the blague lives on....

so the blague will continue. i had a lot of fun writing this thing while i was in prague, and so i figure its gotta be fun to continue it here in seattle. provided that i will find stuff to write about.

so anyway - the blog will undergo a makeover, i even have to come up with a new name. the current one is really kind of lame.

so im job searching at the moment - i have no money and a source of income would really come in handy. there are many concerts and things i want to do that cost money (seahawks? mariners?) and i can barely afford to buy myself lunch. so this is my main priority at the moment. there is also the fear of graduating from college 7 months and not having a clue what i want to do.

so caught up with a lot of people this last week. drank A LOT on friday night and ended up really paying for it. lets just say the delicious chinese food i had friday night made a re-appearance at about 4 am on saturday. gross. i have a fear of throwing up - in fact i can only remember doing it 3 or 4 times in my life. its just a horrible feeling. last time it happened was after drinking way too many of craigs long island ice teas. good thing is that i dont drink like that very often and have no interest in it. except maybe on october 2nd every year.

so ive been downloading music like mad since ive been home and ive "discovered" a little band called viva voce. i saw them open up for the shins last year and was really impressed. not really with the shins however. i loved their new album but after seeing them live i stopped listening to it altogether. i dont know what happened. but back to viva voce. really different from what i usually listen to. a little bit of flaming lips in there i think, but cant really put a finger on it. i recommend. also listening to st vincent, who are to open for the national on my birthday. female singer, which is rare for me. havent figured out if i like it though.

back to the job search. until then, cash donations welcome.

gettin frisked at heathrow and other random memories

...well, well, well, look who decided to come home. i did. was i gone two months? it feels like i never left, except summers almost over. was there a preseason football game on yesterday? wow. so yesterday was one of the longest days of the year. i left prague at about noon yesterday (local time) and arrived here in seattle about 5pm last night. doesnt sound bad, unless you consider the 9 hour time difference. plus i routinely got searched, frisked, and questioned in prague, london, then once i returned to seattle. "so why were you in the czech republic? did anyone give you anything to bring back to the states?" i understand that security was tight, especially here in the states, but it seemed that any chance to hassle me was taken advantage of. i got frisked twice in london. i guess my beard was a little too long for their liking.

but the trip is over, and i am here in seattle. i made a lot great friends, drank some good beer and met a very cool norwegian girl named marie. i hung out with (and fought with) my sister in foreign countries, ate more greasy food than i had in the year previous, and gained fifteen credits toward my bachelors degree. i also have no money, no job, and about 3000 things to do (or so it seems). the good thing is that i have become pretty motivated. i got up this morning at about 7, and have been busily cleaning, organizing, and getting myself for the next chapter. although i probably got up that early because of jetlag, i still want to give myself some credit. going to set up some interviews for next week, update that resume, and maybe even get a haircut and trim up the disgusting beard i have grown. the time is now.

things i will miss: not having to work, cheap (yet also delicious) beer, a great transportation system, great water pressure in the showers (shower heads they use on circus animals apparently), bbq tortilla chips, being close to everything (in prague itself and of course in europe), no last calls, the gross sandwiches from the mini mart on zitomirska, waking up on a train both sweating and cold, the "luxury" of not having a cellphone, alex's giant bottles of pop (see picture), sitting in a pub and not hearing any loud obnoxious americans, cheap beer, girls with accents (im gonna have trouble with that one), the wonderful czech krown, mon ami (just slightly), not showering for days, dancing like a fool in foreign countries, czech girls (more than anyone will ever know), droppin dueces on trains, old buildings, the kutna hora tourguide, euro mullets, rafting on the vltava river, naked statues, and - most of all - the fantastic fifteen, my professors, and a certain norwegian girl named marie.

things i missed: my car (although not looking forward to traffic), cereal, an overall CLEAN apartment, beers at the viewpoint, mac n jacks, omelets that actually taste like omelets, baseball, cable tv, sitting in a pub and hearing nothing but abnoxious americans, fast internet connection, dancing like a fool in america, pacific time, vitamin r, bacon burgers, using public bathrooms for FREE (this ones for you elise), my big comfortable bed and clean sheets, a clothes dryer and - most of all - my family, my friends and especially everyone who read this. you know who you are.

is this it?? not really. im thinking i want to continue to blog, as it will be inspiration to make my life a little more exciting. it was a fun ride though, this prague thing, but its over. and now i have to find a job, cause i invested a little too much into the czech beer economy.

the end is here

so the end is almost here. where did the last 2 months go? it really hasnt set in that its august now. june and july are gone. coming to prague could have possibly been one of the best decisions i have ever made. ive made some great friends, drank some delicious beer, seen things i never thought id ever see and i will never forget any of it. cesky krumlov was amazing. went rafting yesterday in the rain, ate a never ending feast at the eggenburg brewery, and slow danced to some sinead o'conner. i cant believe its over. the final phase is berlin tomorrow with elise and marie, then flying home monday afternoon. do i have to go home? i think i should. there is so much i miss about seattle. i miss my friends, i miss my family. i miss sportscenter and baseball tonight. ive seen 3 baseball highlights in the last 2 months. im watching espn for about 3 days when i get back. im craving cereal, kix in particular. the milk here ruins cereal. thats one of only a couple beefs i have with this beer drenched land.

i love it here, but the vacation must come to an end. the beer a day and half chickens for lunch must be left here. im leaving behind the luxury of a great transportation system and exchanging it for traffic on i-5. im abandoning a life without a cell phone for a life ruled by one. life without a job will transition to one where i desperately attempt to find my calling.

things are clearer for me now. ive set foot in some amazing places. ive met some amazing people. there is a whole world out there. id be a fool to not get out there and see it. central europe has been conquered. bring on asia. send me to africa.

so this magic carpet ride is coming to an end. it went by too fast, but i am elated to begin the next era of my life. ill graduate within a year. really? ive not known a life without school. heres my chance.

the end is here. i have tons of stories and great memories. by the way, im coming back across the pond in 9 months. next time, there will be certain people coming with me. i think you know who you are.

ps. the blog will continue after i get back. i really, REALLY like talking about myself.

last days in prague

so schools over and i havent been blogging much. i might not really have much of a chance since tomorrow im leaving for cesky krumlov then berlin afterwards. final presentations were today and i could not be more relieved that its over. cesky krumlov should be awesome. its going to be like a big field trip.

got to go though. will sit by the fire and tell stories of prague to everyone when i return.

almost over...

okay so things are hectic over here and blogging hasnt been the easiest thing to get done these days. auschwitz was by far the most intense day of my life and now it seems that with final project presentations on monday, there is little time for reflection. so heres the rundown on things... my sisters been here and weve been hanging out doing tourist stuff and its been pretty fun... drank hoegaardens yesterday and they were delicious. ive finally gotten some of the lonely planet stuff done and so i am glad about that. going to cesky krumlov on tuesday til thursday, then off to berlin friday and saturday before i train it back to prague by noon monday to fly back to seattle. its all been a whirlwind the past couple weeks but its by far been some of the most rewarding too. been reflecting on my time here (even had a deep and meaningful talk last night about it) and i promise to blog a few more times before i set sail for seattle. times going by fast here (much like the first couple weeks). there will be things i will miss, others not so much. i am looking forward to seeing everyone when i get back. im really excited about the next chapter in my life. auschwitz had a lot to do with it. i still get choked up a bit thinking about it.

anyway going to the zoo with elise today, then working on some homework...

ps. im planning on rocking a moustache tomorrow for final project presentations... lets see if anyones grading on a 'stache...

auschwitz...

i will write more later, as i am running on very little sleep, but i just got from a draining trip to auschwitz. its really hard to organize my thoughts right now but i will attempt to do so later today. basically it was the most intense day of my life. it has definitely changed my perspective on EVERYTHING.

gotta run... just know that im alive and well since i have not blogged in a little while. hope everyones well in the west.

postcards

since i am incredibly lazy i will not be mailing any postcards while here in prague. i will instead be buying one for each of you who have commented on this blog over the last month or so and handing them to you in person when i return to seattle. sound good? i might even write a special message on the back for you, maybe even write your address on it.

mom: i have a card for you also (in czech - have no idea what it says) that i will present to you over dinner at a place of your choice after i get back in town...

got to get to bed. hope everyone had as good a weekend as i did...