Tanks in Town

A guest post from Kyle who really really wanted to write this and bugged me for days.....

Tanks in Town – Commemorating the Liberation of Mons from the Nazis

Mons was occupied by Nazi Germany from May 1940 until September 2, 1944. The liberation did not involve a battle, but rather reconnaissance elements of the 3^rd Armored Division drove into Mons and stopped for a bit before taking up pursuit of the retreating Nazi forces. The Army Major leading the American tankers signed the city’s registry with his name and tank number. After the War, the US Army gave that tank to the City of Mons, where it was parked on the main square. Forty years later, with the tank in disrepair, the city passed the tank to a WWII vehicles enthusiasts group, which began to commemorate the liberation by having several dozens of WWII-era jeeps, motorcycles, half-tracks and tanks “invade” the city of Mons every year on the weekend before Sep 2; thus was born the “Tanks in Town” tradition. They drive in on the same route 3^rd Armored followed, parking for the evening on the main square.

 

Our whole family went down to see the drive in. The neatest part was seeing the bigger tanks drive up the narrow cobblestone streets without hitting something. It had rained much of the day before and most of the tanks were covered in thick mud where they had chewed up the ground at their muster point outside of town; some tanks--all covered in mud--were towed in on trailers, presumably having become disabled in the mud. The loud engines and gas and diesel fumes were enough to give Melissa and Kyra a headache. It’s really neat to see all these vehicles being preserved by families committed to preserving history and acting it out each year.

Adventure Courses in a non Litigious Country

If you saw my facebook post yesterday, you already know that on our 18th wedding anniversary Kyle and I (and the kids) went spelunking, zip lining and did a ropes course.

I'm a bit sore and bruised today from the experience but we all had fun and it is always good to challenge myself to go a bit out of my comfort zone.  In many aspects the ropes course we did here in Belgium was like those we have experienced back in the states.  We wore a safety harness, there were caribeeners (spelling???), and all kinds of wires.  We walked on lines high above the ground.  There were unstable steps, cargo nets, rolling logs, etc.

What was noticeable different was the level of staffing and the level of staff engagement with participants.  Pretty much the staff made sure the harness was on correctly, showed us how to clip on and off a line, pointed to the start and said yell if you have any problems.  From there we were on our own.  No one supervised if we were indeed clipping on and off the safety line correctly.  No one yelled encouragement if we were unsure about going forward.  No one was there to help us figure out a tricky element.

A few people did have difficulty with the ropes course.  It took several minutes of yelling and/or whistling to get assistance.  Fortunately no one completely freaked out.  As a family we did fine on our own - it helped that all of us have done ropes courses before and have a decent level of strength and balance and that the height didn't bother us.  Kyra did fall off one element, but was able to pull herself back on without assistance.

I think Kyle and I were the most struck by the lack of supervision in the caves.  We were shown a map of the tunnels, warned that some of the passages were tight, and pointed down a flight of steps.  The staff person said if you get lost, just yell for a while and someone will come.  This may have been reassuring had there actually been a staff person who was nearby the caves, but as soon as instructions were given, he left and we were on our own.  No one monitored the caves.  If we had gotten stuck or lost, we would not have been discovered until someone else entered the caves.

Many times I have encountered excessive safety barriers and warnings for idiots in the US and thought, is this really necessary?   Yesterday, we were fine without the excessive care but I wonder if there isn't a happy medium.

Back to School

 Kyra
8th grade
organized school supplies and folders yesterday
reviewed independent study plan
got up 2.5 hours before school bus arrival

Allen
10th grade
threw some paper, a pencil and two pens in his backpack 20 minutes before leaving for school
woke up 1 hour before school bus arrival

I Miss Window Screens

For whatever reason, Europe lacks screened windows.  Most places also lack air conditioning.  So when the weather gets warm (warm is relative - let's say 70 degrees) windows are opened and fresh breezes blow through homes.

Open windows without screens invite not only cross breezes but house flies.  In rural areas where one lives with horses and cows all around, it means lots of house flies.  You know that annoying fly or two that makes it in to your house as you come and go?  Multiply it by 12 and have them all prefer your kitchen.

When it is not pouring rain and 50 degrees in July, we can have some lovely temperate days - partly cloudy  with temperatures in the 70s.  This gives rise to the debate to open up the house to enjoy the weather or keep it closed to avoid lots of flies.

We do have several fly control systems in place.  We have an outdoor fly trap.  We have an indoor bug zapper - this works better on our other flying visitors, as the flies don't seem to be attracted to the light.  Kyra is often willing to go on fly swatting missions a couple of times a day.  Dobby is also helpful - he tries to catch the flies and when he does he eats them - I've decided to find this helpful rather than gross.  I've ordered an indoor fly trap from Amazon which I expect this week.  I hope it helps.  I also attempt to keep things as clean as possible and not leave any food out anywhere to attract flies.  Kyle, Allen and Kyra aren't quite as scrupulously clean as I would prefer.

Even with all this, we generally have 4 flies buzzing around at any given time.  This started about a week ago and I expect it to last until mid to late September.  A fact of life that I could let really bother me or one I could just say, "Well, that's life in the European countryside."  Most days I try to just let it go.

Next summer though, I am looking forward to my screened windows and doors back in Virginia.

Cherry Pie

In the past I have noted for you the many differences between our US home and our Belgian home.  Often these differences are lacks - no garbage disposal here, no storage space, etc.

One similarity is that both yards have a cherry tree.  In the US the tree is ornamental and here it produces fruit.

The tree has been tremendously accommodating in coming into full fruit during the Reeves family visit.

Kyle invited the girls to pick some cherries.  Some cherries turned into alot of cherries and before we knew it we had several bowls.  More than eight people can easily eat.

I posted some photos on facebook of Kyra and my nieces with their cherries.  This prompted a comment that cherry pie should be made (thanks mom).

Of course the girls thought that this was an excellent idea.  I told them if they pitted enough cherries, I would make a crust.  Thus they pitted and I pulled out the cook book.

 The girls pitted four cups of cherries and cleaned up after themselves.  I rolled out pie crust dough.  My dough wasn't terribly wonderful so the double crust pie turned into a single crust with decorations on top.

The decorations were the girls' initials - Kyra, Julianna and Hannah.  Kyra added an "m" (for me) and a heart.  Hannah added a smiley face (just above the K).

 The end result was quite delicious we all enjoyed the warm pie within moments of it coming out of the oven.

It was so good that the next day additional cherries were picked, pitted and baked into a second pie which was enjoyed after Sunday evening's dinner.

I'm getting pretty good at pie crust from scratch.  So who knows what other types of pies the summer holds in store....

Surgery

First two excuses for why it has been so long.  Number one between Oklahoma, Kyle out of town and Allen's surgery I've been a bit busy.
Then when I wasn't busy it was the end of the month.  For some unknown Belgian type reason our internet connection speed slows down to a snail's pace at the end of the month.  Doing anything on the internet takes incredible patience.  I don't have incredible patience so I do only essential email during the last few days of the month.

OK on to surgery...

A year ago May Allen broke his arm in spectacular fashion.  This necessitated surgery to put his two right forearm bones back together.  After the surgery his arm gained two metal plates, thirteen screws and two scars, one wicked looking and one more tame.

Last May shortly after surgery - scar not bad yet

Fast forward to now.  Two plates and thirteen screws are no longer necessary to hold Allen's arm together and were irritating his muscles.  After consulting with three different doctors it was decided that the best course of action was to remove the hardware.  The Belgian orthopedist who did the surgery was also offended by the wicked looking scar and was determined to give Allen a cleaner looking scar.

Yes we did consider returning to the states for this operation.  We know US health care and we are still getting to know Belgian health care.  In conversations with the Belgian surgeon and Americans in the area we felt confident that we would get good care here and that the procedure was a relatively minor one.  So we went ahead with arrangement for Allen to have surgery here.

Yes I was a worried mom, who wouldn't be?  But I also observed all the little differences between our US system and what went on in the hospital here.  Here is what I noticed -

1.  In pre and post op the doctors and nurses don't wear gloves.  Yes they wash their hands but they are not constantly changing gloves.  This was good for us as Allen does have a latex allergy.

2.  Patients wait in pre-op alone.  No family, no pastor.  They just lay on their bed and wait.  Unless.. they have a pushy mom.

3.  There wasn't any initialing of the limb to be operated on.  For his first surgery, Allen marked his obviously broken arm and the surgeon signed it as well.  In this hospital I guess they figured that the pre-existing scars and common sense were a good guide.

4.  Medical info is not to be shared with the patient.  I was given a sealed envelope to take back to SHAPE for Allen's doctor/medical records.  Allen's SHAPE doctor opened it and showed it to me.  It said that Allen had had surgery to remove the hardware in his arm.  This was a secret??

All in all everything went well.  It certainly wasn't necessary to return to the US for this procedure and I would say I grow more and more confident of the medical care available here.  One note though, speaking French was necessary and if I didn't have the language facility I have, the day would not have gone as smoothly.  SHAPE does provide an English speaking liaison but only at the Mons hospital which I have not heard good things about.

Allen is doing well.  He is still bandaged.  His stitches will need to remain in for another couple of weeks so we'll see about the scar.   He is using the arm as normal without complaint.  Scar update to come eventually...

Things I have become used to

The other day I made a quick stop at the local grocery store.  On the way in I realized that without thinking about it I had automatically grabbed my reusable grocery bags which led to me reflect on all the things I have become accustomed to since arriving in Belgium.  So here's my list...

1.  Carrying my own shopping bags into the store.  I have a bunch of them that ride around in my back seat.

2.  Round-a-bouts.  Not only am I used to them but I really do like them.  Stop signs are rare here.  Standard practice at intersections is to slow down, make sure traffic is clear and keep on going.

3.  Speaking French.  I'm not great but I'm proficient and comfortable navigating my daily life in French.

4.  Seeing cows (and smelling them).  Our street is in the midst of several small farms.  When the roads aren't muddy Dobby and I walk by a particular herd's pasture on a daily basis.  The calves are really cute.

5.  No garbage disposal.  I don't like not having one, but I've figured out the work arounds now.

6.  Length of time it takes to do laundry.  Once again, I will welcome larger capacity and faster cycles when we return to the US, but I've figured out the rhythm of keeping up with the laundry.

The list isn't exhaustive but I think captures the highlights of the things that took me some getting used to when I first arrived.  Unfortunately one of the other things I've become accustomed to as of late has been sunshine.  The weather has been lovely here and I have to keep reminding myself that standard Belgium weather is gray and rainy.  Not sure if that will ever make the list of things I have become used to.

I Miss Buffa's

Recitals are a major production.  There are multiple classes, types of dances and ages to mix into a performance of reasonable (ish) length.

Schedules for rehearsals need to be worked out.  Decisions must be made about make-up, hair, costumes, the color of tights and various accessories.  Space and time have to be set aside for rehearsal and performances.  There are many many moving pieces.

By the time we left the US, I had the Buffa's Dance Studio recital mostly figured out.  I had all the necessary equipment - brush, gel, hairnet, bobby pins, hair pins and all important safety pins.  I knew which brand and color of tights to buy.  Kyra was in the right place at the right time with the right stuff.

Now we are a bit of a mess.  We have to learn the recital routines of two studios - in French.  To add to that neither studio is helping us out with clear communication.  At the beginning of recital season Buffa's would mail out the recital packet - about 8 pages of color coded information - everything a mom would need to know to successfully navigate the craziness.  These studios provide us with a sheet of paper with some information on it every now and again.  Some information is announced orally in class in French behind closed doors (Kyra doesn't speak French).

I'll have Kyra in the right place at the right time.  She'll have a costume (rented - much cheaper - I like that).  She will know her dance and be able to perform it.  After that all bets are off - her bun might not be at the right height, her make-up will probably be different and tights and shoes who knows?

Kyra and I will both be glad when this is over.  It stresses us out to just see how things go but without information we can't prepare so things will be as they will be.  No matter what Kyra will dance beautifully and her mom will be proud.

Tacky isn't just American

On Saturday Kyra went to London with a friend (they saw Wicked - you feel sorry for her I know).

Kyle wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to tour without whiny kids.  He decided what he wanted to do was go see a monastery on the coast of Belgium.  It is called Ten Duinen Abbey.   The actual abbey no longer exists, it is in ruins and has over time been the study of archeologists.  On the site there is a museum which is fairly decent that explores monastic life during the abbey's most prosperous times.

While it was a good museum and mostly interesting, I doubt we will take any guests there.  It wasn't extraordinary and worth a special trip in comparison to other locations accessible from our house.

What was notable was our experience of visiting the abbey's ruins.  Amongst the bricks and stones was a bunch of colorful plastic.   The plastic took the form of bunnies - extra large and large, seals (red) and Franciscan monks (also red).

Incongruent is the word that comes to mind.

I do need to note that the abbey was a Cistercian monastery so even the giant red monks didn't really go with the setting (as if giant red monks have a natural habitat).

The children did enjoy climbing on the plastic but that really seemed to be its only value.

On our way out we did stop by the visitors' center to see if these giant plastic things had any particular significance.  There was a written explanation.  It was an art installation called PET THERAPY.  PET is some acronym for recycled plastic.  The theme was caring for the earth and taking care of living things.

 There was a significance to the forms of a bunny, seal and monk and a reason that the bunnies were multi colored but that the seals and monks were only red.  I don't remember because I pretty much got the sense that they were making up reasons for the significance of these details as they were going along.

I found that giant plastic kind of distracted from the ruins but I did take comfort in the fact that apparently Americans aren't the only ones who are tacky.

Update on Dunlap Activities

Lack of blog posts = we've been a bit busy

I may have a bit of time this week to delve more in depth to the list below.  In the meantime, here's a bit of what has been happening lately:

• Tartuffe opens Thursday.  I've been in rehearsal and spent my days helping with the set.  I'm not helpful with construction, but I can paint and have done quite a bit.
• Allen has started running track.  Each student has been allowed to choose three events.  Allen's choices 200, hurdles and 1500
• Kyra has been invited to apply for membership in the National Junior Honor Society.  Her interview is this Friday.
• Kyle has been working numerous hours.
• The sun has been shining more than not over the past week. I have certainly enjoyed the blue skies and dry air.

Customer Service

A friend reported that NPR (tried to find the story to link to it and could not find it) recently did a story on how customer service was quite bad in Belgium.  She wanted to know if it was true.

I guess the short answer is yes - customer service is not like we are used to in the US.  In the US we are spoiled with numerous options for spending our money.  Stores cater to our whims, our desired shopping hours, our attitudes and changing tastes.

Here in Belgium, many stores are closed on Sunday and Monday.  There are limited options when it comes to making purchases and stores certainly don't feel any need to cater to the consumer.

I would not say that cashiers, receptionists, or customer service representatives are rude they just are not in any hurry to help.  They are usually polite but they also take their own sweet time.  Clerks will walk away from their station even if there is a line of people.  Grocery stores frequently have limited lines open.  Bank tellers will ignore a line of customers to attend to email or a phone call.  I have not noticed any employee going the extra mile or even the extra foot to assist a customer.

At this point I am used to it.  I allow an hour for a trip to the bank.  Sometimes it only takes 20 minutes and then I am pleased.  When I go grocery shopping in the Belgian store, I go on a week day first thing in the morning.  I am used to long wait times for repair people and odd service hours (closed at lunch and early on Friday).

This doesn't mean it doesn't frustrate me from time to time, just that I am growing more accustomed to it. My latest experience was with the language center on base.  I enrolled in the advanced French class and asked to purchase the accompanying books.  I was told not to buy the books as the class might not be fully enrolled and thus cancelled.  The books once bought could not be returned (even if unused).  I returned at the end of the week to see if the class was fully enrolled (it was) and to buy my books.  The books at this time were sold out and the language center had no plans to order more.  I was told to go find the university book store in town and see if they had any.

Frustrated - yes.  Surprised - no

Belgian Beer Tour

A few weeks ago (yes I know I have been woefully neglecting my blog) Kyle went on a tour of Belgian breweries.

The tour was full but Kyle got up early on Saturday morning in case someone didn't show up and he could take their seat.  He managed to get a seat on the bus and thus went on a tour of three monasteries and their beer brewing facilities.  If he was writing this blog entry, he could tell you the names and locations of said breweries.

The most popular part of the tour seemed to be the opportunity to taste the beer brewed by the Belgian monks.  Go figure!

As you can see I sent Hat Stanley along for the tour.  For this outing he wore his jesters hat.

If you are a beer lover and come visit us, Kyle can take you to these breweries as they are not too far away.  I'd even let you take Hat Stanley and his jesters hat if you promise to bring him back.

Who is Bob?

This isn't the best image but the only I could find and copy.  Look at the car it says "I Bob You."

We've been seeing this on billboards since we arrived.  It makes no sense even though it is in English.  That's because it is Belgian.

In French class today I learned this Belgian expression.  Any guesses?  As I read billboard signs that said "I Bob you" I tried to make sense of the other words and images.  The images included cars and/or car keys.  My guesses were auto insurance or maybe some sort of auto loan.

They are a public service ad campaign for designated drivers.  Bob is the guy who doesn't drink and drives everyone safely home.  In English we would ask at the beginning of the evening - Who's the designated driver?  The French would say (in French) - Who will not drink alcohol and drive us home?  In Belgium (in French) they ask - Who is Bob? (Qui est Bob?) Either that or the aim of the campaign is to get people to volunteer to be "Bob"

So now the mystery of the billboards have been solved and I know a uniquely Belgian expression.

Finally (or how to get a Belgian ID in 12 easy steps)

After several months and several steps the kids and I now have our Belgian IDs.  Here's how the process worked for us...

1.  On our first full day in Belgium (early August)  we went to the in-processing center at SHAPE and visited the Belgian Police desk to fill in the appropriate paper work and have our photos taken.

2.  We (the kids and I) returned to the police desk the next week to have our photos retaken as the first set was not deemed acceptable.

3.  We began our wait.

4.  We waited until mid-September when our temporary SHAPE IDs were about to expire and went back to the Belgian Police desk.  They called the county ID desk - no answer.  Our SHAPE IDs which allow us access to the base were extended until the end of December.

5.  In theory a letter was sent to our house in October saying we could do the next step of the process.  We did not receive this letter.

6.  In November when Kyle was at the county office he stopped to inquire about the IDs but the office was closed.

7.  In December I went to the Belgian Police desk yet again as our IDs were once again about to expire.  This time upon calling the county office, there was an answer and a response that we needed to go to the county office to sign and pay for the IDs.  The process would not be complete for a few weeks yet, so we had to extend and get new SHAPE IDs yet again.

8.  The county office is only open 2-3 hours mid day on week days.  The kids had to be present for this part of the process.  If it weren't for snow days, we would have had to pull them from school to go sign for their IDs.  On a snow day we drove to the county seat, waited for the clerk to find our paper work, paid our euros and each signed our name to a piece of paper.

9.  Wait again for letters in the mail.

10.  Receive letters.

11.  Go to county office again (kids not necessary this time) within the limited hours of a week day.  Input PINs for cards.  Pick up cards.

12. (still to be completed) return to SHAPE and be issued final SHAPE ID cards good through the length of our stay here.

It only took us five months to complete this process and several trips to SHAPE and/or our county seat.

Before this I was not a fan of the DMV.  I have ended up in the wrong line and more than one line and I have waited for hours.  However, in most cases when you go to the DMV to get a license or ID or whatever, you usually walk out with it the same day.  Not the case here in Belgium.  I am quite glad to finally have this process all but done.

Cold December

When we were preparing to move here, we were told that it doesn't snow much in Belgium.  That at most there were a couple of snow falls of an inch or two.

That has not been the case.  We have had multiple inches of snow and no melting in between.  The average December temperature is in the 40s.   Lately it has been in the low 30s, which by winter standards isn't really all that cold.

The thing is (in case you haven't caught all the references to rain) we get a good amount of precipitation.   So when the temperature is 30 and not 40, the rain becomes snow.

In the snow there is limited clearing of the streets and non existent clearing of the sidewalks (where they exist).  There is a whole lot of driving on snow and ice and through slush.

We live on  a hill.  Our neighbors live on a hill.  No one is using their driveway.  We can access our house via a back road.  Most of our neighbors can not so they just park their cars at the bottom of their driveways.

At the airports, you may have read, there are issues.  The issue isn't so much the snow or getting it cleared. The issue is that the airports have run out of de-icing stuff.  They didn't expect to need so much.  They have run out.  Truck traffic has been affected by all this cold and well there is a strike in France at some factory that makes the de-icing stuff.

Glad we aren't flying anywhere any time soon.  In the meantime, we'll exercise our winter driving skills and keep pulling on our boots when we head out.

Shortest Day

It is just before 4pm and the sun is already beginning to set on this day.

This was to be the last day of school for Allen and Kyra before their two week winter break, but due to all our recent snow, winter break began last Friday.

Yesterday the kids stayed inside and plugged in.  Today they channeled their energies in a much more productive manner.  Without much prodding, both children cleaned their rooms to the point where they actually look good.  Kyra is doing laundry.

And now, they are outside playing with the dog in the snow.  They built this igloo/dog house and are continuing to refine it.  Kyra also made a mini snowman.

As for me, I know my role - I've got the hot chocolate on the stove ready to be served in mugs adorned with a mini candy cane.

Christmas Tree

The Sunday before I got really sick we got our Christmas tree up.

We had hoped for a real tree but they are sold in very few places and did not go on sale until about mid-December.

So we caved and bought an artificial tree at the PXtra. This one we can use when we return to the US.  It is pre-lit and runs on US voltage.  That means that here we have to plug it into a transformer.

When we packed up our Christmas stuff last year, we all picked out 10-20 ornaments we really wanted to have here in Belgium.  We enjoyed seeing these old friends but also missed the ornaments we won't see for a few years.

Allen picked out his guitar ornaments and trucks and tractors.  Kyra made sure she brought her Nutcracker themed ornaments.   Kyle's choices were Williamsburg and White House ornaments.  I picked out churches and the hand-made ornaments the kids have made.  The angel at the top of the tree was made by Kyra when she was 4.

Kyra was especially pleased to have our Christmas decorations out and on display.  It now feels more "christmasy" to her.  It's not quite as "christmasy" as it would be if we were in Virginia but it is enough of home to make us feel warm and get us in the Christmas spirit.

Healthcare

I'm back (at least I hope I am).  Being sick, solo parenting, Kyra finishing the December run of her play and Allen getting sick have all thrown my life and schedule out of whack.

As I have recently had much experience with doctors and healthcare I'll start with that topic and work my way back into daily life and Belgian experiences.

Our main healthcare resource is the SHAPE medical clinic.  This clinic serves all SHAPE families (except probably the Belgians).  For the Americans it is part of the US military health care facilities around the world.  Appointments, lab work, x-rays and prescription medications and over the counter medications are all paid for with tax dollars.  So thank you for paying your taxes, we certainly appreciate the healthcare.

The SHAPE clinic handles much of the routine stuff a general practice/urgent care center could handle.  The kids got their school physicals there, Allen gets his asthma meds there and I've been treated for a UTI and whatever I'm still battling there.

In September I started experiencing shortness of breath issues (which I now believe were caused by bathroom cleaners but this is undetermined).  I saw a couple of doctors there (one Italian, one American) who gave me asthma meds but also realized they needed a bit more information.

There is no pulmonologist at SHAPE clinic, thus they had to refer me out on the local economy.  There are staff at the clinic who make the calls to set up the appointments.  They work with doctors who speak at least some English.

In Belgium the specialists work at the hospital.  Thus when I went for my appointment I went to the hospital.  (Now I know how to get there)  There is a check-in system involving numbered tickets - like a meat counter at the grocery store.

After checking in I was directed to a different waiting area than the ticket waiting area.  There my doctor came to get me.  I met with the doctor as well as a technician who administered a breathing test.  Even though I am still coughing, these tests indicated all is well.

I left without paying for anything.  I am not clear if SHAPE clinic will be billed or if I will receive a bill later or if there won't be any bill.  I'll let you know what happens (if it is notable).

Anyways next step is back to the referring doctor at SHAPE to see what follow-up if any is necessary.  As all is well, I'm not sure there is any necessary next step.  I think the answer to the issue is for me to stop cleaning the bathroom.

So there you go - SHAPE and Belgian healthcare.  So far no out of pocket expenses and what I would call a good standard of care (and I'm pretty picky).

I'm Back (sort of)

It has been a rough few days.  I've been miserably sick and am finally feeling sort of functional.

I haven't been blogging for two reasons -
1.  I haven't been up to much computer time
2.  When most of one's day has been sent sleeping or zoned out there isn't anything to write about

I am behind on a few topics so when I'm up to it, I'll show you some photos of our Christmas tree (fake not real) and tell you about why you do not want to get a flat tire(s) in Belgium.

Kyra finishes her December run of Bye Bye Birdie this weekend after this we expect a tad more sanity in our family schedule.

Orange Juice is Closer

I'm sick, therefore I'm whiny.  Nothing serious just a runny nose, awful cough and a fever that has me shivering one moment and burning the next.  The doctor says it is viral which means I get to just let it do its thing.

There are things one likes to have close at hand while letting a virus do battle with one's immune system, like orange juice, extra soft tissues, ginger ale, tea, chicken soup and just the right medications.  In our house, we have tea.  In Burke, I probably could have mustered the energy it took to run to the Giant or CVS less than five minutes away.  There is no way I can make the trek to Chievres in my current condition.  I'm sure Belgian stores have some of the things I need but the closest one is about a 10 minute drive and then my brain would have to work in French.  My brain is pretty fuzzy today.

So instead I'll stay home and write a whiny blog, take a nap, drink some tea and hope that my immune system will soon be victorious.