MY WIFE

I realize something as I sit next to this beautiful woman foolish enough to marry me...she's mean.  I also was just struck.  Not stricken.  I was punched.  She's now mocking my grammar.  She does not seem to think I would post this, so now I have no option.

Christmas Card Pictures

Claire had been screaming for about 20 pictures.  This is the
closest I got to getting her smiling all afternoon.
Obviously, this won't be on our Christmas card.

Yesterday afternoon, we made an attempt to take pictures for our Christmas card.  (Yes, Emily has chosen this years Christmas cards already.)  We took the kids over to the ruins of a nearby abbey.  It's one of my favorite places in Belgium.  The setting was great.  Emily had chosen coordinating outfits.  (Yes, Isaac and I were both embarassed about that).  First, I realized that part of the tripod had been left attached to my video camera, so I had to position my camera on a rock.  Then, Claire decided that she wasn't interested in any part of the process.  In over 300 photos, only two were even worth considering. Isaac actually did ok.  Claire would screem and get up.  Without fail, as she walked off she would look at me and smile.  I physically felt my blood pressure going up.

Guys Weekend

 

This weekend, I'm in Dover & Canterbury with a friend of mine.  I have a few minutes to kill before anywhere opens up where we can eat breakfast, so I thought I'd post a couple of pictures.  Obviously, I'm standing on the White Cliff's of Dover on the right.  Joe & I hiked about five miles along the cliffs.  If time (and weather) allowed, I would have kept going.  The cliffs where pretty.  The constant flow of ferries across the English Channel didn't really add to the picturesque seen, but it was a nice hike.  It did rain on us for the last mile, but that seems to have made the experience complete.  Some of you are now questioning my common sense, which is a perfectly sensible response.  Dover Castle was also interesting.  I've toured enough castles that it really wasn't that different from others.  However, there are a series of tunnels under the Castle that were begun during the Napoleonic Wars as barracks for soldiers positioned to repell a French invasion.  During WWII, this became an underground hospital as well as a command post for Operation Dynamo (evacuation of the British and French armies after the Battle for France was won by Germany in WWII).

 

Not a bad first day.  Today I'll get to see Canterbury Cathedral, which rounds out the last major European church I had on my list.  I'd still like to see the Hagia Sophia, but it hasn't been a church since 1453, so I don't have to technically include it in my list of churches.

 

Balls, Inpections, and Broken Bones

The picture is from the Air Force & Navy Ball for SHAPE.  A friend of mine was on the planning committee and had me do the invocation.  I have to admit, they did a great party.
Otherwise, let me retrace the last couple of weeks.  Since my last post, I'm still doing physical therapy.  My ankle is improving, but it's getting old and tedious.  We completed our Command Inspection Program.  For those not in the army, it just means our higher headquarters comes down to inspect our records, supplies, and whatever other random thing they decide to examine.  We passed with 100% (by that, I mean my assistant and I).  He did 90% of the work.  Considering that this is his first unit and he's been here less than a year, He did an amazing job.

Turns out Isaac's arm is not only broken, but he'll have to have a pin put into his wrist for a few weeks so the bone sets straight.  I found that little gem out this afternoon.

I don't guess I should really complain.  Em ran the Paris to Versailles Road Race this weekend, which left me with the kids.  It's always fun to have a couple of days of playing with them.  (It's easy for me to say since I also have several trips each year without them). 

 

Speaking of the kids, Isaac is at the table imitating the noises of random bodily functions.  I guess I should get up to be a good father and explain that it's a little disgusting.  I still owe him ice cream from when they had to draw blood this afternoon anyway.

 

Hectic Week

The last week has been hectic, to say the least.  Let's start with last Saturday.  Emily was out running errands when I hear Isaac crying.  He had fallen while trying to carry a large toy truck up to the top bunk (I have no idea why).  I checked the arm and didn't think it was broken.  On Sunday morning, Emily has a minor car accident.  No one was hurt, but it has had us down to one vehicle.  By Monday, Isaac still isn't using his arm.  The earliest appointment we can get him is for Thursday.

Throughout this, I am trying to catch up from being gone to Garmisch the week before.  (I'm still not caught up, if you're wondering).  A Europe-wide suicide stand down absorbed most of my week through Thursday.

 

On Thursday, Emily calls when I'm in a meeting and Isaac's arm is broken.  (I win "father of the year" for that one, I'm sure.). 

 

Friday, was a good day.  I had three soldiers and myself helping a soup kitchen in Mons tear out some old ceiling and plaster so they can expand their ministry.  You see us sitting with the debris we pulled out of the building in the picture.  I haven't been that physically exhausted in a long, long time.

 

On top of it, I had 1-1.5 hours of physical therapy on my ankle three days this week.  Apparently, I wasn't supposed to just run through the pain for the last year and a half.  The physical therapist all but called me stupid during the initial consulation.  She was less than thrilled when I told her I didn't have time to come to the clinic on Thursday or Friday.

 

OK, there's my massive dump of information.  Hopefully, this week will be better.  When Em and I looked at schedules, I'm not sure this one will move any slower.  If we can just avoid any extra conversations with hospitals or police officers, it'll be an improvement.