"When in Rome," the saying goes, "do as the Romans." I have a better saying: "When doing as the Romans, go to Rome." I've been doing as the Bohemians lately. I haven't gotten a haircut since late September. With no 9 to 5 job, I get up when I want and wear what I want, which certainly does not exclude the sweat pants that I wore yesterday. I'm big on water conservation lately. I do a great deal of reading, writing, and thinking, which makes me, in one sense--please no!--an intellectual. All of this puts me firmly in the Bohemian camp. When doing as the Bohemians, go to Bohemia.

I have been in Bohemia, Prague to be exact, for several days. I figured I would fit in better amongst the Bohemians than I do amongst the power-ties, Blackberries, and business-card swapping atmosphere of Washington, DC. I'm writing a book, and there's only so much I can get done in the too-familiar environment of my office/living room/dining room. So, I decided to return to Prague, and Krakow, and to have new adventures in Salzburg (it's Mozart's 250th birthday, you know) and the Czech Republic's second city, Brno. A Prague jail cell in a former interrogation center of the communist secret police, in which the Czech Republic's poet/president Vaclav Havel was once imprisoned, has been my place of residence. That's certainly a change of scenery from my office/living room/dining room.

This is a working vacation, so I'll be doing a lot of reading and writing, and, since I'm in Bohemia, partaking in the beverages they're famous for. All of this, as you may have guessed, leaves little time for blogging. So expect posts to be light for the next couple of weeks. I will be sure to send postcards to the readership from stops along my journey. To save on the postage, I'll post them here, instead of send them individually, for all to read. But as for posts on current events and other FlynnFiles fare? Cut me some slack as I indulge my inner-Bohemian.

Man, I wish I could get a job like that!

First! Dan, I think many here would agree. How about a picture of you as a Bohemian. We've all seen the clean cut Irish kid in your book covers. How about the unexpurgated Dan?

Darn! Rich is too quik!

Dan, how long will you be travelling?

You know, there's nothing that says "Bohemian" like a goatee. This is your chance before you attain a rank of such eminence that it would be out of the question.

Dan, please while in Bohemia say hi to my dear special man friend Dixon Hand. You absolutely must get a monacle and an ascot to go with a Maynard G Krebs goatee. That you must do. Cheers.

Don't forget the beret!

Wow. Scraggly facial hair, no washing, dirty clothes, drinking and urinating in public without getting arrested. Why would you want to come back?

Gee, Dan, assuming you already drink coffee... all you need to do now is recite bad poetry!

Like, don't forget to take your bongos, daddy-O.

so which Beatle do you most resemble now? here's hoping you wait to you get back to the states before you cut that mop on your head. as a barber i have to say im disgusted by your longevity between cuts!!!! lol have a good trip man

Dan, don't forget your book of Jim Morrison poetry!

I believe all of it except that part about no haircut. Ah, well, whatever it takes to get the book done.

Have a good time.

Danny,
I know you miss my homecooking, so I'll be sure to have your favorite meal ready for you when you come home: Strawberry milk and ho-hos.

yours