tagged?

So, this is the first time that I've participated in these tags. My dear old cousin Koe hit me with this one. I'm kindof embarassed to do it because you just have to tell 6 things about yourself: habits, traits, deep dark secrets, etc. So here we go. Also, I'm supposed to pass this on to 6 people so I think that if you read it you should consider yourself tagged.

1. I was really scared of tonz of things when I was little. A few of these things include: E.T. Dinasaurs, Hitler, Witches, Gophers, Billy bob (at showbiz pizza), I really thought that all of them were going to come and get me in the night. Oh, and vampires, I even went through a phase where I had to wear turtle necks to bed so it'd be harder for a vampire to bite me.

2. I'm still scared of tonz of things, only the list of things I'm scared of have changed... sharks in lakes, intruders, people that may be lurking in my shower, Grizzley bears, badgers, rocky ledges, and being home alone.

3. I LOVE taco bell mild sauce. I eat them plain, from the packet. When I go to taco bell I grab a few extras for the road.

4. When I'm eating candy or something, like M&M's for example. I like to eat so that I have the same amount of each color of M&M

5. I have a large need to celebrate every holliday (and for some reason also feel the need to create theme meals, which usually ends up just creating more work...)

6. I'll eat lots of discusting things... for example... When I was in H.S. we were driving back from a track meet. Someone passed out a piece of bubble tape to everyone (including the old grumpy 65 yr. old coach) then they collected all the ABC gum and and put it in a big clump and I chewed it all!!!

7. and a bonus, because I just remembered this... My Junior year in college I was friends with lots of REALLY trendy people and so for some reason I thought it would be funny if I bought this ugly navy blue sweat suit from D.I. (like the 80's sweats and sweatshirt- all one color, no frills) that was about 5 sizes to big for me and wore it to school every day for one week.

okay, that is enough. those things make me sound like a total wierd-o, but I guess if the shoe fits...

Cancun & swiming with dolphins

Last week we went down to Cancun. Amazingly Josh and I got a free trip from his running. We got to stay in an amazing hotel on the beach with an amazing pool. We got all the free food we wanted, including numerous virgin Pina Colada's and Strawberry Daquaries at the pool bar. But the highlight of my trip was swiming with the Dolphins! This is always something that's been on my list of "things to do before I die" It was so fun! First they kissed you on the cheek, then you got to shake their fins, and the best was doing the "super man" you lay in the water and 2 dolphins come behind you and put their nose on the bottom on your foot, then they push you through the water soo fast that you are pushed up into a standing position. Amazing.

This is a view of the swimming pools at our hotel. you can see the canopy of the pool bar in the largest pool, closest to the beach.

Cereal

We love to eat cereal for breakfast. And sometimes for lunch, or for desert... We don't really care much about choosing the "health" cereals... We usually just get the delicous kinds. Studies have shown that people who eat cereal (any kind) for breakfast feel better physically and emotionally (bell institute) they also show that frequent cereal eaters have healthier body weights. So, we go for the yummy ones, they have the same amount of vitamins, minerals, calories and whole grain as the others...better that we eat our cereal then buy healthy kinds and wish that we wanted to eat it. The cereals that you will usually find in our pantry are:

1. Reeses puffs (Josh even brings a box of these out of town with him)

2. Raisin nut bran

3. Grahm O's

4. Berry Berry Kix

5. Cinnamon swirls

6. Honey Nut Chex

7. Cookie Crisp

8. Vanilla cream Mini-wheats

9. French Toash Crunch (we don't buy this any more since they recently changed the flavor)

10. Muffin tops

11. Blueberry morning

Around Town

My parents and Tracy are living in Hannover. Their apt. is RIGHT in the city. It's a really cool town and I loved all the culture, I had a fun time hanging out with my fam. and with my little sis. Tracy. Hannover is basically the government ctr. of the country so 80% of it was bombed in the war. Most of it is either re-built, or they are in the process of re-building it. A few things they have left in ruins.

This is the Rathaus (or city government building) it was less than 1/2 mile from my family's apartment. Tracy and I would go by it on our run every morning. (p.s. Tracy took this photo. she's a great photographer.)

This is one of the 1/2 timber houses that is so typical in germany. I love this classic mid-evil look.


This is an old church that was bombed in WWII, but has not yet been restored. It has all sorts of pretty red vines growing on it. (credit of this photo also goes to tracy)

This is the Old church just RIGHT by my families. It chimes every hour (and half hour and quarter hour...)

These are the apartments that my parents live in!

I love germany

I got home from my deutschland trip about 2 weeks ago? So sere is yet another post about it. Yes, I love germany. That will probabally show by the legnth of this post. A few of the reasons I love it include...

FOOD...

Soft German Pretzil. They make em' big.
Kinder bar. Now, this is the most delicous thing. I'm actually eating one right this moment. It is a thin wafer like cookie filled with creamy hazelnut cream, and dipped in european chocolate. Need I say more?

Try to forget the fact that I look like a goblin. Take a look at my Kugel's of Ice cream. One of the flavors is Kinder egg flavor and the other is coconut. Very delicous and creamy... Lecker.

This is Tracy holding a paper cone filled with delicous little bite sized scones! They are heavily sprinkled with powdered sugar. Wow!

Bavaria...

Beautiful country side of Bavaria. Maybe my favorite place in the world. The alps would be right behind me as I was taking this photo...

Cows...

Alps. Right on the border of austria. We went running here in the morning and there was a think layer of fog just floating over the lake, and around the mountains. very picturesque.

The little bed and breakfast we stayed in. It had the most delicous breakfast. German breakfasts are the best. They always have boiled eggs and a little egg cup to hold them in, Rolls that are crusty on the outside and soft in the middle, cold cuts, and delicous apple juice that actually tasts like apples, etc.

Neuschwanstein. Otherwise recognized as the Disney Castlel. This is "one of the jewls of bavaria" But I think the countryside is just as pretty as the castle. This is the one that Walt disney patterned sleeping beauty's castle after. So Amazing. Built in the alps of Bavaria.

Tracy and I inside the Neuschwanstein courtyard.

More of Neuschwanstein, with the typical disney turret and the alps in the background. This is the most visited castle because all americans love it, thanks to walt disney!

Castles...

Heidleburg castle, this wing of it was in ruins. Much of it was destroyed in the war of 1812. I think this castle was built in the 1400?

One of the most beautiful, "Lichtenstein" built right on the edge of the cliff.

Wenigerode castle. One of the few in the northern part of the country.

Wartburg castle. Martin Luther (that the lutheran church is named after) translated the New Testiment here. It was built in the 1200?It was really rainy this day, so sorry the quality's not that great.

Rheinstein Castle. Another of my favorites. Had a mini vineyard here in the cortyard. On a hill, overlooking the Rhein.
Rheinstein Castle courtyard.