Czech This Out

Greetings from Cesky Krumlov! After our walking tour, which covered tons of Prague yesterday (Old Town, New Town, Jewish Quarter, Castle, boat ride, tram ride), Laura and I hopped on a bus for this smaller city today. I actually like it better than Prague. Quieter, with fewer tourists. Fairytale like. We enjoyed a traditional Czech midevil meal (including Grog!) and then wandered the streets for hours . . . spending all the way. Tomorrow, assuming the weather holds, we will take a three hour canoe ride and possibly bike our way back to the city.

We leave for Telc and the music festival the day after tomorrow. Hopefully that bus ride won't make me as naseaus and the bus driver won't yell at me in Czech! I have no idea what he said to me, but by the look on his face, it wasn't very nice! :)

Czeching in

I keep saying to myself, "I can't believe I'm really here!" But I am!

No problems getting here. The flight to Atlanta was fine, and I walked up and down between terminals (1 mile each direction) during my four hour layover to get some exercise.. The flight to Prague was surprisingly empty, so I actually got to stretch out over two seats. I slept a little bit, but not much. After taking a taxi to the hostel, I promised myself I would only lay down for 10 minutes . . . that quickly turned into a 3 hour nap! Oops. Laura arrived and we hit the town for dinner and an evening walk. We are joining a walking tour today because we decided we know very little about the history of this country and thought it'd be nice to get some education.

There was a brief thunderstorm yesterday, but the sun is out this morning. I barely slept last night, but it seems to be enough that I can get moving today. Hostel has free internet, making life even better!

Packing light

Packing update -- I'm packing tonight for my big adventure! I am determined to do it all in one carry-on bag, plus maybe a backpack for day trips . . . and treasures that I must bring home. I used to only do carry-on, but as the years go by, my "must take" list gets bigger and bigger. How the heck does that happen? Maybe yet another indicator that we do all indeed one day become our parents? I have gone back to just the basics for this trip and so far, have fit most everything into the carry-on . . . leaving the backpack completely empty! Sound the horns! This might be a miracle!

Basics update -- Speaking of back to basics, I have recently discovered the joys of Craigslist. I have so far sold 4 items. The people actually come to my home, hand me money, and take away my stuff. Excellent. I have removed bag after bag of unwanted items from my home. I absolutely love that feeling. Still have too much"stuff", but it's progress.

Training update -- the bike is currently getting fitted with road tires . . . "slicks" as the pros call them. I've been told by many people that this will make me go faster and be far easier than my "nubbies". Good. I'm tired of getting passed up by kids and old ladies. Unless that's really just me being slow, which is entirely possible. ;) When I get back from the Czech Republic, it's nothing but training for a month straight until the Big Day. I'm not only determined to be in better shape, but also lose these 3 lbs that seem to be creeping on. And then more. Always need to take off more.

AC update -- If AC were a man, I'd marry it.

Ode to my AC

Is it any coincidence that Able Cable and Air Conditioner start with the same letter?
No, because both make life better!

The seven day forecast calls for 90 degrees plus?
No, don't worry, don't fuss!

After four years of not sleeping through the hot summer night
I finally have an AC that keeps everything right!

Training update

I "ran" my second 5K last weekend -- the OHSU Tram Run. We took the tram up to the top of the hill and ran down it! I jokingly say "run" because my friend walked it while I jogged by her side. Obviously, I was "running" pretty darn slow.

The very next day, I went for a 10 mile bike ride! I love it! I have been feeling that the biking part was going to be the worst, but lately I've been wanting to ride more often and actually am enjoying it. I'm going again tomorrow and cannot wait!

Have a happy and safe Fourth!

B-Ditty

Happy Birthday to ME! Another year older, although sometimes I question if I'm really another year wiser. :) I think 32 will be a good year! To start it off right, I _finally_ got AC installed in my sweatbox apartment. I cannot begin to tell you just how happy this makes me. Happy, Happy, Happy!!! It's supposed to be in the 80s today, but Able Cable will get her beauty sleep tonight without any problems!

In other news, I'm going to Prague! The Czech Republic has been on my to-see list for many years and an opportunity opened up for me to "czech" it off my list. I'm leaving in only a month, so have already started the planning process.

The party plans for today include leaving work early for a massage and pedi. From there, off to PGE Park to join friends at a Timbers soccer match. I will have my usual wish as I blow my candles out today (but I can't tell you 'cuz then it won't come true!), and off I go into the next year!

I may be blonde . . .

but I'm anything but stupid. I actually had to use that line on a first date tonight. These are but a sampling of the questions he posed this evening:

Do you know where Indiana is? (and even though I said, "Yes", he went on to then describe the map of the US and tell me exactly where it is.)
I used to live in Florida. You know where that is, right?
Do you know who Michael Jackson is? Elvis?
I have a twin sister, but we're not identical. You do know that boy and girl twins can't be identical, right?
I used to live with my sister, but you know we didn't sleep together, right?
Women are not as mature as men until they are past the age of 25, don't you think?

I considered ending the evening after the first 10 minutes, but then thought, "Hmmm . . . kinda curious just how bad this can get. I'm going to wait and see 'cuz damn, this will make for good blogging!" I can't make this stuff up, people . . .

To leave a call back number, press 5

As part of my job, I get the pleasure of leaving lots of voicemails. Drives me crazy to hear the system-generated voicemails!! How many of you out there have ever pressed "5" to leave your call back number? I'll bet it's none of you, so why do they even put that option in there?! :) I really wish they'd shorten those messages because trust you me, it's gets old to listen to them time and time again!

I probably need to update you on my tri training. Or lack thereof! :) Nah, I've been slowly but surely working on it. I've now officially been on my bike three times and it's getting easier. Now that the days are longer, I'll be able to ride it after work. The biking part remains the hardest event for me, but I'm sure more practice will make it easier. A friend of mine sent me a 12 week training schedule (goal of schedule is to complete, not compete, which is right up my alley) and now I just need to follow it!

I ordered an AC unit yesterday!! After four summers of sweating during the summer in my hot upstairs apartment, I am finally giving in. A neighbor is going to install it for me and I really hope it works. It's an old building, so I'm not even sure if I'll be able to have it on with other appliances without blowing a circuit . . .

Cheers!

e post

I am bored. Here I sit in the great city of San Fran yet am stuck at a boring conference. Blah. Kinda cool that I can post via my cell phone but that won't keep me entertained for too long. You should see the pharmaceutical reps .. Perfect suits, perfect hair, etc. I once concidered being a rep but am too far from perfect, I think! :)

Walked around the city last night ... Uphill and downhill. Was great!

SF

Another flight, another blog. You should know the routine by now. Heading down to San Fran (I understand the locals hate it when I call it that) for a conference. Gotta find me (uh, sorry, my company) some doctors! Hopefully there will be enough time to get out and have some fun as well.

Cheers!

Perfect . . . even after 10 years

I had my mini college reunion last Friday night and am still smiling! It was perfect! I was sure people would start leaving around 11:00, but we all managed to stay out until about 2:00 a.m.! Who says we can't still party like college students! I love all my friends and they bring me true happiness. The photos are hilarious and a riot to go through the next day. It went off far better than I ever could have imagined.

The next day was a little rough for some, as my dear friend, Dave, summarized in an e-mail to me this morning:

So, then vs. now:
10+ drinks (I guess...my memory is fuzzy. Not sure why :)) vs. 7
Bounced out of bed vs. fall out of bed
No headache vs. headache
Bike into class the next day vs. vacuum the house
Tackle the day at full speed vs. take a nap on the couch
Do it again the following night vs. crash on the couch @ 8:00pm

10 Years?

Has it really been 10 years since I graduated from college? In some ways, it feels like it was just yesterday, yet it other ways, it feels like it's been forever. I'm organizing a mini college reunion with the friends I hung out with the most during those years. We are meeting up this Friday, and just thinking about seeing everyone again brings back a flood of memories. I can still envision the bar we all went to every Thursday. I can picture everyone's faces, I can hear the music, the whole works. The memories are so vivid that I can almost just take myself back in time and imagine myself still there. No way has it been 10 years! :) Have I accomplished what I set out to do within those 10 years? I had pictured myself married with children by now, yet am so incredibly thankful that I didn't hit that goal. I am pleased with where I am in my career, I am happy and healthy, and I have the most wonderful friends and family . . . yes, I guess I have accomplished something with those 10 years. Go Beavs!

Funny names

Here are some names I've come across over the last few months that still make me laugh:

Phat Ho
Christian Tramp
Dick Wiggle (OK, so his real last name was Wigle, but in my version, he'd spell it with two g's)
Dr. Weiwei (and he's a urologist, of course!)
Dr. Doubledee (think he has man boobs?)

There have been others, so if I can remember them, I'll be sure to share my sophomoric humor with the rest of you in a later post. ;)

Ergo

So I got a new ergodynamic setup at work. I've never been in so much pain! Why can't I just slouch all the time? Now I have to be all prim and proper and 90-degree-angley! :)

I don't have any of my usual muses on life to share with you today. I'm a little down, but there's some old school rap on the radio and I'm going to just dance my way back up! "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn . . ."

_SOON_

My grandmother has always put the pressure on me to go to church. Therefore, I made sure to send her some of my new business cards and let her know I am now working for a Catholic organization. Sure, it's not the same as going to church, but I was happy I could at least share with her the mission of my new company.

Here's what Grandma wrote back to me on this year's Easter card: "Your business cards are great! I'm so happy to hear that you are enjoying your new position. Also - I hope you end up marrying a Catholic doctor. I would love to hear that soon."

You all don't know my grandma, but she's totally serious. No joking from that woman. And the emphasis under the word "soon" is all her's. I'll see what I can do, Grandma!

Found it!

I finally found a triathlon to replace the one I originally wanted to do! http://www.uswts.com/wa/welcome.htm

It's perfect -- still an all women event, it supports a cause I can get behind, and it's not until September, which means I still have ample time to get ready! The distances for the Super Sprint are pretty short, so I don't think it will be a huge problem. Yipeee!!! I signed up for it today!!

Don't tell me I can't . . .

Ever notice that when someone tells you that you can't do or think something, that you then can't help but do or think it anyway? Put me in a Catholic church and tell me to think holy thoughts, and I can promise you that I'll be thinking anything but! I read on someone's blog today that one shouldn't write about what they eat for lunch on their blogs ('cuz it's darn boring!). That's grand advice, except that as I was eating lunch today, all I could think about was blogging my thoughts on consumption. And the author was right -- they were boring thoughts. But I'm going to write about lunch anyway today:

Noodles from TJ's -- needed meat included.
Edamame -- ummm, where's the salt? HATE having edamame without enough salt on them.
Diet Coke -- why, oh why, can't they have Pepsi products downstairs?!

OK, I'll never write about my lunch again. But I won't make any promises about what I'll think about in church . . . :)

Cell phone charger

I realized on my way to the airport this morning that I'd forgotten my cell phone charger. No biggie; I'll just shut it off and deal. But I realized today just how hooked I am on that device. I went to the mall after work today and found a Cingular store. I was talking to the sales man about finding the cheapest way to charge my phone when I got distracted by the display of nice, new phones. Ohhhhhh! I then remembered how much I hate my phone and asked him which of the new phones he recommended. He said the Blackberry Pearl . . . and here's the clincher . . . went on to tell me it now comes in RED! So here I was, complaining about having to spend $27 on a charger and ended up spending way more. Yeah, way to stick it to the man! :)

LOVE the Davenport hotel in Spokane. Not only am on laying on the world's most comfortable bed while watching the flat screen TV, but one of the staff just rang the doorbell (yes, the doorbell) on my door and offered me some peanut brittle!

OK, now I'm going to program everything into my new phone! It's probably going to take me hours to learn how to use it! :)

I'd like to tell PDX where to stuff my saline solution

As usual, I had to fly today. I haven't flown using only my carry on luggage since the whole "liquid ban" took place, but I was bound and determined to figure it all out and not check my bags this morning. Trust me, it's not easy to get 5 days worth of stuff into a carry on, but I perservered!

I was concerned about my contact lense solution as it's in a container larger than the 3 oz. limit. I looked in a few different stores and even looked online, but it's only available in that one size (I use a specific kind). But I read on TSA's website the following information:

Saline solution - You are allowed to carry up to 3 oz., of eye drops in a clear, one-quart plastic bag. Volumes greater than 3 oz. must be declared to the Security Officer and cannot be carried in your clear, one-quart bag.

So I get up to the screening area and I pull out my quart size plastic bag filled with all my appropriately sized products, along with my saline solution, which is outside of the bag, just as they told me to do. I declared its presence! Guess where that saline solution is now???? The garbage can. I tried to explain to the guy that he was wrong and even made his supervisor come over. But I lost. And Able Cable doesn't like to lose! Needless to say, the Portland Airport will be getting a nasty gram from me. And a bill for the $20 I'm going to have to spend to get another bottle, which yes, I'll have to transfer into a smaller bottle and throw the larger bottle away . . . again.

On another note, I have pretty new shoes today. (For all the men reading this, yes, I am a woman and I can rant one minute and then be distracted by pretty shoes the next.) :-D

Let's add in one more state today

Here's a list of the states (and yes, for this exercise, DC is a state) I've been in over the last few weeks:

Oregon (probably a given)
California
Arizona
New Mexico
Texas
DC
Virginia
Maryland
Nevada
Utah
Washington

That's 11 different places! Craziness. Is it any wonder why I just feel like staying home for awhile?!