Cat Scrach Fever

SO 2009 is getting a scratchy start.. pun intended..

So I just finished a 22 hour drive from Denver Colorado to Valencia California I'm staying with my new girlfriend at her place and we where under the impression her cat who is notorious for being aggressive and attacking at random was really liking me.. In fact I went to sleep with him snuggled up to me and liking my hand (giving kisses as my friend Angle would say) at around 5 am I got up to use the bathroom and I guess because it was dark (I didn't want to wake up Lisa) but her cat Bitty (as in little bitty this is not a physical description) Started to yaahu and forced his way into the bathroom with me..

We as earlier when we where getting along famously I though he just wanted to say hello...

Yeah that was the second mistake.. Well he the blink of an eye this de-clawed cat was thrashing and biting me and it was all I could do to get him out of the bathroom..

It took some time to stop the bleeding from my right hand and left arm but after 9 bandages and the cat in solitary confinement I tried to get back to sleep.. the Advil helped..

But I will forgive as he was just being protective.. We are going to take things slowly from here on in..


Wish me luck..

Falling.....

I had a fall last night that could have been very bad face altering bad.. I was exiting the Sbahn in Munich and as usual I was running up the escalator its a simple thing I do often to mostly get away from the people lighting up their cigarets before they get into the open air.. Because it was cold I had my hands in my pockets of my bright orange jacket.. When I caught my toe on a step the first thing that flashed through my head was a memory of my little brother (well he was little at the time) splitting his chin while roller skating on Ila Vista with his hands in this overalls..

When I hit face first all I could hear was a crunching in the nose area. I did happen to get one hand out to try and break my fall but its was too late and it caught on the edge of a step giving me a matching cut to an old injury on the opposite palm.

I rolled up as if I had gone down snowboarding and continued but holding my throbbing nose.. My first fear was the cracking sound that had flashed through my head so I was most worried about having broken my nose. But even though it hurt really bad it was not loose or did the pain increase when I touched it. My eyes where watering and with the cold air I was having trouble seeing I must have looked strange walking from the underground holding my face with tears rolling down my cheek.

My hand was bleeding and as this bright orange jacket I have shows everything it comes in contact with I just kept walking and soon my tear ceased. This could have also been because they froze. I kept walking trying to not to drip too much blood , in retrospect I should have held my hand above my heart as that is what you do with an open flowing injury. but then the blood would have run down my arm to my bright orange jacket..

I made it to the restroom at the venue I was heading for and found to my relief that I didn't do any major damage to my nose it was swollen at the bridge and there where a few marks I guess the impact was quite forceful..

I headed up stairs after washing the cut to my hand found my friends and sat.. Dancing was out of the question as when Andrea brought me a towel with ice my head took the cold and slowed the blood flow creating an instant headache..

This morning when I was thinking about the hole incident I looked at my hat knowing if I hadn't been wearing it the possibility of have received irreparable damage would have been immanent. I found two lines that had indented into the material with quite a bit of force.. When I was on the escalator on my way out I realized its design is to I don't know maybe keep people form slipping when its wet or maybe its just necessary for the internal workings of an escalator but wow can you imagine what my face could have looked like if I hadn't been wearing my hat..

I can.. And trust me with out major facial surgery you may not have been able to recognize me..

Thank you to who ever, what ever is watching over me.. I feel very protected..

Dec 2 2008

Stavanger, Norway

Yesterday we had a great day of relaxing and watching movies something I really enjoy when I just need to zone out..

Today was different. Lassa and I had heard about this cliff rock very looking one of the many fjords here in Norway. When we found out that it was so close to where we are we had to go there.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prekestolen

The trip there was easy as we left early and where not fighting any traffic in that direction. The hike wasn't so traffic free. but I was feeling like I was a kid jumping around ont eh rocks of the Sante Ynez rizer where I grew up..

the view from up there was amassing what can I say..

If your ever in Norway or maybe your coming for the "Swingin on the Edge" here in Stavanger then you have to visit this beautiful spot..

I'm trying to write more and Lassa and I have to go through our 1000 photos for this trip and chose the few we like the best. That should be accomplished on the ferrie ride from Norway to Denmark this coming Sunday..
Photos form our trip.
Norway Photos Day 7

Norway Photos Day 8

Norway Photos Day 9

Bergen Norway

So much happened in our three days in bergen I just have to come back and write more later.. But here are lots of photos..
Photos form our trip. Norway Photos Day 3

Norway Photos Day 4

Norway Photos Day 6

Sweden to Norway Day 2

We woke up this morning to sweet sounds of the ocean ageist the rocks.It was a stormy night but we where very dry in our luxury tent. We got on the road as soon as we had the tent and everything wrapped up as best we could, most of our things where very wet still form the setting up in the rain part of the night before.

A free ferry ride to the other side of the bay and we where back on the Hyw going north. Our first priority was food and we had a long breakfast out side the supermarket, Yoggi and Granola and I'm a happy man. Our plan was to head into Oslo find Tina's sister say a quick hello and keep moving so we would have more time to camp or hike just do what we want.

Before we knew it we had the Norwegian border in front of us and we where trying to decide if we still had things to do in Sweden on the phone and such, when we pulled off at an abandoned restaurant and within minutes and maybe less we had the border patrol on us asking who we where and then checking our papers. I offered my passport but they opted for the license. it was a strange feeling but they assured us there was no real problem. Lasse guessed they where in training. After a short lunch we hit the Norwegian road Lasse happy and fed me wondering "where is the passport check and my stamp for Norway.. I was really looking forward to that. No more then 2 Kl we where flagged down by another set of officers btu their first question was "is this your second check?" "Yes" was of corse our reply as I get a mixed feeling of safety and being kept under control.

the road into Oslo is beautiful the fiord open out in front of you and the view makes it hard to keep your eyes on the road. With smiles on our faces we make a Few U turns to pick up a Hitch Hiking girl holding a sign for Bergen. "We are going there but plan on taking our time" This girl from Eastern Finland started t tell us her reason for needing to get to Bergen by tomorrow (Friday) and next thing we are talking about how much fun we had yesterday sailing around in small boats so to see a start of a race of old 3 and 4 mast ships departing from the west coast of Norway. Boo for making our decision so hard, lets see camping and relaxing in the mountains of Norway maybe hike in a few Kl's. Or get to Bergen have more time with Tina and get to see these all wooden sailing vestals putting out to sea.

Lasse started to become stressed (I can never see it coming) He was bit by a tick in Herrang but was having strange effects. A ring of discoloration stiff neck so after the surprise visit to Mereta we walked a few too many blocks to find a pharmacy and a doctor. Lasse got a blot test and V and I walked back to the van to make things easer. I feel much better knowing Lasse is doing better and he came out of the doctor saying lets go to Bergen tomorrow just camp out along the way tonight.

Tired and dreading the rain we searched many driveways unmarked looking for a place with flat ground a view and a place to swim. Yeah so we are a bit picky but hell with it we're on vacation..We finally found a rest stop where we could block as much of the noise from this small but super busy road way. Our Finish friend was the first to go she told me she didn't actually sleep the night before.

And now its my turn to find my sleeping bag..

Photos form our trip. Norway Photos Day 2

Sweden to Norway Day 1

Google map of our trip

Leaving Gothenburg was a funny scene as we both thought the other wanted to stay longer in Gothenburg but we headed out with a photo book inspiring what we might be seeing along the northwestern coast of Sweden.
We had made plans to stop for lunch with a friend from HDC Julia. Her family has a house somewhere on the coast. When we called to ask about directions we where told the give them a time when we would arrive but as this trip is all about enjoying the view we where just taking our time. But they insisted because they need to know when to pick us up in the boat?
It was a great surprise to see Julia one sister and their step moving across the water powered only by the wind. I love sailing so the prospect of just sailing the 100 meters to the other dock was bring a smile to my face. you when we sailed right past the house I thought we where just having a look at some of the island. We actually went strait across the channel. We had a good dat with a great wind but when we pulled into a port after some extensive tacking I was soaked to the bone.
After a wind beaten shaking with semi cold lunch where I left a hefty tip in exchange for one of their blankets we kept. we headed back to the house. This semi Victorian/ Swedish house was filled with ship models and musical instruments. Between the trips to the water and the sauna I really started to feel relaxed and welcomed anything that would come on the rest of our trip, good thing I did..

Our first night on the road and we where having the worst time finding a uninhabited place to pitch our tent. Like the determined Campers we are sleeping in the Van is only a last ditch resort. But as I sit in the tent and my thought are drowned out by the heavy rain I wonder if sleeping in the van might not have been a bad idea..

Photos form the first part of our trip. Norway Photos Part 1

The Plan never happens the way its supposed to

So my plans have changed. I guess I was always worried that I would have to change my plans for going to China and Australia. I have been in Europe now for 23 months I'm really enjoying being here I just feel that if I don't get this around the world trip finished I can't settle down anywhere just to up root my self again to keep moving..

But the Beijing 2008 and Bali, Australia trip is postponed till 2009. Why? Well a few reasons. First two major events have happened and are happening in China. First the Earthquake has put a strain on their economy. Then the coming Olympics have changed many things not only the price of everything ie. air fair, food, travel around China, and the one that is cosing me to change my plans is the Visa requirements for everyone coming in. June 1st the Visa requirements changed and I found this out with 17 days before my departure. The basics are I called the China consulate in Berlin and asked what I needed to do to get my Visa for the month of July. Well the response came as a wake of stress. Because I'm an American I can only go through the China consulate in the USA. Now this isn't really a problem I simply send in my passport with my travel plans to a Visa service then they send it back everything would cost a good penny. But because I have excluding weekends only 15 days and I would no longer be in Munich after 8 of those days it would if I did the fastest way possible, 2 days to over night my passport to the US then one day for the service to get the fast Visa then two days to send it back the Visa would cost me $280 and the shipping to and from the US would be $130. Now my flight to China from Milan was only $546.00.

Well because of a recent video project gone all wrong that I helped to finished.. I'm short in my travel fund around $1300.00..

So what to do now? I have to keep my life exciting if not for my self but all you friends that live vicariously through me..

Well I know I said I was not going to Herrang this year, but where else can I got to get some many great dancers in one place.

My goal is to be there for dancing and photography. I'm working on my next book "Lindy Hopin'" and I want to expand this new style of photos I started last year in Herrang.

So the new plan is...
Swing Crash Como Italy after that I have about 10 days before Herrang starts I'm think of doing a bicycle train combo travel from Italy to Sweden should be a good adventure. I'll spend the 4 weeks in Herrang then I'm going to GBLX (Gothenburg lindy exchange) to photograph the exchange. from here I'm going to try and visit the swing scene in Iceland. Yes there is lindy Hop in Reykjavík. I would spend about a week or more there.
Then I want to visit my father in the US and it will look good for me to go back to the USA before returning to Munich to do a new series of instructional DVD's for Marcus and Barbl.
I would then I would return to California and have time to travel in the US as long as I have the funds.
I'm once again returning to Munich (Yes I like it here) to run the video crew for Rock that Swing 2009. With all the problems I encountered finishing the RTS 2008 DVD I have a really good idea of how to do a very good job.

Then after this great event I will head east that illusive direction that I have been wanting to go sense December 2007.

Oh and Beijing is having an exchange in April 2009 maybe I'll go there at that time..

See you all on some random dance floor in the world.