By the Numbers

Filed in Africa, Austria, Europe, Finland, FORNESSA/FORIC, GFIS, Malawi, Ramblings, Travel Posted by @ July 19th, 2009

A few numbers from the trip.
(The table formatting is off but I think you can figure it out.)

24 Days in travel status
21 Nights in hotels
7 Different hotels
24,896 Miles: Air miles flown (runway to runway)
24,901 Miles:

Earth’s circumference at the equator
14 Number of flights (different planes)
8 Different airports
7 PPTs given, written, or helped to write
3 Countries visited (spent over night – not just airport stops)
13 Geocaches found
2 Fish caught
77 Blog posts (including this one)
unknown Cups of coffee consumed

Dead Laptop

Filed in Ramblings Posted by @ July 14th, 2009

I’m back in the US and doing fairly well considering all the miles, climates, foods, people, and various enviornments I came in contact with.

My computer, now so much.

My USFS laptop is still dead and I can’t seem to get a re-image of the machine to work.

I can only imagine all the work emails that await me when I can finally login.

polar-bluescreenofdeath

Up Early

Filed in Ramblings Posted by @ July 14th, 2009

Back in NC and almost adjusted to a “normal” Eastern US sleep pattern.

My work computer needs a re-image and so I am kinda dead in the water as far as doing significant work.  Just emails and skype but that is probably enough for the moment.

What a Wonderful World

Filed in Music Posted by @ July 12th, 2009

Over the past few years I have had the great fortune to visit 5 continents (I have not made it to Australia or Antarctica – YET), cross the equator in both hemispheres, meet and work with people form dozens of countries, and see some of the most incredible natural and man-made structures in the world.

What can you say after you have been around the world? (Other than I need some sleep?)

What a wonderful world

I see trees of green…….. red roses too
I see em bloom….. for me and for you
And I think to myself…. what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue….. clouds of white
Bright blessed days….dark sacred nights
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow…..so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces…..of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands…..sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin……i love you.

I hear babies cry…… I watch them grow
Theyll learn much more…..than Ill never know
And I think to myself …..what a wonderful world

Malawi Photos

Filed in Africa, Malawi Posted by @ July 10th, 2009

Through a very odd set of circumstances I met a guy from RTP while in Malawi. Who knew that I the only American I would meet in Africa would be from my home state?! There is a long and good story associated with that event.

Here are some photos from Jonathan that you might enjoy:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jonsahib/MulanjeMarketsJune2009#
http://picasaweb.google.com/jonsahib/LandaDeoAndNkolokoti#

Time to pack and then catch the flights back to the US!

LOTS more to come!

The Highwaymen – Highwayman

Filed in Music, Travel Posted by @ July 10th, 2009

Friday night in Vienna

Filed in Austria Posted by @ July 10th, 2009

The sun is going down in Vienna and, if all goes well, the next sunset I see will be Saturday night in Western NC.

Today I dropped by the IUFRO Headquaters and then Michael took me over to his house outside the city.  Vienna is very “green”.  Lots of parks and trees and open space, still it was great to get out of the city and see more of the country side.  I even saw the begining (or ending) of the Alps – depending on your point of view.

Peter Rowan – Midnight Moonlight

Filed in Music Posted by @ July 10th, 2009

Deep Thought

Filed in Ramblings Posted by @ July 10th, 2009

Sometimes I try to take on too many projects and end up pushing myelf too hard.  Sometimes.

Friday: Hotels and Coffee

Filed in Europe, Travel Posted by @ July 10th, 2009

Moving to my 7th different hotel this morning.  Sometimes, it just feels like what I know best is how to keep moving.

Gotta find some coffee to take back to Asheville.  I hear that Sanka is very popular with the locals.

OK, seriously.  I am a “black coffee” kind of guy.  Love it.  But wow…. cappuccinos are fantastic – if they are done right!

Thursday in Vienna

Filed in Austria Posted by @ July 9th, 2009

It is Thursday morning in Vienna. Almost noon. I have had two cups of coffee, the temperature is warm and the sun is shining. (For the moment.)

What would you do?

Royale with Cheese

Filed in Europe Posted by @ July 8th, 2009
Vincent: you know what the funniest thing about Europe is?
Jules: What?
Vincent: It’s the little differences. I mean, they got the same shit over there that we got here, but it’s just – it’s just there it’s a little different.
Jules: Example?
Vincent: All right. Well, you can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don’t mean just like in no paper cup, I’m talking about a glass of beer. And in Paris, you can buy a beer at McDonald’s. And you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?
Jules: They don’t call it a Quarter Pounder with Cheese?
Vincent: Nah, man, they got the metric system. They wouldn’t know what the fuck a Quarter Pounder is.
Jules: What do they call it?
Vincent: They call it a “Royale with Cheese.”
Jules: “Royale with Cheese.”
Vincent: That’s right.
Jules: What do they call a Big Mac?
Vincent: A Big Mac’s a Big Mac, but they call it “Le Big Mac”.
Jules: [in mock French accent] “Le Big Mac.” [laughs] What do they call a Whopper?
Vincent: I don’t know, I didn’t go into Burger King.

K.K. Hofburgtheater

Filed in Austria Posted by @ July 8th, 2009

Amazing.  I wish everyone could see this place.  It takes my breath away…..

K.K. Hofburgtheater

K.K. Hofburgtheater

Moving Around Vienna

Filed in Travel Posted by @ July 8th, 2009

Wanna get to know a city?  Try using public transportation.  This morning I switched hotels (again) and used public busses, trains, and a cable car to go the few miles down the road towards the city centre.   Moving around Vienna this way gave me no great epiphanies but perhaps it did give me a little more insight into a city and its people rather than using a rental car or riding a tour bus.  (Maybe I will try to the tour bus tomorrow!)

Home Fires

Filed in Music Posted by @ July 7th, 2009

The camera work sucks on this video but the music is great.  (They need to hire a better camera guy – or maybe now the guy who did this video has better skills.  After all he can catch fish in Finland!)  I also hear tell that Sons of Ralph have a new CD ready for release at the end of August!

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