Happy Birthday Mom!

My turn to cry . . .

I have the best family in the world. They got me this time thanks to modern technology. Thanks to my cousin Michele for coming up with this fantastic birthday surprise. Once again, before you sit down and watch this, grab the box of tissues. I love all of you guys . . . see you in a few weeks!

Happy Mother's Day!

The toughest part about working overseas is missing all of those special moments that happen in a family. It's a huge sacrifice and makes you appreciate the time you are able to spend with them even more. I've been living far away from the ones that I love for many years now and it never gets any easier hearing "You missed it!" after every birthday, graduation party, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, or wedding. Especially weddings.

You see my mom has four siblings, and as luck would have it, or what some might call a tragedy of epic proportion, the five of them gave their mother and father twelve beautiful grandchildren, eleven of them boys. As we all enter into our 30's, most of us, despite repeated warning, have sealed our fate by walking down the aisle. The byproduct of these ceremonies has been some legendary parties, which lead to some great family pictures, since these are the rare occasions when all of us are together.

Last weekend, my cousin Todd was the next in line to get hitched to his fiancee, Jill, and for months, much to my sorrow, I had been slated to miss this huge celebration because it just wasn't possible to get enough time off of work. I was resigned to the fact that AGAIN I would be hearing firsthand accounts of another reception that would go down in history. My brother Paul, however, had other ideas, and made a last minute plea for me to find some way to make the trip. After listening to his cajoling, guilt-inspiring phone call, I relented and made a quick search of the airfare sites. Well, somehow, the planets aligned and I was able to fly into Minneapolis on a Thursday evening, and hop the redeye back to Warsaw on Sunday night. For me, it was more like the "closed eye" since I spent the whole flight to Amsterdam (my first stop) in a deep slumber, reeling from jet lag, family fun time, and exhaustion.

The best part was keeping this a covert operation. My brother and his wife Jennifer were the only ones who knew about this last minute change of plans. Everybody, including my parents, who I had just spent Spring Break with in New York a couple weeks earlier, were sure I was destined to miss yet another special occasion. Needless to say, it was something I will never forget, and one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm so glad that we were able to capture the look of both my grandma's and mom's faces when they realized I had made it home. Just make sure you have your box of tissues handy when you watch this video . . . and make sure you take your mom out for brunch today. Of course, don't forget about Grandma!

The Big Apple . . .

With the drop in airfare from Europe to the U.S., it was possible to spend spring break this year in New York City. This was my first visit to the Empire State and Luiza's first trip across the Atlantic. To make the trip all that much more exciting, we met my parents, brother Dave, and my two BFF's (that's best friends forever for you folks not versed in adolescent lingo) Brian and Jeff. Brian drove in from Pennsylvania with his girlfriend, Lindsay, and Jeff flew in from Minneapolis with his new cell phone.

We were pretty jet lagged to start things off but managed to go out on the town until the wee hours the first night in town. The next day, we took in the Easter parade before checking out Rock of Ages, a musical based on the music of my formative years, the hard-rockin, spandex clad 80's. If you grew up in that era, you will love this show starring American Idol alum Constantine Maroulis. It was a heaping helping of cheese, but who doesn't love cheese? They even worked in a four-pack of Bartle's and Jaymes as a prop.

The next morning, the boys left and we had been lucky enough to score tickets to Letterman. All of you High School Musical fans out there will be jealous to find out that I was seated only twenty feet away from Dave's first guest, Zac Efron. (queue squealing girls) It was interesting to get a behind the scenes look at how the Late Show is produced but it loses a bit of luster when you are being goaded into laughing and clapping. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a big Dave fan, but think he was much funnier back in the NBC days when the comedy was edgier and he interacted with the audience a lot more. Through the magic of youtube, check out the classic Velcro Suit, Marshmallow suit, and Chip Suit. Just the Chronicle's small contribution in keeping you productive at work.

The rest of the week was spent just being tourists. We went to see Billy Elliott, the Tony Award winning "it" musical this year. It was spectacular to see all these kids performing some jaw-dropping dance moves with impeccable timing. Though I'm sure they've broken some child labor laws while preparing for the show since the choreography and songs were mind blowingly complex. One of the tiny ballerina girls who stole the show was only seven years old.

We saw our share of tall buildings, heading to the top of both the Empire at night, and Rockefeller Center during the day. If you only have time for one, make sure it's the "Top of the Rock". They've really streamlined the process by putting a time for you to show up on your ticket, and then showing a video detailing the building's history during your brief twelve minute wait.

Mom and Dad tooled around Central Park in a bicycle cart driven by a Macedonian medical student. They learned all about Yoko Ono's dominance of the Dakotah Hotel (she owns seven apartments there) and how she blackballed Madonna from getting an apartment. There were many other trivial tidbits that escape me but my Mom can tell you more about them.

While they were learning the inside celebrity scoop, the proverbial cherry on our sundae happened on Saturday, when we just happened to ride our rental bikes through a shoot of "Law and Order: SVU". I just wish my parents, who are HUGE fans of the series, all three installments, were there to see it. I was hoping that Mariska Hargitay, who my father informed me is the daughter of famed pin-up gal Jayne Mansfield, would arrest me, but no such luck. The locals paid no attention, however, since the city is such a popular backdrop for both film and television.

Luiza, Dave, and I saw a show at the famed Comic Strip, but unfortunately most of the comics we saw were hacks, especially the final five we endured who were given just a few minutes in front of the mic to prove their comedic chops. All of them failed miserably and made me glad that I only have to make sixth graders laugh everyday. Comedy is not easy folks. It was cool to have this uniquely American experience since there is no stand-up scene here in Warsaw.

I feel really lucky to have had this chance to see my family (Chicky and Scrote too!) for a week and introduce them to Luiza. Having the time off in the middle of the spring to hop on an overseas flight and play in New York City is just one more reason I never take this job or the special people in my life for granted*queue the video*

Happy Birthday Mom!

Dear Mom,

Today is your birthday and you are still as full of life as you are in this picture, way back when, before I was even a twinkle in your eye. In fact, this picture was taken way before you had the first of three boys who would test your limitless patience. Even though we are many miles apart, know that I am thinking of you not just today, but everyday. Looking forward to seeing both you and Dad in April.

Love,

Mark



So everybody out there, raise a bottle, errrrr, a glass and toast my Mom on her 63rd birthday! I think that back in the early days of my Mom and Dad's marriage, this was the only way he could get her to go fishing with him. My Dad was always a smooth operator.

Things to be thankful for . . .

Whatever you call it: being "blessed", having good karma, luck, etc. the Chronicle has a lot of things to be thankful for this holiday season. This is meant to be an unconventional list, so if not seeing "The love of family and friends" makes you think I'm not thankful for them, then I will just say right off the bat that I value them first and foremost. That might even include you, gentle reader. So, in no particular order, here are just a few more.

1) Skype. The ability to see my parents on the webcam every week while talking to them when I am so far away (4,529 miles according to indigo.com) is truly a gift. Add to that the fact that it costs nothing to call them and you have something to truly be thankful for. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, download Skype today and give me a call! That means you Dave and Paul! Quit living in the stone age. Dust off the wallet and drop the dial-up internet.

2) Jogobella yoghurt. It's Polish, comes in really big containers, and is damn tasty. Pineapple and kiwi flavors are my faves.

3) My new roommate. Yes, I am "living in sin". Sorry Mom! But you always said that whatever makes me happy makes you happy too. I am happy : )



4) My job. I never take for granted a place where I learn far more from the kids than they learn from me. It's also gratifying to know that the people I work for value me as well, especially during these tough economic times. Thank you school board and parents!

5) Wizzair. You gotta love a no-frills budget airline that is ballsy enough to paint their planes fuschia. $100 round trip from Warsaw to Italy . . . que bueno!




6) Podcasts. Being able to load up the iPod every morning with my favorite radio shows from the states so I can get through the commute is priceless, and free!


7) Obama. Yes, their are still 55 more days left of shame, but I can already detect an audible increase in volume when telling people what country I am from. Hurray for the return of dignity, intellect, and humility to the White House! He could accomplish nothing over the next four years but it's just nice to have a cool President for a change.



8) Being able to watch episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report online. We are self-professed news junkies here at the Chronicle. These guys make even the depressing stories seem funny.



9) Facebook. Yes, this just sent all of you anti-establishment, "swim against the current" folks cringing. But it's just another one of those pieces of technology that keeps the overseas guy in the loop. I am especially amused by the photos posted by former students and younger cousins. Good to know that keg stands haven't gone out of style.

10) Sarah Palin. God, how I love that woman. She has given so much laughter to so many people. Where, oh where, can I make my contribution to the Palin campaign for President in 2012?

11) Free coffee at work. Sometimes its the little perks that make the biggest difference and nothings brings employees together like free coffee. A big thank you to Kasia who makes it every morning. You are appreciated :)

12) Visitors. Having friends and family who make all the effort, and spend the money to come and see me here in Poland is really appreciated. When are you making the trip?

Deleted Scenes . . .

Sitting home sick today. If there's one thing about Polish docs, it's that they always err on the side of caution and usually recommend AT LEAST 3 days off, no matter what your ailment. I hope this is the one and only day I need for the antibiotics to destroy these little sinus infection bugs.

Congrats to my cousin Chad who got married last weekend. Here's a pic of all the cousins at the wedding. Click on it for a closer look. They had a photo booth which certainly allowed for some great candids. Looks like everybody is having a great time. Wish I could've been there!

I rescued a few short clips and pics from my camera and decided to throw them together in a short video. It's just a little window into the last couple months. Summer with the family, beach rugby, school field trip, and the George Clinton concert. Don't get too dizzy during the bicycling portion . . . I did. Or maybe it's just my stuffed up sinuses.

My sympathies to those in Da North Country

While I bask in the glories of springtime, Mom, Dad, and the rest of the crew in northern Minnesota are digging out from a bona fide blizzard. I'm not talking about a light dusting that will melt in a few days, but rather 24 1/2 inches of fresh, deep powder. The picture to the right was taken in Bemidji, MN yesterday. Unbelievable!

Below is my Dad moving some snow on Sunday afternoon. Little did he know that this would be a futile attempt since they got another foot last night. The second picture was taken the next day. In the picture is our next door neighbor, Joe Gnoza. Notice the depressed look on his face as he comes to grips with the cruel reality that gardening season is at least another 6 weeks away. But I'd like to wish him a belated 70th birthday. Cheer up Joe! Also, a happy 78th birthday to my Aunt Dolores, who is also probably back in Hibbing cursing all this snow.

Better late than never . . .

The month of January is not over yet. Today is only the 28th. But it is a special day since it's my mom's birthday. This afternoon, I called her up during my last class of the day. It was around 7:30 AM back in Minnesota and even though she is now retired, she was up and out of bed ready to face the day. So, my class and I serenaded her with the traditional English language version of Happy Birthday, and then went right into a rousing rendition of the Polish version, "Sto Lat". I think it made her day. It definitely made the day of a lot of 6th graders to hear my mom on the phone. Could it be hard for them to believe that I actually have a family back in the U.S.? Well, just in time, before it becomes a bit dated, I give you my Christmas holiday highlights video:

My new editorial assistant

I've hired a new staff member here at the Chronicle. Her typing speed needs work but she has the people skills and ambitious nature that we look for in young up-and-coming journalists. When hiring new people, I tend to base my decisions on raw potential and the desire to learn on the job. I think I've made a good call with this new hire, except we really need to work on this drooling on the keyboard problem.

Goodbye summer . . . we had some good times.

The author returns to work this week, reinvigorated from a couple months traveling back to the states to see family and friends. It certainly was a busy couple of months crisscrossing the world from Warsaw to Boise to Coeur D'Alene, back to Minneapolis, up north to Hibbing then home again. Whew! I think I'm experiencing jet lag symptoms just from writing that sentence.

Summer started off by landing in Boise to celebrate Hash #1000, the weekly run of the Boise Hash House Harriers. This is a wonderful group of finely conditioned athletes who combine drinking with long distance running. For a detailed description of what this is all about, go to www.boiseh3.org If you see some debaucherous pictures of a guy who looks similar to me, that's just my double Matt. He's a real fun guy to hang out with, but I was constantly getting mistaken for him back in Boise.

Around 26 (the exact number escapes me) of my friends from the aforementioned "running club" competed in the Ironman Coeur D'Alene triathlon this summer. I was lucky enough to venture up to picturesque northern Idaho to cheer them on. Most of them were first-time entrants in a race like this so there were a lot of jangled nerves that morning when high winds kicked up white capped waves on Lake CDA. Some had done zero swimming prior to entering this crazy test of endurance so to see conditions that test even the most skilled of swimmers certainly had to tighten a few sphincters. Check out the vid from the local news that morning. Gotta love youtube:


Anyhow, to make a really long story (and day) short, everybody came through with the proverbial flying colors and finished the race. It was emotional for all since they had worked so hard for months to accomplish this monumental feat. Now, the thoughts of "What's next?" are flying through post-race conversation. I know I was a bit envious of seeing them come across the finish line. It's tough to train over here on the roads of Poland without taking your life into your hands, so it could be awhile before I figure out the logistics of doing a triathlon over here. However, there is some hope since the school just hired a new counselor who has done Ironman before. The addition of a training partner just may roust me off the couch and onto the road.

Well, I'm going to continue this entry later since it's been a couple weeks since I've written. But I would be remiss if I didn't mention how great it was to spend time with "the two cutest kids in the world" my nephew Griffin and his new sister Lauren. The picture above was taken at my brother Paul's house and gives you a good idea of what most of my time in Minnesota consisted of: quality time on the couch.

Okay, this has the potential to be one of those lengthy entries so I'll cut it short and pick it up later . . . for now. Thanks for reading . . . do zobaczenia!

Shootin' down the days . . .

After today, we've hit the sweet 16 at ASW. Yes, only 16 more days of school. The kids are distracted as well as the adults. The bike racks around school have filled up as everybody chooses the mode of transportation that makes it much easier to hit the beer tents after work.

Since spring break, everybody has shifted into summer mode during the last few weeks of school. Lots of parents have decided to make it an early summer or take an extended spring vacation. This frustrated me at first, but it's just one of those things about teaching in an international school that you have to deal with. When the private jet or the yacht is gassed up and ready to head for some exotic locale, do you really blink an eye when taking your kids out a week early? It's a nice problem to have, I would guess.

While the U.S. is engulfed in American Idol fever, Europe had it's own Superbowl of bad music last weekend. For those who've never heard of the Eurovision song contest, let me explain. Every country in the European Broadcasting Union (think T.V.'s EU) nominates a particular act from their country to send to the competition. Each song is performed on live television and citizens of each EBU nation are given the chance to vote for their favorite, excluding their home country.

You can imagine the potential for unintentional comedy when you think of each country's interpretation of what constitutes "pop music". Those that are woefully short on talent, get by on their stage-presence, using garish costumes and shocking antics. Sometimes, these groups actually win.

Last year, the Finnish heavy-metal group, Lordi, took home the prize with their performance of "Hard-Rock Hallelujah".



Now, when you go through the airport in Helsinki, this national pride is celebrated with t-shirts and other souvenirs bearing the visage of Lordi.

This year, Serbia claimed victory. It's too bad I had drawn Belarus in the pool. You can go to youtube and look up each country's performance. These videos are definitely worth a look, especially France's entry, since it is just so . . . well, "French".

Last week, we wanted the kids to get in touch with their inner soldier, so we took them on a trip to the Polish Army Museum. There is an amazing array of Soviet military hardware on display there, including missile launchers, tanks, fighter jets, and helicopters. This was definitely a microcosm of the Cold War, and how defense spending takes precedence over a nation's more critical needs, like food!

Everybody took the chance to pose with an authentic AK-47, including yours truly. I also had the time to install an "Irish missle" on one of the planes.

The next day, "Night of the Museums" was held all over Warsaw. This is a special evening when all museums are free and they hold special exhibitions. Robb Hoiseth captured this video at the Army Museum that night. I don't think they would ever allow this back home:



I know in my last entry, which seemed like a long time ago, I said I would give some details on the trip to Rome, but I will let the pictures tell the story instead. I've uploaded all the pics from Slovenia also. You can access them here:

http://s59.photobucket.com/albums/g319/mgaspersich/

Copy and paste the link into your browser, then just click on Rome and Slovenia to enter the albums. These are instructions for the tech-impaired. You know who you are.

Finally, a happy belated Mother's Day to my mom back in Minnesota. This holiday isn't celebrated until next weekend here in Poland, so I will just take the opportunity to let Mr. T. tell my mom how much I love her:

Planes, trains, and automobiles.

I have returned to my previous solitary existence inside my Polish bachelor pad. My family is somewhere high above the Atlantic enjoying unlimited helpings of mini-pretzels, Sutter Home wine, and the English language. At least I think they are. Rogue cabbies in Warsaw are notorious for kidnapping American tourists, stealing all their valuables, and dumping them across the Ukranian border. Kidding Grandma, only kidding!



I never thought being responsible would be so exhausting. It was a great experience to have Mom, Dad, and Dave hop across the pond to see where I work and live. They will definitely have a newfound perspective on things when I make my weekly call over the computer. Showing them around Warsaw was the easy part. Being able to retreat to the friendly confines of 40 Wielicka #64 after a day of sightseeing was definitely really nice for them.

The last week has been the most interesting travel experience I've had over here. The four of us traveled to the motherland, Slovenia, the country my grandmother left back in 1924 at the tender age of 16. Okay, it was part of a larger country called Yugoslavia back then, but the powderkeg of warring ethnicities has since fractured it into 5 smaller nations. But I digress, since this is not a forum for the politics of Eastern Europe.


Anyhow, if you're still reading, I'll give you a little background to help you understand the history behind the visit. Back in 1977, when I was just a 3 year old little hellion, my parents went to Yugoslavia with my grandmother. My father has
cousins living in the same tiny village called Zemostac, and my grandmother hadn't been back in over 50 years. As you can see, my parents were quite the groovy couple back then.

When they said goodbye in 1977, they didn't think they would ever see each other again for some odd reason. Fortunately, I was able to make a visit in 2005 to see the family, and meet all of my second cousins. It was a journey that had a profound effect on me moving to my present location.

It was an emotional experience for all of us, but especially for my parents. Memories of their previous trip came flooding back and there wasn't a dry eye in the house, so to speak. Andreja and Tomaz translated the feelings of happiness between all of us. Dad was still pretty savvy with his knowledge of Slovenian much to the surprise of the older folks.

It was wonderful to just sit back and play trip photographer while everyone bonded over heaping plates of potica, prosciutto, and cheese. I wish I could post all of the photos here, but to save space I will get them uploaded to my Photobucket account in the near future.














Okay, so posting this entry has taken a few days. I had a severe case of writer's block / laziness but have decided to give you my musings on the craziness of the Italian capital in a later entry.

I want to thank all of you who have provided me positive feedback on the blog. It's great to hear from some old friends and family that drop by the KC site from time to time.















I'm really looking forward to coming back to the U.S. in a few weeks. Highlights include the Boise H3's 1000th hash which I'll get to be a part of if the airline gods bestow a delay-free day on me. The chance to be an "Ironfan" watching 25 friends do the race in Coeur D'Alene is going to be an epic experience as well. And getting to hold my newly arrived niece, Lauren, should give me some serenity in between play times with Griffin, my nephew. And of course, I reserved plenty of time for sitting on a boat with my Dad, fishing and speaking in Polish.

I will leave you with a few pics showing my mom experiencing the power of creative Polish advertising, my brother witnessing the artistry of one of my favorite street performers, and two guys learning about the history of the Catholic Church. Thanks for reading!

My father's security team . . .

As some of you may know, my parents and brother are now making a visit to see their ex-pat son/brother in Polska land. After arriving on Thursday afternoon, it was good to get them back to my flat for some rest and relaxation. Both Mom and Dad had gotten some sleep on the plane with the help of medication. Dave didn't quite fare as well and spent most of the flight in airline purgatory watching a couple terrible movies. He does, however, commend the human resource department at KLM for their discerning eye when it comes to hiring flight attendants.

Day 1 involved some local sight-seeing in some blustery weather. The conditions were not conducive to enjoying a libation on the patios of Old Town. But we made the best of it and the beauty of Warsaw's public transport system was not lost on them. I think it gave them a feel for daily life in the big city and the assortment of characters encountered on the streets.

It was with some trepidation that I arranged for us to attend a Polish League soccer match that first evening. My dad declined to attend given the chilly night air and his recovery from pneumonia, but Mom and Dave braved the elements for a chance to see what Euros call "the elegant game". This would also be my first chance to watch a Legia contest, a team notorious for their rowdy fans.

The atmosphere did not dissappoint. We were able to mingle with the hoolies beneath the underpass near the stadium as they "pre-funked" with a few brews and some raucous chanting. My mother enjoyed the show of strength from the local policja. They, as always, made sure their presence was known, wearing their riot gear and stone-faced expressions.

In the end, the home team triumphed 3-0. Everybody was happy, no rioting ensued. I was relieved that we actually saw a match with more than 1 goal.

The next day, we all went out to the rugby match between the Warsaw Frogs and Kinsale RFC, a team from Cork, Ireland. It was a hard-hitting bruisefest but I was able to escape with a few minor abrasions. Sustaining a serious injury in front of your mother in a country with limited health care facilities would not have been the ideal situation. Now I can take a couple weeks off and prepare for the Warsaw 10's tourney in May.

The post-match social was of particular interest to my Dad as he got into the act by posing behind some tour virgins from the Irish team.

He was all too happy to pose for this picture. It's a classic. But Mom didn't quite enjoy the bawdy lyrics in some of the songs, but like she told one of my teammates "I've raised three boys, I've heard it all".

Dave had a great time meeting some guys from the Frogs, and raised a few toasts with the national beverage. Peer pressure has no age limit as he was encouraged to extend his night by the big Scotsman, Ian, Philo the Polish Hitman, and Oksana from the Ukraine.

The Minnesota contingent is currently visiting Krakow, the tourist center of Poland. Although a bit daunted by the language barrier, I am assured they will be alright. The itinerary calls for them to attend Auschwitz, the Wieliczka salt mine, and Wawel castle. They will be back tomorrow, and we head for the mother country, Slovenia, on Friday.

"I'm glad that David came with us. When you're not around, I count on him as my bodyguard." --James Gaspersich

I'm sure the coming week will bring more quotable gems. Thanks for reading!

The Santa gig and a brush with death.

For the second consecutive year, I was drafted to play Santa for the little kids on Christmas Eve. This is quite an event in my family with over 30 people on the Nelson side converging on one house for the traditional turkey, ham, mash potatoes, and stuffing dinner. Most of my cousins now have children ranging in age from 1 to 8. The one person that these kids never see is yours truly, so my mom has coerced me into dressing as the jolly old elf for the benefit of the youngsters.

Those who have children know that when they are toddlers, the sight of a guy in a cheap Wal-mart Santa suit peering through flowing white whiskers bellowing "Ho, ho, ho!" can be quite the traumatic experience. And as they get older, they either gaze on in wide-eyed wonderment or scoff at the ridiculously fake-looking costume. My cousin Ron's son Jesse, a comedic ham in his own right, gave me some quick acting lessons before I got into character. The kid is 9 (I think) years old and he's instructing me on the subtle mannerisms of St. Nick. He's a sharpie. There he is with Zach, another kid too smart to be fooled. Tough to impress those two clowns.


This year, I managed to impress one little girl, my cousin Darren's daughter, Ava, and the look on her face was worth the sweaty, embarrassing experience. The rest of the little ones, including my nephew Griffin, reacted with screaming horror. All the parents got that quintessential photo-op of their kid with the big guy but unfortunately my camera ran out of battery juice when running on video mode. I'll see if I can scrounge up some footage from one of the relatives and post it on youtube for your amusement. I was able to capture a frame of some grainy footage off a video that looked like it had been shot by someone stricken with Parkinson's. You can barely pick out a stunned child about to burst into tears. My favorite part is a proud mother and my grandma who looks just as excited as the kids!

The rest of my Christmas break was quite uneventful. My mom, who doted on me the whole time I was home (that's what good moms do, no matter how old the kid gets), took me shopping for shoes and work clothes. It was great to find things that actually fit me! I have completely given up on shopping over here. Apparently, I'm considered to be freakishly huge in Poland and the things I do find that fit me cost a hefty sum.

There were many other visits to family and friends with a lot of good bonding going on. It's nice knowing you're missed, and especially gratifying when some are planning on flying across the pond to come see you. This includes my parents and younger brother Dave who are arriving towards the end of April. It should be a great experience having them along for the journey to Slovenia and Croatia.


After a frenetic week that included the swim meet, the obligatory visits to the finer taverns in Hibbing, and my battle with jet-lag, it caught up with me. I managed to get quite sick and it lingered in my body the last week I was stateside. Attending the wedding of an old friend was not as enjoyable when you are near death's door with body aches, fever, and a phlegm-gargling cough. Try as I might to douse this cold with free libations, I was forced to drag myself up to the hotel room at 10 PM, well before my normal bedtime. My dreams of dancing the night away with a stunningly beautiful bridesmaid were dashed. I did however get this sweet pic with my friend Bag. We had it framed and sent off to our former roomie and rugby teammate, Benihana Steiner. He was also married over Christmas break. It was a small affair, and we weren't invited but this is what we would've looked like had we been able to attend:


New Year's Eve was also a total bust, spent at my brother's place on the couch, in the fetal position.

The big Boise State Fiesta Bowl victory, and the bonding time with Griffin, were the highpoints of my time spent overcoming illness. I'm just thankful that my brother Paul and his wife Jennifer allowed my germ-ridden carcass to bunk there for a week. I could've taken out their whole household with the infection I had.


Now that I'm back here in Poland, it's nice to be settling back into the routine of things. Back to the daily challenge of linguistic confusion, and the quiet solitude of my apartment that already looks like I have visitors. Maybe I should unpack . . .