Ceske Budějovice

We find ourselves in Ceske Budějovice with two days left in Europe. I know what you are thinking, why are they leaving Europe the day the Tour de France begins? I blame the timing of the Prague Biennale.
Last year I bought my beautiful bike around Tour de France time and a certain wonderful woman that I work for asked me, "why not enter the race?" It seemed like a good idea but it also looks pretty hard. A month later the Olympics were on and we were watching swimming. The same wonderful woman, having known that I took swim lessons the previous winter, told me that I should swim in the Olympics. I can swim several laps with only short rests in between. I wish I had her confidence.

Maybe I will write about Europe when we get home.

Veinna

This neighborhood seems nice to me and I do not know that I should think otherwise just because the hotel is surounded by brothels. Word on the street is that the Veinese prostitutes cost the most and the price drops with different nationalities. One might do a study on race and class issues based on the price for sex in a given neighborhood or city. One might.

Venice has a Biennale too

I am writing from Italy and my template is in italian. For instance "tamplate" is "modello" and "post" is "impostazioni."
Our room or "camera" is nice but once again Luke and I are sharing a bed. Since leaving the USA we have had separate beds once - bunkbeds at a friend's apartment in London.
We are in Venice looking to compare its Biennale with the one in Prague. Yes, there is one in Venice too. If it turns out to be of any interest I will report back.

London

I sat in the front of the plane on the flight over which was lovely. I was the first bloke off the plane besides two other blokes and a bird. So really I was the third bloke to deplane. Luke and I are staying with a chap named Graham. Brilliant of him to put us up. We are both pretty nackered so we are going to hit the sack. Tomorrow we are going to a cricket match.

Cheers

Prague

Luke and I are at the National Gallery in Prague. The show looks good. I took up cigar smoking. Its pretty cool. Its possible and even legal to smoke Cuban cigars in Europe. The only problem is that even the good ones stink and cause cancer. Fidel Castro even quit. Maybe I'll consider quiting. Its just not that easy.

cover

cover
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Luke and I leave for Europe today but first I thought I'd leave you with the cover of our forthcoming book.

Robert Big Self

bigself
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I found more signature practice. I'm sure that while he was trying he asked, "Me?" and someone said, "Yes you." So, “Robert Yes You” was born. I do not know how Robert "Big Self" happened.

Power 2 Dogs

sign
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

Robert was asked to sign his name this morning. This is the result.

garden

garden
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

And here's a view looking southeast from the garden.

now

now
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is what my garden looks like so far.

then

then
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is what my garden looked like after planting.

Europe

lilly
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I’m going to Europe in a few days –again. I know what y’all are saying. Y’all are saying, “Lucky Jon gets to go to Europe all the time." But look what I am leaving behind. And it just bloomed yesterday.

toad

toad
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This toad hung out in my garden a few days ago. Lovely, isn’t she? Or, handsome isn’t he? Or, ugly isn’t it? Chose one.

Eddy

Eddy
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

beetle

beetle
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

This is what the larvae turned into. Some folks say they are elm leaf beetles. They do not look like the elm leaf beetles I found on the Internet. They are about the size of a ladybug but less round as you can tell. Do you know what they are?

I need a back rub

As Robert walked by, I said, “Robert, I need a back rub.” Robert said, “A drack blub?” So I said, “A brack club.” So Robert said, “What does it mean?” So I said, “It’s when you squeeze right here,” indicating my deltoids. He laughed, patted me on the back, said, “O.K.,” and walked off.



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Our Publisher

On the plane to Portland I sat by a woman who had a thick ham sandwich on dark rye bread. She was squirting little packets of mustard on to the sandwich when she asked, "Do you want half of this?" I thought it was a very sweet gesture but declined. Earlier, I was sitting in another seat when a large man sat by me. I started to sweat and had the closest thing to a panic attack that I ever hope to have. I thought I might have to get off the plane. After trading seats with the large man's son, I calmed down immediately. Whew.
Luke and I are in Portland working on our book, "Big Ten Co-Eds, Preppy Girls and The Lost Cheerleaders." We spent a few hours today laying the book out. It’s looking pretty good so far.



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180 degrees in the shade.

I just told Robert that his shorts are on backwards and he said, “Just 180 degree?” Yes. But then he said he doesn’t think they are made to do that.

Black-tailed rattlesnake maybe

AR0201_1m
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

I went for a hike yesterday and saw what I believe to be a Black-tailed rattlesnake. He was pretty aggressive though and my sources (enature.com) say the Black-tailed is not a particularly aggressive species. I told the gardener about my hike and he said, "It is okay to enjoy the mountains but not to trust the mountains. There are lots of black bear and they will eat you. You should bring a gun. A snake in the Gila (a national forest in southern New Mexico) ate a cow and her babies." He said the snake sucked the cattle up like a vacuum cleaner. He indicated the size with his arms in a circle (bigger than an anaconda) and said it was a serpent.

larvae

larva
Originally uploaded by Jonathansadler.

There are hundreds of these larvae on my house. They look like ladybug larvae but larger and yellowish. They seem to barely move but if I put something out in front of the house the thing will have one on it almost immediately and maybe thirty or more if left overnight. Do you know what they are? I am waiting for them to turn into beetles to find out.