Brussels (Home of the Frozen Toaster Waffle)

This is the Subway we ate at (it was the nicest, largest Subway I have ever been to):

The Nu Skin offices are on the third floor of this building. If you look at the bottom of the picture there is a metal thing that looks a little like a bike rack. This is apparently the best way to "reserve" a parking spot in Brussels (I guess there are many more cars than parking spots):

I took a picture of this street because it is a modern road that is made of paving stones instead of asphalt:

This is the Nu Skin offices:

This is the conference room we spent the day working in:

 This is a cathedral near the main square (grand plaza) in Brussels:

 My co-worker Eric and me:

 The main square:

 Yummy goodness (these are dessert waffles, NOT breakfast waffles :) ):

 The "famous" status of a peeing boy:

An interesting-looking Marriott hotel:

 The Brussels Opera (built in 1856):

We ate at a restaurant called "Drug Opera" (so-named because it was once a drug store and it is around the corner from the opera). The chicken casserole was amazing:

The menu at Drug Opera was available in 6 languages. It was hard to find the language I was looking for!

Paris Videos

Postcard from Paris

 (Above) This is the French poster for the movie "Paranorman." The literal translation of the movie title in French is: "The Strange Power of Norman."


(Below) me in front of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris:

 Notre Dame:

 Notre Dame:

Inside Notre Dame:

Stained glass window:

Statue of Joan of Arc:

We walked from Notre Dame to the Louvre and I took a picture of the streets in Europe. I'm pretty sure there isn't a single truck in the entire country of France:

Me standing in front of the river Seine:

A random tower I saw at the end of an alley:

Another picture of the street:

The Louvre:

Across the street from the Louvre:

A picture of the ceiling (inside the Louvre):

Another picture of the Louvre:

The Louvre courtyard:

Another view of the courtyard:

Inside the Louvre:

A painting on the ceiling of the Louvre:

The Mona Lisa:

A picture of me inside the Louvre (so I can prove I was there :) )

A painting that stood out to me:

An arch in the Louvre courtyard:

The gardens at the Louvre with the Eiffel tower in the background:

The Eiffel tower. It's HUGE:

Me in front of the Eiffel tower:

 Me on the first floor of the Eiffel tower:

The Seine and Paris (as seen from the Eiffel tower):

Seasons

When the snows of winter begin to recede
leaving white caps
atop mossy green mountains,
the world is fresh and new
and the changing of seasons
brings the promise of miracles yet to come.
It is a time of hope and rebirth,
of wonders that are and may be.
It is a beginning of joy.

As the sun continues to warm
the once-frozen ground,
the promises of spring are fulfilled.
Bright red geraniums adorn
well-manicured lawns,
while lush green foliage
clings to the trees.
It is a time for adventure,
friendship
and freedom. A time for a deepening
of roots.

When the nights begin to cool
and the leaves catch fire,
spreading red and gold hues
across a tapestry of anticipation,
memories rest quietly
on sunburnt lips
while the sharp smell of crisp wood
drifts across the stars
and a season of closeness
and connection
and celebration
begins.

Then the silent snows of winter arrive,
filling the world with beauty
and covering everything with crystal white,
just as our love covers us
like a comforting blanket,
softening the edges of our difficult days
and filling our empty places
while we await the return of spring.

Turning Ten

Last weekend my son turned 10, and we celebrated his birthday with a trip to the planetarium.


My wife and son sitting on a Mars landscape:

Me and my son on the moon (I'm waving to Neil Armstrong):

My son on a Mars landscape:


A random girl wearing a Pikachu costume and backpack (I thought it was funny so I took a picture):

My son and nephew playing with the plasma ball (he later bought a smaller version at the gift shop and absolutely loves it):


My son and nephews:


After we came home from the planetarium, we invited a few family members over to our house for pizza, cake and ice cream.

My son playing with his plasma ball:

Singing happy birthday:

Smiling because he's about to eat cake :)