Hurricane Season in Denver

Like a real hurricane...only frozen...and without all the Rum.

Saying that traveling to Denver this holiday season was something out of a Japanese-TV style enduro challenge would be an understatement. I spent so much time on the phone with the airlines that I expect them to provide me with benefits and a healthy FSP.

Regardless, I made it there for a whopping 36 hours (down from a week) and we had a good time. There were lots of twins this year:

Flying Squirrels for instance

and

Flying Squirrels with no sleeves.

I'm with the band

Aside from all of the airline/Great Blizzard of 2006 drama I have managed to get some West Coast fun in as well...as you may or may not be able to tell from the following...Drinks anyone???

There are worse places to be stuck.

Soooo I was supposed to leave for the DVR today. But because of a tiny little storm (mad props to my homies out at the AP for tha pix above) they decided to cancel some flights into DEN...ALL of them...today AND tomorrow. Needless to say I have been holed up at my condo spending some quality time with automated phone systems and that crazy F&@%ing robot United employs to phone route you...he's dead to me. So, it seems that I just may make my way to Colorado in time to hop back on a plane and head out to the westside of the eastside again.

Hey, I didn't call it a state of emergency, the guvna did...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/12/20/snowstorm.ap/index.html

T-giving Roundup

A few pix from over the holiday.

Just like being in a wild animal park but without the exorbitant admission fee.

Heading out into the wilderness.

T is for Turkey

...and we ain't talkin' bout no jive turkeys neither.

I hope you all have had a good Thanksgiving.

Please always wear proper safety equipment while carving your turkeys.

Turkey so good...even vegetarians love it!

A not so warm welcome - MST

Ok...this is NOT what we wanted to come home to. Upon arriving back in the States and having been up for over 24 hours, we arrived to almost 2 feet of snow which prevented us from actually driving up to the house. Therefore, it was time to break out the shovels. Where's the hot shower?!?!

The NEW Mile High Club - Time Zone Unknown

Ok...so maybe the last post wasn't the last post. As I post this live, we're currently cruising at about 38,000 feet above somewhere. Natually, I had to take advantage of this opportunity to do a blog from I have no idea what time zone. No pix yet but let's see how long we can keep this connection!

Last Post from Europe

As we will be departing from Germany early in the am (just a few scant hours from now) this will most likely be my last post from Europe for this trip. I will post a final compilation post once I get back to the States and have a stable internet connection. I hope you have enjoyed the virtual tour of Italy and Germany.

Last Stop

After spending a day in Bremen, we then made our way over to Hamburg. It's nice to see some Germans finally smiling. I can see why they never really got along with the Italians. The Germans from the South all appear pretty pissed off and I never saw one crack a smile. The Italians, as some of you may know, are quite the opposite. And - the women in Hamburg are smokin hot (not to say that the Italain women are not). Just south of Scandinavia and you know how I feel about that. I can see a Syndicate trip here. Or a Syndicate summer in Europe with an extended stop here. There are a couple of really good restaurants that take advantage of the local fishing here in Hamburg as well. Some interesting architecture here melding the old and the new.

Standing still on the Autobahn

Today was the full drive day. Let me just say...you can be clocking over 100MPH on the autobahn and get passed like a little bitch by grandmothers in Merc EuroWagons. Those mothers are FLYING!!! Easily got lapped by those doing 130/140/etc today. 65 will never be the same again. We did manage to see some interesting things along the way. We saw the Allianz Arena which for those of you who follow football know that it is the relatively new, uber-futurisitic looking stadium which is essentially composed of what appear to be inflatable pockets which change colour depending on which team is playing that day. We also saw something else. If you've ever been to Palm Springs, no doubt you've seen the windfarms with those giant windmills that look like white giraffes on super-growth hormone. If you've seen those, I'm certain you've also asked "Self, how big are those MF-ers?!?! and how do they get there? Do they grow them??" Let's just say that today I had the same question. I'm glad I could help.

Lilienthalallee 26/Colmberg

That title may not make any sense to the vast majority of you. Today, after much anticipation (Yes, Shad, all of the lugnuts are on) was the day we would finally pick up the e92. Lilienthalallee 26 is the address of the European Delivery center in Munich. Unfortunately, we were still receiving inclement weather, however it didn't matter as it was all sunshine on the inside as you can see.

Naturally, what better place for her to spend her first night than in Castle Colmberg off of the Romantic Road in the back hills of the German Autobahn. This is starting to sound like an episode of MTV's cribs... I promise not to show you my flat screen or my shoe collection.

She is a dirty little bitch in this picture as we have just flogged her across the rainy German countryside.

This is the Castle from the roadside. It's a bit imposing actually. I think it's been around since the 1200's or such...the Mom would have all the deets on that one.

Sunrise from the room.

Next Stop - Germany!

After Verona we boarded one of EuRails finest and started through Italy and Austria and finally arrived in Munich for the first part of our Tuetonic Tour.

Even though he has a map, he has no idea where we are.

After that train ride I 'sho am hungry' Nothing says German 'cuisine' like heavy food and heavy beer. Here - both are about to be devoured.

Romeo, Romeo...or is it Moshi, Moshi?

Our next stop took us to Verona. As you can see my parents blended in quite well with the 'locals'.


Oh, and there is the balcony which was the alleged inspiration for the story as well. However, I think she's only a hopeful Juli.

Land O Lakes

Well we were going to stay up at George's in Como but apparently he had to do some reshoots on Ocean's 13. That Clooney, so unreliable. We wound up at a pretty decent place on Lago Maggiore which I think is actually a bit larger than Como, however, inclement weather met us there so no sunning or boating on the Lago.

UPDATED w/ PIX > Floating around in Venice - Italy NOT Beach

Well this will be another quickie as I am broadcasting from an Internet Cafe right now and late to a party. I hope you all are well.

Gawkers shooting us as we cruise through the canals.

San Marino - Home of the Italian GP

A nice little village that isn't hurting for money. Cool little place to disappear for a few days...if you know what I mean.

Let's back up a little bit

As the past few days have been whirlwind and taxing I will only post some recap photos.

Sunset from my room in Perugia. Hip little town.

Postcard anyone? San Gimignano. Amazing little village. Some of you may know it from Tea with Mussolini.

Also in San G. and home to one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. Chef looks like Super Mario and rocks a mega-candlepower spotlight for those trying to pop in and take pix. Insanely frozen in time classic Italian street side panini shop.

Some new friends from Buca Lapi (Thanks Mitch and Jen!) at the meal from which I am still recovering. Zzzzzzzz...

Covert Activities

Well today we did plenty...but I was exhausted and it's late again now. I will tease you with a pic of 'the David' - It's one of those places where you are not allowed to take photos inside (metal detector and the whole bit) but since our xray machine reader looked more like she was trying to win fashion awards it was no problem. Thanks to my friends over at Nokia for including cameras in their personal computing devices.

"I'm out tha country but the Blueberry still connect"

Well today was Assisi and Perugia. Beautiful sights all around. The girls are getting hotter. I could do without churches and basillicas for a little while though. Tomorrow, Siena, San G. and Firenze. More from there.

Welcome to Italy!

Friday the 13th. Normally a pretty lucky day. Here's a shot of dad after a run in with the pickpockets. Hopefully the 70 Euro was our small initiation fee and the rest of the trip goes off without a hitch.

Europe Finally - GMT

Well after almost missing another flight (in Frankfurt) due to a delay we are finally in Roma!
Ciao to all my Bellas and Bellos!

The Denver Leg - MST

After almost missing a flight out of LAX - thanks to the gate changing wizards over at United - I arrived in Denver only to find it colder than I have seen anywhere in a year. Seeing your breath can be a scary thing if it's been a while...because you know what's coming. But, in all reality it's probably not that different than Florida. Take a look.

Nothing says breakfast like vodka...free vodka - PST

Well here we go...this is the first post from L.A. on PST. I would have posted earlier but between handling drama with the flood and, well, drinking with friends...there hasn't been much time. I just returned from some sport drinking with a friend - we'll call him Eddie - and only to be denied by those nouveau-communists at In - N -Out burger. There is a red Jetta in front of me, yet when it is my turn to speak to the box I am told they are not serving past 1 a.m. HEY F-ER!!! It's past 2 a.m. and my predecessor is already tucked neatly away!!! It's ok. I'm fine. Really.

First One - U.S. EST

This is the first entry - obviously. Keep checking in as I bring you the latest and greatest from different time zones.