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There’s something strangely peaceful about a place that once carried the full weight of a nation’s grief.When I turned through the gates of President Lincoln’s Cottage, I didn’t expect to find serenity. I expected formality, fences, and signs that said Do Not Enter. What I found instead was a quiet hilltop retreat — and the … Read more
Operation Iron Lantern — Arrival Zone When my plane touched down at Washington National, I thought the mission was just beginning. Turns out, it had already started centuries ago. Before the runways came Abingdon Plantation — a colonial estate buried beneath the airport’s asphalt. Some say the ground still remembers. Declassified with restrictions. The Arrival … Read more
New Orleans Road Trip #1 – TMP Origins The French Quarter never looks the same twice. By night, it hums with life—music in every direction, people spilling out of bars, and the smell of gumbo, whiskey, and rain clinging to the cobblestones. By morning, it feels like a different city entirely. Quiet. Hungover. A little … Read more
An Unplanned Stop Worth the U-Turn We weren’t even supposed to be here. Dusty and I were rolling toward Tannehill Historic State Park when a weathered wooden sign caught my eye: Sadler Plantation Home, Circa 1838. Before my brain caught up with my hands, I’d whipped the truck into an illegal U-turn. Murph laughed the … Read more
We hadn’t planned this stop. With Sloss Furnaces closed and a little time to kill after visiting The Old Grist Mill, Dusty and I pointed the truck toward Tannehill Historic State Park, not really knowing what we’d find. Honestly, I thought it might just be a quiet patch of Alabama nature—a picnic spot, maybe a … Read more
Alabama Road Trip #2 | Travel Made Personal A Leap Into Story Dusty and I didn’t exactly plan to stop here. Lover’s Leap was one of those bonus surprises you only find when you leave the itinerary loose enough for curiosity. We’re both afraid of heights, so stepping onto a rock shelf above Shades Creek … Read more
New Orleans Road Trip #1 – TMP Origins There’s something about rolling into New Orleans that makes the air feel thicker with stories. On our very first night of this trip, my mom, my son, and I checked into a hotel that promised to be more than just a bed for the night. We booked … Read more
Tucked away in the leafy curves of Mountain Brook, Alabama, there’s a place that looks like it stepped out of a fairytale. A stone-and-timber mill beside a quiet creek, complete with waterwheel and footbridge—it’s the kind of stop that makes you slow down, breathe, and just take it in. Dusty and I didn’t plan to … Read more
Declassified with restrictions. The Launch Point Officially, I was on my way to a hackathon in Bethesda, Maryland.Unofficially, I had one stolen day, a heavy heart, and a covert objective: carve out a little space to breathe, sneak in time to explore, and begin the hunt for the historic Union Arch Bridge. Every operation needs … Read more
Washington, D.C. – 2013 & Still on the List In 2013, I stood in front of the National Archives during a business trip that would later help spark the idea for TMP Origins. It wasn’t a sightseeing adventure — just me stealing a sliver of time between conference sessions. Two quick photos from the sidewalk … Read more