The Day I did nothing

I didn´t take notes yesterday. I didn´t write. I was brain dead. I walked a bit. East Berlin isn´t very interesting. Still not too bad. I guess you can see alot in a walking tour which I did 4 days ago.
I think this city still doing recovery from the past Century. When you think about it that way, they are doing pretty good here.
I was speaking with a french student she remarked about how this place was very alive. Then it occurred to me that I haven´t really heard a German laugh really loud or hearty in fashion. Kind of sad, kind of deserved, kind of time for that to end. It ain´t my problem.
I haven´t found anything really funny either. I wonder why? I have to remember funny things from my past. Who has a good story out there?
I couldn´t think of much to do yesterday. I wondered if I was boring because only boring people get bored. I may just stay here and go to the Heavy Metal bar every night and drink Jäger and Becks beer everynight. I can get those in the States. Girls are just pouring through the hostel I am in. French, German, and others.
I am listening to American talk radio through the computer. Peace demonstrators are so dumb. Jesse Jackson is so full of shit, he can´t believe what he says. I don´t think he is an idiot.
What shall I do on my last day in Berln?
Check on train departures and prices to Prague.
See a museum?
Hang around those French girls?
2 out of 3

Life is like a sandwich in a box of chocolates wrapped in an enigma

Current mood: über cromulant

For some reason I like mixed metaphors. Or better still, screwed up cliches. Instead of saying "you snooze, you lose" of move your feet, lose your seat" a friend said "move your feet, you snooze!" That still makes me laugh. That friend was never known for his brains, but has always been a decent person, and that is just the tip of the cake!
There is some much dogshit on the ground in East Berlin I am afraid to look down and more, even more afraid not to look. I don't want to spend money on new shoes. Again.
Speaking of shoes, I bought a new pair of boots, for winter weather. Since in hasn't been that cold, I am practically swimming in these things. When I take my shoes off, it looks like I was in the shower for a hour. I finally found some baby powder, so it is getting better.
I don't know whether to love or hate that movie Forrest Gump. It was an entertaining film. The metaphor is a bit hard to take. The main character is retarded and loves an unfortunate tramp. Since Forrest represents America, I don't want to agree with that world view.
Still looking for a computer I can plug the camera into. Maybe in Prague.
The hostel I am in has mixed rooms. Some single sex and others aren't. There are 2 French girls in the room as well as a couple of Japanese, they are everywhere, and a couple of some former Eastern bloc country where there this morning. They relayed the best info I have heard to date. Women who are pretty are in ample supply. We have reached the good side of communism. Since there was no money, sex was based upon looks. Good looking people men would get pretty women. There was no money to factor in the equation. In the states, toady guys can get fine women if they are successful financially.
What does this say about you ladies?
I am looking forward to Belgrade.
I went to a Heavy Metal bar in my current neighborhood. They showed videos all night. Some were very funny with how tough or evil they tried to be. the music was still pretty good. The music business screws up the music. What can you do? All they want is to get you to want to fuck whoever they are promoting, bunch of crap. There will always be a punk scene, for that reason alone.
How come the music biz doesn't get put on trial for pedophilia? They are doing more to fill kids heads with thought of sex than Catholic priests ever did. Rock and Roll isn't the Devil, but Sony Records is watching the gate.
Record execs don't make news speaking to Congress . They send the artists whose righteous anger wins media approval. While the execs market the lust and don't care about the results on people.
I don´t think I will see much of Berlin today. I don't want to walk far. I sure don't want to get in a train or bus for one day at least.

Currently listening :
Sodom
By Sodom
Release date: By 09 May, 2006

BERLIN

Berlin has been all right. Pub crawls are the best way to meet people for fun. I went on one Saturday and Sunday. Bothe were great. I like the one on sunday, a little smaller and more fun people. There was a hot Brazilian girl named Carol who I didn´t try hard enough to get. I decided to go with stimulating conversation with an Australian social worker. Natalie was pretty sharp. I couldn´t remember her email so I don´t think I will get to see her again. You never know.

Today I saw 2 girls that stayed at the same hostel in Hamburg. Small world. If I see them in Prague it will be really star crossed.

Not in a writing mood. I was out very late last night and had to get up early to switch hostels. I absolutely hated the place. Kids and families. Not my scene. No one there was any fun. I wish I knew that before I overpaid to stay there. 25€ a night. The bed I have now is 10€.

I can now find my way around the city without too much trouble.

East berlin is not quite caught up to it western side. A lot of blight, older looking buildings, and general disarray. But it is quick to get around and whatever you may need is just blocks away.

I will be here through thursday. Then to Prague and back to Zurich, probably.


Currently listening :
Oracle
By Kittie
Release date: By 13 November, 2001

What I been doing lately

I like quiet when I write.

Some of these bipeds thínk banging on the keyboard makes them type faster. No wonder I stayed at home to write.

Friday I got into,

I think I am getting a headache. I am alone, but i can´t get away from people.

Berlin is where I am right now. I pick a nice quiet place and soon somebody....enough complaing.

I have been enjoying this town for 2 days now.

It was chilling and snowing on Friday. Very wintery for the first time almost a storm. I was going to take a bus tour, but I couldn´t find the meeting place in time. I wouldn´t have seen much anyway, it was snowing that much.

I eventually found my way back to the hostel where I got a bed. Oh, I bought a winter hat, they didn´t have black so I got this deep burgandy or cabernet or soem wine color. It´s not red or purple, they had none in solid black.

I had the house dinner, chicken stew, rice, and salad. Not bad. Then I took a 2 hour nap. When the 2 other fellows in the room returned, I ventured out in to the night to find a beer and some sights.

I wen to the Potsdamner Platz. they have movies and theatrre up there. Sony has a big showcase. The BlueMan Group are also ín town. I saw a show of theirs in 1994 in NYC. I am tempted to see how much tickets are because that would be good to see alone.

There were no places to go for drinks. So after walking a few more blocks, 10 or 12 maybe, I foung a cafe that sold beer, but it closed a half hour later. I had time for 2 and I scoped that latest local paper, complete with titty shots, 3 different ones at least. Then back to the Hostel.

I saw an american girl, she was raised on promises, who talked with a friend about philosophy.

You people have no idea what it tis like to be me, every conversation you overhear sounds like the dumbest one ever.

So she says something like, 'Philosophy is all just questions, maybe I don´t know enough, but it doesn´t have any answers.'

It had to point out that Rene´ Descartes had an answer to the question: Do I really exist? Cogito Ergo Sum. Je pense, que je serait. I think therefore I am.

She hadn´t heard of him. Put down the philosophy, kids should play with sharp objects.

I went to bed.

The next day, filled with lunchmeat, cheese, cereal, and zeal, I found my way to the Zoololgischer Garten station to do a walking tour or Berlin.

The tour was given by a Scottish guy about my age. He is a writer who has been living in Berlin for 10 years. He loves it. He is trying to finish his first novel. If is reads like he told stories on the tour, it should be a one.

We learned about the founding of the city and how it came to prominence. We also got to some of the good stuff about why stuff was still there or was only partially destroyed. We visited the site of Hitler´s bunker, now an apartment block, which is the old Nazi headquarters. The Reichstag is quite impressive. The Chancellors house isn´t. The locals call it the washing machine, cause that´s what it looks like.

There is alot more but I am not typing that all out.

A few of us on the tour, those travelling alone and under 40, had some coffee and beer at a beer hall. Quite good. There Was KEnny, Tyler, Charlie, Katrina, and an Australian girl whose name I ahve forgot and gave the wrong country code for my cell number. Strike 1.

I may email Katrina and she what she says about a date. Will I do it in time? How long will she be in Town.

I returned to the Hostel for dinner and a cold shower, not on purpose, some yoga, and some map work to make it out to a pub crawl.

Made it there! A good group of Aussies, Zealanders, and Americans were out for drinks. Everyone was pretty cool ,except for 2 americans. The loud white guy with the baseball hat yelled at the bartender, shocking. The black dude from LA who never took off his shades thought he got dissed, Surprise! If I wore sunglasses all night I would have seen that coming. Neither of them made it to the club at the end. I did, bút left soon after, out of money and will.

I did find my way home and got up for breakfast.



More to come.

Here´s a post

The computer I am on has throw me off myspace 3 times now. No Idea why.
I hate kids.
Loud little fuckers.
College kids, rude little fuckers.

Now that is off my chest.

I haven´t found shit to do in Hamburg. Tours are tours. Wow, another old building. I am going to save my money, walk from place to place, and write. That is what I have time for doing.

There is no music here. I may have to try something new. Oh no!
I haven´t got an email from Seano one time except for him to bitch at me about free form jokers on the podcast site. Gee thanks. Like he owns shit.

The only time your hear anything from that guy is about what is bothering him. My life hasn´t been exactly roses and I get no support, just whining. Complain to your wife!

Ous show has gone nowhere in months. What does he think our listeners want? Entertainment. Who cares who is doing it? Here´s a show idea. Argue with your wife for an hour. That sure beats the crap out of me and Chief Drunken New Teeth.

Glad that´s out. No hard feelings.
He probably isn´t reading this anyway. How would I know?

Hamburg, den of depravity. Well, I just had beers.

Today and Yesterday I am in Hamburg, Germany. I took a guided bust tour, which just happened to cover what I had already known.

Quick Hamburg facts.

The 8th largest port in the world, by tonnage.

The Beatles came here in the early 60´s before the got big. The hung around the Reeperbahn. I don´t know how that translates. It probably means: place where they try to drag you into strip clubs, porn shops, and hookers can work the street from 8pm to 6am. I wouldn´t want a girl who has still there at 6am. In winter, thy all wear pink and white clothes. Ski jackets and stuff. It loks like a vanetine´s day candy coming after your dick. They grab your arm and plead. I may run the gauntlet again tonight just for kicks.

The Have three rivers here. One was damned for a while for a factory. But the guy who owned it flooded it once and it turned into a accidental lake.

I guess there is stuff to do here at night but I am having trouble finding it. Aimless walking is less fun in boots and cold weather.

It snowed here for the first time so far on my trip. It was great. Most of it melted though. It is still cold.

I haven´t picked up any German ladies yet. They charge too much! Kidding I am language impaired. That´s no excuse. It didn´t matter with Nina.

My socks will be thrown away.

There is no Gold Bond powder here. I need some.

People aren´t real thrilled with snoring in the Hostel. Any suggestions? I have to sleep with my mouth covered or closed. That´s not sleeping.

The hostel I am staying in is very modern and sits between the harbor and a huge statue of Otto von Bismarck.

I am sick of Red light districts, they seem to be everywhere. I am not bringing home any painful souvenirs.

Where´s the good clean fun?

I have no right to be bored, but what is there to do? Siteseeing only takes so much time. There has to be more culture thatn old buildings. I will takes tours in each new place I go.

I took the Jägermeister Tour. IT was great. If you want to go make an appointment. I had to go to Wölfenbüttel twice to get one. Call their Tourist office.

JägerMeister facts:

There is no deer blood in it.

Curt Mast developed the formula.

His descedents own the whole company. They must be so loaded. Surprise! They don´t work there.

There are 56 ingredients in Jäger.

Jäger buys their alcohol. THey make none.

They flavor the alcohol with the ingredient mixture. Like tea, but it is done at room temperature.

Jäger concentrate is aged for a year in old cleaned wine barrels so it will breath.

It is finished by adding more water and then bottled.Some concentrate i sent to other locations for bottling.

All Jäger in the US is made in Wolfenbuttel. I think. I audio recorded the tour.

The tour guide was Anja or anija, an uncommon name.

She said blowjob. It didn´´t laugh but that clip will be on the Seano and JEfe Show.

That´s all for now.

JEfe

I don´t fix all my mistake because it takes too much time thatI am paying for.,

Hating internet cafe´s still

So the last place I was at sucked. I found a better, more expensive place in a casino. Who would a thunk it?
I cried over Nina.
Not because I felt sorry for myself. I don´t. Something wonderful was over and I am sad for that loss. This was unlike all of the other girls I have cried over. I felt like a sorry ass.
Here´s to the power of true love and the good that it brings!
I knew I had to come see her and I am glad I did.
Today I went for a walk around Hannover. A beautiful city with plenty of old building left standing from the war. I believe that will be a recurring theme throughout my German excursion.
If anyone wants to write me at any point during my trip please do.
I need some companionship even if it just a note. None of you have told me how you are doing.
My life should be more interesting right now, but I still want to hear about you.
I need to learn how to find things to do out here. It ain´t easy. My brain and bowels can only take so much bar hopping.
I went to the Jager factory on Monday. NO tour no dice. So I go back tomorrow before heading to Hamburg.
I need a warm hat. Finally. I am not used to the cold.

I can´t post pictures from these fucking places either!

As long as you think about the irony

I told her I loved her.
She said she loved me.
Before.
Not anymore.
Not that way.
We are still friends.
I still find her charming and wonderful.
I had to be here and push her to know that we are through as lovers.
It had to be that way.
I had to be sure.
She is still special.
I am too.
That is life.
Even two people who think the best of each other stop being in love.
What a kick in the ass.
I love you Nina.
Thank you for everything.
I needed it more than I can say.

Time to Know

I am going to see Nina at 3pm at the Central tram stop.
We spoke last night. It doesn't look good for el Jefe.
As I sat by myself, after many vodkas and beers, one important thing occurred to me.
I am doing exactly what I want to do.
Maybe for the first time in my life.
Not that I regret how I have lived.
But I haven't felt that I was doing exactly what I should be doing.
Being in Switzerland.
Telling Nina I love her.
Accepting fate.
I am doing what I want.

Zurich, the Return

What are 3 things I don't care about? fashion style and shopping
Europe has all of those and for only twice the price.
Who wants shoes for ..150? Maybe a matching cap for £50? Don't forget your special gloves ath the low price of 45 chf.
Really, it's not so bad.
I think Zurich and Amsterdam are 2 of the priciest places I could have chosen to visit in the first part of my trip. Thanks to good friends, it hasn't stung my funds too much. Except in Tilburg, where I know no one.
I don't feel like typing each detail for my readers. But here's some travel tips I plan on using through the rest of my journey.
Always bring a bottle of wine on long train rides, especially the overnights. Drinks are at a premium. You will save a ton with just one or two bottles. Some trains have bars, some have a smoking car with racks of unchilled beer or wine. You can't complain, you forgot to stock up. Beer at the store is a about a dollar a can. This price triples on the train. Trying hanging the beer out an opened window to cool it faster. Don't get caught! I think you can drink beer anywhere you like here, so why go into a bar?
Bread also is a must. Rolls are easier than loaves, but these are harder to find if you shop in the evening. Get ready for the best of the rest. Do like I do, try anything twice.
I have had trouble finding small portions of meat and cheese. So I just ate more meat and cheese. Win-Win!
Fruit is also a must. You need your vitamins and roughage if you hope to proerly digest all of that beer, wine, meat, and cheese.
Premade sandwiches feels like a rip-off. If you want to pay too much for speed, wait until you find a kebap-felafel shop. These are plentiful in city setttings.
Also plentiful are the massage places. Or is it just where I have been staying? No need to be alone in Europe unless you want to be. I have no idea what this costs and I don't care to.
Don't plan on sleeping to well in the train bed either. Unless you like a real firm matress. I haven't been to a hostel yet, so I am not sure if those sleep better or not. But the price may be about the same as the extra cost to my Eurail pass. More on that later.
Dutch people hate the Belgians and use too many vowels in their words, but they speak English well.
The Van Gogh was great. The RijksMuseum was as well. According the that place the Dutch are the best people on the face of the planet. Let's keep that VanEgo in the DeCheck.
I did get lost a little on Tuesday night, well turned around. It also had nothing to do with that thing I bought at the Bulldog.
Ben Ottewell concerts are great. Amsterdam food was great. Todd and Michelle were great. Maybe I will see them again.
That's all I really have today.

Amsterdam is a hoot!

My trip here has been great.

After a confusing train ride from Tilburg, I have been treated amazingly by my hosts Todd and Michelle. The video is of their great apartment. They have been living here since August. Her twin sister, not identical but they look similar, lives here as well.

Here's a brief recap of Saturday.

Find my way to Todd and Michelle's. We do some catch up and then Todd and I head to the Leidseplein for beers.

Michelle, Renee and Jeff meet us there for more beers and light chatting. Jeff also likes Gomez and is pleased to hear Ben is playing that night.

Off to Pastini's for dinner with all and Chris and Allison. Dinner was great and I left a bit early so not to miss much of the concert. Didn't work. I caught about half, but got in for free.

So did Todd, Michelle, Jeff and Renee. I also recorded the last 30 minutes of the set. Sounds okay, people were talking through the whole set.

Gave away rest of pins and Stickers I had left from the Gomez Listening party last April. I kept the shirt that I wore form them, it's cold in January.

Off to the bar again and Todd brought along 2 Dutch girls Rochelle and Katrinka, and a Welsh couple, Phil and Christine, I think. How fun is that?

3 rounds later, out into the rain, Jeff steals a cab at the stand, and back to Oud Zuid, the area Todd lives.

Any questions?

Sunday I walked to the Heineken experience. I want to put my pictures from it in one slide show. That will come later. Dutch beer is so great.

After that I walked to city from bar to coffeeshop to bar to pub to toilet and back to Todd's to meet for dinner. The Welsh couple met us there as well. They love the Young Ones so we went on about that through dinner.

Back to the apartment to watch a little football. We saw the Bears win. Then to bed. I slept like a log. Which meant I had dreams.

I was friends with Mick Jagger and his 14 year old daughter wanted to date me. I don't think he has a daughter that age. In the dream he had 7 kids. He wanted to do some work with me, not sure what now. But his house had this castle like glass foyer with the names of all the Rolling Stones tunes etched into the glass.

Of course dating the girl got me in trouble, not cause I did anything wrong, the girl just liked to play games.

Next, my van, the Econoline I used to own, got stolen by the Yakuza.Which was horrible because I had already smashed up my Pathfinder trying to impress Jagger's kids by driving a Semi into it. I can't drive a tractor trailer even in my dreams.

After that I think I yelled at my mom about my not having a car.

Then I went to work where Albert Brooks was the boss. I couldn't stop laughing because I remembered the Simpsons' episode were he was the James Bond Villain character. So I said "papaya papayin" over and over like from the show. People around me got tired of it faster than I.

I think then, I woke up. Here's to the Dream!


Here's a video of the flat where I am staying. Very nice. Thank you Todd and Michelle.

I went to the Heineken Brewery Tour!

A quick review of my first day in the Netherlands. Beautifully wrapped up with a tour of the Heineken Brewery. There is more to say about this place. But it was the weekend and we have been enjoying ourselves all the while. I know the audio doesn't sync well with the video. Not my fault. Blame Youtube, the most amazing thing to hit the Internet since email. Here's a picture of Nina for the heck of it.

Making Heineken

This was shown during the Heineken Experience tour in Amsterdam. It's just a small bit. If I showed the whole thing you would never go yourself!

Jefe from Holland

I don't think I finished saying that I wanted to thank all of my friends for giving me a good send off for my trip. Especially Matt and Cicely who fed me fondue, showed me the movie Eurotrip, and took me to the Airport.

See me later!

Playing Catch(up)

Been sorta busy.....here's what happenend.
Tuesday morning I caught the local train to Turgi. Near there, Vögelsang is where Tim Merkel (Fairport,NY) lives with his wife and children. He teches English and takes care of the kids. She, Dagmar, works full time at a power production company. No au pairs for this pair. Their children are Hannah, 3, and Jamie, 14 months. Very cute blond kids.
Tim and the kids and I went to the Rigi, the closest mountain to zurich. I had been last year, but there is nothing like a ride up a Swiss mountain. We took the gondola from Weggis and the train to the top.
Since there is little to no snow this year, the place was abandoned. We were lucky to get something to eat as everything was closing early due to the lack of customers.
The view was still exceptional. It is so remarkably different than anything I am used to seeing inthe states. White snow hugging black rocks lording over the clouds.
On the way back down, we could see the lights of the lake towns. There were even ferry boats in operation, the lake hasn't frozen. The city light over three lakes was new to me, so peaceful. To anyone nervous about heights, it gets easier everytime you ride the gondola. If it doesn't, close your eyes.
We left for the in-laws, as it was Opa's 76th birthday. An Austrian by birth, he's been in Switzerland for 40 years. I can't really say what and where Tim's in-laws are all from. I thought his wife was German, some in her family are, some live in Germany, some are Hessians, and they talk funny, but I didn't meet any of them.
Dagmar's brother and wife were very nice. He gave me a Dutch beer called Anker. Their four boys all look like smaller versions of the other, and they love to have Tim's kids to play with, since that keeps them from being the youngest any longer.
The lady of the house made a delicious goulash, which must mean beef soup, cause that's what it looked like, which was served with rolls.
Dessert was vanilla creme banana roll and sweet bread.
From there, Tim and I returned to Zurich to practice with his baseball squad, the Zurich Lions. Only about 5 guys showed up. We ran double play and grounder drills. An unexpected event.
I drove the family van back to Vögelsang and stayed the night is the guest room after a little american style channel surfing on the Eurocable. The broadcasting standards are a little more liberal on this side of the pond. And they show just as much hockey.
Next morning we walked the neighrborhood with the kids. The sun came out, apparently a rarity in switzerland winters. Thus, all the going to the mountains on weekends, to see the sun.
Tim's house and property back into a river. This has got him into kayaking, which will soon replace baseball as his main exercise. Also, he plans on redesigning the yard and the garden cottage to make his promising English instruction school more appealing.
I took the 14:28 back to Zurich and walked from there to Mona's. She left the key for me, thank goodness and consideration, so geting to rest my dogs was no problems. After a quick rest, for some reason, I was really head tired this day, I called Nina to get together.
I walked to her place. It isn't far. I will walk more, it just isn't really worth the fare each time to ride the bus. Baseball practice proved I need the exercise.
She let me in and we had tea and sweets. Her new place is great, roomy for city standards, and functional. Even small balconies for nice evenings. If you look over at the neighboring building, you can see them all cooking or showering at the same time. The clock making has worked its way into the DNA I guess.
We talked about this or that and I learned something new about her. SHE LIKES JäGERMEISTER! I don't know how this one got by me but it did. As If I wasn't already sold. But it isn't all up to me.
We went to a bar by the Central tram station, about 1km from her flat. We drank jäger over ice and talked about this or that. We are getting along well. No romance though.
To be honest, I would rather hang around Zurich all day just to meet her for coffee or a drink, than travel Europe. Cause when she is there, other places don't matter.
But that's not what I am gonna do. I am off to Amsterdam, on the overnight train, for a few nights to see Ben Ottewell from Gomez play live. After I meet Nina for a drink, of course.

Sleep of Ages

Yeah, I slept a lot today. Maybe I am wasting time. Maybe I am saving money. Maybe I didn't want to walk all over town.
Over the last month, probably more, I have not slept very well at all. Sometimes getting only five hours a night. That's no way to live. So after I awoke today, I finished my leftover lunch from yesterday and took a bath. Then lying down seemed like the thing to do. Then sleeping did. I hope I am not up all night as I won't have much to do. Bars here are weird and different and don't have much of a bar and I don't feel super social all of the time.
Zurich has a hockey team, I would like to see a game.
I have to help Mona with her english lessons. She has to pass the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English test in order to teach that subject. The same test I would take if I wanted to do so. Tim Merkel passed it.
Nina is absolutely stunning, even dressed in street clothes. I am curious to see her in school marm gear. I doubt it is a snug skirt-suit with knee high boots, but one can always hope. She said she does have to be strict with the students.
Interesting story about her.
In early November, prior to her birthday, she had a bad bicycle wreck. She rode into an opened car door. Not her fault.
I have only been told piecemeal what has really happened.
At first I was told it was no big deal, so I thought bumps and bruises.
Next I hear its the hospital and bandages and missing work. Okay, worse but not scary.
Yesterday, it comes up again. She tells me that she didn't stop bleeding out her nose for days. They kept her for observation. they had to rebreak her nose to set it. Her roommate, Hammer, had to stay with her to take care of her because she couldn't do much for herself and some had to be there in case of an emergency. She also had a minor nose job, the top of her bridge is smaller than before. I noticed, which I think started the conversation in the first place.
Bottom line, I have to see pictures from the accident. I am glad they fixed her up good, but that wouldn't change how I feel.

Three King's Day

In Switzerland, January sixth is Three Kings Day. they bake a special round bread that has six rolls attatched to the side. In one of the pieces, there is a plastic king figurine. Whoever finds it, and doesn't get it caught in their throat, is the King for a day.
For my day, I went to the store to pick up bloody mary supplies, a favorite of my hostess, Mona. the store had no horseradish. I think she takes them without, so no problem. I went to the store with her roommate Julien. He is Swiss-English, Swinglish, and chose zurich over London. The store had only 2 kinds of vodka, Wyobrodka and Smirnoff. And I picked up some Feldshlossen beer, the local Old Style.
After returning to the flat, Julien went off about his day and Mona finally returned from the Mountains. They do that alot here. She was at a Betty Ford party, the opposite of rehab. irony is alive and well `im Schwiez.` We proceeded to drink Koteli, a sweet swiss liquor and exchange pleasantries and cigarettes.
Mona's friend Mary arrived for dinner a little later. Mona prepared Sausage with beets and carrots over rice. delicious. Mary brought along some traditional sauce from the Philippines, as her mother is from there. Mary neither speaks spanish or is Catholic, a first among anyone I have met with that heritage. She was very nice and is in teaching like Mona and Nina.
After a fine dinner, Mario, Nina's brother, came by to say hello and go with Mona to a party. I declined as I wasn't sure how long I would have the energy to stay awake.
I can't say enough about how nice everyone I have been around has been. Great for a first day!
A funny thing happened on my way to this flat yesterday, someone asked me for directions to some street around here. I had no idea, and they spoke german, not my first language.

Back In Zurich

After an hour of delays, The plane flew out of Sacto. No big deal, I was in no hurry. Window Seat. Good. Loud and energetic foreign child sittning behind me, not good.
I don't want to quash a youngsters enthusiasm, but why shouldn't that child behave for some part of a 4 and a half hour flight?
The in flight movie was the one about the bartender who tried out for the Philiadelphia Eagles back in 76 and makes the team. Good story. It was still a typical film about believing in yourself and not quitting. More than that, it was about trying your best. A very melodramtic oeuvre it was. The best way to put that type of message across to an audience.
The good thing about it was it's factual basis. Not like that Hilary Duff Uber-scheize about being a star. Stars don't make the world go around. Then again, everyone has a different idea about hard work.
Flight 2 was more of the same. No, it was better. I was so delirious from not sleeping, the miles just slipped away. A couple of tall beers before hand didn't hurt.
Whilst having those beers, I made soome friends. First was Tessa, a young woman returning to LA. She had been there 6 months. We talked about what we were doing and why we were travelling. Got to know a little. I think she dug me. Or the smile was from beer on my chin.
Another guy I spoke to was visiting family in DC. He got to visit some Congressional inaugural parties. According to him, Jon Kyl is a huge attention getter, popular or powerful. The same thing in DC I assume. Anyhow, this guy doesn't like wearing ties or paying $10 for drinks. We related. even when discussing politics.
Which reminds me, CNN is bullshit. It's just one hit piece on the President after another. Some may be deserved, but the constant barrage is disgusting.
Back to FLight 2. I sat next to a Virginia Tech co-ed spendind $12,000 on a semester abroad to study marketing in Lugano, Switzerland. Yeah, they know something about marketing allright.
This young lady was friendlty and laughed at my jokes. There should be more like her.$
8 hours later, I got off the plane at the Zurich flughofen and onto a terminal tram. In the tunnel you see a scrolling video pictoral of a Swiss Miss blowing a kiss at you. This was a new one on me. Innovative could describe it. So would arousing. Memorable.
From there, a breeze through customs and I'm on a train to central Zurich. I phone a friend and here I am. Only 2:00pm. No sleep and a long night ahead.
And, I got to clean up. first time since before I cleared out my appartment.

Bitterness and the move forward

I am taking a long trip soon.
Things aren't going quite as hoped.
Still, who knows if this is good or bad?
I sure don't. I never know what will happen. The trip will be fun or at least challenging. Which could be better? Fun is always good, but challenging is more fulfilling.
I will get lonely and miss my friends. I will meet new people.
Let's stay in touch.
Jefe