Blah Blah Blog

You'd think with all this free time on my hands I'd update this thing more.

I mean, unemployment combined with living in Bulgaria should be good for blogging, right?

Evidently not. I don't know if you've noticed, but I am utter crap at blogging. I am not really sure why, but I offer you one possible explanation.

The Internet (especially myspace) is evil. Really. I am not making this up.

I get on the computer at, say, 10 AM and happily log into Yahoo! to check my e-mail, fully intending to work on my blog after I finish. Wow! I have a lot of people who love me!... and hmmm... looks like Paris Hilton is going to jail - hooray for the American judicial system!... and.... oh my... why on earth would anyone want $250,000 worth of Skittles? ... and.... eessssshh.... Sanjaya... and.... Prada... and Presidential candidates.... and polar bears.... and... zzzzzz..... and...

Sweet Baby Jesus! It's 5 PM! I am still in my underwear! And a tanktop! Shit! And I have bedhead! And maybe morning breath!

Then I run around all breathlessly and crazy-like, picking up Tootsie Roll wrappers, throwing dishes in the sink, brushing my teeth, frantically scrubbing myself in the shower and generally trying to make it look like I sort of had a productive day.

Ha! Just kidding! I might have exaggerated a teensy bit. Okay, a lot. And I flat out lied about the bedhead and morning breath, and maybe a few other things... Most days I do actually get stuff done. But still. I am telling you.... Evil!

So, now all because of the evil Internet (especially myspace) I am forced to update you primarily through the use of pictures. Because I am lazy.

A few weeks ago, Ryan and I spent the day in Sofia.

This is a picture of a convertible that also happens to be a police car. Parked outside what appears to be a fetish store.

I love Bulgaria.

It was Ryan's Country Director's last day in Bulgaria as he is moving back to Colorado, so we all went over to his house to eat pizza, sing songs, and say goodbye.

The next day we wanted to go to the beach. But because it was a long weekend here (due to Labour Day, I think), every single person in the entire country (and maybe neighboring Macedonia) decided to go too, so we were unable to catch a bus. Undaunted, we instead went to Gorna Oryahovitsa to indulge in some tapas and sushi with some friends.

That following Monday, we went to Samokov to visit Kevin, a friend of Ryan's, and onto Dupnitsa where Ryan gave a presentation on Safety and Security to the newest group of Peace Corps Trainees. He did a good job. I have to take his word for it, though, since he wouldn't let me watch.

I have no recollection of what we did the following weekend. None. Hopefully this is not a sign of early onset dementia....

Oh wait. I do remember. I just blocked it out. We cleaned. And cleaned. And cleaned some more. For your entertainment, I now present to you before and after pictures. Clearly, we are slobs. Also lushes.

Guess which ones are "Before" and which ones are "After". Guess!

And yes. We still have our Christmas Tree up. 'Tis festive.

Scott (Ryan's friend from the States) arrived last Thursday and we've been having a grand time. I must say, though, somehow his presence has spurred an alarming and rapid depletion in the alcoholic resources of Bulgaria. I'm sure there's some sort of an explanation for this.

Anyway, less than 48 hours after Scott arrived, we headed to Nessebar, a small, but beautiful town on the Black Sea Coast.

On Sunday we had dinner at the beautiful home of an American businessman living here in Stara Zagora. It was a great time overall and our host was most gracious... and a fabulous chef to boot. I have no pictures of this night, but there was steak. Given the presence of said steak (steaaakkkk!!!), it's probably a good thing I didn't have my camera with me. Otherwise this might instead be a pictorial dedication to red meat and baked potatoes.

Tomorrow Scott and I will venture to Plovdiv while Ryan works, and then we will all head to Sofia on Friday to pick up Anna (another friend of Ryan's from the States). From there, we will embark on a 2-week vacation to Romania, Serbia, Greece and Turkey. As you can see, we're very excited.

So for now I say so long to the evil Internet (Damn you myspace! Damn you!) in favor of some fun, adventure... and probably the joys of international beer...