Amsterdam Spring '11

Why America is Screwed

Don't forget, the empty part is money we don't have.

Legoland - Windsor

Springtime in London

Months and months with nothing, sorry

What can I say, I am lazy. Plus my life has settled down and I haven't done as much traveling lately. Well that's not exactly true but I need some excuse for not posting anything since my Paris trip. Since then I have been to America, Amsterdam and a small village in the UK called Lacock.

I have ended up in London for longer than I had planned on, three months will turn into eight before I return to Slovakia in late May - early June. I have been promised that electricity will be run to the cabin by the end of June or it should begin before then. I will not hold my breath.

I am now back in the states for a few weeks visiting friends and family in NJ, VA and GA. It was great to hang out with my friends down in Savannah and seeing their kids. I will now spend a few days in in VA before heading back north to NJ to stay with my dad for a few days before my flight back to London on the 23rd.

If I get a chance a will post some photos from the Amsterdam trip in late January and some from my trip in America.

Until then, thanks to my regular readers and I really am sorry for taking so long between posts. I hope as the summer picks up and construction of the cabin continues I will update you all more.

Paris

Cabin Reconstruction Continues

Finished Roof

The New Giants Stadium - Club Level

The Cabin - Roof

Thanks to Jozef and his father and everyone else who has worked on it.

Dump Truck Tractor Jones

Family Reunion at Skytop Lodge

Pohoda 2010 Photos

Summer in Amsterdam

Cabin Clean Up

Speed Painting

Amsterdam Spring Slideshow

I AMsterdam ;)

A Few Great Days at Skalka

Bode Miller Has Nothing to Worry About

Sorry to the little girl Joey ran into :)

Joey Shreds the Terrain Park at Skalka

Sunny Thursday at Skalka - Solo

Skalka Web Site

Web Cam

I love the place.

I went by myself because no one else was able to go and I could not pass up such a perfect day, Sunny, no wind and just below freezing.

Last Weekend at Skalka

Another Great Weekend Skiing

We had great weather on Saturday, the sun was out and blue sky's and -4c temps but no wind. The snow was not great as it was pack granular, anyone who has skied in Vermont know what I am talking about, icy with granular built up bumps. I am going this week to a second hand shop with Joe to buy skis and boots. I really love that I can get to the mountain in under an hour from my flat. During the week when the slopes are groomed the skiing is great and no one is there. The one ting this weekend taught me was first, while it is much easier to ski as a skinny guy, I am way out of shape and second at 42, 4 ours of skiing takes 48 hours of advil to get over.

A Great Day Skiing

Martina, Jozef, Dominika and I went skiing today at SkiKrahule. We went for a half day and had a great time. The last time I was on skis was about 12 years ago and the last time I was on ski's that short I was 8 years old. I don't miss my old 205's at all. I am into the shaped skis. We are planning on going back next weekend. If so more photos to come.

My Pizza is ready, got to go...

Birds in Zlate Moravce

It was a great day today. The sun was out and it got up to 2 degrees C and humidity is low so I went out to try and find some of the Hawks I see when I am out driving. I saw at least 6 different Hawks today alone in a 10km stretch of road I like to drive.

Christmas in Amsterdam with Barbora

Christmas in Amsterdam

I am going to spend 4 days in Amsterdam with my Slovak friend Barbora over Christmas. She is living and working in London, we will meet on Tuesday the 22nd and stay until the 26th. This is her first trip to Amsterdam and I am looking forward to showing her some of my favorite places in the city. I am looking forward to seeing the city at Christmas time and I am hoping to get fresh snow just one night for photos. I need the current weather system to stall just 24 hours and I think it will happen.

So what else is new?

Really, not much, I have not had many classes this month, busy schedules, people sick, end of year stuff. Things will return to normal by mid January. I have spent the last three weeks pouring over the Climategate issue. I am still deciding if and when I will post my opinions and things I have found. I want just a little more time to put everything together in an easy to understand and highly sourced post that I hope is able to only present facts and not just opinion.

I will post some photos if I feel they are worthy while in Amsterdam if not don't expect to read anything until after Christmas.

I hope all of you have a safe and wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Remember,

I Love You,

and there is nothing you can do about it.

Yes YOU.

New Neural Net Upload

Sometimes it takes just a tiny spark to light a fire.
My friend Zuzka Bakova provided the spark today, thanks Zuzka, I needed it.

Today marks the third day in a row that this bright yellow thing, I think is called the Sun, has replaced the normal solid grey that covers the sky. It has made a big difference in my mood. This is my third Fall in Slovakia and I now see a pattern emerging, things are nice until about the middle of October then the Sun goes on vacation for a month or two. Now it has returned but since it his busy season in the southern hemisphere he doesn't get as many chances to visit us here in Central Europe. I am also noticing a correlation between the taste of Vodka and the amount of sunlight, the less sunlight the better it tastes, further research is needed and is underway.

I would like to say I have so much to write about since my last post, I would like to but I can't. Not because I don't want to upset anyone or I am hiding something but really it is because not much has gone on in the last few weeks. I have gotten into a routine and it is boring. But boring in the sense of it is not interesting to write about, I don't find my life boring, while it is not super exciting it is fine for me.

So I will write about my plans for the future or more accurately what I would like to do. I looked into visiting my step sister Jean Marie and the rest of her family in Italy for Thanksgiving but I was unable to come up with a plan that was both cost effective and time sensitive, these two factors are important and I was unable to come up with a workable plan so I had to forget it. That leaves Christmas and New Year to plan. I have a few options I am looking into. The first is a repeat of last Christmas with a return to Istanbul for Christmas. The second is a trip to Amsterdam for Christmas with the possibility of my Slovak friend Barbora, (she lives in London) meeting me there. The third is a combo trip to London then Amsterdam, this would give me the chance to also visit with Zuzka and Milos (if they are in the UK at that time). The forth option is to stay in Slovakia and spend Christmas and New Years with Joe and Martina in Kremnica. I need to make up my mind in the next week so I can book flights and such if needed.

Some other bits and pieces.
Snoop Dog is getting big and I enjoy having him. (Yes he is a he, my skills as a vet suck. - see my first post about snoop)

I found out I am in fact able to register my car in my name, but I have to go through the process of changing my address, which is not a simple or quick process, then I will get the car in my name.

I am still waiting and waiting and waiting for one judge to put a stamp on the contract for the sale of the cottage I am trying to buy. I really did not expect it to take this long but as long as it is done before early spring I will be fine. I want to get started on the renovations as soon as the weather permits in the Spring.

That's all I can think of.

Why I Am NOT in Amsterdam