Ischyros' VirtualTourist Home Page

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The neighborhood I grew up in

My History

I was born on a balmy mid-September day back in......... alright, we won't go that far back. I have lived in 6 different cities in 3 different states in the past 8 years, which seems like a lot when you put it that way. I was born and raised in Indiana, went to the University of Oklahoma for a year after I graduated high school, ended up back in Indiana, moved to Yosemite National Park where I lived and worked for 6 months in 2001-2002, then I was in Fort Wayne, Indiana for a couple years to go to school, then Mishawaka, Indiana, and finally I've settled down in Indianapolis.

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Yosemite National Park

My love

My love is Yosemite National Park. My heart is still in this place. It's been several years now since I left and I want to go back as soon as I can. The place is truly mesmerizing. I remember tourists commenting to me that they'd love my life, to be able to live in that beautiful place all the time. Hearing that about once a week made me remember what a special place it was. Even after 6 months I was still totally awed by the vista from Tunnel View. Especially on moonlit nights when I would sit for hours alone watching as the moon illuminated the valley and the surrounding cliffs in a ghostly glow. I can't wait until I can make it back here. If you want to know anything about Yosemite, I'm your man.

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Allegedly haunted pier

My interests and hobbies

First and foremost, I love the piano. I've been playing since I was about 8 so I've been doing it for about 20 years. I love playing and I love creating new music. I enjoy playing for people, but I'm always nervous when I start. Once I get going, I hate to stop!
I also greatly enjoy hiking. I've hiked through 7 national parks and 5 Indiana state parks. I want to go back to the 7 national parks I've been to and go to more!
I enjoy nature photography. I'm not big on photographing people or cities, but I love nature. Mother nature is always more beautiful than any city could ever dream of being.
I'm obsessed with national parks, Cedar Point, Disney World, and the occult. I know a lot of info about all the national parks in the U.S. and I love seeing pictures, videos, and reading books about them. My obsession with Disney World has wained a bit, but I still love the place and know a lot of info about it. Wlat Disney is one of my idols and heros. I'm completely fascinated by him. My obsession with the occult scares people. Heh. Basically I'm into hauntings and ghost stories. I dont nescessarily believe ghosts exist, but I'm open-minded enough to believe in the possibility. I know a ton about ghosts and hauntings.

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Diving Event at the 96 Olympics in Atlanta

My Adventures

I call my trips adventures because something strange usually seems to happen every trip I go on, whether it's being locked outside of a hotel room during a tornado or dealing with a fire in your hotel. Unfortunately I don't have room to share them all with you here, but get in touch with me and maybe I will tell you some. As a family growing up, we always took yearly vacations which probably started my love of travel. I've never had the luxury of travelling out of the country unfortunately, although I am going to Aruba in April 2006! Here's a list of destinations and approximate dates
I was there.

Places I've Been Without Family (either by myself or with friends):

Las Vegas--May 2007
Aruba--April 2006
Minneapolis/St. Paul--September 2005
Las Vegas--April 2002
Yosemite National Park--Lived and worked here from October 2001 to April 2002
Colorado (Denver and the surrounding area)--September 2001
Utah's national parks and the Grand Canyon--August 2000
Disney World--1998
1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta(including a week in Fort Oglethorpe, GA and Chattanooga--July/August 1996

Family Vacations/Class Trips (all prior to 1996):

Washington, D.C. (twice)
Disney World (twice, three including the time I went in '98)
Jasper, IN (including Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial)
Minneapolis/Mall of America
Colorado(specifically Denver and the Front Range of the Rockies)
Rapid City, South Dakota/Mount Rushmore/Badlands National Park
California (including San Francisco, LA, San Diego, Yosemite, and Tijuanna, Mexico)

I've set foot in 25 of the 50 U.S. states with New Mexico being the only 1 of those 25 states that I've just driven through.