Once again, this was originally posted on my sisters website

As recently as February 2006, I was asked by a friend to describe my favorite traveling experience.

I didn’t have an answer.

It wasn’t due to a lack of experience; I have a travel resume that would inflict jealousy into the hearts of all but the most seasoned of travelers.

While I’m only 24 years old, I have already amassed an all-star itinerary of locales. I have bared sweltering temperatures while running (literally) through the African rift valley. I have been viewed as a giant in cities as cosmopolitan as Tokyo. I have fallen in love with several continents, and felt at home with people whose genetic makeup represents my polar opposite. I am an ambassador to the nation of travel, and my people are the world.

Until recently I have never been able to quantify traveling experiences into a humanized ranking system. How can one assign values of finality to such an intangible experience?

That all changed when I spent this weekend in Hollywood.

At the risk of breaking rhythm of my philosophically laced sentences above, I am going to make an attempt to explain to you the merits of what I now consider my favorite traveling experience.

I got to see celebrities!

While I don’t want to give you the perception that I am shallow, I feel it’s important to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by celebrities.

I’m not sure why I find celebrities as a source of enthrallment, it clearly defies logic. As I explained to you earlier, I’m a computer guy. I should be relatively unphased by celebrity; I should continue with speaking in computer nerdery.

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(That’s “hi” in binary).

However, I am sure that many of you readers are equally enchanted by the celebrity mystique. That may even be why you’re reading this particular post (other acceptable reasons are boredom and masochistic inclinations).

To document my hypnosis with Celebrity and Hollywood, I have posted my photos online Here

Rather than bore you with pictures taken, and places visited, I will use my remaining space to summarize Hollywood’s impact.

I realized that I am naïve. I guess I always knew that, but Los Angeles brings naivety to the forefront.

I realized that celebrities come and go. While being surrounded by people from “the business,” I quickly realized that celebrities (talent) have very little to do with an actual Hollywood production. They are merely pawns in the game.

I realized that there are more elements going into big-time productions than one can possibly fathom. For every super star (think Ashlee Simpson), there are 20 people responsible for their every move.

I realized that Hollywood isn’t nearly as beautiful as it seems. I commonly refer to myself as a man of average intelligence and below average looks. Prior to my Hollywood experience, I thought I’d be constantly embarrassed in Hollywood by people of greater beauty and power. I left feeling the exact opposite of these notions, and I ultimately realized that I’m overly self-conscious.

Last, I realized that Minnesota is way too damn cold! I need to move away, and soon!

Well, I’m glad that I could sum up my trip in ambiguity laced statements. For more lighthearted excerpts from my trip, follow the link to my website above.