A massive wagon train, made up of 1,000 settlers and 1,000 head of cattle, sets off down the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri. Known as the “Great Emigration,” the expedition came two years after the first modest party of settlers made the long, overland journey to Oregon.After leaving Independence, the giant wagon train followed the Sante Fe Trail for some 40 miles and then turned northwest to the Platte River, which it followed along its northern route to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. From there, it traveled on to the Rocky Mountains, which it passed through by way of the broad, level South Pass that led to the basin of the Colorado River. The travelers then went southwest to Fort Bridger, northwest across a divide to Fort Hall on the Snake River, and on to Fort Boise, where they gained supplies for the difficult journey over the Blue Mountains and into Oregon. The Great Emigration finally arrived in October, completing the 2,000-mile journey from Independence in five months.In the next year, four more wagon trains made the journey, and in 1845 the number of emigrants who used the Oregon Trail exceeded 3,000. Travel along the trail gradually declined with the advent of the railroads, and the route was finally abandoned in the 1870s.

The current season of Springtime and it varied holidays that have themes of new beginnings, new life, freedom from old bondages and the potential for resurected aspirations provide the external prompts for each of us to self-reflect and re-work our life plans.

I’ve always found it easy to start my day healthy. Greek yogurt and fresh fruit are incredibly satisfying at 8 a.m., punctuated by a carefully crafted cup of black coffee that revs my brain. But by 8 p.m., everything changes. I’m a ravenous satyr, craving the flesh of fatty charred meats and the comforting toasty bite of calorie-laden IPAs. Melted cheese has a particular flare that would nauseate my 8-a.m. self, and the same could be said about anything fried or coated in buffalo sauce.

Your working habits before a deadline? http://bit.ly/L0XUJk

Top 10 Yoga Blogs of the Week. http://bit.ly/L18vnF @jackiedumaine

Why It’s Easier Than You Think http://bit.ly/L0XUch

Ad-libbed………………………… http://bit.ly/L0XG4R

ParadoxicalProductivity: Number 10 http://bit.ly/L0XEtR

Daily Wisdom http://bit.ly/L0XBOL

Get In Shape Fast With This 20 Minute Workout http://bit.ly/KFLROK

The Optimism Bias – Are Optimists In Danger? http://bit.ly/KFLRhE

On ‘counting’ http://bit.ly/Khoaym

People and suffering http://bit.ly/KhlUHk

Track & field regionals (@ Algoma High School) [pic]: http://4sq.com/Jjs0by

I just ousted Lain S. as the mayor of Algoma High School on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/csmBZH

Getting Needs Met http://bit.ly/JixJLr

“Blogging roundup for 5/21/2012” http://bit.ly/LmnJ2C

How to Draw the Line When You Have No Idea Where to Put It http://bit.ly/KgdyzW

““Have you ever felt at a loss when you needed to draw the line with someone?Have you put yourself at a disadvantage w… http://bit.ly/KgdyzW

http://spoti.fi/KXyqN3 #Spotify

The Beautiful Truth http://bit.ly/JhzMQ3

Animal Factory http://bit.ly/LaMT4K

A Definition of Faith http://bit.ly/KWeVnY