ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SIGN

My absolute favorite sign that summer is approaching is Chaco tan lines on my feet.

POSTFONTAINE

Once upon a time, these guys helped me have a fun summer. So I thought I'd return the favor and add a link on my right hand side for their blog. Postfontaine: your guide for a COMPLETE LISTING OF UPCOMING SHOWS in the Salt Lake area (cap letters are your cue to click on it to go to the official website).
PS there's a pretty sweet line-up for the upcoming months...and a link on the blog to get 10% off coupons at Bastille for all of your tasteful shopping needs.

NEW IN TOWN

Last night, I went to the Plzen Plaza to see the movie New in Town. I'm not the biggest Renee Zellweger fan but I liked this movie because:
1. Renee's character Lucy had an amazing wardrobe (love that plaid coat and her heels).
2. Harry Connick, Jr...enough said.
3. It played in English and had CZ subtitles so there were certain parts where I was the only one in the theater laughing because you can't really translate the joke and have it be as funny. Examples:
Blanche is giving hints to the ingredients of her tapioca pudding and says it's mostly something and whey. Another lady says, "No way!" and Blanche responds with, "Yes, whey!" And then there is the sign in the background at the cafe towards the end that reads Fish Fry Fri. I love the English language!
4. I often feel the way Lucy felt towards the factory workers in her little Minnesota town, dontcha know. I just love and appreciate people and new places for their uniqueness. Every time I travel I fall in love with the area and leave a little piece of my heart there. (Tulsa...little piece, Ireland...little piece, Utah and California...kind of a bigger piece, Czech...little piece, Mexico...little piece, and so forth.)
Which reminds me of an awesome quote that was shared with me by my friend LaRee from St. Augustine that says: "The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Followed up by a thought from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”

Enough sappy talk--go see the movie.

LESSON: LEARNED

I have this strange habit of picking up cameras whenever I see them lying around or even taking someone's camera who has asked me to take a photo for them and sneaking a shot of myself while they get ready/nobody is looking (yes, even on stranger's cameras). I guess I think it's funny. And, well, it pretty much is...until the photos get posted and I get caught with snaps like these:

Lesson: learned...for at least a day or two.

ONE SUGGESTION

So, maybe you smoke. It is indeed a bad habit (and we all have those) but whatver..it's your choice. I just have one suggestion:
DON'T STAND IN A CROWD OF PEOPLE AND BLOW YOUR SMOKE IN THE FACES OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T SMOKE.
It's disgusting and incredibly selfish and rude! Just had to get that off my chest since Czech is listed in the top 10 countries that consume the most cigarettes per capita.

DEUTSCHLAND

I had a day off yesterday, so my Czech pal Martin and I jumped on a train and had a super fun day in Germany visiting Amberg and Regensburg. While there I decided two things:
1)I've become sort of a gummi bear snob and will forever most likely only buy Haribo gummi bears (Haribo macht kinder froh und erwachsene ebenso...kids and grown-ups love it so) and
2)I'd much rather listen to people speak/read German and not understand it than listen to people speak/read Czech.
Deutchland...love that country and everything in it!

CARLSBAD

...and I'm not talking about California. Here the city is called Karlovy Vary and has a great history:

It is said that Charles IV went hunting in the woods. During the hunt, one of the hounds started to run after an animal. The hound fell into a pool where hot water does now burst from the ground. The hound began to howl so the hunters ran to the him. The marvel which they saw amazed them greatly. They stepped closer, pulled the hound from the pool, and then tasted of the hot water which had fallen in.

The event was reported to the Emperor Charles IV, who then went to marvel at this singular wonder of nature. In the presence of his physicians, the wise ruler said that such hot water may drive off many grave ailments, and that it was beneficial and invigorating. Then he himself used the water (it is said that he had an afflicted leg), and sensed assuagement and improvement. The ruler was overjoyed at this, and soon gave orders that the whole place be settled, and that around the springs, houses be built.

Today, locals go to drink the water from the springs to be healed and tourists mix the waters causing them to get diarrhea. I went yesterday with the local American missionaries and we drank the waters from our special cups.
deanna: 2
healing waters causing diarrhea: 0

BIGGEST PRESENT

For her birthday, Ivana said size matters for presents and she wanted lots of them. So, Milan and William did as directed and brought her home a 14 foot birthday trampoline. Judging by her face, I'm not quite sure this is what she meant or how she wanted to spend her time as we assembled the thing during her garden birthday BBQ. But good news is everyone else loves it!

DEAR UTAH FRIENDS,

Click here! Go to this!

Free fun for the whole family...or with friends. June 16. There is also a schedule of other cities on the tour stop for my non Utah friends. Come on ride that train!

BOOGER EATER

So picking your nose is gross...whatever. But picking your nose AND eating it completely disgusts me. I was NEVER a booger eater! I remember thinking one time when I was little: OK I'll do it so I know what all the hype is about...but, alas, I stared at the booger on my finger and couldn't bring myself to do it (I chickened out). Nope. Never. Eating boogers IS disgusting. End of story.

I DON'T WILL BE NEEDING YOU

I know what you're thinking...deanna, you were brought to the Czech Republic to share your English speaking skills, but sometimes when I hear the words "I don't will be needing you today," I just get so happy I don't want to hear it the correct way.

Otherwise, if I didn't have my free time, I wouldn't be able to give turtles high-fives, pose like a flamingo at the zoo, dance the pants off the czechs, see the sights, and other various bomba vylets.

OFFER THEIR SEAT

People in Czech will push you with their cart in line at the grocery store, be all up in your business when you are struggling with money to pay for things, and rush you to get on or off the train/bus/whatever. However, if an older person or a lady enters the tram, younger people and men will get up to offer their seat to them. I enjoy it every time I see it.