EUROPE

I just got back from 10 days across the pond and felt if anything was worthy to blog about, this was it. Went to Switzerland, Germany and Austria (doubled the # of countries I've been to in a single trip), highlighted by going to the World Cup. A few words here--and hopefully some pictures later--won't do justice to everything I did and saw.

The trip was very hectic--a lot of traveling and always on the go between cities and countries. I spent tons of $, got very little sleep, and used lots of my vacation time. But you know what? I don't care. I would do it all over again 'cause it was absolutely worth it. Our main stops were Zurich, Switzerland; Munich, Nuremburg, Rothenburg, Germany; and Salzburg, Vienna, Austria. Between meeting people from literally all over the globe and getting to witness the greatest spectacle in all of sports first-hand, it was in a word...awesome.

Although I could have, I decided not to do any work stuff from there so I could just enjoy it. I'm sure my department is glad I didn't expense any of it, although the plan was to bring my laptop, but I'm glad I didn't. I've been to my share of sporting events both for business and for pleasure, but there's nothing like the World Cup. The rest of the world is in love with soccer...it's just too bad the U.S. doesn't get it. It would have been nice if our national team had remembered how to play--watching them lose to Ghana and get sent home was difficult to say the least. But I definitely recommend everyone go to Europe at some point if they haven't--it will open to your mind to how much is really out there and make you question if where you are and what you're doing is right for you. At least it did for me.

KhalilG is a DC-area blogger who has already booked his tickets for the 2010 Cup in South Africa.

Decisions, decisions...

I gots lots of big choices to make in the coming days and weeks, not the least of which is the whole grad school conundrum. It's started to become a more serious option and I think I'll definitely go, but I'm just not sure when or where. After doing a little research, I think I've narrowed it down to three schools, listed in order of preference:

1) UNC--My dream school since I was a kid. Has one of the best journalism programs in the country and is extremely selective (rigorous application/interview process). I've always wanted to live in North Carolina and this would put me in a position to do that, obviously. And can you say ACC BASKETBALL?!?! Chapel Hill is the front-runner, assuming they would even let my underachieving, not worthy tail in there.

2) AU--American also has a great program and I'm impressed w/ all their resources being a smaller school. Very well-connected in the DC scene and it would commit me to staying around here for a while longer, which is fine. I feel like I would fit in there the most, and on paper I'd have a much better chance of getting in than at UNC. Has some successful alums from its School of Communications--including David Aldridge, Jim Brady, my boss Kevin Maguire, GUILANA DEPANDI from E!, and others. Probably the most realistic of my options at this point.

3) GW--The dark horse in the race for Khalil's graduate school endeavor. I believe my degree would be in Journalism and Public Affairs if I went there. Another DC school that is well-respected and also in the middle of the hustle and bustle of our nation's capital. I think they're lagging a little behind the other two in regards to reputation, cost, strength of program and opportunities. But maybe I just need to research it a little more. Might be my fall-back in case the others don't work out.

KhalilG is a DC-area blogger who looks forward to having the freedom, vacation breaks and chance to advance his career that grad school hopefully provides.

6/6/06!

It's supposedly the end of the world as we know it. Today's date, 6/6/06 has some people freaking out because it's "the code of the devil" and the apocalypse is upon us. Right...just like the start of the new millennium was supposed to end life on Earth as well. Remember that Y2K nonsense? People actually bought it..."I better run to the store and get my last gallon of milk before time runs out!"

Anyway, we at AOL Sports decided to take our own turn at the 666 debate by building a package called Sports Signs of the Apocalypse. Yours truly had a hand in this cool production, so check it out before the clock strikes midnight and 6/7/06 is upon us. Or will we even live to see tomorrow?

KhalilG is a DC-area blogger who will only believe the world is over when the O's finish ahead of the Yanks and Sox in the AL East.

Hiatus

It's been 10+ days since I last logged into this thing, so for my ever-growing readership (I believe it's up to five now) I thought I'd give a quick update of what I've been up to:

-Memorial Day weekend was great...Went as Megan's date to a wedding near H'burg and basically partied w/ a bunch of cows at the reception in the middle of nowhere, VA. I drove her car ('02 LEX) both ways--which I didn't really expect--and was outnumbered by girls 6:1 (no complaints). It got kinda crazy and we stayed at Ron's place in SunChase even though he wasn't there. Megan's a great girl to do stuff like that with--and we were definitely the best-looking couple there!

-Sunday was good, too. My brother is moving out of his place in DC so he and a couple friends came over with a U-Haul and we spent a couple hours moving all his stuff here. A couple other friends of the family came by to chip in and the basement is pretty much packed with crap. Then I went over to Golay's pig roast since he was in town from Florida. Between having an hour-long, serious talk with his mom about "life" stuff to rediscovering my flirting-with-perfection pong skills, it was a great time. Went into the wee hours (I left around 2) and I believe a combination of Ace of Base, LaBouche and old-school Sublime was the music of choice.

-Monday was my big bro's 26th birthday. He spent most of it continuing the massive amounts of moving, but I know he liked my presents and we'll get to see plenty of each other on our trip to Europe. Lots of changes coming in both of our lives. I hope everyone honored the minute of silence for the fallen troops at 3PM on Monday.

-Tuesday: back to work day. It was crazier than usual, as expected, and I mainly had World Cup and NHL playoffs duties to tackle. I came in a little early because I had a one-on-one meeting with the new big boss, which went well. We were cut a little short 'cause of our usual sports editorial team meeting but I left feeling a little better about how he knows me and what my role is. I've kind of been craving some mentorship around the office and he's accomplished many of the things I hope to do in my career...so hopefully I can kind of pick his brain and soak up some of his experience.

-Didn't do a whole lot out of the ordinary on Wednesday...or maybe I did but already forgot. So that brings us to today--just your typical 90-degree day in June in the DC area. Right about now I'm wishing I was at some beach, any beach. Can't believe it's June 1st--2006 is almost halfway over already!?

KhalilG is a DC-area blogger who is coming off a great weekend and looking forward to another one.