The Brightness of Whiteness

I made my second trip last weekend in two and a half years to the famed store of IKEA in Prague. It was quite an adventure for me. But well worth it. I went there, mustering the courage of the 90 minute one way trip which takes me from foot to train to metro to bus and the final stretch on foot again. I wasn't really quite sure of what to expect seeing that I had only been there once previously and that one time i wasn't really in the mood to spend lots of money seeing that I didn't have any money to spend.

So this time, I decided to just sit back and enjoy the show. I walked the galactic-sized pathways through the store to see what I could see. After a rushed 90 minutes of walking through it, I had a pretty good idea of what maybe I would want to buy. So, I was ready for round 2. I'd pick up odd things here and there, a blanket or a pillowcase, or some scented candles, but what really caught my eye was the "glory upon glories". That beauty of a coffee table is what my eyes cast themselves upon. It was something only God Himself could have constructed, and for such a reasonable price also!! It was too perfect to pass up.

So... when I finally ended with everything, I had bought this big box that contained my glorified table but yet also a huge blue IKEA bag filled with just a bunch of sweetass awesome stuff. Now... once I finished with this part, the fun started to happen. I finished, and I said to myself... "you know dude, those 50 cent hotdogs over there look really good." So, I lugged all my belongings over there and set my table down and my eyes were on it the entire time as I was ordering my hotdog and even when i had to walk to the condiment table even farther away to get some ketchup. No one, and I repeat no one, was going to get the best of Zach Barnes today.

From here, I dragged/carried my table and big back back to the bus where I reconvened after this in carrying it to the metro. From the metro, I continued to carry this 40 pound table (maybe 100 pounds...) up the escalator and to the train. Luckily, from the train station with just the final haul left in front of me (yet the 10 minute walk seemed staggering to me), i was actually taken that last little bit by car in order to save a little dignity. And after that, and after a bit o time puttin it together, I finally had in my living the Brightness of Whiteness...

English with the Commies

So, the last week I was able to borrow an "English Conversation" book from one of my students when she was in college. The book was published in 1979 and had no native English speakers as authors, just 3 Czech people. But it really wasn't bad, I mean there weren't mistakes or anything, it was just horrid. But I did quite possibly find the best sentence ever.

In an exercise in which you are supposed to find as many possible answers as possible, I found this question to meditate on for a the time being...

"Muriel is a bit ticklish on the subject of waste, isn't she?"

Pulled Over on the Sidewalk

So the other night, I was walking home from the train station. It was about 115 or so and it was drizzling a bit, but not too bad. Ok, maybe a bit more than drizzle, but still quite bearable. Anyways, I was walkin home and I saw these police cars driving by, and then I saw another and a bit later, another. I noticed the strangeness of it. When I was almost at home, there was another one that drove by my and i didn't pay attention to it really until it started going in reverse at the same speed as me. I looked over but then continued to ignore them. Then the dude rolled down his window and asked me where i was going (i think) and so i said home. He then told me to come over there to his window. I did... still strange... and he proceeded to ask me questions. (like the cubed root of 432. i told him i wasn't sure about that) But then i told him i was a teacher at the school here and he kinda mocked me.

It was quite strange and I tried my best to answer the questions that i thought he might have been asking. He asked my my last name, first, dob, and then where i live. I finially told him at the school. he then said ok, bye, and then they drove off. Really strange I think. I think it must have been obvious that i was no trouble to them, but it was strange. I had always wondered what it'd be like to be stopped like that by the police

well... i guess that means i can mark that off my list of life accomplishments

My French Jew brother in law also got me it. It was way pretty.

Everyone Lies...

The moment that I wasn't looking forward to (yet also hastily looking forward to) has come. I have recently finished the third season to the tv show House. It was pretty good. I got it as a christmas present from my sister and me and Joseph watched it quite quickly. I saw parts of the 2nd season as I was in America this past summer and it was nice. But the ending was sad to my soul cuz now I have to figure out productive things to do instead of watching shows. Though when the times have came over the past few years when we get some tv show, it has always been accepted openly and warmly and is a nice break from reality.

My latest Christmas Present

This here is my latest Christmas present. It came with my meal the other day. What is it exactly? I'm not sure, but what I am sure is that it's a piece of plastic about the size of a penny.

I found it in one of my favorite little pub snacks which i translate as "drowned-man sausage". It's cold sausage marinated in a jar of oil along with onions... Dig in...

Benji Greets the Holidays

New Year's Package

Due to my stupidity and my overdrafting of my account, I had to go through some loops and get a new debit card, and i got it in the mail today, but that's not all... no sir, thanks to the aid of my mom, I have been treated with Zija ;) http://www.zijapower.com. She always knows what makes me feel right at home.



"What do you get when you combine the MOST NOURISHING PLANT on the planet with THE MOST CONVENIENT and EFFECTIVE DELIVERY METHOD?"

The answer if you haven't figured out yet is Zija, the itty bitty can of goodness. Nourishing the World, Making Waves in America


What's in Zija™?

Zija contains leaf powder, leaf puree, seed cake, fruit powder, and fruit juice harvested from organically grown Moringa oleifera trees.

Zija is made from all natural and all Generally Recognized As Safe ingredients, is hypoallergenic, celiac tolerated, gmo free, gluten free, no preservatives or stabilizers whatsoever, low in naturally occurring sugars, fat free, trans fat free, hydrogenated fat free, no artificial coloring, no animal products, soy free, corn free, and wheat free.

Zija is simply good stuff that's good for you.



After a close examination of the Presentation DVD that came with my 6 pack, the baby 5.5 oz. cans are obviously the world's greatest drink, and that can't be denied. You too will be swayed once you listen to the 30 minute interview with the two expert doctors and watch the history of the plant that grows with Asia which according to the film has "potent goodness". I'm at a loss for words cuz i was really worried how I was going to make it through these last 7 months over here, but now, finally, I have my answer. I feel that now I can do anything. I feel strong, and this quite possibly could be one of the strongest feelings I've ever felt before.

Thanks Mom... but more importantly... Thanks Zija.