I Have not Fallen Off the Face of the Earth...

It’s time for an update again. First of all, let me welcome two new additions to the family – Siena and Jayan Victor. I offer hearty congratulations to their respective parents Jay & Alvie, and Ron & Donna. I can not wait to see both babies. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving in Poulsbo. I also offer best of birthday wishes to host of family members with birthdays in November – to Mng. Bong, Mng Edgie, Sonya, Steve, Payton, Grace, Mia, Neil, and Salia. I am sorry that these b-day greetings are all a bit late. Let me know if I have missed anyone. I also received a nice note from James providing an update from Holy Cross. He seems to be having a ball and getting ready for his last semester of college studies.

I hope all is well with everyone. As for me, everything is going well – not great. Work is a bit more manageable with the passing of fiscal year end, but there is still a lot to do. It’s still somewhat busy at work – from one day trips all over Germany and weeklong trips in and outside of Germany, as well catching up with administrative work for my projects when I am in the office. I take advantage of my weekends and days off as much as I can, by getting away. If I don’t take off for the weekend, I will probably show up at work.

I had been a bit under the weather with coughing fits a couple of weeks ago. I have been traveling quite a bit, for work and personal vacations. A friend and I checked out Trier, a German city near the Luxembourg border, during the Columbus Day weekend. I was in Turkey near the end of October for work, but I managed to spend a day exploring the old part of Istanbul. I am still going to different parts of Germany managing my projects and meeting with customers and program sponsors. I traveled to Porto, Portugal in search of good seafood and port wine with a couple of friends from work during the Veteran’s Day weekend. I just returned from a five day trip from southwestern France visiting Carcassonne and its famed preserved fortress; Castelnaudary and Toulouse in search of cassoulet – in short a bean and meat (duck, sausage and pork, mainly) stew; and Nimes, to see the Roman ruins in the city and nearby Pont du Gard. Next week, I will be going to Rota and Moron, Spain to survey several schools. After I finish my work, I will be staying for the weekend to see the sights of Sevilla.

I did get my new car – the red with black stripes Mini Clubman. It’s been a month and a half since I had it. I really have not had a long road trip on it yet. But I drive it around during the weekend, when I am in town. I had managed to get by in Germany without a car for 15 months without really any problems. But you know, having a car gives your more options and flexibility.

The photos are of the new car when I picked it up at the dealership and with a small build up of snow from last week. It’s a fun little car.

I promise to fill you in on my trips to Istanbul, Porto, and southwest France before the end of the week. As a teaser, the following are photos from the various locations.

In Istanbul, in front of the Hagia Sophia:

In Pont du Gard, with the Roman aqueduct in the background:

In Porto, tasting port wines with friends:

The Roman amphitheater in Nimes, France, now being used among others things, as a bullfighting arena:

In Porto, during a boat cruise along the Douro River:

A magnificent sunset bathes the Mediterranean waters in Montpellier, France:

I am finalizing plans for my holiday trip back to Seattle. I should be in Seattle from 20 December to just after the new year. I am planning on visiting a US city in the east coast for a two or three day stay on my way back to Germany.

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween!!! In late October 2004, I hosted a party in Seattle to celebrate James’ birthday and also make it a Halloween costume preview for the kids. Below are pictures from this party.

Ina as the wicked witch from Poulsbo and Paige as a bumblebee. Ina was awarded with the best Halloween costume.

Payton as Spiderman and Salia as Dora-Dora.


All the kids gathering around James’ birthday cake.



Nathan as the big, bad wolf.


Samantha as the wicked witch from West Seattle.

Two month old Cameron as herself, a baby dressed all in pink.

After all the playing around and eating, some of them eventually got tired.

Below are more pictures from past Halloweens:

Lil Pumpkin Paige at the pumpkin patch.

Ina as a princess and Jessica as a revolutionary militant.

Salia as Snow White and Paige as a Ninja Turtle.

Send me pictures of your kids dressed in this year’s Halloween costume and I will post them on this blog.

It's October -- It Must Be Time for Oktoberfest

With all the carnival rides that entice you with their multi-colored, flashing lights and spinning at a dizzying speed; the carnival games that lure you to win stuffed animals and other worthless prizes; the hunger inducing savory aroma of the different variety of food being sold including an assortment of sausages, roasted chickens, roasted knuckles of pork, and grilled fish on a stick; the selection of snack food from pretzels, candied nuts, and giant cookies that you hang around your neck; and the countless vendors that peddle their wares and souvenirs – the Oktoberfest scene is somewhat similar to the bigger state fairs back in the US.






I liken it to the Western Washington State Fair, better known as the Puyallup Fair, with two major differences – a lot more people and BEER. Instead of the big barns that showcase well groomed farm animals and display blue ribbon quality farm produce, Munich’s Oktoberfest flaunts its beer halls jam-packed with people enjoying the hearty drink of Bavaria.

Beer tents outside and inside, before it gets really packed --








I have “done the Puyallup,” as the tv ad melodiously refers to attending the event, numerous times. During my high school years, the Puyallup Fair was where your clique of high school friends met and hung around for a day to enjoy the last vestige of summer, see classmates you have not seen for the last three months, and to welcome the new school year. The Puyallup Fair is also the home of the scones and thick pattied burgers topped with grilled onions – it did not matter that you waited in a lengthy line to get these goodies; you could not leave the fairground without at least savoring these fares. The allure and fascination of Puyallup Fair to a wide-eyed, naïve teen has been a bit relegated and replaced by the enthrallment and revelry of Munich Oktoberfest to a potbellied, middle aged chap.

This is my second time attending this Oktoberfest in Munich. Like last year, I attended the event after the mad rush of work that kept my section very busy with awarding new projects at US military installations throughout Europe before the fiscal year end. So attending the event is actually a release for me – a celebration of the fiscal year end and the end to all the work for the three months prior, including weekends.

The following are photos from this year’s festivities (names are withheld to protect the innocent, but the faces are not to document the merriment and to blackmail those that had a bit too much wobbly juice):

The group of people that I went with --

The food that we ate --

It was difficult enough to hold a mug full of beer --

But to carry 10 or more mugs; I will leave it to the pros --


A “toast” with the knocking of liter-sized beer mugs is offered to everyone within a one and a half arm length away after singing the obligatory “Ein Prosit” song. This happens every 10 to 15 minutes.



Every so often, the crowd will start singing with the band.



A few more liters of beer will embolden you to pose for pictures with total strangers.





We were based in Schwabhausen, 45 minute train ride from Munich. Our hotel was a 15 walk away from the train station in Schwabhausen. We headed towards Munich, via commuter train, at about 0900 and left Munich about 2230. We arrived back at our hotel just before midnight. Fun was had by all. We topped last year’s enjoyment of the event. Let’s see what more fun next year’s event will hold for us.

Just a clarification to family and friends back home – I have not turned into a boozer while in Germany. I was pretty much sober the entire stay at the fairgrounds and during the train ride back to our hotel. I may have had 5 to 6 liters beer, but that was paced throughout our 11-12 hour stay at the fairground and mixed in with a lot of food. This guy who usually turns down an offer of a bottle or can of beer back home, enjoys a few swigs of German brewskie every now and then.

On a different subject, I will be in Turkey from Monday thru Thursday for work. I will have one day on my own to explore Istanbul before continuing to Incirlik. It should be time enough to give me a flavor of the city to determine if it’s worth visiting again at a later date.

Happy birthday wishes to James.

I finally got my MiniCooper this past Friday. I drove it around Wiesbaden and nearby areas this past weekend. Having a car will provide me more options for weekend activities. I am looking forward to exploring more of Germany and neighboring countries.