Live From B.P, Newport, CA

2:44pm. Balboa Peninsula, baby!! Just giving a shout out to all the nomads out there..keepin it real..real dumb. Wherever you may be, just know that in S. California the sun is shinin', the blender is blendin', the ladies are dancin', it's on....

Different

Saving The World Aboard a Lear Jet..

Saki wrote me an email tonight and it reminded me of something I've been intending to post about for quite a long time. It's a conversation that seems to echo and reverberate with many of my friends. Maybe it started with a trip from a 4 star hotel in Slovakia (EXPRO 2002) to a Gypsy community without electricity. Tour buses and all. At any rate, some thoughts I ruminate over from time to time:

The dilemma at hand is one of personal/social responsibility. Glibly, it's the PeaceCorp Vs. PriceWaterhouse Cooper mentality. Continuing status-quos or breaking the mold. It's a tough thing to deal with when you're trying to make it as a young person in this world. On the surface, its seems to be played out all the time with Alumni in AIESEC. One might be in the Kamchatka peninsula working for a NGO that directly helps some of the poorest of people in the world, while another is formulating the ideal business plan to get rich with an IT company in Stockholm (or avoiding corporate America like the plague and working for the US Government;). Are these different values being played out? Could they be the same?

On one hand, you're smart, you've got your act together, you've got the creditals, you've invested a lot in college, and it's time to see just how far you can succeed in today's competitive job marketplace. Make mom and dad proud. Creme rises to the top and you're a shoe-in for running up that corporate latter. You deserve the best. On the flip side, you're plagued with feelings of indifference toward the whole "game". How meaningful is your life if your goal is only to amass material possessions and financial stability while wars are waged, poverty persists, etc. etc. Trite. You already have more than enough to be happy, and subconsciously you may already feel a little bit guilty about the bloated western lifestyle you lead. That plasma screen hanging off the wall just doesn't gel with the flashback of mom clinging to sick son..begging off the streets of polluted Delhi. How to reconcile your "save the world" mentality with an exterior society that appears to be built on consumerism, desire for wealth, and "shiny things"? Perhaps we just grow tired of fighting it, label it as a "liberal college cause", start a family, buy a home, and accept that life isn't fair. But, maybe we grow tired of allowing injustice, realize we have an obligation to make at least a small change for the better, and sleep with some peace of mind. Let's hope for the latter.

Of course, it's not so cut and dry or black and white. Bill O'Reilly would like you to think it is, but it simply isn't. The nuance is age and experience. Perhaps you can have your cake and eat it, too? It's dangerous thinking, and I've been warned that it's a trap..but that's a whole different dicussion and one which lends itself to several glasses of scotch.

The main point is not to lose sight of your values and to seek experience. Sometimes that experience will give you an economic windfall at an early age, other times it's for naught. I really believe, especially in your 20s, seeking as much experience and, as Saki and I talked about in Austin, doing as much "information gathering" as possible, is the best path. Scour the earth and your soul and find truths for yourself. There's a lot of misinformation and fear promulgated by isolationalists, cat-lovers, dog-haters, liberals, religious leaders, news sources, socialists, celebrities, parents, conservatives, capitalists, nationalists, bosses, vegetarians, marketers, environmentalists, politicians, etc. etc. about what you should be doing, how you should structure your life, and what's important. I have friends who are employed by Greenpeace in Amsterdam and oil companies in the Gulf. I've worked for AIESEC as well as the US Department of Defense. The point is there's good and bad in all organizations, and at this point it's important to realize that while youth is our biggest asset, it can also be our biggest hinderance. There's just so much to learn and so many skills to garner!

Seeing, exploring, and discovering for yourself will shed light on what you hold to be legitimate in life and how you wish to spend your conscious moments. In that respect, I hold the young person working in the NYC office performing complex administrative tasks and the other teaching english in Botswana to poor children in a "developing country" in the same light. Nobody has sold out yet. Intentions has a lot to do with it and while money is important, it shouldn't be the ultimate end-goal. True those with money make the changes (good or bad), but the intentions behind the money are the most crucial element. I certainly wouldn't be doing my job today if I didn't think that down the road it would allow me to get my foot in the door with a different Gov't agency and make some real changes for the good. I'm sure (hope) that many people on nomadlife.org are in same position.

So, if you're wondering which path to take, PWC or PeaceCorp, just remember that many paths can lead to the same destination. An ocean refuses no river:) First, seek the experience. Get the skills. Practice your patience. Don't lose track of your goals, values, and ambitions. Be persistent until you get want you need. From personal experience, I can say it's an endurance test, that's for sure.

Well, until then, I'll be having some caipirinhas on the beach;), saving up some cash to see another locale unknown to me.
Cheers!

With Friends Like These..

Who Needs Enemies?

Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco

Anyone? Anyone?

Risk Management

Risk Management
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

For Jim Kelly... compliments of the US Federal Government's PPP on "Risk Management".

Wonderwoman.

Before we get to Austin, let's take it back to London with Wonderwoman in Avi's. Yee-haw. Leave it to Merkle, no matter which continent he's on, God bless him, those damn Avi's are coming with. Lookin' Gooooooood.

Austin: An Out of [Water]Body, Nomadlife Experience.

Well, well, well. As some have already pointed out, Austin hosted a weekend of fun and shannigans..deep in the heart of Texas! Damnit, I was so sick ("ill" for all you Turks!), but what better cure than precious waterbodies, beautiful sunshine, and smokin' Texas BBQs compliments of Jesse? Unfortunately I was so sick, I really didn't take many pictures, but I'll post a few from other's blogs soon.

Save the fact that I could hardly swallow, the weekend was nothing short than a blessing, handed down by the @ gods themselves. It really reminds you of why you joined, why you became active, and why you are still hanging out long after you've been stripped of your @ positions and roles ...It's the waterbodies, the waterbodies, the WATERBODIES! Having been unwell lent itself to an amazing soberness throughout my time in Austin (riiight), which led to an even more amazing ability to recall events that really highlighted my weekend (not really).


-Meeting, for the first time, Sheila Zhao, from China/NJ/Indiana (who the hell knows). Sheila: It's so great you did a traineeship in Turkey in 2002, too! I'm surprised we hadn't met before! I'll be seein you in Beijing!
-Mexican Martini's at Truddys (see the nomadlife.org picture of Sheila and I napping on the couch) and Mix Master telling me that I look "So LA"..haha! Oh Mike, if you only knew where Greenville was!
-Mixing up Trent's name and feeling like an ass. Trent, you're as crazy in person as you are on your blog. Snake blood? Hmm, I'll take another Caucasian, Jackie.
-Breakfast tacos at "Juan in a Million". The highlight of "Juan" had to be the personal account of the "Man Month" by Adam. I'm sure a lot of you guys read about it on "An Irish Experience" back in the day...I haven't been so frightened of anything in my life. But, I've never felt so good after eating tacos for breakfast. Why? Because it's Juans, and Juan's just "makes you feel good".
-Meeting up with Angie after not seeing her since Madison in 2003...and sharing "my obsession" about Kiev. Ang, for some reason everytime I see you it's all a big, grand blur. Hmm. Let's keep it that way.
-Meeting Saki! Even if all of the Chinese people hate you guys, don't worry, myself and Dubya are still cool with the Japanese...well, this month at least;) After talking with you and Sheila, I know that it is just a matter of time before I hit up Asia...The time has come! I want Hong Kong. I want Beijing. Screw Shanghai.
-Learning La Contessa's real name! Why didn't anyone tell me she was cute? Communication breakdown here, folks. Jen, give my regards to WonderWoman in London and enjoy the rain.
-Seein' Celeste and Dana..damn it's been a long time. I mean a LONG TIME. Celeste, I actually have heard so much about you, but it was years ago..I'm gonna have to do some research..Ms. Matl, def. a pleasure meetin up with you.
-MelT, haha! I can't get that song out of my head..."samba, samba, samba". I hope Surya can burn me a copy, but I'm afraid I've burned all my bridges with that POS. Anyway, thx for toting us around.
-Jesse, seeing you rip apart those chickens with your bloody hands really made me see you in a different light. See what I wrote to Angie;)
-Surya, you're a lucky POS..India for 10 days and Turkey for a Summer...BUT, you're also an excellent host (esp. for useless sick pieces of whitetrash). Thanks for nursing me back to health and showing off everything that 'encapsulates Austin': Waterbodies, cute girls, sunshine, Keystone Light(which my high society clothes were packed so nicely in), and good ole fashion Jeese BBQ.
-Dturk, ibne pic. I wanted more stories about Tas Gibi Kizlar.
-Tata, you remind me of Mahbod, perhaps a little better looking (I heard about the Hooters in Spore story), you POS. Now tell me who the half Swiss, half Guatemalan girl was;)
-New Austin @er without a tshirt, you remind us of Devrim. You've got a bright future ahead of you, slime away.
-Dody, what more can you ask for (besides 2 chicks)? Your creation is truly coming alive. It's like a Frankenstein. It's here. It's crazy. It's scary. I blame you.

And to the countless others I met, I'm sorry, I have forgotten your names. Ask Sheila, it just takes some time for me;)

Now, I must say that knowing and visiting different US chapters of AIESEC throughout the years I have seen them grow, die, rise, fall, and everything in between. I was talking to Chantall (ex LCP of Buffalo) yesterday and she was talking about how Blo had to cancel Oozefest this year because of a lack of interest/participation. I remember 2 years ago they were having trouble with basic logistics because there were so many people. I saw the same thing happen in Michigan when we had our Casino Night cancelled our last year. But, I also remember Nick Clark giving us daytime "nature tours" at Lake Kansas. And actually thinking back on it, the Lake Kansas experience reminded me a lot of Austin. An LC running on all cylinders in terms of member participation.

Without knowing too much about @ over in Tehas, my general feeling after seeing Austin this weekend was that I was witnessing an LC that was at it's peak, or at least an coming up to an end of an era so to speak. Be it Surya (and ?) doing Capoeira or Adam attempting to give us a 5am tour (thanks for spoiling it Angie) of Austin, I was glad to be apart of the Austin Experience.
Thanks again everyone, for the weekend, and for allowing me to procrastinate all of my work on this fine Californian Monday morning. I'm feeling better now!! @$#%$! WTF Mate. WTF.

Desert Bloom

desert bloom
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

Surreal Inspiration..

I've been so busy lately I've hardly had the chance to reflect on the awesome experience that was the Joshua Tree National Park. The park regularly posts 105F (40C) temps in the summertime so when the temperature dipped into the low 80sF I thought, "It's now or never". I doubt the old Volvo could handle temperatures much higher.

Despite the relatively low temps, something else was happening out in the desert; It was in bloom. Driving down the barren paths with nothing but desert as far as the eye can see, the blowing flowers alongside the road seemed like the most bizarre of daydreams.

There's something about seeing anything "alive" in the desert that really inspires. It's a metaphor for life, struggling to grow and blossom no matter the odds and how harsh your external environment may be. The flowers will wilt and die within a few weeks of the desert's arid heat. Their time, as is ours, is short, so live vibrantly, and seize the day! You never know when the sun will rise to take you away...

Nowhere in the News...

Strikes (persumably) have caused all internet/phone connections to cease in Belize. I was wondering why I haven't read about an entire country not having access to the telephone, maybe because it's so small..or maybe because the news correspondents in Belize can't report it.

Well Belizeans, at least you still have One Barrel. Dat No Di Gel, Babe!

We on Award Tour...

We on Award Tour...
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

London, what?!

merk_drake_london
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

Merk!

thomas_drake

thomas_drake
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

burcu_drake

burcu_drake
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

arthur_drake

arthur_drake
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

karan_drake

karan_drake
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

WonderWoman!

sarah_Drake
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

Something in the Air...

Back from a few short days in London, was any of it real? Who says alcohol is bad for jet-lag? Now was it the city or the people that made it so great? One can never tell. Both scored big. It's no mystery why people love London. The sheer diversity of the place can't help someone from wanting more of it. Squeezing into the crowded pubs in the day, running through the tube with the brisk draft agaisnt us at night.. the underground musican playing the soundtrack of our lives...bursting with excitement and life. The candle lit faces of old friends smiling at past glory stories and newer conquests...the loud laughter of new friends who know in the back of their heads that this is only the beginning..chapter one. Oh, but who will write the novel?

The highlight of this trip, if you had to put your finger on it, must have been dinner at Burcu's Turkish restuarant or perhaps meeting up with Sarah and Karan later the next day. Both were def. encounters of which can best be described as nothing more than pure magic. It's hard to explain, but a situation that has been repeated time and time again.

I remember one hot and humid summer night back in 2003, finding a blocked entrance atop of the Congress Hotel that led to roof, drinking beers with friends from all over the world... watching the 4th of the July fireworks over Chicago...Thomas turning to me and saying "this is one of the best moments of my life..nothing else matters but now, now everything is right in the world"..it's the Sol Atlantico Hotel in Brasil, the Karaoke in Madtown, Life-Roof in Istanbul, Tequila Flats in NYC, a dodgy pub in Slovakia, JD's in Michigan, Turk's Head in Ireland, New Year's Eve at the Purple Parrot in Belize, etc etc. The friendships forged won't be forgotten.

It's trips like this that make me realize that many more traveling days lie ahead for me. Many more people places wait to be explored. Many more smiling faces to be met. Many more transnational stories to be told. As a sometimes wise POS once said, "our glory days are still ahead of us!". Sarah, Burcu, Merkle, Thomas, Arthur, Stephi, Karan, and to all the others, thanks for a sincerely excellent (albeit short) time in London, I'll see ya soon. Surya, Jesse, Dody, Sheila, La Contessa, Saki, MelT, MixMaster, Estuardo, Angie (the one I'm thinking?) and others: I'm looking forward to our THREE Mexican Magaritas this weekend. Austin, it's coming! Bring the heat!

This could be the very minute
I'm aware I'm alive
All these places feel like home

With a name I'd never chosen
I can make my first steps
As a child of 25

Snow Patrol, "Chocolate"

Cheers. Welcome back home, Merkle. Burn the city down.

Old Schoolin'...

...as Arthur would say.

Can a day get any better? I've just found in the last 4 hours that three more of my peeps are headed over/up/down/out to London this weekend. Oh yes, adventures will be had.

In the Starting Line-Up we have:

Matthew Merkling: All-American who spends 30 days a year in the States. He's got the citizenship for the MOOLAH. Last I saw of him: 2003, playing He-man and the "Masters of the Universe" with Skeletor in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Thomas Morandell and his "girl": Italian but he looks so German, so Ayran: Last I saw of him: 2004, yelling "heyyyy giirrrrrrls" while driving a convertible around East Lansing, Michigan.

Edward Qualye:British, helped me out with a snafu with Narin:Last I saw of him:2002, hitting on tas gibi kizlar in Antalya, Turkey.

Burcu Survan: Turkish. Last I saw of her: 2003, writing AIESEC English-placement exams and having me, sarhosh, correct them;)..nice work!, Istanbul, Turkey.

Arthur Josephson: Aussie. It started with stouts in Ireland and ended at 4:00am in some random club/bar/I have no idea..in Bratislava, 2002.

(possible) Sara Carey: Texas cowgirl, Austin Native? This is interesting, I've never actually met her. But, look forward to doing so, esp. since I'm in Austin next weekend.

(possible) Luciana:Portugese. Last I saw of her: complaining of the heat at Ataturk's tomb in Ankara or maybe enjoying some sprite (she didn't like Efes or Raki, the sin!) atop Life-Roof, Who knows..Istanbul, Turkey, 2002.

(possible)Sarah Barber: British. Ex-@ Michigan trainee. Last I saw of her: rokkin' and rollin' in snazzy Pontaic, Michigan, 2002.

who knows who else is joining this..it just keeps getting bigger and bigger, and my liver blacker and blacker. ;)

At this point excited would be an understandment. I'm ecstatic.

Let this be a lesson, "If you buy it, they will come"...

True or Not..

This cracks me up....Senior Road Rage..
http://graphics1.snopes.com/autos/audio/jackbox.mp3

thanks, bro:)

Another Weekend...

One of the truly amazing things about S. California is the diversity of activities and landscapes you can absorb yourself in ...in 48 hours...Mom's weekend trip encompassed everything...the arid desert mountains, the cool ocean, the peaceful Wayfayer's chapel (overlooking the Pacific) and the roaring Grand Prix in Long Beach. I'm always amazed at how everything around here buzzes with life and noise..and then how easily it is to escape it..what a weekend!
P1010193
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

Wayfarer's Chapel..all glass..

P1010184
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

Looking South to Mexico at Joshua Tree National Park.

jt3
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

Korean Bell of Friendship, San Pedro

P1010199
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

Pumpkin Paul

Pumpkin Paul
Originally uploaded by TheDrake_.

Skype Bound...

POS, I finally got a Mic. Relax. It was Nina who finally reminded me.

Perspective...

http://www.monuc.org/news.aspx?newsID=6101

The DR of Congo makes Iraq look like child's play. I'd give ole GW a shiny nickel if he could even point to where it is on the map. 1,000 being murdered a day...dios mio...

Sunday Funday!

Back in college we used to celebrate "Super Thursday"...a 'special time' when some buddies and I would get together to usher in the upcoming weekend.. as the Dude would say, "I'll tell you the truth, Brandt, I don't remember most of it.--Jeez!".. meaning..it was a good time. Nothing but loud music and Shannigans until the wee hours of dawn.

Of course everything changes and Thursday nights, while still fun, never have gone back to the level of craziness as the "SuperThursday" days. Lately though, I 've notice a pattern developing and it seems to me that now SuperThursday has gone to-->SundayFunday.. just a conversion from an old day that was typically reserved for homework, hangovers, and laziness. It's great, by realizing the SundayFunday the weekend is in essence lengthened by 2 (this is my thesis statement). Double-Double your pleasure! The loud music and Shannigans continues...

Last week's Sunday Funday was no exception. First, let me set the scene. Beautiful warm weather, palm trees, and snow-capped mountains in the distance, we spent the weekend at my brother's new pad on Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Tennis courts for his front yard, and volleyball courts on one of California's finest beaches in the back. As Dave put it upon entering his apartment, "this place just puts me in a good mood". It's even got a very Jackie Treehornesk fireplace.

But, enter Sunday morning and only one word can describe the state of being: "struggling". It's like a scene from "Reservoir Dogs" where everyone is crawling on the floor, bloodied from a long weekend, "I'm f*ckin' dyinnnnnnn!!!". Blurred and embarrassing memories, empty cans, and a stack of expensive bar tabs from the past 3 days combine with the onslaught of a new work week and a ghastly vision of your boss looking eagerly at you with 4 new "hot" projects.

It's at this time most settle for a movie and about 30 glasses of water to get them by. Counting down the hours left in the weekend.

That's no way to have a Sunday Funday.

First order of business? Skip the water and pour yourself a stiff drink.

Now some may claim this is a sign of "alcoholism", but I look at it more as a way of dealing with a more serious problem: "workaholism"..and we all know which one is more fun:).

Turn on some music, loud. It's got to be mellow, it's got to be "easy like Sunday morning". No lyrics are the best, but if you have to have someone singing, make sure its something in a foreign language lest you have to concentrate on words! But then again, Jack Johnson's new CD is rokkin'!! Whatever, the music isn't the point, the point is to forget about the office and celebrate Sunday for what it really is, just another Saturday. I mean, It's still Saturday night somewhere in the world, am I wrong? Am I wrong?!

Anyway, I digress. SundayFunday was excellent:

--Waking up, cracking a beer, enjoying the sun and grilling as many hotdogs and hamburgers as you can eat
--Passing out on the beach and getting sunburned
--Meeting some folks interested in S.F. and frozen drinks
--Heading over to "Mutt Lynches"..right on the beach. I walked in and was kind of in shock..here SundayFunday was in full force with girls dancing on the tables and grown men visibly intoxicated. The beer came in large Chalices (Schooners as they're called), so after 2 you were right back into the Friday Night swing of things..it was great..[enter numerous shannigans....]...

Oh, I'm really getting excited about Summertime in S. Cali......especially SundayFundays:)

be sure to read my next posting "the worst Monday of my life"..

Mom is coming tomorrow!