Day 833: Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!  Be safe, have fun!

Day 832: National Hug a Sheep Day

That’s right, it’s ‘National Hug a Sheep Day’!  My cousin Pauline sent me this for a possible entry in the blog and I couldn’t resist!  This is hilarious!  And the quote from the website says it all:

‘Well, really it's nice to hug a sheep every day, but October 30th will be an extra special day this year!’

http://nationalhugasheepday.blogspot.com/

I love it… I’m starting to think SchutzHappens needs to spearhead a bazaar day of observation… but what… I don’t know!  Any suggestions?

Day 831: Toys for Tots

So, I’ve been close friends with a number of former-Marines throughout the years, well before I ever joined the Service.  However, it wasn’t until joining the Foreign Service that I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside the fine young men and women of the United States Marine Corp.


Although I flirted with the idea of joining the Army after college (I was interested in gaining some on-air radio and television experience and thought Armed Forces Network would be a good fit for me), I never serviced in the military… which is a life experience I have mixed feelings about missing. 


But life goes on… and now I’m here… and even though I am serving in a completely different capacity there is something very special about working in such close proximity of our Marines.  


For those of you who aren’t on the ‘inside’ of this whole Foreign Service thing, there is a Marine Detachment assigned to most of our overseas missions.  So, the last couple years working alongside Marines has been part of my everyday life.  And as this relationship has progressed, I have begun to adopt certain aspects of Marine culture into my own life… namely ‘Toys for Tots’.


I’d like to think we are all generous people at heart and I think it’s important for everyone to have a charity they champion and support.  Some people are Habitat for Humanity people… some people are MUST Ministries people… I’m a Toys for Tots person.  And I would like to encourage everyone to get involved!


Beyond the amazing work our Marines do bringing a little bit of Christmas to under privileged kids domestically; a lot of people don’t realize our Marine Detachments overseas have built relationships with orphanages within the countries they serve, and they are actively collecting toys for those children too.  Even in Pakistan.  Toys for Tots is an amazing program that transcends religion.  


As you can imagine, collecting Toys for Tots overseas is a lot more difficult than collecting them domestically.  Overseas, the pool of possible donors is limited to the families serving at the particular posts.  And it’s not like we have a Toys R Us readily available. 


So, please support Toys for Tots domestically, and if you’re interested in supporting Toys for Tots in Serbian and/or Pakistan, email me for more information (schutzhappens@gmail.com).


Also, I’m kind of interested in knowing what kind of impact the SchutzHappens readership has on Toys for Tots, so if you donate, it doesn’t matter where, email me and let me know how many toys you gave.  I’m going to keep a running total on the Blog!


How many toys do you think we can give during SchutzHappens very first Toys for Tots Drive!?!

Day 830: Serious Issues

There is just too much going on in the world… I’m overwhelmed by all the issues and mudslinging… but I need to take a minute and address one very important issue.  


What the heck does a man have to do around here to get a box of Girl Scout Cookies?


Don’t laugh!  I’m serious.  


For years I was an avid supporter of the Girl Scout Cookie program.  I bought from about four or five of my friends daughters and usually stocked up on enough Thin Mints, Tagalongs, and Samoas to last the year.


However, when I join the Foreign Service all of my Girl Scout Cookie dealers forgot I existed.  Nothing!  I’ve been left out in the cold.  And you can’t tell me you’re not holding… I know you’re holding.  I’m jonzing for a fix over here!  Hook a brother up!

Day 829: Is That You Fall? I Miss You… We Should Talk… Call Me.

It probably goes without saying… but it’s pretty darn hot here.  Now, I’m from the South… but I’m going to say it again… it’s pretty darn hot here.

On October 1^st, the observed high in Atlanta was 79F with a low of 58… in Islamabad; it was 91F with a low of 66F.

A week later on the 8^th, Atlanta warmed up a bit with a high of 81F and a low of 59F.  However, Islamabad remained steadfast at 91F and a low of 70F.

Another week later on the 15^th, Atlanta dropped down to a high of 77F and a low of 46F… and well… In Islamabad it was same old, same old: 91F with a low of 70F.

Now today.  October  22 (When I wrote this post).  While Atlanta is expected to observe a high of 78F and a low of 46F… Islamabad dropped to 57F!!!!!  Seriously!  As I was leaving to go to work I was like… “FINALLY!  Time to break out my Members Only jacket!”  It’s almost noon and we’re sitting at 64F outside.  I’m ecstatic.  The forecast predicts a high of 74F today, but we have a lot of cloud cover so it will probably stay pretty cool.

The trees are going to be naked before you know it!

Day 828: God Hates Shrimp

Lol!

Well… it’s official.  I’m going to hell.

http://www.godhatesshrimp.com/

I just love them so much!  And oysters… calamari… oh man… and crawfish!  CRABS!  I LORD!  The entire state of Maryland is doomed!

What is it about me and seafood… we just don’t have much luck together.

Day 827: Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

You know?  I hate to say it… oh okay, I don’t hate saying it.  Jon Stewart and Steve Colbert are totally onto something here.  We have a two party system for a reason.  We need both sides to instill balance to the force… and this balance can only be achieved if we all work together.  Drawing such deep party lines only breeds resentment and hypocrisies. 

Yes, we may be a nation of divided ideals… but I think we could all use a day to take a step back and laugh at ourselves.  Laughter truly is the best medicine and before discussing politics we should all embrace these three ideas:

1.       Being a member of a party doesn’t mean you have to agree with 100% of the platform.

2.       A person you disagree with can still be your friend… not your enemy.

3.       Above everything else, we all want the same thing: a safe and prosperous country for our grandchildren’s grandchildren.

So, no matter which side of the spectrum you lean, please take a day to laugh and hug it out.  Let’s be able to walk away from November 2^nd with a clear head and a fresh start.

SchutzHappens officially endorses the ‘Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear’.

PS: If anyone is going please let me know!  I want pictures and a debriefing!

Day 826: Admiral Ackbar at Ole Miss? AWESOME!

  

Day 825: Oral Rehydration Salts?

Seriously… I’d like to take a moment and nominate Oral Rehydration Salts for the ‘Greatest Invention of Mankind Award’.  They’re amazing!


No matter how bad I feel… drinking a liter of Oral Rehydration Salt infused water always lifts my spirits and gives me that missing spring in my step.


Why has it taken me so long to discover the miracle that is Oral Rehydration Salts?  I don’t know!  Why have they eluded me until my time in Pakistan?  I don’t know!


Lord knows… I could have used these bad boys in college.  I may have made it to more of my 8am classes… or 11am classes for that matter, as well.

Day 824: What Would You Do for a Million Dollars?

The other day someone asked me, “What would you do for a million dollars?” 


Interesting question… I’ve been asked this question before… and just like most people I’ve had very outlandish answers.  But on this day, I really thought about it… and after a minute I responded:


“I don’t know buddy, it only took a couple extra grand to get me to Pakistan… there’s no telling.”


Then I promptly downed a glass of rehydration salt infused water and went to the restroom. 

Day 823: SchutzHappens: September 2010, Half a World Away

Day 822: Hagfish Day?

“WhaleTimes created Hagfish Day last year to ‘celebrate the beauty of ugly.’ Hagfish are the perfect example. These deep-sea scavengers ooze slime — buckets of slime. “

Really?  We need a day of observation for the Hagfish?  Why not just watch Ghostbusters?  Heck, I’d rather watch Ghostbusters 2 before watching this video:

Happy Hagfish day everybody! 

Day 821: State Department, File 649

 I recently discovered the most amazing movie EVER!  


‘State Department: File 649’


Plot Summary: ‘Kenneth Seeley, member of the U. S. State Department's Foreign Service Bureau, and Marge Weldon, a morale worker with the bureau, are assigned to an area in Mongolia dominated by an outlaw warlord.’


Can you say awesome?  


Oh, and I should probably warn you… I love horrible movies.  Mystery Science Theatre 3000 was one of my favorite shows… and well… based on the 4.7 out of 10 stars Internet Movie Database give this movie, couple with the resumes of the people who made it… it’s a pretty safe bet that this film will be ‘craptastic’.


Director:  Sam Newfield, was a B-movie director, with over two hundred and fifty films to his credit, including western classic ‘The Terror in Tiny Town’.  Plus, he directed two movies featured on Mystery Science Theatre 3000:  ‘The Mad Monster’ and ‘I Accuse My Parents’.


Producer: Sigmund Neufeld.  Don’t like the last names full you, Sigmund is Sam’s brother.  He spent most of his career in the movie industry funneling money to his brother’s projects.

Ummm… yeah… this movie is going to be horribly awesome!

Day 820: The Return of Montevideo?

Continuing from yesterday’s blog entry, out of the six posts to contact me in the last week, the most interesting was the email I received from Montevideo yesterday.


Originally, Montevideo was my #1 choice, however, by the time I had a phone interview with the Deputy Chief of Mission (about a week before Paramaribo worked out) it had dropped to #3 or #4.  The interview went great, the DCM was very nice, and although she made it clear that I was a solid candidate, she was afraid that the timing of my departure from Pakistan hindered my chances, especially since I didn’t already speak Spanish.  If they went with me, the combination of my Pakistan departure date, home leave, and language training would have left the position in Montevideo vacant for six to eight months.  This was a perfectly understandable reason to pass on The Schutz.  So, I forgot about Montevideo… until yesterday, when I received this:


“Mr. Schutz, this is to inform you that your Montevideo bid is still under serious consideration.  With that in mind, we would like to know how we rate with you.  That is, would you be able to rank Montevideo among your bids for us?  Thanks.”


WOW!  Right?  I was floored.  I was pretty much told they couldn’t offer me the job, but now this.  Either they were having a hard time filling the position or they liked what they got back from my 360 review (reference check).  


So, just as I do for all the posts who have reached out to me, I always write back to say ‘thank you:


“Thank you for the email.  Once upon a time Montevideo had been my number one, but when I interviewed for the position with the DCM, it sounded like my timing and lack of language were insurmountable obstacles.  In the end, I accepted an early handshake to Paramaribo.”


Then I got this:


“Hi John:  Thanks for your message.  When you get a little more time in the FS you will see that very few administrative obstacles are insurmountable.  I’m delighted that you’ve found a nice situation for yourself.   Good luck.”


Lol!  No truer words have been spoken.  If only Montevideo knew what I did to get Paramaribo!  

Day 819: Bidding Interest

The bidding process for State Department jobs is pretty funny.  Except for when they tried to take Paramaribo off the list, I was pretty relaxed about the whole thing.  I wish I could say the same about Serena.


Serena was a woman possessed, and why not?  I wasn’t just applying for a job; we were also choosing where we were going to live for the next three years.  However, Serena wasn’t really worried about WHERE we’d end up… she was just obsessed with me getting a handshake.


Since I’m coming out of Pakistan, I’m eligible for an ‘early handshake’ (job offer).  Normally, posts are not allowed to offer jobs until after the bidding cycle ends, which is always mid to late October (and that date is normally pushed back to sometime in November).  However, for bidders eligible for ‘early handshakes’, we can be offered jobs two weeks into the bidding process, early to middle September.


When ‘early handshake’ season opened, Serena went crazy.  She couldn’t understand why I hadn’t been offered a job… she couldn’t understand why posts weren’t getting back to me… and she spooked herself so much that she started reshaping our bid list ever two or three days.  Wanting me to reach out and send my resume to more and more posts.  


Now, I am an incredibly lucky man to have a wife as supportive and confident of my talents as Serena.  However, at one point I had to tell her that I wasn’t going to contact any more posts for at least a week, if not two.  We had to chill.


I had a theory.  Out of all the countries in the world, only the folks serving in three are eligible for ‘early handshakes’ (Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan).  So, was it realistic to assume the hiring managers for other countries knew or even cared about ‘early handshakes’?  No.  Posts are not required to give ‘early handshakes’ to interested parties… so why would they?


As a manager ‘early handshakes’ don’t make sense.  Why would I offer you a job before I had a chance to see the entire applicant pool?  So, this is why I had to call a time out… we had to chill.  And a few days after this is when everything worked out with our #1 choice, Paramaribo, and we received the coveted ‘early handshake’.


Now, that’s not the end of the story.  The most interesting thing that has transpired in the last week, as bidding season is drawing to a close, is the number of posts who have contacted me wanting interviews: Six, to be exact.


Well… I think we’ll be a little more relaxed next time.

Day 818: Fall in Pakistan

It’s still very hot over here.  Fall is actually my favorite season… and it’s not just because the new television season starts… I like the change in weather too.  I’ve been curious about fall though, so I decided to ask one of the local Pakistani employees I’ve become friendly with.


Me: “Hey, we’re halfway into October, do you guys have fall around here?”


Todd: “Fall sir?  Like the season?”


Me: “Yes, fall.”


Todd: “It is fall now, sir.  It is cooler out is it not.”


Me: “Yes, I guess it’s cooler in the evening, but it’s not cool enough to break out my super awesome Member’s Only jacket.”


Todd: “Oh, yes sir, it will get cooler… we have fall sir, but it will come in about a month.”


Me: “In a month?”


Todd: “Yes, sir.  In a month it will be very cool and the leaves will change colors.”


Me: “Really?  That’s great news Todd.”


Todd: “Mr. JP, you like the fall?  


Me: “Yes, it’s my favorite season.”


Todd: “It is?  You like it when the leave change colors and fall of the tree leaving them naked?”


Me: “Wow, Todd.  You make fall sound better and better all the time.”


Lol.  To Todd’s credit, he’s a sharp cookie and realized what he said immediately.  I had him in stitches with my last line.  You know?  Humor is not one of those things that translate well, even when both parties are native English speakers.  Finally getting a legitimate laugh out of one of our local colleagues… priceless.


Well, fall is upon us!  I hope!

Day 817: Lacking Focus

I hate to tell you… but I am totally burnt!  I am completely spent.  I’m working something like 60 to 70 hours a week over here.  I don’t think that’s healthy.  And I’m only two months in… two more to go before my first R&R.  Erg!


But, beyond work… I’m a to-do list-a-holic.  When I come home, I’m not simply kicking back in my smoking jacket watching movies… well… yes, I’m watching movies… but I’m a bit more obsessive compulsive than most of you may realize.  I have a hard time cutting myself a break… and I certainly have a hard time relaxing.  There is always something to do.


I’m cooking all of my own meals.  I’m starting to study Dutch in preparation of Paramaribo.  I’m also studying for a couple computer certifications I want to get.  I’m writing a book… organizing my iTunes library… writing the blog… designing a website… the list goes on and on… not that any of these things are necessary… but I just have a hard time sitting still… so I might as well use this time on my own productively and better myself… Serena doesn’t get a break, why should I?


But, I have been so unfocused and frazzled lately.  I haven’t even had time to finish this month’s family video!


I’ll get there though… I’ll push through.


Don’t worry about me… just be willing to put up with a little more randomness while I regroup a little longer.


By God!  I will finish ‘The Chair’!

Day 816: To Twitter or Not To Twitter

Twitter?  Well… all the kids are going it… so why not?  I’m so long winded all the time it’ll be interesting to see what I can do with only 140 characters.


My first post:


‘Hmmm… the Chilean miner rescue drinking game isn’t nearly as fun as I thought it was going to be.’


Check it out @schutzhappens


What the heck does that even mean?

Day 815: Dear Santa

Okay, I have to take a moment and brag on my son Grayson.  He’s just such an incredible kid and I am terrible proud of him.  He wrote his first ever letter to Santa!

Translation:

"Dear Santa, I would like a Light Saber, and Star Wars Spaceship, and a trampoline."

Dude!  My kid wants the Millennium Falcon!

Day 814: Yes

I received this the other day as a response to my call for followers.  It totally made my day.

Day 813: Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day

‘Celebrate October 11th with Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day! While some may think you are just totally crazy, your Teddy Bear will likely thank you for it. October 11th has been set aside for the world to show appreciation for their Teddy Bears. Coworkers can meet your bear and introduce you to theirs.’


Travesty!  Not only did I forget to pack my teddy bear… BUT, ‘Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day’ fell on ‘Columbus Day’ this year!  Oh, the humanity!  A lost Spaniard takes precedence over my sweet adorable Honey Jo Bear???  I called him Jo for short.


Jo was awesome… I took him everywhere… he even went to Hawaii with me!  He was cuddly AND a snappy dresser.

I’m sure Jo would be very proud if he could see the man I’ve become.  But… well… I have a confession.  I didn’t forget to pack Jo… we would have totally rocked Pakistan together… and Lord knows I could use a hug.  No, I lost Jo a long time ago.  I think I left him at a sleep over and never got him back… I can’t remember.  I think this is why ‘Take Your Teddy Bear to Work Day’ makes me so sad.  I shared so much of my life with Jo… and now?  Well, he’s just a distant memory.


My parents gave him to me for Christmas when I was very young… and for many years we were inseparable… and then, ‘poof, like Keyser Soze, he was gone.”  I wonder if he’ll ever find his way home… maybe this Christmas will be the year we’ll be reunited… I think I saw him on eBay (hint, hint!)


Anyway, Teddy Bears are very special.  I gave Grayson a new Teddy Bear on his first day in Washington, DC after we joined the Foreign Service… I figured he could use a travel buddy.  Grayson named him Jo-Jo and they are inseparable… just like I was with Jo… and that’s awesome.

Day 812: Pet Peeve Week

Okay… so it’s pet peeve week and need to have a little chat with all the guys out there.  Now, I’m pretty sure at some point in your life a woman has approached this subject with you… your mother, wife, girlfriend… who ever… but frankly, I don’t think you were paying attention… so it’s time for a peer to peer, man to man intervention.


If you have a problem aiming.  You have two options:


1.  Lift the seat.
2. Take a little toilet paper and clean up after yourself when you finish.


These are your only two option from here on out.  Because when I have a case of the Pakistan’s, it’s not my job.


Thank you,


Goodnight.

Day 811: What is Your Favorite Part of SchutzHappen?

Those of you who actually read SchutzHappens on the site itself, rather than utilizing RSS feeds, have probably noticed the poll I added to the right hand side of the screen last week.


After rambling a for the last two years I am genuinely interested in knowing what you all like about SchutzHappens.  So, I am posing a very simple question:


What is your favorite part of SchutzHappens?


•Hearing about Traveling and Life in the Foreign Service
•Stories about Family and Fatherhood
•JP’s Obsession with Movies and Television
•Observation of Strange Holidays
•Epically Long Stories that Never Get to the Point
•Wacky Websites and Videos
•The Sheer Randomness of it All!


So please, give me some feedback… check as many boxes as you like.  The poll will stay open until the end of the years (closing on my Birthday).  


Tell me what you think!

Day 810: Parking in Budapest

NUTS!

It’s been 243 days since I’ve missed a post!  I totally got distracted and I got behind on my posts.  Oh well.  I think we’ll all survive.  Behinds… no matter how awesome I think my blog is… it’s doesn’t compare to parking in Budapest!

Day 808: Who the Heck is Katy Perry?

Okay, okay, okay.  So, Katy Perry was on Sesame Street… possibly dressed as a slutty princess.  As a parent I am told I should be bothered by this.  So… first things first… who the heck is Katy Perry?  


Man, I feel old… and out of touch.  For some reason  I want to refer to myself as a ‘square’… but a hip square… because I wasn’t nearly as offended by the video as everyone else seems to be… and that’s me speaking as a parent, not a dude.

Seriously, was that really offensive?  The dress she’s wearing is tamer than most prom dresses… and to me, she was wearing a typical summer dress that wasn’t overly revealing.  Compared to the things our kids probably pick-up from the evening news or super-bowl half-time shows… I don’t think Katy Perry’s performance on Sesame Street is worthy of an outcry.


Celebrities, unfit for children’s consumption, appear on Sesame Street all the time…  but we need to remember, they aren’t there for our kids… they are there for us, the parents.  We shouldn’t be letting the television raise our kids, right?  We should be watching with them, guiding them… Sesame Street doesn’t layer in celebrities as a way to indoctrinate our kids… they do it to give the parents watching something special.  Our kids have no idea what the connection is… it’s just part of the show… the lesson… part of the learning process.  


Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_guest_stars_on_Sesame_Street


No one complained when James Gandolfini & Edie Falco appeared on Sesame Street while they were on ‘The Sopranos’, a show where they don’t utter a single sentence without at least one profanity.


Jason Biggs from ‘American Pie’… The man had intercourse with an apple pie on camera for crying out loud!  I didn’t hear a peep out of anyone when he appeared.


Let’s see… who else… oh, The Simpsons, Ben Stiller, Gene Simmons, Paul Reubens has been on twice, Joe Pesci, Robert Deniro, Sandra Oh from Grey’s Anatomy, Ice-T… 


And what about Jessica Alba’s appearance where she defined the word ‘scrumptious’… right… I’m sure there were no sexual undertones there.


The list goes on and on:

Now, all that said… I don’t have any problem with the fact Katy Perry was going to appear on the show.  I don’t have a problem with how she was dressed either.  However, I don’t think her segment was ultimately successful… and I have a feeling this is why parents across the country are complaining.  They know there was something wrong with the segment but don’t exactly know why… so they complain about what she was wearing or question why a pop star was on the show in the first place.  Her segment was unsuccessful because it wasn’t educational.  


The montage clip above showed Alanis Morissette in, what I would consider, a highly successful and educational celebrity segment.   Much like James Blunt’s odd yet fun geometry lesson:

 

As for Katy Perry… her segment was gratuitous.  Not gratuitous in a sexual way… but in an unneeded way.  There was no added value.  Now, I’m not saying every segment on Sesame Street needs to be educational… there is a time and place to just have fun and I think it’s important for our kids to understand this… However, a number of years ago, the bench mark for a highly successful ‘let’s have fun’ musical segment on Sesame Street was set very high by REM.  And… well… I’m sorry Katy… you’re no REM. 

Day 807: Followers Welcome

Okay, enough is enough.  You all have been lurking in the wings long enough.  I know there are more than seven people following SchutzHappens!

It’s time to step out on stage and make your presence known!

Really, I’m just curious… how many of you are out there?  And how many of you are willing to go on the record?

Hello world?  Are you out there?  Do you hear me?

Will you be my follower?  Circle one:

YES NO MAYBE

Day 806: My Friends Know Me Well

I know… I’ve paddled on at length about my friends... and no, I don’t plan to bore you with more random stories of my past… at least not until I finally get inspired and finish ‘The Chair’.  But until then, I want to share this!

Kerry emailed this too me today suggesting it should be my Halloween costume this year.

I think that’s a marvelous idea… now, if only my airfreight would arrive so I can start studying my ‘Pulp Fiction’ script.  Anyone have a gold watch?


BTW, I must admit, my favorite Christopher Walken quote comes from ‘American Sweethearts’ when he’s editing the movie in the Unabomber’s Cabin and Billy Crystal calls to see how it’s coming along.  Billy asks, “How is it?”  Walken replies, “My mother thinks it's my best work.”  Hilarious!

Day 805: How ‘Lost’ Should Have Ended

Again, I feel like I’m living in a third world country or something.  How have I missed www.howitshouldhaveended.com.


It’s is awesome… although, I would recommend going to youtube to see their stuff rather than their website.  It’s easier to navigate.


Anyway, checkout ‘How Lost Should Have Ended’.

Day 804: OK GO - 'White Knuckle' Video

I couldn't resist!  I had to share!

Day 803: The Wonderful World of Skype

Another thing folks in the Foreign Service talk about is the internet… and this is something I can get behind.  How in the world did we ever do this without the internet… email… and now SKYPE!  I can video chat with friends and family for FREE!!!  Worldwide!

It’s amazing… and it’s a necessity.  How in the world did people do it in the dark ages?  Write letters by hand?  Ha!

I Skype with Serena just about every day and she is always holding Gilly and he is always excited to see me.  He smiles and waves and claps his little hands… it’s like he knows daddy is overdue for a standing ovation.  This time with Gilly is very special to me.  He was only six months old when I left for Pakistan, and by the time my tour is over I will have been away for two thirds of his life.  That’s sad, but we’re making it work.  Besides, I have it easy compared of our Military. 

Gilly grows up just a little more each day and this week he has a new trick.  He’s looking for me.    It’s true, he sees me on Serena’s laptop screen and he’s convinced I’m behind the computer.  So, he’s pulling the screen down and getting upset when I’m not back there… and then Serena corrects the screen, Gilly sees me, smiles again and is like, “Oh!  There you are dad!”  And he’ll try to pull the screen down again.  Very cute!  I think he’s going to be excited to see me is a few months!  I can’t wait!

With Grayson, who is almost 5, Skyping is a little different… the novelty has worn off and he has a very busy social calendar.   I’ll normally get a ‘hey dad’ in passing… but he only sits down to talk about once a week.  And most of the time it’s when Serena and Gilly need to step away.  I think he enjoys talking to me more when Serena and Gilly aren’t around, which is completely normal and understandable for a big brother in need of his own independence.  We actually have great talks.  He tells me stories and likes to play Skype hide and seek (which is just hiding off camera and jumping up to say ‘Boo’)… and I can tell he misses me.  We have an ‘I love you/miss you’ hand signal we made up before I left… he’s still too young to express himself verbally, but body language I can read… and when he throws up our hand signal it’s enough to break my heart. 

We’re almost there buddy!  We’re almost there!