d20 Pathfinder Reference Document

Well, it has been a while since the last update. I wonder how many blog posts start this way daily.

Life in Vilnius is still good. Spring is eagerly trying to push away the dark winter. In fact, maybe this was the first day of spring.
I was out running today in the sunshine and I ran to the park. It was amazing to see at Vingio Park how citizens of Vilnius would rush to this place and how the laughter and smiles was almost to be seen on every persons face. I enjoyed watching an old couple sitting and talking lowly as they were looking at the people walking, biking and running by.

But, it was also the first run of 2008 longer than a couple of meters, so pure pleasure and birds was it not.

Other news, well, it goes well in our graphical design company, Imaginess Design. I am struggling with sales and it goes very much up and down. Some days I can have like 2-3 calls with good and news and then a week with silence. It gives me a rush when things are going well, and today was another good day.

Rich? Ahh, I do not dare guessing our salary per hour – or per month. But it is fun and Gyte and I are having a good time with it…I hope to bring some interesting news later this week.

Other than that. Well, I do not think I discover than any cultural accidents anymore – Lithuanian culture is getting more and more familiar. I would even say, that I will miss somethings from here, like Jonukas (curd breakfast thingies) and lots more. I will maybe present all those in a later post.

Have a good time and hope for spring very soon!

Traffic jams!

It is the worst plague in Vilnius and the two daily rush hours are terrible. Simply, Vilnius had 15 years to build out the road network in a culture that suddenly changed from no cars and now, a car is THE sign of freedom. There are so many cars and so poor infrastructure that no one bikes (it is insanely dangerous) and the busses struggle to go along in the traffic.

The traffic situation is the most uncharming thing about Vilnius compared to any place Denmark.

BUT! Nothing in the world is purely bad – or well, close.

I learned here that what I thought was the emergency blinking lights is actually a multiple purpose traffic utility. It is perfect for parking where there is no parking, sudden stops, warnings, car alarms – and friendly greetings!!!

I actually like driving around the these traffic jams. There is a very scarce amount of people who suddenly change attitude and become friendly in this hostile environment. It is the rule, if anyone is helping you out, e.g. letting you get in front of them in the line or changing lanes, you click the “multiple purpose traffic utility” for a few seconds to signal a thank you.

So I can enjoy myself, by driving in the right lane and letting all cars get in front of me – just to get that thank you! It really saves my day, any day – and can make me both forget traffic jams and make me smile.

Only bad thing is, that all the cars behind me starts quickly to dislike me, because I am the moron who lets everyone in in front and slows down the line. Well, I do not hear their horns!

I think we ended the autumn with 4-5 new business ideas for start up businesses. I had the idea, that I could easily run them all as well as writing my final master thesis. I must accept, that I might have been wrong.

Currently we are down to 2½ business, which is still pretty good.

Pegasi Innovation Consultancy  is running healthy, but I have also only one client, ELSIS UAB.

WebTailor Webdesign has already received a killing blow, since we quickly found that low price attracted all the worst customers. They wanted everything for free and was pretty not that serious. So, we have raised our hourly price and as I see it has not changed the demand, just the type of customers. It is running it’s own life on search engines.
Imaginess Design is our little star. Imaginess help clients to outsource their graphical and web design to Lithuania. Our current biggest problem is to find enough supply for the high demand. A wonderful problem, but yet still a pain in the butt.

We also struggle a bit on getting some routines and processes into it. But I assume it is always like that in the beginning. Since we are suddenly getting some success we need things to be right. We need to get professional in our work and that sets some demands to us. It trades out some flexibility for effectful routines.

Btw. now that you are here, could you look at Imaginess homepage and tell me what you think of it?

I would like to make an ad for something. This is not paid or anything…

MyC4.com is a new site, where you can invest in business opportunities in the 3rd world. So, you upload some money and invest in entreprenours in Africa and you get a very nice interest – around 12%.

I have added 100€ into 4 projects everything from restaurant to real estate management. The loans are over 12 months and are all around 12-13%, so I look forward to first payout.

But mostly, I hope using MyC4 I can help a hard working business man in Africa to be able to support his family and maybe hire some persons so they can support more families. Charity through business.

Okay, finally back home.

- Home, ya, actually… I believe it I wouldn’t call this home it would not be right. For me, this has to be home – it would not make any sense otherwise.

Okay, well, Christmas was very nice. I spend some really good time with my family. First, I went to my brother in Aarhus and spend a day on eating pizza and playing computer games well into the morning. A really good time. We got to talk about lots of stuff we normally do not have the time for – or alone to do.

Our Christmas was nice and somewhat peaceful. Of course, no Christmas without dramas and so, but I would say it was better than last year. We had my grand parents in the evening and they had brought a lot of presents – for them selves…

Our very traditional family Christmas lunch/party the 25th was a big success. I tumbled home at around 4 AM from the city, dead drunk. Phew, the day after was no fun at all! I felt so bad… I promised myself never to drink alcohol again (that lasted only a few days).

Luckily the 26th in the late evening Gyte came with the plane/train. I had missed her and it was wonderful to see her again. But I would say that after a few days we encountered that Herning (my home town) might not be the most fun town in rain and ice cold winds. I had no problems staying home and relaxing and watching TV, but Gyte (big city girl) was going mad!

The 30th we went to Esbjerg to see the oilrig my mom works on as a nurse. She left also the 26th of December to return in middle of Janaury. The Oilrig is in the harbour for repairs, so we could go onboard and have a tour. It was very nice and interesting.

For New Years we went to my friend Martin along with a lot of friends of mine. I was a bit nervous that they would not be good at speaking English with Gyte, but my worries came to shame. She had a really good time – maybe even too good a time (ask her for details, if you want to know (www.gedvilaite.com)). It was excellent food and excellent company, so I was very happy.

Well, we had the last couple of days in Denmark and went with the airplane to Vilnius yesterday. Today it was only minus 4 in the daytime! I do not dare to guess what it will be tonight…

I praise God that I found my warm underwear in Denmark! Thank you…

If you want, go look at Gytes new blog about her experiences and expectations in dating a Danish guy. She worries too much.

Well, I can use the blog as what is it. A Web Log – and what is most interesting right now is that we are nearing Christmas.

Thursday the most famous radio station in Denmark (P3) called me and made a live interview with around 300.000 listeners or so about the Lithuanian Christmas. We talked a bit about the differences in culture and tradition. Let me give you a brief summary.

Well, there are many differences between our countries. I believe a core issue that we celebrate Christmas and Lithuanians celebrate the birth of Jesus. It might seem as the same on the paper, but it is far not.

I believe the Danish traditions and perspective is far more positive. It contains many traditions, feelings, emotions and is something everyone is looking forward to a whole year. We often say that stores and the race for presents and so on is an evil, but being here in Vilnius I miss that the shops are doing whatever they can to take your money in this time.

You do not give that big presents here – which is somewhat good.

I think the issue comes back from the Soviet times where Christmas was not allowed as well as religion. That means Lithuania have not had 200-300 years to develop Christmas as we do. Many of our traditions are in fact many hundred years old and each family has a specific set of rules.

But I do like that Lithuanians worship the idea of Jesus birth more than we do. It is more the message that is the focus than eating and drinking you round and stupid. We could learn a bit from this – but I also believe that Lithuanians could learn a bit from us. Christmas is a happy time with your family. It is a light and bright moment in a dark period of the year.

I am glad I am leaving home for Christimas. I miss my family and hope that we will have a fantastic Christmas….

I heard that some Lithuanians had heard my talk on the radio and I was suddenly famous on some forums here in Lithuania. That was fun. But I cannot hide, that I was a bit nervous…

Lastly, I would wish you and your family and friends “Glædelig Jul” and “Godt Nytår”.