Uh...Czech, Please!

And you thought you had escaped my very original Czech puns. Silly reader.

So long time no blog, huh? Sorry 'bout it. I've been slaving away in Webster Groves making sure old ladies' coffee isn't too cold/explaining the difference between burritos and enchiladas. It was depressing profitable, but I think I'm ready to try something else.

I last left you, dear reader, at the end of my teaching stint with IRD. I had settled down in Webster Groves to do two more weekends of teaching (college students this time) at SLU and save up money serving tables to finance moving abroad to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL). I guess some stuff happened, but the Internet is probably more interesting without blogposts about my serving woes.

Exhibit A

Anyway, moving on now.

I wrapped up my employment with La Cantina and Llywellyn's Pub and packed up non-essential belongings to bring back to Camdenton for storage. Somehow, I packed most of it into my PT Cruiser and made it home for Christmas. [Though not until after I met my Truman friends at the Ameristar Casino to take advantage of two huge free rooms, win a grand total of $7, and get mad at strangers for making out in our room. Shout out to Hannah, Josh, Jon, Aaron, Daniel, Jessica, Kristen, and DeAnna! That was a fun night.] Sadly, that was the last adventure of my faithful PT Cruiser. Rather than picking up car payments only for it to sit unused in Camdenton, my family decided to sell the Cruiser so I can start fresh with a car of my choice with my name on the car title when I come back to the States.

RIP Party Tank/PT Boozer/Patricia
April 2010-December 2013

Christmas at home was incredible. Our tradition of opening presents at my Baba and Papa's (maternal grandparents) was the perfect mixture of love, delicious food, and hilarity. It's amazing to me that we can all come together for a whole day and not be at each other's throats by the end of it. I'm very lucky to have such an accepting and supportive family that makes me look forward to the holidays rather than dreading them.

Christmas, however, came and went much too quickly. I had time to make a one-night trip to Springfield to see my friends Jordan, Sarah, and Christina. It was a perfect night out with friends, and I definitely did not feel hungover at all the next morning. Once I returned to Camdenton, we had a White Elephant party with the Martins where I won a fancy box of yogurt for infants. Although, the delectable French toast casserole, cheesy potatoes, and biscuits and gravy more than made up for my poorly selected gift.

I woke up feeling quite strange the next day. I wasn't sure when I would be back next. My head was so full of double- and triple-checking my packed bags that I forgot to eat my leftovers from Tres Hombres. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself. But alas, my bags were packed, so Mom and Dad drove me back to St. Louis to await my departure date. It was a strange feeling, not knowing when I would see my family again, but it was mixed with the happiness of knowing there's a new adventure ahead of me and that my family would be cheering me on back home.

Parents are embarrassing.
(But seriously, I was overwhelmed by all of the sweet/encouraging comments. Thanks!)

So now here I am in St. Louis with my bags half-packed waiting for January 2nd. I am currently without a car, so I've taken to labeling objects around my house with the correct Czech word on post-it notes to pass the time. I'll look out the okna from my židle and watch Orange is the New Black on the televize. I've also taken to admiring my reflection in the zrcadlo when I'm cooking in the kuchyň.

New Year's is just around the corner, so I'm excited to have one last hurrah with my friends before leaving. Not exactly sure what the plan is, but I can't wait for 2014! It's looking like it will turn out to be a year to remember.

-Anthony