tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61082879865813260152024-03-19T01:02:29.940-07:00Egghead Salad SandwichDavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-22014737342360928632008-11-09T17:48:00.001-08:002008-11-09T17:58:12.995-08:00Our Trip to Aggieland!<p>Cindy and I took a great trip this weekend. We were invited by my cousin David and his wife Patricia to spend the weekend with them and watch the Texas A&M vs Oklahoma football game. What a weekend. It was non-stop, but we had so much fun.</p> <p>We arrived Friday around dinner time, and had a wonderful dinner at their home. We visited for a while, waiting for the appropriate time for the first event, Midnight Yell. Texas A&M is a bit different from other schools. They don’t cheer, they yell! Friday at midnight we were all in the stadium. The yell leaders (5 guys, no girls) led us, the students, and the Corps of Cadets in the different yells. Each yell had a story and tradition behind it. The clothes the yell leaders wore, the shirt the torch corporal wore, and the movements the yell leaders made when telling stories, all had historical significance and were steeped in tradition.</p> <p>We made it home around 1:30am and got to bed to rest up for the next day.</p> <p>Saturday was a beautiful day, sunny and warm. By the way, for those of you Yankees stuck in autumn or winter weather, it was a wonderful 80 degrees yesterday. Anyway, we had a nice breakfast out on the patio and then drove to campus. David and Patricia spent hours showing us around and explaining the significance and tradition of almost everything there. We visited the bonfire memorial. Some of you may remember in 1999, while building the stack for their traditional bonfire, the stack shifted, fell, and killed 12 students working on it that night. They haven’t had a bonfire since. In the place where the bonfire was held, they’ve put a memorial for those who died. It was a very impressive spot.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSKGKaWlI/AAAAAAAABUE/QafrIG6Yky4/s1600-h/IMGP3891%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Bonfire Memorial" alt="Bonfire Memorial" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSMKrJt6I/AAAAAAAABUI/IzCjUPFp_xg/IMGP3891_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Each of the doorways you see are for one of the fallen. Each is a memorial. They are also placed in such a way that if you stand in the portal, facing out, you will face towards the home town of the person who’s memorial it is. It was very special.</p> <p>We headed over to the Corps dorms and watched the Fighting Texas Aggie Band forming up. They marched off for the stadium and we headed over to watch them arrive.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSN23wxQI/AAAAAAAABUM/HnTuPnSIaM0/s1600-h/IMGP3904%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP3904" alt="IMGP3904" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSPXVIkHI/AAAAAAAABUQ/0Kt0PbwMjkY/IMGP3904_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="244" height="165" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSQp7uoKI/AAAAAAAABUU/jj7wui3c8Ps/s1600-h/IMGP3906%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP3906" alt="IMGP3906" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSRK9fcJI/AAAAAAAABUc/23rWgVUPpNA/IMGP3906_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="244" height="165" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>We looked around a bit more, then headed for the stadium. We stopped outside to look at the burial spot for all the previous mascots. Years ago, a stray dog wandered onto campus and would bark when reveille was played. They cadets took the dog in, named it reveille and it became their mascot. As each Reveille has passed away, they were buried outside the stadium with their heads placed so they could see the scoreboard. When they expanded the stadium they erected a wall between the Reveilles and the scoreboard. There was an uproar about that so they placed an additional scoreboard outside the stadium so that the Reveilles could still see the score every game.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSSynR-JI/AAAAAAAABUg/y4Mwv8Fs0Eg/s1600-h/IMGP3900%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP3900" alt="IMGP3900" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSU5hEUYI/AAAAAAAABUk/WpTKi_wUy7A/IMGP3900_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSWqpESNI/AAAAAAAABUo/QISgQT8xuZ4/s1600-h/IMGP3899%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP3899" alt="IMGP3899" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSYTH6r6I/AAAAAAAABUs/I7degySXQmQ/IMGP3899_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="325" height="484" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>We went into the stadium and got to our seats. As we watched the people filing in, we saw probably the most famous of the Aggie fans. Apparently he shows up to quite a few home games. The 41st President of the United States, George Bush.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSZ7tqHYI/AAAAAAAABUw/248hIodL-ZY/s1600-h/IMGP3909%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="IMGP3909" alt="IMGP3909" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSbTf1MMI/AAAAAAAABU0/uDhhWHFz1p8/IMGP3909_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Everyone filed in and it was time for the game. Saturday was a “maroon out” where all the fans wore maroon. Cindy and I actually stopped on the way to buy some Aggie shirts so we’d fit in. Try to imagine 85,000 all wearing maroon. It was impressive.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSdSn2PCI/AAAAAAAABU4/AXenLmufxSY/s1600-h/IMGP3954%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP3954" alt="IMGP3954" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSfWxOY2I/AAAAAAAABU8/gxVWDPp9Ack/IMGP3954_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p><p>We enjoyed the game quite a bit, even though the Aggies lost by a large margin. Here’s some of the action.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSgzwwPEI/AAAAAAAABVA/RjwmzxKyfAM/s1600-h/IMGP3921%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP3921" alt="IMGP3921" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSi1YRXyI/AAAAAAAABVE/cPI-aTfS0_s/IMGP3921_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSkTrZJcI/AAAAAAAABVI/PVAa5xib_tc/s1600-h/IMGP3961%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP3961" alt="IMGP3961" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSmM39JJI/AAAAAAAABVM/_gaxFz_kQLU/IMGP3961_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSoPCEW8I/AAAAAAAABVQ/si9G_l1ZVSY/s1600-h/IMGP3940%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP3940" alt="IMGP3940" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSpOHUz1I/AAAAAAAABVU/FLd0AME0-cE/IMGP3940_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSqzjDaPI/AAAAAAAABVY/Mc9IRwNQvwA/s1600-h/IMGP4012%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP4012" alt="IMGP4012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSsZFg7nI/AAAAAAAABVc/uJ8iXyhR9oc/IMGP4012_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>At half time, the Fighting Texas Aggie Band played for us. They were very impressive with the formations they made while playing and marching.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSut27UJI/AAAAAAAABVg/D_yG9_WQUeg/s1600-h/IMGP4069%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP4069" alt="IMGP4069" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSwegT8aI/AAAAAAAABVk/0kg3ZSg50Jc/IMGP4069_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSxzUMRUI/AAAAAAAABVo/giD8zRVs6zY/s1600-h/IMGP4058%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP4058" alt="IMGP4058" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReSzC5cs-I/AAAAAAAABVs/rvZWRGmAsy0/IMGP4058_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="325" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReS0mRW9BI/AAAAAAAABVw/pRfKDNQLIdY/s1600-h/IMGP4065%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline;" title="IMGP4065" alt="IMGP4065" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReS17TTg3I/AAAAAAAABV0/FwZ62jVzg5M/IMGP4065_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="325" height="484" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReS3avandI/AAAAAAAABV4/7pID1u16LkQ/s1600-h/IMGP4075%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP4075" alt="IMGP4075" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReS4wGehYI/AAAAAAAABV8/M1ZY83lz-ts/IMGP4075_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>You may have noticed in the band pictures that some of the students wore shoes and some boots. In the Corps of Cadets, the seniors get to wear the boots. They are known as “Senior Boots”. They are custom made and quite expensive, but they mean a great deal to the cadets.</p> <p>After half time we watched the rest of the game, and although we lost, we still had a good time. After the game, as we were walking back to the car, we stopped by the Cadet Center. As a fund raiser they have sold bricks that are placed outside the center for former students. We found the brick that meant the most to me. My Grandfather was an Aggie, class of 1929.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReS65aXiEI/AAAAAAAABWA/0VUyRVn1vMs/s1600-h/IMGP4093%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border: 0px none ; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="IMGP4093" alt="IMGP4093" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SReS9YYcc6I/AAAAAAAABWE/ikBlLdtOB0w/IMGP4093_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" align="left" border="0" width="644" height="432" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>All in all, Cindy and I had a wonderful time this weekend. We are hoping to return the favor by having David and Patricia out to Louisiana to enjoy Mardi Gras with us.</p>DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-13851053121830296432008-10-29T16:09:00.001-07:002008-10-29T16:09:16.141-07:00Good News All Around<p><font size="3" face="Garamond"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SQjtFQoqjJI/AAAAAAAABT8/TQOmQCcSA20/s1600-h/Melissa%20plaque%20pic%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Sister Ortolani" border="0" alt="Sister Ortolani" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_erUgkxcbiAw/SQjtGjfIL1I/AAAAAAAABUA/lAG10bPjfFc/Melissa%20plaque%20pic_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="484" /></a> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">Well, it’s been an interesting week!  Last Tuesday we sent Melissa off to Brazil.  It was an emotional day for us all.  I think it was worse on Cindy than anyone.  But, we got her off.  We were told that we would only hear from the MTC if there was a problem.  I did a little math and figured that Melissa should land about 3:30am our time.  So I predicted, and told Cindy, that she would wake up about then wondering if Melissa was ok.  Sure enough, I felt Cindy get out of bed about 3:30 am and go head for the computer.  She was up the rest of the night.  No news was good news so we figured she must be OK.  The next day, we received an email from the MTC saying that our missionary had arrived safely, had a companion, and was now working for the Lord.  Today we received our first email from Melissa (Sorry, Sister Ortolani).  It was great.  Very emotional for us just to read it.  I know Cindy forwarded it out, so you have probably all read it.  We are so proud of her for choosing to serve the Lord in this way.  We know she’ll be blessed for this.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">Monday was another good day for us.  I received an email at work that my retirement has been approved.  Happy day.  Tuesday, I received about 50 different forms and clearance letters that need to be completed before leaving. Also, a copy of my retirement orders, stating that I will be released from active duty as of 30 September 2009, retired effective 1 October 2009.  I filled out one of the worksheets, did the backwards counting and determined that my last day of work, and my retirement ceremony, will be on 10 July 2009.  We are very much looking forward to it all.  It’s very exciting.  It’s also hard to believe that the last 20 years have gone by so quickly.  Seems like not that long ago I was a young 2nd Lieutenant in EWO school.  Now, here it is, 20 years later, my military career coming to a successful end.  Cindy and I both know that retiring is the right thing for us to do at this time.  We also know that we’ve loved the Air Force and wouldn’t trade the last 20 years for anything.  We are looking forward to moving back to Utah and being close to our family again.</font></p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-68174003155009556372008-10-13T09:21:00.001-07:002008-10-13T09:23:57.475-07:00We had big fun on the Bayou!<p>As most of you know, Melissa is spending a few weeks with us before leaving for Brazil. We’re having fun with her down here. Anyway, she wanted to see New Orleans before she left, so we went down there this weekend.</p><p>We left home on Friday afternoon and drove to Covington and checked into our hotel. It’s a fairly long drive, so we didn’t get there until about 7:30 or so. Not a problem. After dumping our stuff in our room, we took a drive over the 30 mile bridge across Lake Pontchartrain and into New Orleans, and Bourbon Street.</p><p>As you can imagine, Bourbon Street on a Friday night is something to see. I think Melissa had a good time.</p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0tPJaJ1I/AAAAAAAAA4k/xorw-JvX-bk/s1600-h/DSCN1910%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Melissa on Bourbon Street" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="484" alt="Melissa on Bourbon Street" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0twDhthI/AAAAAAAAA4o/gLZgbBi0ed0/DSCN1910_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0u0jpQKI/AAAAAAAAA4s/Ewf-vXPVwtY/s1600-h/DSCN1906%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="DSCN1906" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="184" alt="DSCN1906" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0vbzMUxI/AAAAAAAAA4w/Yfu5WEr_qNI/DSCN1906_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We had a great dinner, enjoying the local Cajun cuisine, then we wandered Bourbon Street for a bit, then back to the hotel.</p><p>The next day we headed back to New Orleans. Once there we stopped off at the Metairie Cemetery. It was pretty cool. Melissa liked all the mausoleums.</p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0wYfNA_I/AAAAAAAAA40/I9qpCx2aiOI/s1600-h/DSCN1914%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="DSCN1914" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="484" alt="DSCN1914" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0xog4uMI/AAAAAAAAA44/QwtQ0nPOn9A/DSCN1914_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" border="0" /></a> After that, we headed to the Bayou. We’d signed up for an airboat tour of the swamp. It was a lot of fun. The swamp has it’s own eerie beauty that’s difficult to describe. Maybe the pics will help.</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0yqc1UzI/AAAAAAAAA48/dYQSi7nwk9k/s1600-h/IMGP3671%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3671" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3671" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0zo71NKI/AAAAAAAAA5A/2QOjA_DMUqk/IMGP3671_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> Here is a picture of the type of boat we were on. That was another group that went out when we did.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN004wC1II/AAAAAAAAA5E/IiTRaL1FItY/s1600-h/DSCN1923%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="DSCN1923" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="184" alt="DSCN1923" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN02HLol6I/AAAAAAAAA5I/BYv9w7JSn88/DSCN1923_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN03C2FmxI/AAAAAAAAA5M/vV8HHjoSExA/s1600-h/DSCN1924%5B9%5D.jpg"><img title="DSCN1924" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="184" alt="DSCN1924" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN033s_GrI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/VTWNpXJL2wU/DSCN1924_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="right" border="0" /></a> </p><p>It was a bit loud at times, depending on how fast we were going. The ride was fun and the breeze kept us cool. The drivers sure knew their stuff. I would have been totally lost in the maze of waterways in the swamp, but they all seemed to know exactly where they were going.</p><p>We toured the swamp, saw the flora and fauna. Of course, there were my favorites, the gators. Here are some pics.</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN05HLTRhI/AAAAAAAAA5U/RsPs6AnxezI/s1600-h/IMGP3681%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3681" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3681" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN06i0r3AI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/WDDhxqnKuXY/IMGP3681_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN08PVi3iI/AAAAAAAAA5c/dMvRBbpPnMc/s1600-h/IMGP3688%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3688" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3688" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN09RFhOwI/AAAAAAAAA5g/NrpqRUBi38g/IMGP3688_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0-qZ8TZI/AAAAAAAAA5k/o4jlKNVinB8/s1600-h/IMGP3712%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3712" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3712" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN0_5sYZoI/AAAAAAAAA5o/Fya9Ld61xBA/IMGP3712_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1Bi3tj9I/AAAAAAAAA5s/mD9xVewC-Z8/s1600-h/IMGP3763%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3763" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3763" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1DXuRXZI/AAAAAAAAA5w/FP8vIX6zPBA/IMGP3763_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1Epoqu7I/AAAAAAAAA50/Dq2eP6En7FI/s1600-h/IMGP3772%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3772" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3772" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1Gbiw7QI/AAAAAAAAA54/oEyGceiwr2o/IMGP3772_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1IPPbUmI/AAAAAAAAA58/RCiTWFjImmw/s1600-h/IMGP3709%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3709" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3709" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1Ju41KqI/AAAAAAAAA6A/s6UZd7prbLQ/IMGP3709_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1LOYBhwI/AAAAAAAAA6E/Nc4FapjvLwQ/s1600-h/IMGP3795%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3795" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3795" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1MyxuKRI/AAAAAAAAA6I/F9EZPH19uOE/IMGP3795_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Yeah, I love the alligators. After we’d been out a while, we came across this huge gator. 13 feet long. Although, you’ll see from the pics, he was quite friendly.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1OnBnc4I/AAAAAAAAA6M/dEFe4to4zHY/s1600-h/IMGP3797%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3797" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3797" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1Q4r8_0I/AAAAAAAAA6Q/ZHL2-BKSCBI/IMGP3797_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1SHEPQqI/AAAAAAAAA6U/kVVC_e9U85U/s1600-h/IMGP3806%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3806" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3806" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1UOftPNI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/soLjuZB7dM4/IMGP3806_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1VIDikyI/AAAAAAAAA6c/nkeJeoHdgpQ/s1600-h/IMGP3814%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3814" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3814" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1WnflffI/AAAAAAAAA6g/v-6SeolVeZQ/IMGP3814_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1YOsIvBI/AAAAAAAAA6k/CHbLa0Fu9HE/s1600-h/IMGP3819%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3819" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3819" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1ZgrcOQI/AAAAAAAAA6o/OcJ8jUvy0VA/IMGP3819_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p>For some reason, our guide liked to feed them all marshmallows. They seemed to really like them!</p><p>On our way back we saw this pretty cool cemetery. I guess even folks on the bayou need them too.</p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1a4tErcI/AAAAAAAAA6s/jU_JVINes_Y/s1600-h/IMGP3832%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3832" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3832" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1cCPxYoI/AAAAAAAAA6w/FaUzEMj_uZI/IMGP3832_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p>We had a great day. On our way back, we made a little detour to see the Baton Rouge temple. It’s one of the smaller temples. Reminded me a lot of the Bismarck temple in North Dakota.</p><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1dkIT1aI/AAAAAAAAA60/KJzW299Mw4I/s1600-h/IMGP3840%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMGP3840" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP3840" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SPN1fLNQBNI/AAAAAAAAA64/O437xIT7dSk/IMGP3840_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p><p>We had a great time. It’s a long drive between New Orleans and Shreveport. We didn’t get home until after midnight. It was well worth it. Hope ya’ll enjoyed your summer. I hear it snowed yesterday in Utah. It’s still warm down here. Ya’ll come out and visit sometime!</p>DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-8211272416180539232008-10-05T07:33:00.001-07:002008-10-05T07:33:17.225-07:00Calling all Liberals<p><font face="Garamond" size="3">Hey Ya’ll.  Just stumbled upon this great video!  This guy has a great knack for putting the truth out there in a way that’s very easy to understand.  Watch and enjoy.  Vote McCain/Palin!</font></p> <div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:496dcc89-64ca-4651-95a2-3ad8127519e3" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px"><div id="8f1f22fe-9f67-4fc4-ae8a-c0b1ff74b48e" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhYampIl7A" target="_new"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SOjQKzSCsRI/AAAAAAAAA4g/e7qYiuJ0Azk/videoaa9c33da2553%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('8f1f22fe-9f67-4fc4-ae8a-c0b1ff74b48e'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/KxhYampIl7A&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/KxhYampIl7A&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-49890592722583073072008-09-02T10:04:00.001-07:002008-09-02T10:04:51.830-07:00Austin<p>We were invited to my Aunt Pat's house for the Labor Day weekend.  It was something that we've been looking forward to for a while.  We drove out on Saturday morning and arrived at her house that afternoon.  We went out to the new home of my cousin Deb and her husband Ron.  We did some catching up, then went to Saturday Mass with them.  That was an interesting service.  Then home again for dinner.  Delicious chicken fajitas.  Man they were good.</p> <p>The next day (Saturday) we headed out to Lake Austin.  Pat took us out to look at my Grandmother's old place on the lake.  I really miss that place.  It's sad it's not in the family any more.  But, we got to West Lake Beach and all had a great time.  Here are some pics of the afternoon.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yC6WFRkI/AAAAAAAAA3g/x8plzLrTYzU/s1600-h/Gorgeous%20Cindy%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="204" alt="Isn't she beautiful?" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yDWFTbtI/AAAAAAAAA3k/6gIrhhcDnws/Gorgeous%20Cindy_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Cindy found these awesome mayflies (there were thousands of them out there).  She wanted a picture taken with them.  She stirred them up and I shot the picture.  Too bad you can't see the bugs, they are surrounding her.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yDz2i_hI/AAAAAAAAA3o/9AprCn44mB0/s1600-h/IMGP3576%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Mayflies" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yEGc-36I/AAAAAAAAA3s/koYHbtsb7cs/IMGP3576_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="165" align="right" border="0" /></a>On the right here is a picture of them a bit close-up.  They didn't bother us, but there were a ton of them out there.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>This pic below is a sh<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yExK9Z0I/AAAAAAAAA3w/kxgksE2hsck/s1600-h/IMGP3531%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="Lake Austin" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yFFmrOII/AAAAAAAAA30/v93N4QeOap8/IMGP3531_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a>ot of the lake from the park.  I remember when most of the far side of the lake was just trees.  Now there are so many houses over there it's not really the same lake anymore.  I mean, I loved being out there and it brought back a lot of memories, but it was just so different than what I remembered.</p> <p>It was a great day, and we had most of the family out there with us.  The funny thing was that this was supposed to be a retirement party for my cousin Martha's husband Larry.  The sad thing was they were unable to make it to that lake that day.  A few days prior, Larry had fallen off a ladder and shattered his arm, so he was at home suffering the pain associated with that.  We missed them.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yGN4oV9I/AAAAAAAAA34/lHJ7SuwmBRU/s1600-h/IMGP3564%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="Me and Aunt Pat" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yGatD3lI/AAAAAAAAA38/BQ0BCWK1QDM/IMGP3564_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> This is a photo of me and my Aunt Pat.  She's my Dad's sister.  She is so much fun to hang out with.  Cindy and I stayed with her when we were there in Austin.</p> <p>Following are just some pics we took out at the lake.  It was a blast.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yG5dbqOI/AAAAAAAAA4A/Yt4biRZnMUs/s1600-h/David%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="Cousin David" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yHUQzRvI/AAAAAAAAA4E/P1WcnL83NFc/David_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yIDlQHcI/AAAAAAAAA4I/lohFXIz2ruI/s1600-h/IMGP3538%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="Patricia" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yIu0GgqI/AAAAAAAAA4M/YQr-QdZDxYM/IMGP3538_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yJRXIwII/AAAAAAAAA4Q/72kPlIcnLN0/s1600-h/IMGP3545%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="Trisha" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yLszDwFI/AAAAAAAAA4U/3BM18gApeuQ/IMGP3545_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yMT4LwdI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/apEiqYFXE_Y/s1600-h/IMGP3553%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="Playing at the lake" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/davidorto85/SL1yMtVPelI/AAAAAAAAA4c/jlIQxyibBF8/IMGP3553_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>We were going to stay all day and drive home on Monday.  We were keeping an eye on hurricane Gustav, however, and decided to leave on Sunday instead.  I think it was a good move.  Even as late as we were driving (we got home around midnight), there was still quite a bit of traffic coming out of Louisiana and every motel we passed had a parking packed with cars.  Glad we have a nice house here that's stocked with our food storage and ready for the coming storm.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-7325072866478723642008-08-09T17:08:00.001-07:002008-08-09T17:08:35.657-07:00Quick Update<p>Sorry it's been a while since I've written here, I've been a bit busy.</p> <p>As many of you know, I was chosen to return to Iraq for 6 months next year.  I had only one reason that I didn't want to return to Iraq.  It would be at a time so close to my retirement from the Air Force that it would hinder my ability to find a post-Air Force job.  So, my boss and I talked it over and he decided to see if he could get me out of the deployment.  It worked, and I am not going to Iraq.  Cindy and I are both very happy about that as you can imagine.</p> <p>Other than that excitement, it's pretty quiet around here.  We're are both busy with our church callings, Cindy in the Primary and me in the Bishopric.  I am also working on my MBA, still.  I am currently taking two classes.  I have three others left, then a final and I'm done!  Can't wait.</p> <p>We are also preparing for our trip to Utah in a couple of days.  Can't wait for that either.  We are looking forward to the Fail Family Reunion, and then will spend some time relaxing, doing a little pre-house hunting, and maybe a little job hunting while we're at it.</p> <p>Of course, the biggest event will be when Melissa goes through the Temple for her first time.  We are extremely excited about that and really can't wait for the big day.  It's going to be a family event to remember.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-14362233245958977092008-07-07T11:21:00.000-07:002008-07-07T16:19:29.092-07:004th of July in New OrleansHey <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ya'll</span>. Cindy and I decided that we wanted to see more of the state of Louisiana before we left and regretted not seeing it all. So, with a 4 day weekend for the holiday, we decided to see some of the southern part of the state.<br /><br />We drove down to Lafayette on Friday morning. It was a very pleasant drive. We got set up on the motel and then drove on into New Orleans. What a great town.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS-EfYW1VjcSbC9D-AWGh6-tSb75_lMZFh0t3XPD9fzYtDM6c9DVy5OlXtypxKQgSBxri3m1a2IKERbiIb-yg4Fte9R2829Z_2j1gWin-C-YbLl74l4yEO3mSTUJMYUAbykVjhXI4n9s/s1600-h/imgp2764.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS-EfYW1VjcSbC9D-AWGh6-tSb75_lMZFh0t3XPD9fzYtDM6c9DVy5OlXtypxKQgSBxri3m1a2IKERbiIb-yg4Fte9R2829Z_2j1gWin-C-YbLl74l4yEO3mSTUJMYUAbykVjhXI4n9s/s320/imgp2764.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220344802129201426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP1uMWM6LMJKSZPr_rNeCnLGy3EOiY8jltMs54ekb3AlpXVj0puFMNUJFkO4WNUtpcgi-kKhL_LVtN19XjTRcAT0HwZiFbF4ncs7SeEDrP2_CdRiT6Xa6ZIqVurCXy_DM1Javgg4lDKY/s1600-h/imgp2709-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP1uMWM6LMJKSZPr_rNeCnLGy3EOiY8jltMs54ekb3AlpXVj0puFMNUJFkO4WNUtpcgi-kKhL_LVtN19XjTRcAT0HwZiFbF4ncs7SeEDrP2_CdRiT6Xa6ZIqVurCXy_DM1Javgg4lDKY/s320/imgp2709-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220345508991499282" border="0" /></a><br />We got into New Orleans and then drove around looking for a place to park. It was crazy crowded for the holiday. Anyway, we parked and started walking. We ended up eating dinner there on Bourbon Street. We enjoyed a bit of Jambalaya. We spent some more time looking around then went to the riverfront to set up for the fireworks.<br /><br />The fireworks was set up as "dueling barges". Two barges in the river, both shooting fireworks at the same time. It was a pretty cool, if very short, fireworks display.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFzo0adcdqFdNwjr5O-auIuQEGgVZmQdAxCF85k0vTZEXU2LrBkhBPVSajnI9_E-tMjyy8MlY0AYVZDGQxLHfAJOG6PQMqQ-pTYXTUNbxfSTtv-dKibu5AAzxt6Uh70zsnoUlPqbk_sE/s1600-h/imgp2742-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFzo0adcdqFdNwjr5O-auIuQEGgVZmQdAxCF85k0vTZEXU2LrBkhBPVSajnI9_E-tMjyy8MlY0AYVZDGQxLHfAJOG6PQMqQ-pTYXTUNbxfSTtv-dKibu5AAzxt6Uh70zsnoUlPqbk_sE/s320/imgp2742-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220346661943312514" border="0" /></a><br />After the fireworks, we grabbed a quick slice of pizza (which was awesome) and then spent a long time trying to get out of town due to the traffic.<br /><br />Saturday, we went back to New Orleans and went down to the lower 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> Ward, the sight of all the Katrina flooding. While there were still some houses abandoned and boarded up, there was a lot of rebuilding going on and things are looking better than before.<br /><br />While we were in town, we also visited one of the New Orleans cemeteries where everything is above ground. It was actually pretty cool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_doh8O9Y7HcH2MAaLnddG9TOPZae1Y7m8xxnBgsQKfuho4wbvrc6C-dXLt7shf9saZ3xiszW2F2WWiT799lq8F1vWuHVNXdJ37nkqIiGdTRJoPuFsoX3fL7PsVXBxBqAErgk8A6wPAk/s1600-h/imgp2754.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_doh8O9Y7HcH2MAaLnddG9TOPZae1Y7m8xxnBgsQKfuho4wbvrc6C-dXLt7shf9saZ3xiszW2F2WWiT799lq8F1vWuHVNXdJ37nkqIiGdTRJoPuFsoX3fL7PsVXBxBqAErgk8A6wPAk/s320/imgp2754.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220349178818700242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfTAwcSkrOkwP9BRPF0WbMy-3X52XqKOUD8h-K60VueWTdY4qVDEQuWVknjlpn4-AfWS9IOn08Wp4mGYLEt636eagzLd8-suNIUgVXrphtFc-qjSomo6BOeeNDY6Y_Wff1ZAHf8i-lYA/s1600-h/imgp2758+%28Modified+in+GIMP+Image+Editor%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfTAwcSkrOkwP9BRPF0WbMy-3X52XqKOUD8h-K60VueWTdY4qVDEQuWVknjlpn4-AfWS9IOn08Wp4mGYLEt636eagzLd8-suNIUgVXrphtFc-qjSomo6BOeeNDY6Y_Wff1ZAHf8i-lYA/s320/imgp2758+%28Modified+in+GIMP+Image+Editor%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220349787253829106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tUVt4zjP1g6DJ8dPArjBoV2Ki02t-_RmzUUjTP6fZuY4j1uKvGiaQyslYaekLISyoN9-crkCIMN1bfvWtLtbizqlvmRyn9xwbugfaqYI0CtBTlrTFOpm0N-IdcBBrRkYU4aZ6J69F5A/s1600-h/imgp2762+%28Modified+in+GIMP+Image+Editor%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tUVt4zjP1g6DJ8dPArjBoV2Ki02t-_RmzUUjTP6fZuY4j1uKvGiaQyslYaekLISyoN9-crkCIMN1bfvWtLtbizqlvmRyn9xwbugfaqYI0CtBTlrTFOpm0N-IdcBBrRkYU4aZ6J69F5A/s320/imgp2762+%28Modified+in+GIMP+Image+Editor%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220350427238699298" border="0" /></a>After our sight seeing, we went back downtown to Bourbon street and had some lunch. It was great. More Jambalaya with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">andouille</span> sausage and alligator sausage. Delicious!<br /><br />Sunday was my day really. We went to Avery Island, home of Tabasco hot sauce! It's something I've been wanting to do for some time now. It was great. We got to tour the factory (no one was working at the time, though), sampled some of the sauces and other things. Believe it or not, they have Tabasco cola and two flavors of Tabasco ice cream. How weird is that? After the tour and the shopping, we took a tour of the Jungle Gardens. The inventor of Tabasco is also a conservationist and put aside 250 acres as a wildlife refuge and gardens. It was very beautiful. Below are some photos from the island.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ7NGKCgrrPoVe5KuMKxvwLM0KoVPJVEq5tnzZoxjeRsOFEIB8c5sGXEhy2pTm0uvUv-lI5BU6qqCTc_rjhxqYeT9-6n7NXunYcMRkNZNesi7VMI7llrfH3CerhVHw3CQaPZ_x8D7zg0/s1600-h/imgp2771.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ7NGKCgrrPoVe5KuMKxvwLM0KoVPJVEq5tnzZoxjeRsOFEIB8c5sGXEhy2pTm0uvUv-lI5BU6qqCTc_rjhxqYeT9-6n7NXunYcMRkNZNesi7VMI7llrfH3CerhVHw3CQaPZ_x8D7zg0/s320/imgp2771.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220405149635489202" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFcUamTZ7ia9_LCZqsfcxtXXcW1IoOjyIKo1EVXaoBM-6MwZjNkqgEhYeRFVooWX1ybJD3NMUiYwC9kSVN9HuX2USmnqP949l7eBy2LRmrIuM6pilHKyxPUnFsLyejipmffwo0ymJZJ0/s1600-h/imgp2779.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFcUamTZ7ia9_LCZqsfcxtXXcW1IoOjyIKo1EVXaoBM-6MwZjNkqgEhYeRFVooWX1ybJD3NMUiYwC9kSVN9HuX2USmnqP949l7eBy2LRmrIuM6pilHKyxPUnFsLyejipmffwo0ymJZJ0/s320/imgp2779.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220414065505467410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieO966hsjkqWaPZApzCcXT0AJiu-LxNm6aL6ZLauzrmtsLBANAnDD3ytdzQQFyhQzzZ8kqQGl4okldVCJ_qPyRdQ992ddxb9zf5AAhHA-noxxkh04X3CjyI360eGWpmkPMUzSPlwbfVeg/s1600-h/imgp2813.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieO966hsjkqWaPZApzCcXT0AJiu-LxNm6aL6ZLauzrmtsLBANAnDD3ytdzQQFyhQzzZ8kqQGl4okldVCJ_qPyRdQ992ddxb9zf5AAhHA-noxxkh04X3CjyI360eGWpmkPMUzSPlwbfVeg/s320/imgp2813.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220407716356423234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLn4ekpxxXKlILcMqJvaXvxEksI9hGpR9xXTC2hdcLQrF-h4epZnnip_nn1WentwHpUC3EJY0akXdtnKICeE_If8dDSqJRSD3K7L1OnnKxpdL_pdo6g9bR6jRmEtyBkafFPoryDUfpe4/s1600-h/imgp2800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLn4ekpxxXKlILcMqJvaXvxEksI9hGpR9xXTC2hdcLQrF-h4epZnnip_nn1WentwHpUC3EJY0akXdtnKICeE_If8dDSqJRSD3K7L1OnnKxpdL_pdo6g9bR6jRmEtyBkafFPoryDUfpe4/s320/imgp2800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220406909762401250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As you can see, it was quite beautiful there. Of course, it wouldn't have been Louisiana without some of these critters all over the place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkogSugrolbzMio4L4pDUjT5Dyfe4ZUbAofI4XjuCd0jZb5Z31kzm-XA__08_86DL21SC5wqN1coHuIlpNbqViMocQ1vWG5bnKIk9MIkrel9Tz3IvnTAqj6q1M9aHDd3hkQeHMIuHTsQ/s1600-h/imgp2787.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkogSugrolbzMio4L4pDUjT5Dyfe4ZUbAofI4XjuCd0jZb5Z31kzm-XA__08_86DL21SC5wqN1coHuIlpNbqViMocQ1vWG5bnKIk9MIkrel9Tz3IvnTAqj6q1M9aHDd3hkQeHMIuHTsQ/s320/imgp2787.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220408458265982066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ym21smgNVc1IMpx-JFvS-f040GXibPHPaXfNAIYS_OlPYV9wvDlW6xWVmwBDvxqKZ5Mbrmba751hneQ4uF4iMZwAgf2iVDbuhENKjMJpjV9d8NeBW4P63MLT-qQd6lPtdEMcBaLW-8o/s1600-h/imgp2788+%28Modified+in+GIMP+Image+Editor%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ym21smgNVc1IMpx-JFvS-f040GXibPHPaXfNAIYS_OlPYV9wvDlW6xWVmwBDvxqKZ5Mbrmba751hneQ4uF4iMZwAgf2iVDbuhENKjMJpjV9d8NeBW4P63MLT-qQd6lPtdEMcBaLW-8o/s320/imgp2788+%28Modified+in+GIMP+Image+Editor%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220414876448931362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LYhEq8ty3lQ0j8-o7JSic4HjVPzX4vQU3CjSt_lJ78dsaJb865rsgc4IYF52bIdDyTYJql2WQf-Hv_iMuQ82O8UPsBsqC9gX1e3PmjD1SD96-Sf5Vw2hGeHArrCO1o6lGVtEeMSTBNw/s1600-h/imgp2789.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LYhEq8ty3lQ0j8-o7JSic4HjVPzX4vQU3CjSt_lJ78dsaJb865rsgc4IYF52bIdDyTYJql2WQf-Hv_iMuQ82O8UPsBsqC9gX1e3PmjD1SD96-Sf5Vw2hGeHArrCO1o6lGVtEeMSTBNw/s320/imgp2789.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220409612125902178" border="0" /></a><br />The interesting thing about all of this was that there was no barrier between us and the alligators. Just a couple of warning signs. We were a bit surprised at one point. We were looking at some birds and taking pictures. As we stepped off the steps of the stand we were on, one of the alligators that we hadn't seen before was sunning himself at the waters edge. As we walked about 20 feet away from him, he quickly ran into the water and turned to watch us go. We had no idea he was there so when there was this flurry of activity and splashing water, well we both jumped pretty high. He was just a little guy, probably 2 to 3 feet long, so this was one of those cases where I truly believe he was more afraid of us than we were of him.<br /><br />All in all it was a very good weekend. We had a blast. It just cemented in our minds how much we are going to miss Louisiana when we leave.DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-79528338379087647252008-07-03T21:32:00.000-07:002008-07-03T21:41:34.417-07:00Recife Brazil!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM5F_pKW4e_wRlcDmEE8SMwIPTCvS2FTm7W1fO_aUY5iECsyks4Z1P_bPa6sKAS2LqsJaAf6Tq3KaiJo_etIYTbEQw7iu-tq9gLLmQRtmnET48-_Wun_rFqlHkfJZcAaK-6Qg3vIF6Y0/s1600-h/Recife.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM5F_pKW4e_wRlcDmEE8SMwIPTCvS2FTm7W1fO_aUY5iECsyks4Z1P_bPa6sKAS2LqsJaAf6Tq3KaiJo_etIYTbEQw7iu-tq9gLLmQRtmnET48-_Wun_rFqlHkfJZcAaK-6Qg3vIF6Y0/s320/Recife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219013226639450610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Melissa received her mission call today. Recife Brazil! She sounded very excited this afternoon when she opened her call and said "I'm going to Brazil!" Cindy and I are both very excited. She will leave for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sao</span> Paulo Brazil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">MTC</span> on October 22. This is very exciting. we are also looking forward to our trip to Utah this August. We want to go to the Temple with Melissa, and of course the Fail Family Reunion. Look forward to seeing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ya'll</span> then.</span></span>DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-32321636588912262912008-06-27T15:35:00.001-07:002008-06-27T15:38:58.856-07:00Melissa's DecisionWell, Melissa has decided to go on a mission. We are very excited about it all. It's something we've been hoping she would choose to do for some time now. It's all very exciting and I know Melissa can't talk about anything else (and I don't blame her). We are anxiously awaiting her mission call, which should come next Wednesday! Can't wait.<br /><br />Cindy and I are planning on going "down south" for the long 4th of July weekend. We are going to head down to Lafayette, Louisiana and that will be our base of operations for the weekend. We will head out to New Orleans for the fireworks, and just to look around. We are also going to Avery Island, home of Tabasco hot sauces. Don't know what else we're going to do or see while we're there. Lots of good food though, I'm sure. I'll have a bunch of pics and stories for the blog after that trip I'm sure.DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-60525351351497089692008-05-13T18:59:00.001-07:002008-05-13T19:20:49.387-07:00No Microsoft!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVm3eE9b7oV6pAZYvMYq96IUoQuq2I9QXaFxBFLsp077yv-Gzly6WqVcp92ORY3BPhWzHjHrHEwnjMQ698DVhfEbL5mCCdBzprgFw4g2_E3mXOXo8rZ3rjlp-6I8VgBNJIg3cxN-h6oA/s1600-h/Screenshot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVm3eE9b7oV6pAZYvMYq96IUoQuq2I9QXaFxBFLsp077yv-Gzly6WqVcp92ORY3BPhWzHjHrHEwnjMQ698DVhfEbL5mCCdBzprgFw4g2_E3mXOXo8rZ3rjlp-6I8VgBNJIg3cxN-h6oA/s320/Screenshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200052349948282834" border="0" /></a><br />So, I started having a bit of trouble with my laptop when I was in Iraq. It was just acting funny sometimes. So, I tried to keep it limping along for a while, but it wasn't optimal. Well a few weeks ago Cindy wanted to use the laptop and called me at work to say it wouldn't boot up. What a pain.<br /><br />So, I come home from work and sure enough, it wouldn't start up. I tried everything I could think of (which admittedly isn't much) but couldn't get it to work. So what's the next option? Re-load Windows and start fresh. Luckily I'd already backed up everything so that wasn't a problem. So, I reload Windows and the computer starts working again. It was a pain, though, having to track down all the hardware drivers and such, loading them, getting everything working again. But, the computer was running again.<br /><br />Well, it lasted for a couple of days, then it crashed again! So, I take it to a computer place here in town that Melissa hed used once before. They spent a couple of days on it, said it had been hacked into (most likely that happened in Iraq) so they cleaned it up and got it running again. I brought it home and downloaded a new anti-virus, anti-spyware program and loaded it. Again, the computer worked about 2 days. I took it back in and they said that since I had it on the internet "unprotected" for the 3 minutes it took to download the anti-virus that I would have to pay for them to fix it again. I was not happy with that, as you can imagine, so I took the laptop and went home.<br /><br />What can you do? I was fed up with the whole thing, so I decided to try going a whole new way. I got on the desktop computer and started looking around. I found what I was looking for, downloaded the .iso file, burned it to a CD and loaded it on the laptop. How awesome.<br /><br />So, what did I get? I downloaded the latest distribution of Ubuntu Linux. The install was easy as could be, and quick. Much easier and quicker than loading Windows. It even found all my hardware and had it working when it initially booted up. No drivers to download or anything. Great. Best part about it is it was free. I was looking at prices and buying Windows Vista, Microsoft Office and a couple of other programs would have cost me close to $1,000. Ubuntu Linux is free, and it comes with other things needed, also for free. Open Office is a free office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation program, and database) that is the equivelant (and completely compatible with) Microsoft Office. It also came with Firefox web browser, which I was using in Windows anyway, so that was nice. And Gimp, which is a graphics/photo program like Photoshop.<br /><br />The important thing is that my computer is now running very well. Much faster than with Windows. No hiccups so far. I still have a bit of a learning curve with Linux, but for basic computing (email, surfing, and my school and church work) I'm doing great.DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-25018270036422017052008-04-12T13:29:00.000-07:002008-04-12T13:47:32.324-07:00New Calling<span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So about a month or so ago, we had our Stake Conference. It was exciting because we knew that we were getting a new Stake Presidency. Of course, we had no idea who was going to be called. What a surprise to find out that our Bishop was called as one of the counselors in the Stake Presidency. Well, that obviously left us with a Bishopric to fill. That week I was called in to interview with members of the Stake Presidency. There were quite a few of us called in, so while I knew I was on the hook, I knew there were other people higher on the list. Cindy and I both felt that the new Bishop would probably be a good friend of ours who is a music professor at one of the local colleges. In fact, he and I kept teasing each other about which one of us would be the new Bishop.<br /><br />This went on for several weeks, and we were all beginning to wonder if we were ever going to get a new Bishop. Eventually I got another call from the Stake Presidency asking for Myself and Cindy to come in on a Wednesday night. Cindy knew I was getting a calling, but I told her they were going to call her as Stake Relief Society President. She got a good laugh out of that. So we went in for our interview (coincidentally we were also able to renew our temple recommends at that same time, one stop shopping), and it turns out the calling was for me after all, and Ross Smith (the music professor) is the new Bishop and I am his first counselor. The second counselor is one of the Colonels on base, the Chief of Safety for 8</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" style="font-size:130%;">th</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> Air Force. In fact, his office is just upstairs from mine, and he comes down occasionally now and we shoot the breeze.<br /><br />All in all I'm very excited about this calling. I've always enjoyed serving in Bishoprics. Yeah, it's a lot of work, but also a lot of blessings. Cindy's also happy about it. The workload has already increased even though we haven't really done anything yet. By that I mean that we were set apart two weeks ago, and last week was Conference, so we haven't even conducted a single Sacrament Meeting yet. Anyway, I've already helped people move, picked them up when their car was broken down, etc.<br /><br />There was actually a funny story that came out of all of this, and what a small world it is. A couple of nights ago the Bishop called at about 9:30 pm. He said that some guy from Minnesota had been passing through Shreveport, began feeling bad (chest pains and such) and went to the hospital. He called his wife, who called their Bishop, who called our Bishop asking if someone could give him a blessing. Our Bishop was tied up so he called me. I grabbed another brother who lives down the street and we went downtown to the hospital. We got there and met the guy, talked to him for a bit, then found an empty room to give him a blessing. After the blessing and before we left I was giving him my phone number in case he needed anything else before he left town. I gave him the number and was giving him my name (spelling the last name of course) when he said "</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" style="font-size:130%;">Ortolani</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> huh? When I was in college I had a roommate named Kent </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" style="font-size:130%;">Ortolani</span><span style="font-size:130%;">." I said "Hey, that's my brother." I don't know if I have the spelling right, but Shannon </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" style="font-size:130%;">Crouder</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> (</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="font-size:130%;">Crowder</span><span style="font-size:130%;">? I don't know how to spell it) was Kent's roommate down in Provo. That was just pretty cool and it really makes you realize what a small world it is.</span><br /></span>DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-41400820271610312232008-03-24T17:18:00.001-07:002008-03-24T17:18:10.778-07:00A little politics<p>It's an election year, so I figure it's appropriate to talk a bit about politics.  I won't go into the flap over Obama's pastor, I think his "sermons" speak for themselves.  I won't talk about Hillary trying to pad her resume a bit, it's boring.  What I do want to talk about is the political left's true colors.  There are a couple of links in the next paragraph, follow them if you want the full story.</p> <p>The left spends a great deal of time bad-mouthing America, the military, conservatives, and Christians, then with a quick "We support the troops and we're the real patriots", we're not supposed to question their patriotism or loyalty to this country.  Well, just today I found an interesting story coming from Portland, Oregon.  <a href="http://maroonedinmarin.blogspot.com/2008/03/portland-peace-marchers-hold-banner.html" target="_blank">These protesters</a> in Portland feel that it's appropriate for soldiers to shoot their officers.  They also <a href="http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=24896_A_New_Low_for_the_Anti-War_Movement&only" target="_blank">burned soldiers in effigy</a> along with some other wonderful bits of good clean American fun.</p> <p>In the past, liberal politicians and their supporters understood that they needed to slide towards the center politically in order to get elected.  They know that if their true feelings and intentions were known, they would never get elected.  This year, however, they feel that their hold on the White House is guaranteed and they're not afraid to show their true colors.  Can we now question their patriotism, their support of the military, their commitment to this country?  I think so.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-72461580542808753692008-03-24T16:58:00.001-07:002008-03-24T16:58:57.216-07:00Sorry I've been gone<p>Hey ya'll.  Sorry I've been missing here for so long.  So many things happened that I just got out of the habit of writing here.  But I'll catch you up on what's been happening.</p> <p>On January 30th I went in for some Oral surgery.  Sounds like fun huh?  What they did was to chisel some bone out of my chin and graft it into my upper jaw.  This was done to build up that area so they can implant some posts to put a new bridge in place.  What a pain!  Literally.  So, I was down with that for about a week.  At one point I thought I was feeling better and we decided to go to one of the Mardi Gras parades.  I guess it was a little too much excitement for me.  Later that night, my mouth suddenly filled with blood.  I couldn't get it to stop bleeding.  Cindy called the emergency number for the dental clinic and we ended up back at the clinic at about midnight (this was a Saturday night) getting something injected up in there that would stop the bleeding.  Not a fun night.</p> <p>After healing up a bit from the oral surgery, it was time for the real fun.  Hernia surgery.  A couple of years ago I noticed I had a bit of a hernia.  So, I talked with the flight surgeon about it and he said that it wasn't that big of a deal, and if I didn't want surgery, it could wait.  So, I waited.  This last January when I went in for my annual flight physical, I talked with the doc about it and he checked it out and said I should have it taken care of.  This doc is in our Ward and he told Cindy that Sunday that it was the biggest hernia he'd ever seen.  The Dr. I went to downtown agreed.</p> <p>So, on the 19th of February, I was in the hospital for that surgery.  That was a big one and I was stuck at home for three weeks recovering.  I don't know if ya'll have ever had surgery in the stomach area, but it's very painful and a long slow recovery.  It was done as day surgery, so when I woke up Cindy brought me right home.  I was put in a chair by the TV and spent the rest of the day there.  That night, when it was time for bed, it took Cindy a long time to walk me up the 17 stairs and into the bedroom.  Then she had to lift my legs into bed, and help me all night every time I had to roll over or go to the bathroom.  Not too much fun.  It was a long 3 weeks.</p> <p>I've almost completely recovered from the hernia surgery now.  I started back to the gym last week.  Just running on the treadmill, nothing more than that.  But things are coming along there.  However, a couple of weeks ago, I was in for my annual dental checkup and they discovered that the bone graft in my upper jaw was loose.  So, the next day (a week ago Friday) I was in the chair again and this time they numbed me up, pulled the bone out and cleaned it up, then screwed it into my upper jaw and then stitched it closed.  I went in today and they removed the stitches.  Things are looking good.</p> <p>So, that's all that's been happening with me over the last couple of months.  As you can see, it hasn't been exciting or fun.  Lots of pain and lots of boredom.  I should be complete with everything by August and that will be very exciting for me.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-29621936063861196872008-02-10T18:39:00.001-08:002008-02-10T18:39:02.975-08:00Pisa and Lucca<p>We truly enjoyed Rome, but now it was time to head out and see the rest of Northern Italy.  Our first stop was Pisa, famous for it's leaning tower.  It was quite impressive to see that this tower, which is leaning quite far, is still standing, and has been standing as long as it has.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-06bZHfXI/AAAAAAAAAx0/qh4553MtNVQ/IMGP1017%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP1017" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6-07LZHfYI/AAAAAAAAAx8/K_Rp4tkE8CA/IMGP1017_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6-077ZHfZI/AAAAAAAAAyE/uuXW6myWgk0/IMGP1020%5B8%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1020" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-08bZHfaI/AAAAAAAAAyM/rnDorvbI7aY/IMGP1020_thumb%5B6%5D" width="244" border="0" /></a> Look at those goofy tourists!  It was actually funny to see so many people all along this walkway posing the same way!  As crooked as the tower looks here, you can really see how "off" it is when you get up close.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6-09rZHfbI/AAAAAAAAAyU/OwSVYdFZCN8/IMGP1028%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1028" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6-0-rZHfcI/AAAAAAAAAyc/3w__I44PHm4/IMGP1028_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After getting our look at the tower, we had some free time to do some shopping and have lunch.  We found this neat little shop where they sold Pinocchio puppets.  The man who wrote Pinocchio was originally from Pisa.  Anyway, we found a nice puppet for Dylan and a book to go along with it.  Hope he enjoys it.</p> <p>We found a little restaurant and decided to have some pizza (in Pisa, what else do you have?).  Didn't turn out so well.  Actually my pizza was actually quite good.  The restaurant was on a side street away from the tower.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6-0_rZHfdI/AAAAAAAAAyk/XG4GZvKHTyI/IMGP1036%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1036" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1ALZHfeI/AAAAAAAAAys/PxrdyZQEfXk/IMGP1036_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1BbZHffI/AAAAAAAAAy0/0mWuLxsyYI8/IMGP1034%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1034" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1CrZHfgI/AAAAAAAAAy8/IkIyx-BrOns/IMGP1034_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I ordered the "Salami Picante", which we in the States know as "pepperoni".  My pizza was good.  Melissa ordered an olive pizza and got a cheese pizza with a few whole olives on top.  Cindy ordered the "Popeye" pizza, and got a cheese pizza with what looked like a couple of handfuls of spinach thrown on the top.  Ha Ha, I liked mine!</p> <p>After lunch we were off to Lucca where we were going to spend the night.  Lucca was the very cute little medieval town.  We walked through the gates in the wall surrounding the city, and then into the town itself.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1DrZHfhI/AAAAAAAAAzE/tNnwX8ULOv0/IMGP1044%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1044" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1ErZHfiI/AAAAAAAAAzM/4DtnhA9TL3Q/IMGP1044_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1FrZHfjI/AAAAAAAAAzU/P4MyM9T2PBM/IMGP1048%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP1048" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1GbZHfkI/AAAAAAAAAzc/l1trZcXExco/IMGP1048_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> As you can see, it was very quaint.  At one time the city had an old Roman arena.  That has now been turned into a town "square", but as you can see, it is actually round.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1HLZHflI/AAAAAAAAAzk/j0JC27GL6yo/IMGP1052%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1052" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1ILZHfmI/AAAAAAAAAzs/uwelLFcXdmY/IMGP1052_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> We spent some time looking around the city, and found a church's tower that we were able to go up inside and see a better view of the entire city.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1JLZHfnI/AAAAAAAAAz0/hwdfQ9eKK5M/IMGP1076%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1076" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1JrZHfoI/AAAAAAAAAz8/CTxBX0D6P_k/IMGP1076_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1KbZHfpI/AAAAAAAAA0E/7hRoWgt53vM/IMGP1079%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1079" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1LbZHfqI/AAAAAAAAA0M/iiZP5fP9tTI/IMGP1079_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1MbZHfrI/AAAAAAAAA0U/hT33T5gEfz0/IMGP1091%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1091" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1M7ZHfsI/AAAAAAAAA0c/iLcWRsRTK5M/IMGP1091_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1N7ZHftI/AAAAAAAAA0k/HBhtDJaE3G4/IMGP1094%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1094" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1ObZHfuI/AAAAAAAAA0s/HJFHZYXgE4A/IMGP1094_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> Lucca had some stores that both Cindy and I found quite attractive.  For myself, of course, I liked the cheese shops.  I'm a cheese freak so it was cool to see so many different cheeses together. Cindy liked the pastry shop.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1PbZHfvI/AAAAAAAAA00/baKluG5Z4rs/IMGP1109%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1109" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1QLZHfwI/AAAAAAAAA08/WeObQexiW3Q/IMGP1109_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1Q7ZHfxI/AAAAAAAAA1E/74GAJGK5jf8/IMGP1116%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP1116" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6-1RbZHfyI/AAAAAAAAA1M/yqbfKJ95sU4/IMGP1116_thumb" width="150" border="0" /></a> It was a fun day, with quite a bit more traveling than sight-seeing, but we had a great time just the same.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-80879135608492668222008-02-02T12:35:00.001-08:002008-02-02T12:35:09.537-08:00Rome<p>The Colosseum has to be the most iconic site in Rome.  It is what people initially think about when they think of Rome, at least that's the case for me.  So it was so cool to be able to actually see the Colosseum, live and in person.  I know Melissa was just as excited as I was.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTjGrFWBI/AAAAAAAAAuA/zjLZ0BJ_D_A/IMGP08893"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="432" alt="Colosseum" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTkWrFWCI/AAAAAAAAAuI/RuESCBt7CCQ/IMGP0889_thumb1" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>It really was an amazing sight.  To me, it was incredible that it was still standing.  It was built around 290 AD.  What workmanship.  We then got our tickets and went inside.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTlGrFWDI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/pp4xGJxXeas/IMGP09002"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP0900" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTlWrFWEI/AAAAAAAAAuY/_3TXqTSUizI/IMGP0900_thumb" width="165" border="0" /></a>Walking out into the interior of the Colosseum for the first time was pretty awe inspiring.  Not just because you were there seeing this incredible antiquity, but for the thoughts that went through my mind of the spectacles that were performed here.  The many deaths that happened all for the entertainment of the masses.  Incredible.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTmmrFWFI/AAAAAAAAAug/Mu40SDNGt_w/IMGP09033"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0903" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTn2rFWGI/AAAAAAAAAuo/pSBn08GqJPs/IMGP0903_thumb1" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTpGrFWHI/AAAAAAAAAuw/i5RuxEtIxLA/IMGP09043"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0904" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTqGrFWII/AAAAAAAAAu4/nvqrB6C5fiY/IMGP0904_thumb1" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The planning and engineering in here were amazing. You can see that there are walkways and hallways all around down there.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTq2rFWJI/AAAAAAAAAvA/IZnLFELeyjI/IMGP09102"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP0910" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTrWrFWKI/AAAAAAAAAvI/R2bBNnLgRyU/IMGP0910_thumb" width="165" border="0" /></a> This was all underneath the floor of the arena.  This is where the gladiators and the animals were kept and moved around.  There were about 60 trap doors in the floor where lions and other predators would be lifted up on elevators and then they would pop out of these trap doors to fight the gladiators.  So, the gladiators would be fighting the animals, most likely getting killed, while the Romans would watch and cheer.  Sad really.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTsmrFWLI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/eg44j4Oz0lk/IMGP09052"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0905" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTtGrFWMI/AAAAAAAAAvY/u4MO5n4SeXk/IMGP0905_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTuGrFWNI/AAAAAAAAAvg/ago5e7Vh4iE/IMGP09082"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0908" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTumrFWOI/AAAAAAAAAvo/_wwXCDsr6WM/IMGP0908_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After spending some time in the Colosseum, we then walked over to the forum.  This was the Roman equivalent of downtown, with offices and shopping.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTv2rFWPI/AAAAAAAAAvw/IJyPqlWWJm0/IMGP09223"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0922" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTw2rFWQI/AAAAAAAAAv4/SStKM2yncsc/IMGP0922_thumb1" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTx2rFWRI/AAAAAAAAAwA/zuIJLUzAh-0/IMGP09303"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0930" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTy2rFWSI/AAAAAAAAAwI/bzZ4gVTHWHE/IMGP0930_thumb1" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After the Colosseum and the Forum, it was time to do some other sight seeing.  We had a chance to walk around Rome and see some of the back streets and less "touristy" spots.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6TTzmrFWTI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/mE--kwZpWjA/IMGP09482"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP0948" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT1GrFWUI/AAAAAAAAAwY/5YmDtCgXrJ8/IMGP0948_thumb" width="187" border="0" /></a> We then ended up at the famous Trevi Fountain.  Beautiful.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT2WrFWVI/AAAAAAAAAwg/2fiVDo_dGLE/IMGP09543"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0954" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT3mrFWWI/AAAAAAAAAwo/d4jAm-gDMU8/IMGP0954_thumb1" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Melissa wanted to throw a coin in the fountain.<a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT4mrFWXI/AAAAAAAAAww/smP0Nv7vm2s/IMGP09602"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0960" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT5WrFWYI/AAAAAAAAAw4/bv1GGbwpkgM/IMGP0960_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> Actually, as the tradition goes, you throw one coin in if you want to find love, two if you want to get married, and three if you want a divorce.  Melissa threw in two!</p> <p>After some time at the fountain, it was time to see what Rome was like at night.  One of the first places our guide took us was to a local shopping mall.  It was a lot like what you would expect in the states.  However, there was a terrific crowd there and lots of noise.  It took us some time to figure out what was happening.  It turns out that someone was there for the debut of their new movie.  Maybe you can recognize him in this picture.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT52rFWZI/AAAAAAAAAxA/icE_HXNUZ54/IMGP0968%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP0968" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT6mrFWaI/AAAAAAAAAxI/XLI8fCV6sas/IMGP0968_thumb%5B1%5D" width="333" border="0" /></a> Melissa was very excited to see Will Smith and tried to get close enough to get an autograph, but the crowd was just too big.  It was an exciting surprise, though.</p> <p>We then traveled around and saw some of the other Roman sights, like the Pantheon.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT7mrFWbI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/R8AAKd1rYTc/IMGP0980%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0980" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT82rFWcI/AAAAAAAAAxY/Qjwtq3hpDJI/IMGP0980_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> The Pantheon is an old Pagan temple that was converted to a Christian church after Constantine.  It was a very impressive architectural piece.  The dome has a 25 foot hole in the top.  The interesting thing is that it never gets wet inside.  When it rains, the water that comes through the hole evaporates before it gets to the floor.  Interesting.</p> <p>After the Pantheon, we did a little more shopping and saw some more of the incredible art that just seems to be laying around Rome.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT92rFWdI/AAAAAAAAAxk/7JzdP7bYceA/IMGP1002%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1002" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R6TT_GrFWeI/AAAAAAAAAxs/FO7ReVFKfBQ/IMGP1002_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>And that was our two days in Rome.  In my next post I'll discuss our next day, which included the famous tower in Pisa.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-43964602843448607952008-01-30T21:12:00.001-08:002008-01-30T21:12:58.980-08:00Crazy Eights<p>As it turns out, I was tagged by Jen to do this crazy eights thing.  Let's see how it goes.</p> <p>8 things I am passionate about: (In no particular order)</p> <p>1. Cindy, my beautiful wife</p> <p>2. My kids</p> <p>3. My Grandson</p> <p>4. The Simpsons</p> <p>5. Music</p> <p>6. Photography</p> <p>7. Conservatism</p> <p>8. Making fun of liberals</p> <p> </p> <p>8 things I want to do before I die:</p> <p>1. Travel more. Take Cindy places I've been and she hasn't, and places neither of us have been.</p> <p>2. Go an a mission.</p> <p>3. Run a marathon</p> <p>4. Have a book published</p> <p>5. Earn my Doctorate</p> <p>6. Retire!</p> <p>7. </p> <p>8.</p> <p> </p> <p>8 Things I say often:</p> <p>1. D'oh!</p> <p>2. Stupid Gay Kitties! (whenever our cats do something dumb)</p> <p>3. I love you.</p> <p>4. Hey Baby</p> <p>5. Excellent</p> <p>6. I'm not even mad, that's amazing</p> <p>7. </p> <p>8.</p> <p> </p> <p>8 Books I've read recently: (I'm not counting textbooks)1. Power to the People</p> <p>2. Lisey's Story</p> <p>3. The First American</p> <p>4. General George Washington</p> <p>5. Because They Hate</p> <p>6. From Dawn to Decadence</p> <p>7. The Spiritual Journey of George Washington</p> <p>8. The A - Z of Creative Photography</p> <p> </p> <p>8 Songs I could listen to over and over:</p> <p>1. Anything by Led Zeppelin.</p> <p>2. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones</p> <p>3. Low Spark of High Heel Boys - Traffic</p> <p>4. Cross-Eyed Mary - Jethro Tull</p> <p>5. Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - Elton John</p> <p>6. Do You Feel Like We Do (live version) - Peter Frampton</p> <p>7. Dark Side of The Moon (entire album) - Pink Floyd</p> <p>8. Let it Be - The Beatles</p> <p> </p> <p>8 Things I learned this past year</p> <p>1. 7 Months is a long time to be deployed</p> <p>2. Baghdad is a very exciting place to live</p> <p>3. Preparing for retirement can be nerve-wracking, but exciting</p> <p>4. I love Cindy more and more each year</p> <p>5. It's tough getting older</p> <p>6. I am capable of more than I thought possible</p> <p>7. I love being a grandparent</p> <p>8. I am actually looking forward to moving to Utah (It's been a long time since I felt that way).</p> <p>Well that's it.  Don't really have anyone to tag with this that Jen didn't already tag.  I will be blogging more about Italy soon, look for it.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-17157260905932889172008-01-28T16:50:00.001-08:002008-01-28T16:50:02.227-08:00Throw Me Somethin' Mister!<p>That is the traditional call at Mardi Gras.  That is how you get the people to throw you some beads.  Now, I'm not talking New Orleans Mardi Gras where you do something else to get beads.  This is Shreveport and like the rest of Louisiana, Mardi Gras is big.  Cindy and I went to the Krewe of Centaur parade Saturday and had a blast.  I was flippin' cold, but we still had fun. I was able to snag 69 beads for myself.  But Cindy put me to shame.  She hauled in 82 necklaces.  We also got some cups and such.  It's a great time, yelling for beads as the floats go by, then working to catch as many as you can.  Silly, I suppose, but still a whole lot of fun.  Enjoy the pics.</p> <p>People wait a long time for the parade, as you can see, some even set up their trailers.  There's all sorts of warming fires and BBQs going on.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5533mrFVrI/AAAAAAAAArQ/EynpHeWTu9g/IMGP1830%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1830" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5534GrFVsI/AAAAAAAAArY/Eakxuip7fpw/IMGP1830_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5535WrFVtI/AAAAAAAAArg/916vFzf-Bo8/IMGP1834%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1834" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55352rFVuI/AAAAAAAAAro/6XDvPwy0Le4/IMGP1834_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> Even the news cameras are there to catch the action.</p> <p>People really get into the spirit of the thing, wearing hats and costumes.  A lot of fun.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5537GrFVvI/AAAAAAAAArw/ucTtw2oOVDQ/IMGP1841%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1841" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5537mrFVwI/AAAAAAAAAr4/yHle33zNd54/IMGP1841_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55382rFVxI/AAAAAAAAAsA/mziPKLUaEPQ/IMGP1843%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1843" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5539WrFVyI/AAAAAAAAAsI/CR5laLXxVDs/IMGP1843_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R553_GrFVzI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/7htiqfH__xE/IMGP1846%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1846" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R553_WrFV0I/AAAAAAAAAsY/6OVY3h_fJ7U/IMGP1846_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R554AGrFV1I/AAAAAAAAAsg/8kZ83pp25Ng/IMGP1847%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1847" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R554BWrFV2I/AAAAAAAAAso/OVWq2wvAUXE/IMGP1847_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Then the parade starts, and that's when it gets exciting.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R554CmrFV3I/AAAAAAAAAsw/EHf2PpZtPYg/IMGP1866%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1866" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R554EGrFV4I/AAAAAAAAAs4/9x2D69VwrFk/IMGP1866_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R554FmrFV5I/AAAAAAAAAtA/BDenfeDuxPU/IMGP1874%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1874" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R554F2rFV6I/AAAAAAAAAtI/tcFJam6iaeQ/IMGP1874_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R554HmrFV7I/AAAAAAAAAtQ/Mj-HGVyQXfE/IMGP1872%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1872" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R554H2rFV8I/AAAAAAAAAtY/g5St2hRdMGI/IMGP1872_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R554JWrFV9I/AAAAAAAAAtg/PRzovLTMwIo/IMGP1881%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1881" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R554K2rFV-I/AAAAAAAAAto/53QWXI7vNpU/IMGP1881_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>To give you an idea, a quick count on this last picture shows that at this time Cindy had caught about 20 or so beads.  By the time we left, she had over 80.  It gets difficult to hold up all the weight after a while.  We had a good time.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R554MmrFV_I/AAAAAAAAAtw/KKFYSkiNgKU/IMGP1896%5B5%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1896" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R554OGrFWAI/AAAAAAAAAt4/u0MzLC06T2c/IMGP1896_thumb%5B3%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a></p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-22985105482942840012008-01-28T16:31:00.001-08:002008-01-28T17:03:03.003-08:00The Vatican<p>OK, in the last two posts I gave you a quick overview of our trip. I thought now that I would go into a bit more depth on each part of the trip, and get a few more pictures put up. If I double up on some pictures that I've already put up, sorry about that, but I do that sometimes.</p> <p>So, Rome was the first city we toured, and it was amazing. It's really the most fascinating city I've ever been in. Our ride from the airport to our hotel was breathtaking. Let's just say that I now understand why Italian Formula One drivers are so good. They learn to drive in Rome! Speed limits, traffic signals, lanes on the road; all simple suggestions, really. It was quite frightening. But fun.</p> <p>Traffic is a problem for them also. On any given day, there are 4 million people in Rome, 2.5 million cars, and 850,000 scooters. There are only 250,000 parking places! As our guide said "Romans don't park their cars, we abandon them, then pray All Saints that we find them again!" Here's a shot of some parked scooters to give you an idea.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55y5GrFU5I/AAAAAAAAAk8/dVgPZrs_cKs/IMGP0965%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0965" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55y6WrFU6I/AAAAAAAAAlE/_0lQdyFXMmw/IMGP0965_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="432" width="644" /></a> </p> <p>Our first stop was the Vatican Museum. A completely amazing place! It was amazing to see how much art was in there. It was non stop. Here are a few pics to give you an idea.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55y72rFU7I/AAAAAAAAAlM/deFoU_UldFY/IMGP0749%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0749" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55y8WrFU8I/AAAAAAAAAlU/amaK1VgZJl8/IMGP0749_thumb" border="0" height="244" width="165" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55y92rFU9I/AAAAAAAAAlc/BE9fsq5w6mk/IMGP0768%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="Vatican Art" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55y-WrFU-I/AAAAAAAAAlk/pHj9X_xVW_g/IMGP0768_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> </p> <p>Even the ceilings were incredible.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zAGrFU_I/AAAAAAAAAls/1bWR2ea0e_M/IMGP0774%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0774" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zA2rFVAI/AAAAAAAAAl0/TDrjV7JcZps/IMGP0774_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="484" width="326" /></a> </p> <p>As we walked through the museum we just kept finding more and more fantastic art. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zB2rFVBI/AAAAAAAAAl8/K035lcRnszM/IMGP0776%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0776" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R55zCmrFVCI/AAAAAAAAAmE/J1UHSnCM1-k/IMGP0776_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zD2rFVDI/AAAAAAAAAmM/19CP9XU6NAQ/IMGP0777%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0777" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zEWrFVEI/AAAAAAAAAmU/SH8mttDd3-A/IMGP0777_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R55zFmrFVFI/AAAAAAAAAmc/i2khkz26fB8/IMGP0791%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0791" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zGGrFVGI/AAAAAAAAAmk/QkJTZNvbiNw/IMGP0791_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> Eventually we made into a hall that was full of tapestries. These were made with such exquisite workmanship and detail. This hall was very dimly lit, to preserve the tapestries. However, with it so dark and not being able to use a flash, what you can't see is that much of the thread used in these tapestries is solid gold. Actual gold thread woven into the tapestries. Wow.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zHGrFVHI/AAAAAAAAAms/eHjUyq4qyTY/IMGP0794%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0794" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zIWrFVII/AAAAAAAAAm0/pR0A2kIMopk/IMGP0794_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="432" width="644" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R55zJmrFVJI/AAAAAAAAAm8/yT8zP9EUmjo/IMGP0795%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0795" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zLGrFVKI/AAAAAAAAAnE/UdfrO7NcmVI/IMGP0795_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="432" width="644" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zMGrFVLI/AAAAAAAAAnM/NMgWYZTIlNc/IMGP0797%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0797" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R55zMmrFVMI/AAAAAAAAAnU/tTVv7S_08Kw/IMGP0797_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> This is a picture of Cindy and Melissa by one of the tapestries to give you an idea of size. They were beautiful.</p> <p>There were also some paintings on the ceiling. Now, when you look at these pictures (and when we saw them there) they look like 3 dimensional carvings or something. Not at all, they were just painted so well that they look 3 dimensional!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zOGrFVNI/AAAAAAAAAnc/lj2lTLENCMg/IMGP0798%5B9%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0798" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zPWrFVOI/AAAAAAAAAnk/0xRn0MImR8o/IMGP0798_thumb%5B7%5D" border="0" height="484" width="325" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zQ2rFVPI/AAAAAAAAAns/LGd5tXpnqXo/IMGP0800%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0800" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zSGrFVQI/AAAAAAAAAn0/H5H7w3mfWK4/IMGP0800_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="484" width="325" /></a> </p> <p>Once, again, even the ceiling was fantastic.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zUGrFVRI/AAAAAAAAAn8/_MQR7nhcu4w/IMGP0810%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0810" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zVWrFVSI/AAAAAAAAAoE/u-IkPORdQzw/IMGP0810_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="484" width="325" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zW2rFVTI/AAAAAAAAAoM/ED5acObLd3I/IMGP0817%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0817" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R55zXmrFVUI/AAAAAAAAAoY/S_Mg63oMwEw/IMGP0817_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> </p> <p>So, after going through the museum, we were shown into the Sistine Chapel. Famous for its ceiling painted by Michelangelo. It has recently been restored to clean off the centuries of soot from the burning of candles. It was incredible. The problem is that there were no pictures allowed. So, you'll have to google pics of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and imagine what it was like to be there. Sorry.</p> <p>After that, we were on our way to St Peter's Basilica. Once again, it's nice to finally see something in person that you've seen in pictures or on TV so often.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zZGrFVVI/AAAAAAAAAog/AADTQ4XSzkA/IMGP0871%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0871" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R55zamrFVWI/AAAAAAAAAoo/8xV8aoWH3jY/IMGP0871_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="432" width="644" /></a></p> <p>But, inside the Basilica was awe inspiring. I don't know if I'd be able to attend church services in a place like that, because I'd be distracted by all the artwork and such. But it is definitely a beautiful chapel.</p> <p>Like this mosaic tiled with 24k gold.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R55zcmrFVXI/AAAAAAAAAow/q9yQFlHlJZc/IMGP0841%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0841" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zdWrFVYI/AAAAAAAAAo4/9wAurWY1JEM/IMGP0841_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> Or this statue by Michelangelo, "The Pieta", or The Pity. It shows when Mary lowered Jesus off the cross. Can you imagine this in your chapel?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R55zemrFVZI/AAAAAAAAApA/-UXTeVjL0WU/IMGP0838%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0838" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zgWrFVaI/AAAAAAAAApI/1WYp_6Y9FPU/IMGP0838_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="432" width="644" /></a> </p> <p>The rest of the Chapel was amazing, and huge.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zhWrFVbI/AAAAAAAAApQ/_zBhDDriikE/IMGP0836%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0836" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zh2rFVcI/AAAAAAAAApY/lva6ndadp1M/IMGP0836_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zj2rFVdI/AAAAAAAAApg/j7el6W-giS0/IMGP0848%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0848" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zlWrFVeI/AAAAAAAAApo/qlq_hjFxSxY/IMGP0848_thumb" border="0" height="244" width="165" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zm2rFVfI/AAAAAAAAApw/ngC9j0q3Mds/IMGP0852%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0852" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zoWrFVgI/AAAAAAAAAp4/wS7oOskFypQ/IMGP0852_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="432" width="644" /></a></p> <p>To give you an idea of the scale of this place. In the picture above, look at the strip of gold with the Latin writing. That is a tile mosaic. The gold is actual 24k gold tiles, and the letters are 6 feet tall. That's right, 6 feet tall!</p> <p>And then, there was more art!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zp2rFVhI/AAAAAAAAAqA/dLt_Ms1YqbI/IMGP0858%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0858" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zqWrFViI/AAAAAAAAAqI/9blKvpb-VxU/IMGP0858_thumb" border="0" height="244" width="165" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zrWrFVjI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/9cQ_Cyz9A4Q/IMGP0857%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0857" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R55zr2rFVkI/AAAAAAAAAqY/O3v9rXKpWpI/IMGP0857_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55ztWrFVlI/AAAAAAAAAqg/x7tZEuRhAX0/IMGP0863%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0863" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zuGrFVmI/AAAAAAAAAqo/hJwgFJPGt9M/IMGP0863_thumb" border="0" height="244" width="165" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zvGrFVnI/AAAAAAAAAqw/a2JD3q0gezo/IMGP0868%5B2%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0868" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R55zvWrFVoI/AAAAAAAAAq4/HyhGtG_cnQ4/IMGP0868_thumb" border="0" height="165" width="244" /></a> They even had a nativity inside the chapel. It was pretty cool. And then on our way out, we happened to bump into some of the Swiss Guard that are the security forces for the Vatican. They are the traditional guards for the Pope, and they can only be selected if they are born in Switzerland and have attended the Swiss Military Academy, and they are the best of the best, think Navy SEALS type guys. Their uniforms, as odd looking as they are, were actually designed by, yeah, you guessed it, Michelangelo!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zxGrFVpI/AAAAAAAAArA/07glI2Ng8CQ/IMGP0872%5B3%5D"><img style="border: 0px none ;" alt="IMGP0872" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R55zyGrFVqI/AAAAAAAAArI/xewKb__8s6s/IMGP0872_thumb%5B1%5D" border="0" height="432" width="644" /></a> </p> <p>We truly enjoyed our trip to Vatican City. I can't say enough about it. I was thoroughly blown away. It was a day I'll never forget. My next Italy post will be about the rest of Rome that we saw that day, including the Colosseum, which is very impressive.</p>DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-34689799189607271882008-01-20T12:13:00.001-08:002008-01-20T12:13:01.607-08:00Italy Part Two<p><font face="Garamond" size="3"> So, after our trip to the winery, which was fascinating by the way, we went to Florence to spend the night.  The next day we looked all around Florence.  This is where Michelangelo's David is.  Beautiful sculpture.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqK6wRshI/AAAAAAAAAbw/I_dissIGaAc/IMGP1326%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="Michelangelo's David" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqMawRsiI/AAAAAAAAAb4/PiSkxrR3Blk/IMGP1326_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>What you see here is actually a copy that they have in the town square.  The original was moved years ago to the Academy of Fine Arts.  It's incredible to see these works of art that to this point you have only seen in pictures.  After the Academy, we went to the Florence Cathedral.  The bell tower was designed by Giotto, and the baptistry had the most amazing door I've ever seen.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqNKwRsjI/AAAAAAAAAcA/ufY8C30dNHg/IMGP1265%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="Giotto's Bell Tower" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqNawRskI/AAAAAAAAAcI/IYCnGIYzfUU/IMGP1265_thumb" width="165" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqO6wRslI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/dA-PWQPIoG0/IMGP1271%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP1271" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqPKwRsmI/AAAAAAAAAcY/t0Ra2dP7ZK8/IMGP1271_thumb" width="165" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqQawRsnI/AAAAAAAAAcg/3rUYlETs0TY/IMGP1278%5B3%5D"><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqRawRsoI/AAAAAAAAAco/pKGjOs4oN-Q/IMGP1282%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1282" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqR6wRspI/AAAAAAAAAcw/H9y610CWLpg/IMGP1282_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1278" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqS6wRsqI/AAAAAAAAAc4/HQEMqhlUZhE/IMGP1278_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p>A quick tour through the cathedral and then we were back into the town and over to the town square, called Signoria Square.  The only town square I've ever been to with masterpiece sculptures all over.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqUKwRsrI/AAAAAAAAAdA/Dcu7wBxYeh8/IMGP1318%5B4%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1318" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqUawRssI/AAAAAAAAAdI/W35uqpXCICs/IMGP1318_thumb%5B2%5D" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqVqwRstI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/aTobzc6gJQ4/IMGP1321%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1321" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqWqwRsuI/AAAAAAAAAdY/8Htjyts5MYg/IMGP1321_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Right off the square was the Uffizi Gallery, containing 1200 works of art.  We weren't allowed any pictures inside, but it was filled with original Rembrandt's, Botticelli's, etc.  It really was too involved to describe it all.  Here is a link that you might find interesting, showing some of the Artists and their work that is held in the gallery. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uffizi">Uffizi Gallery</a></p> <p>After the gallery, we spent some time shopping in Florence, world famous for its leather goods.  They were impressive, and I fell in love with a leather jacket that was unlike anything I've ever seen before.  However, the almost $1,500 price tag made me rethink the whole thing.</p> <p>The next day we were off again, this time to Venice by way of Verona.  Verona was a quaint little town that is home to Juliet's house.  You may remember her from a little show called Romeo and Juliet.   We were unable to actually see the place, since it was under renovation.  Too bad.  Apparently people cannot stop themselves from putting their graffiti all over the place.  It's too bad.  We did, however, have one of the best meals of the trip while in Verona.  The three of us stopped in this little place for a quick bite, and it turned into this outstanding meal.  It was great.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqXawRsvI/AAAAAAAAAdg/o9TY1f44SEI/IMGP1344%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1344" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqX6wRswI/AAAAAAAAAdo/xH9_guIoe5E/IMGP1344_thumb%5B1%5D" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Verona was a pretty town, but unfortunately we weren't able to enjoy it as much as possible as it was very, very cold and rainy that day.  So, we spent some time shopping, getting a sweater for me and a coat for Melissa.  It was nice to be inside, and it was during that little shopping trip that I realized I had picked up enough Italian to carry out a very simple transaction completely in Italian.  Not very impressive, but it was a victory for me.</p> <p> </p> <p>We left Verona and the drove to Venice.  What can I say about Venice except that it is, in all likelihood, the most romantic city in the world.  And, as much as I hate to admit it, the only place in Italy that we broke down and ate at McDonalds (shhh, don't tell anyone).  Anyway, we got to the hotel and went to our room.  It was a maze just to find our room.  But, the view out our bedroom window made it worth the trip.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqYqwRsxI/AAAAAAAAAdw/kmFo6lU_F-o/IMGP1357%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP1357" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqZawRsyI/AAAAAAAAAd4/KXCzuCeWffQ/IMGP1357_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqaqwRszI/AAAAAAAAAeA/XpcnaYwiLXc/IMGP1363%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP1363" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqcqwRs0I/AAAAAAAAAeI/kKe66oQBnLk/IMGP1363_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oqd6wRs1I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/mGPACRZ5N4M/IMGP1368%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP1368" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oqe6wRs2I/AAAAAAAAAeY/Mva4j9p2odc/IMGP1368_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> <font face="Garamond" size="3"><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqfawRs3I/AAAAAAAAAeg/X_G6vITkQrU/IMGP1369%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP1369" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqgawRs4I/AAAAAAAAAeo/MqppXCKNZK8/IMGP1369_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a></font></p> <p><font face="Garamond" size="3">Having two pretty ladies with me didn't hurt either.</font></p> <p>Venice was very exciting and beautiful.  Of course we saw Piazza San Marco, St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace etc.  All very cool.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqhawRs5I/AAAAAAAAAew/T5dXtJc4kVM/IMGP1423%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1423" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oqh6wRs6I/AAAAAAAAAe4/hGTMCGGwHPQ/IMGP1423_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oqi6wRs7I/AAAAAAAAAfA/qD-aDjsvsCA/IMGP1425%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1425" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqjqwRs8I/AAAAAAAAAfI/fYkAkO32qzs/IMGP1425_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqkqwRs9I/AAAAAAAAAfQ/-__-i88KkD4/IMGP1453%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1453" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oqk6wRs-I/AAAAAAAAAfY/WMXGnMZ_1Qw/IMGP1453_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> I will skip ahead a little bit here and tell something of a sad story.  At least I think it's sad.  St Mark's Square is lined with shops.  Some very spendy shops actually.  Our last night in Venice, we were looking for a place to eat.  We wandered around the maze that is Venice and ended up right back at the square.  All the stores were closed, which is the sad part, because we found a couple of stores we would have loved to shop in.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oql6wRs_I/AAAAAAAAAfg/ig1uT0ZoQNw/IMGP1666%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1666" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqnawRtAI/AAAAAAAAAfs/DX9XQwhQEms/IMGP1666_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqoqwRtBI/AAAAAAAAAf0/nOGEfEK12gU/IMGP1674%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 100px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1674" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oqp6wRtCI/AAAAAAAAAf8/PNuTUGhbmWE/IMGP1674_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Sad.  Anyway, after seeing the Doge's Palace, we took a bit of a side trip to two of the nearby islands.  Murano, which is famous for its glass works, and Burano which is famous for it's lace and colorful houses.</p> <p>The glass factory at Murano was interesting. They make all of their stuff by hand.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqrqwRtDI/AAAAAAAAAgE/6QCs_bXx8KE/IMGP1523%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1523" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oqr6wRtEI/AAAAAAAAAgM/Aya7XWGasi0/IMGP1523_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OquKwRtFI/AAAAAAAAAgU/1uO0-TBF3kk/IMGP1526%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1526" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OquqwRtGI/AAAAAAAAAgc/fKT7C_nJKx4/IMGP1526_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqvawRtHI/AAAAAAAAAgk/iqYN_b5JkMs/IMGP1536%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1536" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqwKwRtII/AAAAAAAAAgs/jhIXDwIH1v4/IMGP1536_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a></p> <p>After watching them make the glass, we went  to their showroom and spent our hard-earned money.  We actually bought a glass and pitcher set that they are shipping to us.  Can't wait until it arrives.</p> <p>Burano was a fascinating place.  Not so much because of the lace, which was neat, but because of the colorful way that they've painted their houses.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqxKwRtJI/AAAAAAAAAg0/AXgAzCHymow/IMGP1565%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1565" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqyKwRtKI/AAAAAAAAAg8/2_0DA49EyvA/IMGP1565_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqzKwRtLI/AAAAAAAAAhE/23vQ2klbm5o/IMGP1584%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1584" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OqzqwRtMI/AAAAAAAAAhM/5RnhZGXrEg0/IMGP1584_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq06wRtNI/AAAAAAAAAhU/qInLV6ITpyE/IMGP1591%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1591" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq16wRtOI/AAAAAAAAAhc/lMhiwhluU5k/IMGP1591_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq3KwRtPI/AAAAAAAAAhk/uoN7fvBv0KU/IMGP1600%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1600" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq4qwRtQI/AAAAAAAAAhs/opEidJcxS8Y/IMGP1600_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After our trip to the outer islands, we returned to Venice proper, ate dinner at a restaurant that had the worst service ever, then got ready to leave again the next day.</p> <p>We left Venice headed for Assisi by way of Ravenna.  How I wish we'd been able to see more of Ravenna, but it was just a short stop on the outskirts of the city to see another church.  It was beautifully decorated with Mosaics.  One of the most interesting to me was one depicting someone that you don't often see in religious art.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq6KwRtRI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Uj9VoUpfcZM/IMGP1692%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP1692" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq6qwRtSI/AAAAAAAAAh8/9y1XjyVsaGk/IMGP1692_thumb" width="165" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq76wRtTI/AAAAAAAAAiE/RY-oAqlQc9w/IMGP1697%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP1697" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq8awRtUI/AAAAAAAAAiM/aqi5dyZyHmY/IMGP1697_thumb" width="165" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq96wRtVI/AAAAAAAAAiU/iPhWE9AvOs0/IMGP1705%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1705" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5Oq_KwRtWI/AAAAAAAAAic/dOib9laWtBg/IMGP1705_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Of course, we couldn't leave Ravenna without at least a glance at the book to see who might be still there.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrA6wRtXI/AAAAAAAAAik/VOlNND3JBrg/IMGP1716%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1716" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrCKwRtYI/AAAAAAAAAis/D17lWuAp0pY/IMGP1716_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After Ravenna we traveled on to Assisi, which was a fascinating little town, and of course home to the church of St Francis of Assisi.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrDqwRtZI/AAAAAAAAAi0/hUbPxpBUCnY/IMGP1723%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1723" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrE6wRtaI/AAAAAAAAAi8/v8g_WUzdXo4/IMGP1723_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrGKwRtbI/AAAAAAAAAjE/rexBWXWxoNs/IMGP1730%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1730" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrGqwRtcI/AAAAAAAAAjM/psIVJjN2aCM/IMGP1730_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrIKwRtdI/AAAAAAAAAjU/HSHqdH7awbI/IMGP1740%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1740" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrIawRteI/AAAAAAAAAjc/q5f0j-oanY0/IMGP1740_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After seeing the church ( no pictures allowed, again) we went through the town.  These little hillside towns have captivated me.</p> <p>One of the funny things we noticed throughout the entire trip was the size of the cars.  As you can see from the pictures above, Italy does not have nice wide American streets and almost no parking.  To put this in perspective, there are 4,000,000 people in the city of Rome on a given day.  There are 2.5 million cars and 850,000 scooters.  There are 260,000 parking spots.  So, as our guide said, "Romans don't park their cars.  We abandon them, and pray All Saints that we find them again."  Anyway, to help with that, many people drive very small cars that they can park anywhere.  The Smart Cars are my favorites.  Believe it or not, I think these cars are going to be sold in the States pretty soon.  Scary.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrJ6wRtfI/AAAAAAAAAjk/DK_044i5Bnk/IMGP1773%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1773" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrK6wRtgI/AAAAAAAAAjs/EWBHMmuqUgU/IMGP1773_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After our night in Assisi, we drove back to Rome and had one more dinner together as a group.  We had seen many wonderful sights and made some very good friends within the group.  Our farewell dinner was very nice, very fun, but somewhat melancholy.  Melissa did get a kiss on the cheek from a very handsome Italian waiter.  I think she liked it.  This last picture was taken at the dinner.  It is the Ortolani family with our tour guide, Flavia.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrMKwRthI/AAAAAAAAAj0/jILz5xzYBwg/IMGP1819%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1819" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrNqwRtiI/AAAAAAAAAj8/voRZoL2SlCQ/IMGP1819_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After the dinner we had a night tour of Rome.  We stopped again at the Vatican, and as you can see, the lights were on in the Pope's living quarters.  Flavia said that meant he was still up.  My guess was he was watching a DVD of the Da Vinci Code.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrPKwRtjI/AAAAAAAAAkE/-cuZ_klCIqE/IMGP1824%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1824" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrQawRtkI/AAAAAAAAAkM/XPo_7SJhYTo/IMGP1824_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The next day we had a very early morning getting to the hotel.  Up at 3:00 am.  It was a very long day with a layover in Frankfurt, Germany and one on Houston.  Our flight going into Frankfurt was a bit delayed, and everything was delayed on the ground there also.  Thus, we ended up missing our flight our of Houston and had to wait for the next one.  I think by the time we got home, we had been up for about 24 hours.  As you can see from this picture of Melissa in Houston, it was a long day.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrRqwRtlI/AAAAAAAAAkU/DQ0OTs5SAp8/IMGP1829%5B9%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1829" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5OrS6wRtmI/AAAAAAAAAkc/NODCAiM0KgM/IMGP1829_thumb%5B7%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>All in all it was a fantastic trip.  One that we hope to repeat someday.  Not the entire trip, but we would like to go to Ravenna and do some genealogy.  Anyway, it was an unbelievable time and a great family vacation.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-33701184751034497682008-01-19T18:15:00.001-08:002008-01-19T18:15:14.566-08:00Italy<p><font face="Garamond" size="3"> Well, we've returned from Italy.  I have only three letters to describe the whole thing.  WOW!  It was totally amazing.  We all began to suffer from sensory overload.  You couldn't turn around without seeing some incredible antiquity, ancient ruin, or fantastic art masterpiece.  What a place.</font></p> <p>We left Shreveport on the 7th of January, flying first to Dallas, then to Frankfurt, Germany, then on to Rome.  It was a long day and we were all beat by the time we arrived at our hotel.  Of course, getting from the airport to the hotel was an adventure in itself.  Apparently the proper way to drive in Rome is to ignore all speed limits, traffic signs, lanes, other cars, etc.  It was something of a nerve-wracking experience to say the least.  But, we arrived at the Cicerone Hotel in one piece.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5Kt_qwRrzI/AAAAAAAAAVo/NSkJrhK7KCQ/IMGP0730%5B12%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="Cindy and Melissa outside hotel" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuA6wRr0I/AAAAAAAAAVw/umRoNvWXDm4/IMGP0730_thumb%5B8%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After some showers and quick naps, it was off to meet our tour guide and group.  We were introduced to Flavia, our tour guide.  She gave us some pointers and tips for the trip, then we all headed out to dinner at one of the local restaurants.  I thought the dinner was quite nice, but Cindy and Melissa had other ideas about that.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuCawRr1I/AAAAAAAAAV4/AgiN6iJ8rgk/IMGP0734%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0734" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuC6wRr2I/AAAAAAAAAWA/il_6HJIyu4c/IMGP0734_thumb%5B1%5D" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The dinner was a good time to start getting to know the people in our travel group.  We ended up having a great group.  Since it was off-season, it was a smaller group, which was great.  We all got along and had a great time together.  Dinner was interesting.  It started off with a champagne toast.  The three of us toasted, but of course didn't drink.  That's Melissa "toasting" with the glass.  It was a large meal of several courses.  The antipasto, I think, was what Cindy and Melissa had the most difficulty with.  Prosciutto, as some of you may know, is raw, cured ham.  It has quite a bite to it.  Not my favorite either, but I was able to eat it OK.  Cindy and Melissa, not so much.  </p> <p>We had a couple more courses, pasta of course, and then some type of pork covered with a delicious smokey cheese of some sort.  Not what you would get when ordering at Olive Garden I'll tell you that.  After the meal we were off to the hotel for a nice night's sleep.</p> <p>The next morning we were up early and off and running.  First stop was the Vatican.  What an amazing place.  I mean, besides being the headquarters of the Catholic Church, it is furnished with the most amazing art.  We started with a tour of the Vatican museum.  This is the most incredible art museum I have ever been in.  Granted, that's not saying much, but really, it was beyond awe inspiring.  Art on the walls, art on the ceilings, sculptures, tapestries.  I will just put a few of the pictures I was able to get here.  Actually, before doing that I want to say something about all of these pictures.  Obviously there is no way to use a flash inside a museum, since the light damages the art.  In fact, in the hall of tapestries, the lighting was so dark it was difficult to see sometimes.  So, 99% of all the pictures I took on this trip were without flash.  Take that into account please.  So, here are some pictures of the artwork in the Vatican museum.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuEKwRr3I/AAAAAAAAAWI/byOY8cP_Vpk/IMGP0768%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0768" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuFqwRr4I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/xwNbsMUeQCc/IMGP0768_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a>   </p> <p><font face="Garamond" size="3"><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuG6wRr5I/AAAAAAAAAWY/WdcR9HKDtAo/IMGP0777%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0777" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuHawRr6I/AAAAAAAAAWg/xKKw1kk9UjM/IMGP0777_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuIqwRr7I/AAAAAAAAAWo/UNdLWwxM6EQ/IMGP0797%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="Tapestry" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuJKwRr8I/AAAAAAAAAWw/QEC7oI5pHQ0/IMGP0797_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </font></p> <p> The ceiling in this hallway was simply incredible.<a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuLKwRr9I/AAAAAAAAAW4/K64Fpr1b0Fg/IMGP0810%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP0810" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuMqwRr-I/AAAAAAAAAXA/PmYRTUWhq1k/IMGP0810_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a></p> <p>We were able to go inside the Sistine Chapel and see all of Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling.  Unfortunately they wouldn't let us take pictures inside the chapel.  Fortunately, I had snapped a picture or two before I realized we weren't supposed to.  Oops.  Here's the one I got, you might recognize it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuN6wRr_I/AAAAAAAAAXI/wIqDvqxhu_E/IMGP0826%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0826" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuPKwRsAI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/GpL0kXlvPYQ/IMGP0826_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After the museum and the Sistine Chapel, we headed over to St. Peter's Basilica.  Not only is it an amazing church, but Peter is buried there.  What history.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuQKwRsBI/AAAAAAAAAXY/WqvoQnrkcvc/IMGP0836%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0836" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuRqwRsCI/AAAAAAAAAXg/wemvBT3Vdsk/IMGP0836_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>And, of course, it was filled with amazing art.  I can't imagine being able to concentrate on church with this all around me.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuTKwRsDI/AAAAAAAAAXo/M4WeY51_22w/IMGP0838%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0838" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuTawRsEI/AAAAAAAAAXw/YbD4CVQ_BBw/IMGP0838_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuUawRsFI/AAAAAAAAAX4/jMKBO60a5Jk/IMGP0841%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0841" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuUqwRsGI/AAAAAAAAAYA/JiLNKClIIEM/IMGP0841_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuVawRsHI/AAAAAAAAAYI/aOa4GjRKeb4/IMGP0848%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP0848" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuV6wRsII/AAAAAAAAAYQ/34_fXSyZrhY/IMGP0848_thumb" width="165" border="0" /></a> Then, in the middle of all this incredible artwork and tombs of Popes and such, there is the tomb of Peter himself.  Huge monument (I guess you'd call it) over the tomb itself.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuXawRsJI/AAAAAAAAAYY/7KIPW9Up-Wg/IMGP0847%5B7%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP0847" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuYqwRsKI/AAAAAAAAAYg/WZUBfZzyz18/IMGP0847_thumb%5B5%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>So, the Vatican was very impressive, as you can see.</p> <p>The next stop on our tour was, what else, the Colosseum.  It was amazing that something that old was still in such relatively good condition.  I mean, I know we think the Barksdale historic housing is old because it was build in 1932.  But, really, this thing was build in 79 AD.!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuZawRsLI/AAAAAAAAAYo/2Ch13Mq0iQE/IMGP0891%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP0891" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuaqwRsMI/AAAAAAAAAYw/m5oYZfc5EoQ/IMGP0891_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KubqwRsNI/AAAAAAAAAY4/96-nO2j-__s/IMGP0889%5B7%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP0889" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KucawRsOI/AAAAAAAAAZA/F0wyG5K2rPQ/IMGP0889_thumb%5B3%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>And, guess who we bumped into while we were there?</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KudqwRsPI/AAAAAAAAAZI/DTIacyYxlZ8/IMGP0890%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0890" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5Kud6wRsQI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/MZLdWI2VxKg/IMGP0890_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>We then saw some of the other sights of the city, including the famed Trevi Fountain, the parliament building, the forum, and an old Italian friend you probably all know.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KufKwRsRI/AAAAAAAAAZY/2giiYUyCPTc/IMGP0954%5B4%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0954" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KufqwRsSI/AAAAAAAAAZg/BryBqEoGu6s/IMGP0954_thumb%5B2%5D" width="244" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuhawRsTI/AAAAAAAAAZo/fN50imlt2Kw/IMGP0977%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP0977" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuhqwRsUI/AAAAAAAAAZw/RXqTmHDfj08/IMGP0977_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The next day was our first travel day.  We left Rome early that morning and enjoyed our bus ride through the country.  The bus was a very nice travel coach, quite comfortable particularly since we had a small group.  Everyone had their own row, if they wanted it.  We drove from Rome to Pisa, which I know you are all familiar with.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuiKwRsVI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/J-cJCgyEySc/IMGP1017%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="IMGP1017" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KuiqwRsWI/AAAAAAAAAaA/acTBCzoTj14/IMGP1017_thumb%5B1%5D" width="325" border="0" /></a> It is actually pretty incredible that this thing is still standing, particularly after all these years.  Cindy and Melissa just had to do the tourist thing.  They weren't the only ones, I assure you.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KukKwRsXI/AAAAAAAAAaI/CnNEMF5w2aY/IMGP1020%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1020" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KukqwRsYI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/aHiw4lEl72Y/IMGP1020_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>After Pisa it was off to the fascinating medieval town of Lucca, where we spent the night.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5Kul6wRsZI/AAAAAAAAAaY/wXF9JF91Lts/IMGP1044%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1044" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KumawRsaI/AAAAAAAAAag/3FGbMGBFHg4/IMGP1044_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R5KunKwRsbI/AAAAAAAAAao/Hm5b3Gwri6A/IMGP1048%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="244" alt="IMGP1048" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KunawRscI/AAAAAAAAAaw/YQettUOajjI/IMGP1048_thumb" width="165" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5Kuo6wRsdI/AAAAAAAAAa4/iDZG5oDwhnY/IMGP1094%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="165" alt="IMGP1094" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R5KupqwRseI/AAAAAAAAAbA/-9ggBsL5pgk/IMGP1094_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The next day we were up early again and traveling once more.  This time to another cute little town that we all just loved, San Gimignano.  We did some sight seeing there, then some shopping.  Awesome place.  After that it was off to Sienna.  This put us in the heart of the Chianti wine region.  So, on our way to Florence, we stopped at the Verrazzano castle winery.  Once again, we didn't partake, but really enjoyed their balsamic vinegar.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R5Kuq6wRsfI/AAAAAAAAAbI/2_jDPE1HJYg/IMGP1235%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="432" alt="IMGP1235" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R5KusawRsgI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/Oq4PCGwIU7Y/IMGP1235_thumb%5B1%5D" width="644" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>Tuscany really is a truly beautiful part of the country.</p> <p>Well, that was a quick overview of the first half of our trip.  I will complete the second half of the trip tomorrow.  As I said, I have 1,100 pictures of this trip.  I will go into more detail on each of the towns and all the sights in subsequent posts.  This is just a quick overview, and I promise I won't put all 1,100 pictures on the blog, just a few to give you a better idea of how incredible this country really is.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-85409128113628668952008-01-02T20:15:00.001-08:002008-01-02T20:15:50.484-08:00New Year's Resolution<p>     <font face="Garamond" size="3">I know I've been quite delinquent lately in keeping this blog up-to-date.  My resolution this year is to do a better job of posting regularly.  Let's see how that works out.  </font></p> <p><font face="Garamond" size="3">     The week before the Bomb Wing stopped flying for the holiday season, we gave them a total of 11 check rides.  I couldn't believe it when we ended up disqualifying 8 crewmembers.  It is a difficult thing to have to tell someone that they are no longer qualified to fly the aircraft.  Something I've never had to do until now.  For those of you who might not know, it's not the end of the world for them. They will just have to complete the additional training we've assigned them, fly a bit with an instructor to get up to speed, and then pass another check ride.  Then they will be qualified again to fly and fight for the Air Force.  It wasn't a pretty week.</font></p> <p>     We are all ready for our trip to Italy!  Can't wait to get over there.  Not looking forward to the jet lag, but other than that, it's going to be great.  I've stocked up on memory cards for the new camera, so hopefully there will some good pics to post here when we return.  As I said previously, I won't be taking my laptop with me (although Melissa says she still might take hers) so you probably won't hear from us until we get back.</p> <p>     Hope you all had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-12200722069030507822007-12-17T15:54:00.001-08:002007-12-17T15:54:51.381-08:00Ortolani Update<p>Sorry it's been so long since I've updated the blog, but it's getting crazy around here.  Of course we are preparing for Christmas. We have the house decorated, though not as much as we usually do.  It's going to be something of a subdued Christmas this year since our big gift is the Italy trip.  We are looking forward to Melissa getting here on Wednesday. It'll be good to have her home again for a while.</p> <p>I've been flying quite a bit lately.  We are doing all the checkrides for the 2nd  Bomb Wing's formal inspection that we will be doing in March.  We have to get about 100 checkrides done before then, so I've been flying about twice a week doing that.  They are all no-notice checkrides, which means the aircrew don't know they are getting a checkride until they show up to fly in the morning and we are there to greet them.  It's been going well so far with only a few minor downgrades for the crewdogs.</p> <p>Well, I'll try to keep this updated better than I have in the past.  Certainly there will be some updates in the following weeks, then when we get back from Italy.  We found out we are going to have to pack very light for this trip, so most likely won't be taking my computer with me, which means no updates while we're there.  But we should have a pic or two to show off when we get back.</p> <p>Happy Holidays to everyone.  Hope ya'll have a grand time this year.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-35700264329696467142007-11-28T16:26:00.001-08:002007-11-28T16:26:34.133-08:00England Trip Part Two<p>       OK, so we had the opportunity to go to the town of Ely (not Nevada).  As we got closer I could see the Ely cathedral.  It was pretty big.  Well, John Litecky was driving and as we got inot town, we were very close to all the buildings so I lost sight of the cathedral.  <a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04GsqTQuyI/AAAAAAAAARI/wMlxgIVfqGs/DSCF64556"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="185" alt="In Ely" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R04GtKTQuzI/AAAAAAAAARQ/6iZbWNpnixw/DSCF6455_thumb4" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>We parked in the "car park" and started to walk through the town.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R04GuaTQu0I/AAAAAAAAARY/QIr1JKhlxf8/DSCF63877"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="484" alt="John and Chris" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04GwqTQu1I/AAAAAAAAARg/lEKmUnspfFU/DSCF6387_thumb3" width="642" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R04GxaTQu2I/AAAAAAAAARo/cF_QYIAb67M/DSCF64472"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="185" alt="Marion and Guenivier" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R04Gx6TQu3I/AAAAAAAAARw/vnHeMJ9a6K0/DSCF6447_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R04GzaTQu4I/AAAAAAAAAR4/hxBZOdO_dUU/DSCF64598"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="185" alt="DSCF6459" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R04Gz6TQu5I/AAAAAAAAASA/2Q1j_5a0W6c/DSCF6459_thumb6" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>     As we turned a corner, my hand immediately covered my open mouth (it was jaw dropping).  I stopped in my tracks.  What I had thought from a distance as a pretty big building was the biggest church I have ever seen!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04G0qTQu6I/AAAAAAAAASI/6YU3uR_X-mI/DSCF63895"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="484" alt="DSCF6389" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04G1qTQu7I/AAAAAAAAASQ/cUb5UdKfg0c/DSCF6389_thumb3" width="642" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The Ely Cathedral.  At 537 feet, Ely is the fourth longest of the English cathedrals (Winchester is the longest at 547 feet).  The west tower, which can be seen from miles around, is 215 feet high.  There has been a church in Ely since AD 673.  The original church was destroyed by the Danes and the Ely cathedral was built by the Normans between 1081 and 1189.</p> <p>     It was amazing.  As we walked in the doors, it was one long open building, floor to ceiling.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04G2qTQu8I/AAAAAAAAASY/y5Ow-2aMHm0/DSCF64083"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="185" alt="The Octagon" src="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R04G3KTQu9I/AAAAAAAAASg/CSpXEzcvcbg/DSCF6408_thumb1" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>This is a picture of the octagon.  On February 22nd, 1322 the central tower collapsed.  It's width of 74 feet was too big to support a stone vault and so it was built of wood and covered in lead.  The octagon's internal height is 142 feet and it's total weight is 400 tons.  It took 18 years to build!  It reminded me of a kaleidoscope, and as most of you know, I love kaleidoscopes.  It was beautiful.  </p> <p> </p> <p>I didn't want to use my camera flash inside so I had a hard time getting some pictures.  So, I hope you enjoy the few that I did get.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R04G4KTQu-I/AAAAAAAAAS4/qV6mBdBU3BQ/DSCF63993"> <img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="484" alt="The Knave" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04G5qTQu_I/AAAAAAAAASw/I1Nl-9Z85Dw/DSCF6393_thumb1" width="365" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R04G4KTQu-I/AAAAAAAAAS4/qV6mBdBU3BQ/DSCF63993"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="484" alt="Cool Stained Glass" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04G8qTQvAI/AAAAAAAAAS8/FSTB1ikKRHU/DSCF6399_thumb1" width="642" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The 13th and 14th centuries saw the rise of the cult of the virgin Mary.  And chapels in her honor were added to many churches and cathedrals, including Ely.  We entered what was called "The Lady Chapel".  It was completed in 1349.  At one time it was colored and had stained glass and painted statues in the niches.  It was all destroyed, as you can see in the pictures below, in the 16th century during the reformation.  The Puritans rejected all forms of religious decoration.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R04G-KTQvBI/AAAAAAAAATE/e7Dh0AehsUk/DSCF64445"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="484" alt="DSCF6444" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R04G_aTQvCI/AAAAAAAAATM/qNxl6wLk_B0/DSCF6444_thumb3" width="642" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R04HCKTQvDI/AAAAAAAAATU/8kaQVdTrELM/DSCF64452"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="244" alt="DSCF6445" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R04HC6TQvEI/AAAAAAAAATc/6MYETmKyXMA/DSCF6445_thumb" width="185" border="0" /></a> If you look closely you can see the damage.  Figures have been defaced and there are now empty pedestals where the statues stood.  As I thought about these broken stones, I was actually quite sad.  I thought about our 11th article of faith; "We claim the privilege of worshipping all mighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."  So, the history of this beautiful building has been destroyed because the Puritans had no tolerance for others' beliefs.</p> <p>Can I tell you how awesome it was to see this building and everything in it and around it and know that it was older than our own country?</p> <p>The north and south choir aisles are full of memorials.  We found some interesting names, stories, and very old dates.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R04HEaTQvFI/AAAAAAAAATk/ONvofmvjFi8/DSCF64374"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="185" alt="Bishop Hugh Northwald " src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04HEqTQvGI/AAAAAAAAATs/G567Vol7tXU/DSCF6437_thumb2" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> Bishop Hugh Northwold, died in 1254.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R04HGKTQvHI/AAAAAAAAAT0/j8yunZDk2M4/DSCF64242"><img style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="185" alt="DSCF6424" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04HGqTQvII/AAAAAAAAAT8/6kyMx2_b6j0/DSCF6424_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> This guy's obituary that was carved into the sarcophogas said he was from the family "Stewart" and had some wonderful adventures and stuff he'd been involved in.  In all actuality it was all lies.  Apparently his real name was "Stywart", meaning "one who works with pigs", and his obituary was his way of trying to make his life seem much more impressive.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R04HH6TQvJI/AAAAAAAAAUE/at5EjwuNK3k/DSCF6458%5B3%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="484" alt="Ely Cathedral" src="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R04HI6TQvKI/AAAAAAAAAUM/8DPQ1TuNeWg/DSCF6458_thumb%5B1%5D" width="642" border="0" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R04HJ6TQvLI/AAAAAAAAAUU/TOlRtw1CNPE/DSCF6459%5B4%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="185" alt="Ely Neighborhood" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R04HKaTQvMI/AAAAAAAAAUc/LF-NhX-jrqQ/DSCF6459_thumb%5B1%5D" width="244" align="left" border="0" /></a> We also spent some time just wandering around the town.  Here are some pictures of what we saw.  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.google.com/davidorto85/R04HMKTQvNI/AAAAAAAAAUk/bgM3OpGBD8c/DSCF6464%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="185" alt="DSCF6464" src="http://lh5.google.com/davidorto85/R04HMqTQvOI/AAAAAAAAAUs/pJIfoVXe508/DSCF6464_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.com/davidorto85/R04HN6TQvPI/AAAAAAAAAU0/5sN58DSjrpA/DSCF6466%5B2%5D"><img style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" height="185" alt="DSCF6466" src="http://lh4.google.com/davidorto85/R04HOaTQvQI/AAAAAAAAAU8/-5Mb9D_5ESw/DSCF6466_thumb" width="244" border="0" /></a></p> <p>We had a great time in Ely.  The next post will be about our visit to Cambridge.</p> DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-88236774986456516362007-11-11T16:03:00.000-08:002007-11-11T18:00:37.796-08:00Cindy's PostTonight I thought I'd do something a little different. I'm having a guest blogger. I've asked Cindy to write this particular post so we could all hear her perspective on what happened.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131749334667523442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHYirWa2kc2fbLfPnqKHdTp7LPSo-01pR1urro6XXR0_Mr4Pk7dJTbWoil-AACsPEr2KY-Bw8F9YDJJ_E4D0r7xqr2wgUAy0zm_8BeJUXfzRcJu7sX4geMLv_2fZTcYY-PLtvNKpkaycE/s320/DSCF6361.JPG" border="0" /> <em>This is a picture of the new British outer wear I bought on the trip.</em></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><br /><div><div><div><div>If you had asked me 25 years ago where I would be in November of 2007, I would have imagined my life somewhat different.</div><div></div><div> </div><div>David has had the opportunity to visit countries all over the world. I, however, have not. Well about 4 weeks ago he said, "Hey, a few of us from the office are going to England TDY. How would you feel about going with me?" I hesitated at first. I couldn't imagine how much that would cost us. OK, so here I am, 2 days after our trip still wanting to pinch myself. I went to England!</div><div></div><br /><div>The trip over "the pond" was a new one for me as well. Riding in economy was an experience in and of itself. Sitting so close to the people next to you made for an entertaining flight. Your elbows at your side even while you are trying to eat. I couldn't help but giggle. It reminded me of the comedian Brian Regan and his routine about flight. All squished elbows at your side, eating a cold fish head and a turnip with a spork. I couldn't do it every day, but it made for some good entertainment for a bit.</div><div></div><br /><div>Well, flying in to Heathrow Airport, I could see London Bridge and the Thames River. It made my heart skip a beat. I was so excited!</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131740426905351426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIbh1XhUjumR0TVWQa2HoZS3OIokPAGyP78qbbYHXiSutQ9wmjfzu7-3N6ljXg51MA4Io_KWEk0S_GYev3U7vKZxdm__ADwRO-UPIvvBYz9lRB1dOsZbxqfn1fciFYSXnUYrbAcM_vV4/s320/London+Bridge.jpg" border="0" /></div></div>After getting our luggage and going though customs we had to wait for our bus to RAF Mildenhall. There was a group of high school students outside. A lot of them wearing I ♥ NY t-shirts. I couldn't decide if they were Americans coming to England or British just coming back from New York. I decided to go outside and listen. They were so quiet. It took me a minute to figure it out. They were quiet, reserved, British high school students. I was amazed! Also . . . They all sounded like Harry Potter. It was awesome. Everything was different. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv-b7f1g6eejEPCwEeZ-6C2ZxI3zFBXESb1I_nnGEQSpEW20YgcR-5U2o94UOQUTQnq-0_hAB12HkgYBnn1rtAIAvJzd7tm7H0CAgFsPD6bsAT2WScNIgjsCR9ms5qU80RsbbgwP_SEc/s1600-h/DSCF6343.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131742574388999442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhv-b7f1g6eejEPCwEeZ-6C2ZxI3zFBXESb1I_nnGEQSpEW20YgcR-5U2o94UOQUTQnq-0_hAB12HkgYBnn1rtAIAvJzd7tm7H0CAgFsPD6bsAT2WScNIgjsCR9ms5qU80RsbbgwP_SEc/s320/DSCF6343.JPG" border="0" /></a>The taxis, the emergency vehicles. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dITcXV0AXn63rqSI6uCCvoUYdf-UlyKlyVDzBleg0_JaC8x44qPE2czYNvotYhY9xosJgcqK12ca6ddCeWNYYdKBT4tq9JixErc_A2zFdJZVjHihC5wu9CZXPihJ8gbySebeDllZ9KI/s1600-h/DSCF6345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131742673173247266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dITcXV0AXn63rqSI6uCCvoUYdf-UlyKlyVDzBleg0_JaC8x44qPE2czYNvotYhY9xosJgcqK12ca6ddCeWNYYdKBT4tq9JixErc_A2zFdJZVjHihC5wu9CZXPihJ8gbySebeDllZ9KI/s320/DSCF6345.JPG" border="0" /></a>And . . . they drove on the opposite side of the car on the opposite side of the street!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131743699670431026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXWmndE_hcTRBKmOnrAnNGM0rlTfQf2teBsiGoSb1IZAz8VQjHFNtyxS14LQMrsTYRT5nw8xnS3OT68KgNlCE7CnD6NBBZtjIHCi8eIAt6bqvyxtCOoNzFZrJFQmA-9WHcVruOCcNI3E/s320/DSCF6471.JPG" border="0" /></div></div>The guys & girl, David, John, Chris, and Rhonda had to work during the days and I, being who I am, was very scared of exploring on my own. Didn't dare leave the base on my own. So I just walked around the base everyday, waiting for the crew to finish up. Each night we drove to one of the surrounding communities to eat dinner, usually in one of the many pubs (there were so many!).</div><br /><div>On one of these trips, I noticed a very old overgrown cemetery. The headstones were thin, crooked, and placed in no fashion at all.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdPgecQ1h16Oh_Nc3wqTeDyMRPCadTs3cWq1mS8rQj9ARoiAtyBdkLjjaEWc2UaSG70nnmDuEZ1_Mxp4v84hYJlrsZCLpgdfWzw0l7i2H7eDiqyWdjen07pXNkTNLF1tmw5i9PzyA5UI/s1600-h/DSCF6352.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131747058334856530" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdPgecQ1h16Oh_Nc3wqTeDyMRPCadTs3cWq1mS8rQj9ARoiAtyBdkLjjaEWc2UaSG70nnmDuEZ1_Mxp4v84hYJlrsZCLpgdfWzw0l7i2H7eDiqyWdjen07pXNkTNLF1tmw5i9PzyA5UI/s320/DSCF6352.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmYqkR8GFO7LlCLQ2qprgqDWewxYAd8rVE_7hLXC2eypN9T8aASWLIFkcZxCDRAqOxJDgdcBqWPCZ8mWu_xbAE90Lr10NsNAhyv1__loaQb6Ntm3e4K-__6ZNj55gLQGmuthAcE-OjlQ/s1600-h/DSCF6348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131747075514725730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmYqkR8GFO7LlCLQ2qprgqDWewxYAd8rVE_7hLXC2eypN9T8aASWLIFkcZxCDRAqOxJDgdcBqWPCZ8mWu_xbAE90Lr10NsNAhyv1__loaQb6Ntm3e4K-__6ZNj55gLQGmuthAcE-OjlQ/s320/DSCF6348.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>So I talked the guys into stopping so that I could take some pictures and names and dates. We found our way in and as we walked around reading names and dates, we realized it was newer than any of us thought. Some of the headstones were from 1978 or 1956 etc. The way it looked, I expected it to have dates form the 15, 16, or 1700s. But most were from the 1800s and 1900s. So as I looked around to see the scattered headstones my thought was "They must have tossed the bodies over the stone wall and buried them where they landed." And . . . No one has come back to take care of the grounds.</div><div></div><br /><div>We ate at the Golden Boar pub. David had the Bangers and Mash, which basically was sausage and mashed potatoes. I went the safe route I thought, and had vegetable curry. Curry is huge in England! Since India was a British colony for so long, there is a lot of Indian influence in England.</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131744833541797186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48IfB7UvDuw11M9awWH_emp-ptzgOclqsFLh8stNuCyh-k85K5YUxJ_DHz36bs2z9TbgiZ47Ljk4rLJW07CfDvXGB6GXi1MuRyOO_YFEicv_5oJ6aZ7IcYL3MqwFbStO_VY73NNDP_OQ/s320/DSCF6356.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>Driving around the town was also really cool in and of itself. The buildings were so old and so small. A few of the homes had thatched roofs. The thatch was covered with chicken wire. Once again, I was amazed!</p><p>Night two. John, who had lived in England a few years ago, told us <span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00">of</span> an old mill that had been turned into a restaurant. He said "If you guys want to go, I can take you and drop you off tonight. It's kind of expensive, but very nice, and great food." When I asked how much, he said "I think about $40 per person." Kind of expensive, but we thought "What the heck, we're in England and we may not ever be back." The restaurant was called Tuddenham Mill, which as you would suspect, is in the town of Tuddenham. <a href="http://www.tuddenhammill.co.uk/">http://www.tuddenhammill.co.uk/</a></p><p>John made the reservations for us and when we arrived we were the only ones there for most of our meal. They sat us in a lounge on a couch, took our drink orders and brought out veggie chips.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131752697626916226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzkggMIqSbkS4T86AEjlDDshORcAOrh04M-S_28USNtTN-d3dO8HSylMYwDQ_2Z_y2lgq1N0KqkxAu4xThYK2rQ7XTJfGD_dbA-3xI9wM1FpQs_K96nleYtKqLF-PJjj74xkoPQCcP6E/s320/DSCF6368.JPG" border="0" /></p></div>The waitress handed us printed menus for that evening. 3 courses and we each had to choose which item we wanted in each course. Right before our first course was ready, she took us upstairs to the dining room. The atmosphere was nice.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8XNZjlAv7TLoKUa6pZjHThAMZGdeP4ylPjPk9mjGtLOmhV2A3fOEZz_k9JtDPJ-ebP-n9x847Hdm-2ILKhYU8BqfEKPpdruhPoQk3mXUkHKdshBCgNOvLTiZ4vSUXhc_awwkwYHK7nk/s1600-h/DSCF6374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131753767073772946" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8XNZjlAv7TLoKUa6pZjHThAMZGdeP4ylPjPk9mjGtLOmhV2A3fOEZz_k9JtDPJ-ebP-n9x847Hdm-2ILKhYU8BqfEKPpdruhPoQk3mXUkHKdshBCgNOvLTiZ4vSUXhc_awwkwYHK7nk/s320/DSCF6374.JPG" border="0" /></a> Old building, tables in black set so beautifully. Old water wheel encased in glass in the middle of the room. David's first course was three slices of smoked pigeon breast on a roasted fig, grape and Aspall cider chutney, and beetroot and red pepper remoulade.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEgHniTKRISCeXS44DXWultG2rKRZZZW6UTDlxf3dfOFlg79D4KS7LZkm1L0-E2-PyMIxK0PQcX2lAUwIJMgF8zml0gvsD_He4ioXRbB5l1tdSmLLTWJ41yKsIbDFEvQNBgKRLjxe0Cg/s1600-h/DSCF6369.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131755283197228450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEgHniTKRISCeXS44DXWultG2rKRZZZW6UTDlxf3dfOFlg79D4KS7LZkm1L0-E2-PyMIxK0PQcX2lAUwIJMgF8zml0gvsD_He4ioXRbB5l1tdSmLLTWJ41yKsIbDFEvQNBgKRLjxe0Cg/s320/DSCF6369.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>For my first course I had beef tomato, salsify and spring onion terrine with beetroot and horseradish pesto, and nettle and lavender sabyon. On my plate there were 3 tiny stems,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cHXSi5LFaI7j12BADcfAvtwDQbxjubsH7nwzJcH0Q-5czBO5h9ewChe2jR5HfyvwrEpMOywCU6hQcIN3AOrLahvhXgSh8RNKHp0WP4DpdFa2v1W0zXnZhZTCHi07xyh4YEMWFznvHKE/s1600-h/DSCF6370.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131757439270811058" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cHXSi5LFaI7j12BADcfAvtwDQbxjubsH7nwzJcH0Q-5czBO5h9ewChe2jR5HfyvwrEpMOywCU6hQcIN3AOrLahvhXgSh8RNKHp0WP4DpdFa2v1W0zXnZhZTCHi07xyh4YEMWFznvHKE/s320/DSCF6370.JPG" border="0" /></a> each with 2 tiny leaves. One stem was even smaller and it was purple, the others were green. I said to David, "Am I supposed to eat these or look at them?" I decided that they must be edible because thy had their own spot on the plate. So, hoping that the kitchen help wasn't watching and laughing, I ate one of the stems. Having never tasted watercress, I imagine that's what it was like. Not too bad, so I ate the other two stems. The tomato/potato layer was very good. Very small, like an hors D'oeuvres, but very tasty. The julienned beets were not so good. Very tangy.</div><div></div><br /><div>My second course was Tandoori marinated pork (yes, meat) filet with coconut, lime leaf and sweet chili sticky rice, and a water chestnut, bean sprout and bok choi stir fry.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwedyRmIUI3N7lj77VZKIS2TA1monRy8pbbRe5w3FucCCFiStKfkurMxNV0c36AkrWZ7V7hQth7IH8MszK5VS2P2rbWu8l_46pwzoUgyZWycEXh_1ukBRTaE-F6d6Am3uYTU_TAvITgrM/s1600-h/DSCF6371.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131759676948772290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwedyRmIUI3N7lj77VZKIS2TA1monRy8pbbRe5w3FucCCFiStKfkurMxNV0c36AkrWZ7V7hQth7IH8MszK5VS2P2rbWu8l_46pwzoUgyZWycEXh_1ukBRTaE-F6d6Am3uYTU_TAvITgrM/s320/DSCF6371.JPG" border="0" /></a> We shared a dessert, also very yummy. Banana and toffee crumble, vanilla waffle and maple syrup ice cream.</div><div> </div><div>Well, we decided that in England they let you just relax for as long as you want. After several minutes after our dessert, we had to finally ask for our bill. As we were taking care of the bill at the table with "THE MACHINE", as the waitress referred to it (a portable credit card machine) I asked the waitress, who's name was Pip, how old the mill was. She said "Well I'm not sure, but it's older than Domesday." I looked at David and he shrugged. After she left I said "What the heck? . . . Domesday?" Thinking . . . the end of the world. What? We had to look it up when we got back to our room. Domesday was a great land survey from 1086, commissioned by William the Conqueror to assess the extent of the land and resources being owned in England at the time, and the extent of the taxes he could raise. The mill was in the Domesday book! So the mill was older than 900 years. Amazing.</div><div> </div><div>So, back to the dinner. John was wrong on the $40 per person. I think he meant to say £40 per person, which meant our bill ended up being about $160. Wow! The grounds were beautiful, the waterway leading up to the mill had 8-10 swans in it. They had these lights on the lake that changed colors. So, as we watched out the window while we ate, the swans changed from red to orange to yellow to blue to green to purple. It was beautiful! We took a taxi back to the base.</div><div> </div><div>As I explored every day and night, I wished that I had paid more attention to world history. I was glad that David had his computer with him. I had to look stuff up every night.</div><div> </div><div>OK, this is getting longer than I thought it would. I'll end here for today and finish this up tomorrow. Thanks for reading!</div><div> </div><div>Cindy</div></div></div>DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108287986581326015.post-79762671665679571292007-11-04T09:46:00.000-08:002007-11-04T10:04:35.808-08:00In EnglandWe are actually in England now. What a day today was! We arrived at the Shreveport airport at about 8:30 Saturday morning. We had a bit a of a wait for our flight and while we were waiting, Cindy pointed out one of the passengers to me. It was Harold Ramis (He played Egon in Ghostbusters with Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray). Apparently he is in Shreveport working on a movie with Jack Black.<br /><br />We flew to Dallas for a short layover then it was on to Chicago. We were able to watch The Simpsons movie while we were flying. Funny movie! We had a 3 hour layover in Chicago and ate at Wolfgang Puck's. Very good food. We shopped around a bit, then got back on the plane (same one) and then flew the 7 hours to London. Long flight and a first for Cindy. She's never been on a plane that long. This is a good warm up trip for our Italy trip. We landed in London at 6 am. We're fighting jet lag pretty hard right now.<br /><br />After getting through immigrations and customs and retrieving our bags, we were waiting for the shuttle bus that would take us to RAF Mildenhall. While we were waiting Cindy went outside to take a picture of the taxi cabs. She came back in smiling and said "They all sound like Harry Potter out there." Don't know why, but it struck me as very funny. It was about a 2 hour drive to the base from the airport and we napped as much as we could. We checked into our rooms and then it was time to go hit the "town". We found this really cool, old cemetery. We took some pictures and I'd post them here, but it turns out we forgot to bring the USB cord for the camera. We won't be able to post the photos until we get back, but we'll keep you up to date anyway. After looking around the town, we went to dinner at a pub called "The Golden Boar". We took pictures and everything. Then when we went in, it turned out that they had quit serving food for the day. So, we drove to another little village and ended up eating at "The Olde Bull" pub. Great food! I had the bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes). It was great. Melissa, you would have loved the potatoes. Cindy had the vegetable curry. We all had a great time. <br /><br />After dinner we came back to base, hit the BX to stock up our refrigerators and now we're home for the night. We (the inspection team) start the inspection tomorrow morning and Cindy is going to explore the base and find out what kind of tours are available. WE are very happy to be here, and I am personally thrilled that Cindy was able to join me on this trip. Even though I'll be working during the day, it will give Cindy and opportunity to explore a little on her own, and we get to go to town each night and eat dinner together.DavidOrtohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02305095620390045382noreply@blogger.com0