Life's Simple Equation

Don't

you

wish

solving

life's

problems

could

be

this

simple?

Home Sick With Homesick

Although the first day of Summer isn't officially declared until late June, I personally kick it off on the eve of Memorial Day week-end.... but this year I'm not feeling it. A lot of it has to do with the fact that I'm in Egypt.... and the rest of it with the fact that I am HOMESICK. For all my travels, home is the ONLY place I'd rather be. When I'm living in the states, I revolve my summer plans around my trips home to North Carolina. As I type this, I hear James Taylor's stirring melody playing in my head....

"In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina...Can't you see the sunshine...Can't you just feel the moonshine...Maybe just like a friend of mine...It hits me from behind...Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind...."

I've been couchridden for the last coupla days with a nasty cold. The good thing about working at a research medical institute for infectious diseases is that if you're sick - you're encourage to stay home. And while it was good the first day, I am feeling serious pangs of cabin fever and homesickness on my 3rd day. Tomorrow I go back to work!

During my germ seclusion, I have pored over blogs and email communications and gotten a heavy dose of family updates that have me hankering for home. If I had not used so much vacation time at Christmas, I would've been able to squeeze in a visit this summer.... but then again, Christmas vacation was priceless and well worth every single moment of family time. I won't be home again until Christmas, and it's a lonnnng ways off..... Sigh.

To my family: Thank you for always keeping the light on, so I can always find my way back home. I love you around the world and back. I miss you.

"Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind ..."

[Gosh, I get sappy when I'm sick.]

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON - 6 Mos & 2 Days!

Here's a FANtastic FAN-made trailer of Twilight's movie sequel, Twilight Saga: New Moon, that will debut on November 20, 2009! You better FANdango your tickets closer to the date, or else you may find yourself standing in line just for popcorn. Egads. Edward Cullen makes me giddy!

Update: Be sure to set your Tivo to the MTV channel on May 31st at 9 pm EST. Clips from Twilight Saga: New Moon will air on the MTV Movie Awards. I'm howling for joy! A-iooowwoooooo!

I'm such a Twerd.

Last Memories of Prague

On my last day in Prague, I went to a kewl sushi bar that had a conveyor belt that went around the room. Dining booths were on both sides of the conveyor belt, and diners could grab whatever dish they wanted.

I went shopping and loved, loved, loved the earth colored amber from Poland....

and lovely Bohemian crystal vases, dishware, sculpt art, and chandeliers found on every block.

Drank ample cups of European lattes' and people watched on the square for the last time.

Walked the Charles Bridge and admired the religious statues that were paired in parallel fashion from end to end.

I admired the tower that Emperor Charles IV built at the foot of the bridge.

The workmanship of the interior ceiling and statues placed at the top of the arch were lovely to see.

I walked past the Opera House, and admired my favorite art nouveau display located on the back lawn.

Went back to Old Town Square and saw the twin Gothic spires of Tyne Cathedral for the last time.

Was present at the hourly clockwork show of figures moving on the medieval Astronomical Clock, which was a favorite tourist spot for all Old Town Square visitors.

But my last impressionable memory of Prague, was the Czech red roof tops, and the winding flow of the Vltava River.

It was a wonderful trip and one that I recommend for everyone. The Czech crown converts to the euro in 2012. Take advantage of the (20:1) crown:dollar conversion, and go while it's cheap!

Prague Castle

Prague Castle is the second largest royal compound in Europe; second only to Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. Starting from the 9th century, architectural styles varied in renaissance, baroque, and gothic designs.



The square below is where President Obama held his press conference on April 5, 2009.

The castle now is occupied by government offices of the Czech Republic presidency, and half of the compound is open to tourists.

This part of the castle below is from the renaissance period.

The crowned queen of Bohemia, Maria Theresa of Prague, was an advocate for women, and had this building commissioned below for elderly women who didn't have family.

The Prague castle compound also had St. George's Basilica below, which predates St. Vitus Cathedral.

I didn't tour the interior of the Prague Castle because of its lack of furnishings, but the compound was worth touring, and St. Vitus Cathedral more than made up for the castle tour, or lack thereof.