Rock Chalk Jayhawk

Alright alright!!!! I am still riding my high of Kansas winning the NCAA National Championship. It was such an amazing game. I was home alone watching the game live at 3:20 am. It was one of the best games I had seen in a long time. At least 9 lead changes and two great teams beating each other up and down the court.

So many things to talk about in the game. But what I have to think is the play of the game is not the Chalmers 3, which is was an amazing shot that was fully contested so not to take anything away from Chalmers because, I will never forget that shot but the great play and hustle by Collins throughout the game and especially the last 2mins. The quick steal off the inbound play the was flipped back to Chalmers reset the Jayhawks and then kicked back out to Colllins for the 3 to knock the score down from 7 to 4 was the key turn around. Then Collins speeds down the court with 10 seconds left. He blows by the defender makes the pass then gets shoved to the floor. No foul!!!! Chalmers sweeps around, jumps, pulls up and BANG THREEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

After Dorsey had just fouled out and they were done. Their heads were in their hands and you could see on their faces they were finished. Free throws were not made and clutch players for Memphis failed to do their jobs. KU stepped up and took the game from being down 9 and drove it straight down the throats of the tigers and finished the game and season in true Rock Chalk fashion. Oh I wish I was on Mass. St. when the Hawks pulled off one of the greatest comebacks ever. April 7th, 2008 will be remembered by many Jayhawkers as one of the best performances by a Kansas team.
ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK GO KU!!!

Ten Years of Warsaw Tortilla Factory

April 1st is not only known for practical jokes and playing tricks on people. In Warsaw it is the anniversary of Warsaw Tortilla Factory. WTF is recognized throughout the Ex-Pat community as being the best place to meet other Ex-Pats living in Warsaw. I went to Tortilla 5years ago for the first time. I have met so many people there and many have become my closest friends. On April Fools day 1998 TF opened their doors and started serving tacos and burritos to the Poles. Monday my close friends Andrew, Solli and Bill celebrated 10 years.(Bill missing in photo) They are three amazing guys who have changed the way service and food is served in Warsaw. As well as changed how I lived in Warsaw. I have grown to consider these guys to be family. They are three fellas who really know how to have a good time and I am so happy I have been blessed by meeting them. These guys have introduced me to some exceptional people that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Monday they kicked off the celebration with 100 free beers and two great performers. The first musician was Lindsay Martell.
He has been traveling around the world for several years and recently landed in Warsaw and become a fixture at Tortilla. After he warmed up the crowd with some covers and originals the main attraction was ready to perform.


Lola Lou is a very well known drag queen. Lola has performed at every birthday and the opening of WTF 10 years ago. Drag queens are not really socially accepted in Poland but music is music no matter who is performing. This was my first drag show and it was great. The music was good and he could really move and play the crowd. Now I know many of my friends back home probably wouldn't be caught dead at a drag queen performance because they would think that would make them gay. They would be wrong, missing a great show and missing out on a lot of single women. Women love the performances and the place was filled with many lovely single straight ladies. He finished up a 2 hours set and started the night off fun and everybody was in the mood to party.

I hoped to see a bunch of old friends but it was a young crowd and only a few of the faithful old regulars were there. Of course there were new regulars and it was a great party, don't get me wrong. Seeing those old friends and partying with shots, drinks and song in the wee morning was what I needed and what I am going to miss. We finally closed the night up about 3am and sailed home in a taxi. I knew it was going to be a long, rough day but luckily the kids were good for me the next day.

Boys, thanks so much for making my past 5 years of my life in Warsaw some of the best ever and congratulations on 10 years of great Mexican food in Warsaw.

Back from Romania

Last weekend was my annual Junior Varsity Boys Basketball Tournament. This year it was in Bucharest, Romania. I coach with another teacher from The American School of Warsaw and he and I were extremely happy with the results. We of course would have liked to win the Championship game but were happy the boys played well and played as a team.

While I was not taking care of 10 high schoolers Matt and I joined some of the locals in fine tradition of beer drinking. We began the weekend at a great German place. Not sure of the name but will find out sometime. I had to have drank 20 beers that night. We closed down the german place then went on our way to a dart bar. We proceeded to bet our asses off on everything from beers to challenging each other to games. I had not played darts in a long time. Needless to say it took a couple round to get the touch back. We were throwing metal tips, which I love. It got to be a real bloody match after taking one in the hand. I forgot about it til the next day. We stayed there to 3am and rolled in to HO JO (Howard Johnson) about 3:30 after stopping on the way home to eat the work food ever.

To se it up. We had been drinking since 7pm and it's now 3. I know Matt will be hurting in the morning, especially since we have to coach. But luckily for me I have been blessed with the ability to drink what I want and as much as I can and not wake up feeling like I had my ass handed to me. We walk into a place call McBurger! Yeah, you read right. This little mom and pop shop took the best marketing approach to selling food. Link your name to the largest, most popular food chain in the world. We walk in and two Romanian ladies are working. Obviously they were both sisters. One about 45 and the other 40ish. They were very attractive ladies at the time of the night. Especially after 8 hours of booze. We watch them pull out the frozen meat that was the shape of a burger but sure as hell didn't taste like one. We mowed that down and chased it with another beer. Then we decide it is a good idea to leave after one of us, I ain't saying who but you know me well enough, asked the ladies to show us their Tatas. The younger one was ready to take us back into the back room but the older sister said NO. Probably a good decision on everyone's part.

We waddled back to the hotel and called it a night. Next thing you know there was a phone call at 7am. Saying where are you? We missed the bus. Oops! Had to take a hour taxi ride in the worst traffic I have ever seen to the American International School of Bucharest to make it in time for our 9am game. Barely made it. What a good trip. Finished 2nd in the tourney. Need to go back without kids.