I am on the plane from Pittsburgh to Phoenix. I’m in a daze right now. I’m tired, fidgety, but fulfilled. It’s been a wonderful weekend, and now it’s the grind back across the country.

It’s so exciting to look out at a group of 2000 teens with their fists in the air, vowing to live their faith. This is the third or fourth Steubenville Youth Conference (South in Atlanta, West in Attleboro, South in Louisiana, and West in Tuscan) and each is a memorable experience. I look at the faces of the mob there and I remember my first conference…what a powerful, life-changing experience!; It’s reminds me of the videos of live concerts in the 80s. There were countless number of people swaying their arms. Oh so cool.

So the last journal I wrote was from a coffee shop at Columbus Circle near Central Park. After that, I headed over to St. Paul Cathedral to pray. I have so many warm memories from Mass at that Cathedral. Then I was off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Before I the doors opened for the morning, Pat gave me a call.

I met him at his office in Times Square, and we went downstairs to grab breakfast at the Frank Ghery-designed cafeteria. That place is just so cool. Then I headed across the street to 1515 Broadway (MTV) to meet Darshen, my stylist friend. It was fun to be back in the studio. They were shooting an episode of “Say What Karaoke,” so the place was hoppin’ with enthusiastic kids.

Darshen and I headed down to Urban Outfitters to buy some clothes for the shoot. I met Darshen a few years ago in a Real World photo shoot, and we’ve been friends ever since. Actually, the first time we talked was at the New Orleans Zoo. The dressing room was set up behind the reptile exhibits. There were snakes pecking on the glass while we got to know each other. It was an odd day.

On the way back to the MTV studio, we grabbed a cup of coffee and walked through drizzle. It’s been the rainiest June in NYC history. But, living in Phoenix now, I loved every drop. We said goodbye and I grabbed a cab to the airport.

My driver was an old and kind, smooth-talking black man from Alabama. He has thirteen brothers and sisters, and a few kids of his own. He and his wife met in Harlem in the 60’s, and got married. I learned more about Harlem at it’s high, and I told him about my experiences living there.

For just six hours in New York, I sure did have a good time. The quick hop from New York City to Pittsburg was uneventful. On my out of the plane, I met Trachelle from the Real World Las Vegas, just two rows behind me. We had a good time getting to know each other on the way to the baggage claim. I didn’t catch any episodes of her season, but it was comforting to meet someone who’s been through the same things as me. It looks like I’ll see her in a couple weeks on my next adventure.