Česká republika: Praha

This weekend Ted and I decided to be a little spontaneous and join some friends in Prague. It's only about 2 hours away, and we ended up leaving Friday night after everyone got off work- which is never as early as you hope for. Our friends Terry and Lauren had reserved a 3-bedroom apartment in downtown Prague, and by the time we got there and got our bags in the rooms....it was late! We left for DINNER around 10:30 pm. That's well after I'm normally in bed! We found an Irish Pub and had a beer and burger, and then we wandered around the city, stopping for a couple more beers along the way. Prague is a very beautiful city at night- I would even use the word enchanting, but unfortunately I didn't have my camera. Next time we go I'll be sure to take some after-dark pictures. We made it back to our apartment somewhere around 3:30 a.m.! I still can't believe I stayed out so late. We were definitely feeling tired the next day, and probably won't be out so late again anytime soon (or ever, to be honest). Here's some pics of the apartment we stayed at (for just a few hours of sleep, as it would turn out).

The view out the window- I really like this color!

The next morning we went in search of some Bohemian food (they are famous for goulash) but ended up at an Italian place instead. We wandered around the city a little more, but as everyone was tired, it was cold and threatening to rain, and the other couples had been there several times before, we were kind of anxious to get back on the road. I managed to sneak in a couple of shots of the city:

All in all, it was a good trip, and we will probably go back to spend a little more time there.

I noticed in my last post I forgot the Random Photo in my hurry to get off to yoga! I've got it this time:

It's me again! Desperately wishing I had thought to bring a coat on this particular sunny day in London.

Have a great Monday, everyone!

Sunrise to sunset

The other night I was on my way home from yoga, and I rounded the corner to see cotton candy clouds. I was thinking man, I wish I had my camera! It was still pretty by the time I got home:


And as I got dinner ready it deepened to this:



And when I got up the next morning, the sky looked like this:


I know it's hard to tell that these are even two different views, but they are. Gorgeous!

If any of you are wondering how my jog in the fivefingers went- well, just fine! It felt good! It was a little jarring at first, but I really got into it. I didn't go far (I'm in week 2 of a running plan I'm doing- more on that another day) but I didn't get sore at all- that was what everyone warned me would happen, so that's a relief. I did have power yoga after my run so that definitely could have played a part. Yesterday I took my barefooted self out for a 3 mile walk and "off-roaded" quite a bit. So far so good!!

Now I need to drive myself to yoga before I'm late- when you're late you have to sit at the very front, right in front of the mirror- where everyone has the option to stare at your upside-down butt. ;)

Have a GREAT Friday!

Look, Ma, new......shoes?

Pale is the new tan...right?!

I bought some Vibram FiveFingers! I don't know if everyone has seen or heard of these before, but they are becoming quite popular at the gym over here. They simulate walking barefoot, which is a more natural and healthy way to move (so they say- makes sense to me!). I talked to a couple of friends that have them, and decided to splurge and buy myself a pair! They came in the mail yesterday- Kayak Shed has the fastest delivery ever- a big thanks to them for sending my package inside a priority mail box (other places have taken more than a month to get us our packages recently! eek!). I took my new "shoes" out for a test drive immediately- the hardest part was getting them on for the first time! I honestly thought for a minute that my toes would not go in their holes. Once they did, it was definitely a weird sensation. My toes have never been forced apart like that! That subsided pretty quickly and I went for a two mile walk on post to see how they felt. It was fun! Even though Fivefingers are common around here, I felt like everyone was looking at me. They probably were- I don't really care. These were so fun to walk in! Honestly I wanted the Classics- they look kind of like slippers! I decided against them because I want to jog some in these and I felt the strap would be a good thing for that. I'm nervous to try jogging in them. I tentatively jogged a few steps yesterday and it felt ridiculous! They force you to strike on the forefoot rather than on the heel, as if you were barefoot (duh). I'm very excited to try them out some more today!

Not the most attractive shoe, I guess... I almost got pink ones...then I thought, "What if I'm wearing a red t-shirt?" Really, I did. Speaking of red, look at the top of my left ankle. All those nicks? Shaving! I ALWAYS cut the same ankle, time and again, and it's a bleeder! It's really annoying. Aaanyway....

They have a nice protective layer! You can still feel "stuff" that you are walking on, but it doesn't hurt. I'm glad I bought them. If any of you get a pair, let me know how you like them!

After I went out for the test drive in my new shoes, I heard on the radio that they were doing a blood drive at the USO, and that all the blood was going straight downrange (Iraq, Afghanistan). Of course I had to donate! It was so easy, and it feels good to do my part. Plus, check out the t-shirt I got:

Haha. Oh, Chuck Norris. The best part is, they had all sizes! I love that- a lot of times free t-shirts are only size XL, and then I'm like, thanks for the new...pajamas? I'm totally going to wear this shirt. I've already tried that Texas Ranger pose in the mirror. Yes, I can definitely do it. Maybe not in tight shorty pants like he can....

One last thing....HOW 'BOUT THEM GAS PRICES! Last time I checked, and I think this was on Sunday, ethanol was 3.79 and regular was 4.03! Wowwweee! Pretty soon I'll have to ride my new shoes to town! Thank heavens for our rationed fuel. If we had to pay European prices for gas, we'd have to park our cars...permanently!

Oh, I almost forgot! Random Photo! Good, we can end this post on a POSITIVE note!

It's Ted! Just doin' what he does: being handsome. Oh! And fixing things. :) Have a great day everyone!

Guest Photographer!

Good morning, readers!

Today we have a guest photographer, one we all know and love....Theodore J. Knust!

Last night we went out for an after-dinner walk. My one-and-only took the reins on the picture-taking effort and got some great shots!

Out for one of my favorite activities- an evening stroll with the hubby! He's the sweetest- He'll walk with me several times a week! I know, I'm so lucky! :)

This friendly ol' girl belongs to "Ranch Daddy." Somewhere along one long and dusty roadtrip- Virginia, I think it was..... I started calling big houses with big outbuildings and big fancy trucks "Ranch Daddies." The richie riches. I don't know...don't try to follow my logic. Anyway, at the end of the particular route we walked last night is a big ol' German house with a huge, nice, almost brand-new dairy barn. He's a Ranch Daddy for sure. And this is the Ranch Daddy's farm dog. She likes to say hi.

My favorite shot of the night! Isn't this gorgeous? So serene and peaceful. That Ted, he's alright with a camera!


I took this shot, obviously. It got a little drafty in the house last night. Maybe this is a result of having his hair cut earlier in the day. Makes me giggle!

Obviously we had a lovely Monday. Tuesday is off to a promising start as well! Not a cloud in the sky, and I'm hoping for a warm-up like yesterday's!

Maybe some of you are wondering how I'm doing on the whole eat-right and exercise thing. Well, I've lost ONE POUND. That's all--buuut I'm not discouraged! I fit into my jeans, and that feels good! My body is obviously rearranging. I have decided to use a calorie tracker, as of yesterday. I feel ready. It's online, and not only does it track calories, but it tracks the amount of carbs, fats, proteins, sugars, sodium, and fiber you've consumed for each day! So far every food I have eaten has been in the database. Easy peasy! It also tracks how many glasses of water you drink. I don't know how ANYONE can drink eight 8-oz glasses of water a day. I had six, and it felt like I drank GALLONS, and my bladder was obviously not used to it... Oh, this site also tracks your activities. For instance, I logged in a twenty minute jog yesterday, and it ADDED to the calories I could eat for that day! Hooray! Best of all, it's all free! You CAN upgrade, but I'm a cheap-o. I'm not actually too concerned with keeping myself strictly in this calorie range at this point, but it is interesting to see where I'm at! Yesterday I was about 200 cals over the suggested limit, my sodium intake was at like 150 %, and even my protein was at about 140%. Very interesting stuff. If you wanna check it out, click here and get started with MyPlate!

Now that I've bored at least half of my readers, lets move on to today's Random Photo:

This is a FRIED SNICKERS! I got it at Volksfest last July. It tasted like a warm, gushy snickers wrapped up in...a pancake maybe? I probably wouldn't get one again, but I like that I've tried it! Yum. Though I have to say, it won't win any awards in the looks department!

This reminds me- (because it makes me think of the State Fair, which makes me think of OTHER Iowa events....) I saw the ad for this year's Dam to Dam on KCCI this morning! If I were home I would definitely be signing up for the 5k... To be honest I've never had a very specific running goal, but if I were to choose one, I'd really like to do the Dam to Dam 20K someday! Running through the Iowa countryside....aaaaahhhhh. Are any of YOU doing it?? Time to sign up!

500 watts

Happy Monday, folks! I hope your mornings are off to a great start! I want to begin by sharing an awesome pic my sis emailed me this morning:

Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to Grover. He's my orange kitten (full-grown cat)- my mom is graciously letting him live in her house (for three years!) while we are living across the pond. Grover came to live with me my senior year at ISU. Earlier that year, or maybe the year before, Ted and I went down to texas to visit his sister, Kylie, and her husband Jeff. There was a street in their neighborhood named Grover Cleveland (drive? avenue?) and I said that I wanted an orange kitten named Grover. Come to find out, our friend Nick had a teeny tiny orange kitten that was looking for a new home! I took him and now I love him! Ted loves him too- he just doesn't remember that. Absence doesn't ALWAYS make the heart grow fonder!

Look at that sweet baby kitten!

Anyway, on to the title of this post: 500 watts. Several months ago, our microwave stopped working. I was really bummed- it was a great microwave! Ted had it all through college and I don't think it was new to him, so it had a decent lifetime I guess.... We took it to the recycling center and went to the PX to get a new one. The PX didn't have a lot to choose from, and I'm cheap, so I grabbed the only one that was fifty or sixty dollars. I've never been in the microwave-buying business, after all. I made an unfortunate mistake. The dumb thing couldn't heat up anything! Come to find out it was only 700 watts. Plugged into a transformer, no less. Cook times on those steamed vegetables were waaay off and it took like ten minutes to make a bag of popcorn. We use the microwave for a lot of things- hot water for tea, reheating leftovers, defrosting meat, steaming veggies, making popcorn....you get the idea. We finally bit the bullet and ordered a new microwave- Amazon.com was the only place willing to ship one to an APO- yay Amazon! It came in today, and let me tell you- I don't think we'll have ANY trouble heating things up. What a difference 500 watts makes!! This appliance is pretty much the size of our oven. I bet I could make Thanksgiving dinner in there. At first I was shocked and worried- it just barely even fits on the counter! I'm starting to get excited though- I read through the instruction manual (nerd, yes) and there's so many possibilities! Oh, technology!

Large and in charge! Never mind the coffee ring- I'm headed in to the kitchen to wipe that up right now! I think I could fit our old microwave inside of this one! Ted's going to take the little one to work for heating up lunches and things.

So, Random Photo Time- Monday edition:

I can see why this one didn't make the Facebook album.

Have a great day!

First DAY of Spring!

Well, it's a balmy twenty-seven degrees on our first day of Spring. Better luck for you all!

So far we've had a pretty good weekend. I have eaten like a little pig. Saturday morning we went to brunch at the dining facility on post. Ted and I had dreams of omelets and bacon and I even thought maybe, just maybe, a cinnamon roll. We got there, paid for our brunches....and all they were serving was CHICKEN! At 9:30 in the morning! It was very disappointing. I don't believe I've ever had a chicken thigh that early in the day before. It just felt wrong. We did get to watch the news for a bit while we were eating- it was nice to catch up, even though it was mostly about Japan and very sad.

Saturday night we went out to eat at Tea Garden with a couple of friends. It is a Chinese restaurant and they serve food that is kind of similar to what we're used to at home. The tastes aren't the same but it's something we enjoy every now and again. Plus you can pay with a credit card AND they serve Pepsi (but not mountain dew)- two things that are very unusual around here! I ate my entire plate of General Tso's chicken and it was DELICIOUS! Portion control? What?

Then we headed over to a friend's house for a little get-together. He pretty much force-fed us potato chips and carrot cake. I'll be honest, I didn't even try to resist. It's always nice to catch up with our group, and we've gotten used to having a get-together SOMEWHERE every weekend. Soon we'll be able to do BBQ's on patios! :)

I've told you all about the FOOD from this weekend- now about the exercise... I did manage to get my buns out for a run yesterday afternoon. The sun came out, but as usual lately, I was under-dressed. The wind was absolutely howling. Even though I had my headphones in, my ears hurt from the cold wind blowing through them! I wanted to do yoga, but I'm not the type who can just DO yoga- I need someone to follow. I searched everywhere for my yoga DVD but I must have lent it out to someone. The only thing that got accomplished was that all the DVD's and books in the entertainment center got re-arranged (and re-alphabetized!).

Here's a few pictures from yesterday:

I ran across a cute little chicken coop. Actually it was pretty run-down and dirty, but the chickens were cute.

Check out this guy- what an amazing watch-animal. He was hissing and honking as if I were the devil himself.

See how long my hair got!? Seeing this photo is a reality check on how badly I need a trim. Gross! The thing with blonde hair and layers is that EVERYTHING is visible.


This scarecrow sits in an open field on our way to town.

Not sure of his purpose, but at least someone was so kind as to offer him an umbrella.

Last, but not least, CHECK OUT THIS MOON (sorry if it makes you dizzy!):

It is VERY difficult to get a night shot in a moving vehicle, and we were following someone, so we couldn't pull over. It was the biggest, most radiant full moon we have ever seen in Germany. It is rare for the nights to be cloudless- it felt like we were driving in late-evening light. It was totally mesmerizing, and prompted me to barrage Ted with questions like, "who ever thought to even leave the Earth and go UP THERE?" and "Why did God create things like the moon and the stars?". I can't help it! Inquiring minds want to know!

As if this series of pictures wasn't random enough....random photo time!


Awww! I love this picture! Sitting in the shade on a hot Summer day...That's my sister, Liz, our basset hound, Bo, me, and my little brother, Matt. Aren't we cute! Maybe I should try bangs again. Nah....
Well.... Maybe?

Happy Friday!

I hope you all had a wonderful St. Patty's day and maybe a green beer or two? I know ONE person who didn't- Ted! He had to work all day and all night yesterday- until nine this morning! He'll be off in....four minutes. Hooray!

Last night I went to the Senior Spouse's Coffee. It's always a good time and we had "frito pies." Kind of like walking tacos- except with fritos instead! Did you know the only other person in the room besides me that knew about walking tacos was a lady from Minnesota? Must be a Midwest thing. MMMMMmmmm.

After the coffee I ran to the Shoppette to rent a movie. I like to use nights when I know Ted will be gone to rent chick flicks that he would never watch. I picked up Morning Glory, because I like Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton and Rachel McAdams and I've been waiting for this to become a New Release here. It was a GREAT choice! Definitely worth renting, if you ask me. Harrison Ford plays a grouchy old man and Rachel McAdams is a slightly neurotic workaholic and it totally worked for me. I feel like I'm related to Harrison Ford- I just can't explain it- maybe he's a lot like my grandpa was- grouchy but oh-so-loveable. I also bought twizzlers and planned to pour a smidge of wine to make my party-for-one complete, but I woke up around 10:15 (about a half hour after I put the movie in) and could barely wake up enough to brush my teeth. My family knows well that the TV is a powerful sleep-aid for me. I ended up watching the movie at 6:30 this morning with coffee and cheerios instead! Party ANIMAL!

Today is rainy again, but it's still early- who knows, the sun could make an appearance! I'm not sure what is on the agenda, but I do know Ted will have to get his forty winks in at some point. I've also been reminding him all week NOT to have pizza for lunch, because I've been dying for a pizza party! I want breadsticks, ham & mushroom pizza, and pop! Yum! We also have a free movie rental at the shoppette...sounds like a pretty good Friday night to me!

I don't have any new photos today, but I did see TWO things on walks this week that I need to go picturize. Stay tuned!

Random photo time:

It's me! This was taken 10 months ago and I am SHOCKED at how long my hair has gotten! I've always heard that blonde hair grows the fastest....maybe it is true! I'll have to put up a more recent pic sometime to show you my "long silky mane."

When I randomly chose this pic I saw one right next to it that I really wanted to use, but I didn't want to cheat at my own game. So I'm doing TWO random photos today!

Check out my mama! Isn't she the coolest!? In this pic she is running poles with Sam-boy. My mom can do anything! By the way, in case any of you are wondering, the three adventurers (Mom, Grandma Betts, and Aunt Marcy) left Belize yesterday for sunny Arizona!

Well, Ted just called. He's on his way home, and he says our pizza party is TOMORROW night! We'll see about that. Time to go put another pot of coffee on for my love! Thanks for reading.... :0)