ROE!GO!EURO!

Case Closed

2008-08-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

About 2 months too late but I figured now that I've been back for a while, turned 29 years old yesterday and need to move on with life and the torrential downpour that ensues from it; I need to wrap up this blog.

Sitting here at my usual coffee shop, Venice Grind in Culver City, CA and I must say I haven't grown as much since I returned compared to when I left. I still remember the last day in Amsterdam, sat around drinking and smoking with Pat until 5:30 AM; only to wake up at 6:00 to catch a flight to London then back home. I was going to miss Pat, and I wanted to spend as many waking hours with him for who knew when I was ever going to see him again. I threw up that morning and my stomach was so queezy; it was like the thunderous backdrop for crab fishermen. I was scared and sad and slightly excited to see my family.

Let me just catch up on everything. I just turned 29 and things have been good; I was quickly reminded of how many great people I had waiting for me back home. Pat came back to LA as well. Funny how I can't get rid of him. And Pom from Belgium, she came down and couchsurfed with me and we both had a blast. She's onward somewhere else now and again, I'm left wondering when/if I'll ever see her again. The book front has been tough, the love front hasn't been easier, but the charm of a well-traveled soul is wearing thin.

I look back on the trip and it's almost as if it didn't even happen to me. The readjustment is tough and I still find myself lost and in disarray - jobless, homeless and worst of all purposeless. What I liked most about traveling was that I was able to bask in the solitude because of it was always temporary and fleeting; but it appears to have followed me home. I'm just in between floors right now; hopefully moving up.

But this trip has certainly changed my life and my perspective on the world. The alleys of Lvov, the slush in my boots, Mikey in his underwear, all those people...all those places and challenges and sleepless nights.....I long for them more than anything else. When I was sitting in Stoney's apartment, planning this trip 8 months ago, his friend that was there told me,

"Man, you're going to love it. I once waited 14 hours in the cold and the snow at a bus stop for a bus that never came. I wanted to just go home. And when I came back home all I could think was, 'I'd give anything to be back at that bus stop, waiting in the snow.'"

As if putting off the final write up would allow my adventure to continue. As if I could just go see Ed in Odessa or play backgammon with Gonca or get fresh bread from Albert Hein, get blown away by Amanda's thoughts, or have a drink with 15 year old girls at a squatted building with prostitutes walking around in white corsets.

I can't believe all this really happened, but it did. And this is my testament. And I hope it happens to you.

Trust me, you wouldn't believe it either.

shannon airport - bidding farewell

2008-06-08T20:50:00.005-07:00

shannon airport - bidding farewell,
originally uploaded by proefound.

i swear, i hope this won't be the last time i'll see cam, mike and patty balls. but i took this picture because i had an awfully strange feeling it was.

at home in limerick, ireland

2008-06-08T20:50:00.003-07:00

at home in limerick, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

nothing says home like some jack daniels and 7-up. i was feeling a little tired of beer so i coughed up the dough for this overpriced import.

why does cough and dough look so similar, yet sound so different?

ireland

2008-06-08T20:50:00.001-07:00

ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

ireland

2008-06-08T20:49:00.003-07:00

ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

yeah, we saw this hill and wanted to climb it. i think it's called sheep shit and mud wedding hill.

urinal - belgium

2008-06-08T20:49:00.001-07:00

urinal - belgium,
originally uploaded by proefound.

during my trip, i got obsessed with urinals and bathrooms because they're so private and intimate. therefore, i decided to turn it into an art project, i'm going to take a series of these and hang them in my bathroom.

dingle, ireland

2008-06-08T20:48:00.005-07:00

dingle, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

best fish n chips - dingle, ireland

2008-06-08T20:48:00.003-07:00

best fish n chips - dingle, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

finally came across the best fish and chips i've ever had. that guiness right there was like guinness number 3 of what would be 6.

ireland

2008-06-08T20:48:00.001-07:00

ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

inch, ireland

2008-06-08T20:47:00.005-07:00

inch, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

i saw the ocean for the first time in 3 months and it made my heart drop. i know i'm being overly dramatic, but it really is that important to me.

wake up call

2008-06-08T20:47:00.003-07:00

wake up call,
originally uploaded by proefound.

we spent a few nights at this historic mansion-turned-hostel. this is pat and i waking up mikey at 3:30 in the morning after partying with a bunch of french college students in the rec room.

he was only upset that we didn't wake him up to go down and drink with us.

los angeles represent

2008-06-08T20:47:00.001-07:00

los angeles represent,
originally uploaded by proefound.

this cat was so enamored with rap culture that i taught him how to represent my birthplace.

hostel - killarney, ireland

2008-06-08T20:46:00.003-07:00

hostel - killarney, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

this is why i love traveling -- having crazy, wild, memory banking experiences with complete strangers that you will never see ever again.

there'is poetry in it.

ireland hike

2008-06-08T20:46:00.001-07:00

ireland hike,
originally uploaded by proefound.

at this point, it was raining bullets, dirt became mud, leaves became lakes and fun became damn great fun

ireland

2008-06-08T20:45:00.005-07:00

ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

we spent about an hour here trying to set up this contraption that we came across. patty balls and cam were the only ones that did it. me? i don't have health insurance!!

self portrait - killarney, ireland

2008-06-08T20:45:00.003-07:00

self portrait - killarney, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

jigsaw, ireland

2008-06-08T20:45:00.001-07:00

jigsaw, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

to describe ireland, i'd say it's either:

1) a giant jigsaw puzzle
2) the drawings found on milk cartons

mike's on the run - ireland

2008-06-08T20:43:00.003-07:00

mike's on the run - ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

what a fag, just kidding.

patty balls in ireland

2008-06-08T20:43:00.001-07:00

patty balls in ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

lying in irish fields

2008-06-08T20:42:00.001-07:00

lying in irish fields,
originally uploaded by proefound.

this grass was insane, nature's best mattress.

irish grass

2008-06-08T20:41:00.003-07:00

irish grass,
originally uploaded by proefound.

self portrait - me hanging out the car - ireland

2008-06-08T20:41:00.001-07:00

self portrait - me hanging out the car - ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

i used to love hanging out of cars when i was younger (15-23)

irish sluts

2008-06-08T20:40:00.001-07:00

irish sluts,
originally uploaded by proefound.

oh you know what i'm talking about, boy!!!!!!!

outlook in ireland

2008-06-08T20:39:00.003-07:00

outlook in ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

you call that a deal? small village, ireland

2008-06-08T20:39:00.001-07:00

you call that a deal? small village, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

free food

2008-06-08T20:38:00.003-07:00

free food,
originally uploaded by proefound.

ordered fries, waitress brought us the wrong thing, i coaxed her into giving it to us on the house.

me taking a picture of someone taking a picture - ireland

2008-06-08T20:38:00.001-07:00

me taking a picture of someone taking a picture - ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

that girl was super confused.

wishful thinking

2008-06-08T20:35:00.001-07:00

wishful thinking,
originally uploaded by proefound.

so they say you have to walk backwards, with your eyes closed up this narrow stair way while focusing solely on your wish in order for it to come true.

cork, ireland

2008-06-08T20:34:00.001-07:00

cork, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

i hope my parents never see this because there's no way i can explain it.

ireland - holy lady statue on the top of a hill

2008-06-08T20:31:00.003-07:00

ireland - holy lady statue on the top of a hill,
originally uploaded by proefound.

group photo, ireland

2008-06-08T20:31:00.001-07:00

group photo, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

we knew we were onto something great and memorable as soon as this moment occured.

rolling down a hill at some castle/cemetary in ireland

2008-06-08T20:30:00.003-07:00

rolling down a hill at some castle/cemetary in ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

grassy knoll at some random spot in ireland

2008-06-08T20:30:00.001-07:00

grassy knoll at some random spot in ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

guinness factory

2008-06-08T20:29:00.003-07:00

guinness factory,
originally uploaded by proefound.

iron and wine, ireland

2008-06-08T20:29:00.001-07:00

iron and wine, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

i wanted soooooooooo badly to see them perform.

dublin - monument sign jumping contest

2008-06-08T20:28:00.005-07:00

dublin - monument sign jumping contest,
originally uploaded by proefound.

dublin - monument sign jumping contest

2008-06-08T20:28:00.003-07:00

dublin - monument sign jumping contest,
originally uploaded by proefound.

dublin, ireland

2008-06-08T20:28:00.001-07:00

dublin, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

self portrait - best western elevator - dublin, ireland

2008-06-08T20:27:00.005-07:00

self portrait - best western elevator - dublin, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

ugly ass mall in dublin

2008-06-08T20:27:00.003-07:00

ugly ass mall in dublin,
originally uploaded by proefound.

guinness delivery truck - dublin, ireland

2008-06-08T20:27:00.001-07:00

guinness delivery truck - dublin, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

meat market - dublin, ireland

2008-06-08T20:26:00.007-07:00

meat market - dublin, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

proper irish breakfast - dublin, ireland

2008-06-08T20:26:00.005-07:00

proper irish breakfast - dublin, ireland,
originally uploaded by proefound.

relaxing in the pijp area of amsterdam

2008-06-08T20:26:00.003-07:00

relaxing in the pijp area of amsterdam,
originally uploaded by proefound.

every time i told someone of pat and/or blake's location, it's always followed with a,

"wow, that's a cool neighborhood."

grey area - amsterdam

2008-06-08T20:26:00.001-07:00

grey area - amsterdam,
originally uploaded by proefound.

best coffeeshop in amsterdam. all their herb is top-notch. closest to cali weed. oh yeah, by the way, surprise, but i am quitting the daily ritual of smoking. now i'm ony saving them for concerts and festivals....no more of this wake and bake...it just makes no sense. we'll see how long it'll last, but the first step is always to acknowledge the excessiveness to it.

what is this shit? am i becoming a "man?" i'm off to buy a training bra.

deep throating a blakesicle in harleemerdijke

2008-06-08T20:25:00.001-07:00

deep throating a blakesicle in harleemerdijke,
originally uploaded by proefound.

in blake's studio in amsterdam.

flying over amsterdam

2008-06-08T20:24:00.003-07:00

flying over amsterdam,
originally uploaded by proefound.

my last day was by far my scariest and most nerve wrecking.

i didn't want to come back. i was, still am, and will probably (for a long, long time) continue to feel this way. i can't help it, i miss the road. i miss the uncertainty. i had every excuse to not "fit in" wherever i was. what would i be able to say if that were the case back home?

you know how i mention that writers have to do lame things like stare out of windows to "reflect?"

i looked out and all i saw was my own shadow, quickly being left behind.

london curry

2008-06-08T20:24:00.001-07:00

london curry,
originally uploaded by proefound.

ok, best lamb curry i've ever had. had about 6 hours between flights and decided to venture into the city to find some curry. paid 7 pounds just to ride the metro 3 stops, then dished out 7 more for lunch.

what's that? like, $28? man, london can go suck an egg.

self portrait - centraal station, amsterdam

2008-06-08T20:23:00.005-07:00

self portrait - centraal station, amsterdam,
originally uploaded by proefound.

racial profiling at heathrow airport

2008-06-08T20:23:00.003-07:00

racial profiling at heathrow airport,
originally uploaded by proefound.

for real, they just pulled aside every arab-looking dude in the queue...fucking bullshit. seriously, i'd rather have them let a terrorist slip through and blow up the plane with me in it than to see this racial profiling bullshit ever again.

if you like, we can discuss...

air new zealand - lamb curry

2008-06-08T20:23:00.001-07:00

air new zealand - lamb curry,
originally uploaded by proefound.

air new zealand is the best airline i've ever flown...though i've only really flown like, less than 10 times in my entire life.

SONNYRED'S LAST EUROPEAN POST

2008-05-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

hello all,

hope you all had a good week. so this will be the last song i send out until i return and get resituated with Califly. i was walking along herengracht yesterday, listening to my ipod and i felt so dated, so prehistoric. here's another thing, i feel myself gravitating towards electro, electro indie, or whatever. i don't think i'm that gay yet, but i guess i do feel a little more "european."

... i'm starting to laugh at corny knock-knock jokes and i'm starting to gravitate towards women that find me and my persona absolutely repulsive (no, it IS different back home). this girl that i've been hanging out with called me a modern day charles bukowski, which was the first book i brought along with me on this trip. either way, she gave me a big ol' chunk of hash as a parting gift...not sure if it was for me to remember or forget her by; both options always comes so easy and natural for me. my trip is winding down to a close and i'm stoked to return. i had a big, grandiose plan to ride a motorcycle across india but learned that it'll be monsoon season at the time, so that ain't happening. i've had enough of blake in amsterdam and i'm ready to just throw her into keizersgracht, or fight her to the death in the middle of liezeplein but first make her feel gezzelig before i'm like "tot ziens!" and throw her in front of the lovers canal cruise like some bitterballs into the deep fryer and make her feel like she's just an object frozen in the walls of albert hein's imagination (and i don't mean parmaham). you know what i'm talking about, guys.

so, for those interested in how i'm going to be spending the rest of my time here, it's going to be:

- traveling throughout the rest of holland - the beach, the small villages, the modern architecture of rotterdam, the physical prowess of jean claude van damme
- eating at the best sandwich shop in amsterdam every day for lunch (they have over 40 types, the best sandwich shop i've ever come across) i think blake's been going there everyday for a month straight, but has made no progress..she can't off the italiano and i'm about to look at her as if she's princess toadstool.
- drinking small, jr. pints of beer. i think i'm going to buy a 20 pack of heineken (which tastes gross in the states, but yummy in the dam), wake up, drink it, and see where it takes me. i have yet to do one of those, "chill outside on a balcony and drink beers until the sun rises with just friends" type things yet
- bypass starting, finishing or continuing things with insignificant people i've met here and really just hang with my close friends and learn as much from them as i can before i utilize those tools to afford myself a bigger balcony.
- i haven't touched the petal of a tulip yet, so i'll go do that. preferably on the ink of a whore's tailbone.
- go to a hip hop, funk, soul joint (tonight hopefully)
- miss out on the catpower concert (damn you blake) if i went with blake i could just tout, "ha. she's lame, all tortured and stupid with her emotions" if i went by myself i'd just cry at how strikingly similar our emotional quotients are.
- eat more aged gouda, chips n peanut sauce, raw herring sandwiches
- drink every last bit of shitty coffee so that i won't come back permafag for loving tea so much more than coffee.
- smoke weed and spread the gospel of hip hop and indie rock.

my time here's finite and i've got a hershey's bar of hash to smoke. so with that, all i have to say is..."doooooooooooooooooode!!!!!"

peace ya'll,

-- sonnyred

TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER (but always out of line)

2008-05-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

ha! can i get any darker? we'll see when i return and tear up the waves in the cool ocean water! but i really need to focus on my book (the main reason why i'm here). so i'm really not going to be able to post too much stuff...the internet connection where i'm at is rather garden snail so it's just not worth my time.

but alas, wait till i get back. i'mma go surf, buy a lappie, come back and post the hell out of my trip. i still need to include ireland...wait'll you see the pics...beautiful coastline, my friends posing leisurely in their underwear, crazy stuff.

and you know, as the time winds down, and the whiskey goes down, and my high goes down, and more shit goes down, my entries are only going to get gayer; it'll be so sappy you'd want to make honey out of me and spread me all over your genitals.

i'd tell you how i feel right now but fuck, the impending return is going to be bittersweet; i'd tell you how i feel right now but i need to assess everything.

all i know is that i've been gone for 4 months. we'll see how much/little i've changed, along with the world around me. all i know is that i've had more than enough of amsterdam, more than enough of not having closed walls for me to sleep in, and more than enough of los angeles. this trip has thoroughly reduced me to particle form; i'll think about it some more, throw my shit particles in the air, and see what sticks.

for now, i'm exasperated.

ALICIA AND ANOTHER GIRL - Life in Ukraine (as told to me by an American ex-pat)

2008-05-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

I left this unedited, on purpose:

"So.. last friday... we are out to dinner at some restaurant and that girl that we met at Soundplanet calls me and tells me that she is "super bored" of her friends and wants to meet up.. so I tell her to meet us at dinner... from there we go to that club Barsky.. but my other friends could not get in... so now it's just Alicia and me... and while we are chill'n at the bar, drinking overpriced shots of vodka, I start rubbing her silk undies right above her snatch:) At this point we've been in Barsky for about 15 minutes... so, we both agree that this place is lame and decide to go back to my place to smoke kalyan/hookah = code for fuck:) Get back to my place.. start puffing the hookah pipe.. she drops the coals all over my rug, rug is ruined, nbd:)... I start licking her nips, she gets naked, we fuck, life is great!:) 18 year old, naked hard body on top of me! So it's about 1:30 at this time... we continue to puff the hookah, naked on my rug that has 3 huge burn marks in it (fortunately the coals all landed on the black part of my rug, so the damage doesn't look that bad)...about 20 minutes after round 1 and about 10 minutes before round 2 of "______ loves highschool":) I get a call from this girl that I met at shooters a week before... met her only that one time, chatted on the phone a couple times after that and had made plans to see eachother that weekend... but now it's Friday at 2am (sounds like a bootie call to me, no?)... She says that she is right next to my apartment and wants to know if I wanta go for a walk with her.. I actually tell her I'm kind of sleeping although the truth is that some 18 year old cutie is playing with my you know what.. She tells me not to be lame, so I tell her I can meet her in 10 minutes:) I tell Alicia (the girl I just shagged) that my new girlfriend just called and I need to meet her... she says "no worries, I've got a boyfriend as well... totally understand".. Before she leaves we agree that we need to have group sex with her equally cute friend sasha and I go out to meet this other girl.. So this other girl that I met at the club (only once) is super cute.. used to be a dancer.. about 22-23, perfect small body, blonde hair and a great smile! We walk for about a 100 yards, before she tells me that she would love to smoke some hookah, but doesn't know where we can do that at 2am? I tell her that I have a hookah ready to go, she agrees as long as we only smoke it in the kitchen and not the bedroom... of course... then she tells me that she needs to be at work at 7am and her work is next to my house, so would it be cool if she crashes on my couch... I tell her, she can sleep in my bed and I'll crash on the couch... so, we smoke, chat and then go to bed.. I tuck her into my bed, give her a little kiss and hug, which turns into me sleeping in the same bed... couple kisses, it's about 4am by this point, we go to bed, wake up at 6am cuz she needs to go to work.. she callls work to ask if she can be late, they say yes, I ask if she wants anything to eat, she she "yes, you":) that turns into a great 1 of fun without cloths that includes everything from 6 to 9 and then some:) Brotha, life could be worse:)"

CITY POWER RANKINGS - BRUSSELS

2008-05-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

CITY POWER RANKINGS

BRUSSELS: 6/10

Liveability: 6/10
This city was so boring I didn't even want to write about it. Ok, the city is nice. The fries here aren't as good as the ones found in Amsterdam, but were a lot more expensive. Because the EU is headquartered here, you see a bunch of yuplomats riding around in fancy cars. The thing that really pissed me off is that there are so many hidden costs when you're out dining. Even the simple act of eating your sandwich at the deli will cost you extra money. However, I must say that Belgians got beer on lock down. So with the best beer in the entire galaxy and some cool people, I give them a 6. Still, I would never live here. Oh yeah, the rent isn't that cheap either.

Nightlife: 2/10
I'm sure I didn't go to the right areas, but I did go to a somewhat "cool" neighborhood -- all I found was a dive bar that played crappy music, and was only occupied by two guys that looked equally crappy. The other nights were spent at a house party and at a BBQ...with drunk 18 year olds....and I was the most drunk, and I wasn't even drunk. I mean, come on, you're 18! You should be getting shitfaced, throwing yourselves at members of the opposite sex and solve the world's problems while lying on the hoods of cars. Not sure what's going on, but these more affluent, Western European countries don't drink the way Americans do.

Culture: .1/10
I really don't have anything to say about Brussels. It's a nice country, but there's no underground scene and not really any cool street art. You see, street art is very important to a city -- it's a reflection of progression, political commentary, counter culture, and the voice of the upcoming generation. None of that was found in Brussels -- a melting pot of different cultures with no culture of its own. I mean, the EU is fucking based here, can we get some synergy? The city should be a mecca for international culture. Thank god that didn't happen to America.

People: 8.5/10
The people here are nice and normal and cool. I couchsurfed with two amazing Belgian women (a girl and her mother) and they were truly gems. I met a bunch of other cool Belgians also; subjectively speaking, their relaxed attitude and affinity for Americans definitely boosted it up. I like them and I'm sure I could have a bunch of fun with them. The people here in Amsterdam are just so normal, just so damn normal, so normal that with my loud voice and fluctuations, I must sound like James Brown every time I open my mouth to talk. Ok, I'd live here for a little bit, six months max.

PROS: The absolute best beer in the entire galaxy. Herbinger was mi favorito (that's Spanish for "the best beer in the galaxy"). The people are pretty nice.

CONS: Brussels is just like brusselsprouts, good for you, but boring as shit. Give me some, muthafucking, jalapeneno, and shit.

CITY POWER RANKINGS - DUBLIN, IRELAND

2008-05-08T07:20:00.001-07:00

CITY POWER RANKINGS: DUBLIN, IRELAND

Liveability: 1/10
The capital city kind of blows. There is nothing exciting there, at all. The city looks nice and is well-kept. The sidewalks are wide and the climate is awesome (cold, wet climate) and green is everywhere. My dad emailed me with his excitement that I'll be going there, "The people there are very nice. Also, they have the Irish Sprint soap." Not sure how the latter holds true, but I can't make it anymore obvious how unimpressed I was with the city. Due to the economic success the country has experienced over the past few years, things are expensive! I'd say somewhere between Amsterdam and London. You cannot eat a good, healthy meal for less than $13 EUROS. You cannot get a healthy salad, anywhere. And the bad food tastes bad. I don't get it! I would never live here (but I'd live in Limerick).

And for such a drinking culture, I was very letdown...

Nightlife: 2/10
Dublin really only has one central area to go drinking at, Temple Bar. It's a mishmash of locals and tourists; and there are really about 10 pubs in that area that are on and popping. Things close down at 2:30AM on the weekends, and 11:30PM on the weekdays. The pints are expensive and the Jack Daniels is cheaper than the Jameson; i just don't get it. You can't drink on the streets, either; which baffles me how Ireland is known for a country of drinking, yet it is so heavily regulated. Religious reasons, right? Dublin is a strong, strong pub culture and it seems like there is nothing else to do but go to pubs. True pub culture, and very identical to same stuff you'd see at any Irish pub. People just get absolutely shit-faced, overweight women of all ages would walk down the areas in groups, scratch that, herds, with cheap plastic boas and dildos (no exaggeration) and start dancing all sexy to Top 40s songs (why'd I have to hear Jimmy Buffet, lord?). I mean, songs where Casey Kasem or Rick Dees are the only source. No real lounges, or dive bars, or anything. I asked a handful of Dublin youth for below the radar bars or certain underground gathering places and they couldn't name a place...

Culture: 2/10
I thought Dublin would have a big punk scene. I also saw posters for some pretty decent hip hop (Madlib, J Rocc) acts; so if there's a market for them here I'll give the city the benefit of the doubt. But other than that, there is no counter culture, no teenage rebellion. The university's art gallery was the equivalent of watching a dog go poop.

People: 5.5/10
The people of Ireland are their key asset. Just all good people; I'm not going to say any further. In my opinion, the Irish accent is the most charming (American too sloppy, English too stuck-up and boring, Aussie too nasal-y, Kiwi too indecipherable). I had to give this one a 6 because attractive women just aren't there. I'm sorry, but you go into a pub and the girls are like Frat Boys, but not just Frat Boys, the fat, Frat Boys that binge drinks and acts foolish because he has something to prove. Super down to earth and good people, but you know your mental only makes up half of you..and to prove that I'm picky and that personality does count more, I threw in that .5. Most of the the attractive women here are Polish (which happen to be very beautiful), what a slap in the face.

Just in general...(Killarney, Cork, Dingle, Limerick, Dublin)
PROS
Good people. Food in villages is really good. Beautiful scenery. U2's Joshua Tree album. The Ring of Kerry. Guinness.

CONS
Expensive. It'd be a constant, aggressive image if you're red-green colorblind. Big mountain mamas. Drinking there sucks. Nothing underground. Sinead O' Connor. The fish n chips here, suck!!!

MAY 2, 2008 - SHANNON AIRPORT, INNER DIALOGUE

2008-05-08T06:46:00.001-07:00

NOTE: This is my third straight attempt at starting the entry and I'm just going to drill through it, no looking back. Funny, it's almost as if not writing this will somehow freeze time and stop the Earth in mid-rotation. I came to Ireland with no expectations, just anticipation. I was stoked and excited to see Mike, Cam and Patrick again. Somehow the vines of my thoughts wrapped around them in the short amount of time (2 weeks) I spent with them in Ukraine. And before I knew it, the vines became trunks, leaves, and branches; rooting themselves deep into me as we drove across the country -- giving me the elevated sense of awareness and regard that is only reserved for lifelong friends. Mindblowing.

Makes me think about life -- mine in relation to theirs and the human condition and its mechanisms. I sit here in an empty airport terminal and already I feel a bit saddened. They're off to see the cliffs of Mohur, soon they will be flying to Krakow, Poland only to take an 18 hour train ride (suckers) back to Ukraine. Pat will be back in the small quarters and shadow lit corridors of Lvov, Cam will be in Kiev doing something related to Hockey, or Law, or Luda. And Mike, he'll be sitting on that old antique Victorian couch in his high-ceilinged, Soviet apartment -- plotting out his next home cooked meal effort or throwing in my face all the beautiful, model looks and porn star built, Ukrainian women he'll be indulging in. We met these two girls at a discotech in Kiev on my first night there, (and I'll just say) he was the envy of the room when he was last with them, a few weeks ago. And he doesn't even care that I put it out there because towels are like wet naps when you're Mike Johnston.

Back to life for me, as well; fluid as the ocean. Mine will take me on a plane, and in about two hours, I'll be in Brussels, to be received by the generosity of two strangers (a cute young girl and her gracious mom). Tonight I'll be partying in Brussels with Pom and a bunch of young, drunk teenagers. Tomorrow, I will be stumbling along similar lines. Then I'll be heading back home -- which for now happens to be Amsterdam. Very excited. Very tired. Kinda stinky. Whatever, this makes me think of the human condition. Right now I'm totally bummed that we've reached the end of Ireland. After all, there are more hills to roll down, more fish to fry (of which I've had the worst and the best), and surely every pub in Ireland must have enough beer for at least one more round between us. But where will the next one take place? In Sweden, at Mike's family ranch? Purchased at twilight kiosks and consumed at 2:00AM in Kiev while waiting for the rest of Eastern Europe to catch up? Slurped off the naval of one of those girls we met? Really though, will I ever see them, any of them, again?

I'm not sure what's worse -- the fact that I'm going to miss them or the certainty that life goes on and the fact that I will press on, successfully and effortlessly without them. I'm sure, years from now, pints will be raised and once in a while the boys and the rolling hills of Ireland will come to mind. And everything will be all good, no big deal, no hard feelings of me missing them. It's amazing, the way the human condition prepares you to move on. It ensures our survival. It makes perfect sense. But this whole letting go thing; it never gets easier. It's something I don't think I'll ever understand.
(Hey, I happen to have a weak internet connection so I won't be posting up images till way later)

APRIL 25, 2008 - SHIT'S WILD, YO

2008-05-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, the adventure has begun. So I'm on the train from Brussels to the airport to prepare for my flight to Dublin, Ireland. Sounds like a cinch right? Well my dumb ass didn't adequately prepare for it. Ok, to not sell myself short, my fun ass wanted to open myself to the world and to the spontaneity it as to offer. Besides, not that I completely believe in fate, I have had a few conversations with this amazing person, my own lame ass read The Celestine Prophecy so I'm all thinking about this energy, quanttum physical way of how the world works. Ok, long story short, when I was young I used to think that I could alter the physical world by mere thoughts alone. Not too inaccurate if you've been me for the past few days (ask me when I'm drunk).

But yeah, not as simple as going to the airport to catch my flight:
- I'm flying out of the other Brussels Airport, 60 km away
- Flight is at 6:30 AM (via Ryan Air)
- I tried booking a shuttle service to pick me up, I left my cell phone so that they can SMS me when they arrive. I was going to go to a party with my Couchsurfing host and then just go straight to the airport.
- I paid for the service, never received an email confirmation and there are no phone numbers listed on the website.
- I ran out of credit on my prepaid cell phone and they don't have T-Mobile in Belgium. I cannot refill my account through the web or by phone.
- I did some research online and read horrific reviews about the shuttle service -- instances where they would cancel at the last minute and the person would have to take a cab to the airport.
- The cab costs about $150 EUROS if you want to take it at 4:00AM.
- I could either wait outside on the streets from 1:00AM - 4:30AM for the shuttle to pick me up (that was the timeframe given to me).
- I could try to figure out how to get there. RIGHT FUCKING NOW and sleep at the airport.

Currently I'm on the train, trying to figure it out. I haven't even figured out Dublin yet, but that's a hibernating beast so I don't care.

All I can think is, "I hope I get both armrests."

LIFE LESSON - DEADLY COMBINATION

2008-05-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Life Lesson - Deadly Combination

"Though the pairing makes perfect sense, it would be ill-advised to eat cheese and drink milk at the same time."

Always learning.

Taught while sitting in Blake's living room. Eating some aged gouda over a glass of soymilk.

APRIL 18, 2008 - FRIDAY NIGHT AT HOME

2008-04-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

I needed to stay home tonight because oh hell I'm going to go out soon, after I finish this entry. I'm high and listening to my iPod on random. I did this all day long. I never put my iPod on random, and am even more reluctant to when in the presence of friends. One of my favorite past times is to just sit back with a bowl and some tunes and company or not.

But I wanted to just chill tonight because last night I got really, really wild and shitfaced at a mixer for Miami Ad School. It was awesome; I won't go into the antics that went down but I felt like I was really on point and repped it hard for Americans.

An open bar led to about 12 glasses of beer (small sized), a tallboy of beer, three glasses white, two glasses red, half of a girl's water, on an empty stomach. I was wasted; I say it in an embarassing tone, not in a "it's cool to get wasted" tone. But again, I do think it's kind of cool, shit, I feel cool. Maybe the advertising just brainwashed me into thinking that it's cool for all women to start to look real sexable and all of your pictures with acquaintances become Precious Moments statues. I retract my original comment. It was uber cool because I was uber wasted. But anyway, the chain on my Schwinn came off and I flew off my bike, landed hard on my hip and knee, and was quiet for about 30 seconds before erupting into laughter. Of course, it was in a busy location, so everyone laughed at me. I then spent 10 minutes trying to fix the chain, but some cats from Serbia came along and helped me fix it. I went home last night alive and realized I was being a bit of a dick...

"Why don't you go, dance on the dancefloor or something."

When another girl asked me what I notice first about a girl, I replied "First I notice her tits, then her ass, then the rest of her body, and if I have time, her smile and her eyes."

I was at least half-kidding. I notice the ass first.

But either way, I woke up today with a massive hangover. My hangovers seldom ever last over 2 hours but I was pretty incapacitated all day long. And worse than that, my knee and hip really really hurt. I'm a gimp. That's what I get for getting so drunk and being a dick. I think I outta go dance on the dancefloor or something.

But really, the folks here in Amsterdam are very nice. A Dutch girl I went out completed my sentence; I said, "People here are so ___."

"NORMAL"

If the scale had to swing of course it'd be for the positive. But I realize that America is so awesome because there is so much diversity, there is no one American culture. I'm from a big, bad, scary wolf of a city (Los Angeles) and my life is completely different from shit, someone else's life just a few cities over. America has a plus side to all of its fucking shitty people; but they all bring something to the table. Just quickly, off the top of my head, the list of shitty Americans are: cholos, Christian Conservative radicals, racist rednecks, fraternity guys, Hollywood/Miami scenesters, customer service workers, the 4000+ Catholic preists that hide their homosexuality and pedophilia behind their cloaks, cops. Damn, you don't know how happy it makes me feel to be in Amsterdam -- a city of smiling cops. They don't do patrols, they do leisurely strolls. No joke!

But man, I hate generalizing people but to make up for all that negative energy, here's a list of good people: doctors without borders, Peace Corps volunteers, Aussies, documentarians, Serbians, Germans, Turks, Tour Guides, old people, Buddhist monks, fat mechanics, Mormons, Moms

Deadly Combination

2008-04-18T13:39:00.003-07:00

Deadly Combination,
originally uploaded by proefound.

So this Yellow Skunk is pretty bomb; just real stoney and mellow. I got baked at the coffeeshop (Gray Matter) and decided to ride my bicycle back home without using the brakes or coming to a complete stop. That's about as far as I'll go with challenging myself.

Amsterdam at 4:00 AM

2008-04-18T13:39:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam at 4:00 AM,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I was a little lost, very very drunk and riding my bicycle back home, alone at 4:00 AM, and it was all good. It was at this canal bridge where I thought, "Fuck, this is awesome."

Taking in the Wednesday Sun

2008-04-18T13:38:00.001-07:00

Taking in the Wednesday Sun,
originally uploaded by proefound.

At this exact movement, I thought to myself: "I can't believe this is my life."

Here I am chilling on the balcony of Pat's apartment. Can't wait till it heats up because he has a fat ass terrace where we can all grill up.

Day in the Pjip

2008-04-18T13:37:00.005-07:00

Day in the Pjip,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I'm lucky to be staying in one of the coolest areas of Amsterdam. This small little nook, alone, has a bad ass coffee shop (Coffee Company), bar that plays some surprisingly good hip hop (Chocolate Bar) and this spot that serves up the best Falafel I've ever had. This was snapped from the stand across the street.

Amsterdam

2008-04-18T13:37:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Amsterdam - Park in Jordaan

2008-04-18T13:37:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam - Park in Jordaan,
originally uploaded by proefound.

This is like, in a pretty central area of Amsterdam.

Leeman Doner

2008-04-18T13:36:00.001-07:00

Leeman Doner,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Lady cutting up some fresh shoarma meat with a hacksaw -- all certified hilal (Islamic rule for cutting meat with a sharp blade)

Leeman Doner

2008-04-18T13:35:00.001-07:00

Leeman Doner,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I enjoy fucking with people.

2008-04-18T08:42:00.001-07:00

Facebook Wall Harassment,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Facebook Profile - April 18, 2008

2008-04-18T08:41:00.001-07:00

Facebook Profile - April 18, 2008,
originally uploaded by proefound.

APRIL 18, 2008 - PHILOSOPHY SET IN STONE

2008-04-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

I'm chililng on a couch right now in Amsterdam. Enjoying the Friday sun -- all glorious and photosynthesizing. Stoned on some Yellow Skunk (which I now find to be up to par to Cali Kush..eureka!)

Just thought I'd do a little line break just for the fuck of it. Ok, well I was giving my dear friend advice about this little power struggle he's been having with this girl that he's been dating. So, I came up with some analogies and metaphors to quantify my fathomless philosophy.

my friend, if i can give you any insight or wisdom it would be:
a cow that lives in the wheatfields appreciates eating grass more than a cow that lives on a grassy hill.

allow me to give you another metaphor/analogy when it comes to making her earn it:
beef is arguably the best tasting meat in the world, but no one ever hunts it.

CITY POWER RANKINGS - BALDWIN PARK, CALIFORNIA

2008-04-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

I just thought it'd be interesting to rank my hometown, so here goes:

CITY POWER RANKINGS - BALDWIN PARK, CA .01/10
Liveability: .5/10
People don't live in Baldwin Park so much as they slowly die in Baldwin Park. The city fucking sucks, I know because I grew up here. The only thing Baldwin Park gets mad credit for is being the birthplace of In-N-Out Burger (which was also home to the first drive through). Other than that, the Mexican food there is really bomb and carnicerias are every where. Unfortunately, crime is also everywhere so it's like, even still, I can't walk around any street there at night. You cannot get a healthy meal anywhere outside of Subway. I put that on my life. It's fucking impossible. Best you can do is get a salad from Jack In the Box. It's hard to believe, but it's very true. How you think I got so fat? Oh yeah, and you cannot buy any real healthy groceries anywhere in the city. You have to drive 15 minutes away to the more affluent cities.

Nightlife: 0.0/10
There is no nightlife here. Not even a stodgy dive bar to get a beer. Here, we just drink on the streets. Sometimes outside our friend's parents' houeses, sometimes outside of just random people's houses. Had a friend with a big backyard though, so we had bonfires. But nope, no nightlfe.

Culture: 0/0
There's not that much diversity here. Only Mexicans, some Asians, fewer Blacks and very few Whites. And with the limited diversity, it's only detrimental because of all the racism and gang stuff that goes down there.

People: 2/10
People here are very uneducated and have no ambition. They all live the same, typical surburban life, with suburban expectations. Boring, all stuck with Morrissey stickers on their cars and Betty Boop license plate frames. (Here's a human truth: you will never see an attractive female behind the wheel of a car with anything Betty Boop on it). If you want to be cool you have to be in a gang or be tough. Things have changed drastically over the past 10 years, but I don't have any hope. Really? They opened another Starbucks here? Wow, this must be the crown jewel of San Gabriel Valley.

PROS: Mexican food everywhere, cheap and delicious. Hot Mexican girls that are really really attractive, until they turn 21. Or you get the cute Filipino girls that are really cute, but are really cookie cutter and bland and super don't have a brain of their own (if you're into that). All my friends are dope and most would back me up in a fight.

CONS: Everything! I'm from there and I'm like, the biggest asshole in the galaxy.

Common Dutch Bike - Mode of Transportation

2008-04-12T17:29:00.001-07:00

Common Dutch Bike - Mode of Transportation,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I had to replace both tires and tubes. On top of that I bought that spiffy combo lock. It cost me about $80 to get this thing up and running again.

It's heavy, plain but fast. I ate shit right in the middle of Dam Square (city centre) when my rear tire got caught in the tram line. I think I'm going to have a permanent scar on my palm for it.

Herring Sandwich

2008-04-12T17:28:00.001-07:00

Herring Sandwich,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Got this at the well-known sandwich stand near Pat's apartment.

This typical Dutch sandwich consists of raw herring, chopped onions, and sweet dill pickles. It's actually very fucking good and (sans bread) quite healthy.

Amsterdam - Best Fries

2008-04-12T17:27:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam - Best Fries,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I hate thick fries, but these are really the best. They don't get all dry and stuff. The topping you see is Peanut Sauce.

Amsterdam - Best Fries

2008-04-12T17:27:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam - Best Fries,
originally uploaded by proefound.

French fries are bigger here than anywhere else I've ever been. The fries are the best I've ever had also. This stand is known for serving up the best fries in Amsterdam.

It's right at the end of Spuitstraat if you ever want to check it out.

Grey Area - Supposedly Best Buds in Town

2008-04-12T17:26:00.003-07:00

Grey Area - Supposedly Best Buds in Town,
originally uploaded by proefound.

This place supposedly has the best buds in town. I got Hindu Kush here which was quite enjoyable; I'd say it's a James Worthy herb compared to LA's Magic.

Grey Area - Counter

2008-04-12T17:26:00.001-07:00

Grey Area - Counter,
originally uploaded by proefound.

The guys that run this joint are from Rhode Island. What a dope dream, get it? Hahahah. I'm a little blunted right now but here's how it works:

You buy the herb and you can borrow their bongs. That, right before you, is a genuine Roor bong! Too bad they didn't have ice, otherwise it'd be twice as nice.

Amsterdam - Gray Matter Coffeeshop

2008-04-12T17:25:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam - Gray Matter Coffeeshop,
originally uploaded by proefound.

What's funny is that inside these coffee shops there are so many cats: rockers, punkers, rastafarians, EVERYONE all getting high. All countries, every where! Haven't seen an Asian yet, but they're all cowardly when it comes to shit like this anyway.

But yeah, these cats all enjoy it, but I'm starting to think that Americans are the biggest, baddest (in good and bad ways) stoners. My friends back home will easily smoke an eighth a day or smoke og kush blunts.

I'm not that much of a stoner, but I can walk into any coffeeshop table and go toke for toke with any cat. I love doing it with the local Dutch kids that act all hard and gangsta. Heads don't know! Now put down that spliff while I tell you that I, too, know what's up with Sean Price.

Amsterdam Mellow Yellow Coffee Shop

2008-04-12T17:24:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam Mellow Yellow Coffee Shop,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I waited over 24 hours till I made my first weed purchase. In about 5 days, I made about 5 purchases. i just had to try it all out.

As of today (April 14, 2008, two weeks into it), I've purchased:

- NYC Sourdiesel (weird hybrid bc NYC Diesel is good enough). Funnier is that when I first had my prescription NYC Diesel was the shit. Like top dog shit. Then you know, kush changed the whole game up and now NYC Diesel is like Cheesecake Factory. Kush, that's Michelin rated.

- Afghan Kush - All these kushes are good, but for real, fuck man, not that great.

- Hindu Kush - I'll just say the same thing for all the kushes here. This one was really stoney though. This goes good with Pinback.

- Master Kush - Wow, this is the B+ in LA. I'm smoking it right now and I'm not even that high. I'm an attic, not a radio tower.

- AK 47 - This was quite peaky. It gave me a fat headache and convinced me that the best thing for me to do is french kiss chocolate candy.

- India Kush - Good, but I heard so much about this so I was a little let down. It was like the movie 300 for me. It was still good, but whatever.

- LA Confidential - Pretty good and stoney, not as good as the LAC in LA, though. I'm being completely objective. Still, this one fucked me up because it was the first time smoking real herb for over two months. I ain't hating on this one at all. Probably my favorite.

- White Widow - I tried this because it's probably the most prevalant strain. It's Sizzler. You wouldn't go there, but if someone's treating...

Amsterdam - Mellow Yellow Coffeeshop

2008-04-12T17:23:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam - Mellow Yellow Coffeeshop,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I've been to about 8 coffeeshops now and this was one of my favorites. Just chill and stuff..but nothing special.

I like going to the rasta ones the most because you get reggae.

Amsterdam Canal At Night

2008-04-12T17:23:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam Canal At Night,
originally uploaded by proefound.

You just see 1000 piece puzzle set shit like this out of nowhere. I think I was very drunk when I took this photo.

Golfing With Pat

2008-04-12T17:22:00.001-07:00

Golfing With Pat,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Golfing With Colin

2008-04-12T17:21:00.003-07:00

Golfing With Colin,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Golfing With Colin

Self Portrait - Driving Range

2008-04-12T17:21:00.001-07:00

Self Portrait - Driving Range,
originally uploaded by proefound.

This was my 5th time ever wacking a golf ball with all my might. I figure if I'm ever going to give it a try, it's gotta be in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam - Driving Range

2008-04-12T17:20:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam - Driving Range,
originally uploaded by proefound.

First time, ever.

Gas Station

2008-04-12T17:20:00.001-07:00

Gas Station,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Score! We got a car for the weekend (company car that Nike employees get, I think). I was trying to convince them to go to Antwerp, but they didn't budge.

Amsterdam Flea Market - Montana Paint Company

2008-04-12T17:19:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam Flea Market - Montana Paint Company,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I guess this would be the MAC line of spray paint. Crazy that they sell this at the flea markets.

Amsterdam - Night Biking

2008-04-12T17:18:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam - Night Biking,
originally uploaded by proefound.

This was at like 2:45 AM, biking back from this bar. That was my third or fourth bar we just left.

Hmmmm - Friend!

2008-04-12T17:18:00.001-07:00

Hmmmm - Friend!,
originally uploaded by proefound.

She's from Czech Republic

Amsterdam - Street Art - Guess What?

2008-04-12T17:17:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam - Street Art - Guess What?,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I was very stoked to see him show up right next to Pat's apartment. Take a good look and see who I'm talking about. Guess!

My Salad

2008-04-12T17:17:00.001-07:00

My Salad,
originally uploaded by proefound.

The average salad here costs about $16 so I started making my own.

Baby spinach leaves, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, crumbled feta cheese, chopped chorizo for texture, balsamic vinegrette, freshly crushed pepper and multi grain bread. This cost me like $3 to make. Dam!!!! Tell me it doesn't look good.

Amsterdam Sunset

2008-04-12T17:16:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam Sunset,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Amsterdam Sunset

2008-04-12T17:16:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam Sunset,
originally uploaded by proefound.

I was riding back from the library at this point.

Amsterdam Park

2008-04-12T17:15:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam Park,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Amsterdam Library

2008-04-12T17:14:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam Library,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Periodicals

Amsterdam Library

2008-04-12T17:14:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam Library,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Those chairs are probably like $100+ each

Amsterdam Library

2008-04-12T17:13:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam Library,
originally uploaded by proefound.

CDs

Amsterdam Library

2008-04-12T17:12:00.003-07:00

Amsterdam Library,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Childrens Section

Amsterdam Library

2008-04-12T17:12:00.001-07:00

Amsterdam Library,
originally uploaded by proefound.

Food court.