No, but I can run really fast when being chased by angry men with guns.

Well, I nominate myself (and I'd really LOVE to do this!!!).

Here are my qualifications:

I love to travel. Period. I love to explore. I love to be on the go. I love challenges. I love interacting with other people. And I love winning (especially on behalf of Flyertalk).

The thought of spending 23 days going who- knows-where in search of who-knows-what, using public transportation and my travel savvy (along with trying to become basically proficient in a few foreign languages), sounds like about the most fun I've ever had. Up until now, the most fun I've had was skydiving, scuba-diving and getting married (not necessarily in that order, honey). But an adventure like this would blow away the rest.

A few more qualifications. I can do exchange rates in my head. I can navigate through even the most treacherous airports. And I can eat a filet in under three minutes (if on a dare).

And the best qualification yet: My wife even said she'd let me do this. Can you imagine that? The same person who begrudgingly lets me fly 24 hours to Singapore and return 7 hours later, just so I can upgrade her when we fly to Italy. She said I could do this!!! Wow.

Hopefully, I've been a good citizen of Flyertalk the last few years that people would consider me a viable entrant. If chosen, I will do my darnedest to represent the community with pride, determination and a little off-beat humor. And hopefully I could help bring home the win, allowing us to grow this community even more.

So in conclusion, I respectfully nominate myself. (Wow. It felt like I just ran for junior class vice president!!).

PremEx2000

(a.k.a. Mike Lieber)

I'll second umguy. He'd be perfect for this challenge!

Gosh, I should just change my name to 'well beyond falling asleep!' But seriously folks, I was ACTUALLY able to get a kitchen pass to do this. I won't say what the caveat was. This is one of the times that it is good to be 1) Self-employed, and 2) Possessing a client base that faithfully pays the invoices in a timely fashion!

If I went and essexjay wasn't my travel buddy, you would have to hold your breath until your face turned blue. What a rush, checking out another boatload of new brews to put up against the finest the Beavers have to offer.

As someone who usually flies 'by the seat of their pants' (no pun intended) I find the thrill of not knowing where the next day will lead both fun and challenging. It's the best way to travel. The new friends that are made and the great 'war' stories to tell your kids; oh, hold me back.

Regardless of the final financial responsibility, put my name in the hat! You only live once and you can't take it with you. I no longer fly 100,000 miles a year and I'm down to elite on just one airline. Although I know how to say 'beer' in over 100 dialects, I don't speak ten languages; only one, the universal language of a friendly smile. But I do know how to ask the cost of something in about 20 languages! And my wife thought I never listened to what she was saying?

A sense of adventure and a free spirit serve as my guiding light. In Switzerland I refereed American football with a crew that had three women officials. They were so much a part of the crew that we all showered together after the game. I had food poisoning in Prague so bad that I thought nothing could be worse, even death! I danced on the Berlin Wall 11/89. I wrote graffiti about the East Germans that made the AP wire (They came. They saw. They did a little shopping.) right where JFK made his stunning speech. So what if it makes no real sense in Deutsche to say, "Ich bin ein Berliner?" I smoke cigarman's best without regret. Who could care if they're not kosher in the States? I've toasted kings and queens with catman and Sam Adams. OK, so they were drag queens in Dusseldorf and it was Dunkelhof. I've been to the best winefest in the World in Bad Durkheim and been all but undressed by, what was her name, while my wife watched and couldn't believe her eyes. I've traded Marlboro's and Playboys for uniform insignia and Soviet contraband while passing through Checkpoint Alpha and Checkpoint Bravo. But never did make that river crossing with the Contra's way down south. I had the worst case intestinal crud from the vendor pistachios at the bullring in Zaragoza, Spain.

So, I ask...what will the next adventure find in the book of cultural awareness? I'd love to be fortunate enough to find out, disappointed if I wasn't, but happy for those who are actually selected to take this plunge. So, where DOES the rubber meet the road?

I nominate Chexfan

He is well traveled and loves all the physical parts of the travel that would be required.

Just a suggestion

[This message has been edited by wingless (edited 09-05-2002).]

Hey, it we are somehow voting, Chexfan would be a very fine choice IMO.

------------------
~ Glen ~ Calling all United 1K Members - please join .. www.1Kflyers.com



[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-05-2002).]

I believe we have

3 for Chexfan

auh2o
wingless
ozstamps

Any more votes for Chexfan?

[This message has been edited by wingless (edited 09-05-2002).]

So it would seem he has just caught up with:

fallinasleep (3) and essxjay (3).

I saw one vote for umguy.

Why are people voting already when nothing formal has even been presented by FlyerTalk (i.e. Randy or the Talk Board)?

I agree, blairvanhorn, why are people starting to vote? Personally I would not be able to do this due to financial restriction, but don't think people should be doing this. Reading over this thread shows that there are many very qualified candidates here, probably just because they are unknown to people they are not getting support. You wouldn't want people to think that this has already been decided and perhaps not even enter and then lose out on someone really great?

Before any decision is made, the basis on which the decision is to be made must be decided such as a list of attributes. Then you have a basis of informed evaluation. This basis has not even been set yet, so my vote is, stop the voting and stumping for your favorite candidates, this is not an election.

Actually, as candidates go Chexfan is not my favorite FTer.

I really don't know him.

I am just going by the information that I know. I am good friends with another candidate though.

I based it more on the fact that if I was stranded in the stranded in the middle of the desert with one canteen, and one FTer, Chexfan would be the only FTer that I thought could get us out of there alive.

I have been on FT since 1998. I know people who are more travel sauvy but they either work to much or they would not be able to handle the physical aspect that is necessary.

This is not a formal vote, just a personal vote




[This message has been edited by wingless (edited 09-05-2002).]

Reading back on the thread it looks like lots of folks have nominated/voted lots of others for weeks. Great to see the terrific interest and input in this, which is what I am sure Randy was seeking. I have not even discussed these posts with him, but Chexfan's post of Sept 3 sealed my vote:

He is a sure fire shoe-in for a RTW with that stamina.

------------------
~ Glen ~ Calling all United 1K Members - please join .. www.1Kflyers.com

I am also interested in participating. I can get the time off work and have the financial resources required. The two attributes that I think I bring to the challenge are 1) my great sense of humor who knows when my jokes will come in handy? 2) a passion for travel. I enjoy it - pure and simple. I haven't been to all continents (only 4), I speak English very well and try many other languages. I have the willingness of spirit and mind to do what it takes to succeed.

As far as music, well, of course, Bruce!

lol

Glen, in case you missed it, they trip is to be done on AIRCRAFT, the contestants will not be expected to run around the world