I pulled a Nike; I did it and I’ll do it again.

I spent the evening re-reading blog posts from March and April of 2015. It’s amazing how much one forgets.

In March of 2015 I was in Krakow and Warsaw, Poland researching genealogy for my next book. In April I traveled to Lviv, Ukraine to visit the home of my maternal ancestors. I actually found family there. Re-reading my posts was riveting.

Advertisement

“Roll with it”–thank you, Steve Winwood

I have another potential option to consider in whether or not I return to Europe.

Lviv.

Lviv is a city on the rise. I noticed, especially during my second visit, that the city had a dynamism about it. Civil works projects were underway. Apartments were being renovated, new businesses were opening. The cafes and restaurants were full. Everything we read about Ukraine does not apply to Lviv.

“Some kind of wonderful”–thank you, Grand Funk

Continuing on the theme of returning to Europe for good, there are many things to consider.

In discussing a possible return with friends, several people have reminded me of the problems and frustrations I had when I lived in Italy in 2015. First and foremost was the internet/cell phone debacle. Then there was the frustration of having no personal mode of transportation. There was the loneliness, the unemployment, the language barrier.

“Us and them”–thank you, Pink Floyd

I’ve never gone this long between blog postings. Truthfully, I’ve had very little to say. The job search continues. That is the biggest thing in my life right now.

“Waiting to exhale”–thank you, Whitney Houston

I think I might have found a format for the next book. This search can best be described as similar to hunting for the non-existent snipe in junior high. But, I think this format will work.

I’m probably going to follow the same style as Lemonade. I will write about my experience of taking my adoption story and genealogy to the old country of Ukraine. I will detail the search in the Krakow, Poland archives and traveling to Warsaw, Poland to research there. I’ll talk about my findings.

“It’s a little bit funny”–thank you, Elton John

Sometimes I think I’m going to have to quit making definitive decisions on my writing. I’ve stated that “I’m done” with the adoption thing, discussing it, obsessing over it, etc. (Although, I have left room for a caveat to occasionally return to the topic.) I also made the decision a few weeks ago to end this blog on February, 1, the three year anniversary of its inception. Well, that lasted for all of two days.

Keep on keepin’ on

Looks like I’ll keep on keepin’ on.

Wouldn’t you know it? The minute I announce that I’m planning on ending this blog, the creative juices started flowing. I’m feeling the electricity that comes from inspiration. I’m getting excited about the second book. Along those lines, I wonder if I should keep going?

I can just hear the cynics–“Yeah, yeah, you were never really planning on ending this blog, Mulkey. It was just a promotional thing.”

To those who are (like me) predisposed to cynicism, I can only say…“Wrong”.

The end is near

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain this blog. It’s not like each day is chock full of fascinating things to do or interesting places to visit. I’m not in Europe anymore. The net result is that several days pass before there is anything interesting to say.

February 1, 2013 is the birth date for this blog. I’ve been contemplating making February 1, 2016 the final date. It would reflect a nice, round number–approximately three years of writing.

Days of future passed–thank you, Moody Blues

The job search takes up most of my time now. At the end of the day sometimes I’m a bit brain dead. Networking events, phone calls, emails, online applications, head hunter interviews…at the end of the day I sometimes just want to watch Gilligan’s Island with a huge bowl of popcorn on my lap.

But one day I decided to go for a drive. After living overseas for a year, I felt the urge to drive around the towns where I once lived. Prior to my departure, I had driven through these towns many, many times on the way to someplace else. Now, however, I was feeling a bit emotionally peckish.

Happy New Year!

OK, so I’m a few hours late. Makes no never mind.

I have been anticipating today for several months, even since before my departure from Italy. All I’ve been able to think about is a new year with new beginnings and new opportunities