Well, I'm off to Europe for two weeks of business and pleasure. Hopefully, I'll have a job when I come back.

My first stop is Munich, one of my favorite cities on the Continent; its vast array of museums and churches are incredible. While there, I plan to seek out locales with plenty of gemütlichkeit. You must fully grasp the meaning of this word in order to truly appreciate Bavarian culture. Hanging out in a biergarten on a warm, summer afternoon or in an ancient, wood-paneled tavern at night is a good way to learn its true meaning.

Munich also has a Trader Vic's. I'm so there!

Week 2 takes me to London for the weekend, then on to Reading. I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do in London yet, but I'm pondering whether or not to see Jerry Springer: The Opera. I definitely won't be seeing Mamma Mia. I have to confess that I just don't get this whole pan-European ABBA fetish at all. They had some catchy hits, the girls were cute, but it's not like they were the Second Coming or anything.