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Archive for The Prague Blog
December 28, 2011 at 10:55 am · Filed under The Prague Blog
We sailed off on a rail steamer last Saturday, Dec 18, and got home just a few hours ago. We’ve already done a load of wash!
The Chopin express to Warsaw was dreamy, literally. After an hour, we sacked out and woke up an hour before arrival. Then the long, slow coach across Poland began, which could have been worse, but wasn’t. I read nearly 150pp of a Roth book, and finished it with time to spare, so I jammed out on my iPod to some LOUD rock’n'roll.
Adam & Natalia’s flat is still for rent, so we got to stay there. It’s a nice flat with a stunning view of Gdynia suburban bliss.
Asia had lots to do on her Polish holiday, which gave me time to stop at a café for ice cream and a latte. Outside the mall, the “lights of Gdynia” were bright with holiday cheer.
Władek and Ewa made massive amounts of food, and we ate pierogi, krokiety, gołąbki, a Greek spicy fish dish, and lots of cake!
Christmas at Adam & Natalia’s was a nice food-fest, and we opened presents with the young Wojtik, whose main-line present was a Playstation handheld gizmo.
Asia got her hair done, and she looks hotter than ever. Grrrrrrr!
Then she sliced her fingers while cleaning a candle holder, and without proper medical supplies, we needed to improvise.
More pics of me later, when I get them.. And more stories!
December 21, 2011 at 6:06 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Yes, as I was having coffee and ice cream in a Gdynia mall, I looked up and thought it might be ten o’clock. But my phone-time read just 3.45pm
It’s dark up here along the Baltic Sea. Sunrise this morning was 7.40am. Not that we’d notice much, since work is a just a memory, at least for the next two weeks.
The Poles have no Christmas markets, per se. You can find a few stalls selling ornaments and miniature reindeer woven from sticks. But all of that is okay, and why fill Europe with a German tradition.
I tried to walk to the coast, along the beach, but got only 500 yards from the water; winter is here and the raw wind pushed me back to the mall, warmth, and holiday shoppers.
We’re eyeing a Tchibo coffee maker; it’s on sale for a great price, and has all the bells & whistles needed to make the latte of your dreams, an espresso to put you at a world-record sprint, or 44 flavors of “kava” to suit your every mood.
(I wish I had the choice between 44 moods!)
December 16, 2011 at 8:10 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Since AsiaMark are in-out-and-around this season, we had Xmas dinner and Xmas present-opening tonight.
We both cleaned up big!
I got a basket and chocolate and a dug-out key/coin/wallet/cell container and other cool stuff. Asia got a book and a bathrobe and Eskimo booties and pencils and other neat things.
Now it’s movie time: Love Actually (“Do you sing carols?” “No!” “Please sir, PLEEEEEEEZZZZZZ!”
December 15, 2011 at 8:49 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry
Mistry is one of those writers who uses everyday language to create fabulous art. The story revolves around a Bombay family who must now care for their 79-year-old family patriarch. What does a family do when one of its members needs round-the-clock care? Here, all the good & bad come out. Likewise, the theme of family permeates the story. A well-rounded character portrait that captures life as it is lived, not stylized for “fiction.”
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Charles Ryder is an agnostic who finds himself enamored of a noble family, the Marshmains, who are Roman Catholic in a country not fond of papists since Henry VIII’s days. In Oxford, Ryder is befriended by Sebastian Flyte, the second son of Lord Marchmain. Thus Ryder is thrust into a world he had not imagined before, and, 20 years on, will never feel the same again about love, family, or religion.
The Victim by Saul Bellow
Asa Leventhal is suddenly, and quite inexplicably, beset by a near stranger who says Leventhal has ruined his life. What’s more, Allbee claims that Leventhal owes him something for this ruination. What transpires is a strange series of episodes that make you wonder who is right and who is wrong in this argument. There is a fine line between what we perceive is proper and what the world (or complete strangers) understand it as. Bellow’s second book (selling just 2,257 copies) shows the maturation of a crafty writer and thinker.
December 14, 2011 at 5:57 am · Filed under The Prague Blog
Felt more like 6th Class on a cross-continental bus!
Because of scheduling, I four long classes in a row, the travel times between each kept me running around Prague. I felt like Dirty Harry carrying the bag of ransom money! Add to that, it was cold yesterday.
But I’m not complaining. Most of the classes were conversation oriented, and I led students around the world of grammar and tenses, just to fuck with their minds a bit. Hey, it’s my only method of revenge for their (1) failure to complete homework and (2) lack of interest in the world.
Anyway, I don’t want to run 6 classes too often. The day is short, but it’s long.
December 12, 2011 at 3:23 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Attention last-minute shoppers! Welcome to my holiday sale! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! While you’re still racking your brains for holiday gifts, don’t forget books, the gift that gives throughout a lifetime.
For the next nine days, THE VILLAGE WIT will be priced at $3.99 for the ebook version. All you must do is order it through the Smashwords site.
And … thanks for your support of another writer who aims to please his audience with a good story.
December 11, 2011 at 7:55 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Well, here we are, fourth year in a row in Prague for the Christmas market. I have to say that the organizers try to make it a wee bit different each year — mostly with decorations.
It’s a warm start to the winter season; below freezing temps only at night. While at the markets around town, the mulled wine flows steamy, the sausages spurt their juices, and the roasted ham has a goodly amount of char to its crust. In fact, there are more food & drink concessions than gift kiosks.
Today we walked from Vinohrady to Old Town Square, along the way finding holiday decorations and annoying tourists. Asia got a gift notebook/pen/colored stickies from the optic store for a purchase of contact solution. Made out big there!
Then we trundled through the Medieval streets into Staromestska Namesti for the lights, the hot wine, the sausage smells, and all the holiday makers. We brought our own mug for the mulled wine, since Prague doesn’t have souvenir mugs. I found a roast ham hut and had the cook slice off a chunk from a ham on the spit. Damned tasty ham, with a crispy crust.
We went off to Dejvici, where I’d come across another market on Thursday, but it turned out they’d pulled up stakes already. So we backtracked by metro to Shakespeare & Son bookstore. I was looking at an interesting title, “The History of the Arab Peoples” … and a few books to the left I found “The History of White People” !
Naturally, we didn’t make it out of there without buying a few books. Maybe that’s why we hadn’t been there since summertime. We both have lots of books yet on the shelves to read.
Prague's medieval Charles Bridge across the Vltava River
When we got home, at 5.30, the only sensible thing to do was fill up the jacuzzi bath and take a soak. Which is what we did. Now, at 7.46, I’m about ready for beddy-bye.
December 10, 2011 at 10:06 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
The other day, after I met Santa at the mall to help shop for the wee Pole named AsiaWife, I got home and snatched enough time to wrap both mine and Santa’s presents to Asia.
For weeks the wrapping paper was tormenting me, as was shopping for the woman who either has everything or has just bought one more basket, notebook, or something-pretty-for-herself, and thus depriving me of that which had been on my list. But no matter: I’ve always worked well under time pressure.
So now I’ve wrapped the presents and, to tease the Little Fox, I placed them before the fireplace. And then I waited for her to notice them. The sound of the screech owl would be that signal.
But I waited. And waited. And waited. She had been in and out of the parlor room a few times. The blue gift bag and three wrapped presents make a striking contrast against the black hearth. Where was the notice?
So then I got in on the act. I stood by the door, saying good night to her as I was heading off to bed to read. She looked at me, then looked past me. I knew she was hooked. I ducked out of the doorway and let her stand in awe of what lay covered for another two weeks. Ha! Ha-HA! She doesn’t have a clue for 3 of 4..
Mad Santa strikes again!
December 8, 2011 at 8:23 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Last night I had to social events to choose from — or even go to both. Prof Kriz hosted a Christmas tree decoration exhibition, with about seven trees decorated in the different styles found in Europe. Kriz’s law office always puts on a good show: good wine; great food; nice atmosphere for just this kind of occasion.
Across town, Spevacek hosted its Christmas party, with free food and wine. Lots of teachers I don’t know and who more than often don’t have much to say to me. I think they see me as someone like their father; I can BE the father to some of them. The usual happens at this Christmas party, and I’m not up for the usual anymore.
But then, Wednesdays I have 5 classes. That’s 12 hours away from home. By 6pm I was tired, and while I sort of still wanted to go to Kriz’s (Asia had planned to meet me nearby), the alternative came by txt: “Why not come home for some pizza bread and then I’ll draw a hot bath. Love, Asia”
That was it. Home is where the heart must be. And food. And love. And a hot bath in the jacuzzi.
December 5, 2011 at 9:18 pm · Filed under The Prague Blog
Today I was on the computer for about 12 hours … but seemed to get little enough done. That’s the problem with research; it often doesn’t make sense until further down the line. Regardless, I feel like a high-strung brat-child in need of some Ritalin.
When I work on my book, I must unplug the internet cable. Too much distraction when other ideas pop. So what do I do with the ideas that pop? Maybe short notes.
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