if you do.  Don't think about what could have been.  I am a case study of a person that had no idea that he would love travel so much.  I am just speaking from my own experience.  You never know what you are going to be into until you try it out.  I know I talk a lot of smack about resorts.  Well it's because resorts suck.

Tonight, one night only.  Silversmith Brewery will be taking over Imbibe.  You have heard me salivate for years over their dark lager.  Now they are venturing to the luxurious downtown of Kitchener for one night.  They have a patio (higher pitch sales tone.)

Will Ferrell and Chad Smith's drum off was spectacular.  Wouldn't you love to host your own talk show and be able to come up with ideas on cool stuff to be done on your show.  This seems like the right platform for racing animals. 

Went rock climbing for the first time this week.  It's actually a lot of fun.  My salesman fingers haven't felt pain like this since having to carry out 4 tablets at once.  Jesus, that was a day.

Never thought that just thinking about how crappy my current razor would be enough to make me grow a beard.  It takes so long to shave with the sharpened rock that I currently have.  I haven't bought a new one because it came in a four pack.  Yes!  I am like George Castanza that way.

There is no way to look cool while dancing on roller skates.  Doesn't matter how many disco moves you know.  You will never look hip.

Gangsta = a chained basketball net.

Not gangsta = sweatband, tall socks with a high dribble

Beginning to read the book "Wild."  It's basically about a woman's struggles with drugs, depression, and just life in general.  She attempts to hike the Pacific Crest Trail to heal herself.  So far so good.  Pretty early into the book though.

When blood is coming out of ones ears in movies you know that they need to die in the next scene.  People don't live with blood from their ears. 

Top 3 dance moves that have been completed fully by Daryl Smith

3 - Mr. Roboto, this isn't your dad's needing oil robot.  This is a fully functional 2071 Japanese Robot
2 - Cookie Bake Off, this move has terrorized dance floors for years.  Tapping the watch is key.
1 - Jello Legs Jamboree - You thought legs couldn't move in those directions?  Wrong!

There are times that I wish we could measure IQ's of animals and compare them to certain humans that we know. 

About to go to the dentist today.  I always envision them laughing hysterically while waiting for the next patient to come in.

I couldn't put my finger on why I dislike Tim and Sid so much from the Score.  It's like that buddy that is great at starting up the camp fire.  He chops the wood, does a lot of the work.  You say to yourself.  "Wow, Tim is alright."  Then he cups a fart in his hand and puts it in your mouth.

"I have never had to put my pin number into the machine to purchase something with debit before.  I don't want to give you my number.  This isn't right."   If I only had a picture of my face after an elderly man told me these things while attempting to purchase ink.

Sometimes Facebook can either make somebody's life look extremely glossy or it can make their life look like a train wreck.  It all depends on the tone of your status updates.  Choose wisely!

Haven't completely gotten through True Detective yet.  It is absolutely brilliantly written. Love this line McConaughey delivers with pure perfection talking about preachers.  "If the only thing keeping a person decent is the expectation of divine reward than that person is a piece of shit."  If you can hear it with that southern twang you are doing it right.

Kurt Vile is playing this Wednesday in Toronto.  Don't think I can make it.  Trying to justify a Toronto trip can be difficult.  If anybody is in the area though check it out.  Be prepared for singer/songwriter Dylanesque tones with the slight smell of stale Pabst.

You assume that nearly all hikers wear tie dye clothing, are free spirits, and smell like a mixture of BO and nature.  All of those assumptions are exactly true.

Have only met one Canadian man that doesn't like the song Tom Sawyer by Rush.  He is from Quebec.  He wishes not to be named at this time.

New found respect for truck drivers.  My brain turned to mush and I was laughing at fart noises by the end of the journey.  Fart noises by hands or mouth were also acceptable humor as well.

Who brings an Atlas onto an airplane?  Who is reading an Atlas at any point? 

Alan Partridge - 7.2/10

Don't really know the etiquette for making eye contact with other runners.  Maybe I will just look them straight in the eye while running by them.  Then continue to look back at them even after passing. 

Top 3 cardboard moments

3 - Used to have a cardboard spaceship as a child.  I pretended to travel with Mr. Dressup.
2 - Cardboard box flew at my car sideways and almost broke my old car.  You know your car is a piece of crap when cardboard almost ruins it.
1 - Sara made a toaster out of cardboard to represent the Cylons in BSG.  Yeah, the judges didn't get it either.  We were robbed, we were robbed.

LA and Chicago are too good.  It's like watching two extremely brilliant kids (envision them as Asian) playing connect 4 and never making a mistake.

Finally gave in and downloaded both Oasis albums from 20 years ago.  My hatred for these two dudes flows deep into my veins.  20 years deep.

I have only seen one man pull off a flying cross body on somebody else during a party situation.  I guess I have only seen it attempted once as well.  It worked, I was drinking at the time.  My memory says it looked beautiful.

Never understand the people that crank music in their car with passengers in the car as well.  "I have picked you up, but I wish not to speak to you."

While visiting  Sara in Damascus on the trail during Trail Days it was interesting meeting some people and hearing their stories.  It takes a certain type of personality to complete this venture. People on the trail speaking about things that there parents have done and seeing what their children are doing now goes hand in hand.  "My parents have done this trail, and now I want to do it."  It was eye opening to find out how these hikers think and compare it to the general population of  North America.

It's nice to draw inspiration from others.  There are people that have overcome obstacles or have completed life changing events that are inspiring.  When you watch movies, (especially Disney) where something happens and it makes your eyes swell up with pride.  You want that person to succeed.  Never really thinking that you yourself could do something similar to that person.  Now of course Disney loves to rock out that against all odds type of feel that sells.  Sometimes something just as simple of completing a short story or completing your longest hike.  Something that when you tell somebody that they smile. Then tell you  that they are proud of you.  You have no idea how those small words can make you feel.  Telling somebody that you are proud of something just because they were there is a completely different blog.

Where do you draw your inspiration from as an adult?  What do you want to complete?  Whether it's eating healthier, losing weight, quitting smoking, or climbing Everest.  Do you take pride in your tan?  So you take pride in that you know the exact time to turn over in the sun?   I draw my inspiration from my wife.  She is currently hiking the Appalachian Trail in the States.  Hiking from Atlanta to Maine.  Currently Sara is about 440 miles in, and doing really well.  I understand that not everyone can take 5 months off of work and complete this. Sara has also done the following.  Climbed Mt. Kiliminjaro, ran the NYC Marathon, hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim, lived in Vietnam for 6 months with a family, and traveled for 6 months around the world on her own.  It takes a huge amounts of planning for all of these things.  How can you not be inspired by this?


In the meantime I am trying to complete a half marathon.  There has never really been a time that running has been something that was craved.  Now that's different.  Sara ran the NYC Marathon a couple of years ago and it inspired me to do it.  Having somebody so close to me complete this made me understand the kind of dedication it would take.    I honestly thought running looked kind of lame, and actually blogged about that a few months ago.  Running is something that takes no time whatsoever.  It's a simple half hour or so out of my day.  Saturday's are my long run which requires a little more time.

I know that I am not a parent.  I don't have the faintest idea how difficult it can be.  One thing that I do know is that you are the main inspiration for your child.  If you are just providing for them and telling them that they can do anything, but you are not doing anything yourself it's going to be a tough climb for them.  Seeing the hard work that you put in doing things will be an easy area for them to draw from.   It doesn't need to be life changing.  They just need somebody that they can look up to.  Very rarely do I talk to somebody that gloats about how much money or possessions their parents have. Well no one worth talking to anyways.  It's the things that they did to make them the way they are that is the stuff that will make somebody say.  "Ah that's cool." 

What I was most guilty for years ago was blaming my colitis for everything.  There was a time that I was too sick to do anything extremely active.  I used it as a crutch for years though.  In the end it was just laziness.  There was a ball game on, or there were 6 beers that needed to be drank.  Realizing that those same 6 beers would still be there after I got back after my run.  Well probably 5 after Sara got into it.  I was jealous of what Sara was doing.  In the end I would just blame my sickness for my laziness.  Once I got out of that mindset I was much better off.  Usually time is the biggest culprit for excuses.  



There are many people that I know that the most exciting thing that they do is go out for a couple of beers after work one day.  Or watching Game of Thrones on a Sunday night.  Writing your bored as your status is unacceptable.  Put your brain to work. There are a thousand things that I want to do.  It doesn't just have to be things that require you to be active.  Write, draw, sing, paint, learn a different language.  Just do something that you can be proud of.  There are so many channels now to find anything to be interested in.  Challenge yourself, and you might be surprised who you inspire. 

Good old fashioned good versus evil in the Habs/Bruins series.  I can get behind some dirty play.  I do cheer for the Broad Street Bullies of course.  Spears to the groins and flexing your neanderthal muscles is where I draw the line.  Milan Lucic probably eats garbage under a bridge in Hamilton in the off season.

Hamilton receives a lot of abuse from me.  Well that's because it deserves it.  After all a guy stole my homemade wizards hat off of my head.  Also not every street needs to be one way.

Jealousy is a funny thing.  There are people that get upset that their significant other might go to a strip club.  What do you believe is going to happen?  They are going to run off with the stripper.  "Let's leave everything behind and move to your home country of Ukraine.  We can start a new life."

Sometimes while running my competitiveness comes to the fore front.  I was passed by another jogger and felt that I should then race them.  Then I faked an injury. 

Tyrion Lannister delivering that last line in the past episode of GOT gave me goose bumps. 

You know that you have a band that triumphs within the realms of cannabis use when their bassist or guitarist doesn't require socks or shoes on stage.

In Your Eyes - 4.7/10

Note to Joss Whedon the writer of this mess.  Stick to Scifi and Superheroes.  Everyday life is not your forte.



I did enjoy a car scene in this movie though.  Watching a stolen '86 Camaro ripping around in the mud being followed by very cautious cop cars makes for good humor.  There has never been a high speed chase that has been this slow before.  Well maybe the Mennonite mafia.

You know somebody means business when they break a beer bottle on the edge of the bar and use it as a weapon.  It also isn't used enough in comedies.   In Happy Gilmore it was perfect.

I am visiting Sara on the trail this coming weekend.  She has been gone for a month.  We are going to have a romantic dinner at a campfire with hotdogs, sizzling smores, and BBQ.  BBQ isn't an activity.  It's a type of food.  When I ask what type of food BBQ is.  They just tell me that it's BBQ.  BBQ isn't food Southern Man.

My swing in Slopitch is an absolute mess.  It's messier than having an Asian kid over to your house before Paddyfest to enjoy a couple of beers.

My brother in law and sister in law are attempting to hike the Pacific Crest Trail.  That means they will be hiking from Mexico to British Colombia.  Yes!  There is something wrong with this family.


I have never been able to wrap my head around joining a guild in a video game.  Sara used to play City of Heroes and was a healer.  If the internet faltered or she had to go to bathroom things in the game would be chaotic.  This should never be a reason for chaos.  Go outside!

Playing a broom as a guitar has been a common use within movies.  It has never really donned on me to pick one up to play.  Too long, always dusty, and there are no fake strings.  Air guitar is much cooler.

I was going to write a whole blog about feminism and the negative thoughts people get when they hear the word.  Feminism is too big as a whole.  There is an aspect of equal pay for equal work.  There is an aspect that there are still jokes cracked about women in certain roles.  This will all change eventually.  It's been a slow road to get there.  Society in North America especially is on the right track. There are some obvious issues in other places in the world.

One thing I did want to discuss is that some women get in their own way when it comes to equality.  It's in the absolute most basic sense.  The fear of intimidating men.  Pretending to be less intelligent then they actually are.  Is this to look more desirable?  Is this just human nature?  What is it?  It drives me crazy when I have a conversation with a woman and she is intelligent and sharp.  Then the same women with a group of people puts on a show of being an airhead.  What's happening here?

Any man that is worth getting to know is going to embrace your intelligence.  He will not be intimidated   I can only speak for myself, but there is nothing better then having an intelligent and stimulating conversation. Regardless if it's man, woman, or machine.  Please, stop doing this.  As soon as this is in the head of any guy he will do one of two things.  He will disregard any further conversation that he has with you.  Or he will pry on your weakness.  Some guys still enjoy the company of the airhead.  Just watch the movie Wolf of Wall Street if you need further proof.


My wife for example is especially brilliant.  There is no question in my mind that she is smarter than her husband.  She was on a game show showing off her skills.  There is no intimidation whatsoever.  I actually find it refreshing.  It's nice to have to keep my brain working to keep up with her giant brain.  If you have to fall to a level of intelligence below the man you are doing it wrong.  I have the luxury of knowing many awesome, adventurous, and bright women.  Surrounding myself with this is something that has happened without myself really realizing it until now.

I am not here to build anyone up or bring anybody down.  I can see the frustration on some amazing female's faces when they have to battle through the insecurities of other females.  They are working hard to free themselves of the shackles of being lumped into a group.   In the end I am here to judge the person for the person.  If you suck.  I will let you know.  If you are awesome.  I will also let you know.  It's all very simple. 

It's been quite a while that I have had so much fun watching a NBA playoff series.  Watching the Raptors give everything that they  possibly had.  Going up against a tough veteran opponent, also having to fight through multiple bad calls.  I am proud to cheer for this team.

Top 3 off-season priorities

3 - Veteran SF/PF that can defend
2 - Resign Kyle Lowry
1 - Resign Dwane Casey (this team exuded the coach's toughness.)

Listening to a woman belt out opera while sitting in her parked car in the FS parking lot was actually awesome.  Weird and awesome.

You know there are certain skills that you just know that you have absolutely no talent for.  Watching myself draw something is actually comical to me.   Or trying to describe any type of art.  It looks pretty.  That's all you got Smith.

I have been running in and outside of the house and work trying to get a glimpse of the sun.  It's like Polkaroo.

Tim and Sid on the Sportsnet 360 are fairly knowledgeable.  They believe that they are much funnier then they actually are.  It's like the dude that slaps you on the back after he makes a super offensive remark that you pretended that you didn't hear.

 My second YouTube video is up.

Every time that I think of somebody that has purchased a metal detector I envision a man with a one piece bathing suit that is wearing socks with sandals and has a cigar in his mouth.  He has found nothing but coins.  His toothy grin has signs of decay.  His love for the chase will keep him going.  Lastly his breath reeks of old pickles.

Do you ever just look at a couple and ask yourself?  "What are they doing together?"

Commercials that have the prototypical men and women's roles have begun to upset me.  They are so many women that I know that are kick ass on the BBQ.  I also know a lot of women that burn the crap out of everything in the kitchen.  The burner has more types of heat then just 10.

Pompeii - 1.7/10
Robocop - 6.8/10
After the Dark - 7.9/10

Weekly Kim Mitchell update.  He's currently at a wild party, about to go for a soda, while staring off at some patio lanterns.  


Here's Sara's trail journal.  We have been facetiming and she seems happy.  Being without her awesome husband has been difficult. Not seeing his ridiculously sculptured body has been the hardest part she has told me.
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=453880

You wouldn't think that taking a marshmellow off of the forehead would hurt that much.  Sometimes it does.  You can't just throw it as hard as you can.  It will leave a red mark directly on your forehead.

I have been on a tractor on New Years Eve.  This is the true test of growing up in a small town.

"You're so tanned."  The compliment that should not be.