"Yeah, I used to have a bike.."

Ok.. so many times guys would see my bike and say, "Yeah, I used to ride.." and I would feel pity because I *do* ride.. a bike that gets my adrenaline going like a speeding train.. but not anymore. I sold my bike on Craigs List. I now have nothing that cheats death. I feel lame.
What is it about danger that is so appealing? Maybe it's the "I'm still young" thought that goes through my head as I'm screaming around the turns or pullin' the front tire off the ground.

So.. I'm back to lame. But truth be told, I immediately went to honda.com to spot my next toy. Well, I can dream anyways..

Surreal.

I was on a train with my wife the other day heading to meet some friends in Krakow.
Now.. I don't want to perpetuate this stupid myth Amaericans (and much of the other countries for that matter) have about Poland. That is a depressed country, anti-semetic, etc.. But the facts are that the Germans were truly f%^$ed up in back in the day. The Polish people suffered severely at the hands of both the Germans and the Soviets and have carried that pain for many years. The nation is now progressing and the people are absolutely wonderful.

But my experience was.. I was on the train, kinda' spacing out while looking out the window while the train stopped at a station. My wife said, "Were in Oswiecum." (sp?) Ocwiecum is the town where Aushweitz is. I dont know why I'm blogging about this but it was just so surreal, to be on a train at that train station.

Snow Poop..

So I'm sitting in my mother-in-laws office in a little town called Piekary in Poland. I brought my laptop with me with all intentions of working, however I forgot my laptop power cord soo.. all I can do is sit here and surf the net on mom's computer (wich is fun because her MS-Windows is in Polish)
But I thought I would share this photo my sister emailed me.

Back to the Salt mines

So the trip is just about over.. and Ive only blogged twice, but hey.. I took over 600 photos so if you're that interested I can kill you with images of the trip when I get back.
But.. alas.. we fly home towmorrow, and it's back to the salt mines.
Soo.. back to the salt mines.. somthing Ive usually said on Mondays when I have to fight traffic I-270 to get to work.. but a little known tid-bit, salt mines are actually VERY cool.
Ania, her mom, her moms boyfriend Jurek, and I went to the oldest working salt mine in Europe. (Wialicka ?sp? right outside Krakow) It's actually on the UNESCO list and let me tell you it was cool. The portion we went to is obviously not working anymore but it has been carved into different rooms like cathedrals etc.. we took a tour and learned how they used to work the mine way back in the 16th century. I actually learned that, yes it was hard work, but the job of a salt miner was actually a good gig back in the day. Very prestigious and well paid. (people traded in salt before cash)



So my statement is actually more true than I thought. My job is hard, but it is professional and rewarding.

The trip has been absolutely fantastic for me. I've spent serious quality time with Ania's family, partied like a retarded rock star in Krakow, snowboarded in 3 feet of virgin powder, rocked out in my favorite pub (PRL: decorated in all the old Polish communist style) in Wroclaw, drank to much vodka, took trains from place to place and saw many cool things..

If you are a laid back person, enjoy seeing cool things, open minded, go to Eastern Europe.. it's like coffee for the soul.

So.. like I said, while traveling back to the states.. it's back to the salt mines.

See you soon.