thoth, back in action

Birthday Boy

last day

Yesterday we met Sandy, her parents and the kids at the Natural History Museum and then went to the Shake Shack for lunch, a great alternative to the museum cafeteria. They were going home to Colorado later that afternoon. It is always so fun to see them. As far as Nick and PS 6 are concerned we found out yesterday that the meeting we have this coming Tuesday will determine were he is placed, his SEIT will be coming with us, and I am optimistic.

more photos on Flickr

Rachel is back from India

New York public schools

Here is an article that was in the NY Times this morning.
Children Rejected at Neighborhood Schools in Manhattan - NYTimes.com

Friends from Colorado and other news

Teddy, Chiara and Josephine

Our friends from Colorado are in town with her parents. They arrived Saturday, that evening they all came over for dinner. It was very nice. It’s amazing how Chiara and Teddy still get along so well. The twins really enjoy both Teddy and Johnny’s company. Last night we went out for dinner together and were joined by Annette and her kids. I had to go over to PS 6 this morning. I don’t know if you are all up to date on my NY public school saga. In brief there are too many kids enrolling and not enough spots. So to enroll your child in your district school has become a three-step process. We are at the second step. As I received only one letter from the school, saying that my child has been given a spot, I went to the school today to see about the other child. It turns out that Laura has a place and they have not decided yet on Nicky because of the services he receives. Still this is better then some children who simply did not get a spot in their own district school. I have a meeting with the special education people next Tuesday, wish me luck.

This morning

One more

Guest book in a church in Gent.

Short Vacation

We went out of the city for a few days. Chandran and the kids are on vacation this week so we thought why not take our car and go see some trees. First we stopped at Maya and Guy’s. They are all doing well. The twins really got along, Laura and Anna especially. M & G may be moving some time in mid June in a house in Rhinebeck, really close to the to the Beekman Arms. After we left them we went up to Speculator. We stayed at a nice motel. We had an efficiency, two bedrooms living room and kitchen, perfect. Tuesday was a beautiful day and we went sledding at Helen’s place. After sledding we went to the local maple syrup farm. They were boiling and the couple that runs the place gave us a tour and explained the process, very interesting. We were hoping to go skiing on Wednesday, it rained and so we came back home a day early.





More photos on my Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29397461@N04/)

Belgium Pictures--more on flickr

Oranges in Bruges


Our favorite restaurant


Buges at night


St. Nicholas, Ghent


Miss Belgium


Fish restaurant street.


I don't think Belgians think of themselves as Belgians. I think they are residents of their cities, and view distant cities--Bruges is nearly 30 miles from Gent--as foreign.

Hotel Metropole

got back from paris yesterday afternoon. realized at the last moment that my flight was at 11 am, and not 10 pm, which was quite sad but lucky. managed to survive both flights. flew over greenland... fun to see. the flight attendant who made the announcement kept calling it "greenwood." saw most monuments, but didn't go to any museums, which is fine... been to them all. tried to go to the louvre one day but it was too crowded and i didn't feel like waiting. courtney, my friend, had class during the day so i would just wander around and we'd meet up at night. went to a couple of movies: watchmen, and the wrestler. went to a couple of bars. funnnn time.

pictures are uploading now... i'll post a link when they're done.


paris pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizalou/

Frankfurt Airport

We had a really lovely last day in Brussels. We went to the art museum in the morning. They only had one Bosch, but great Breughel and Rubens, and the Death of Marat--the guy hanging out of his bathtub.
We returned to our favorite lunch spot also, and stayed long enough to try everything and get cozy with other tipsy seafood lovers and the owner, who loves Sinatra. You have to stand up at the place and it has minimal rain protection, but the food is incredible--small plates, each only available done one way, right in front of you. I keep thinking about the scallops seared for just a moment on endive and mushrooms with a cream sauce. You order your wine by color only, and after a time the owner starts topping off your glass for free.
Then we went for a bracing walk to see how long it would take to get to the station from our hotel. We stayed out of cabs the whole time.
Looking forward to getting home.

Back to Brussels

We had two lovely, sunny days in Bruges. Brugge. Highlights (speaking of highlights, this computer thinks I've spelled everything except 'computer' and 'in Bruges' wrong.)
Michelangelo's Madonna and child in the Notre Dame (spelled correctly); tour of beer brewery; bell tower; orange slices in dark chocolate; general ambiance. As we were leaving today it was really filling with tourists! (Sneer) We're back in Brussels, but I think we'll go to Antwerp tomoorow for the afternoon--we're enjoying excursions and getting to know the trains.

Water rising

This morning I went to the basement, just before leaving for GEH and found 4+ inches of water. Balls and baseball bat, mat under the swing floating . I called Don, our beloved contractor, he came and we puzzled over it, as the sump pump started working when he nudged it. The water is now outside and things are drying out,

Brussels

Yesterday we went to Ghent. We have been really lucky with the weather. We had a boat tour and walked around a lot. Great cathedral with van Eyck painting. We were the only ones on the boat, as it was open. The boat guy was really interesting. He talked about development a lot, current and very old and in between. I am about to run out of time, I think. We miss you.

"A Day in the Life" of the guy I worked for

A local news station did a puff piece on Congressman Massa, and one of the local blogs has the videos up. I couldn't figure out how to embed them here, but they're worth watching.

Looks like I won't get a chance to get in and see him when I'm down in D.C. though.


www.fighting29th.com

Brussels

We have arrived safely and eaten moules frites, a waffle, and some truffles. The european keyboard takes some qdjustment. We went to the EU parliment where daily dozens of visitors have to be hospitalized due to boredom. I napped. We walked a lot. This is a beautiful city full of friendly, polite people. We just passed 2 American ladies who had gathered a small crowd trying to help with their map. At dinner last night we ate in the seafood alley outside under heat lamps. It drizzled a bit. We were greatly entertained by the maitre de standing in front trying to attract passersby with his guess (usually correct) of their language. The whole street was like a red light district for shellfish.
We miss you and hope you are well.

Italy

Well, I tried a new arrangement, but did not intend this, but it is ok, I guess. From left to right: Our apt. is on the first piano (or second floor), on via Covour. The entrance to the Duomo in Firenza. Climbing in Fiesole, a city bus ride away from Firemza. and the Arno, Firenza. For more pictures look at my flickr page.

School

I decided to make a post about school because I haven't written on the blog in a long while. We had a snow day on monday, classes were canceled; we (me and most of the people in my hall) went and saw taken but otherwise stayed in the dorm because campus is one big icy hill. I just took a picture out of my window, with my webcam, but the majority of the snows melted so it's just dreary.



Then last night, a few of us in my hall were bored so we went out and saw Watchmen at midnight. Eric's car got stuck and getting it out took a good 20 minutes, so we made it to the theater with about 2 minutes to spare, but we still got tickets. It was really good, but nearly 3 hours, so we got back to the dorm pretty late.

Tonight most of the people in my hall are going to my friend Katie's brother's house but I opted out of going. Pretty much everyone went home this weekend, so I'm all alone in the dorm tonight, but It'll be nice to have a quiet night in.

Classes are fine, but hard. Physics has been pretty manageable, but math's a killer this semester. I'm taking writing 104 which we have to write a paper a week for. It's a nice break from all the math I've been doing, but it adds a lot to my homework load.

I have spring break starting next weekend, It'll be nice to get off campus for a week, we're all going a little crazy being cooped up here (cabin fever).

That's pretty much everything going on in my URI life, ask any questions you may have.

i'm sure some of you have seen this...

... but in case some of you haven't, here is "david after dentist." it's a little boy post some kind of dental surgery...

Sleepwalking Fail

Look how embarrassed this dog is.

new look

No more $25 hair cuts at Cozy's Cuts for Kids.