Since announcing my intent to take a long-term trip around the world over the course of approximately 15 months, most of my family and friends have offered me many cherished words of support and encouragement: "We hate you," they said. "You may think that we don't hate you and are merely stating that we hate you because we are, in fact, jealous of you, but the truth is that we are jealous of you AND we hate you. Now don't forget to write and send pictures. Slack-ass." I paraphrase only slightly.

In any event, who am I to argue with people who love me so? And threaten me with physical violence upon my return, should I not comply with the given demands? A guy who writes and sends pictures, that's who. However, this online journal will be the primary means through which I will attempt to fulfill this commitment. In the process of doing so, I hope to at least partially overcome my complete and utter ignorance of technology and, of course, record and photograph the highs (and probably some of the lows) of this trip so that years down the road I can actually remember what it is I did with all of this free time. While I one day hope to be able to tell my grandchildren about my travels in vivid detail, wildly gesticulating with my cane as I describe being charged by gorillas in the jungles of Uganda or camping amid lost Incan ruins on a remote Andean mountain ledge, I suspect that written words and pictures will do a better job of relating these tales and convincing them that grandpa is not quite as senile as everybody says he is (incidentally, I will tell them that if they EVER decide to do what I did, I will whap them upside the head with my cane over and over and OVER again).

Anyway, there you have my "motivation." I expect to regularly update this journal (at least every few days, if possible), except when traveling through areas without internet access (and, when this is the case, I will attempt to indicate as much in advance, along with anticipated whereabouts). Feel free to send me messages/encouragement/threats here or by e-mail and I will do my best to get back to you quickly. Those who send me donations via Western Union might receive priority, however.

On a final note, for anybody I have not spoken with lately (and for anybody who does not know me who is bothering to read this), the background (mine and the trip's) is short and simple: After years of study and hard work, the desire to do nothing at all for a while, albeit in many different places, sank in. Temporarily retired from the practice of corporate law in New York and set to depart on Sept. 25, I currently plan to travel through South America, Africa, Europe (briefly) and Asia. The open road and fresh air await, as do more or less permanent bed-hair, dubious hygiene and anti-malarial induced nightmares. What fun.