Busy Times

We haven't posted in awhile! Life seems to get so busy in the summer time, just when you are supposed to be taking time off to relax and un-wind.

It is Sunday night, 9:30, and I am at the office (yeesh). Keane, who has been working from home all evening, is on his way to pick me up so that we can go get some food. We both love our jobs, but this has been a hectic few weeks to say the least, and we are patiently biding our time until this craziness ends! I suspect that we will have a much-needed break next weekend, when we will drive up to Whistler, sleep in, have leisurely breakfasts and go for long hikes at the top of Whistler mountain. This is our light at the end of this tunnel. Until then, we will keep putting one foot in front of the other until we get there.

Here is an image I like - a painting by Chili Thom, who is a Whistler artist. I love his work, and I especially like looking at this one every day. I find it soothing for the eyes, especially after looking at map data all day. It always makes me imagine swimming through the cool, clear water, as far away from my desk as the current will take me...

Sunday flowers

Gladiolas were $1.98 a bunch at the grocery store down the street. There is something so nice about having fresh colorful flowers in the house.

Czech Republic Post #6: The Zoo at Dvur Kralove

After saying goodbye to the band......

we went on a day trip to the town of Dvur Kralove, and paid a visit to the local zoo....

Saturday Rambling

These are a few photos from one of Keane's birthday celebrations. We got together with a couple of good friends, made a picnic of baked chicken, salad and some nice white wine and wheeled it all down to Kits beach for an evening near the water.

I was playing with the manual settings on my camera this afternoon(which felt like the morning because we slept in for a long time today - a big luxury). I like the greens in these photos.

Czech Republic Post #5: The Adrspasske Skaly

Keane and I did a day hike throught the Adrspach Rocks....

A boat ride on a lake.
Coming up next... a day trip to the zoo!

Folks, a little break from the Czech Republic Posts for one day to say....

Thanks for being you. You make my life so much fun. I am grateful beyond comprehension for so many things, which I will tell you about later (in private!). - love, Angie

And folks, if you want to send Keane some Birthday wishes, be sure to post a comment!

Czech Republic Post #4: Adrspach - The After Party

After several hours of music and dancing in the great outdoors, the party continued when we packed up and moved inside. These photos are a compilation from both nights. It was fantastic - Luba and his band set up in the restaurant, Keane and Peter joined in on acoustic and electric and a few local musicians (a harmonica player, a fiddle player and a banjo player) showed up to join in the fun. These were the times that made the cost of the flight totally worthwhile. A bunch of the audience also stayed behind to dance, drink and laugh with us until the wee hours.


Getting ready to pack it up and move it inside. Rosie and Angie hanging outside. Craig Rose is a photographer, and often travels with the band when Luba goes on tour.

Keane and Angie getting in one last dance. Photos (these and some others) courtesy of Marie.

Cousin Steve manning the bar (Peter's cousin, that is)

That guy on bass, Roland 'Rawhide' Heinrich, wailed. He amazed us all.

And that guy on fiddle (who also played mandolin), Ed Csupkay, was also an amazing character and musician. Good-hearted souls, all of them.

And all was well. The nights came to a close around 4am. Here is the moon, and the first hints of sunrise, from our hotel room. More photos to come soon...

Czech Republic Post #3: Adrspach - The Party

These photos are a compilation from 2 nights of music on the grounds of Hotel Javor. It was pro. A full outdoor stage set-up, sound guy, seating, outdoor grill with the best Argentinian steaks you could imagine, and Pilsner came to set up a tap outside. Peter's birthday parties have always been big events so it came as no surprise that this year, for his big 4-0 that he was going to kick it up a notch. The surroundings were beautiful and the weather couldn't have been better.

Here you will see Keane performing with his old bandmates, Peter and Luba, from The Big Rig Sweeties. Luba Dvorak and his band happened to be touring in Germany around this time, so they came to perform for both nights.

By the way... Sorry for the blurry photos. Angie didn't want to be bugging people with her flash all night, so tried to go in-cognito...

One of the first bands up on stage.

Beautiful night! Notice the sheep grazing in the yard beyond the stage...

Luba's drummer from Berlin (whose name completely escapes me). Notice the kids in the background playing sword-fighting with sticks.

The Czech version of Avril Lavigne! This band really rocked. We were impressed.

Here is the hotel's head Chef. He takes his job very seriously. So much so that if you order something that he doesn't think goes well together, he will just make what he thinks you should have. And you don't complain a) because you don't want to mess with him and b) because he was right! The food was great.

Notice the various meats. Meat and bread and beer was our diet for almost the entire trip.

Peter, Luba and Keane getting ready to go on stage, up in Peter's hotel room.

And they take to the stage...

Keane and Peter are invited up to play with Luba's band at the end of the night.

A great night! Now stay tuned for photos of the after party...