Friends, I've turned over a new life, found a new lease on life. I have figured out how to play the game. And here it is...
I am in charge of everything.
Everything is under control.
There it is. Those two statements now govern my life, and it's great!
In other VERY important news, TYLER IS COMING TODAY!!! If you are anywhere near Geneva reading this and have not yet had the opportunity to meet this true man among men, contact me immediately! It will be worth it. Freakin' Awesome.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Enquire Airline
To Judy Chan and her beautiful girls, and Gemma, Suzy & Ann- the best queuemates in all of London.
A few excerpts from the journal of Carl...
The boards here at Heathrow tell me it's 8 Jan, 07:35 GMT, and I am forced to take it on faith as neither my mind nor my body have the bearing to inform me otherwise. I've now been in London for 48 hours- forty of which in Terminal 5, ten of those waiting in a single queue in an attempt to re-book a flight; fifteen in the best thing to happen to me in London- the red couches outside Gate A15. I've probably spent eighteen total hours in queues and three hours staring at flight boards, waiting in vain for a gate number to pop up, only to see my two most-hated words in the English language. The boarding pass inside my passport and tucked in my left breast pocket is the fourth I've had in the last two days- each with the same departure and arrival cities, and each thus far with the same result: Enquire Airline.
It has been a trying few days, but it's been a very insightful experience. I've seen combatant Italian women; fun, pushy and inconsiderate Greeks; thick Americans; fun-loving Brits, and hundreds of other people in frustrating circumstances showing their true colors. I've wanted to kiss a British Airways employee, punch multiple British Airways passengers, yell, laugh, sleep, clap, lie on the ground , jump in the air, and most recently, cry- all because of a few white words of text on the black background of a flight board: Go to Gate A20.
I've done things here in which I take incredible pride, and I've struggled with what to do in difficult situations. I've been stunned by people on many accounts: the patience and leadership of an airport manager, as well as the ignorance and neuroticism of an underprepared and overwhelmed airline representative. The selfish egotism of many infantile passengers, as well as the ability of a crowd to laugh and cheer as one in the midst of a seemingly endless queue. I have learned that, while some greatly deserve it and others clearly do not, it's best to just give everyone a little credit.
Throughout the whole ordeal, I noticed that problems often occurred when people lost track of one key thing: perspective. YES- it is ok to laugh when a situation bullies you to scream, cry or fight. NO- you are not the only person in the world (or the room) who is unhappy, stressed or upset. And MAYBE, just maybe, we can step out of ourselves from time to time to help someone else. Not for a thank you or to feel better about yourself, but because they just might need a helping hand.
As I write now, I am on my plane and taxiing on the black tarmac, elated to be in a cramped airplane seat and hesitant to assume we will successfully take off or land at our planned destination. And I've figured out that sometimes that is exactly how life is.
You are how you act in the hard situations, and what makes it all worth it are the people around you.
A few excerpts from the journal of Carl...
The boards here at Heathrow tell me it's 8 Jan, 07:35 GMT, and I am forced to take it on faith as neither my mind nor my body have the bearing to inform me otherwise. I've now been in London for 48 hours- forty of which in Terminal 5, ten of those waiting in a single queue in an attempt to re-book a flight; fifteen in the best thing to happen to me in London- the red couches outside Gate A15. I've probably spent eighteen total hours in queues and three hours staring at flight boards, waiting in vain for a gate number to pop up, only to see my two most-hated words in the English language. The boarding pass inside my passport and tucked in my left breast pocket is the fourth I've had in the last two days- each with the same departure and arrival cities, and each thus far with the same result: Enquire Airline.
It has been a trying few days, but it's been a very insightful experience. I've seen combatant Italian women; fun, pushy and inconsiderate Greeks; thick Americans; fun-loving Brits, and hundreds of other people in frustrating circumstances showing their true colors. I've wanted to kiss a British Airways employee, punch multiple British Airways passengers, yell, laugh, sleep, clap, lie on the ground , jump in the air, and most recently, cry- all because of a few white words of text on the black background of a flight board: Go to Gate A20.
I've done things here in which I take incredible pride, and I've struggled with what to do in difficult situations. I've been stunned by people on many accounts: the patience and leadership of an airport manager, as well as the ignorance and neuroticism of an underprepared and overwhelmed airline representative. The selfish egotism of many infantile passengers, as well as the ability of a crowd to laugh and cheer as one in the midst of a seemingly endless queue. I have learned that, while some greatly deserve it and others clearly do not, it's best to just give everyone a little credit.
Throughout the whole ordeal, I noticed that problems often occurred when people lost track of one key thing: perspective. YES- it is ok to laugh when a situation bullies you to scream, cry or fight. NO- you are not the only person in the world (or the room) who is unhappy, stressed or upset. And MAYBE, just maybe, we can step out of ourselves from time to time to help someone else. Not for a thank you or to feel better about yourself, but because they just might need a helping hand.
As I write now, I am on my plane and taxiing on the black tarmac, elated to be in a cramped airplane seat and hesitant to assume we will successfully take off or land at our planned destination. And I've figured out that sometimes that is exactly how life is.
You are how you act in the hard situations, and what makes it all worth it are the people around you.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Long time, and all that crap...
Hello friends. I know it's been quite a while since you've seen me. And I am deeply sorry for the long delay. I could talk about it for hours and bore you with details, but hey!- it's a new year and I don't dwell on the past.
I'm currently in Heathrow Airport and will be for nine more hours after a few flight cancellations. I will be back in Geneva hopefully by the end of the night, where Geneva Adventures 2010 will begin!
I'm currently in Heathrow Airport and will be for nine more hours after a few flight cancellations. I will be back in Geneva hopefully by the end of the night, where Geneva Adventures 2010 will begin!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Control.
I have had an experience already today with the issue of control- control of your body, control of your environment, and the perception of your own control of the world around you. I'll spare you the nitty-gritty details and skip to the good stuff...
Having too much control over your life can be dangerous thing. But even worse is the feeling of no control at all.
In a foreign land, doing your best to speak a foreign language, eating new foods, sleeping on a new bed in someone else's apartment, spending different currencies- it can be difficult to feel in control of one's self. I was aware of that. What I didn't know was how valuable some of the small things can be when you feel adrift in your own skin: an office, a cafe vendor, a jacket, a familiar voice, and yes, even a pen. Sometimes all you need is a tiny object to grab hold of, to give you comfort, to remind you that an adventure is not linear and predictable.
To the little unexpected gems that hold great power, perspective, and comfort. Thank you.
Having too much control over your life can be dangerous thing. But even worse is the feeling of no control at all.
In a foreign land, doing your best to speak a foreign language, eating new foods, sleeping on a new bed in someone else's apartment, spending different currencies- it can be difficult to feel in control of one's self. I was aware of that. What I didn't know was how valuable some of the small things can be when you feel adrift in your own skin: an office, a cafe vendor, a jacket, a familiar voice, and yes, even a pen. Sometimes all you need is a tiny object to grab hold of, to give you comfort, to remind you that an adventure is not linear and predictable.
To the little unexpected gems that hold great power, perspective, and comfort. Thank you.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The BIG EUROPEAN DESTINATION INVESTIGATION
Family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, interweb wayfarers...if you just engage with ONE blog posting here for the rest of history, let it be this one.
I open up a challenge to you for the benefit of all, and in the spirit of world leader and oft-perceived demi-God Barack Obama, we all must strive together to accomplish this great feat. We will need to dig deep, get creative and put forth an end result that will rock the world. I say to you this: Yes We Can.
The BIG EUROPEAN DESTINATION INVESTIGATION:
As many of you know, I will be based here in Geneva for the next seven months, and during that time I plan to do an immense amount of traveling throughout Europe. In my quest to explore the land, I aim to take advantage of your unique experiences, compile them and create an incredible database of destinations for my upcoming travels. So here's what I am looking for...
-ONE destination city/town/village
-ONE specific destination building/landmark/activity/festival in the destination city.
It's that simple. One city. One activity.
A few guidelines, rules, and tips...
-Please leave your entry as a comment on this posting.
-Please leave your name after your entry.
-Please limit yourself to ONE city. I want there only to be the best of the best.
-A focus of this compilation is frugality... think backpackers on a budget.
-Keep in mind the season. A nude beach in Trondheim, Norway will not be as spectacular in January as it is in July.
-If you absolutely can't limit yourself to a single entry, please email me directly at -mrcarlnelson@gmail.com- with additional suggestions.
And here's the best part...
For each viable entry*: I will make arrangements, visit your city, accomplish your activity, and write a blog entry about the experience! >>>Let's make sure this hits home, people- all you do is comment on this blog; then I GO there to experience and participate in some spectacular endeavor, and you find out about it afterwards right here. Fantastic, huh?
*I cannot guarantee destinations with a specific date parameters (for instance, a grape festival over a specific weekend in April) as I may have other plans. Until I get my HarperCollins book deal for this project, my bank account is finite. As such, some trips may be prioritized over others. I may not be able to reach every destination before I run out of money.
There it is. The gauntlet has been thrown. The challenge has begun. Please let your friends and neighbors know about this, as anyone is welcome to participate. If you wish to contribute to the BEDI fund, please contact me at -mrcarlnelson@gmail.com-.
I'm Carl Nelson, and I approve this message. Enjoy!
I open up a challenge to you for the benefit of all, and in the spirit of world leader and oft-perceived demi-God Barack Obama, we all must strive together to accomplish this great feat. We will need to dig deep, get creative and put forth an end result that will rock the world. I say to you this: Yes We Can.
The BIG EUROPEAN DESTINATION INVESTIGATION:
As many of you know, I will be based here in Geneva for the next seven months, and during that time I plan to do an immense amount of traveling throughout Europe. In my quest to explore the land, I aim to take advantage of your unique experiences, compile them and create an incredible database of destinations for my upcoming travels. So here's what I am looking for...
-ONE destination city/town/village
-ONE specific destination building/landmark/activity/festival in the destination city.
It's that simple. One city. One activity.
A few guidelines, rules, and tips...
-Please leave your entry as a comment on this posting.
-Please leave your name after your entry.
-Please limit yourself to ONE city. I want there only to be the best of the best.
-A focus of this compilation is frugality... think backpackers on a budget.
-Keep in mind the season. A nude beach in Trondheim, Norway will not be as spectacular in January as it is in July.
-If you absolutely can't limit yourself to a single entry, please email me directly at -mrcarlnelson@gmail.com- with additional suggestions.
And here's the best part...
For each viable entry*: I will make arrangements, visit your city, accomplish your activity, and write a blog entry about the experience! >>>Let's make sure this hits home, people- all you do is comment on this blog; then I GO there to experience and participate in some spectacular endeavor, and you find out about it afterwards right here. Fantastic, huh?
*I cannot guarantee destinations with a specific date parameters (for instance, a grape festival over a specific weekend in April) as I may have other plans. Until I get my HarperCollins book deal for this project, my bank account is finite. As such, some trips may be prioritized over others. I may not be able to reach every destination before I run out of money.
There it is. The gauntlet has been thrown. The challenge has begun. Please let your friends and neighbors know about this, as anyone is welcome to participate. If you wish to contribute to the BEDI fund, please contact me at -mrcarlnelson@gmail.com-.
I'm Carl Nelson, and I approve this message. Enjoy!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Camels and Pigs and Rain
When I arrived here in Geneva, we were in the middle of some unusually warm weather. Now, apparently, we are back to more of the usual- fog, clouds, a little rain and colder temperatures. However, the early morning chills were immediately transformed to feelings of joy when I looked outside and saw THE CIRCUS!!
There are camels, horses, ponies, dogs and a pig unloading from trucks onto the parking lot and grass directly across from our apartment building. How exciting!
On a clear day you would be able to see Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in western Europe, above and slightly left of the circus tent. Directly behind the circus tent is the back of the supermarket- Carrefour- and the main drag of Ferney behind the tan apartment building on its right.
Of course, the current down-side of the circus is the LOUD blaring music they use to advertise their presence...but what can you do? I must be off to prepare for another dinner party- the very best way to meet people in a new country, I have decided.
Love from Ferney!
-CARL
There are camels, horses, ponies, dogs and a pig unloading from trucks onto the parking lot and grass directly across from our apartment building. How exciting!
On a clear day you would be able to see Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in western Europe, above and slightly left of the circus tent. Directly behind the circus tent is the back of the supermarket- Carrefour- and the main drag of Ferney behind the tan apartment building on its right.
Of course, the current down-side of the circus is the LOUD blaring music they use to advertise their presence...but what can you do? I must be off to prepare for another dinner party- the very best way to meet people in a new country, I have decided.
Love from Ferney!
-CARL
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Overly Complicated...
Over the past five days here in France, I have ruminated on this issue of over-complication, aided by a collaboration of great minds at a fantastic dinner party last night. And I have come to a few conclusions...no, as I have only been in this country for less than a week- a country about which I am largely ignorant- I cannot yet conclude these thoughts. So I will push forward and offer these observations...
#1. America is an overly complicated place.
--Every country, of course, has its complications. I will put forth, however, that the land of the free and the home of the brave is TOO complicated a place. And as such, us Americans tend to over-complicate matters.
#2. Here in Ferney, you do a few things and you do them well.
--Take, for example, bread. Or wine. Or cheese. Each incredibly delicious and each made with a great deal of integrity.
-Everyone goes to the market on Saturday. EVERYONE.
-After a hard day of market-ing on Saturday, nothing happens on Sunday. NOTHING.
-You go to work at 9:00 and you come home at 5:00.
-Lunch is from 12:00-2:00.
Surprisingly simple, these things, and yet surprisingly profound. I have found these details of life here to be incredibly refreshing and thought-provoking. What is it about these aspects of daily living that contrast so much with those I have encountered across the sea? And I think the current issue that strikes me is that which I have briefly mentioned above: integrity.
In the USA, we are bombarded with merchandise that falls apart in minutes, food that tastes bad or is bad for you, products that fill such a small niche that they quickly become useless- the quick fix: anything to make a buck. Here the focus is elsewhere. Sure, you will need to walk across the street to drop off your recycling, learn to drive a manual transmission, and walk a little farther to a store that only sells bread- but you can make damn sure that baguette is going to be worth the walk.
#1. America is an overly complicated place.
--Every country, of course, has its complications. I will put forth, however, that the land of the free and the home of the brave is TOO complicated a place. And as such, us Americans tend to over-complicate matters.
#2. Here in Ferney, you do a few things and you do them well.
--Take, for example, bread. Or wine. Or cheese. Each incredibly delicious and each made with a great deal of integrity.
-Everyone goes to the market on Saturday. EVERYONE.
-After a hard day of market-ing on Saturday, nothing happens on Sunday. NOTHING.
-You go to work at 9:00 and you come home at 5:00.
-Lunch is from 12:00-2:00.
Surprisingly simple, these things, and yet surprisingly profound. I have found these details of life here to be incredibly refreshing and thought-provoking. What is it about these aspects of daily living that contrast so much with those I have encountered across the sea? And I think the current issue that strikes me is that which I have briefly mentioned above: integrity.
In the USA, we are bombarded with merchandise that falls apart in minutes, food that tastes bad or is bad for you, products that fill such a small niche that they quickly become useless- the quick fix: anything to make a buck. Here the focus is elsewhere. Sure, you will need to walk across the street to drop off your recycling, learn to drive a manual transmission, and walk a little farther to a store that only sells bread- but you can make damn sure that baguette is going to be worth the walk.
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