Random Update

This past week we have been focusing on trying to make our house more of a home.  While we got a lot done, we still have a ways to go! We bought another bed (for a guest room) and a sofa (which can serve as a bed too)... good ole IKEA! We're ready for visitors!!!! 

We have come across a couple of interesting things that we want to share with you.  The first is a vending machine that sells bread and sandwiches.... strategically located in direct sunlight in the middle of nowhere! Let me tell you... there is nothing like a luke-warm, sun soaked, 3 day old egg salad sandwich! Yummy!

Another odd thing we have come across is an intersection to get on the interstate... There is a green arrow telling us to go... but there is also a stop sign... what should we do????

Several people have asked about the pregnancy and everything is going well.  I have seen the doctor here and whether I'm ready or not, the baby is going to come out eventually! We had the 3rd trimester ultrasound done last week and the doctor said, "If 0 is the smallest baby in the world and 100 is the largest, yours is a 93..." Needless to say the doctor projected his birth weight to be just under 10 pounds and he is already almost 3.5 pounds.  But the important thing is that everything looks perfectly normal!

Köln/Cologne

This weekend we returned to Cologne to visit family and tour the city from which Mike's parents originated.  With our tour guides Nathalie (Mike's cousin) and Thomas (Nathalie's boyfriend) we were shown the most impressive building in Cologne, the Koelner Dom.  This cathedral is the tallest in the world and has taken over 600 years to build!  We climbed all 531 steps to reach the top of the Dom, and my legs are still hurting!!!! However, at the top, the breath taking panoramic view include the Rhine River and the surrounding city of Cologne.

We also visited the "4711 House" which is the birthplace of perfume... cologne... get it???

Apparently, older generations in Cologne would use the original "Eau de Cologne" as a cure-all for any and every type of ailment: coughs, colds, swine flu... you name it!

Antwerpen - The Diamond Capital of the World

This past Saturday, we spent the day in Antwerpen.  Our first stop, after persuading Mike, was the Diamond District.  This area had store after store of diamonds of all colors, sizes, and shapes! It turns out that my skills of persuasion have room for improvement, as I left there with the exact same amount of diamonds that I came with.  I was, however, able to get him to agree to go to the Diamond Museum.  I learned, much to my dismay, that diamonds are not forever... but sapphires and pencil graphite are.  Over 80% of all jewelry grade diamonds make their way through Antwerpen. 

After the Diamond District, we went to the Grote Markt.  A bizarre fountain in the middle of the square was surrounded by beautiful ornate buildings.  In this area, too, is the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekatherall (Cathedral of our Lady).  This Cathedral took two centuries to build and it is the tallest Cathedral in Belgium!

                

We also saw a 500 year old building, that was built to serve as slaughter house.  The bricks of the building were also made to look like slabs of lean and fatty meat.

Belgium is known for a few items of food, one which are Mussels.  Mike has been indulging on occasion on this Belgian seasonal favorite.  Unfortunately, the season is coming to a close, the mussels are getting smaller, and we'll have to wait until next year for more! 

Back on the home front, we are settling into our home nicely.  We just acquired our dining room table cast from the finest ethylene.  For those of us who aren't Mike and didn't get our degree in Material Science, that means plastic!