Purpose--it's that little flame, that lights a fire under your ass.

I love Avenue Q--but that is merely a lead in.

Today, I started asking myself what the purpose of this blog was--and I came up with more meanings than may meet the eye. I thought I should share that with whoever is reading this, so that they know some of my intentions. I just had a conversation with a close friend about the power of intentions and active choices, that I am sure fueled this in some way. This blog has many purposes, and since I am the ultimate multitasker...I am just throughing this one big internet stone and killing a whole bunch of practical and personal birds.

1. Keeping in touch. I love my friends and family, and I love telling them all about my travels. However, it would be nearly impossible to e-mail, call, write, post, and chat about this wonderful experience with all of the people I care about. I orginally had planned on sending many postcards, but it is much easier for me, and more thorough for all of you, to peek in at my travels here. Though I don't respond to every comment, I read every single one and they makes me feel as if I have another travel companion. Thank you and keep them up--they make my day.

2. Remembering and reflecting on the places I have been. I love to journal, but it is awfully hard for me to commit to a regular and timely writing schedule. Most of the time I bank about a months worth of milestones to jot haphazardly down in one sitting. This regrettable form of personal procrastination (I endorse all other forms) results in broad and skewed journal entries that merely artificially depict my life. It is something I hate about myself.

3. Trying my hand at travel writing. Though this is a mixture of styles and purposes, I would like to think of my blog as a place people can go to learn a couple things. Or at least laugh a bit at some awkward anecdotes. I have a penchant for advising people on different things--namely on places to go, things to do, and what to bring. I research ridiculously and really like being able to give people knowledge about anything from Jewish history, how wonderful maps are, or obscure, cheap pubs. I hope to refine my style a bit, but maybe this could be something I get into for a little while.

4. Making Journal entries for my Czech History class. I am switching into this class because I am already doing a third of the work voluntarily, have read a quarter of the reading in my personal time, and crash the class tours anyway. How cool am I? Sometimes my long entries about sights I have been with personal reflection is my way of showing you the sights and fufilling a class requirement.

5. Blogging. I have always wanted to do it and respect my fellow blogging friends: Jeffrey, Neil, Matt, etc.

With me, there is always more. But those are my primary reasons for blabbering excessively to this glowing screen of my beautiful new macbook. (http://www.apple.com/macbook/macbook.html)

Shameless plug?