update and new pictures

No updates in quite some time, primarily due to us trying to settle into our new apartment and the accompanying struggles to connect to the internet that ensued. Funny little "fact" about Lebanon (I put that in quotes because there seem to be no real truths here, just opinions stated as if they are absolute), it takes one month from when you get a phone line set up to get a DSL connection installed. Don't ask why, it just is. Or ask why, and you are told that it just is. But it's all better now, no need to dwell.

Life has been going well here for us. My work has been very interesting, especially with an intelligent, committed, and hardworking staff of internationals and Lebanese. And through my work, I've had the opportunity to see a lot of the country. From way down along the border with "Lebanon's southern neighbors" to the eastern and northern borders with Syria, I've found Lebanon to be a beautiful and fascinating country. Of course, I spend a lot of time wondering what I'm missing at home during the day; missing Joe make funny faces while he eats mushed carrots or peas, seeing him crawl on hands and knees instead of army crawl, or watching him figure out how to use the table to stand up, revel in his new accomplishment, and then fall down and start crying. Learning about it after I get home, or watching it all on the weekends has been amazing; he learns so much every day and it's been a joy to watch his development.

As I write to you all right now, Daniela and I are sitting in the living room with the World Cup on and the volume up as we struggle through attempted sleep training. There's apparently nothing more painful than listening to your child cry. I also remember hearing that cliche phrase of "you might not understand this now, but it's good for you" and thinking what a load of shit that was and who do they think they are telling me what's good for me? Well, here we are, doing the same thing, and I can just hear Joe's inner monologue with each scream, telling me "who the hell do you think you are not picking me up and make me feel better?" Ok, he just stopped screaming. Now we feel better.

Enough babbling. Here are some pics of our recent trip to the Greek island of Santorini and our one day in Athens, where we "had" to go to renew our visas. Not too much to say about it that the pictures won't show. Joe's 5-month pictures are up as well if you are so inclined to see them; they are on the Picasa site.

Miss you, please come and visit. It's fun here, we promise.

Greece

Love, B, D, and J