In the ATL!

So, I am now in Atlanta staying with another friend from the old job. As my motorcycle isn't arriving now until around 13 Dec, I had to find a way to get myself down south. That fell to a gracious old g-friend of mine who works for an airline as a stewardess and was nice enough to give me one of her "buddy tickets" to get myself down here. So, I flew from Boston to Birmingham, stayed the night with my cousin and his family, then came over here to Atlanta.

Now that the current situation has been put out, let me backtrack a touch here...
The last few weeks since the last post a few interesting things went on. We went to a Patriots game against the Jets where I was pleased to see the Pats lose to Favre and his Jets, went to a Bruins hockey game where the score ended up being like that of a football game (8-5 I think), and of course all the day to day nonsense such as going to the bookstore to study for my GMAT. Speaking of that, I went to one of the local Boston Universities the other day and interviewed with them for their Int'l Relations masters program. I've pretty much decided that working is for suckers, and that I need to go back to the classroom. Its a great way to transition to civilian life, not have anything important to do on Fridays, and hey, why the hell not? I've got money, time, and college chicks are hot and like to put out! So, I've been looking at schools in the Boston area, down south here in Georgia, and near my family in California.

So, some reading here which may not be for the weak of heart or the prudish, so watch out. My buddy Ahmad and I went out in Boston last weekend and he was meeting up for the second time with some girl he met online. The next day we were going with some of his friends to play in a charity flag football game starting at some un-godly hour in the morning, so we wanted to get home relatively early (1am instead of 4 am), so when Ahmad was nowhere to be seen, I sent him a text inquiring. He wrote back something about being in his car, new chick, and bjs. So, an hour or so later, around 0130 or so, he called me up, I answered, and immediately said "hey, are you done slpooging on that chicks face yet or what?" He answered "uh, I got you on speakerphone, shes here in the car." Me: "oh, well are you?" Not too sure if she was that happy with me over that or not, but she still went home with my buddy, so oh well.

Tomorrow I'm getting back onto the train and returning to Birmingham to have T-day with my Great Uncle and cousins/family. They have treated me pretty good, taking me out last Thursday to their big charity dinner event, introducing me to all his co-workers and just plain being very hospitable. One thing thats an interesting take away from all this travelling btwn the South and NE is that while the women are quite attractive in each place, somehow the girls in Birmingham and here in Atlanta are a different kind of attractive. I can't quite put my finger on it yet, but I'll let you know when I figure it out. I think there is something to be said for that whole "southern belle" saying. Definitly something to that...

KP

B-Town!

So, I have officially made the first leg of my journey and flew from Venice to Boston last week. I arrived into the airport in a great mood, only to discover that after all the kind words I have given to my fellow Americans regarding the French, their food, women, ski resorts, etc., Air France lost my baggage. Oh, and that was after they charged me 100 Euro for overweight baggage. Stupid fucking French.
My first few days in Boston were great, but the whole jet-lag thing made it a bit rough. My host here in Boston, an old friend whom I used to work with, has been a great host. He works for one of the large financial services firms here in Boston, and we have been meeting up for lunch. This has re-introduced me to all sorts of great American things that Europe just doesn't seem to do as well, such as burgers, ice-cold beer, Reuben sandwiches, and oh, American women. After being in Europe for all these years and being around the exotic beauties of places like Slovenia, Czech Republic, Germany, Swiss and the variety that they can bring to you, I was a bit apprehensive about the American woman. However, I am being pleasantly surprised here in Boston. Whether we are in sports bars, clubs or lounges, the women have been great. We were in the Liberty hotel last Friday at one of the lounges there and one woman even asked if she could give me her number...this would definitely never happen in Europe...score one American woman.
Now, for the motorcycle, well, that has been a pain. If I were to do it over again, I would just buy one here in the states instead of ordering it from Europe and having it shipped. Even though I paid for the thing a month ago, and back in August when I ordered it I was assured I could pick it up in Baltimore by 15 Nov, it finally was delivered to the shipping company today. That doesn't mean it has been shipped mind you...just delivered to the company. Tack on at least 10 days to cross the Atlantic, 1-3 days in the port for customs, and I might not make it to Alabama for T-day...this is just kinda pissing me off. To turn back the clock a bit, I had an acquaintance who asked to stay with me for a week or so. This turned into 6 weeks, and he was an unappreciative dick-weed. Well, he ended up being a car dealer. So, I have had to remind myself that if Mike Duran can be a car dealer, and he is completly incompetent, then chances are, my dealer for the motorcycle could also be completly incompetent. This idea was solidified when he asked me to confirm which port to send the bike to a few days ago. He thought it was California. I promptly sent him the email and form I had sent him two months ago listing Baltimore. So, word of advice, don't bother ordering motorcycles from Bavarian Motor Works if you are wanting to get it promptly or are relying on it being delivered somewhere on time.
On a positive note, I passed my motorcycle safety class this weekend. I should have my Alaska license in about a week.
KP

Purchasing the cases

So, for the inaugural "blog" (I hate that title, I think I'll use "post" from now on), I suppose I'll introduce everyone to my current situation. In this time of world financial turmoil and certain sectors of the job market being just a tad on the unstable side, I have decided to go ahead and quit my job of 5+ years here in Italy, cancel my apartment lease, put all my belongings into storage, and embark on a little journey from the American east coast to the west coast, via the south. My steed of choice is a brand new BMW R1200GS (again, world financial instability and here I am blowing $15K on a motorcycle?), a bike which should fit the bill for this type of trip. Oh, and have I mentioned that I have not ridden a motorcycle since high school, about oh, 12 years ago? I suppose by this point everyone is questioning my judgment here? Well, don't worry, I have a few dollars in the bank and have taken out a medical insurance policy in-case I wind up plastered up against a billboard or something. I hope the insurance company isn't reading this...
Ok, so anyhow, today I bought the two side cases and the single top-case for the bike, and now I'm realizing what a small amount of stuff I will be able to take with me on this trip, effectively turning me from my normal self into an extreme minimalist. How will I live without the gobs and gobs of consumer goods which I have become accustomed to having all around me and infused into my daily routine? Not sure, I guess we'll have to see. For some reason though, I'm not too worried about it yet...mistake?
So, a quick synopsis of my trip here:
Fly from Venice, Italy to Boston, Massachusetts, attend motorcycle safety class, 3 Nov
Train to Baltimore, pick up bike at port, 15 Nov
Baltimore - DC
DC - Fayetteville
Fayetteville - Atlanta
Atlanta - Birmingham
Birmingham - Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge - Lafayette
Lafayette - Houston
Houston - El Paso
El Paso - Santa Barbara, 23 Dec

Of course some of this may change, but as long as I make it to Grandma's by Christmas, I'll be happy.

Sometime around the end of the month I'll throw out another one of these, so stay posted. Maybe I'll try to figure out how to convince the best looking girl I see in each city to let me take a picture of her, and then post that in here somehow? That should increase/maintain readership...

Kaare