the future of 'zmena'?

(custom meg + tom illustration by nan lawson)

Ahhh, yes - the good ol' blog. What to do, what to do. We shared some precious moments...told tales of faraway places...spent time reminiscing about wandering through foreign lands without a compass (or a working mobile)...and so on. It was fun and scary and lovely and perfect for me. But now I am experiencing a new journey with my new hubby (red bulls in hand), and with new journeys come new stories, challenges, smiles, travels, trials and precious moments.

That said, I have a feeling it is either 1) time for a zmena blog revamp or 2) time for zmena to sunset and a new blog to emerge. So, as I work this out, please be patient and keep an eye out for what's next. If you have thoughts or ideas, please feel free to share away. I'm all ears. As always.

Smiles and sunshine on this snowy winter night,

Me

Day 7 of the 'změna' series - Barbara!

I adored this cafe.

Barbara and I enjoying trdlo...one of my fav. czech goodies!

Beautiful Barbara at Mirek's bar - Antre!

I love this town.


The window from our beautiful little writer's room at Krumlov House.

What a fab stay in my second home!

Day 7 of the 'změna' series is dedicated to a beautiful friend with a super-sweet soul, Barbara Bindasova! Last night I returned to Minneapolis to a beautiful mess of a package from Prague! The first I've received since I've been back.

It arrived tattered and torn (literally)...but with all of its splendid belongings i...ntact! Pico ballas, Nivea deodorant for Tom, Aloe Vera drink, and a gorgeous long letter from Barbara! SUCH a great surprise!

I had a chance to sneak in one last trip to Krumlov (my second home) at the end of May before the Mosaic House madness really ensued, and was blessed to have Barbara join me. We had a fabulous time in my favourite lil' fairytale town.

Thank you SO much, Barbara!

Love, Me

Day 5 'změna' series dedication...PROST!

Day 5 of the 'změna' series is has come and gone (it was yesterday...oops...well, I was busy launching the new @Czech Inn Hostel website - www.czech-inn.com)!

As I was looking through my European travel images today, I came upon the shots from this year's Hahnenkamm men's world cup downhill race (Kitzbuhel, Austria). One word: PROST! Hands-down one of the most memorable excursions I have taken thus far in my (short) travel life.

If I could describe the race in one sentence I'd say: Oktoberfest on a ski hill. It was an absolute spectacle and I can't wait to go back. Didier Cuche came out on top both races, Shevy provided some great lodging at the Alpenrider, the Londoner lived up to expectations...it was all good.

I even had the chance to join in on a group of Swiss bell ringers' show...check it out. Pure brilliance...my ski heaven.

Livin' in ski bliss,

Me

day 4 'změna' series dedication...rockin' the (mosaic) house!

Day 4 of the 'změna' series is here! Hmm...what to do, what to do...yep, it's a hard choice when you love so much about a place. Alas - I've made my choice.

As many of you may well know, during my time in Prague I worked on a little project called Mosaic House (which I am technically still working on)...I had the chance to see the project through its opening and I absolutely fell in love with everything about it - the design, the dynamic offering it provides, the bar and restaurant (with stage!)...and most of all - the people. I feel blessed to have worked with the group of people I was able to work with day in and day out and I miss them immensely.

I recommend this place to anyone travelling to Prague - it is an absolutely gorgeous space full of character and good vibes.

The other day I jumped on the Mosaic House/Belushi's webcam and had the pleasure of seeing Twig and Eddy Passey for a brief moment...yep, a bit stalker-esque, but it made me feel reconnected and I oh-so-appreciated it. Thanks boys!

@Eddy - just in case you're wondering, I have those Bad Gastein race results in my portable office, so there's no forgetting what went down in Austria this year! Rematch in the future?! You better get training...;)

Love,

Me

day 3 'změna' series dedication...what a gem!

Day 3 of the 'změna' series has arrived...well, actually it arrived yesterday but it was a Saturday - so give me a break.

So, yesterday's fb post dedication to Europe goes to this random guy pictured below. When on a recent trip to Poděbrady with Christina Mei Hicks and Lauren Backenstose, I came across him and my iPhone could not be contained. What a gem, huh?! Socks with sandals and blue patterns galore!

This one is for all of the amazing sights I came upon while in public places in Europe (most notably public transportation...oh, how I miss it!). Na zdravi!

introducing: the new daily 'změna' fb post

Here goes, friends! First pic of the 'změna' ('change' in Czech) series. Today's inaugural shout-out was a hard one to choose...but he is very deserving: my bro, Zach Harrod. I am blessed to have lived in the same city as him, 4,000 miles from home, and I miss him like crazy.

The day before I left I dropped off Jesus to him. For those of you who are not familiar with Jesus, I received him in Poland fromThomas Suszynski's amazing uncle Jurek, and he (Jesus, not Jurek) travelled with me throughout my Polish countryside train adventures.

There is not a more deserving person of today's post. I love and miss you, brother! Na Zdravi!

Love,

MEgan

it's been long...too long...

(at Letany metro station mit pivni festival treats)

DANG! I can hardly believe it has been almost a month since I have written...there have been so many blog ideas swirlin' through my mind and most of them don't even make it down on paper! The time is flying by and I have been in this new place for nearly five months...CRAZY! (below is an old pic of me...from the world cup in garmisch in january...when i was using the -ahem- toilet for the 5th time that day, due to mass amounts of red bull intake...however, i thought the "5" theme would be appropriate here. :))!

Soon, I will take some more time to reflect on what has changed in the last five months - as time tends to do, it certainly has brought with it much change. But, of course, in my life change is normal...in fact, it is expected (and lots of it!)...which is why I took such a liking to this very word in czech, "zmena" - and also why this blog has assumed the title.

(en route to garmish, partenkirchen for the world cup!)

I've been to Austria, various cities in Germany and Poland (more cities in Poland than planned, in fact!) and all over the Czech Republic...and have so many more places to go...Switzerland, Egypt, Southern Italy, Numerous Czech Beer Gardens (ha! that's how I acquired those two rockstar mugs in the pic above!) Croatia, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Belgium, etc...the list is endless and continues to grow (ahhhh! make it stop!! okay, I take that back:)).

(me in austria - princess posing for alyssa!)

My passport has gotten some usage and will get even more as the months go on. Next week (less than 5 days - lucky number 5! woot-woot!) I head to the States for 2 weeks...I'm really freaking out now, but know I will get every task (needed) completed - or delegated - prior to my departure so I need to just chillax. I cannot even put into words how crazy-excited I am to visit Minni - one of the most gorgeous summer-cities in the world! I am excited for a few reasons...but here are a few of them...TOMUS!, kowalskis, kookaburra licorice (faux-aussie), vosges ice cream, dinner parties with the gays, hair dates with my boys, my girls, the loop, stella's, driving my lil' hatchback, THE FIRM!, MY FAM (in sconnie), the lakes, and the list goes on and on and on!

I owe you many blog postings...including a blog report on detox in the good ol' Czech Republic, updates on life in the hostel world and what the heck I am actually doing here work-wise, the "zmena" blog post...what has changed?! and a blog about my love for (and extreme withdrawal from) the Firm. More to come...I promise.

I will leave you with this image...

...which pretty much sums up why life in Prague is sometimes more interesting than you'd bargain for (no, this man wasn't posing...and no, he was not dead - in fact, I made sure to up to him and make sure he was breathing so we were not taking pictures of a dead man.). Seriously. This is almost as bad as the men dropping trou (short for "trousers") and peeing in any ol' random bush...or alley...or just plain building...while walking. But, I think the men doing cocaine off of the park bench near Palackeho still takes the cake. I just thought this pic was comical because it was so convenient that he passed out next to a car ad...looks like the car hit him.

hezky vikend!

love,

m