Year #2, Country #2

Well, the time has come. After a year in sleepy Liechtenstein its time for my to make the big move to Switzerland. You remember Switzerland right kids?...Cheese, chocolate, watches...i think thats about it actually. Calling it a “Big” move of course is a relative term since i'm only talking about a 10 km move. But still, it means packing up all my stuff (2 suitcases, 2 boxes, bike, skis, guitar) loading everything into my polo driving 10 Km and then reversing on the other end. Thats allot of work!

Over the years I've become exceedingly efficient at packing..it helps that i've lived in 9 different cities in the last 9 years. I used to have a Crown Vic and that was pretty good for moving with. The trunk could fit a huge trunk, 2 cases of Goebels and still have room for a few drunk friends. From the Vicky i upgraded to a 2 dr blazer which offered a bit more room and the possibility to tow and more easily carry things like bikes, ski's etc. My accumulated belongings continued to grow form there until for my last move i actually required a Uhaul. Truth be told it was mostly full of car parts..but nonetheless all important thing to move. Now however i can fit nearly all my belongings in a Polo..is that progression or digression?

Don't answer that.

Anyway everything must be out of my current place up by Sunday night. That works out well in one sense since starting next Saturday I'm travelling for 4 weeks..but on the other hand the ski mtn's open up this weekend. What a dilema.

For anyone that's visited me you can probably imagine how claustrophobic I'm getting in my current apartment. It was nice to be able to come here and not worry about finding an apartment, buying furniture etc, but I've basically been living in a bedroom for a year. It's time for a change. My new place is about double the size of my current apartment and its right in the middle of town. Should be a great location and allot of fun since a number of friends are living right in the area. The town's even got a bar that serves proper beer...Guiness! I'll snap a few pics once i get moved in.

Let's just hope they like loud guitar's!

And then this..

Never underestimate the power of personal responsibility...and fear. I read this today and after writing that blurb yesterday about speeding in Europe, i just coulnt get over the irony of the timing.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,448747,00.html

...accidents are actually down. Milton Friedman (RIP) would've believed it, as do i. Lets try it in NY City!

Geschwindigkeit ist Spaß

Its never easy to forgive someone. Take the Germans for example...World War I, World War II, The whole holocaust thing..they've done allot of pretty questionable things over the years. But i am ready to forget all of that now...ready to offer a fresh start and forgiveness all because of one simple thing...the autobahn. I love it. Any country that offers the chance for unlimited speed with no recourse from the law, well, they're alright in my book.

My first experience on the autobahn was in the Koln area. I had a Mercedes E class rental car for a few days which made a good first car for a first time autobahner. Not too much power that one could get into trouble with. That car would do about 220 (kph) or so but that was it...now you might be saying who in their right mind would want to go faster than 220? Well, aside from that being a dumb question, the fact that i was getting passed on a regular basis shows that i'm not the only one.

Last week i had a meeting in Stuttgart which presented me with a second opportunity to drive on the autobahn. This time though i had a BMW 7 series from work. 2 more cylinders can do wonders to a vehicles topend and this car was still pulling when the needle passed 240. I guess i hit around 250 or so but the numbers ran out on the speedometer. That...was....Awesome.

The Nurgurgring is one of the most famous racetracks in the world and during the summer its occasionally open to the public. For anyone willing to pay 25 euros per lap you can try your hand at its 13 miles and 100+ turns. “The Ring”, as its commonly known, is calling my name. Before I leave next year I want to rent a Porsche or some other fast car and blast up the autobahn to the ring and then make some laps.

My goal is 320Kph...that's about 200 Mph. And its totally legal. Gotta love the Germans.

Read this....

...its good. Rarely do we see a challenge to the "generally accepted" assumption that not only is global warming happen but its caused by human activity. Perhaps its not so cut and dry though...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/05/nosplit/nwarm05.xml

Old Man Winter

It’s barely November but i can safely say that winter is (finally?) here. Fall came and went like a fart in the wind; in fact most of the trees here are still clinging to their leaves. But despite fall’s lingering presence old man winter won’t be stopped, he arrived like a freight train last week, snow bitter cold and all. Over the course of 2 days we went from warm days and cool nights to cool days and frosty mornings. It came fast and I say, bring it on!

Was that too many similes for 1 paragraph? You know what they say about similes right…they’re a dime dozen. An analogy about a simile…Ok that’s enough.

We had a vacation day last Wednsday that also just happened to be the last day to buy discount season pass’s for the Montafon in Austria…coincidence? I like to think not. Sure the Church may have had a hand in originally creating the holiday but I’d much rather use my day off to buy a season pass then get right with the lord. That’s what Sunday are for, so I hear anyway. Around 9 I fired up my Polo (not audi…story for another time. F*cking europcar) and ventured to Austria to pick a season passes for a couple of friends and myself. We debated about where to get a pass this year…Austria or Switzerland. I was leaning more towards Switzerland since I already skied most of the Montafon last year. But I was outvoted and besides things are significantly cheaper in Austria. My wallet will thank me later. So its Nov. 5, I’ve got my season card, my ski’s are waxed up, everything’s finally dried out from last year…bring on the snow!

Here are some pics of the trail to Hocher Kasten. I hiked it with a few friends in early October, but I think the scenery is much better with some snow.

Oh, one more thing....who the hell is Borat? Apparently I've been out of the pop culture scene way too long. He's on European MTV every 30 seconds!

The tower in the distance is Hocher Kasten. Well worth the 3 hr hike in normal weather...but on a day like this its even better.

Snow on a tree.

This pic might be upside down.

Looking South towards Italy.

Rounding Second..again

The same post but this time translated for my inner city peeps, courtesy of the ebonics translator....

I’ve come ta da conclusion dat da Swiss peeps gots uh bettah appreciation o' tyme than da rest o' da world. No doubt da sheer number o' clocks dey iz surrounded by on uh daily basis plays uh part in dis here, but it mus' be mo'. The world here seems ta move at its own pace. Not necessarily slower cuz procrastination an' running late don’t seem ta be traits o' da peeps here, just steadier. If you’re rollin' in da country an' dere iz traffic fo' nahh logical reason (like uh cow in da road, or uh tractor broken down..which I see on uh nearly daily basis), da smart money would be on da fact dat uh Swiss driver iz at da head o' da line. It’s almost as o' da peeps here expect brothas else ta run by they schedules, dey do make all da watches afta all.

I’ve found it ta be uh rather nice change. I wasn’t typically late fo' things 'bfoe, but I wuz known ta miss uh flight or two, an' muh ma fuckin rollin' has definitely slowed down uh bit. Perhaps da 55hp `64 an' speeding tickets play uh part in dat though. Of course predictability can be pimp-tight an' bad but thus far da clockwork Swiss lifestyle has been fine ass decent. I don’t wear uh watch, which over here iz comparable ta walking around naked. But really what’s da point, between computers, cell phones, iPods it’s uh redundant piece o' equipment. However despite da predictable, clockwork like lifestyle tyme still seems ta be speeding up. Possibly even exponentially but I wont bore anyone wiff dat nerdy theory.

Next Wednesday marks 1 year living overseas. I can’t believe it, muh ma fuckin colleagues an' niggas can’t believe it, muh ma fuckin wallet doesn’t believe it…but despite logic seeming ta say otherwise, da calendar doesn’t lie. Hell, it wuz only last month dat I graduated from high skoo, last week I finished college an' only yesterday dat I moved over here wasn’t it? It’s incredible fo' me ta th'o't dat it wuz actually nearly 10 years ago dat I finished high skoo, nearly 6 years ago dat I finished college an' as o' next Wed, 1 year since I moved over here. Where da hell do da tyme jet!

I started here uh year ago wiff uh laundry list o' expectations, things ta do, places ta see, niggas ta make, ho's ta date, cars ta gank etc. As ya can prob'ly imagine reality wuz much different, not pimp-tight or bad, just different. Over da past year I’ve done an' seen quite allot an' despite da ups an' downs da overall experience has definitely been well worth it. I wuz so miserable at muh ma fuckin job 'bfoe leaving dat I truly can’t imagine what I’d be doin' now if I hadn’t jumped ship from Detroit. My position here iz has been great so far, I actually feel like I contribute somethin' ta da organization, afta all filling da ketchup dispensers iz an important job! I’ve even got uh few other companies here dat gots asked me ta consider changing jobs.

I almost hate ta admit it but dere wuz some days while working back in Detroit dat I would jet at noon..just take muh ma fuckin cellphone an' jet home, jet ta da bar, jet hang out at da pool (thanks kovax’s’s’s), lunch on 8 mile, jet cruize muh ma fuckin cars…anything but werk. What made it worse wuz dat it didn’t really matter. As fun as dat wuz sometimes I really felt like I wuz largely wasting muh ma fuckin tyme dere, even fo' those 4 hrs I actually wuz working. Think o' “Time” by Pink Floyd an' dat wuz fine ass much muh ma fuckin life. Thinking back now, da bomb job I ever had wuz pumping gas at uh marina during summers back in high skoo. Sadly at 27 I don’t th'o't I could git away wiff dat any mo'. If I could though, I’d be back dere in uh heartbeat. Sun, water, bikini’s, da smell o' 4 bone gas, colt 45 fo' tip’s…if only I could incorporate some o' dat into muh ma fuckin job taday. Imagine da possibilities…..

So I’ve rambled on fo' long enough an' in uh few hours I gots ta catch uh flight ta Germany. Am I half done or only half started here? In da end who cares. With da 50% mark fast approaching I can honestly say dat dis here past year has been one o' da funnest, most interesting years o' muh ma fuckin life…next ta ’96 o' course but that’s uh story fo' another tyme. what 'chew thinking man?

Rounding Second

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Swiss people have a better appreciation of time than the rest of the world. No doubt the sheer number of clocks they are surrounded by on a daily basis plays a part in this, but it must be more. The world here seems to move at its own pace. Not necessarily slower because procrastination and running late don’t seem to be traits of the people here, just steadier. If you’re driving in the country and there is traffic for no logical reason (like a cow in the road, or a tractor broken down..which I see on a nearly daily basis), the smart money would be on the fact that a Swiss driver is at the head of the line. It’s almost as of the people here expect everyone else to run by their schedules, they do make all the watches after all.

I’ve found it to be a rather nice change. I wasn’t typically late for things before, but I was known to miss a flight or two, and my driving has definitely slowed down a bit. Perhaps the 55hp car and speeding tickets play a part in that though. Of course predictability can be good and bad but thus far the clockwork Swiss lifestyle has been pretty decent. I don’t wear a watch, which over here is comparable to walking around naked. But really what’s the point, between computers, cell phones, iPods it’s a redundant piece of equipment. However despite the predictable, clockwork like lifestyle time still seems to be speeding up. Possibly even exponentially but I wont bore anyone with that nerdy theory.

Next Wednesday marks 1 year living overseas. I can’t believe it, my colleagues and friends can’t believe it, my wallet doesn’t believe it…but despite logic seeming to say otherwise, the calendar doesn’t lie. Hell, it was only last month that I graduated from high school, last week I finished college and only yesterday that I moved over here wasn’t it? It’s incredible for me to think that it was actually nearly 10 years ago that I finished high school, nearly 6 years ago that I finished college and as of next Wed, 1 year since I moved over here. Where the hell does the time go!

I started here a year ago with a laundry list of expectations, things to do, places to see, friends to make, girls to date, cars to buy etc. As you can probably imagine reality was much different, not good or bad, just different. Over the past year I’ve done and seen quite allot and despite the ups and downs the overall experience has definitely been well worth it. I was so miserable at my job before leaving that I truly can’t imagine what I’d be doing now if I hadn’t jumped ship from Detroit. My position here is has been great so far, I actually feel like I contribute something to the organization, after all filling the ketchup dispensers is an important job! I’ve even got a few other companies here that have asked me to consider changing jobs.

I almost hate to admit it but there were some days while working back in Detroit that I would leave at noon..just take my cellphone and go home, go to the bar, go hang out at the pool (thanks kovax’s’s’s), lunch on 8 mile, go drive my cars…anything but work. What made it worse was that it didn’t really matter. As fun as that was sometimes I really felt like I was largely wasting my time there, even for those 4 hrs I actually was working. Think of “Time” by Pink Floyd and that was pretty much my life. Thinking back now, the best job I ever had was pumping gas at a marina during summers back in high school. Sadly at 27 I don’t think I could get away with that any more. If I could though, I’d be back there in a heartbeat. Sun, water, bikini’s, the smell of 4 dollar gas, beer for tip’s…if only I could incorporate some of that into my job today. Imagine the possibilities…..

So I’ve rambled on for long enough and in a few hours I have to catch a flight to Germany. Am I half done or only half started here? In the end who cares. With the 50% mark fast approaching I can honestly say that this past year has been one of the funnest, most interesting years of my life…next to ’96 of course but that’s a story for another time.

Listen to Your Mother

Despite what your mother may have told you, Never Drink and Fly. This applies not only to the flight itself but also a 12 hr (plus/minus) window before the flight.
Alright, my mother never actually told me to drink and fly. In fact she probably would've told me the exact opposite, if solicited for her opinion. But i'm searching for excuses here..can't i play the blame game.

Flashback to Sept. 29th. It's Friday afternoon and in just a few hrs, specifically 3AM, i've got to wake up and drive 2 hrs to the airport for my 7AM flight. Now consider that my boss's boss has decided to throw our whole department a little party, BBQ, swuaray, grill abend..whatever you want to call it. Great idea, bad timing. A night of free beer and fool inevitable ends the same no matter where its going on. You do your best to behave and be responsible. Half your brain, stomach and half the people at the party are constantly reminding you that you have to get up in four hrs, but inevitably that other half of your brain and that other half of the party win out.

Weak American? I'll show you a weak American!

Famous last words.

Well, you can guess the result. I woke up (somehow), drove to the airport (although i probably shouldn't have), made my flight (barely) and nearly showed the business class section what i had for dinner the night before. I said nearly...i told you i wasn't a weak American! Stupid? Perhaps, but definitely not weak.

By the second flight i was back in the zone and even managed to enjoy a few movies on the way over. Nacho Libre (or Super Nacho..as translated on the air France flight) was actually surprisingly funny. As for the second one, well I assume i enjoyed it but honestly i don't remember which movie it was.

To round off my Saturday i managed to catch a ride down to a party in Ohio where the best band in the world was rocking the suburbs. Calling it the suburbs doesn't quite do it justice as apparently Eric Clapton live in the neighborhood.

Anyway, I finally crashed around 2AM on Sunday following 6000 miles of flying, 5hrs of combined driving, countless cokes coffee's and redbulls, and even a few visits from the friendly Police.

The rest of the week was actually allot more of the same...with a bit of work thrown in for good measure (and to make things billable). I got to hang out with some work folks, see some friends i hadn't seen in a while and even beat on, i mean drive a friends new Sky Redline. Which is already for sale in case anyone's interested (Jed, that'll cost you a 5% commission).

So thanks for a good week Detroit.

Disclaimer: This trip was for work i just choose not to talk about work here...honest.

Shot luge. it was all down hill (pun intended) from here.

Anyone with even a childs knowledge of photoshop could really have some fun with these. I'm thinking....christmas cards.

Nice..uh...blender.

Best band ever..rocking the suburbs. Eat that clapton. He's probably the one that called the cops.

I think this was before the cops came the first time. craig says to the guy "sure, can you show yourself out now?" one 180 ticket later and the party was back on.

I think this was right before the cops came. The second time. with three officers. "no sir, i have not been drinking"

Dance off? what are we in a friggin after school special?

Then came the worm. Or at least a good attempt.

BandAids...i mean Groupies...i mean fans..i mean sisters.

Still awake....thank you Busch Lite

And the winner is...?

Rennen. I suppose it was predictable, but in case there was any doubt i went to the race last weekend. The weather was perfect for racing and despite the high ticket cost it was well worth it. I was actually rather impressed at the variety of vehicles that showed up including some really cool classic bikes. Europe is earning my respect more and more....at least on the car front. I went up with a friend from work and his family so it certainly wasn't as much of a party as Oktoberfest would've been, but his kid can pound some serious beers! Who would've known a four year old could drink so much.

But now its back to the states. Saturday morning i have to get up at 5 to head to the airport and catch a flight to Detroit. Good timing too, i need some new versatile solutions for modern living and the catalogues on the plane are just the place to find such priceless items. Radio's for the shower? Check. Rollable tie machines? Check. Combination laptop stand and tote bag? Check. How I've made it this far is beyond me.

My only complaint with this trip?...i have to go back through Paris. Damnit. I hope my bags make it since i plan on smuggling large amounts of contraband.

Just kidding..?

Despite the shopping opportunities, this trip actually comes at a bit of a bad time since i should be getting ready to move to my new apartment. The Liechtenstein police (thats singular by the way..i think there's one cop in this country) will kick me out at the end of October. Something about to many tickets and to much loud rock and roll. Their loss i say!

Actually i was only able to get a 1 year living permit so now i must move to Switzerland. Truthfully, I'm looking forward to it. Not only do i get a bigger apartment, but its in the middle of a much bigger town. It should be allot funner. Because my current town has absolutely no nightlife, anything would be an improvement.

The race runs up through the valley. If you want to run a hill climb..doesnt get much better than this.

View down the track.

America representin'

Some old bikes.

Not sure if the brick road helps for traction..in fact i'm pretty sure it hurts. but it added to the ambience.

it probably shouldnt be street legal...but thank god it is.

if it aint for speed..take it off.