It takes most people five hours to complete the five mile journey to the top of Angel’s Landing and back. I did it in half that and still took a bit of video now and then, while sucking in much-needed oxygen.

Will has been a bit busy with his trip recap to look over my photos. So, tired of his heavy-handed editing anyway, I decided to do a review of my own photos.

At the beginning of July, I went from full-time editor to part-time archivist. I decided I was no longer learning new skills or enjoying myself, and combined with my new cheaper rent, could cast off the safety net of a 40 hour work week. I had gotten compliant and comfortable, two things I don’t need to be at 24.

Since then, I have traveled to Puerto Rico on a surf safari and then two weeks later took my bike and got on train to Chicago before sailing the length of Lake Michigan. Now, these types of trips are not going to be the defining elements of my new situation, especially as income becomes less stable, but both helped shake things up.

I also got published two weeks after going part-time.

Writing under my boss’ name for so long made seeing my byline on Aol News an especially great thrill. I had five days to turn this puppy out, a faster deadline with more sources than I have ever done. There is hardly any changes by my editor.

I truly believe taking the plunge was necessary for my creative sp

Had I stumbled onto a sales pitch for the Mormon church, disguised as a ranger talk?

I’ve now spent the last two Julys tucked in a car, traveling hundreds of miles a day for weeks on end.