Man, I think I'm swearing off all pirates from now on! I've spent the last two days in agony with the shits and the dry heaves, and I think it's because I made Pegleg help out with dinner the other night. He'd been having food poisoning or some such thing for about a week, but I didn't know that until dinner was ready. Meanwhile, he decided to mixed the chopped tomatoes and onions with his hands. When I freaked out and asked him if he had washed his hands (he had just come from the bathroom), he said he had, but I'm not entirely sure I believe him. He defended his unorthodox cooking method by saying that that was how you made bread. Okay.. tomatoes, bread... I can see the connection.
A moment later, he was licking his fingers, and Ms. L was exclaiming that he was licking his fingers, and I should make him wash his hands, which I did. We were all a bit grossed out, but I didn't think much more about it, until about 2:00 Tuesday morning, when I woke up with a nauseated stomach and couldn't get back to sleep.
I won't bore you with the details of my illness, but suffice it to say that I wished I were dead. It seemed to go on forever, and the only connection I could draw on was the one that led toward Peglegs hand mixing job. The only thing is.. that was Sunday evening. Does it take that long to get food poisoning? I also suspected the sauerkraut dinner that TT gave me on Monday night, but she ate it, too and didn't get sick.
And now, here's the kicker... of course, I had to get sick at a time when I had no food or medicine in the house (except for a small supply of diarrhea medicine..thank god), so I SMS'd Ms. L to see if she could pick some things up for me, which she did, but she wasn't sick either, and she ate the same Pegleg food that I did.
The only other connection could be that it was all psychological. After an entire month of flat hunting, and having my hopes up so many times, and dashed so many times, I finally thought I had a sure thing. The guy who had the flat only contacted two people, me and a guy, and we had a good conversation, and he said that he didn't prefer the guy. So, while I was waiting for his final decision (he said he'd call me that night), I even went to the ATM and took out the money for the rent and the deposit. But he didn't call, so I SMS'd him the next morning, and he didn't answer, so I called right after work, and he said that he'd sent me a long email, explaining, but that he'd chosen the other guy.
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I immediately called up another girl who had called earlier in the day for my decision, but I'd been so sure of the other deal, which I preferred for its location, that I told her I'd have an answer for her by 7:00, but she had set up an appointment with her sister's friend, and although I was her favorite so far, if she liked her sister's friend as much as she liked me, she would choose her sister's friend.
I knew I couldn't count on her to choose me, and with less than a week to go in my current apartment, I was getting desperate. There was just one other possibility. The engineer who has the very first flat that I saw at the beginning of the month (the flat that I didn't want, because it's in one of those neighborhoods that's filled with nothing but high rise Soviet style apartment buildings... a depressing, grey, concrete jungle.... and with an engineer, no less! I had told myself a month ago that I would rather die than live there), saw my ad looking for a flat and called to find out what had happened. He said he still had a room left. I asked if he would consider a temporary rental, and he said yes. But he needed to know by Monday at 6 pm.
So, as I stood at the tram stop, tears in my eyes, I typed out an SMS telling him I'd take it, and... I probably hesitated a full minute before I pressed the "send" button. I felt exactly the same way I felt when I told my ex-husband that I would marry him. Hopeless and bleak.
When I got home, I checked out the guy's "long email." It said that he had wanted to choose me, but he had to consider his flatmates opinion (whom I hadn't even met). His flatmate (an American from LA) wanted someone who speaks Czech, because he wants to get married here. (Sounds like he doesn't have a prospect yet.. .just another Western man coming to prey on women from economically disadvantaged countries.. either that or he's looking for an EU passport). Also, the flatmate didn't think he'd get along with me because I'm interested in art, music, travel, and alternative stuff... all the things the flat owner and I had in common. So, after that explanation, he says how much he enjoyed meeting me, and he hopes to invite me over for a cup of coffee later if I'm not angry with him.
If you guys had any idea how many times this month, people have told me that they loved talking to me, and they would love to meet me for coffee, but they chose someone else to live with.. you just wouldn't believe it. I'm beginning to think it's the standard rejection line here. So, after a month of rejection, I've decided that, if I can't find a decent place in another month, I'm going to leave Prague. I came here to experience the city, not the concrete jungle outside of it. If I ever find the USB cable for my digital camera, you guys will be apalled at what my new view is going to be.
The only bright thing to come out of all this, is that the girl who chose her sister's friend over me has really been very sweet to me. She offered to let me stay with her and her new flatmate until I find a place, and she has been contacting people from the ads that are written in Czech, which I wouldn't have been able to answer on my own, and passing them on to me. She's even called a few of them for me. Amazing.
But it was the night immediately after I took this fateful decision to live in the Communist Bloc that I came down with the flu. So, what do you think... was it psychological?
Sorry this has been such a disjointed post. I'm still reeling a bit from the Pirate Flu, and I have to go to the bus station tonight to pick up a hospitality club guest at 11:30. I'm really not looking forward to having a guest for three days, but he planned this with me over a month ago, so there's no turning back now. At least he's getting here before I go into exile, and offered to help me with the move.
Now, here's what you can do to help. Please, please, please, keep your fingers crossed for me during the coming month. I don't want to leave Prague!
kruuyai posted on Sep 26, 2007
| views: 531
Comments
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secretlife said on Sep 26, 2007....
lol, ok my fingers are crossed, and i'm SURE something better will come along!re: your sickness? obviously Pegleg had a stomach virus and not food poisoning! you can't 'catch' food poisoning unless you ate bad food. you CAN and WILL catch a stomach virus if someone else who has one is using bare, unwashed hands in your food or for that matter anywhere else that you might come in contact with (a doorknob, for example).i'm sorry you've been sick. there's nothing worse than the stomach flu! -
kruuyai said on Sep 26, 2007....
secret: either that or e. coli from his last trip to the bathroom. yuck!
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secretlife said on Sep 26, 2007....
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......you've made my stomach TURN!!!!! -
kruuyai said on Sep 26, 2007....
secret: lol... well, at least I can still get a rise out of people here... I guess there's a reason for living after all. :) -
beyondtheveil said on Sep 26, 2007....
kruu- So sorry about this, but I don't think its psychological. Secret sounds right to me in the diagnosis. Dry heaves- aren't they lovely?
But your frustration level sounds really high, understandably so. And that flatmate (the American from LA) sounds like a total jerk who thinks only of himself. Who wouldn't get along with someone that is interested in art, music, and travel?
My fingers will stay crossed and I'll be thinking of you- I truly hope you don't have to leave Prague.
....Pirate Flu? Does this need to be reported to the CDC in Atlanta?
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botoni said on Sep 26, 2007....
KRUU......I ve crossed everything I have that crosses in casting a spell of good fortune for you. I m hoping its gonna be ok if I uncross my eyes. The reading is difficult otherwise. I suspect Peggy may have done a perfunctory wash when leaving the bathroom but that isnt sufficient to get the nasty bugs. A good scrub is required. Sorry you got the yuckys and I hope you feel much better now. -
gingersoul said on Sep 26, 2007....
KruuKruu...i got horribly sick with food poisoning last winter....it was madness...i kept been sick for 3-4 days....when i finally managed to go to the odoctor he told me it could have been the airplane food....that i ate 2 weeks earlier....so it seems like these nasty bugs can stay in our stomach for a long time...
Between you and i ...i didnt fully believe the airplane thing...i gave the blame to a can of beans i ate the night before i got sick....i heard some hissing sound when i opened and they say its the only sign of a possible botulism contamined food...
Either way..i am with you, girl...i know how nasty it can be...did you also feel like you were fainting and dizzy? one night i fell on the ground and i couldnt get up ...the room was spinning like a freaky disco dance .......
Promise....i will keep my fingers crossed for you....{{hugs}}
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kruuyai said on Sep 26, 2007....
beyond: Oh yes, the dry heaves are a lot of fun. It's funny though, that even though nothing comes up, you feel better after it. I agree with you about the American flatmate. And any guy who'd decide against someone sight unseen... especially when they supposedly come with a high recommendation from the other flatmate. Oh well. Yet another one bites the dust. I truly hope I don't have to leave Prague either, but there's really no reason to stay here if I'm going to have to live like that. I guess it's a Prague experience of sorts, but not the sort I came looking for.
botoni: Oh, no you don't! You keep those eyes crossed, Mister! lol I do feel much better now, thanks. Just a slight fever and achy. I sure don't feel like going to the bus station, and I'm going to have to leave in a few minutes.
ginger: I'm surprised to hear that food poisoning can take so long to set in. Any time I've had it, it's set in within hours, if not sooner. The quickest was when I drank a mixture of cucumber and garlic juice.... instant regurgitation. I wasn't feeling faint and dizzy, but even sending SMS's and emails made me sick.
Thanks for all the crossed fingers, guys!
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silverwhisper said on Sep 26, 2007....
holy crap, kruu--jeez, the past month hasn't been bad enough, now this, too?
honestly, i'm wondering if maybe you shouldn't write off this particular visit to prague and come back another time in the future?
whenever you do leave prague, do you know where you might consider going next?
ed -
uniquely-ironic said on Sep 26, 2007....
Have you considered that you are just so stressed out? Stress can do many uncool things to you physically and psychologically.As for the flat hunting, it will happen if it's meant to happen. I can totally relate to feeling rejected and disappointed when not chosen for a place. -
tizzygirl said on Sep 26, 2007....
I'm sooo sorry you got sick :( and your trouble with the flat finding :( well when it rains it pours right? At least you have your beautiful umbrella! :) I'm sure things will start looking up soon! Keep us posted I don't want you to have to leave your dream home of Prague! -
evil_twin said on Sep 26, 2007....
That sucks! There's nothing worse than food poisoning! I hope you feel better soon and find a decent place to live. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
-evil_twin LA
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lfbno7 said on Sep 26, 2007....
You caught a bug, which is purely physical. Your white blood cells were not able to just eat up the bug like Pac Man either because there were too many bugs or because your interior defense was weakened by stress, or some combination of the two. So there may have been a psychological component to the fact that you succumbed to this attack instead of just eating up all the bad guys before they became a problem. It also helps your immune system if you take your vitamins and minerals like a good girl. That puts extra muscles into your white blood cells. -
beyondtheveil said on Sep 26, 2007....
ginsoul- A hissing sound is one way. The first one to look for is any sign of a bulge on either end of the can. Its a dead giveaway- don't even open it, just throw it away. -
the_infernal_optimist said on Sep 26, 2007....
All crossables are crossed, kruu!
(a quick break from that for ((hugs)) first though)
~Infernal
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rupert7 said on Sep 26, 2007....
I hope things work out soon. If it was me I think I might want to leave the country - even if it is beautiful! -
hotaka said on Sep 26, 2007....
Sounds like things are the shits in more ways than one. But you know, often you have to go through these kinds of worry and stress situations just to find everything worked out anyway. I sure hope that's what this will turn out like. -
DesertMermaid said on Sep 26, 2007....
Kru, I do hope you get well real soon. I know its tough but dont lose your cool as you dont need any more stress here, its already more than enough.Hey at least that engineer guy is sweet and compassionate right? A much better deal than the american jerk or that stupid girl who didnt want someone older than her...(what a dumbass) Trust me its not gonna be that bad. And after all its just a matter of time right?
You know imagining things to be brighter than they are often does the trick! In no time you will be smiling over this and letting out a sigh of relief. Till then fingers are crossed! :)
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DesertMermaid said on Sep 26, 2007....
Kru, I do hope you get well real soon. I know its tough but dont lose your cool as you dont need any more stress here, its already more than enough.Hey at least that engineer guy is sweet and compassionate right? A much better deal than the american jerk or that stupid girl who didnt want someone older than her...(what a dumbass) Trust me its not gonna be that bad. And after all its just a matter of time right?
You know imagining things to be brighter than they are often does the trick! In no time you will be smiling over this and letting out a sigh of relief. Till then fingers are crossed! :)
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queenparanoia said on Sep 27, 2007....
oh kruu i hope you feel better soon!!! dont give up soon!!! you'll find the place you'll like!!! =) please be well!!! by the way when the pirate didn't wash is hands. that was pure disgusting.ewwww... -
queenparanoia said on Sep 27, 2007....
oh kruu i hope you feel better soon!!! dont give up soon!!! you'll find the place you'll like!!! =) please be well!!! by the way when the pirate didn't wash is hands. that was pure disgusting.ewwww... -
kruuyai said on Sep 27, 2007....
ed: I don't know where I would go next. Part of me would like to go back to Poland, because I'd like to experience a prettier city there, and I wouldn't mind getting further along in the language (I've made huge strides forward with my Polish since coming to Prague, oddly enough), and I have a lot of friends there, but I really liked Budapest and Slovakia too, and I want to get to Bulgaria and Turkey as well... or back to Lithuania, so I don't know. I guess the most likely scenarios for my next stop would be Budapest or somewhere in Slovakia.
uniquely: Yep, I've no doubt that stress played a role. And I know you know how this feels. You just went through something like this yourself, didn't you?
tizzygirl!: I had to chuckle out loud when I read your comment. You're right! I do have my beautiful, big umbrella! And I was using it today in the pouring rain! (singing that song... under my umbrella... who sings that?).
e_t: Thanks. I was thinking about you while I was sick.. .believe it or not... I kept thinking, "Now I understand why e_t wanted someone to bring him soup. Who will bring soup to me? I'm so sick. I'm so alone,, wah, wah, wah. " Ha ha... so.. sorry for being so harsh on you while you were down, kiddo. :)
7: As soon as I read your comment, I swallowed some more vitamins. Thanks for reminding me. The bad thing was that, while I was sick, my stomach was too nauseated for food, and I was afraid that if I took vitamins on top of an empty stomach, all hell would break loose, so I put it off until the next day. Now, I have to find some stronger Q-10. That stuff works miracles. And I'm sure it was a combination of the physical and emotional factors. No doubt about it.
infernal: Thanks, I needed that. {{{{{hug}}}}}}}}}}}
rupert: Yeah, Prague is the only city I particularly care to live in in the Czech Republic. If I do leave Prague, I'd rather go to Budapest or Slovakia. Hopefully, this will just be for a month or less. I'm meeting a Czech girl tomorrow who wants to find someone to look for a flat to occupy together. Might have more luck with that.
hotcakes: Welcome back! I knew I could count on you to tie all this shit together! I keep thinking the same thing... well, Iv'e kept thinking the same thing right along.. maybe that last one didn't work out, because this is the one that's meant to be... and then that one doesn't work out either. Well, if it goes on for a second month, I'll know that Prague and I were not meant to be.
Desert: I don't know that the engineer is necessarily sweet and compassionate. He's just looking after his own interests. When I met him a month ago, he needed an answer by the end of the week, because he supposedly had so many girls wanting to rent the rooms, but I was his "favorite." A few weeks later, he sees my ad looking for a place to live, and calls me to see what happened and let me know that he still has one room left. If he really had so many girls wanting to move in, he would have rented them both out by now. And this time, he had to have an answer by 6 pm on Monday, because he supposedly had so many girls wanting to move in. Personally, I think there were no other girls, and I'm starting to resent his having pressured me, but at least it bought me a little piece of mind, because I don't have to worry about where I'll live for the next month, and it's cheap.
queen: lol... I think he probably washed them, but like botoni said, he probably didn't scrub them good enough.... something we should all think about when we're going to handle food!
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moonriver said on Sep 27, 2007....
kruu -- and i don't want you to leave prague too, lady, please... :-) i realize the housing problem there is such a pain in the ass now for room-hunters like you, but if you can just extend your famed tolerance for a few weeks more...
i agree -- maybe you should avoid pirates of the indefinite kind (like pegleg) from now on.
tummy pains and diarrhea are also my achilles' heel. i get them when i'm too stressed out, aside from my history of amoebiasis, which is literally a pain in the ass when it hits. i feel your pain, my friend... but please hang in there! remember our 2008-09 date...
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kruuyai said on Sep 28, 2007....
muun: lol... you mean you're not willing to follow me around the globe? snifff :) -
moonriver said on Sep 28, 2007....
kruu -- i am! i am! but i do hope your general itinerary coincides with mine... lol. if you and praha cannot along well, after trying all your options, would you go rather go east or go west? if east, maybe we can meet somewhere in kandahar or kathmandu? ;-)
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kruuyai said on Sep 28, 2007....
muun: lol... I had kind of been thinking Budapest... Kandahar...hmmm, I don't think I'll be going to Afghanistan anytime soon. I'm not quite that adventurous. Kathmandu, maybe... how about Ulaan Bataar? Or Brazil? 2009 is a long way off. Hard to say, hard to say.... -
moonriver said on Sep 28, 2007....
kruu -- budapest is good enough, as we discussed a while back... :-) how's your tummy today? and your house-hunting? hope you're doing ok...
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kruuyai said on Sep 28, 2007....
muunie: That's good. I think I'll be floating around eastern Europe for a while yet. Mr. Tummy is doing better. Still a little queasy at times, but at least I'm able to eat. I have an HC guest for a few days, and I haven't had the energy to accompany him around to the tourist traps in the rain, though, but he seems happy to explore on his own. House hunting is getting interesting. Yesterday I saw a place across the street from a whorehouse.. that could have its entertainment merits. And I've been emailing a 50-something professor of environmental science who has a Malemute, and he finally seems convinced that we have enough in common that we can meet. And there's a 27 year old Czech girl who just wants to get together and look for a place of our own to rent, and to hell with "auditioning" to be people's flatmates... so there are possibilities. I may actually still be in Prague by the time you get here. But don't tarry.....
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beyondtheveil said on Sep 28, 2007....
kruu- hmmm...Budapest, Eastern Europe, home of strange stories, weird happenings, creatures, Count Dracula..... Werewolves.....
...a meeting with moonriver...a full moon...
...beware the full moon with this changeling...
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kruuyai said on Sep 28, 2007....
beyond: lol.... I think I'm ready to take him on. I mean, if I survived 6 months with Boss Lady, 3 months with the Polish Party Girls and their ritual of leaving plates of chicken bones out for weeks, two months of pissing pirates, and one month with a Transformed stalker.... I think old muunie is going to seem pretty darned tame. But you never know... he might have a few surprises in store for me.
"On a hot summer night, would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?
Will he offer me his mouth? Yes! Will he offer me his teeth? Yes!
Will he offer me his jaws? Yes! Will he offer me his hunger? Yes!
Again, will he offer me his hunger? Yes! And will he starve without me? Yes!
And does he love me? Yes!
Yes! On a hot summer night would you offer your throat to the wolf with the red roses?
Yes! I bet you say that to all the boys" -- Meatloaf
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moonriver said on Sep 28, 2007....
kruu -- a place across the street from a whorehouse, huh? i remember my own endless room-hunting days. the best i got was a tiny ground-level cubicle -- my famous rathole -- across a narrow alley from an equally tiny funeral parlor. the funeral parlor was so small, some of the spare coffins were stacked right along the alley itself, and when there was a funeral service (often, all through the night when business was good), people would come and go all day long into the night, sit on chairs right there on the alley, and sing christian songs. i was suffering from insomnia during those years, and the situation just made it worse. i would simply open my window and sing along with them. i think that was how i learned to sing abide by me...lol. it was my best rathole. i stayed there for nearly a year.
just be in the vicinity of eastern europe when i get there. i'll find you... whether or not you say those things to all the boys... :-)
beyond -- nggrrrrrooowwwwllllhhhawrrr. did you have to out my modus operandi so soon??? lol
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kruuyai said on Sep 29, 2007....
muunie: lol.. you take one-upsmanship to a new (lower) level! = ) At least you were able to get into the spirit of the community and sing along with them. I don't know that I could have been so positive about it.
I'm sure I'll still be in Eastern Europe by the time you get here. And when you do... "all the boys" will just have to take a back seat for a while. ;-)
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