My wife and I went to the Denver Taco Festival this past weekend. Basically, there were several different food trucks. We stopped by a truck called “The Captain: Tacos and Sushi. My wife had the beef tacos and I had the shrimp and fish. The extra ingredients like pico, cilantro, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, and lime definitely added to the flavor. The tacos came three to a plate and were fairly small in size. I recommend trying it if you ever get a chance.

Honestly, I thought there would be a lot more going on, but it was a pretty small festival. Besides the food, they also had chihuahua races and some Lucha Libre Wrestling. So, there was some pretty good entertainment. I didn’t watch the chihuahua races but did see a small dog walking around with a sombrero, which was pretty cute.

Anyways, definitely check out the Denver Taco Festival next year if you can. The entry fee is $10 along with the parking fee. Oh, and don’t forget about the food. I would say it’s worth it at least once for the experience, I just wish they had more vendors than they did.

I am going to keep this short and sweet. I believe it’s important to keep trying new things in life because it gets you out of your comfort zone and expands the mind. In some cases, these new things may be related to work and/or business, or they could just be to get more life experiences.

If you are afraid to try something new, ask yourself why that is. Are you afraid you’ll fail? Are you worried about looking foolish? Are you too far into your comfort zone? Whatever your reason, it is just an excuse in the end. I understand that certain experienced cannot be obtained due to a person’s limitations, physical or otherwise. However, beyond this, there are very few reasons not to gain new experiences. They will make life fun and exciting, even if you only try them once. Who knows, you might find a new hobby like I recently did with fishing.

One of the major concerns people have is the lack of money and finances. Not just because they can’t buy cool stuff, but also because money is a necessity. Anyone that says otherwise is either in denial or lying through their teeth. While I am not saying money is the most important thing in the world or that it buys happiness, money is needed to have a decent quality of life. We need it for food, shelter, clothing, medicine, and other essentials. Yes, we need to have fun too, and having some extra cash around can make this more of a possibility.

The lack of money can create misery. I can definitely tell you that money won’t buy happiness, but it makes life much easier to live. Think about something for a moment: If your car breaks down, you need a home repair, or you get sick, aren’t these problems easier to manage if you have the funds to take care of them? If you’re being honest, the answer is definitely yes. Money is also not the root of all evil. It does not make people evil. If someone does something evil with money, then they already had the capability inside of them that was brought out. This is just my humble opinion, but I will never believe that money alone made someone evil. Money is just a neutral possession and what someone decides to do with it determines goodness or evilness.

Now, this is not a rant about money, but I just want to point out that people allow it to run their lives. To a certain degree, I get this. As I mentioned earlier, money is a necessity in order to live a decent lifestyle and you should have reserved cash and other safety nets available in case of emergencies. Also, being able to grow your wealth and pass it on to future generations is a great thing. Unfortunately, some individuals become so obsessed with it that they neglect everything else in their lives, like family, friends, or self-care. For this article, I want to focus on travel because it has been a huge part of my life.

After completing college in 2006, I really began exploring the world. I lived in various states across the US as a traveling nurse and also visited many places abroad with my wife. These adventures created a lot of great memories and the experiences are something money can’t buy. Well, okay, money was involved, but you get my point, whatever it is. What I am getting at here is that travel was a lot of fun and something I never regretted, but it also did cost money to do so. This was hard-earned money that took hours, days, weeks, and months of sacrifice to obtain. I could have put it in the bank or an investment account, and I certainly did. However, I could have put in a lot more if I wanted to.

While I do have a good amount of funds in various accounts and in the equity of our home, much of our money was spent on traveling, which means it is gone. The money that we worked so hard for was gone in an instant to buy plane tickets, gas, food, tickets, gifts, and various other experiences. Did I want to spend $100 on a zipline? No, but I did and had a blast. Did I want to spend hundreds of dollars at a classy steakhouse? No, but I did and the steak tasted great. And no, the hundreds of dollars were not just for the steak alone. The thrill I received and the sites I witnessed were definitely worth the money spent. Of course, there are numerous ways to travel on a budget and still have great experiences, but money will still be involved. The memories I have can never be taken away but the money would eventually be gone no matter what. Even if I don’t spend it now, it can’t go with me into the afterlife.

The question I have for all of you is what is more important: Traveling and having great experiences, or holding onto your money? Money sitting in a bank or an investment account is great for growing wealth and paying for necessities, but how much money can you become obsessed with. I have known so many people who earned tons of money throughout their lives, but they barely ever spent a dime. Eventually, when they looked back on their lives, they wondered what experiences they missed out on. That is not something I want for myself, so I will travel to the faraway destination, I will eat at expensive restaurants, I will try that new exciting activity, and I will take risks because when my time is up, I am not gonna care how much money I saved up, but I will care about how I spent my time on Earth.

My wife and I are definitely foodies who love to try new cuisine whenever possible. This is especially true during our travels. if you’re traveling with me, don’t ask me to go to McDonalds, Subway, or Outback. I don’t have a problem with any of these places, but if I’m in a new location, I want to try something local. If you choose to go to one of these locations, I’ll go somewhere else and catch up with you later.

As I live in Colorado, I am trying to experience more of the culinary scene in Denver and various other cities. I have found some great treats, for sure. I admit, though, that the Japanese and sushi restaurants have not been that impressive to me. They haven’t been bad, but nothing that stands out as great. I have even gone to many of the recommended locations.

This past weekend, my wife and I went to Edo Higan in Lone Tree, CO and we now have a go-to Japanese restaurants. The sushi rolls were tasty, and the steak was juicy. My wife was able to cook the meat herself on a hot stone at the table and it was a fun experience. They have several kinds of Sake too. I tried the purple haze, which has a slight raspberry flavor. The service was also amazing.

Definitely check this place out when you get a chance. I will post some picks below so you guys have an idea.

I came across an interesting post earlier today which discussed the idea of new grad nurses becoming travelers. So, basically, these nurses are straight out of training and traveling around the country to new facilities to work in their departments with little to no orientation. There are probably several reasons for this. To me, the most obvious one seems to be money. Traveling nurses can earn some good cash, especially during the times we are living in right now.

As a traveling nurse for 10 years, myself, I can definitely say that it’s a great career path with numerous opportunities. The ability to travel, work in different locations, meet new people, and have several unique experiences is something very few other professions offer. Bottom line: travel nursing is a lot of fun and you can make great money doing so.

That being said, as a traveling nurse, you must be able to walk into a new place and hit the ground running. There is very little time to get comfortable and find your way around. You must be flexible and adaptable. The staff dynamics will be much different in each location and you must be able to pick up the pace very quickly. Basically, you have to walk in knowing what you are doing, or you will be eaten alive. I have seen this happen numerous times.

Therefore, the chances of a new grad nurse becoming a traveler directly out of school and being successful is slim to none. Not only will you be completely overwhelmed, but you could be putting people’s lives in danger. I do not say this to scare anyone who wants to take this path. Once again, I was a traveling nurse for 10 years and loved it. However, I had adequate experience in my specialty and had already worked in a variety of environments.

Before becoming a traveling nurse, try to get at least a year of experience in a particular specialty. I also advise that you try floating to different departments in your facility and get used to being in unknown environments. This will help you tremendously and you will be thankful that you did. Develop a good foundation and your travel nursing career will more likely be a success. Don’t do it just for the money, but for the passion of helping people in multiple places. I have been able to take care of people all over this country and that is probably the most satisfying thing about being a traveling nurse for me.

So, for those who know me well understand that I love taking road trips and so does my wife. Whenever possible, I will get in my car and hit the open road and prefer to do this way more than flying. Recently, we began taking road trips again. During the pandemic, this was halted for a while and I don’t need to get into the reasons why.

I can honestly say that I have driven in just about every part of the United States. Now that we have started taking these trips again, many people ask why we don’t just fly to destinations. I guess that’s a fair question; but, I truly feel that these individuals don’t appreciate a good road trip and how much fun they can be.

I’m just going to say it: “Flying is a pain in the you know what!” I have felt this way for a long time, even way before the pandemic. Of course, 9/11 happened 20 years ago and flying has never been the same. I only flew a couple of times before the 9/11 tragedy and I am sure most of us have a hard time remembering what flying was like over 20 years ago.

Now, going back to what I said earlier: flying sucks! This has nothing to do with the flight attendants or anyone else that works in the airline industry. In fact, my experience with these individuals has been pleasant for the most part. I just hate going through security, waiting to board, trying to fit my luggage into a small space, and then sitting in a cramped seat for several hours with nowhere to go. All you can do is people watch, look out the plane, read, watch a movie, or sleep. Plus, you have to be careful about what you bring on the plane and how much you can take with you.

Now let’s get to roadtripping. When you’re on the open road, you can pack up your car with all the goodies you want, stop when you please, do a lot of sightseeing, and just enjoy your own personal space. Imagine driving from Los Angeles to New York and having multiple experiences along the way. For example, you can stop in Arizona to see the Grand Canyon, stay the night in the Rocky Mountains, or visit one of the great lakes. You can get some green chili in New Mexico, try some barbecue in Missouri, eat an authentic Chicago Dog in the Windy City, and stop for a Philly cheesesteak in Philadelphia. You might come upon a random historical landmark in the middle of nowhere or discover a new place that tickles your fancy. Can you have these experiences while flying? Not really.

Imagine driving cross country and getting to see what the different states have to offer, from the small rural communities to the major metropolitan cities. You will have the opportunity to meet several new people and have experiences you never imagined. For example, you could be driving through a random town and see a store you like. Since you have a car, you have the freedom to buy a few items and take them with you.

Roadtripping allows you to be on the open road, get some fresh air, listen to great music, and just enjoy some time with people you love. Or, you can use this opportunity for peace and quiet, if you so desire. Could you have some unexpected setbacks along the way? Of course, you can. However, these are also part of the experience.

These, and many more, are the reasons why I road trip. Basically, I love the experience. I am not just excited about the final destination, but also the journey I will have along the way. Now, I am not afraid of flying. We certainly will if we have to travel overseas or go a long distance in a short period of time. However, whenever possible, I will choose to get behind the wheel with my wife next to me, listen to some good music, and head out on the open highway, or a local street.

If you’ve never been one to take road trips, that’s fine. To each their own. However, if you have never experienced a good road trip, then try it out some time. Even if you’re just driving a few towns over, go for that drive and see how you feel.

There is a bakery that is throughout Southern California called 85 Degrees. It is an amazing bakery with great pastries and also great drinks. Their sea salt drinks are the best in our opinion. My wife loves the Sea salt Jasmine Tea and I enjoy the Sea salt caramel coffee. They have all sorts of pastries like cakes, cookies, muffins pork buns and various breads. I am not sure if they are anywhere else in the country, but if you see one, definitely try them out!

As we go through life, many of us want to accomplish as much as possible. We want to make as many people as happy as possible. In doing so, we keep ourselves eternally busy and take on as much as we can. We take on so much and we rarely, if ever say no.

I was going to make this a nursing article, but I think it transcends the healthcare field for sure. When is it ok to say “No”? When we are tired? When we are sick? When we can literally not take on any more? The answer is: it is okay to say no well before this occurs. We can say no anytime we choose because we are choosing for ourselves.

We often don’t want to say no. We feel it makes us look weak, apathetic, lazy, or uninterested. Guess what? We must say no because it is good for us! We can’t take on every project. We can’t help every person. We can’t solve every problem. What we can do, is take care of ourselves. We do this, by sometimes saying no. When we say no, we are looking out for ourselves. When we say no, we are making time for ourselves too. We are acknowledging that our time and well-being are important.

Learn to say “No”! You don’t have to always be available. You can sometimes take time for yourself. In fact, this is something you must do!

Here is another thing to remember: When you learn to say no, you can actually help people more. Yes, this is true. How helpful are you actually being when you are burned out and being pulled in multiple directions? In reality, when you learn to say no more often, you can focus on certain items in a more appropriate manner, and this includes helping other people.

Traveling is not a hobby. It’s not an event. Traveling is a lifestyle. It is how someone represents themselves. Travel and you will open your mind to so many things.

Ok, so I posted a video about this, but I have not yet written about it. A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were finishing up our cruise and our stopping point was in Australia. It is a beautiful place, by the way. While there, I got my first experience of trying Kangaroo. One thing I always make sure of when we travel, is to try new things. Whether it is food, new sights, activities or any number of things, if I can’t experience it anywhere else, I want to try it.

While in Australia, my main goal was to try Kangaroo for the first time. I had heard about Kangaroo; some good, some bad. Whatever the case. I wanted to try it. I finally did while at a restaurant in Darling Harbor. I literally did not know what I was getting myself into before I tried my first bite. Eventually I took it.

My critique: it wasn’t bad. It was kind of gamey. They seemed to cook it pretty well. Generally, the meat is prepared rare. I had it medium rare. I wasn’t brave enough to try it rare. Whatever the case, it was pretty good, but nothing I would really crave. It is definitely worth a try, if you’re ever visiting.