Thursday, August 7, 2008

visa: it’s everywhere you wanna be

They weren’t kidding when they came up with that slogan. I still don’t know what’s going on. The woman at the consulate gave me the number of the law that I was ostensibly breaking last week and it turned out to have something to do with the division of assets after the break-up of Czechoslovakia or something. I spent an entire week thinking that they were trying to pin the split of the country on me somehow. I had nothing to do with it, I swear. I even thought it was a bad idea at the time and still do. “So you’re the reason we lost the Tatras,” one friend said to me. The shame.

I found out today that one of us (I still think it was her) got the year (of the law) wrong and it actually does refer to the latest long-winded list of reasons that one can be denied a visa to the Czech Republic without being specific at all, however, as to which I am guilty thereof, violation therein, nor compliant nonwith. Oh well.

I bowled a 192 on Saturday - not my best, but a hell of a lot better than my last game in December before my diagnosis (I was kinda paralyzed), which was a miserable 40: lower even than the 68 I got my first game at the age of 8.

We had a motley-crewed barbecue blast at Jirka’s on Sunday. Here’s a picture of a man with breasts who was at the beach – I thought I had it bad:

Radiation on Monday was around 40 seconds (I counted - silently to myself) of low-pitch dentist drill buzz in the radiator for each pair of tumors. I then met with my radiologist for my first check-up with her. She said hello, looked at my chest, declared a mild case of shingles, cancelled Thursday’s radiation and prescribed a lot of heavy-duty medication. "See you on Monday. That is all."

It’s clearing up fairly nicely already and I should be ready for Monday’s session. Tim left yesterday morning and Jon comes tomorrow with his wife, Annette, so Mark had to redo my tats today.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mike: You don't know me, nor does the man pictured above with A-sized cups (too generous?). We're the same age, share mothers who are friends in Plattsburgh, N.Y. (located in the etats unis for candian folks here and for those in czech-land, well, no idea really). just wanted to send my best wishes. you've maintained a sense of humor to go with courage i hope to have one day when the grim reality sets in. godspeed, man, and i hope to meet you in person someday soon. i'll be home for the holidays. not sure if you'll be stateside, but if memory serves mary and bob are in florida during the winter anyway. my wife and i live in the other so cal (south carolina for the uninitiated), which is closer to florida anyway. let me know when you're back on the "old" sod.

The Great Unwashed said...

I find the fact that his are bigger than mine both distressing and vaguely hillarious at the same time...

Anonymous said...

I think the spandex makes the photo much more disturbing.... Jason

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike,
So let me get this straight. Prague wants to open its doors to large groups of drunken thugs who scream their heads off and piss in the street, but they are giving somebody who pays taxes and has made an effort to learn the Czech language, history and culture a hard time? Did you point out to the visa people the amount of tourist revenue, fame, and glory you bring to the Czech Republic every year? For many of us out there, you and your friends are not visitors or mere citizens of Prague. You ARE Prague.
-T

Shay said...

I have never been more revolted at my constant urge to fondle.


Inane Czech Bureaucracy... have you sent in Klinghoffer?

Czech vs. M.T.G ... my money is on Mike.

Anonymous said...

Mike
I got a visa problem too now... apparently even international financiers cannot renew, but TEFL punks can. Jason