TTB on Friday

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but lately there hasn't been really any late-breaking news. Okay okay, plus I've probably been a little bit more negligently lazy toward the el' blog-o than I should.

Last night some folks went out to a place called Zelig for TTB (Thursday Trainee Beer), which in this case fell on a Friday. We like to be mysterious and enigmatic like that. I took a couple of photos I thought I'd share.

Back for Bayram

After a long and incredibly awesome vacation back home to the states for the holidays, I'm back in Turkiye! Just in time for another religious holiday, in Turkish known as Kurban Bayram, where a goat is sacrificed to remember the prophet İbrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for God (Allah). This is not to be confused with Şeker Bayram, the holiday culminating Ramadan (month of fasting).

Flight Plan

No, not the movie, MY flight plan!

Saturday, December 17th
Istanbul --> Amsterdam
Amsterdam --> Boston
Boston --> Detroit
Detroit --> Indianapolis

Total distance: 5685 mi / 9149 km
Total airtime: 15 hr 18 mn
*with connections: 23 hr 52 mn

But the fat lady ain't done sung yet! Big Billz Taxi Co., a subsidiary of Willu$ incorporated, comes highly recommended with airport-to-door service from:

Indianapolis --> Bloomington

ETA Bloomington: The witching hour-approximately midnight on Sunday morning.

Funny takes another blow

As most of you probably already know, one hell of a funny man, is no longer in this realm. Normally, I try to keep things that I'm sure are shoved down your throat by the media off the el blog-o simply because there are others more informed out there, and also well, I'm sure you've had enough; but, similar to a previous situation that I posted about before, I decide to forego that rule. It's my blog and I have that freedom, thankyouverymuch.

Leemo has left the building

The one, the only, the sausage eating champion of the world, one Leemo "A for Awesome" (or "Athletically toned", both self-proclaimed of course) Cikuts high-tailed it back to the southern hemisphere after six months in this iskender haven.

And with that, I notched my good-shits-who've-come-and-gone belt yet one more time. It seems to be happening all too often, so much so that I think soon I may have to invest in another belt! I suppose normally this is where I'm supposed to stroll down memory lane and give highlights, but there are so many I wouldn't want to belittle any one by reducing it to a casually referenced occasion in a list. I mean, I might as well use bullet points! No way, José! Wait, when did he come in? I thought we were talking about Lee. Anyway, so it will have to suffice that good memories are a plenty, and should be shared only over a cold glass of Bundy, or any ol' grog as the circumstances permit.

A blessing really to have known so many truly wonderful people and to be able to take comfort in the fact that they are all out there now, all over the world, making it a better place just by being. It's also a great excuse, I mean, reason for traveling-even to Aus with it's 578 most deadly, poisonous, dangerous, scary things.. and counting.

Happy Birthday Daddy-o!!!!

Oh yea, and Happy St. Nicholas Day, too, I suppose. :)

Lovin' the Blues

Two nights ago I had one of the best times in Bursa thus far! A night jam-packed with funky fresh jams and rockin' blues from the likes of this here gent to the left, Syl Johnson, as well as Katherine Davis, and Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson.

The band opened, later joined by the lovely Ms. Davis to get the heart pumpin' and the good times rollin' and kept a flowin' by the hot stylings of Syl Johnson. The evening turned into a soulful night of belted blues by none other than Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson singing about his whiskey drinkin' woman and his own band bringin' it to the table. No doubt!