A question answered with a quote: Lithuania edition

This concurrent with the UK Edition will likely be the last collection of quotes exclusively from one country. I set an arbitrary mission to stay a month in each country I've set foot in, this is likely to change as my funds dwindle and my focus changes.

Lithuania has been amazingly hospitable. I've met some incredibly engaging people, from fellow travelers to welcoming locals. I've definitely been spoilt over here.

Find the collection of quotables here:
- A question answered with a quote: German + Italian edition
- A question answered with a quote: Spain edition
- A question answered with a quote: Portugal edition
- A question answered with a quote: Holland Edition
- A question answered with a quote: UK Edition
- A question answered with a quote: Lithuania Edition
- A question answered with a quote: Latvia + Estonia edition
- A question answered with a quote: England edition
- A question answered with a quote: Germany Revisited edition
- A question answered with a quote: Turkey edition
- Listen to my Podcast inspired by AQAwaQ: Lets's Get Real podcast

With that I present to you 'A question answered with a quote: Lithuania edition'

Its only a problem once you realise the truth,
cuz as soon as you start thinking you're fucked

Past the point of no poems


(complaining) Shit! I'm popular


You're own food doesn't taste as good

You're a young man, entertaining will come later

The very joy of discovery is what matters

Did you have sexual intercourse or just intellectual intercourse?

I'm not jealous of your stories, I'm jealous of your happiness

Everytime you open your mouth it creates an opportunity,
it really can be an art

We're just thinking happy but we're forgetting everything

Do you want to cut the sky?

I didn't have time to... (correcting himself)
I didn't take the time to...

First comes the measure of faith, then the witness

If we were launching balloons, you'd have asked us for condoms

A connection is based on the conditions and the moment,
sometimes it can happen on the first encounter and never again

When I'm in the city I'm inspired by nature
but when I'm in nature I'm not inspired by anything

Every game requires a different type of woman

Marc Maron with Doug Stanhope - "Happiness is For Stupid People"

I don't own a working Mp3 player and I rarely listen to music these days. 10 years ago I downloaded plenty, bought lots of comps and went to shows 4 times a month. It started with punk rock then later to underground hiphop. The last few years I've been listening to podcasts almost exclusively.

A good podcast is like overhearing a good conversation with a close friend. A great podcast makes you feel as if you were having that conversation, so much so I've referenced it in real life mistaking it for an interaction I actually had.

Happiness is a constant theme of my travels. Its something I think about and a subject most people I meet gravitate towards. Comedians Marc Maron and Doug Stanhope talk "music snobbery" then segue into the topic of happiness.

WTF with Marc Maron: Episode 204 - Doug Stanhope (52m)
MARC MARON: Do you really feel that at this point in your career that somehow or another, that people that like that type of entertainment are fucking morons and you hate them
DOUG STANHOPE: No, Well I don't really hate them... No I understand them... I do hate them initially and then the logical part of my brain says I shouldn't...

MARON: (agreeing) Who gives a fuck?
STANHOPE: ...Why would I do that? If they're getting joy from something why would I be the guy who shits on it. You wouldn't do that to a child - Like "Timmy what are you doing that's making you so happy in the backyard, are you playing with an imaginary unicorn?

MARON: (anticipating) You fucking idiot!
STANHOPE: You fucking - There's no unicorn there you stupid asshole. Think about it! Be rational and reasonable and be as happy as I am, you fuckin asshole

MARON: Look at you crying, see what happens when you believe in unicorns. I dunno but as you get older, I mean honestly...
STANHOPE: Less matters

Find previous Maron podcast references here
- Marc Maron with Adam Carolla - On being sedentary
- Marc Maron with Doug Stanhope - On happiness
- Marc Maron with Norm MacDonald - On being in the moment
- Pete Holmes with Marc Maron - A question answered with a quote: Comedy Podcasts

Trigger: "A moment in time" Panevėžys, Lithuania (2011 m. Rugsėjo 7)

Soundtrack for the "A moment in time

'This is the moment' by David Hasselhoff (Jekyll & Hyde)
-----------------------------------

Its amazing what adventures can be unlocked just by striking up a conversation, for one night this Pauper was treated like a Prince. I also found that being "down to earth" is a state of mind and has nothing to do with how much is in your bank account.

The Lithuanian people have been incredibly hospitable, sometimes I wonder if I'm getting red carpet treatment because of the Basketball championships. As people have affirmed, its about providing a good energy which people will meet in return.

Find the other trigger days here:

- Trigger "Farewell in Unison" Sydney, Australia (June 22, 2013)
- Trigger: "One hell of a night" Rotterdam, Netherlands (Juli 26, 2011)
- Trigger: "A moment in time" Panevėžys, Lithuania (2011 m. Rugsėjo 7)

- Hair, There and Everywhere: Haircut days in Europe
- Trigger: Day 114 - An NBA day in Portugal
- Trigger: Day 244 - 8 months in review
- Find other Memento Triggers here

Live EuroBasket results: Lithuania, September 2011 (Pt1: Panevėžys, Šiauliai)

VIDEO: Official song of EuroBasket 2011

Day 216 in Panevėžys, Lithuania
Spain def. Portugal (87-73)
Turkey def. Great Britain (90-61)

NBA Players: Rudy Fernandez, Marc and Pau Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Ricky Rubio, Juan Carlos Navarro, Luol Deng, Hedo Türkoglu, Ömer Asik , Enes Kanter, Ersan Ilyasova

I knew the games weren't going to be competitive but to be honest it was mostly an exercise to witness NBA talent. As 'Group A' features host nation Lithuania, the day tickets only provide access for the first two games. Lithuania always play the night cap, with tickets understandably highly sought after. Despite showcasing top-flight NBA talent the games attracted a sparse crowd albeit with some vocal support, particularly from the Turkish faithful.

The first round is the best avenue to see the talent affordably. Ticket holders are often interested in simply seeing their National teams play and may not have the patience to sit through a full day's worth of games. Tickets are sometimes offloaded by departing spectators, pockets are also created in the crowd which allows willing fans to vie for a better view. I bought cheap seats for 70Ltl (€21)

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Day 219 in Šiauliai, Lithuania
Israel def. Latvia (91-88)
France def. Italy (91-84)
Serbia def. Germany (75-64)

NBA Players: Joakim Noah, Nicolas Batum, Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, Marco Belinelli, Danilo Gallinari, Andrea Bargnani, Chris Kaman, Dirk Nowitzki, Nenad Krstic

Though I'd never heard of Serbia's Miloš Teodosić prior to today, he's no secret. He is considered "arguably the best point guard in Europe". Tonight he delivered a line of 12, 9 and 9 in 28 minutes, impressing with his playmaking including several "no-look" dishes. His accuracy is questionable but I fully expect to see him lacing his sneaks for the NBA in the near future. I like his game.

It was an honor to see current Finals MVP and Mr Congeniality Dirk Nowitzki in action. We were treated to glimpses of his greatness, hitting some Ri-Dirk-ulous shots as Germany teased a comeback early in the fourth. But Serbia are simply the better team. As my German colleagues noted, "Dirk probably misses his Dallas teammates".

"The Group [B] of death" features 4 superstar teams and neighboring Latvia so understandably the stadium reaches capacity. I scored my tickets through a scalper, paying with my last 150Ltl. Three-quarters of its stated value, it was a home printed E-ticket. The scam is quite simple, person orders a ticket online then prints and sells multiples of said ticket. As long as the purchaser is the first one to scan their ticket at the start of each game, they're golden. I watched all three games.

Highlight of the game: Bargnani over Noah and Diaw

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Day 220 in Šiauliai, Lithuania

France def. Serbia (97-96 OT)

This was a fitting curtain call for a day packed with nailbiters and a week of entertaining European Basketball. It was a game against the two unbeatens of Group B. I was able to score cheap tix for this possible Finals preview off some Latvian fans. Seeing it in person was my only real chance to see this barn-burner as it was competing with a Lithuanian TV game. Ticket holders had already been treated to two exciting games each decided by a point. I haggled the price down to a bargain 20Ltl.

The result was practically a coinflip. Serbia's star point guard was missing for the crucial stages of the game, fouling out with 40 seconds left in regulation and France was saved by a missed shot off a "gimme" in the dying seconds. It simply sets up a tantalising rematch if both teams continue playing to form. My prediction still looks good but am unsure if France and Lietuva are on the same side of the pool.

- Read Live EuroBasket results: Lithuania, September 2011 Part II

>> Check out my Basketball & Travel blog - 30HomeGames.blogspot.com

Trigger: Ego Tripping II - England, on the road again

Soundtrack for "Ego Tripping II"
'On the Road Again' by Canned Heat

Co-star and cinematographer, Todd Geasland

London > Bournemouth > Brighton > Notting Hill.
Flat caps and suits. Sunset drives. Red-handed trespassing. Drunken messes. Work carpooling. Longboarding and ball. Lesbian chillin' and workplace scavenger hunts. Pyratrix and Little Red Rioting Hoodies. Mod conventioneers. Couchsurf hangs. Joie de vivre. Skipping. Absurd late night show-ups. Notting Hill Festival.

Part I was in Portugal but the "studios" commissioned a sequel. How Hollywood!

- What is an Ego-Trip?
- Ego Tripping with American TG* in Portugal
- Ego Tripping with American TG* II in England
- Ego tripping with Slovakian DK* in Estonia

Krepšinis: I love this game - Basketball in Europe (PtII: Lietuva)

[Krepšinis] Basketball in hoopsmad Lithuania

My original basketball post was written in España so its only fitting that my second be written in similarly basketball-mad Lietuva. Lithuania plays host to this year's European Basketball Championships. As you may know I've been trying to have a basketball experience in each country I visit. I've stayed a month in each country so I've had a generous window to achieve my brief. Its been like shooting layups, it will get interesting once I get a shortened shotclock.

My original basketball post is constantly being updated, so kindly check back
- Baloncesto: I love this game - Basketball in Europe

Here are my basketball stories up until today, Day 215.

• Played full court pickup games at Olympiapark in München
• Hung with kids playing streetball in San Lorenzo, Roma
• Shot hoops for hours with a local in Barcelona
• 2 on 2 with locals and attended a 3 on 3 tournament by the beach in Porto, Portugal
• Caught a regional bus to play ball with Amsterdam Noord locals in the pouring rain. Hookup courtesy of a Dutch guy I befriended after asking about his "STAT NY" shirt. This HipHop bar became my regular Amsterdam hang with a Dutch BBall crew
• Shot around with a Greek Jake Shuttlesworth. I found a court whilst biking from Rotterdam to Scheveningen (near Den Haag). Incorporating his knowledge of basketball and musicmaking, he imparted some great life advice. We talked about life, family, passion and dreams.
• Memorable first day in Brighton, England. After spending a good deal of the night hanging with street performers. I longboarded and had a competitive game of 2-on-2 with a [painfully] charming lesbian trio at 2 in the morning.
• Befriended the manager of the English Basketball team on my flight to Lithuania from London and learnt a lot about the game in the UK. We hung out in Vilnius, traveled to Panevėžys where we shared a tent until my snoring inevitably separated us
• Played some solid 3 on 3 pick up games at Vilnius, Lithuania. It was by the site of the EuroBasket 2011 Opening night party which I attended the evening previous.

Ballin' in Brighton, England
photo: Todd Geasland

I must say that my game has developed the more I've played in each Country. I was always hesitant to play ball at home despite my love for it, conscious of my game (or lack of it). It was only at an advanced age that I realised life was too short avoiding something I enjoy. Only through the experience of court time would I develop my game and overcome my shyness. I feel like OG Bruce Wayne traveling the world skilling-up to become the 'Dark Knight'.

Just as in my other love of comedy, Basketball can teach many lessons about life. I think this quote by the GOAT Michael Jordan best sums where I'm at now - "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying".

By the way, I'm tipping France and Lithuania in a close Finals game.

>> Check out my Basketball & Travel blog - 30HomeGames.blogspot.com

A question answered with a quote: UK edition

I've spent just over 2 weeks in total in the UK, 4 Days in Edinburgh and the rest in England. There are still enough conversations had to warrant a stand alone QAWaQ.

Its great finding people with compelling minds. My latest couchsurfing host in Brighton was just that sort of chap. A man of conviction, with quick repartee. He constructs awesome word pictures by employing the unlikeliest sequence of words. A good family friend who I reunited with in London is also a similar quick wit. As always it was a real pleasure to reunite and revel in good conversation. I dedicate this collection to them.

Find the collection of quotables here:
- A question answered with a quote: German + Italian edition
- A question answered with a quote: Spain edition
- A question answered with a quote: Portugal edition
- A question answered with a quote: Holland Edition
- A question answered with a quote: UK Edition
- A question answered with a quote: Lithuania Edition
- A question answered with a quote: Latvia + Estonia edition
- A question answered with a quote: England edition
- A question answered with a quote: Germany Revisited edition
- A question answered with a quote: Turkey edition
- Listen to my Podcast inspired by AQAwaQ: Lets's Get Real podcast

With that I present to you 'A question answered with a quote: UK edition'

shy kids get no sweets

If I was more confident I could manage more things

That's good for you but [personally] I don't care

(sarcastically) Well I should really try to meet Robbie Williams
so a wider group of people would be impressed

Using a mathematical term, what you're searching for is an asymptote

If you don't feel it, its useless

Some people think before they jump,
you like to jump first then think about it for ages

That would be cool! If you could just press a button
and you could leap into someone's life as if it was a book

I wish people knew how hard it is to die...

If there's even a little bit of disappointment,
there must have been some expectation

What's the big deal? It is a BIG deal but there is also a lesser deal

You must meet a lot of people

misheard: Everyone goes home
actually said: I don't want to go home