Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

So, as is standard, I am so far behind in blogging that the whole idea of catching up seemed very daunting...but I have finally sucked it up, sat down and got busy.

I've also made myself feel better about my major slack job by telling myself that we live in Germany, therefore we should celebrate all the way through to Three Kings Day (January 6th) as they do. In that aspect, I'm right on time!

Here it is - The Chango Holidays

Jon and I had some great Air Force friends - still stationed in the UK - come out to spend the long Thanksgiving weekend with us. We also invited Joel (another friend met in the Panther squadron) who is now stationed in Germany as well.

Joel "Tooey" P., (Alix's bum) Me, Cat "Lilo" Riddersen and Jeremy "Asp" Deja

Mom and Pop Chango sent us our "fancy" china as a surprise, and insisted we use them for Thanksgiving. They even threw in these snazzy red chargers...makes us look all grown up!

This was my first attempt at a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I made sure to get everyone in on the turkey basting...purely to have others to blame if it didn't turn out :)

Jon even had his own lil' cheering team for his first turkey carving.

It. Was. Delicious.

Friday after Thanksgiving, we decided to head out and start experiencing the wonderful German Christmas Markets I've heard so much about.

First, the the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) in Kaiserslautern, the closest "major" city to us.

As an American, some things in Europe are still lost on me. As we walked into town for the market we came across this statue...

There seems to me to be something mildly inappropriate about this.

But then we moved on to more important things. Like a nice mug of glühwein (literally "glow wine" or hot mulled wine) to help keep warm.

When we got cold enough that we just needed to take a seat inside somewhere we headed to Hannenfass - a bar in K-town. Jon had yet to finish a metre of bier on previous attempts, and this was going to be the time, darn it!

And, yes, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Saturday, we headed out to the Trier Weihnachtsmarkt. Trier is the oldest city in Germany, and this was a city we'd been wanting to visit.

I'm not sure what these were really called...we went with "little baby pancakes." Delicious!

We had ours topped with Nutella!...YUM!

We found a perfect car for Deja! (...doh! Sorry about the short joke, Deej!)

Jon & me...as proof that we were really there! :)

Cat & Deej

The Porta Nigra

December

Orginally, the plan had been for my family to come out for the holidays. Unfortunately, that fell through, and Jon and I decided we would like to visit the Christmas Markets that we had planned to visit with family.

The weekend prior to Christmas, we headed to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Nürnberg Christmas Markets.

First stop, Rothenburg o. d. T. "Reiterlesmarkt." This market dates back to the 15th century and is therefore one of the oldest in Germany. The name is based on an old Teutonic legend.

The town is also home to the original Käthe Wohlfahrt store (Christmas 24/7/365!...Awesome!).

The entrance of the walled-city of Rothenburg o. d. T.

I have yet to figure out the connection between the twin-tailed mermen and the city, but they were a common feature. And - in case you don't know this about me - I have a thing for twin-tailed mermaids/men.

What a gorgeous little town!

...and I loved how ALL the store-fronts were decorated.

After spending most of the day in Rothenburg, Jon and I headed to what we've heard is the most famous Christmas Market in the world (bold claim...but believable.), the Nürnberg Weihnachtsmarkt.
It was freezing (literally)! Nothing that a little Feuerzangen Bowle (literally "burnt wine" bowl) couldn't fix.

Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady)

Albrecht-Duerer Platz...and snow!

On our (slippery) way up to Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle)

I couldn't catch the full effect with a picture, but the horses came hauling over that little (I'm sure icy) hill with some ridiculous speed. The guy on the left is sounding a horn for us to move it or lose it!

Our friend Joel, lives 45 minutes from Nürnberg, and took the train in to meet us.

I love Europe!...this is the way into the train station. How beautiful! It's the Handwerkerhof in Nürnberg am Königstor, where you can find tons of hand made goods in tiny little shops.

Jon & me in the Hauptmarkt (Main Market Square) with the pretty Frauenkirche and the Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain)

Joel and Jon at the largest Feuerzangebowle in the world.

New Year 2009/10

For our New Year's Eve celebration, we decided to spend a long weekend in Prague. We've wanted to visit Prague for years, and figured bringing in the New Year here was a chance of a lifetime.

We booked an amazing dinner at a restaurant, Restaurant Nebozízek. The booking included a six-course meal, drinks, music, sparkling wine at midnight and a huge terrace to watch the fireworks over the river.

I don't know if this is readable. If not, it says "Delicious!" :)

Happy New Year!

First kiss if 2010!

Pretty Prague on New Year's Day

Charles Bridge

The Astronomical Clock

The Christmas Market (that went through New Year's weekend!) and Church of Our Lady of Týn in the Staroměstské náměstí

We were told that the "big" fireworks were on New Year's Day @ 6pm. True statement.

Wrought iron well in Malé náměstí

Back in Staroměstské náměstí to see St. Nicholas' Church

After some sights, we headed to Velká Klášterní Restaurant for lunch, were Joel got his meal on a sword...sweet.

Following lunch, we headed to Prague Castle via Hradčanské Square.

We saw Joel off after exploring Prague Castle and Golden Lane, and decided to wander the city for the evening.

This very narrow pedestrian walkway, apparently, has enough traffic that it needs it's own light.

We found a great pivovar a restaurace (bar and restaurant), U Fleků, that serves you a "traditional" Czech appertif (I'm not entirely certain what we were drinking) and the one beer that they brew...and you don't order the beer - they walk around with trays of full mugs.

Yep, only one beer on the menu - theirs.

We enjoyed our final dinner in Prague at U Pinkasů with a couple of traditional Czech dishes.

Jon & me outside U Pinkasů

Whew! OK, now we're all caught up. I promise I'll try to do better with blogging in the New Year.

We wish you all the best in 2010~HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Mission: Accomplished

I DID IT!

Today I ran my final 4 miles to complete my "100 miles in November" challenge.

Now, I am off to decorate the house for Christmas...and figure out how to physically challenge myself through the rest of this holiday season (as I see PLENTY of food in my near future!).

Support Your Troops

Jon left for work, in uniform, early this morning.

I've been blessed - and maybe made a little complacent - that here he is only driving 15 minutes to a military school house to teach.

But today, on Veterans' Day, I think back about rising at 2 a.m. and keeping a smile on my face and a positive attitude while Jon dressed in his uniform and grabbed his bag in preparation to fly himself into Afghanistan.

My father was a veteran. My husband is a veteran. I am a veteran.

This, obviously, makes my patriotism run deep...and maybe makes it easier for me to deal with life during a deployment.
I am not naive enough, however, to think that everyone understands what we're trying to accomplish...or to even say that I understand.

What I do know is that I am very thankful to all of the men and women who have fought (and who are fighting) for our great country.

The truth is that these men and women - whether you agree or not, whether you protest or not, whether you support our current President or not, whether you support our troops or not - have given us the right to believe whatever we wish AND to express those opinions openly.

Thank you to all the Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines who have given me the right to sit here comfortable on my couch, log-on to the internet, and blog about how much I appreciate each and every one of them.

I love Jon for so many reasons, but today I am especially proud of him for sacrificing for all the things that we take for granted.

Rise to the Challenge

I just finished my 2nd marathon 8 days ago.

Last year I ran the Athens Marathon in November...and then proceeded to do essentially nothing until the sun came out again in March.

I tend to get lazy in the autumn and winter...it's just easier to grab my blanket and curl up with the dog (who'd probably rather be out running with me!).

Then I start my training again - pretty much from scratch - in the spring, and I can manage to lose those 5 holiday/winter pounds and get myself back to were I was physically the previous fall.

So, my challenge to myself (in the hopes of maintaining my fitness level...and maybe improving on this fall's marathon - I hope to run Berlin in September 2010):

100 miles in 30 days.

You may wonder why I felt the need to post this self-challenge. Well, if I'm the only one who knows then I am not accountable.

There you have it, peeps!

It's day 2 of the challenge. Day one consisted of a 3-miler; today I did 4.

7 miles done!...93 to go...

Another 42,195 meters...complete!

On Sunday, October 25, I completed the Frankfurt Marathon - my second marathon.

*Whew*

I've only been a "runner" for about 3 years now, and had you asked me then if I'd ever do a marathon I'd have told you "Uh, no. Don't be ridiculous." Jon is convinced that the average human body is not meant to run 26.2 miles at a time. Heh

I've been blessed to have run these two in (1) Athens, Greece and (2) Frankfurt, Germany. I've become rather keen on running in Europe...or wherever they measure in km as opposed to the mile.

Kilometers seem to pass quicker than miles...maybe 'cause they're shorter duh

I don't focus on the fact that there are 42.2 km in 26.2 miles...I just look for the next distance marker - not the number on it!

We all have our own mind tricks to make it through!

Frankfurt was amazing with live music, food and beer (for non-runners) and amazing crowd support along the route...and in the 100 year-old Festhalle was our red-carpet finish.

No, seriously, there was a red carpet leading to the finish...confetti & cheerleaders, too!

Jon wanted a picture of me in my "cute" running gear

Over 9,000 runners if front of me @ the start. It was over 14 minutes from this point to cross the actual start line!

6km

13km - with Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus in the background

A band along the course dressed as pirates, singing 80's rock. Jon was very taken!

35km - Jon said he took this man's picture because "he's SO OLD...and he was ahead of you!" ...nice...

Red-carpet Ziel (finish) in the Festehalle

heading for the finish! (42.2km 4:48:21)

He's so proud!

Of course, we had to head out on the town Monday morning and check out Frankfurt!

Fall colors and the River Main

Buildings of the Römer - three Gothic buildings that the Altstadt (Old City) centers on

Römerberg (a plaza)

Haus Römer - has served as the Rathaus (City Hall) for 600 years

Kaiserdom St. Bartholomäus

What a great time!

Jon and I are really looking forward to the upcoming holidays, and all the visitors we have headed our way!

...so we have a little time to figure out where we'll be traveling to next!

In Training

So, I haven't been around to blog in a while. No reason, really...just nothing profound to write about.

Do I really ever write anything profound?

I have been busy though. I've been training for the last 4 months for my upcoming marathon in Frankfurt on October 25th...17 days to go! Wish me luck!

For this marathon I am fundraising for the Air Warrior Courage Foundation which provides scholarship assistance to the surviving dependents of U.S. military personnel killed-in-action, missing-in-action, prisoner-of-war or killed while performing aircrew duties in a non-combat aircraft accident. Please, sponsor me if you can!

I'll definitely post about the run...so...probably nothing for...oh...17 days ;)

Then the fun should pick up. Jon and I have friends from England flying in for Thanksgiving, my family visiting for Christmas - to include the Nuremberg Kristkindlmarkt and a side trip to Lucerne, Switzerland - and Jon's best friend, Dom and his girlfriend, Kris, visiting in February...fun plans for that visit TBD.

Until then...