Powder Keg

Kristen, Ryan, & Renee, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Saturday morning, we started an exercise, which means we're all working 12-hour days through at least tomorrow. So, nobody has had a day off since last Sunday. On top of that, we have a lot of people crammed into the water shop and there's quite a bit of frustration with the exercise scenarios. Obviously, people are getting a little on edge. This evening, Kristen was trying to get out of her chem gear, and somehow all the stress gave way to goofiness which included Renee trying to pull Kristen's boots off with Ryan gawking in astonishment. It was a welcome fit of laughter after a rough ten straight days of work. We're all so ready for some down time.

Eating My Words

Renee's Birthday, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Yesterday was Renee's birthday, so a big group of us went to dinner at Le Contrade, a French restaurant in Sacile. I'd never been there before, but I always enjoy trying new places.
We all sat around the table, drinking wine and talking. As I browsed the menu, I realised there was nothing vegetarian available. Now, I've been a vegetarian for nearly nine years, but I'm not militant about it.
So what did I do in this situation? I ordered some pasta with clams. Normally, I don't eat seafood, but my reasoning is that it was the least carnivorous item on the menu.
Food is about more than just sustenance. Breaking bread is a special event that draws people together and creates or strengthens bonds of friendship. Renee has had a rough time the past few months, and this was her night. I'm not gonna be the weirdo that sits there and stares at everyone while they eat. I'm going to join in.
I think holding onto one's convictions is important, but I also understand we all have to make compromises for the greater good. And last night, the greater good was enjoying the time together with my friends.

Comin' Round the Mountain

Wildkogel, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

I spent this long President's Day weekend in Wildkogel, Austria, with Chris & Mary Miller, their friend Alicia (who flew down from England), and David.

David in Wildkogel, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Wildkogel is a little further away than Nassfeld, and I'd never been there before. Chris and Mary did all the planning for this trip, so when they invited me to come along, I was thrilled. We all stayed in an apartment and brought our own food, which meant that half of my sustenance for the weekend consisted of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Mary & Alicia, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

The ladies (and David) stuck to sledding all weekend, while Chris and I strapped on our boards. The region had just gotten several inches of fresh snow, which made for great conditions. The best parts were when we went off the groomed trails, through the trees, carving through the powder. And whenever we caught an edge, it was like falling into a cloud.

Chris, Me, & David, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

In fact, on Sunday, I got so far off the groomed run, I ended up going down the opposite side of the mountain. (Chris was smart enough not to get so far off course.) I was riding through some gorgeous powder, when the trees got thicker and thicker, and that's when I started wondering if I was gonna be the guy they had to rescue with a helicopter. My only choice was to keep going and hope I eventually got to the bottom of . . . something. Finally, the trees began to thin out, and I found myself boarding over barbed wire fences and around abandoned cabins. (Still, the whole time, the snow was amazing.) I eventually made it to a road, took my board off, walked to the town at the bottom of the mountain, and took the bus back to the main lift. I'm sure there was a lesson to be learned there, but I doubt I learned it.

Drinking at Wildkogel, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

And then there was the drinking. We were no strangers to any of the bars scattered around the mountain. It seemed there was one every few hundred metres, regardless of which run we were on. I did some of my drunkest snowboarding ever, and somehow didn't break my neck. (Yet another lesson I probably didn't learn.)

David, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

It was great to meet Alicia, who had the best quote of the weekend with, "Did you see those bitches throwing snowballs?" Also, I got the chance to talk a lot with Chris, who, before this weekend, was merely an acquaintance, but is now someone I will share many beers with in the future.
It was yet another great weekend of boarding, which, unfortunately, will probably be my last trip this season. Either way, I'm glad it ended on such a high note.

Birthday Bravado

Mike, Me, Nate, & Steven, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Yesterday was Steven's birthday, so we went to a nearby German restaurant to celebrate. Steven's time in the Air Force is coming to an end, which is kinda sad because I've known him since he got to Italy nearly four years ago. He's easily the most unpredictable drunk I know, but in a good way. Last night was pretty mellow, by most standards, but I'm sure when it's time for his going-away party, we'll pull out all the stops.

With the wind in my hair, we are free.

I was woken at 1 AM this morning with a phone call telling me that due to snow (!), we'd have late reporting today. But because of my damned internal clock, I still woke up at 5:30, so I figured I might as well go to the gym. I had a great run this morning--the kind of run where I felt I could run forever. The only thing stopping me was the 30-minute time limit on the treadmill.
I came home and made a tomato-feta omelette, sat on my couch, and watched an episode of Louie. It was the best morning I've had in a long time.
Also, this song is in my head:

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the Swedes know their way around a good pop hook.

Let's Get Loud

A few months ago, Radiohead announced some tour dates, including four in Italy in July. I was somehow able to nab tickets to the show in Firenze AND the show in Codroipo, which is basically right up the street. My concert attendance has become quite sporadic since my days in Utah, mostly because the bands I'd pay to see don't travel here very often. Still, when someone I love comes around, I'm willing to make the effort to go see them, even if it means travelling across the country (or to another nearby country).
So, you can imagine my delight when Madonna announced her world tour this morning, including two dates in Italy in June. Say what you will about her Super Bowl appearance on Sunday (which I thought was decent, but not great), but that woman can put on a live show like nobody's business. I scored a ticket to both shows (Milano and Firenze), and now I'm just waiting for the new record next month, which I will probably listen to ad nauseum until the day of the show. Don't judge me.

Bright Lights, Big City

Milano Duomo, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

This weekend, I went to Milano with Eric and a bunch of his friends to celebrate his birthday. I've been to Milano several times, and always enjoy myself. It's very different from other cities in Italy, modern and industrial. Still, it has its charms, one of which is bundling up in the cold and walking the streets like I belong there.

Milano Centrale, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

The birthday celebration consisted mainly of shopping (Milano is the fashion capitol of the world), eating, and drinking. It wasn't anything super flashy or crazy, but it was definitely fun. The next morning, I woke up to take the early train back home. As I was walking from my hotel to the train station, the city was quiet and motionless, and a light snow was gently falling. It was so beautiful, and I wanted to stop and have a seat on a bench, just to appreciate the stillness.

Snow Delay

It's been six weeks since the last school term ended. The new term started this week, and I originally signed up for a hybrid course (some face-to-face class time combined with online work) in business management and organisation. However, I was looking over the syllabus and some of the face-to-face time, including the final exam, will be held when I'm out of town. I went to the office yesterday and asked what my options are, and they told me I could switch over to the fully online version, which fits my schedule a lot better. The only downside is that it doesn't start for another two weeks, giving me more time to be lazy.
In other news, it's been ridiculously cold this winter. I'm trying not to turn up the heat in my house, so I wear sweats in the evening, and I've put an extra extra blanket on my bed. The worst part is that it's also been very dry, so the nearby slopes haven't gotten much snow. My skin is dry, and my knuckles are cracked. If it's going to be like this, I sure hope the groundhog doesn't see his shadow tomorrow.

Un Altri Sei Mese

A couple weeks ago, I pushed some paperwork through to extend my time here in Italy. Again. My date to leave had been February 2013, putting me here for five years, which is the limit for single people. But for some reason, I decided to give it a shot anyway. I only asked for six months, instead of a full year, hoping I would slip through the cracks. After my Commander approved it last week, I turned it in to personnel, and today, I got an e-mail notification that it was approved. Now, my departure date will be sometime in August 2013. I'm pretty stoked to stay here even longer, but not sure if I'll try my luck on extending again. I guess we'll see.

Written while thanking God for 800mg Motrin

Last night started out innocently enough. I went to Sacile for a glass of wine in the piazza at Cafe Commercio. Mandy and David joined me, and then we all had dinner at Cellini's. The wine began flowing faster and faster. Mandy left after dinner, but Kristen and Renee showed up with a whole entourage as David and I walked to Bar Bicicletta. Things got a little fuzzy after that, but I do remember these things:
1) Offering Kristen a dollar to hit on the cowboy in Bar Bicicletta.
2) Giving Renee, our DD, wrong directions as we drove to Movida, causing us to do a loop around central Sacile.
3) Dancing. A lot.
4) Walking squarely into a big window. Hard.
5) Meeting some really cool people.
This is about the only evidence I have from last night, but it's definitely worthy:

Me, David, and Renee, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Despite all that, I woke up feeling really good this morning. Still, it will be a while before I have another Saturday night like this one.

Becoming Less Round

My last PT test was in April, and since I scored well, I don't have to test again until April of this year. The only bad thing about that arrangement is how much I've let myself get out of shape. My running regiment has become sporadic, at best, and even though I'm my diet isn't bad, I tend to overindulge from time to time. I'm 15 pounds heavier than in April and a full 25 pound heavier than when I left the desert in June 2010. My goal is to score well enough on this year's PT test so I won't have to test for another year, as opposed to six months. We've been working on getting some gym equipment in our work area, which will hopefully prod me to be a little more active, because the chances of me giving up cheesecake are slim to none.

Wide Open Spaces

Nassfeld, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Rodriguez, Boswell, Berg, Steven, and I spent the long weekend in Nassfeld, Austria. We left Friday after work and made the two-hour drive to our hotel, which was right on the slopes. When we went down to breakfast on Saturday morning, there was a little newsletter on our table giving information on the weather, meal times, and other goings-on in the hotel for the day. It was very poorly translated from German and included the line, "Joke: If two scrambled eggs meet, one says: 'Anyhow I am so messy...!'"

Nassfeld, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

On the slopes, there were a lot of people around, and it seemed busy; but there was so much area to ride, we never felt crowded. The runs were wide, and I don't think we took the same one twice all weekend.

Nassfeld, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

There wasn't much going on in the town where our hotel was, but since all our meals were included and there was a bar in the hotel, we didn't really need to venture out at night. On Sunday morning, we were a little disappointed our daily newsletter didn't have another joke. But the weather report was downright poetic:
"On Sunday the last snowy showers fade away, it breaks up and the sun comes in completely Carinthia. The wind decreases, indeed, it remains unmoved." Priceless.

Nassfeld, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

On Sunday, the slopes were nearly empty. We never waited at the lifts, took our turns wider, and acted as if we owned the damned place. And the weather was perfect. One of the great things about being at such high altitudes is how unbelievably blue the sky is.

We kinda took it easy on Saturday, getting into the swing of things and not wanting to take too many chances on the first day of a two-day trip. On Sunday, we decided to hit the park a couple times and looked for jumps on the edges of the groomed runs. These aren't our best jumps, particularly Berg's landing, but they're the ones I got on video:

Rodriguez, Boswell, Berg, and Steven, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

We spent our evenings in the hotel bar, drinking more and more each night. Our tab for Sunday night was nearly 300 Euros, but it was totally worth it.

Rodriguez, Boswell, Berg, and Steven, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

The main reason we wanted to take this trip is because Berg will be leaving Italy this week, and we wanted to send him off in style. Before we checked out this morning, we scanned our lift passes and found we rode over 61 kilometres with a total vertical distance of 8968 meters. I'd say that is about as stylin' as you can get.

Apparently, Lesson NOT Learned

We're heading to Austria after work this afternoon to snowboard all weekend, so last night, I was packing some things in my truck. Unfortunately, I forgot to lock it after I was done, and this morning, when I got in to go to work, I realised someone had stolen my gas coupons. Again. And again, they didn't even touch my iPod, GPS, or anything else in my truck.
Last time this happened, I felt hurt and violated. This time, I'm just angry. Probably because I had a rather large stack of gas coupons, half of which I just bought yesterday. I'm a little tempted to set some kind of trap just so I can catch the little bastard(s) that did this. I'm not a violent man, but somebody needs a face punch.

Carving

Me, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Last spring, I bought a new board when I was up in Germany. Soon after came new boots, bindings, and even a new jacket. Unfortunately, everything was shut down by the time I got back to Italy, so I haven't been able to try out any of my new gear. Until yesterday.
Steven, Berg, and I headed up to Piancavallo for the day. It's been a very dry winter so far, and we were a little nervous the conditions wouldn't be very good. They weren't exactly ideal (a few closed runs and random icy patches), but overall, we couldn't complain. I was just excited to get on the slopes again and try out my new board, which handled wonderfully. It's a little longer than my old board, giving me a little more speed, and the curve and bounce are just about perfect. All in all, I was thrilled, and I'm already looking forward to next weekend.

City of Lights

Eiffel Tower, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

I'd been debating for the past couple months whether to do anything special for New Year's. I considered just laying around some more, but figured I'd regret it if I did. I had some friends from Germany going to Paris, and at last minute, decided to join them. I'm so glad I did.

Arc de Triomphe, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

This was my first time in Paris, and I'd mentally prepared myself for a dirty city that was difficult to navigate and full of rude natives. But you know what? It was the total opposite.

Eiffel Tower, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

We had a crew of about twenty people, which hindered our ability to see everything everyone wanted to see. It didn't really bother me, though. I was just thrilled to be walking around such an amazing place. Plus, going back is so easy. I can't believe I'd never been before.
Particularly magnificent was the Eiffel Tower. It's something I've seen so often in pictures, but laying eyes on it for the first time was absolutely breathtaking. We spent New Year's Eve there, but I could have stayed forever, just staring at it. No wonder it's become such a symbol of France.

Paris, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

I didn't make it to the Louvre, Notre Dame, the catacombs, or countless other staples of the Parisian tourist, but again, I'm not worried. I will make it back there soon.
Also, due to popular demand, I made another video. You can check it out here. Hope you enjoy it. Merci!

Sound Is the Blood Between Me and You

To say it’s been a good year for music would be an understatement. 2010 yielded some great things, but it wasn’t exactly overwhelming. There were some definite surprises this year (The Beastie Boys and The Roots are still putting out quality music! It’s already time for 90s nostalgia! Lady Gaga exists!), and some disappointments (No new Missy Elliott record. What was Lupe Fiasco thinking? Rihanna exists.). And if the hook from “Moves Like Jagger” gets stuck in my head one more time, I’m reaching for the sleeping pills.
Narrowing down my Top 10 for 2011 was a bit of a chore, even more so because I bought a ton of music in the past few weeks, and I’ve been trying to listen to it as much as possible to see if it compares to the stuff I bought earlier, which was already impressive. I wish I had a better system, possibly something more quantitative, like points for catchiness or number of total listens or something; but no, I just kinda look back at all the music I bought this year and pick out my favourites. Anyway, in no particular order, here goes:
• PJ Harvey – “Let England Shake”
Polly Jean has crafted an album about war and politics, but it’s also a dark love letter to her homeland.
• Real Estate – “Days”
This is what lazy Sunday afternoons sound like.
• Washed Out – “Within and Without”
• Wye Oak – “Civilian”
• St. Vincent – “Strange Mercy”
Expert guitarist, emotional singer, gifted songwriter, and not too bad to look at, Annie Clark never fails to bewilder me. This set of songs straddles the line between weird and weirder, but they’re so catchy, it’s almost like a pop album.
• Radiohead – “The King of Limbs”
Well, duh.
• James Blake – “James Blake”
• tUnE-yArDs – “w h o k i l l”
Merrill Garbus’s violent, chilling lyrics are hidden by wacky, exhilarating music. Thinly produced but somehow richly textured, it’s more fun than it has any right to be.
• Fucked Up – “David Comes to Life”
The best punk album I’ve heard in a long time. Back in 2008, they released “The Chemistry of Common Life,” and even though I heard such great things about it, I resisted. For some reason, I picked up DCtL, and I can’t get enough. Yes, it’s somewhat of a rock opera concept album, but get past all the pretentiousness that entails and you’ll find a record full of love and regret that breaks all the rules and doesn’t look back. I’ve since bought TCoCL, and now I understand what all the fuss was about.
• Wild Flag – “Wild Flag”
A little piece of me died the day Sleater-Kinney decided to go on indefinite hiatus back in 2006. Corin Tucker’s 2010 solo album was good stuff, but nothing has been able to fill the SK-sized hole in my heart until Wild Flag. Made up of Carrie Brownstein, Janet Weiss (the other 2/3 of S-K), Mary Timony (of Helium), and Rebecca Cole (of Elephant Six and the Minders), WF takes punk, indie rock, 60s girl-group, and psychedelic influences and blends it all to create their own sound. It’s a tense record, with Carrie and Mary trading off vocals to keep you guessing. Yet it’s still amazing fun, the kind of music you can hear in a dive bar or at a beach party, making you want to raise your hands and sing along. If I had a dollar for every time I almost ran off the road dance-driving to “Romance,” I’d take that money and buy this album again.

So, that’s my top ten, but I’d feel bad if I didn’t give honourable mention to The Weeknd. (Sounds like “the weakened.”) The Weeknd is the musical project of Abel Tesfaye, who released a suite of free (!) mixtapes this year via his website. It’s ambient alt-R&B that I can only listen to at night, preferably while drinking wine, and even more preferably when I have someone to make out with. Not only is the music phenomenal, but I appreciate how he’s taking advantage of the internet, not fighting the inevitability of free music. Radiohead proved that an established act would have no problem operating like this, but The Weeknd is proof that one doesn’t need a big, faceless record company to distribute his art to the masses. The fact that it’s such a quality product is an added bonus.

As a post script, I’d also like to talk about Sufjan Stevens. Like Fucked Up, Sufjan is someone I’ve heard about for years, mostly because of “Illinois,” his 2005 album that put him on the indie map. I’m one of those people who can’t be told about new music; I have to discover it on my own. (I guess it’s a pride issue.) But something came over me late last year when I was browsing in an independent record store in Baltimore with my friend Dan. I saw “The Age of Adz,” and I just had to pick it up. I knew it was sonically different from his earlier records, and even though I wasn’t hooked right away, something about it kept me queuing it up on my iPod every few days. Since then, I’ve purchased the greater part of his back catalogue, and I now understand the draw of “Illinois.” Few singers can make me tear up with sadness with songs like “John Wayne Gacy Jr.,” and then shed tears of joy three songs later on “Chicago.” Equally impressive is how he handles everything so delicately, creating songs with gorgeous melodies and story-telling lyrics, the depth of which is rare in any genre. I still feel like I’m catching up to those who have known about Mr. Stevens from the get-go, but I’m loving the experience.

In my reclining office chair...

This is just about the smoothest week of work I've ever had. Hardly anyone is around, giving me plenty of time to catch up on projects that have somehow been put off for the past few weeks. One of my bosses (I have three) comes in every morning to chat over coffee, and we don't even discuss deadlines. I'm playing my radio a little louder and taking lunch whenever I feel like it. I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible, because as soon as everyone gets back after New Years, everything will switch into high gear and won't slow down for months.

In Fair Verona

Me, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Since yesterday was technically a holiday, and I'd done enough laying around all weekend, Robert, Nick, and I decided to head to Verona for the day. I hadn't been to Verona in over three years, and I'd forgotten what a great city it is to just walk around in.

Nick and Me, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

I work with Robert, and Nick lives in Germany, but is visiting for a couple weeks. He and Robert have been friends since they were five. My whole goal for Nick's visit was to get him hooked on wine. Mission: accomplished.

Let Your Heart Be Light

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I was talking to my parents online, and, as they do every Thanksgiving, they asked me for a Christmas list. I told them I’d work on something to e-mail them, and that they needed to do the same for me. But later that week, I thought how ridiculous it was for us to exchange gifts when I’m not even home for Christmas this year. I understand the whole point of gift giving, but shopping online and having the merchant send the package takes so much joy out of the process. The rest of it is taken out by not getting to see them open it on Christmas morning. So, the next time we talked, I suggested we just forego the whole ordeal. Mom, however, insisted on sending cookies. I didn’t argue.
Anyway, today, I don’t really have much going on. I’ve been invited several places for food and games, but honestly, I’d rather just hang out, lay on my couch, watch movies, and eat the aforementioned cookies. All. Day. Long. This year, it’s just another day.

"I think he's by the bar."

Christmas Party Crew, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

Last night was our Christmas Party, and I have to say, it was pretty kickin'. We do a lot of fundraisers over the course of the year, and the Christmas Party is the reward for everyone's hard work. We sold over 400 tickets, even though capacity for the building was only 300. These are the benefits of working with the fire marshall.
It's also one of the few times everyone gets to see everyone else dressed up. I don't really remember all the details, though, because I made it a point to have two glasses of Wild Turkey in my hands at all times.

Christmas Party Dancing, a photo by currtdawg on Flickr.

After the program, speeches, and prizes, the DJ went from playing to holiday music to dance music, and everyone was just toasted enough to get on the floor. They had to ask everyone to leave so they could close down the building. Unfortunately, there was no after party, as everyone was all danced out. Luckily, though, I was hangover-free this morning. A Christmas miracle, indeed!