About Me

I’m just a typical  guy (whatever that means) with a wide variety of interest which seems to be ever changing. I called this blog “Journey’s With Dave” because I had the intention to make it about traveling. However, it turns out that there are other journeys in life. Like my current journey of discovery with podcasting-I’m the host of “The Art and Business of Community Theater” for Monroe Community Players. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.

Here are some topics I blog about the most…

My Fitness and Bodybuilding Journey

For the record, I am not nor have ever been a bodybuilder in the popular sense. Though I’ve made gains over the years and weigh almost 100 pounds more than when I was at my thinnest due to Crohn’s Disease (see the next paragraph for more on that) at best I am currently a body maintainer. So you might say I’m a fitness wannabe. With a lot of talk and only a little action – but I’ve gotten further than I ever thought I might, even if my shirt sleeves are still too loose for my liking.

I do remain interested in the psychology behind not only sports in general but bodybuilding in particular. Just don’t ask me who the current Mr. Olympia is, I don’t follow the competition circuit as closely as I once did. I really haven’t since Arnold retired I guess.

I have Crohn’s Disease and it has shaped and defined my life in ways that I’m not completely sure about. I refuse to let it control my life though that’s difficult sometimes. I had a stoma for a short time which has been reversed and I live life with a shortened intestinal track. It was not an ideal situation, but not as bad as I thought it would be and better than the alternative (which was a quick, painful death by infection). That would not have been a pleasant way to go.

Most recently, I had a “silent” heart attack a few years back – possibly brought on by my Crohn’s or the medication I was taking to control it not being effective, long story which I tell here and here – which has led me to a new emphasis on cardio workouts.

My Theatre Journey

I love performing, directing, playwriting, and just about everything regarding theatre (yes, I used “re” instead of “er” – deal with it). I have been fortunate to see several plays I’ve written produced and I’m still working on more. I’ve done a little professional work (I was a featured extra on Detroit 187 and an extra in a couple other movies as well), but mostly it’s been for fun on the community theatre stage.

My Career Journey (Leadership and Management)

I’m a higher ed auxiliary services professional by trade and a past president of NACAS (historically known as the National Association of College Auxiliary Services) an international association that works with auxiliary and ancillary service professionals to enrich the campus experience every day. Okay, I’ll explain, we provide food, books, residence halls and other so-called “non-academic” services to colleges and universities.

I have taken on leadership roles in my private life and am usually on the board of any given group or association to which I belong. Though my degrees are not in business, I’ve learned to appreciate the theories and practices behind being an effective leader and helping others to become leaders, too.

Roller Coasters and Amusement Parks

I used to ride roller coasters for a hobby, but I have stopped for the most part on the advice of my cardiologist. In fact, I’ve been to 70 amusement parks in 25 United States and 1 Canadian province – including 5 of the oldest parks in America. I’ve also ridden at least 300 coasters when I last counted including 4 of the 5 oldest coasters still operating in North America. My favorite coaster is the Millennium Force at Cedar Point and my least favorite – a true terror – was the Tornado at Williams Grove in Pennsylvania (now thankfully gone).

My Travel Journeys

I’m an avid traveler within the United States and Canada and have visited 49 of the 50 states (I’m coming for you Alaska) and 3 Canadian provinces. I have dreams of making trips abroad with Egypt scheduled for the Fall of 2021 (COVID willing). I like the great outdoors – even when it doesn’t like me (while climbing hills or mountains) but haven’t gotten out camping in a long while. I do have an affinity for historic and natural sites though. I’ve visited almost half of America’s National Parks (29 of the 63) and many national lakeshores, seashores, monuments, battlefields, heritage trails, and so on and so forth. I’ve visited more than my share of “tourist traps,” too!

Finding Bigfoot

Did I mention Sasquatch?

All photos by David P. Wahr unless otherwise noted in which case the original artist retains all rights. Otherwise photos and words @copyright by David P. Wahr