SHAPE Fest 2012

I’ve always been told that having a third child is a game-changer.  This weekend, we’re keeping some friends’ little girl (Claire’s age).  Their junior-high daughter is also staying with us, so she has been amazingly helpful at the house.  However, we spent this afternoon at SHAPE Fest.  The big sister hung out with her friends (as she should have) and Emily and I had three kids to watch.  Even with the double stroller we were outnumbered.  There’s definitely a huge difference between two and three children. 

Em actually reminded me once that she was the one that had wanted to stop at two.

 

This week is one of those that I dread each year.  I have to go to Germany for a few days for Chaplain's Annual Sustainment Training.  I'm sure once I get there, I'll enjoy getting to see some friends again.  I just hate being away from work and family for a week.  It's not a workaholic thing.  I'm good with being on vacation with my family instead of at work.  I just will spend the majority of the next week sitting through briefings that provide minimal new information.  The scenery will be amazing (Garmisch, Germany).  The lodging will be nice enough.  It'll just be a long, long drive to start and end a long, tedious week.

 







Greatest Race Ever

So, yesterday I ran the "Troll Extreme Run" here in Belgium.  Troll is the sponser.  The run is a 12k run through the woods with a couple of dozen obstacles.  I notice another huge difference between the States and Europe about a mile into the race.  We were climbing over a pill of tires with wires hanging down over the pile. One of the guys on my team (to the right) bumped a wire.  It was had electric current running through it.  No race in the States would have actually electric shocks as one of the obstacles.  It took over 2 hours to go 7+ miles.  Running on the streets, 7 miles would take about half that long.  I realized how dirty I was the first time we swam across a canal.  I got out, looked down, and realized that I still had mud down my shins.  By the third time across the canal, I was relatively clean.  I like this type of race far more than a marathon.

Another Sign of Age

Well, today another sign of middle age creeped into my life...my reading glasses arrived.  They were ordered over 5 weeks (military efficiency).  The doc wasn't kidding.  I really was seeing everything much smaller than it really is.  Not sure what the next step into middle-age is, but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough.  (I already complain about not understanding current music and fashion if you're wondering).

The last 2-3 days have been in the low 90s.  I know that doesn't sound bad to my friends and family in the southeastern US.  However, most of them haven't lived in a house and worked in an office without air conditioning in quite a while.  It was also a great weekend at home with Emily and the kids.  We did a little cleaning.  The kids played in the pool.  I tried to do a long run and discovered that I'm not acclimated to 90 F (thanks Belgium).

That's the overview of the last couple of weeks.  The picture you see is from a trip the kids & I took to the zoo.  It was kind of nice to send Em of to work for a change while I got to take the kids on an outing.  Sadly, I think I was more excited to watch the hippo walk on the bottom of the pond and then surface.

Em's Birthday

This week was Emily's birthday.  We went low key this year.  Isaac chose the cake from the bakery.  I insisted on putting the correct number of candles on the cake.  When Em got home from work, we had cake and put the kids to bed.  We then made paella from a recipe book that one of Emily's Spanish children from last year gave to her.  I seriously doubt she'll be thrilled about the picture that went online.

Today was an off day for me, so I took the kids to the zoo again.  They seem to have a new section opened each time we go.  Isaac loved they hippo.  I'll try to get some pictures online over the next few days. 

Olympic Observations

OK, I normally don't watch this much of the Olympics.  Basically, I normally watch track and field and a few swimming events.  If I can't tell who won, I generally don't watch.  However, I only have 6 channels right now, so I pretty much watch anything that looks like a sport.  I'm also currently in Europe so I actually know people from Great Britain, Germany, etc.  It makes the whole thing more interesting.  Here are a few observations from the first few days...

1.  Rowing crew - I definitely want to be the person sitting in the back not paddling.  I think I would be good at yelling, "Go Faster, we're getting beat by the Netherlands."  I'm just saying...I think I could pull that off.

2.  Equestrian Events - I'm completely confused by the scoring.  It doesn't seem to have anything to do with speed.  The commentary didn't explain anything.  Apparently they couldn't find broadcasters that understood it eaither.

3.  Women's Shooting - I watch a woman hit 99/100 clay pigeons.  There is absolutely no sarcastic comment I can make.  I'm a fan.

4.  I couldn't care less about Michael Phelps' "legacy."  If another friend of mine begins ranting about how he should have stopped while he was "untouchable" my head may physically explode.  I hope he wins (I do cheer for the US, obviously), but his "legacy" is his business.  I have no vested interest in how he goes down in Olympic history.  I just want to see someone from the US win.

5.  Not sure why a National Health Care System is included in the opening ceremony.  Some friends from Northern Ireland explained it (Thanks Broddles).  I still don't really understand it...sorry to any Brits that come across this.

6.  Water Polo requires a level of strength and fitness I cannot begin to fathom.  However, I have no idea what the official is constantly blowing his whistle about.  The best I can tell, the players all just keep going through 80% of the whistles.