The Jinx

A few weeks back as I watched the last moments of the Patriots immortality wane away and the Peyton Manning Hype begin I couldn't help but blame the dude sitting next to me at the bar where I watched the game. Midway through the second quarter as the Pats took an 18 point lead he blurted out: "That's it. Gameover no point in sticking around it's 2.30am and I have to work in the morning." Only seconds later the Colts scored and he decided to sit down and watch the rest of the game with the 40 odd people still there. By the time 4am rolled around and I was walking home dejected and alone (Brussels at 4am is deadsville and pretty spooky if you ask me. Total cars counted on the 20 minute walk home - 2) I was certain it was his fault. He put the jinx on the Pats.

Why am I telling you this? Because I think I just put the jinx on the city of Brussels. Dang it to heck. Early Sunday evening I made a phone call back home, a phone call I will live to regret for a while. After the normal conversational fun, my mother asked me the typical Sunday question "how is the weather over there?" As I told her I giddly mentioned that Saturday was so nice that the Vyvolena and I took a walk around town and it was 15 C. I mean it was seriously nice. So I started mocking Montreal winters. I told them how the only snow I had seen all year was in the Slovak mountains and laughed that the next time I would see snow is when I came back to Montreal later this month. Then this morning when the Vyvolena told me that in Montreal it was -26C I continued my laughing ways as I noted that in Brussels it was 5C. A 31 degree difference. Maybe it's not Aruba but still, good times.



Well the good times have come to an end. When I was taking the trash out this evening, I noticed something falling from the heavens. At first I was afraid. Oh, I was petrified. For snow was a fallin'. White snow. (Now I am writing this only moments after seeing the snow so I hope it will all melt away and this will be just another bad dream. I will let you know.)

So here's the jonathanism for today: when times are good do not mock those who are stuck in -26C weather because the jinx will catch up to you. Someway, somehow.

Oh and never walk alone in Brussels at 4 am in the morning unless you are able to defend yourself, it's a truly scary experience.

Go Bears!!!

One of the worst things about being in Europe this time of year is the 6 hour time delay for playoff football. Especially tonight it's gonna be a long night but it will all be worth it when the Bears maul them Colts to win the Super Bowl. If this doesn't happen well ignore this post and read something else and if it does happen I have something to crow about.

So here's the jonathanism for today: making bold predictions is easier when you are surrounded by people who don't know what your talking about. They won't bother me about it in the morning or even better they will say "The Colts, the Bears, what is he talking about?" and that's just the Vyvolena. But for those of you who understand/care GO BEARS!!!