Halloween is in the air!

OK, so we technically DON'T celebrate Halloween here in the Czech Republic (or in Europe, for that matter), but that doesn't stop me from feeling spirited...



Happy autumn, everyone!

Autumnal ease and consta-party!

As I was recently telling my flatmate Beth, I think I've watched too much HBO for my own good. After finishing several seasons of Q.A.F. and getting wrapped up in the over-dramatic goings-on of pretty TV characters, it occured to me: wow, at the moment, life is relatively calm. I mean, OK, so there's the usual credit card annoyances and what not, but at the moment there (fortunately) isn't any major drama brewing anywhere. Knock on wood, of course!

So the weather's already dropped significantly here...not too surprising as August was a really lackluster month weather-wise, but we enjoyed a few weeks' worth of Indian summer (or, as they say here, 'grandmother' summer). I've already gotten accustomed to wearing wool again. Sigh. The fall foliage is at its peak, though I can't say it compares to New England.

Saturday was Jennifer and Katja's joint birthday party near Namesti Miru. I prepped pasta salad (naturally) and headed to the party, which was fantastic. Lots of wine, lots of dancing and lots of interesting company. On Sunday, I met up with two new friends, Roman (from Ostrava) and Jason, who's here from Ohio. (It's funny how I seem to have accumulated a good number of friends from Ohio). We enjoyed mint coffee from Cafe Erra and an afternoon stroll through Petrin Park, the Prague Castle grounds and beyond. I capped off the evening with a glass of wine in Tynska and a delicious Thai curry meal with Farrah, Jennifer and Eva. As they say in Calvin and Hobbes, a Sunday evening is like the last meal before an execution. Thankfully for me, I was eating Thai!

So this coming Friday, we'll be celebrating Beth's 26th birthday, although the evening plan has yet to be finalized. On Saturday, Jules and Clayton are hosting their annual ex-pat Halloween party. I haven't selected a costume as of yet but I've got a few vague ideas floating around...

Since I took the time to fill this silly thing out...

Meant to be completed by those ADULTS out of high school (does not apply if you are older than 25 and still living with your parents!)

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids? Here are some questions for the people who are a little more mature...

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
All of them! But the credit card is especially depressing for obvious reasons.

2. What's the best place to eat a romantic dinner?
Well, I could rattle off a list of restaurants, but isn't it more romantic if said love interest knows how to cook?

3. Last time you puked from drinking?
The last time I can specifically recall was in March.

4. When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar?
It would've had to have been at Iguana's in Portland, Maine.

5. Name of your first grade teacher?
Mrs. Whitman

6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Sleeping! Or basking on a beach.

7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
This is a work-in-progress, folks...!

8. How many colleges did you attend?
One, which I've learned is not enough these days.

9. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?
because it was chilly outside.

10. GAS PRICES First thought?
Fortunately, I haven't been driving regularly for the past 5 years. Learn to use public transportation, people!

11. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you...
I've had fantasies involving random Ozzie backpackers, battered pick-up trucks and the Australian outback...but you REALLY don't want to hear about that!

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Damnit!

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
probably grumbling about the fact that it was almost Monday.

14. Favorite style of underwear?
boxer briefs

15. Favorite style of underwear for the opposite sex?
white cotton panties

16. What errand/chore do you despise?
scrubbing the toilet or bathtub

17. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer at an art gallery?
Actually I think that sounds like a wonderful activity!

18. Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in, thank you very much!

19. What is your favorite cartoon character?
Sebastian or Ursula

20. Favorite NON sexual thing to do at night with a girl/guy?
Have one of those all-night talks that last until 3 or 4 a.m.

21. A secret that you wouldn't mind everyone knowing?
I'll never tell.

22. Are you planning on remaining in your current field?
For the immediate future...but hopefully not in 5 years.

23. If you are not married, do you see yourself married in the next five years?
No

24. Your favorite lunch meat?
Turkey

25. What do you get every time you go into a WalMart?
I prefer Target. But I would purchase Sour Patch Kids for sure.

26. Beach or lake?
Beach, definitely.

27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?
No. I think it was as difficult to practice then as it is now.

28. Who do you stalk on MySpace!
Bleh. No one in particular (or worthy of stalking on Myspace, too).

29. Favorite guilty pleasure?
I generally have no shame...Justin Timberlake's new Future Sex/Love Sounds album :)

30. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
A Walk to Remember

31. What's your drink?
Mojitos

32. Cowboys or Indians?
Cowboys!

33. Cops or Robbers?
Cops

34. Do you cheer for the bad guy? in a movie?
depends on who's playing the bad guy :)

35. What Hollywood star do you think resembles you best?
I've gotten Joshua Jackson in the distant past, but I disagree

36. If you had to pick one, which cast member of Lost would you be?
I've never seen this show...

37. What do you want when you are sick?
usually orange juice, to lay around and be completely anti-social.

38. Who from high school would you like to run into?
There are several people...

39. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
None

42. Norm or Cliff?
Norm

43. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?
Simpsons

44. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Basically, just wasting time obsessing over situations that were clearly going nowhere.

45. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
I don't really have one.

46. If you could get away with it, whom would you kill?
Other than Jessica or Ashlee Simpson, no one...

47. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
David Sedaris

48. What famous person would you like to sleep with?
Jeremy Piven

49. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No

50. Last book you read for real?
Mystic River

51. Do you have a teddy bear?
I have an octopus

52. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
Not sure

53. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
San Francisco

54. Number of texts in a day?
depends on the day

55. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?
Either would be great at the moment.

57. Pencil or pen?
Pen

58. bueller??? bueller??? bueller???
Carrie Bradshaw's future husband

59. How many jobs have you had?
I think around 10 or so (if we're counting high school part-time stuff)

Recap and roundup

So I rang in my 27th year last Friday night here in Praha. Beth had planned a multi-component party excursion in my honor, and it couldn't have been better! We started off with pizza from Lucky Luciano's (by far the best Italian in Prague, as far as I'm concerned) then headed out to the Letenske Sady Beer Garden, where we met up with Kelly, Mellisa, Scott, Molly, Nick, Jo and Jules. We didn't have much time to linger here, as we had to buy tickets for component #2...

...which was the nighttime fountain show at Krizikova in Holesovice, which is something I'd been wanting to check out for some time! Farrah and Jennifer (who'd taken me out for lunch at Radhost - yum) met up with us here. It's basically like a mini-version of the Bellagio's choreographed fountains, but featuring out-of-date American music (think early-to-mid '90s hits, along the lines of Aerosmith and Celine Dion). By far, the best part was the "Titanic" section, which featured the orchestral score and "My Heart Will Go On," WITH Kate & Leo's dialogue played in loop over it while the fountains were lit in blue. Of course I loved it!

Next up: dancing at Valentino, where Paul met up with us, along with his very attractive friend who was visiting from Toronto. We stayed here until 4:00 a.m. Among the more memorable events: shots of Bechorovka (a.k.a. Christmas Juice), dancing up a bluestreak, Jo and Farrah's "chemistry," and Jenn puking behind the bar stools. Ahem!

Among my gifts was a CD of Helena Vondracova, essentially a Czech version of Cher or Barbra Streisand. She's turning 60 this year, but has enough plastic surgery so that she doesn't look a day over 35. It makes for a great conversation piece: it's a whole album of Broadway and movie songs! All the classics are represented: Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Phantom, Miss Saigon, The Wizard of Oz, even a Liza Minnelli cover...and so on...sung COMPLETELY in Czech! It's amazing to listen to Andrew Lloyd Webber tunes sung in a Slavic-based language.

Which, of course, brings us to this weekend. Enjoyed Molly's housewarming party in Vysehrad last night with Jules, Beth and Kelly. Met some new folks (it's hard to believe exactly how many ex-pats there are here in Prague...and each one has a different story). Unfortunately, Mellisa is out of commission due to a back injury.

So far in 2006

A quiz for today --

So far in 2006 --

1. Have you had more than 5 different serious relationships?
How can you have more than 5 serious relationships in 9 months? That would mean that each 'relationship' would average about a month and a 1/2. Ridiculous!

2. Have you had your birthday?
Just this past Friday ;-)

3. Been to church?
If you count going inside of a church to observe restored frescoes and architecture...well, yes :-)

4. Cried yet?
Nine months is a long time. I'd have to be a REAL trooper not to have shed one single tear in that timeframe!

6. Pulled an all nighter?
Since I'm not in school, this doesn't really apply. But I have stayed up very late on occasion.

7. Drank Starbucks?
Yum. With James in Vienna!

8. Went shopping?
Of course!

9. Been camping?
Nope. Meant to, though.

10. Been to the beach?
Yes

11. Bought something for over $200?
A plane ticket to the U.S.A.

12. Met someone?
I've met tons of people. Prague's a transient place.

13. Been out of state?
Certainly.

14. Gone Snowboarding?
No

Have you:

1. Hugged someone?
A million times. I'm a big hugger.

2. Slept in someone else's bed?
Yes. Well, not when someone else was in it anyways.

3. Snuck someone over?
This is a middle school survey, isn't it?

4. Snuck out of your own house?
No.

5. Gotten Drunk?
Ha. Ask Beth. Or Anne. Or Mark. Or Paul. Or Melissa. Or...YES!

6. Lied?
If we're counting white lies...nothing life-altering, though.

7.Gone over your cell phone bill?
I don't have a set rate currently

8. Gotten high?
No.

9. Been called a whale?
Not this year!

10. Drove somewhere?
Yes

11. Done something you regret?
Not this year.

Lasts:

Last Thing you bought?
I lost my cell phone last week, and since I can't live without one, I had to get a new one.

Last Person you hugged?
Someone on Friday...

Last Person to call you?
Jennifer

Last time you took a shower?
This morning.

When was the last time you felt stupid?
Saturday morning!

Who was the last person you danced with?
All of my beautiful friends at my 27th birthday party

Who did you last yell at?
I can't remember.

What did you do today?
Made breakfast. Watched "What About Bob" with Beth. Took shower, got dressed. Made lunch. Headed into town. Sat at a cafe and read e-mail. I'm promising to be more productive this evening :-)

TEN FACTS

01. Hometown: Coventry

02. Natural hair color: dark brown

WHERE DID 3 GO?

04. Hair style: Short and no-nonsense. Otherwise I look like I'm auditioning for the Jackson Five.

05. Eye color: Hazel

06. Height: 5'8'' on a good day

07. Pets: Only Beth's kitten Mila!

08. Mood: Alert and contemplative (as I'm taking this survey)


TEN THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

01. Have you ever been in love? A long-standing matter of debate. There's a fine line which exists between "true love" and "8th-grade-level-infatuation-with-self-involved-losers-who-treat-you-like-shit." I'm not sure on which side of the line I've usually fallen, but I'm guessing it's the latter.

02. Do you believe in love: Absolutely!

03. Why did your LAST relationship fail: Ask me when I can keep a house plant alive, and then we can talk about relationships!

04. Have you ever been heartbroken: Of course

05. Have you ever broken someone's heart: Not sure.

06. Have you ever fallen for your best friend? Yes

07. Have you ever loved someone and never told them: More so than not!

08. Are you afraid of commitment?: A little bit.

09: Would you ever date one of your exes?: No way.

10. Have you ever had a secret admirer: I can't really answer this question if it was successfully secret, right?

TEN THINGS:

01. Love or lust: Love

02. Liquor or beer: Liquor

03. Night or day: Night.

04. One night stands or relationships? Relationships in an ideal world...but sometimes, a boy's gotta do what a boy's gotta do, ya know?

05. TV or internet? INTERNET!

06. Pepsi or Coke: Coke

07. Wild night out or romantic night? Depends on the type of week it was

08. Black or white: Black


TEN EMOTIONS:
01. Are you missing someone right now: I miss a lot of people right now!

02. Are you happy? Content

03. Are you talking to anyone right now: No

04. Are you eating: No, I'm full from dinner :)

05. Are you german: Yes

06. Are you Irish: Yes

07. Are you French: No

08. Are you Italian: No

09. Are your parents still married? HELL NO!

10. Do you like someone right now: I love and like a lot of people!