Chapter 10: A Quick Personal Update Post and What's Ahead in 2026

A Personal Update Post After a Busy Year of Change.

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Alright, we’re back! I’m picking the blog and content back up where I left off while I was abroad, but first, I wanted to share a quick personal update post. 

As I traveled and changed locations more frequently, it became more difficult to sit down and write, so I had to press pause on my stories in an effort to live in the moment and truly enjoy my trip.

Upon my return to the USA, I made some hard decisions and elected to change careers. I’ll explain that more in a later post, but much of my time during the second half of 2025 went toward making that transition. Beyond that, I also became an uncle while I was abroad, so I've been traveling to spend time with family recently.

For now, I want to finish sharing the remaining stories and photos from my world travels, as it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The next post will pick up with our next hike in Norway, to the peak of Ritland Crater. Selfishly, I’m most excited about revisiting the pictures and reliving my two-month trip around the world.

In the meantime, here are a few out-of-context photos from life lately, toward the end of 2025 and kicking off 2026.

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  Checking out Ken Block's Hoonicorn in person with my buddy Chris!

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  Great time with my family at Cisco Brewers on Nantucket.

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  Goofing around with my sister-in-law and niece. Boom Chicka Pop Popcorn will always be my baby.

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  Nantucket vibes with my cousin, Lexi at Cisco Brewers.

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  Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks pre-game intro.

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  Made my niece a JMU Dukes fan.

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  Dinner with my brother Greg at the famous Piero's Italian restaurant in Las Vegas

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  UFC Fight at T Mobile Arena

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  Black Rock Canyon kayak trip with my buddies Andy and Rob

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  Sankaty Head Lighthouse on Nantucket

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  Sunset motorcycle cruise to Jean Dry Lake bed south of Las Vegas

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  Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix

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  The Hoover Dam view from the start of our Black Rock Canyon kayak trip.

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  One World Trade Center in New York City.

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  New York City skyline from the top of One World Trade Center.

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  Quality visit with Noni in Ridgefield Connecticut.

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  My cousin Molly and I jamming with The Funky Dawgz Brass Band at Cisco Brewers on Nantucket.

As always, here’s a music track I've had in heavy rotation recently that feels particularly fitting as I reflect on my travels and start sharing these stories again. I’m looking forward to getting this rolling!

See ya when I see ya

-Doug