Hallo!

I have been here for nearly a week, and so I figured it was about time that I started a blog. You may be wondering where "here" is, which is totally understandable because even if I have told you before, you've probably forgotten. Aalst, Belgium isn't exactly what you would call a massive economic or political center, nor is it the location of any holy wars or recent natural disasters, and so you've probably never heard of it. (Although it is a Mecca, of sorts, for functioning alcoholics, but we shall touch on that at a later date). Here is what I do know about Aalst: It is cute as hell, they speak Flemish, and the inhabitants love beer, the sport of cycling, and I assume they love soccer (football, futbal, whatever). So basically what I'm saying is that I don't know much about this place and so clearly I googled it, because that is my favorite thing in the world to do. Here is some vital information that I've acquired: Aalst is a city 19 miles northwest of Brussels, and it is located on the Dender River in the Flemish province of East Flanders. Apparently, the textile industry is flourishing here but more importantly the rural areas surrounding the city are known for their hops. That means beer. This liquid is the life blood of those living in this town, and it is the primary food group on their food pyramid. They probably put beer into your I.V. when you go to the hospital, and fuel your cute little egg shaped car with it as well. It is also important to note that Aalst has become famous for their Carnivale celebration that takes place in February. Word on the street is that they have one of the top five largest celebrations in the world, and while I have no idea if that is a fact or not, I'd prefer to believe that it is true. Another fun fact is that Aalst supposedly has a long standing feud with a town called Dendermonde which is located along the same river. This has carried on since the Middle Ages, and it is important because feuds are fun and without them I'd be bored. If I ever figure out what the feud is about, I'll let you know. I think this is some good background info to start with, and if you want to know more you should probably google Belgium yourself or keep checking this blog for random fun facts. To sum it up, I'm currently living here and I shall be here until I decide to leave.

Now, I feel like it is important to throw a disclaimer in here. If you do not like the use of foul language, are offended by people who use the Lord's name in vain, or have a fear of hippies and/or gypsies then you probably don't like who I am as a human and shouldn't read this blog. I come from Seattle, the land of godless heathens, and so it honestly isn't my fault that I turned out this way. For all of the aforementioned things I shall blame nurture all the way... well, the foul language issue may have been something I was born with, in which case I think it is possible that I might have secretly been adopted after being abandoned by my sailor (polite word for pirate) father, and truck driver mother. I am the opposite of organized, my thoughts are random, and I am way too long winded. My blog shall reflect this. Here are my reasons for starting a blog:

1. I like to listen to myself talk, and since it generally is not socially acceptable to speak out loud to yourself in public, I have opted to type all of my random thoughts instead.

2. I can keep family, friends, and randos up to date on my absurd life and interesting adventures without having to email them all individually and without having to answer all the same damn questions over and over again.

3. I enjoy writing, especially now that I am no longer in college and I am no longer paying a bunch of professors to torture me with hours upon hours of bullshit homework.

4. I desperately need a fucking hobby considering I am unemployed, do not yet have a cell phone or gym membership, and cannot yet drive stick shift cars.

I think that sums it up for the most part. I have completely overexerted myself whilst writing this blog introduction. I have no f-ing clue how to write a blog, and so I am clearly making it up as I go, just like I do with everything else in life. Now I am off to find "Dutch for Dumbasses" so that I can at least learn how to say "hello", "goodbye", "beer", "shit", and "thank you". (The staples of every language).

Until next time, Dag