Tag: Manas Itene

Dan and Sandy – Three Becomes Two

Dan and Sandy – Three Becomes Two

by | Jun 4, 2024 | , , , , | 0 |

This was probably the most difficult podcast that I ever had to record.

In this episode of “The Journey of My Mother’s Son” podcast, Sandy and I talk about our travels through California and the loss of our best travel companion, Youk.

The end of April was very difficult for us and we’re still working through the grief process.  Youk crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 24, 2024.  It was certainly the most difficult thing that we’ve had to deal with since we’ve been traveling.  Youk brought joy to such a large part of lives.  We literally planned our life around his schedule and well-being.  In return, he gave us unconditional love and countless memories that will last the rest of lives.

He was a larger-than-life personality who impacted the world in ways we never could have imagined.  Countless people from all over the world have reached out to us since his passing to let us know how much they loved our best-selling author pup.

In addition to Youk, we talk about our travels through several national parks in California (Joshua Tree, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and The Redwoods), our project at the Southern California Railway Museum, our night under the Golden Gate Bridge, our Pacific Coast Highway Adventure, and of course, reconnecting with friends.

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Time to Adventure Again!

Time to Adventure Again!

by | Jul 10, 2023 | , | 1 |

Wednesday was a really great day at Knoebel’s because a lot of people came up to visit me that day!  Matthew and Rebecca were still there and Jason, Rebecca’s boyfriend was there.  He actually came to see me on Tuesday, but stayed until we all left on Thursday.  But on Wednesday, Sherry, and Stephen, and Alex and his girlfriend, Kaylynn, and Lizze, and Stephie, and Lillian, and Lillian’s friend Kelsey all came to Knoebel’s just to visit with me!  It was an awesome day!

After Knoebel’s, we were headed back to Matthew’s house for the weekend before starting our next adventure.

I’m really excited for our next adventure!

We’re going to be headed to Colorado for a book signing tour for me and daddy.  I’m not 100% sure if I’m going to be able to sign with daddy, but I should be able to.  I’ve never seen the Rocky Mountains before, so I can’t wait to see them.  It’s going to be really exciting.  We haven’t been that far west since 2021 and I really loved seeing that part of the country back then.

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Bonjour! I’m officially an International Traveling Puppy!

Bonjour! I’m officially an International Traveling Puppy!

by | Jun 26, 2023 | , | 0 |

Bonjour means hello in French.  I learned that when we went to Canada this past week.  In Canada, they speak French and English, so I learned how to say, “hello” in French.

We went to Niagara Falls, and it sure was amazing.

But before I tell you all about Niagara Falls, let me tell you about what we did before we got there.

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Folk Music, Long Hikes, and a Bath

Folk Music, Long Hikes, and a Bath

by | Sep 1, 2022 | , , | 0 |

On Friday night, we had a full house!  Rebecca and Julian came down from Staten Island and Aunt Kathy and Uncle Donnie and Daniel all came down to visit me too.  Mommy and daddy made a big dinner for everyone.  Mommy did most of the work, daddy just grilled the chicken on the grill.

Uncle Donnie petted me a lot.  Not when he was eating though.  He doesn’t like when I breathe on him while he’s eating.  I don’t know why, but he seems to get a little grumpy if I start breathing heavy on him while he’s eating.  It must still have something to do with that time my brother, Buddy grabbed a hamburger off of his plate and ate it.  I just think like, “Dude, get over it already, that was like 20 years ago and I wasn’t even born yet.”  Some people just need to let things go.  I personally would never think of taking food off of someone’s plate.  Well, I do think about it, I just don’t actually do it.  I’ve found that if I just stare into their eyes with my sad, starving, puppy dog eyes, they’ll just give me some food anyway.

I can’t even count the times that mommy and daddy have told me that they weren’t going to share with me and I just kept staring into their eyes and sure enough, I got some food.  It works every time!

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Manas Itene – Show Your Love

Manas Itene – Show Your Love

by | Aug 25, 2022 | , , | 0 |

The main topic of our conversation this time around though was talking about the story behind his new single, “Show Your Love.”  The song is really an anthem for people to get out and be brave enough to share their talents with the world.

In addition to music, we talk about how we all long for deep human connection.  Manas has started doing some retreats and we talked about how those events have really fed his soul as much as those who came to the event.

I feel blessed to have Manas as a friend and look forward to getting together with him again, hanging out, and having him on the show many more times in the future.

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Peace, Love, and Music

Peace, Love, and Music

by | Aug 23, 2022 | , , | 2 |

Our neighbors for the weekend greeted us with smiles and offered any help we needed setting up.  Quickly understanding the concept, I helped our one set of neighbors get their pop-up tent in place.  When they heard that we were first-time festival goers, they’d quickly offer advice as to the best practices to get the most out of the festival.

Hearing the stories about how long some of these people had been attending the festival was absolutely amazing.  One had been coming every year since 1969, others were at their 15th, 20th or 30th festival.  One guy, now in his 30’s grew up at the festival, first attending with his parents as an infant and continuing to make the trek now as an adult.  They came from all over, near and far.  The gentleman that has been coming since 1969, Allen, flew in from Ogden, Utah and rented an RV for the weekend with a buddy.  He originally grew up in the Philly area, but said that he’d never miss a fest, regardless of the distance that he might have to travel.  When I told him that this was our festival, he said, “Man I gotta give you a hug, this is gonna change your life!  There’s nothing here but peace, love, and music.”

At this point, we were only there for about an hour, but I knew that we in a special place.  This wasn’t just a music festival; it was a community.

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We’ve been in Pennsylvania for a Longtime

We’ve been in Pennsylvania for a Longtime

by | Aug 18, 2022 | , | 0 |

After Knoebel’s, we went to Stephie and Eric’s house for a little over a week.  That was fun too.  Eric put in 30-amp service just for me!  That way I could stay cool in the air conditioning on the days that it got really hot.  And let me tell you, it got really hot on some of those days!  Daddy and I would have to get up at like 5 o’clock in the morning so that we could get our walks in before it was too hot.  We went on some long walks too.  One day, we walked over eight miles.  Daddy was tired, but I could have kept walking.  Me and daddy are training to do the Mammoth March in New Jersey on October 2.  That’s a 20=mile hike that we have to do in eight hours.  Rebecca is going to meet us there and hike with us.  Mommy is volunteering and helping the organizers run the event.  I’m so excited about that.  Sometimes I really have to stay on daddy to keep up our training.  He’ll want to sleep in, but I’m right there to nudge him with my cold nose so that he gets his last butt out of bed and we can train for the Mammoth March.

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Two Years, a Million Memories, and Freedom

Two Years, a Million Memories, and Freedom

by | Aug 15, 2022 | , , | 0 |

Yesterday marked two years since Sandy, Youk, and I started this journey.

Ironically, we started August 14, 2022 in the exact same spot in which we ended August 14, 2020 at – in the driveway of our daughter and son-in-law’s house in Robesonia, Pennsylvania.

What a difference a year makes.  Last year, on August 14, we woke up in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Green Bay, Wisconsin and started out on a tour of cheese shops throughout Wisconsin on our way to Antigo for our first project experience with A Year to Volunteer.  The day before were staying at a Harvest Host called, Farm Wisconsin.  We were next to a sunflower field and witnessed two calves being born while we were there.

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Manas Itene – Be Yourself

Manas Itene – Be Yourself

by | Mar 18, 2022 | , , | 0 |

A native of Nigeria, Manas Itene started playing the drums when he was only eight years old.  His hard work and dedication to his craft allowed his dream of being a musician, which few in his village could understand, come to fruition many years ago.     

He is a world-class drummer and singer for Michael Franti & Spearhead.  He has been part of the band for over 22 years.

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