Holy crap, I am out of shape! Roncalli circus is playing in Düsseldorf, Germany at Rheinpark. The park is on the banks of the Rhein. There are many joggers and runners here. So, to get start getting in shape, I too am among the runners. I am the ridiculous guy trying to type on my iPhone and jog at the same time.

Short post because this is too dang hard to do.

Here’s a pic of circus and fireworks in Düsseldorf.

This is a recent performance photo of me, Burl. It was taken at Roncalli Circus in Aachen, Germany.

The funny thing about this picture is that my smoke machine was stuck in the ‘on’ position. Made for a cool pic though.

Hey folks,

Well I finally completed the latest update to the Burl the Bubble Guy website. It took a while because, well, I don’t know much about building websites. I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks.

My favorite part of the site is the ‘Burl Finder’. My pal Dean, who knows tons more about this stuff, made it possible for website viewers to see exactly where I am at any given moment. When you click on the Burl finder, it shows the last location that I’ve updated from my iPhone. For those of you who know me, this will be updated many times a day. This is the beta version of the Burl Finder and hopefully we will add more features like a travel map of the updates or maybe even a update request where viewers can email/SMS me for an immediate update. This part of the site won’t really get me any gigs, but it will be fun for friends to find where in the world your friendly neighborhood bubble-man is traveling.

Check it out at http://burlthebubbleguy.com

Take care,
Burl

that’s him in the green shirt.

Today, I am heading to see my pal Dean. In true geek fashion, Dean and I started chatting in a cafe when he was showing some other guys his new iPhone. It’s so funny to me that I have made so many friends based on their technology preferences. Way back in high school, I made at least two really good friends because they owned a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A computer. Now you have a really good shot of becoming a close friend if you have a Mac, iPhone, or have a 3CCD video camera. Although, many other geeky tech toys would also qualify.

Oops! Almost missed my connecting train in Duisburg. I made it but I hate this stop because I have gotten stuck here too many times.

Heading back to Köln now. Dean and I geeked out and he made a ton and a half of Indian food. And I completely fell off the non-smoking wagon. But in hindsight, I kind of expected that.

Say hi to Dean.

If you spend anytime in Wi-Fi coffeeshops or cafés, you are bound to see this eventually. Today’s candid stealth photo is of a guy sitting in a local Woyton coffeeshop. He is sitting in front of his new MacBook Pro with NOT one, but two iPhones. I snapped a quick pic while he was talking on one of the iPhones. (You would be able to see it better if I hadn’t taken the picture with the crappy camera on my iPhone).

I don’t know how it is in the states, but I see a ton of Macs and iPhones around Germany.

And by the way, Woyton is a great chain of coffeeshops in Köln. It is like Starbucks except the coffee isn’t over roasted and the Wi-Fi is free.

Nope, it’s not illegal downloads of ‘My Name is Earl’, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ or even ‘Terminator: Sarah Conner Chronicles’. I have been waiting each week for the latest weekly address by Barack Obama.

Reuter’s News is running a story about soon-to-be President, Barack ‘My Man’ Obama’s smoking habit. The President Elect says that he has quit but at times has fallen off the wagon. That’s cool with me. Like Obama, I too have a two decade old smoking habit. I have tried to quit so many times I have lost count. I would love to be able to control my habit to the point of being able to say that I quit but sneak a smoke every once in a while. I would be happy with one or two a day, or only when I drink coffee or beer.

Well, I have been trying to work up the nerve for another attempt to quit smoking for some time now. I mean, it is kind of ridiculous that I make my living on lung power. Those bubbles don’t blow themselves. So, I have decided that today is the day. I have three more ’smokey treats’ in my pack of Lucky Strikes. When they are gone, I am done! HERE WE GO FOLKS! TIME TO QUIT SMOKING! Of course, I will be heading directly to the Apoteke (Pharmacy) to pick up my nicotine gum. I wonder if it comes in menthol. I’m sure there will be more about this topic on the blog and know that my iphone usage will go through the roof. I’ll need something to do with the idle hands caused by quitting. Although, I do look forward to getting my taste buds back to full strength.

The 2008 season of Circus Roncalli is finished. The season passed quickly and I look forward to another in 2009.

But now, I begin my holiday. I am heading back to Köln and will spend the holidays with my Schnuki. I have a three hour train ride ahead of me, but for now, I will enjoy my first cup of coffee in the Brenen hbf (train station).

…on the train now. I love traveling through Germany by train. This is a beautiful country. I wish that we had better intercity rail transit in the states. Maybe that will be part of President Elect Obama’s infrastructure plan. I doubt it, we have so many other pressing matters right now.

Recession, two wars, energy problems; we have it all right now. I am lucky right now by being overseas. Besides, with no real investments or assets, I don’t have much too lose. Of course, I would like to buy a house and have some land someday. I just have no idea where in the world I want to call home again.

This year marks my second Christmas in Germany. I must say that I really enjoy their Christmas markets. They have plenty of good german food booths, as well as, many little booths here you can find novel and traditional Christmas presents. They even have rides for the kids. It’s a nice place to walk around with your sweetie too.