An Ideal Husband (just one more tiny example)

Yesterday, after one more sleepless, jet-lagged night, my sweet husband had a surprise for me. He told me to meet him at 7:00, dress casually (his example of the appropriate casual ware: slightly-less-than-fresh shorts) & that he was taking me somewhere for a post-birthday surprise, as I'd been in the States on my actual birthday (trip to the States to be revisited shortly).

By the chosen bus stop, I knew where we were headed: 007- a tiny club amidst the student housing on Strahov hill that we used to frequent before we were even dating.  I couldn't guess what we'd be seeing- an old punk band? Some garage band from the 90's that I hadn't thought about in ages? So I was surprised when we got there & saw the sign: Firewater (extra thoughtful when you consider that this is not at all Zdeněk's type of show- a very un-punk crowd). I was most surprised (excited) that they were playing in such a tiny venue- capacity: 180- & it wasn't even full (sad for them, for me, well, not so bad). They put on a fun show, although I have to admit I was disappointed that they didn't even give me even one song (just one!) from the oft-played album in my collection: Songs We Should Have Written. Sigh. I guess bands don't always love doing covers (even if- perhaps especially if- it is some of their best work)...

The Last Day of School

School was supposed to go until June 30th- the same day we'll be on a flight to the NW- so everyone was thrilled that Window-Replacement at the school forced an early end to the year (because nobody wants to miss the last day).  The last day of school is only an hour- the kids dress nicely, take little gifts for the teacher & are formally presented with their report card. Quite an official affair. The kids were actually sad to be saying goodbye to their friends for the summer.  Oh, how far we've come...

Picture Day

Today is Picture Day.

Well, at least for 2.d (Antonin) & 7.b (Lily)- 5.c had their photos taken a week or two ago &, not recalling before sending him out the door, Nikolaj wore this:

 We're just glad it was (mostly) clean.

It's an interesting strategy, taking the photos at the end of the school year, rather than, as we're used to, at the beginning.  Lily says it's better, because then everyone remembers how you really looked.  Well, how you really looked on an 85* day with 90% humidity, at least.

Maybe taking Spanish isn't so bad, after all...

At the start of this school year, Lily was put into 2nd-year Spanish, with the rest of her class.  (The school divides the kids based on the language they choose- & they teacher that was determined to be the best one for Lily happened to have a group of  "Spanish-tracked" students.)  The main difficulty was that Lily had never had Spanish before- & suddenly she had to try & catch up with the class- & she had to do it while being taught Spanish in Czech, while learning Czech at the same time.  It's been a bit of an uphill struggle, to say the least.
BUT, sometimes perseverance is rewarded (or perhaps, just patience), & today she is on her way to Madrid.
For the last week we've had a Spanish student staying with us- Victor, a very nice, polite boy who made his bed every day & played on the Wii with the boys- & now, for a week, Lily will stay with his family in Spain.  The kids didn't have to go to classes, instead they've been walking all around Prague, seeing the sites, going to the theater, parks & even had a day-trip to Karlovy Vary, to sample the healing mineral waters.

They now get to have another week like this, but this time in Madrid.  We're keeping our fingers crossed that the volcano in Iceland doesn't send another ash-cloud out & force them to return home by bus (although they'd probably be thrilled, as it would just extend the trip by another day or two)...

A Day of Mourning

Maybe I'm not supposed cook.  I'm just not sure how I can do it without this pan.

My great aunt gave it to me when we first moved to La Conner in 1998 & she was clearing out some things- & I'm sure it had a long & useful life before becoming my favorite (& much-beloved) pan.









I used it for everything. Everything.









(Well, for everything except comforting Gingerbread cake...)

The last remnants of ice (& the cold, very cold) are melting from my memory...

It is a gorgeous sunny day- Zdeněk has volunteered to do the florbal drop-off AND pick-up (where he'll, of course, be productive & fit in a long run) - a perfect opportunity to engage in my favorite spring activity- flowers!

Now that it's spring (no longer dark & cold), I'm able to freshly appreciate our neighborhood- & that we have a nursery about a 5-minute walk from our house.  I am slowly trying to acquire pots & dirt- no small investment- so that I can plant.  Today I bought some feel-good plants: lavender, jasmine, hydrangea (I feel like I've missed my sweet pea opportunity!)- & the prettiest little freesia. Unfortunately (because of the expense- not the work), I'll need about 50 more trips for my terrace to even begin to look as lush & green as I'd like it...

*and here is a bird that flew in disguised as a bee. It was at least 2 feet long, maybe 100lbs.

The Secret's in the Service

On Monday, after we'd returned from the village, I got a call from a traveling CrossFitter.  He explained that he & his friend were here from Washington, staying at the Hilton, & they'd like to come work out.  Always pleased to have people visit, and especially from our home state, I asked him where exactly he was from- he said his CrossFit was in Arlington- I was a little surprised because I didn't know there was a CrossFit in Arlington- & I told him we were originally from Mt. Baker CrossFit.  I didn't get much of a reaction to that, which was fine.  That was that.

The next day, after Zdeněk got back from the gym, he explained why: they aren't from Washington State.  They are from Washington D.C. (okay, there are more important Arlingtons, I get that)- & are secret service agents here with President Obama (well, will be with him once he arrives).  They gave Zdeněk some cool little secret-servicey doodads & bought some CrossFit Praha t-shirts.  I hope they come in again, or at least send us a photo of them in their new shirts (standing next to the president, of course, with him sporting one as well)...

Because Nothing Says "Easter" like The Whipping Stick.

We decided that the kids were ready for a Real Village Easter, so we packed up & headed to Dejvice on Saturday evening where we caught a bus bound for the village (or, as near to the village as the bus gets).  In the Czech Republic Easter is Monday, which left us Sunday for some village time (fresh air & work). We chipped/sawed/cut. The kids got to practice with beloved not-to-be-used-around-people weapons.  Build a structure. Play with fire. The important things.  

To prepare for Monday, they also dyed eggs & braided willow branches into switches, which were then adorned with ribbons.  Lily, as a girl, was initially not welcomed into the willow-switch club- but she was having none of that & ended up with the largest & most decorative switch of them all.

On Monday- after waking to American-style Easter baskets & an Easter egg hunt- some village boys & men (& a mother or daughter here & there) started coming around for the traditional "whipping" of the women & girls.  They were then given eggs & coffee or shots of alcohol for their troubles.  An obvious pagan spring awakening/ fertility ritual- sweet in its tradition, & yet, awkward & strange.

I missed the gathering of my family & our lavish brunch (& mimosas & Sees chocolates), but I was glad the kids were able to participate in a traditional Czech Easter- because, in the end, one really needs to experience it to (maybe someday) appreciate it.

Jack & the Pineapple

Antonin lost two teeth in one day & now looks a bit like a jack-o-lantern.  We've also learned that our boy will do almost anything for his own pineapple (which then must be extensively photographed before it can be eaten).

Has it already been that long?

Last weekend, Lily & I (& Lori) finally managed to meet up with Jessica, a friend from the days before we'd moved from Prague. Jessica is great in general, but one particular greatness of hers: she has a daughter Lily's age: Sophia. 
Yeah!  Because Jessica is Czech & Swedish & her father, Angel, is Chilean, Sophia has grown up speaking three languages & has recently started learning English as well.  Of course, already knowing three languages has given her an amazing head start & this fourth language, although new to her, seems to be causing her no problems at all (happily for us).  When we met up, near Můstek, the girls were both shy- but by the time we sat down in Velryba (a cafe that Francine & I used to frequent in 1992 which was chosen this time because last week Lori ran into Havel, & that seemed like a fortuitous sign)- the girls at their own table- they were warming to each other & chatting away.  A week later, on Friday, Lily had her first Prague sleep-over at Jessica & Sophia's in Žižkov.  It seems that good things are afoot (except that instead of coming to our house last night, Sophia ended their date with the flu).  Lily continues to hold out hope that, she too, may become afflicted & get to miss some school... 

sweet buttery delight

How could I resist that sweet little voice imploring me to make the beloved sour-cream bundt cake? 

Obviously, my soul has not hardened to such a degree.  Luckily, it appears to be a good temporary cure for the Physics-Taught-in-Czech Blues.

Euroween

Here in Prague there seems to be a new found acknowledgment of Halloween- Lily's class had a Halloween party-with-cake/ adults headed out to parties (it was a Saturday night, after all), but there will never be a way to match the American fervor for the day- & we, naturally, missed it. Or, more precisely, we missed the trick-or-treating. It's hard to collect candy from the unsuspecting.  To make up for that (if only a little) we devised a treasure hunt for the kids- they carved pumpkins & dressed up & then we gave them clues- rolled-up rhymes complete with burned edges for effect- that lead them to some sort of treat & their next clue.  The final clue took them to the entrance of the nearby cemetery- dark & sprinkled with candles (in preparation for All Souls Day on the 2nd)- & a fitting ending.  Afterward we stopped in at our neighborhood pub for Kofola & beer. Not the madness that is the LaConner trick-or-treat frenzy, but we managed to hit the main points & they seemed to have fun- & it's probably not a bad thing that we won't have those tubs of candy around until Christmas (Really.  Not a bad thing. For the best. I don't want a bowl of delicious miniature candy bars sitting next to me right now.  So tiny & tasty. Really.  I'm glad.).

voodoo panenky

At the start of school, we noticed that all over kids had these little dolls, often hooked to their bags or belts or keys.  Of course, who wouldn't want one?  It didn't take long to realize that Kofola- that favorite crazy Czech cola (spicy & sour & yet delicious)- was a big promoter of the making of the little creatures.




One day Nikolaj came home with one from a friend, & the next day, in the true spirit of the little voodoo dolls, one appeared in Lily's bag & made her very happy.  Sometimes it's the little things that get you through...

(Hi I'm Rudolf I. If you like it and you don't have any friends you can have me.)

spotacular

It's warmer today. The sun is out.  I'm already back from a work-out. With all of this positive energy I was able to freshly appreciate the happy spotty cement mixers.  I love that cement mixers are often painted in this incongruously cheery way, providing a great backdrop for their gritty, somber handlers.

nohejbal

Yesterday we headed out to a nohejbal tournament, Blexcup, in celebration of a friend who, tragically, took his own life six years ago . It was out in a garden community on Libeňský ostrov- industrial flood plain/ island- & (quite nicely) a single tram-ride from us.
Nohejbal is played on a tennis court, three on each side, kicking a soccer ball back & forth using only feet or body (no hands).  The net they were using was tennis-height, but they had pictures from somewhere in Asia where players were jumping up & kicking the ball over a volleyball net.  Crazy.  Zdeněk brought some t-shirts (finally we have some shirts! Yeah!) & after the tournament they had a "mini tournament" for the shirts (congratulations, Blextars!).

Lemony Goodness

I don't think it's possible to overstate how super-fabulous my Lululemon work-out clothes are.  The best exercising clothes ever.  Ah, if only all of my clothes fit so well. If only I could afford to buy more of them.  If only.

 That said, I think that I should get to enjoy some comfort, however fleeting, as by this afternoon I'll probably be having to gingerly lower myself into chairs with my arms, due to my trainer's hearty enthusiasm (cruel obsession?) for weighted lunges.  I'm just glad that, when I was coming home, I managed to avoid stumbling out of the tram onto my knees- although said knees threatened such an action. Fallng from the #18, while the little old lady next to me hopped down with ease, surely would have done nothing good for my self-esteem, let alone my lovely Lululemons.

To be a True Bohemian

Last Sunday Zdeněk decided to take the kids to a march.

The Bohemians 1905 (soccer) fans were marching in protest against the Bohemians Praha (infringing soccer team).  It seems that, a few years ago, the club was facing bankruptcy & the name, logo etc was sold to another club- but, in the end, the fans stepped in, formed a cooperative & rescued the team.

They've been fighting over the name, logo etc ever since.  It looks like, eventually, the originals will prevail- but for now, they march.

On Sunday, the two teams played each other- with the usurpers supposedly insisting on an unusually-inflated ticket price- & so, they marched (&, with marching comes beer-drinking & excessive public urination,  naturally).

After the (school) drop-off: 8:00 am...

Funny morning on the #2.  There was a crazy drunk old man in the back of the tram.  He was dressed like a merry woodsman from a (frightening, old German) fairy tale, complete with dog & box of wine.  He was arguing so loudly, first with himself & then a young passenger, that he cleared the back of the tram.  When he got off of the tram (unfortunately, at my stop) all eyes were on him to see if he'd stumble off the little island & directly into traffic.  He didn't.  So ends our story.

What to do when the Pope won't make time for you

Last weekend the Pope came to town.

He arrived on Friday afternoon & headed straight to visit the Infant of Prague- in a modest church which sits almost directly on the road- causing the re-routing of all the trams & traffic that head down that side of the river.  People love that.  Lily really thought we should head out to see him, but, sadly (?), after we promised her that we would, he left for other parts of the Czech Republic.  I guess we dodged a bullet there- the crowds were ridiculous everywhere he went, with people getting there at 4:00 am for an afternoon appearance.  Just like Madonna.  Or the opening of a Wallmart.

So, to alleviate the crushing disappointment, we decided to take the kids skating in Letna- a big park at the top of the city with beautiful views-  which connects to one end of the castle grounds.  The day was sunny & warm (one last hurrah before in came the cold & the wet that we are now enjoying) & we are able to get there with one tram & very little pain- always a good start to an outing.










(And lastly, of course, one should end any successful outing by doing Burpees on the tram...)