Turn on, tune in, drop out

It doesn't feel like it's time to go on vacation again. But here I am, yet again, less than 48 hrs from arrival in one of the baddest cities I've ever set foot in. Paris, ok, yes, but.. even RADDER-

Amsterdam.
moment of silence.

word. but not only am I going to Amsterdam. here is my decided route for the next two weeks. call me a bit of a gypsy if you will...

February 9-13 Amsterdam
February 14-18 Mainz
February 18-22 Vienna
February 22-25 Stockholm

I opted against Dublin last minute. I thought it was going to be too expensive, and at the time of purchase it was. BUT, instead! I now get to go visit the ORIGINAL H&M in Stockholm. I get to eat authentic Swedish meatballs. I got hooked up to stay with a family, so maybe I'll even get to try an authentic smörgåsbord!!! lol. far out. I never thought I'd be able to say all that.

I'm visiting friends in both Mainz and Vienna, and possibly Amsterdam. I'm still waiting to hear back from another friend who's studying in England. It's funny, I've met quite a few people in Europe who I originally met v.i.a. Starbucks... hmm.

And Amsterdam... I'm going to try as many different types of herb as I can. I have a couple names that were recommended to me, of both weed and hashish. I'm going to be there 5 days. Last time, I believe it was just 3, so baby here we go! And believe it or not, I might be returning back to Amsterdam to meet an Atlien from March 1-4, then going to Paris to meet yet another, March 4-5, then going from Tours BACK to Amsterdam the following weekend, March 7 for some kind of techno, electro, whatever... it's a free trip back to Amsterdam for the weekend, I'm going to say I don't have anything planned. word. 3 trips to the Dam in 1 month. That's unheard of.

I was going to buy another backpack, more like a traveling one, but they were all suitcase style, or school books style, so not the style I needed for my type of trip. I have to go out tomorrow to try and find a Tours flag for the German guy Alex who was here in Tours last semester. It turns out he too lives in Mainz, so I'm going to visit him while I'm visiting Michael O. Michael is expecting me to arrive from Amsterdam completely blitzed still (at 5am!). It also just so happens to be Valentines day the day I arrive, so at least I wont be alone on this day of love! I will have my buddy to keep me company! Maybe we will go to lunch or something. He's got class in the morning and another in the evening. Maybe I will go to hear him teach poetry to German college kids! haha. That'd be interesting. I am a lit major!! and poetry is for Valentines day!

Vienna... I'm thinking a few of the older castles... I'm going to leave it up to Tomek to show me around town. He might know a neat path into the mountains. I'd be down for a hike!

I've been jamming out to two songs by Animal Collective- Leaf House, and Winter's Love. I love the melody in Leaf House. It makes me feel, when I close my eyes, like I'm running through the forest.. my hands are out at my side, like I'm a bird.. and as I run I dodge the trees. their limbs.. I duck, I turn, I jump. The leaves and twigs graze and slightly scrape against my arms and sides.. I reach an opening and break forth into a sprint, across a field nestled deep in the valley of snow peaked mountains.. I can feel the cold wind as I cut sharply through it. I love the way it feels on the sides of my face, on my cheeks, it hurts when I smile, but I'm so filled with joy. and then, I dive into the river rapids!! It's so cold! But it feels so wonderful!! I want to visit the Arctic Ocean. Or maybe Alaska. Somewhere up in Yukon.. and bathe in a hot spring!

I feel lately like I've begun to take a lot more initiative to make things happen for myself in my life. Take for instance this trip. Or getting to school on time. Keeping my room clean. Cooking for myself. Preparing lessons for my students.. all the things I should have been doing in the past, but was always too lazy to do. Everyone loves a stoner, but no one loves a lazy, dirty hippy. Gypsies are not the same as hippies!! Therefore I don't have to feel guilty when I watch Southpark, because they have not yet done an episode mocking Gypsies.... ...

I got a carepackage last week in the mail!! IN FACT, on that very same day, the package which I'd sent to this person ALSO arrived arrived in their hands!! I was so excited. I told another friend of the irony, since I mailed my package off nearly a month and a half before he mailed his! To which my friend replied, "It was like serendipity..." God, he is so my serendipity. I hate that stupid film. This has nothing to do with that movie!!

One of these days I wont have to be so discreet with my blogs.. If you keep up with me, they will become more and more detailed. The names, such as the one missing from above, will be revealed... along with a photo. EVERYTHING will be revealed!! and I will be liberated! and life will be free! and beautiful! but for now, I rest in the hands of tomorrow. What will I still hold in my hands tomorrow? What will I pick up? and what will I let go? This is how it will remain. It'll be affirmed soon...

I have to go. This lsd is making me a bit chatty..
here's to 2 weeks of crazy adventures!

bear