It all began in August, 2002. Delta had a sale. Brad and Eddy had an idea. A horrifyingly wonderful idea. An idea that would take them to the highest peaks of ecstasy only to crash to the shores of madness, then wind up somewhere in between (Trenton, NJ).

My name is Gustaf, and I shall be your guide. Ya, I am a dwarf. Ya, it's true. My keeper is Erika. Follow me as we follow these two intrepid explorers following their journey to follow me while I followed them.

The HISTORY, as told by Gustaf...

Ed and Brad had been to Europe once before. They had one taste and were addicted, so it was only natural that they would jump on the chance to fly to Munich (Munchen) at an extremely good rate. Six months prior to their shceduled departure, they bought their tickets and began to prepare for "8 Days in Bavaria" (AKA GERMAUS03 or Germany/Austria 2003) Preparation included buying snacks and growing beards (for warmth and also to blend in). They were scheduled to depart March 22, 2003.

DATELINE October, 2002
Eddy and Brad attend the Oktoberfest (recreation) in Helen, GA to train for the upcoming trip. They get very drunk, and Ed winds up in a van with skate punks. (roof of van is modded up to be a convertible)
Trip Status: Green

DATELINE March 14, 2003
Brad and Eddy are pumped about the one-week countdown to the upcoming trip. Final preparations were made, checklists were checked, bags were packed and underwent a series of stress tests, our travelers pushed the limits of their physical physique to be physically phit phor the phun times ahead, and beards were trimmed.
Trip Status: Green

DATELINE March 19, 2003
President George W. Bush declares that Suddam Hussein (and his sons) must leave Iraq within 48 hours or face an A-ton of bombs.
Trip Status: Yellow

DATELINE March 21, 2003 (late at night)
Bush drops the first bombs on Iraq.
Trip Status: Almost Red

DATELINE March 22, 2003 (2 hours before departure time)
Taking advantage of Delta's laxation of travel change policies, the trip is postponed until April 18, 2003... no thanks to that wacked out Delta agent on our conference call--Trudy or Ethel or Candice or whatever her name was.
Trip Status: RED

DATELINE April 18, 2003
Ed and Brad depart for GERMAUS03.2 (Germany/Austria 2003 Part 2). They are super pumped and eat at a Mexican restaurant before they go. Brad's streak of eating pizza every day ends today at ten days in a row. They almost miss the plane due to drunken confusion at the airport, but they make it barely and are the last ones to board--huffing, puffing, and sweaty. THEY ARE PUMPED!
Trip Status: GREEN, YA YA YA!!!