About

About Me

I retired after 33 years of service in local and regional government planning and management. I can now travel, observe, chronicle, and reflect on my community, my country, and the world with the time I didn't have, or the perspective and appreciation I couldn't express, while working as a public servant

Why "Paint The Map?"

I have the habit of using a red felt pen to trace on an assortment of maps the routes and paths I have taken while on my travels. I do this especially on the maps ​I have for the Boundary Waters and Quetico areas along the Minnesota/Ontario border after finishing one of my wilderness canoe trips.  

For many years, my son Matt, who was not yet old enough to join me on these trips, would eagerly await for my return.  He loved to listen to my stories of adventure and watch as I traced the route I  had just finished on one of my maps.

After one particular trip, Matt asked, "Dad, are you going to paint the map today?"

I asked him what in the world he was talking about.

"You know," he said pulling out my canoe country map and my red felt pen. "Are you going to paint the map like you always do?"

The phrase has always stuck with me. I now regularly use it as my overarching theme when documenting all of my travels and adventures using the written word, photos, videos or, sometimes, when tracing a long red line on a canoe country map.