One thing I have learned more times than anything else is that trying to do too much turns out to be counterproductive and detrimental to the moral and ability to hit the streets to Free Hug. This being said, I have had a little bit of a break from some of the blog posts, I have most of the content written on paper but transporting that onto a blog post just seemed too much this past week. I am here to say that I am now working on typing those up and I owe you guys about 2-3 blog posts. I will try and get those up within the next few days. Thanks for your support. Stay Tuned..
Hugs,
David Melia
Professional Free Hugger
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Day 36/37/38 (July 19/20/21)
Day 36 (July 19)
Summary:
Today was my first full day in Denver. I hugged at the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver from about noon until 5 and then headed over to Coors Field where the Colorado Rockies were playing the Chicago Cubs, in order to hug around the stadium in order to give away some hugs before the game. My host met me and took me to the stadium (he had a ticket for the game already) While giving away hugs there was an amazing guy who gave me a free ticket to the game so that I could go in and watch it! I headed into the game at about 7:30 around the 4th inning of play. I found my seat next to the people that gave me a free ticket and was greeted by lots of people giving me hugs and eager to hear about my Free Hugging tour.
Highlights:
1) Getting a free ticket to the Rockies vs. Cubs game.
2) Giving/Receiving 458 hugs.
Lowlights:
1) None
Learned:
1) Denver is a lot like Chicago.
2) I got the most amount of hugs outside of Chicago during today.
Day 37 (July 20)
Summary:
Today my host and I drove to Aurora to remember what happened there a year ago today. We left at 9:30 and arrived at about 10:00. Once we got there we walked around a little bit. I went over to the Healing Wall where people wrote things on a cut out of their hand for others to look at and see. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Highlights:
1) Meeting lots of people interested in my Free Hugging projects.
2) Going to the memorial for the victims of the theater shooting a year ago today.
3) Looking at the notes that people left on the Healing Wall.
Lowlights:
1) Bursting into tears while reading some of the hands on the healing wall due to the beauty of some of the messages while being interviewed about them.
Learned:
1) Being a Free Hugger is tough and some of the messages on the healing wall touched me in a way that I didn't know I needed to be touched. I am still working through some of the feelings that this experience brought up. Future updates to follow, sooner or later.
Day 38 (July 21)
Summary:
Today was mostly a chill day. My host drove me up to the top of Mount Evans in the morning and during the afternoon I Skyped with a couple of my friends Ryan and Adam from Chicago. I then took a shower and readied my belongings for my flight tomorrow to Wichita. I also watched some episodes of Burn Notice throughout the day.
Highlights:
1) It was really nice to have just a day of relaxing and enjoying Colorado and the scenery and mountains.
Lowlights:
1) I leave Denver tomorrow.
Learned:
1) Denver is a great city, almost as great as Chicago.
2) I really like Denver a lot, they give away lots of hugs!
Summary:
Today was my first full day in Denver. I hugged at the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver from about noon until 5 and then headed over to Coors Field where the Colorado Rockies were playing the Chicago Cubs, in order to hug around the stadium in order to give away some hugs before the game. My host met me and took me to the stadium (he had a ticket for the game already) While giving away hugs there was an amazing guy who gave me a free ticket to the game so that I could go in and watch it! I headed into the game at about 7:30 around the 4th inning of play. I found my seat next to the people that gave me a free ticket and was greeted by lots of people giving me hugs and eager to hear about my Free Hugging tour.
Highlights:
2) Giving/Receiving 458 hugs.
Lowlights:
1) None
Learned:
1) Denver is a lot like Chicago.
2) I got the most amount of hugs outside of Chicago during today.
Day 37 (July 20)
Summary:
Today my host and I drove to Aurora to remember what happened there a year ago today. We left at 9:30 and arrived at about 10:00. Once we got there we walked around a little bit. I went over to the Healing Wall where people wrote things on a cut out of their hand for others to look at and see. Here are a couple of my favorites:
Highlights:
1) Meeting lots of people interested in my Free Hugging projects.
2) Going to the memorial for the victims of the theater shooting a year ago today.
3) Looking at the notes that people left on the Healing Wall.
Lowlights:
1) Bursting into tears while reading some of the hands on the healing wall due to the beauty of some of the messages while being interviewed about them.
Learned:
1) Being a Free Hugger is tough and some of the messages on the healing wall touched me in a way that I didn't know I needed to be touched. I am still working through some of the feelings that this experience brought up. Future updates to follow, sooner or later.
Day 38 (July 21)
Summary:
Today was mostly a chill day. My host drove me up to the top of Mount Evans in the morning and during the afternoon I Skyped with a couple of my friends Ryan and Adam from Chicago. I then took a shower and readied my belongings for my flight tomorrow to Wichita. I also watched some episodes of Burn Notice throughout the day.
Highlights:
1) It was really nice to have just a day of relaxing and enjoying Colorado and the scenery and mountains.
Lowlights:
1) I leave Denver tomorrow.
Learned:
1) Denver is a great city, almost as great as Chicago.
2) I really like Denver a lot, they give away lots of hugs!
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Day 33/34/35 (July 16/17/18)
Day 33 (July 16)
Summary:
Today I went to pick up a bike I rented at a shop called The Bikesmith near Old Town in Albuquerque. I then went to Tim's Place which serves 'Breakfast, Lunch, and Hugs'. It was one of the greatest places to go while on a Free Hugs Tour!! It was awesome to meet with Tim, give him, as well as some of the customers hugs, and bond over the amazing love of hugs that we both share! It was one of the greatest experiences that I have had on tour so far.
Here are some pictures of the experience:
I then biked to Starbucks to work on some stuff on the computer. Lastly I went back to my hosts house and enjoyed a great nights rest.
Highlights:
1) Meeting Tim and giving him hugs and a complimentary copy of my book while bonding over our common love of hugs.
2) Biking around and getting back in shape.
Lowlights:
1) None
Learned:
1) Tim's Place really is one of the nicest places I have ever been to.
2) Biking up the mountains at such a high altitude is exhausting!
Day 34 (July 17)
Summary:
Today I visited Tim's Place again before biking back to my host's house. After I finished my last blog post, we went to the mall in Albuquerque's Uptown. I hugged there a little bit but the indoor mall atmosphere is a little bit different than what I am used to. After the mall I went back to my host's house and at 7:00 went over to a park where I met up with my friend Josh from school. He and some of his friends and I all hung out by playing some knockout and ultimate frisbee until about 10:00 pm. I then biked back to the host's house and got ready for the trip to Denver tomorrow.
Highlights:
1) Visiting Tim's place again and enjoying the hugging atmosphere of his restaurant.
2) Playing Ultimate Frisbee with some friends.
3) Winning our game of Ultimate Frisbee.
Lowlights:
1) Hugging in a mall is not my favorite place to hug, I am always scared of getting kicked out.. I don't know why I should care about getting kicked out, but I am.
Learned:
1) Friends are good to have and hangout with.
2) A hugs restaurant is one of the most magical places in the world.
Day 35 (July 18)
Summary:
Today I woke up at 6:00 and biked back to The Bikesmith shop where I rented my bike from. I arrived at 8:00 am, an hour and a half before they opened so I went to to eat breakfast at Starbucks. While I was sitting there I met a lot of people and gave away about 25 hugs just working on my computer in Starbucks (my computer has a Free Hugs patch on the back of it). It really brightened my day that in the everyday activity in our everyday lives people can interact and hug and create friendships. It warmed my heart and definitely made my day. Albuquerque, although really spread out, has a lot of some of the nicest people that I have met on this tour so far. At 9:30 am when The Bikesmith opened, I went and returned my bike and started my walk to the Amtrak station. On my way there a couple of people hugged me with my backpack on which was pretty cool. I got to the train station at 11:00 am for my 12:10 departing train. I boarded the train at about 11:30. Once the train was on its way it was about 4 hours to my stop at Raton, New Mexico where I transferred to a bus that would take me to Denver. I arrived in Denver at 10:00pm and my host picked me up from the Amtrak station. We talked for a little bit and he showed me around before we went to bed to get ready for tomorrow morning.
Highlights:
1) Meeting some inspiring and friendly people while I was at Albuquerque Starbucks.
2) Arriving in Denver.
3) Getting some work done while traveling.
Lowlights:
1) Traveling is really tiring and sometimes boring (the train part at least)
2) Riding a bike with my heavy backpacking pack.
Learned:
1) Anywhere you go, amazing and inspiring people are waiting to be met.
Summary:
Today I went to pick up a bike I rented at a shop called The Bikesmith near Old Town in Albuquerque. I then went to Tim's Place which serves 'Breakfast, Lunch, and Hugs'. It was one of the greatest places to go while on a Free Hugs Tour!! It was awesome to meet with Tim, give him, as well as some of the customers hugs, and bond over the amazing love of hugs that we both share! It was one of the greatest experiences that I have had on tour so far.
Here are some pictures of the experience:
Highlights:
1) Meeting Tim and giving him hugs and a complimentary copy of my book while bonding over our common love of hugs.
2) Biking around and getting back in shape.
Lowlights:
1) None
Learned:
1) Tim's Place really is one of the nicest places I have ever been to.
2) Biking up the mountains at such a high altitude is exhausting!
Day 34 (July 17)
Summary:
Today I visited Tim's Place again before biking back to my host's house. After I finished my last blog post, we went to the mall in Albuquerque's Uptown. I hugged there a little bit but the indoor mall atmosphere is a little bit different than what I am used to. After the mall I went back to my host's house and at 7:00 went over to a park where I met up with my friend Josh from school. He and some of his friends and I all hung out by playing some knockout and ultimate frisbee until about 10:00 pm. I then biked back to the host's house and got ready for the trip to Denver tomorrow.
Highlights:
1) Visiting Tim's place again and enjoying the hugging atmosphere of his restaurant.
2) Playing Ultimate Frisbee with some friends.
3) Winning our game of Ultimate Frisbee.
Lowlights:
1) Hugging in a mall is not my favorite place to hug, I am always scared of getting kicked out.. I don't know why I should care about getting kicked out, but I am.
Learned:
1) Friends are good to have and hangout with.
2) A hugs restaurant is one of the most magical places in the world.
Day 35 (July 18)
Summary:
Today I woke up at 6:00 and biked back to The Bikesmith shop where I rented my bike from. I arrived at 8:00 am, an hour and a half before they opened so I went to to eat breakfast at Starbucks. While I was sitting there I met a lot of people and gave away about 25 hugs just working on my computer in Starbucks (my computer has a Free Hugs patch on the back of it). It really brightened my day that in the everyday activity in our everyday lives people can interact and hug and create friendships. It warmed my heart and definitely made my day. Albuquerque, although really spread out, has a lot of some of the nicest people that I have met on this tour so far. At 9:30 am when The Bikesmith opened, I went and returned my bike and started my walk to the Amtrak station. On my way there a couple of people hugged me with my backpack on which was pretty cool. I got to the train station at 11:00 am for my 12:10 departing train. I boarded the train at about 11:30. Once the train was on its way it was about 4 hours to my stop at Raton, New Mexico where I transferred to a bus that would take me to Denver. I arrived in Denver at 10:00pm and my host picked me up from the Amtrak station. We talked for a little bit and he showed me around before we went to bed to get ready for tomorrow morning.
Highlights:
1) Meeting some inspiring and friendly people while I was at Albuquerque Starbucks.
2) Arriving in Denver.
3) Getting some work done while traveling.
Lowlights:
1) Traveling is really tiring and sometimes boring (the train part at least)
2) Riding a bike with my heavy backpacking pack.
Learned:
1) Anywhere you go, amazing and inspiring people are waiting to be met.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Day 30/31/32 (July 13/14/15)
Day 30 (July 13)
Summary:
Today was my last full day in San Diego. The plan was to go to the Pride Festival in Balboa Park. I made a pit stop at the Starbucks on the San Diego State University. Christian owns a website project where he wants to try and feature really cool projects that make the world a better place. I was his first project so we got some photo's for him at San Diego State University before I headed over to attempt to attend the Pride Festival. Once I almost got to the Pride Festival I met Nancy, Maegan, Charise, Yngvild, and Cheyenne. I gave them free hugs signs and we gave away some hugs while we traveled to get some food at Mission Beach. It was a go-with-the-flow kinda day. We ate at a mexican food place and gave away some hugs at the beach including a bunch of guys having their bachelor party! After hanging out a little bit I took the bus back to my host's house. Tomorrow I am traveling to Albuquerque!!
Highlights:
1) Meeting Steve and Christian at Starbucks before heading down to Pride.
2) Meeting up with Nancy, Maegan, Charise, Yngvild, and Cheyenne at Pride and going to Mission Beach for dinner with them.
3) Roller coaster ride.
4) Photo stuff with Christian.
Lowlights:
1) Being called a hug prostitute by someone following me..
Learned:
1) Giving away free hugs signs is really awesome, it allows people to start their own free hugs right away!
2) Crafting relationships is part of the Free Hugs Lifestyle and is as important as giving away lots of hugs
Day 31 (July 14)
Summary:
Today my host drove me down to the Amtrak station in San Diego for my 2:40 departure to Albuquerque. On the way we stopped to wash his car. I arrived at the train station at 10:00 and headed to Starbucks across the street to watch some Burn Notice and send out some emails/ organize my hugging time in Albuquerque. At 1:40 I went over to the train station to wait. We boarded the buses (train work was being done from the San Diego stop to the Oceanview stop so we had to take a bus to Oceanview before taking the train the rest of the way to Los Angeles where I would catch my train to Albuquerque. I boarded the train to Albuquerque and left at 6:15 and was seated at the very end of the train which allowed me to look out behind the train as we headed down the track. It was a really beautiful view and I had enough space to do some organizing while traveling. I will get into Albuquerque at about 12:00 pm tomorrow.
Highlights:
1) The view from the back of the train.
2) Getting a lot of my stuff organized for my time in Albuquerque.
3) Meeting a young girl who makes stuff out of duct tape.
Lowlights:
1) The train was on its way to Chicago. It made me a little bit homesick as a lot of the people that I met on the train were headed to Chicago, the greatest city on earth.
Learned:
1) This is how my mind works:
- I want to give away lots of hugs.
- Yeah but giving away few hugs is just as good and you have to explore each city to understand and be able to receive the maximum impact for all of your hugs!
- But it doesn't feel as if I am accomplishing as much!
- That is not the point
- Blah
- Blah
- We will talk about it later. I'm too tired to think about this right now.
- Night buddy.
2) Being organized is good.
3) Almost all of my belongings now fit in my Osprey backpacking pack.
Day 32 (July 15)
Summary:
Today I got to talk to a person I met who was on his way to Chicago. He is a pastor at a church in Chicago and I got to talk to him about my tour projects and my passion for giving away free hugs. I then arrived at Albuquerque at 11:00 am and walked to the post office to send a package of some extraneous stuff back to my house in order to lighten my load a little bit. I then took the bus to a Starbucks near my host's house in order to wait for them to get home so that I could meet them. I went over to the house at around 5:00 pm. It is a really nice house. I am staying in a guest bedroom and the bed is super comfortable. We ate dinner and talked a little bit and then I went to bed at about 10:00. Tomorrow I am planning to go pick up my bike rental and then visit Tim's Place and get some breakfast and hugs!!
Highlights:
1) Meeting David and Jenny, my Albuquerque hosts.
2) Sending off some unneeded weight and lightening my pack.
Lowlights:
1) None
Learned:
1) Albuquerque is a lot like Los Angeles in the fact that everything is really spread out, but the people here are a lot nicer. As I walked down the street anyone I met would say good morning or good afternoon. The people here are a lot more open than in Los Angeles.
2) The landscape of New Mexico is a lot different than what I am used to. It is amazingly beautiful and there are a lot of hills.
Summary:
Today was my last full day in San Diego. The plan was to go to the Pride Festival in Balboa Park. I made a pit stop at the Starbucks on the San Diego State University. Christian owns a website project where he wants to try and feature really cool projects that make the world a better place. I was his first project so we got some photo's for him at San Diego State University before I headed over to attempt to attend the Pride Festival. Once I almost got to the Pride Festival I met Nancy, Maegan, Charise, Yngvild, and Cheyenne. I gave them free hugs signs and we gave away some hugs while we traveled to get some food at Mission Beach. It was a go-with-the-flow kinda day. We ate at a mexican food place and gave away some hugs at the beach including a bunch of guys having their bachelor party! After hanging out a little bit I took the bus back to my host's house. Tomorrow I am traveling to Albuquerque!!
Highlights:
1) Meeting Steve and Christian at Starbucks before heading down to Pride.
2) Meeting up with Nancy, Maegan, Charise, Yngvild, and Cheyenne at Pride and going to Mission Beach for dinner with them.
3) Roller coaster ride.
4) Photo stuff with Christian.
Lowlights:
1) Being called a hug prostitute by someone following me..
Learned:
1) Giving away free hugs signs is really awesome, it allows people to start their own free hugs right away!
2) Crafting relationships is part of the Free Hugs Lifestyle and is as important as giving away lots of hugs
Day 31 (July 14)
Summary:
Today my host drove me down to the Amtrak station in San Diego for my 2:40 departure to Albuquerque. On the way we stopped to wash his car. I arrived at the train station at 10:00 and headed to Starbucks across the street to watch some Burn Notice and send out some emails/ organize my hugging time in Albuquerque. At 1:40 I went over to the train station to wait. We boarded the buses (train work was being done from the San Diego stop to the Oceanview stop so we had to take a bus to Oceanview before taking the train the rest of the way to Los Angeles where I would catch my train to Albuquerque. I boarded the train to Albuquerque and left at 6:15 and was seated at the very end of the train which allowed me to look out behind the train as we headed down the track. It was a really beautiful view and I had enough space to do some organizing while traveling. I will get into Albuquerque at about 12:00 pm tomorrow.
Highlights:
1) The view from the back of the train.
2) Getting a lot of my stuff organized for my time in Albuquerque.
3) Meeting a young girl who makes stuff out of duct tape.
Lowlights:
1) The train was on its way to Chicago. It made me a little bit homesick as a lot of the people that I met on the train were headed to Chicago, the greatest city on earth.
Learned:
1) This is how my mind works:
- I want to give away lots of hugs.
- Yeah but giving away few hugs is just as good and you have to explore each city to understand and be able to receive the maximum impact for all of your hugs!
- But it doesn't feel as if I am accomplishing as much!
- That is not the point
- Blah
- Blah
- We will talk about it later. I'm too tired to think about this right now.
- Night buddy.
2) Being organized is good.
3) Almost all of my belongings now fit in my Osprey backpacking pack.
Day 32 (July 15)
Summary:
Today I got to talk to a person I met who was on his way to Chicago. He is a pastor at a church in Chicago and I got to talk to him about my tour projects and my passion for giving away free hugs. I then arrived at Albuquerque at 11:00 am and walked to the post office to send a package of some extraneous stuff back to my house in order to lighten my load a little bit. I then took the bus to a Starbucks near my host's house in order to wait for them to get home so that I could meet them. I went over to the house at around 5:00 pm. It is a really nice house. I am staying in a guest bedroom and the bed is super comfortable. We ate dinner and talked a little bit and then I went to bed at about 10:00. Tomorrow I am planning to go pick up my bike rental and then visit Tim's Place and get some breakfast and hugs!!
Highlights:
1) Meeting David and Jenny, my Albuquerque hosts.
2) Sending off some unneeded weight and lightening my pack.
Lowlights:
1) None
Learned:
1) Albuquerque is a lot like Los Angeles in the fact that everything is really spread out, but the people here are a lot nicer. As I walked down the street anyone I met would say good morning or good afternoon. The people here are a lot more open than in Los Angeles.
2) The landscape of New Mexico is a lot different than what I am used to. It is amazingly beautiful and there are a lot of hills.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Day 27/28/29 (July 10/11/12)
Day 27 (July 10)
Summary:
Today was a traveling day. I checked out of my hostel at 8:00 am and headed down to the Los Angeles Union Station for my 7:30 pm train to San Diego. I then hiked to a Starbucks to receive internet access. After I was there for about an hour, I remembered that I had forgotten my retainer at the hostel. Luckily I had enough time to take the train back to my hostel and pickup my retainer before my train left. I arrived back at the hostel to pick up my retainer at about 2:00 pm and gave the receptionist a hug and gave her a copy of my book to check out. I then went back to wait for my train. As I was waiting I met a group going to orange county that gave me some hugs and were interested in my Free Hugs Tour, so I talked to them for a little bit before boarding the train to San Diego. The train left a half hour late at 8:00 pm. I arrived in San Diego at 10:15 and was picked up by my San Diego host. Total today I received 6 hugs.
Highlights:
1) Connecting with some of the USA Hostel employee's when I went back to get my retainer.
Lowlights:
1) Waiting is boring.
Learned:
1) I should have a better plan for travel days and be more organized and planned out.
Day 28 (July 11)
Summary:
Today was my first day in San Diego. It was an exploring day. I went downtown and scoped out the place. There was not a place that was teaming with lots of people walking down the street so I decided to walk around and just explore what I could explore. I also found a Starbucks and sent some emails and did some research for trying to find ways to fund a future Free Hugs Documentary tour that a friend I met on this trip and I are planning. Total today I gave away and received 30 hugs.
Highlights:
1) Getting over 12 hugs.
2) Exploring San Diego.
3) Meeting some people and hugging in Old Town.
Lowlights:
1) Not being able to find a place where I felt comfortable standing and hugging.
Learned:
1) I am learning the difference between a free hugs outing and living the free hugs lifestyle through living the day open to free hugs. A free hugs outing is dedicated to standing in a place/holding a sign and having a couple hours just dedicated to giving away hugs whereas walking around with a free hugs t-shirt and having interested people approach you while traveling or explaining my free hugging projects while going about exploring, it doesn't allow for as many hugs, but it allows for the realization of the Free Hugs Lifestyle that I began to explore in my book.
Day 29 (July 12)
Summary:
Today I went to downtown San Diego again and walked around. I also did some computer organization at Starbucks before walking around in an attempt to give away free hugs. I received 6 hugs today just walking around and two of the people that I met said that I made their day which made me feel good. I ate dinner at California Pizza Kitchen in Fashion Mall. When I was on my way back to my host's house I met a couple of people who I hugged, one was on a run and the other was on his way to a restaurant with someone whom I perceived to be his wife. Total today I received/gave a total of 8 hugs.
Highlights:
1) Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.
2) Finding potential grant opportunities for next summers free hugging trip.
Lowlights:
1) Feeling a little bit lonely.
Learned:
1) Red Mango has some of the best frozen yogurt ever and it is disappointing that they don't have any here in San Diego.
2) California Pizza Kitchen has some good pizza. It was definitely worth the splurge. It was nice to sit down in a sit down restaurant.
Summary:
Today was a traveling day. I checked out of my hostel at 8:00 am and headed down to the Los Angeles Union Station for my 7:30 pm train to San Diego. I then hiked to a Starbucks to receive internet access. After I was there for about an hour, I remembered that I had forgotten my retainer at the hostel. Luckily I had enough time to take the train back to my hostel and pickup my retainer before my train left. I arrived back at the hostel to pick up my retainer at about 2:00 pm and gave the receptionist a hug and gave her a copy of my book to check out. I then went back to wait for my train. As I was waiting I met a group going to orange county that gave me some hugs and were interested in my Free Hugs Tour, so I talked to them for a little bit before boarding the train to San Diego. The train left a half hour late at 8:00 pm. I arrived in San Diego at 10:15 and was picked up by my San Diego host. Total today I received 6 hugs.
Highlights:
1) Connecting with some of the USA Hostel employee's when I went back to get my retainer.
Lowlights:
1) Waiting is boring.
Learned:
1) I should have a better plan for travel days and be more organized and planned out.
Day 28 (July 11)
Summary:
Today was my first day in San Diego. It was an exploring day. I went downtown and scoped out the place. There was not a place that was teaming with lots of people walking down the street so I decided to walk around and just explore what I could explore. I also found a Starbucks and sent some emails and did some research for trying to find ways to fund a future Free Hugs Documentary tour that a friend I met on this trip and I are planning. Total today I gave away and received 30 hugs.
Highlights:
1) Getting over 12 hugs.
2) Exploring San Diego.
3) Meeting some people and hugging in Old Town.
Lowlights:
1) Not being able to find a place where I felt comfortable standing and hugging.
Learned:
1) I am learning the difference between a free hugs outing and living the free hugs lifestyle through living the day open to free hugs. A free hugs outing is dedicated to standing in a place/holding a sign and having a couple hours just dedicated to giving away hugs whereas walking around with a free hugs t-shirt and having interested people approach you while traveling or explaining my free hugging projects while going about exploring, it doesn't allow for as many hugs, but it allows for the realization of the Free Hugs Lifestyle that I began to explore in my book.
Day 29 (July 12)
Summary:
Today I went to downtown San Diego again and walked around. I also did some computer organization at Starbucks before walking around in an attempt to give away free hugs. I received 6 hugs today just walking around and two of the people that I met said that I made their day which made me feel good. I ate dinner at California Pizza Kitchen in Fashion Mall. When I was on my way back to my host's house I met a couple of people who I hugged, one was on a run and the other was on his way to a restaurant with someone whom I perceived to be his wife. Total today I received/gave a total of 8 hugs.
Highlights:
1) Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.
2) Finding potential grant opportunities for next summers free hugging trip.
Lowlights:
1) Feeling a little bit lonely.
Learned:
1) Red Mango has some of the best frozen yogurt ever and it is disappointing that they don't have any here in San Diego.
2) California Pizza Kitchen has some good pizza. It was definitely worth the splurge. It was nice to sit down in a sit down restaurant.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Day 24/25/26 (July 7/8/9)
Day 24 (July 7)
Summary:
Today I went to try and find a Free Hugger from
Los Angeles to meet up with but I couldn't find the other Free Hugger. I
then went to a nearby Starbucks and watched some Burn Notice and searched for online
jobs that would allow me to generate an income while I am traveling in order to
be able to more fully be engrossed in the process of giving away free hugs and
traveling to brighten lives one hug at a time and have the financial means to
do so. I then headed back to the hostel and went to sleep.
Highlights:
1) Finding some potential jobs that I
can do to accumulate money while traveling and spreading love through hugging.
Lowlights:
1) Not being able to see the Free Huggers from
Los Angeles
Learned:
1) Communication is good. I should learn how to do it better. It allows for people to know what they are
doing and meeting up.
2) Los Angeles has a less open feeling than any
of the other cities that I have been to.
Day 25 (July 8)
Summary:
Today I met up with my friend Kyle for breakfast
at Denny’s. It was really cool to get to
catch up with him and chat about the difficulties that I had come across
hugging in such a radically different city that what I have been used to,
growing up in the Midwest and having more experience with some of the other
cities that I had been since the tour started.
We came to the conclusion that Chicago is a lot more welcoming and open
due to its location in the Midwest whereas Los Angeles due to the presence of
the movie industry and its vastness (sometimes it can take 2 hours to get from
one side of the city to the other driving, Los Angeles is really spread out)
proves for a more spread out and less of a physical openness mentality than a
place such as Chicago.
After Kyle and I had breakfast I went to
Starbucks to do some planning work and later in the evening I went over to
visit some old work friends of my parents for dinner. We had an spaghetti dinner prepared by Will
and then I played with the kids for a little bit before they had to go to
bed. After they went to bed, the
grownup’s had a chance to talk. It was
really cool to hear some of their stories while I was able to share mine. We exchanged some ideas and are going to keep
in touch. Will then drove me back to my
hostel and I went to bed around 11:00.
Highlights:
1) Meeting up with some friends and family
friends.
2) Amazing spaghetti dinner
3) Fun time playing with kids
4) Good conversations with crazy awesome
people.
Lowlights:
1) Probably the lack of giving away free hugs
but all the good stuff outweighs this by more than a mile.
Learned:
1) Connecting with people is awesome. Deep conversations and getting in depth to
the psyche of a city is something that is very beneficial especially for knowing
how to approach Free Hugging for the most positive impact in the city rather
than giving negative free hugs (Free Hugs book reference J )
Day 26 (July 9)
Summary:
Today I watched a lot of Burn Notice and did
some job hunting stuff as well. In the
evening my friend, who I met in December at Intervarsity’s Urbana Conference in
St. Louis, picked me up and took me to one of her favorite spots in
Hollywood. We then went to In-N-Out
Burger for dinner where we met two German travelers who we shared In-N-Out
Burger and conversation with. Wendy then
drove me back to my hostel, we got one last picture and a hug and now I am
going to sleep to get ready for traveling to San Diego tomorrow!! J
 |
| Wendy, me, and the Hollywood Sign |
Highlights:
1) Meeting up with Wendy from Urbana Conference.
2) Eating at In-N-Out Burger
3) Meeting and giving hugs to some people we met at In and out burger
from Germany.
Lowlights:
1) Not being able to get to sleep due to
excitement.
Learned:
1) There are some really cool
people that live in Los Angeles.
2) Los Angeles takes a little
getting used to but once you start to understand it, it’s not as overwhelming
as it is when you first arrive.
3) Los Angeles started to grow
on me a little tiny bit the last couple of days that I was here. It wasn’t much but it definitely surprised
me.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Day 21/22/23 (July 4,5,6)
Day 21 (July 4)
Summary:
Today was an interesting day. I got up at around 9 and walked around a lot of San Francisco but I wasn't really in a hugging mood and even though it was the 4th, the fact that one of the major train systems, the BART, was experiencing a strike did not help the mood of the city. I could feel a little bit of annoyance and disruption in the feeling of the city as I was walking around it and trying to find a place to hug. The disruption in the city coupled with my reentering the street mentality after a weekend of amazing Leaky Con electricity made for an interesting combination of good and bad and nostalgia due to the lack of Chicago quality fireworks.
Highlights:
1) Met a couple of people while I was on the street.
2) Exploring the city and learning more about it for future free hugging trips.
3) Some organizational work was completed. :)
Lowlights:
1) Not too many hugs.
2) Fluctuating moods of the city.
3) Post Leaky Con depression... (it happens to the best of us)
Learned:
1) I should work more on getting all of my stuff into 1 bag only
2) I should have a plan for the first day I get to a city to make the best of it that I can.
3) Free Hugging is a constant learning process that involves times and stretches where hugs are not plentiful.
Day 22 (July 5)
Summary:
Today I left for Los Angeles. My bus to Emeryville Amtrak station left at 12:45. I then caught a train and another bus to arrive in Los Angeles at 10:00. While on the train and bus I met a couple of really cool people, one was interested in where I got my Osprey backpack (a great and comfortable pack if I do say so myself). I also met a couple of people while on the bus who I was able to tell about my free hugs trip as well. I was also able to finish a book that I was reading. I then took a taxi to get to USA Hostel, the hostel that I booked earlier in the day for my time in Los Angeles because I couldn't find a place to stay through couch surfing. I got to the hostel at about 11:00 and then went to bed to get ready for tomorrow.
Highlights:
1) Finishing a book.
2) Spreading Free Hugs love with traveling people. :)
Lowlights:
1) Taking a taxi rather than just taking the train and saving almost 30 dollars.
2) Having to spend the money for a hostel while in Los Angeles.
Learned:
1) One bag would be a lot less hassle than 2 bags.
2) I need to start visiting the grocery store more.
3) I probably have said this before, but I need to figure out how I am getting to places before I get there.
4) Research is good.
Day 23 (July 6)
Summary:
Today I walked around Hollywood a little bit and got a feel for the area. It was interesting, a lot different than I was expecting. Los Angeles has a unique and interesting feel to it. A lot of the people here are not as open as a lot of other places that I have been to. I did not get many hugs at all and the response was a lot less than what I was expecting. It was a pretty disappointing day but on the bright side, I am learning interesting and useful things. :)
Highlights:
1) Exploration.
Lowlights:
1) The realization of the complexity vastness of Los Angeles.
Learned:
1) Transit in Los Angeles takes forever.
2) A car is a thing to have in Los Angeles.
3) There are reasons why I love Chicago so much.
Summary:
Today was an interesting day. I got up at around 9 and walked around a lot of San Francisco but I wasn't really in a hugging mood and even though it was the 4th, the fact that one of the major train systems, the BART, was experiencing a strike did not help the mood of the city. I could feel a little bit of annoyance and disruption in the feeling of the city as I was walking around it and trying to find a place to hug. The disruption in the city coupled with my reentering the street mentality after a weekend of amazing Leaky Con electricity made for an interesting combination of good and bad and nostalgia due to the lack of Chicago quality fireworks.
Highlights:
1) Met a couple of people while I was on the street.
2) Exploring the city and learning more about it for future free hugging trips.
3) Some organizational work was completed. :)
Lowlights:
1) Not too many hugs.
2) Fluctuating moods of the city.
3) Post Leaky Con depression... (it happens to the best of us)
Learned:
1) I should work more on getting all of my stuff into 1 bag only
2) I should have a plan for the first day I get to a city to make the best of it that I can.
3) Free Hugging is a constant learning process that involves times and stretches where hugs are not plentiful.
Day 22 (July 5)
Summary:
Today I left for Los Angeles. My bus to Emeryville Amtrak station left at 12:45. I then caught a train and another bus to arrive in Los Angeles at 10:00. While on the train and bus I met a couple of really cool people, one was interested in where I got my Osprey backpack (a great and comfortable pack if I do say so myself). I also met a couple of people while on the bus who I was able to tell about my free hugs trip as well. I was also able to finish a book that I was reading. I then took a taxi to get to USA Hostel, the hostel that I booked earlier in the day for my time in Los Angeles because I couldn't find a place to stay through couch surfing. I got to the hostel at about 11:00 and then went to bed to get ready for tomorrow.
Highlights:
1) Finishing a book.
2) Spreading Free Hugs love with traveling people. :)
Lowlights:
1) Taking a taxi rather than just taking the train and saving almost 30 dollars.
2) Having to spend the money for a hostel while in Los Angeles.
Learned:
1) One bag would be a lot less hassle than 2 bags.
2) I need to start visiting the grocery store more.
3) I probably have said this before, but I need to figure out how I am getting to places before I get there.
4) Research is good.
Day 23 (July 6)
Summary:
Today I walked around Hollywood a little bit and got a feel for the area. It was interesting, a lot different than I was expecting. Los Angeles has a unique and interesting feel to it. A lot of the people here are not as open as a lot of other places that I have been to. I did not get many hugs at all and the response was a lot less than what I was expecting. It was a pretty disappointing day but on the bright side, I am learning interesting and useful things. :)
Highlights:
1) Exploration.
Lowlights:
1) The realization of the complexity vastness of Los Angeles.
Learned:
1) Transit in Los Angeles takes forever.
2) A car is a thing to have in Los Angeles.
3) There are reasons why I love Chicago so much.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Day 19/20 (July 2/3)
Day 19 (July 2)
Summary:
Today my family and I went to Powells book store before dropping me off at the Portland Amtrak station to wait for my 2:25 train to Emeryville and bus to San Francisco. I bought a philosophical book explaining (from what I gather) how to set up a 'Socrates Cafe' or club where people can just talk and love philosophy and question everything and get really excited about it and crazy Philosophical geeky stuff like that, which excites me, as a philosophy major. Here is a picture of the book I bought and a magnet that I could not pass up.
If you didn't know this before, I am an avid duct tape crafter and creator, including wallets, hats, bags, and a duct tape prom tux.
The Train got to the station at about 2:40, I boarded and spent the rest of the night watching tv shows that I had on my computer and doing some writing.
Highlights:
1) Powells Bookstore.
2) Spending time with family.
3) I found Wifi at the train station.
4) I briefly met a couple of people at the station.
5) Giving away a hug on the train.
Lowlights:
1) Saying goodbye to my family for another 70 days and my brother for another 5-6 months. (He will be at school by the time I get back from my tour.)
2) Waiting for the train was pretty boring, I wasn't really in the mood to engage in conversation.
Learned:
1) I miss my family more than I really thought I did.
2) My sister is a really good free hugger, watching her the past few days at Leaky Con was awesome. (She is about the same age right now as I was when I started giving away free hugs. It's really interesting to watch her learn some of the stuff that I have learned in my giving away free hugs, but on her own.)
Day 20 (July 3)
Summary:
I arrived at the Emeryville, California station at 9:45 am and boarded the bus taking me to San Francisco. I then arrived at about 10:15 and found a Starbucks get breakfast and sit down to get some work done. I left Starbucks at 6:00 pm to head to the host house where I was staying. Once I got to the house I met some of the people that live there and the rest of the night was getting to know them and awesome conversation about hugs and human connectedness. I slept amazingly on the couch and was super comfortable.
Highlights:
1) Getting a lot of work done including blog posts, writing, and taking a couple surveys.
2) Having pictures to share on this blog post.
Lowlights:
1) Not having a plan for storing my stuff when I got into town.
Learned:
1) I need to have more planned for the first day/ find locations to stash my stuff for durring the day while waiting for getting to places that I will sleep in order to maximize Free Hugging time. (I still have to figure out how and where)
2) Getting on the computer and being productive feels really good, almost as good as a bunch of hugs. Being productive is hugging yourself. :)
3) I am using pictures in my posts now!! Exciting!
Today is July 4 and I am checking out my surroundings finding a good place to stop and hug. I'll update you about the day later. Happy 4th!
Hugs,
David Melia
Professional Free Hugger
Summary:
Today my family and I went to Powells book store before dropping me off at the Portland Amtrak station to wait for my 2:25 train to Emeryville and bus to San Francisco. I bought a philosophical book explaining (from what I gather) how to set up a 'Socrates Cafe' or club where people can just talk and love philosophy and question everything and get really excited about it and crazy Philosophical geeky stuff like that, which excites me, as a philosophy major. Here is a picture of the book I bought and a magnet that I could not pass up.
If you didn't know this before, I am an avid duct tape crafter and creator, including wallets, hats, bags, and a duct tape prom tux.
The Train got to the station at about 2:40, I boarded and spent the rest of the night watching tv shows that I had on my computer and doing some writing.
Highlights:
1) Powells Bookstore.
2) Spending time with family.
3) I found Wifi at the train station.
4) I briefly met a couple of people at the station.
5) Giving away a hug on the train.
Lowlights:
1) Saying goodbye to my family for another 70 days and my brother for another 5-6 months. (He will be at school by the time I get back from my tour.)
2) Waiting for the train was pretty boring, I wasn't really in the mood to engage in conversation.
Learned:
1) I miss my family more than I really thought I did.
2) My sister is a really good free hugger, watching her the past few days at Leaky Con was awesome. (She is about the same age right now as I was when I started giving away free hugs. It's really interesting to watch her learn some of the stuff that I have learned in my giving away free hugs, but on her own.)
Day 20 (July 3)
Summary:
I arrived at the Emeryville, California station at 9:45 am and boarded the bus taking me to San Francisco. I then arrived at about 10:15 and found a Starbucks get breakfast and sit down to get some work done. I left Starbucks at 6:00 pm to head to the host house where I was staying. Once I got to the house I met some of the people that live there and the rest of the night was getting to know them and awesome conversation about hugs and human connectedness. I slept amazingly on the couch and was super comfortable.
Highlights:
1) Getting a lot of work done including blog posts, writing, and taking a couple surveys.
2) Having pictures to share on this blog post.
Lowlights:
1) Not having a plan for storing my stuff when I got into town.
Learned:
1) I need to have more planned for the first day/ find locations to stash my stuff for durring the day while waiting for getting to places that I will sleep in order to maximize Free Hugging time. (I still have to figure out how and where)
2) Getting on the computer and being productive feels really good, almost as good as a bunch of hugs. Being productive is hugging yourself. :)
3) I am using pictures in my posts now!! Exciting!
Today is July 4 and I am checking out my surroundings finding a good place to stop and hug. I'll update you about the day later. Happy 4th!
Hugs,
David Melia
Professional Free Hugger
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Day 16/17/18 (June 29,30 and July 1)
Day 16 (Leaky Con Day 3)
Summary:
Today I went to a couple of panels and lectures. It was very informative and thought provoking. At the end of the night was a Charity Ball, a yearly Leaky Con phenomenon. We all got to dress up and dance and have a really good time. I really enjoyed it and got lots and lots of hugs, including a hug from Stephanie Perkins, author of Anna and the French Kiss. That was pretty great.
Highlights:
1) Hugs.
2) Charity Ball and dancing.
3) Chilling with friends and learning stuff.
4) Hugging Stephanie Perkins and giving her a copy of my book! :)
Lowlights:
1) None
Learned:
1) Writing when you don't feel like writing still has to be done.
2) Pushing though those rough moments allows you to enjoy and relish as well as take advantage of the moments where you are in the creative and writing mode.
3) Discipline is more than half the battle when it comes to writing.
Day 17 (Leaky Con Day 4)
Summary:
Today was the last day of Leaky Con. We got to the Oregon convention center at about 10:00 am for the last couple of events. I went to a Dr. Horrible sing along where we watched Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, a fantastically amazing movie. We then had the final ceremony which was the last Pottercast Podcast. My family and I then went to have dinner with my uncle and cousin that live in a suburb of Portland.
Highlights:
1) Met Starkid briefly.
Lowlights:
1) Last day of Leaky Con.
Learned:
1) Leaky Con is one of the greatest things in the world.
2) Conventions are awesome places to give hugs.
3) Goodbye's are the worst.
4) I should start making an email list for a quarterly newsletter.
Day 18 (June 1)
Summary:
Today my family and I slept in a little bit in order to recover from Leaky Con and then we went to the rose garden in Portland and then to dinner with a couple friends that used to work with my parents in Chicago years ago. It was a fun dinner and the restaurant that we went to had some of the most amazing fries ever. I ended the night by skypeing with one of my friends. It was a good time.
Highlights:
1) Sleeping in.
2) Dinner with parents friends.
3) Spreading hugs movement in Portland.
Lowlights:
1) Not enough sleep.
2) I definitely wanted more sleep.
3) Did not get as much administrative work done as I was hoping to.
Learned:
1) Family is awesome. I love my family and spending time with them is one of the greatest things in the world.
2) Skype is an invention that I am very thankful for.
3) Snapchat is also cool.
Summary:
Today I went to a couple of panels and lectures. It was very informative and thought provoking. At the end of the night was a Charity Ball, a yearly Leaky Con phenomenon. We all got to dress up and dance and have a really good time. I really enjoyed it and got lots and lots of hugs, including a hug from Stephanie Perkins, author of Anna and the French Kiss. That was pretty great.
Highlights:
1) Hugs.
2) Charity Ball and dancing.
3) Chilling with friends and learning stuff.
4) Hugging Stephanie Perkins and giving her a copy of my book! :)
Lowlights:
1) None
Learned:
1) Writing when you don't feel like writing still has to be done.
2) Pushing though those rough moments allows you to enjoy and relish as well as take advantage of the moments where you are in the creative and writing mode.
3) Discipline is more than half the battle when it comes to writing.
Day 17 (Leaky Con Day 4)
Summary:
Today was the last day of Leaky Con. We got to the Oregon convention center at about 10:00 am for the last couple of events. I went to a Dr. Horrible sing along where we watched Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, a fantastically amazing movie. We then had the final ceremony which was the last Pottercast Podcast. My family and I then went to have dinner with my uncle and cousin that live in a suburb of Portland.
Highlights:
1) Met Starkid briefly.
Lowlights:
1) Last day of Leaky Con.
Learned:
1) Leaky Con is one of the greatest things in the world.
2) Conventions are awesome places to give hugs.
3) Goodbye's are the worst.
4) I should start making an email list for a quarterly newsletter.
Day 18 (June 1)
Summary:
Today my family and I slept in a little bit in order to recover from Leaky Con and then we went to the rose garden in Portland and then to dinner with a couple friends that used to work with my parents in Chicago years ago. It was a fun dinner and the restaurant that we went to had some of the most amazing fries ever. I ended the night by skypeing with one of my friends. It was a good time.
Highlights:
1) Sleeping in.
2) Dinner with parents friends.
3) Spreading hugs movement in Portland.
Lowlights:
1) Not enough sleep.
2) I definitely wanted more sleep.
3) Did not get as much administrative work done as I was hoping to.
Learned:
1) Family is awesome. I love my family and spending time with them is one of the greatest things in the world.
2) Skype is an invention that I am very thankful for.
3) Snapchat is also cool.
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