Jetting to Italy & Other Quick Trips

Jerry's jetting to Italy as I write. It's just an overnight work trip, but it still counts as a first visit to a new country for him. We're all green with jealousy and the weak protest that he didn't even want to go in the first place only makes it worse. Really? You don't feel like going to Italy today, dear? I didn't feel like having my teeth cleaned today either, but not only did I go through with it, I opted for the additional fluoride treatment, thereby precluding me from eating or drinking for the next thirty minutes.

The one trip we've taken recently that proved to be fun for the whole family was visit to the emergency room at Landstuhl Army hospital. Michael's latest living room acrobatic maneuver went terribly wrong and the coffee table softened the landing. He ended up putting his tooth through his lower lip. On the way to the hospital Michael made me promise that I would inform the doctor that he had already determined that he did not want to get stitches. So, while the doctor was totally welcome to give us a second opinion, it had already been determined we would not be requiring any actual medical services and, just between you and me, I'm not really sure why we're even here. Dr. Michael was overruled and here's the result:

Long Time No See

Every time I sit down to update the blog the computer takes forever so I go to refill my coffee and I spill some on the dishwasher which reminds me that I need to empty it and while I'm emptying it the phone rings and while I'm talking I remember that I have a paper due and when I sit down to write my paper, I am reminded that I was going to update the blog! So it goes. I still have that paper due, but first things first.

We've done a ton of traveling since I wrote in April, all starting with a trip to Dublin, Ireland. What a great place with wonderful characters. We didn't understand a word they said, but they sure seemed nice! If you ever go there, I highly recommend going to the Long Hall in Trinity College. It's a huge, long hall (hence the name) full to the ceiling with old books. In a room off to the side were people cleaning the books with tiny vacuums, page by page. It was crazy to watch. You can look but you can't touch or even take pictures. (I didn't sneak a shot, the picture here of the Long Hall is not mine, it was copied from a brochure.) Everything is completely roped off and there is a guard to keep you in line, but it was amazing nonetheless. This is the same place that houses the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript written (a word that seems lacking in this case) by monks in 800 AD. Beautiful.

We also made a quick trip to Belgium to see our friends the Jeters who are newly ensconced there. It was good to see them again! We got a good look at Waterloo from a very, very tall mound of dirt with a lion on top and ate at a fabulous Italian restaurant and introduced them to the Doner Kebap. (I'm having trouble digging up the picture of the lion on the hill, but when I do I'll be sure to post it.)

I have much more, but my coffee cup is empty and you know what that means! I guess I'll have to finish this later.