The everywhereist

This month's featured blogger was named in TIME magazine's best blogs of 2011 and her site is a hilarious, insightful and endlessly entertaining collection of travel stories and musings on life. Geraldine DeRuiter's husband Rand has a job that takes him (and now her) all around the world. Once confined to a desk job she was eventually laid off from, DeRuiter now describes losing her job as one of the best things that has ever happened to her. With no job and nothing pinning her down to her hometown of Seattle, DeRuiter began accompanying her husband on his many business trips and blogging about their experiences. Though she claims the blog is mostly for her husband, to help him remember the places they've visited and the things they've seen, she has managed to attract a major following – and it's no surprise, her blog is awesome! Not your average travel blog, DeRuiter comments on the side of travel that most people leave out of their travel journals and photos – the confusing bathroom fixtures, obnoxious airplane passengers, strange and inexplicable foreign TV shows – as well as the scenery, cuisine and attractions. Her blog features some hilarious and downright weird photos from her travels as well. One such photo features a school billboard in Indialantic, Florida: With DeRuiter's comment below reading, "I like how the marquee reads like a weird birth announcement: "Congratulations! A school!" Followed by an entry reminiscing on her primary school days: "Elementary school was not an easy time for me. I know, you're shocked, right? I mean, who wouldn't want to be friends with a 70-pound girl with an adult-sized nose?" DeRuiter's candid commentary is refreshing and although she has clearly made it as a credible blogger, she still manages to poke fun at herself, not letting her newfound success go to her head. For example, upon discovering that her blog "the Everywhereist" was listed among the top 25 best blogs by TIME magazine, DeRuiter posted "Everywhereist was selected as one of TIME magazine's Top 25 Blogs of 2011. Proof that god occasionally gets drunk." So if you love to travel or just need a good laugh, check out DeRuiter's blog at www.everywhereist.com, you won't be disappointed!