Musings from Budapest

In limbo waiting for unpredictable Barnabas who's putting on a spontaneous exhibition. Also documentary updates.

Recovering from a rare night of seven drinks across two Christmas parties. Survived a packed social week, connected with Fulbright scholars, and met someone who had Bullet's one-hitter.

Blissful after connecting my type of peeps at a human rights Christmas party. Despite language barriers, found my people—shared hugs, broken English, broken Hungarian, and that special bond with thos…

Tag along as I become a reluctant cameraman at an art opening: visited the gallery solo, then awkwardly drafted into filming an increasingly intoxicated friend for his Facebook. Made my strategic esc…

Running weekend errands with stupid anxiety (mild). I've never bought my own Christmas tree. But there was this one time in the late 70s when we snagged one for free from a neighbor's field... Also s…

Airing out my flat in two-degree weather while marveling at Budapest's relative safety. Regularly leave my door unlocked (sometimes ajar) without any real concerns—a stark contrast to the world I lef…

Day three in Hungarian bureaucracy: Nearly finished registering myself with tax authorities and social security. My accountant has been my savior through this maze of government offices. All fears of…

Day two of my Hungarian bureaucracy marathon: bought a printer to end my endless print-shop pilgrimages. Breezed through the tax office in 15 minutes only to discover I need a separate "film director…

Freaking out over Hungarian bureaucracy as I prep for my government portal registration. Cramming vocabulary and rehearsing yes/no questions to avoid language meltdowns with officials. My anxiety-man…

Chopping onions for gulyás while plotting my creative jailbreak. Ditch the middlemen. Why let some suit decide if my stories matter when I could build my own platform? Hollywood kept my podcast in de…

The day after Thanksgiving, sunshine on the tip of Nép Sziget, an island in the Danube. After yesterday's anxiety, a little perspective about my residency stuff. I sip tea that's too hot to drink, wa…

Thanksgiving abroad, low key panic attack after I get a cryptic email about my residency permit reporting requirement. No clear instructions, a looming deadline, and my mind spirals. Why did I even h…

Walk to the grocery store on Thanksgiving Eve—or just Wednesday in Hungary. Hunting for cranberry sauce ingredients cuz I became "the cranberry sauce guy" at last year's holiday dinner. Lingering col…

Project cycles. A producing partnership, battery died. Anxiety over projects ending and uncertainty. Then my brain peters out. Turns out the battery was foreshadowing... But that's the real. That's h…

Doc style, mundane. No deep thoughts. No stellar observations. Just shopping in Hungary, via a quick trip to the mall across the street from my building. I pick up takeout, chat with the cafeteria ga…

I have a really weird recurring dream and today, you're gonna hear all about it.

Every wanted to know what it sounds like to be a struggling Hungarian learner? Dive right in, suckers!

Discussed the surprise snowfall on November 22nd. Recalled past expatriation experiences in Hungary and living in LA. More on the challenges of forming a community abroad. A few notes on integrating …

I made an app using ChatGPT. Got me thinking about AI’s broader societal implications, where I deftly dismiss the alarmist point of view. Just ask Ben Affleck.