10 November 2005 FFM

What a gray day! Our beautiful Indian Summer days are gone and the endless short days with no sun have begun. I think that is why our springs are so glorious! Once the green returns and the sun peeks out, it is overwhelming.. but I am ahead of myself.

This has been a busy week. One of my close exPat friends died and the sadness is compounded by the chemotherapy treatment for his wife who has breast cancer. Seems like for some people, a little rain is insufficient. Wife and her daughter are coping with the help of the US Army. He was a retired officer as well as a long time civilian employee. The Army assigns a Grief Officer to assist with all the redtape and paperwork required to move and transport a US citizen stateside.
I hope when my time comes, that my son will be able to cope with the German bureaucracy with the help of my German man. It's at times like these that you are reminded to keep your affairs in order ALWAYS.

5 November 2005

The day was clear, cold and windy, " aber der Luft war gut" [but the air was good] as Jürgen's Mom was prone to say. The European hiker is never deterred by bad weather. Just don the correct attire and forge ahead.
On Saturday, we headed for the Vogelsberg (Bird Mts) and the Hoherodskopf, a former volcanic cone. The lava covering is over 700 ms thick (around 2300 feet). The volcano has been inactive over 7 million years. The Ice Age created a soft rounded peak with meadows on it's side.




The view is spectacular. On a clear day as yesterday, you can even see the Frankfurt skyline in the far distance.

Iraq Pictures

Iraq Pictures

Here is a good Blog on Iraq. Only pictures with minimum chat.