Death, taxes, visas, and what not...

Okay... so I seem to be on a Ben Franklin kick... As I try to figure out DC and Virginia tax returns, I am reminded of that other famous Franklin quote: "The only things certain in life are death and taxes." Moving overseas, taxes continue to haunt me. The good news is that my federal income tax return has already been filed. Yes, I'm not that behind the eight ball... just somewhat.

But in this surreal world that I find myself in here in the Czech Republic, taxes I would argue have some rhyme or reason behind them. I don't necessarily enjoy reading the fine print, but at least each line has an explanatory note. Recently, my friend Jordana went as far as to share she gets a bit of a high out of doing her taxes. She loves the personal satisfaction she derives in doing them on her own. My response: yeah, whatever. I hate the time it takes. I'd rather put myself through a half-marathon - at least there's beautiful scenery if you've chosen a good race.

In other news, the visa saga continues. I actually found out on Friday that I'm not allowed to exit or reenter the country right now since my passport is missing my Category D and I'm past 90 days. Sometimes I really begin to believe that one day I will wake up and realize my life has been reduced to a character in a Kafka novel. No, I'm not the hunger artist, but perhaps rather something closer to Joseph K in The Trial or Gregor Samsa in Metamorphosis. The long and the short of it is that the new borderless zone in Europe otherwise known as Schengen (i.e., the bane of my existence) has for the time being trapped me and fellow Americans within the borders of this country. Time and consular help will only tell. I still am holding out hope for a positive turn of events on this front.

In the grand scheme of things, I'm sure if I were back in DC, I'd probably be writing about my latest episode with the DC Department of Motor Vehicles - the place I spent 3 or 4 Saturday afternoons last spring and summer. Bureaucracy is everywhere. Don't ever expect to escape it.

My other beef with my current surroundings, however, is that I made an appointment to go to see a rheumatologist, but when I arrived at the doctor was scheduled with a dermatologist. After weeks of joint pain and wanting to get to the bottom of things, I can't even begin to explain how upset I was. And still, despite frustrations in every seeming corner of my life, somehow I feel God wants me right here.

Fish and Visitors... and then Goran Bregovic

According to Ben Franklin, fish and visitors stink after three days. I'd have to disagree with ole Ben. This morning I said goodbye to my sister Karen and her husband Christian after saying farewell to my friend Heather early on Easter Sunday. Suffice it to say that it has been a full house and days of non-stop activity since March 15. While I'm happy to take a breath tonight, I do miss my company!

Although I didn't think I had it in me, I went to a Goran Bregovic concert tonight at the Kongresove Centrum with two friends from work. Bregovic's unique Serbo-Croatian and Balkan folk (and Klezmer) beat set in the Czech Commies' old Palace of Culture at Vysehrad was a real treat. Bregovic and his "Wedding and Funeral Choir" had the crowd dancing in and out of our seats. Interestingly, the encore performance was nearly 1/3 of the entire event. Letting my shoulders and head move with the beat, enjoying every moment, I became all the more enthralled by Southeastern Europe, the troubled past and present, and the passion for life pulsing in the music. If you aren't familiar with Bregovic, I encourage you to have a listen: http://www.myspace.com/goranbrego1