It is hard to believe that it was only a year ago before I took my first photo #throughglass and it has been a roller coaster ride ever since. It is safe to say that my life has not been the same since.
The Google Glass Explorer program succeeded in bringing people together in the spirit of exploring new things, building lifelong bonds, creating memories and having fun.
I have put together a small selection of photos taken over the past year with Glass while meeting several other explorers. I also wanted to take a moment to send a shout out to several Glass Explorers who have personally touched me and share their stories. Please do not feel left out of you did not make this list, I can only type so much.
+Bruce Burke or setting up the First Tampa/Ybor City visit with Glass. It was the first time I got to meet up with other like minded explorers. Although small, I got to meet 2 other explorers for the first time; +Chara Kelley and +Meredith Allen .
+Keith Barrett ‘s Disney Meetups have brought several Florida Glass explorers together for the first time. Who would have thought that the Florida group would also include a young lady from Alabama and a visit from a few in New Orleans. While I am on the subject, I also need to shout out +Cindy Barrett who also played a role in here. At the Disney meetups, I have had the pleasure of meeting +Bryan Foster , +Callista Foster , +Joe Evans , +Clayton Pritchard , +Jeanne Sutton , +Jerry Sutton and plenty more.
+Jen Vargas for always playing a part in several Florida Glass Meetups. I love how Jen dedicates a portion of her time to help fight cancer via the Relay for Life program. I had the pleasure of attending the Hunters Creek Event last year and hope to attend this year. If you are in Florida, I strongly advise you to reach out to Jen for details on the next one so you can be part of the action.
+Bryan Foster and +Callista Foster whos Louisiana hospitality was great when attending a New Orleans meetup earlier this year with a few other explorers. Again, I got to meet several amazing explorers at this event. I will never forget my first taste of Gumbo at Pat o’Briens and their specialty drink, The Hurricane. Bryan and Callista are always a blast to hang out with and I have had the pleasure of meeting them at Disney prior to the New Orleans Trip. I had fun hanging out with +Sean Im , +Conrad Green , +Bruce Burke and +Chara Kelley during this trip.
+Ana Medina is next on my list. Ana was actually the first Glass Explorer that I met in person. Ana was asked to do a demo at the university she attended and put out the call for other Florida Explorers to attend and help out. Of course there were only a small number of us at the time, I was the only one to answer the call. I still feel bad for arriving really late. We still had a blast. I have had the pleasure of meeting up with Ana on several other occasions and wish her luck with her new internship out of state.
+Kata Rina also deserves a shout out. I had a blast meeting up with her and getting to know her at the Hershey Through Glass meetup in Hershey, PA last month. Kata is a fun loving person who is doing great things with Glass. I also had a blast meeting up with several explorers who attended including +Gregg Lantz , +Philip Wingfield , +Chris Pugrud , +Mandi Hobbs , +Brent Newhall , +Diane Lantz and +Chara Kelley . I was about 30 minutes late to meet +Derek Ross .
Next is a group shout out the the South Florida Glass Explorers. +Ana Medina , +Alex Dennis , +Daniel DiMassa , +Alexander Conroy , +Dorian Sanchez and +Karen Herman for being awesome.
Finally, whats a list without the famous +Chara Kelley . Chara’s down-home southern hospitality makes her the perfect high energy travel companion. Out of all of the other explorers, she is the one I have spent the most time with and are often inseparable at events. I love the events that Chara puts together including the Mardi Gras Event. I also had the pleasure of spending a lot of time in Chara’s home town in order to try to determine where she gets all of her energy from. Chara enjoys worrying me by taking long trips into war torn Egypt and other parts of the world to show Glass to those who will likely never see them. I still have no idea how Chara has enough energy to attend almost every Glass meetup around the world. (Paris, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, London, the United States and more).
Thanks to Glass, I have put an excess of 40,000 miles on my car to meet with other explorers, I have taken 3 round trip flights and stayed countless nights in hotels and have gotten to meet some of the most amazing people. Thank You +Google Glass 
Shared to the community Glass Explorers – Public+1’d by: Google Glass, Hannah Mayle, Spencer Kleyweg, Chara Kelley, Eric Hart, Maria Beatriz Barros, Jen Vargas, Teresa Zazenski, Semme Thomas, Joe Evans, Matthieu Lebas, Clayton Pritchard, Derek Ross, Daniel Mery, Libby Chang, rosie perez, Chris Pugrud, Conrad Green, steph lake, Kata Crea, George Kougianos, Keith Barrett, Karen Herman, Eddie Daniels, Jerry Sutton, don schwartz, Diane Lantz, Dave Joyce, Mandi Hobbs, Philip Wingfield, Bryan Foster, Chaz blevins, Jeanne SuttonJeanne Sutton – 2014-06-28 01:36:30-0400Was lovely meeting you too. Hope to catch up with you again soon.Bryan Foster – 2014-06-28 01:55:05-0400Keith, it was a pleasure meeting you and i am glad to call you friend. You exemplify everything good about the #glassexplorer program. Continue doing what you’re doing, my friend! 🙂Keith I Myers – 2014-06-28 02:02:23-0400+Bryan Foster – You do the sameMandi Hobbs – 2014-06-28 02:21:04-0400was a pleasure keith, I am sure if we come down your way we will get in touch with you. Would love to meet up again.Gregg Lantz – 2014-06-28 08:29:20-0400It was great meeting you +Keith I Myers. There are very few programers that I respect, you’re one of them. Oh, and UGH!!! I missed my Glassiversary!!! Karen Herman – 2014-06-28 08:35:40-0400Really miss running into you in Boca +Keith I Myers Let me know when you come in town!Keith Barrett – 2014-06-28 08:36:27-0400Thanks. It was a fun yearsteph lake – 2014-06-28 08:49:01-0400Lovely sentiments!Chris Pugrud – 2014-06-28 09:23:08-0400Happy travels until we meet again +Keith I Myers, I can’t wait!Chad Burton – 2014-06-28 09:26:44-0400Maybe next year I’ll make the list. Thanks for the glass invite!Jen Vargas – 2014-06-28 14:21:29-0400You are awesome +Keith I Myers. THANK YOU for driving all the way up to Orlando to participate and assist with our +Relay For Life of Hunter’s Creek Social Media Lap!! Spending time with you is always a joy. With or without +Google Glass, I am so glad we met 🙂 Chara Kelley – 2014-06-29 09:09:43-0400+Keith I Myers tears flow no words speechless #BFF #GlassFamily Hannah Mayle – 2014-06-29 10:49:42-0400Mine was yesterday too! Happy Glassiversary! Google Glass – 2014-06-30 20:46:18-0400It’s been a great year +Keith I Myers, and we’re glad to have you as an Explorer!