Early Morning in Poland

This was the view this morning as we ran my favorite route around a pond and among the fields near our house. Makes crawling out of bed at 5:15 kind of worth it.

Vice-President Biden Visits Warsaw

Vice-President Joe Biden was in Warsaw on Wednesday to meet with the Polish government. Before he headed over to his meetings, the embassy families were invited to the Sheraton for a meet-and-greet. The new ambassador, Lee Feinstein, made some introductory remarks and then the VP spoke casually for about 15 minutes. He was warm and personable and interesting to listen to.
After speaking, the VP walked the rope divider taking time to shake hands and speak with everyone in the group. He took time to talk personally with all of us. The video below begins with the two people to our right and then you can see him talk with Kyle, Katy, Michael, and then Tim. When he finds out that I'm the mom, he grabs my camera, gives it to one of his agents, and then grabs me for a hug!

Tim's Birthday, Part 2

Following our tradition, the birthday person chooses either their favorite home-cooked meal or restaurant which is followed by the birthday present treasure hunt. Tim wanted to go to IKEA after work so we ended up eating at the mall across the street. Not very exciting but the birthday person gets absolute choice without whining or complaining from the rest of the family. For his cake, Tim wanted a chocolate chip cookie cake. Thus concludes our last birthday of 2009.

Happy Birthday Tim!

Poor Tim, the alarm goes off as usual at 6:15, and he's laying in the dark already thinking about work , analyzing how much financial military assistance the US gives to Israel compared to Poland, when his wife pipes up and says, "Hey, this is your last birthday in your 40's!" What a way to start a birthday! Maybe some of you can call him and relay more cheerful wishes than me.

NB I think the USAF should add ostrich feathers to their caps; quite festive!

We Now Return to Autumn

First of all, I would like to point out the irony of who's idea it was to have a garden (Katy) and contrast that with who you always see in the garden photos (Michael and me). Maybe Katy is the creative thinker and Michael and I are the worker bees!

With the days getting shorter, the garden was reaching the end of its season and it was time to pick the pumpkins. We grew only four but they were hefty and healthy.

Here are our four beauties which currently reside on our front steps. We shamelessly point them out and boast about them to every unsuspecting visitor. I don't know if we'll be able to murder, I mean carve, them on Halloween.

Snow!

Last night a blustery weather front moved through Poland. Temperatures dropped to the low 40's and by eight o'clock this morning, the rain had changed to snow. Thinking this was a momentary aberration, I went about my day as planned. By noon it was still snowing and the roads had become quite messy so I finished my errands, went home, and canceled Kyle's afternoon flu shot appointment.

Fuchsias above and geraniums below dressed in their new winter coats.

This weather is predicted to continue until the weekend.

Upcoming blogs- the new ambassador, Lee Feinstein, is here for a week or two before returning to the US to collect his family and VP and Mrs. Biden will be visiting next week. Also, look for video of Tim driving a tank, an entry about the single best party we have ever been to, and some day, I will put up pictures from Lisa and Ryan's wedding (too many pix to choose from).

Another Contest

After years of putting off the kids when they ask about getting a pet ("After we move" is the usual parental delay tactic), we are finally giving in...I mean, rewarding their patience and providing them with the invaluable experience of caring for an animal (yeah, right, who do you think will end up with the "invaluable experience?"). This month we are adopting two cats from a local shelter. We don't know yet if we are getting two males, two females, or a mixed pair but we need help with possible names. Keeping in mind that we are looking for pairs of names that are clever, real or fictitous, current or historical, etc., please submit your ideas. If we choose your entry, you will be rewarded with bragging rights as well as chocolate or pottery.

Our current ideas-

• Fry and Laurie
• Fred and George
• Jane and Elizabeth ("Lizzy")
• Bella and Edward
• Harry and Ginny
• Luke and Leia

Contest is open until we bring home the cats which is within the next two weeks.