ABOUT
WELCOME
Hello! My name is Chris. I grew up in Massachusetts, went to school in New York, and moved cross-country to settle into life in Los Angeles. I’ve made a home with my wonderful wife Karen (pictured left) and dog Ezra, and gave eleven eventful and inspiring years to working at SpaceX on launch vehicle Avionics.
I love Los Angeles, and like many Californians I’ve collected more active hobbies than I have time for. Dirt bikes, surf boards, mountain bikes, skis, tennis raquets, climbing gear, and backpacking gear clutter my garage, some used more than others. I also try to get out and attend music and arts events whenever possible - nothing like Burning Man to let out some creativity and meet good folks.
This is my personal blog - a place to write down travel stories and organize photos where I won’t forget them. I am not a professional writer, photographer, or adventurer, but unless noted all content is original. Browse away and feel free to reach out!
THE NAMESAKE
Why “Nomadic Bum?” I am not a traveling vagrant. The namesake actually comes from my childhood.
At age three my parents struggled to keep me from jumping on the bed. Like most kids, the danger didn’t really register. Eventually my terrorism landed me in trouble. I sprung off the bed face-first into a wooden cabinet. My parents were ready for a trip to the emergency room, but I got up and went back to jumping. Somehow I never seemed to get hurt. As they would tell it - “He bounces!”
There is a character within the 1964 Christmas classic Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer called “The Bumble” - an ice monster feared by Rudolph and friends. In the climatic scene the Bumble tumbles off a cliff with Yukon Cornelius, an outdoorsman and sworn enemy of the beast. As everyone mourns the presumed death of Cornelius, he shows up with the Bumble in tow.
“But…but you went over the cliff!”
“Didn’t I ever tell you about Bumbles? Bumbles bounce!”
My Aunt heard the jumping story and quickly minted my family nickname as “The Bumble,” shortened to “Bum” in casual use. Since then the name has stuck, and I like the backstory. For those interested, The Bumble turns out to be a gentle giant who “just want’s a job and friends.” Don’t we all?
Note - Photo not original.