fyi, Sumava is a western border region of the Czech Republic. It's relatively rural due to some previously strict border policies. Just touring the area warranted a visit from the secret police when you got home. So I was told...

The snow in Sumava was amazing, at some places about as deep as the shoulders of our friend in the red coat. He decided to take a bathroom break without his skis on. He fell into the snow so deep only his shoulders and head could be seen, unfortunately the person carrying the camera had the oldest (read slowest) skis, therefore no picture. In the end my mom and I had to pull him out using our poles, since he was literally swimming in the snow and not moving forward. We skid almost 18 km, 17,7 to be exact.
The Netherlands is also covered in snow now, but most of the snow that fell during the day melted and then froze into a sheet of ice, haven't fallen yet, but I also wasn't biking. My bike is still safely locked away in the basement. No biking till the snow and ice are gone, no more torn meniscus'! Learnt that lesson 7 years ago and have no need for a reminder.

MSO: let me know if your friends need a tour guide or anything else.

It's hard to explain how strangely pleased she seems to be at this prospect.

liver & onions for dinner tonight

Very productive day - 2 coats of Kilz means I need to pick a color tomorrow.

Also, Meijer now has the NuVal scores on several of its foods. +100 for me.

ao: glad you made it home safely.
vo: Hope the painting goes well.

I made it home... sans panda suit.

Wall paper stripped and walls washed hoping to get first layer of paint up tonight, but I need a nap first.

fun night: went out with the Doughers and their friends in the dark. I tried skate skiing for the first time with only a headlamp to see. definitely a novel experience.

then we had some pizzas:
black olive & canadian bacon
pesto & tomato & feta
black olive & sweet onion
artichoke heart & I dunno what, I don't eat artichoke heart
anchovy (no cheese)

Now if we can just find a panda suit, we can get ao home by Monday.

RBO: Did you know about Fed Ex shipping a panda back to China?

I would send someone to entertain you but it sounds like they are all stuck in and afraid to go out. They even cancelled most of the masses at StBedes

you can always rent a car and drive to Wilson NC :O) haha

I am stuck in Virginia due to snow. Someone, please get me out of here.

My amtrak ride broke down once...But it's probably worse that Thomas just told me he didn't eat supper. Edgardo is in the doghouse tonight!!!

Yay! Relho is the crowning achievement of our civilization! Suck on that Flanders!

And this is the crowning achievement of our civilization. The labors of Einstein, Marconi, Tesla and Feynman all wrapped together so that I can write something about monkeys while driving in MT, Eric can misinterpret it on a train in Wisconsin and Merel can wonder why the hell she keeps checking Relho while riding a bus in Prague.

Have friends moving there soon maybe, MvdH. Will try to give you a heads up.

Posting this using free wifi on a moving bus in the Czech republic.

monkeys were snubbed for the trifecta.

you forgot to insult the monkeys.

Tell me more about this competition. Can you count activities like shopping and sleeping? What about substituting from beer to hard alcohol? How fast am I allowed to lose weight? What kind of prizes are given for the "Professional Team" division? What if I add a recovering anorexic to the team: do I get more or less points for her/his weight loss? Is this competition sponsored by Wendy's and if so, does it come with free Frosties?

Please clarify, I'm not sure if you are asking the veteran amtrak rider for his take on riding with uncivil patrons, or if you are asking the Shape Up Montana team how many exercise points you could get for said activity.

What happens if you ride amtrak with an infinite number of monkeys carrying an infinite number of iPads?

Just started a Shape Up Montana team. The competition uses the same calorie/mileage calculator that we used for the Ohler competition.

if you ride amtrak long enough, eventually one day you will break down in Mayfair and you will then have your 8 car set be pushed the last 7 miles by a fully loaded metra commuter train.

Yea, I think he went to grad school too, but I don't really have any proof.

I think Frank went to grad school at USU with a Bill McNeil.

I just talked to Bill McNeil. That totally made my day, even if he doesn't spell his name like the one on WNYX.

I thought this was an Onion article, until I remembered the site I was on. But it did remind me of this Onion newsclip

open in case of bad day.

jingle bells (49MB)

Started work....have lots of training sessions to attend...the polar opposite of the last place.

I'm now going to tell that joke in class next week.

Three statisticians went duck hunting. A duck flew out and the first statistician took a shot, the shot went a foot too high. The second statistician took his shot and the shot went a foot too low. The third statistician said, "We got it!"

your picture is not really protected or framed - it is more of a picture holder. It is mainly about attaching something to the metal piece to get it to stand on its side and hold the picture.

I need a little clarification on how the metal part of a floppy disk can be made into a picture frame.

Happy Birthday Tena Wagner!