tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27200211399809504662024-03-05T02:28:02.279-06:00The Mauritian-American ChroniclesBetween L'île Maurice and the city of St. LouisChris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-57543158319083822252009-03-27T18:06:00.011-05:002009-03-28T14:50:40.441-05:00Zot Mauriciens<BR>That's Creole for other Mauritians. The French is les autres Mauriciens. So the Creole takes the s from les and the aut from autres and spells it phonetically in English.<br /><br />Anyway, here are some longtime friends of ours in Mauritius. Some haven't changed. Some have.<br /><BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLbIPC5nCSjCCOH2lwCQo6sJp0Tfbrw2YAnMqTOC1gXWZFZDTZuA2fMd9WMd6TmiJD4LZTu3C-GRVwe4lyz053fgchk-Qmh5Gzb2Lvq_gNUQvywhDFbxedtuxy4t2ygYHDwKYd6lEWc8z/s1600-h/100_2487.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLbIPC5nCSjCCOH2lwCQo6sJp0Tfbrw2YAnMqTOC1gXWZFZDTZuA2fMd9WMd6TmiJD4LZTu3C-GRVwe4lyz053fgchk-Qmh5Gzb2Lvq_gNUQvywhDFbxedtuxy4t2ygYHDwKYd6lEWc8z/s320/100_2487.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318044146899240642" /></a><br /><P align="center">Sylvio Salomon</P><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIrAf0OQHAhgBE_ripI8EUVBhuzmWYvmLew7OWN0f_4-k0MTk8fjO-iZtbpdaF5ohwIcblOzHaFaKSJx70sULNaq7MTUv3xS8GoytYhvD_FOYSPQxv1tuYTftjXFp2rS40X6v7mDPvVwU/s1600-h/100_2486.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIrAf0OQHAhgBE_ripI8EUVBhuzmWYvmLew7OWN0f_4-k0MTk8fjO-iZtbpdaF5ohwIcblOzHaFaKSJx70sULNaq7MTUv3xS8GoytYhvD_FOYSPQxv1tuYTftjXFp2rS40X6v7mDPvVwU/s320/100_2486.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318010047431232114" /></a><br /><P align="center">Corinne (Salomon) and Ivan Catherine</P><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73hQx3ahjkd1_xhS7jlWqGeXP-31nqozvx4ejaKzahSYLoAzxC6aSIud4t4EgFJ0FWxpihGLU-YykC3El_ojnL6REord9977I3mKldkHaDvlHQMEv1_lEva4GpWfNvFuVvsao3m2Phs4-/s1600-h/100_2485.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73hQx3ahjkd1_xhS7jlWqGeXP-31nqozvx4ejaKzahSYLoAzxC6aSIud4t4EgFJ0FWxpihGLU-YykC3El_ojnL6REord9977I3mKldkHaDvlHQMEv1_lEva4GpWfNvFuVvsao3m2Phs4-/s320/100_2485.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318009866212974514" /></a><br /><P align="center">Merlin Armance, Kyle Catherine, and Joanne (Salomon) Armance</P><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi9o6qm8JS63oB780GDoH8unVGzP-neyfumfvJN6PpHd0Ssl7aESkeLy22-JyQ7fzbYTTrR8lHEwkuiZzpo6lnmSbYykjdCfpSpbn1AkBJpfmoS8rC9DrWL8zKE_eLeDQVtYpuhPUZYya/s1600-h/100_2286.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi9o6qm8JS63oB780GDoH8unVGzP-neyfumfvJN6PpHd0Ssl7aESkeLy22-JyQ7fzbYTTrR8lHEwkuiZzpo6lnmSbYykjdCfpSpbn1AkBJpfmoS8rC9DrWL8zKE_eLeDQVtYpuhPUZYya/s320/100_2286.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318049468969095442" /></a><br /><P align="center">Bruno and Marie-Claire Toi</P><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa3Z2IILsx4qTC7JpDW5VJeO94V61QkxCE9vP08i1-CJjSxNSZo0VMpO5QykH-2GknAvyzZNCSuAleqSOAVBFtR6f4xcyhxen6WHAcMgDh-ILThWz3uahvQUcNpFfqOJcqm8e-Uvaxfsi/s1600-h/100_2419.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa3Z2IILsx4qTC7JpDW5VJeO94V61QkxCE9vP08i1-CJjSxNSZo0VMpO5QykH-2GknAvyzZNCSuAleqSOAVBFtR6f4xcyhxen6WHAcMgDh-ILThWz3uahvQUcNpFfqOJcqm8e-Uvaxfsi/s320/100_2419.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318009272239382354" /></a><br /><P align="center">Marjorie Rima, David Roméo, et zot</P>Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-62707576167715616112009-03-23T16:53:00.005-05:002009-03-25T16:42:19.599-05:00Here Comes Johnny<BR><BR><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=9047589175537456816&hl=en&fs=true" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed><br /><br />Woo hoo!<br /><br />For those who are American football newbies, the quarterback is the one throwing the ball, the center is the one hiking the ball back between his legs, the receiver is the one the quarterback is throwing the ball at, and the safety is the one trying to stop the receiver from catching the ball and trying to catch it himself. I'm the one wearing the solid navy blue shirt. With way too much blond hair.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-28897338748138970562009-03-13T17:25:00.006-05:002009-03-13T17:59:07.861-05:00Baby Brother<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CJgAI1PyAdttfJoY6gS68nrdKPWf9neXucPRiHyV1NXMqWpx8n6POYv1gpPrXLndGSY4jFOJ_WjrDM_udikiMjiX2qMegMYLV1v3726uVB_KqMHXETDYaWJNezUIVjze4UUeDqjOVhWC/s1600-h/100_2272.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CJgAI1PyAdttfJoY6gS68nrdKPWf9neXucPRiHyV1NXMqWpx8n6POYv1gpPrXLndGSY4jFOJ_WjrDM_udikiMjiX2qMegMYLV1v3726uVB_KqMHXETDYaWJNezUIVjze4UUeDqjOVhWC/s320/100_2272.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312810351956180418" /></a><br /><br />Well, yes, the baby is the biggest. And his voice is the boomingest. Denis and Hana are a dashing couple and can they ever sing. They sang at our wedding, and then were married the next year. They have no kids yet, and we figure they are the most likely candidates to visit us next.<br /><br />Denis worked as a supervisor in a textile factory and was making good money as a young single man. Marie-Josée and Jean-Marc were operating the family pig breeding and farming operation. Once that became exceedingly profitable due to changes in import rules, Denis joined Jean-Marc in the family business. However, in 2007, the tides turned when African Swine Fever found its way to Mauritius, and wiped out over half of the pig population, including those of Denis, Jean-Marc, and ultimately those of Medgé and Jacques as well.<br /><br />Having just built an impressive house largely himself just prior to getting married, Denis was able to secure a job as a mason. He is getting back into the family business as it is currently on the way back to where it was before the trouble.<BR><BR><A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCuYTsFLycF4NPYquHEIse_cnp7mJ7DWXXqkIvWRYlQt60PnKySPoj-FDHe-KuVfAYZBhJ0C1KW9J5dGF7FO7B-dz7ZBepeuPT5CXI4eoPo-eiBIj6YdgBq_scwV6djLaKeQbaTrxyw1N/s1600-h/HanaDenis.jpg"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312803101326932658 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCuYTsFLycF4NPYquHEIse_cnp7mJ7DWXXqkIvWRYlQt60PnKySPoj-FDHe-KuVfAYZBhJ0C1KW9J5dGF7FO7B-dz7ZBepeuPT5CXI4eoPo-eiBIj6YdgBq_scwV6djLaKeQbaTrxyw1N/s320/HanaDenis.jpg" border=0></A><P align="center">Sweet and Sour</P><br /><P align="center"><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-471d7b2768563893 height=266 width=320 contentId="471d7b2768563893"></OBJECT><BR><BR>Favorite Things</P>Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-55464715620834858092009-03-06T17:31:00.004-06:002009-03-06T21:10:14.863-06:00Man of the House<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBLr95sbhRID4lBk6oWsmomjH_SJRz1lFD2zCVoyyu47893RTXB6khplMDymRfd-uRqg00yzpn9duAiMl53rxP8s8PdXAMnKo3lhPgaEokdYo5rFmiEdt5d6EBDqWkhIEtbrXcasTPWrI/s1600-h/RubyJeanMarc.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBLr95sbhRID4lBk6oWsmomjH_SJRz1lFD2zCVoyyu47893RTXB6khplMDymRfd-uRqg00yzpn9duAiMl53rxP8s8PdXAMnKo3lhPgaEokdYo5rFmiEdt5d6EBDqWkhIEtbrXcasTPWrI/s320/RubyJeanMarc.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310222314321420258" /></a><br /><p align="center">Ruby and Jean-Marc Tanner</P><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KhxTFkbV8u-V8Ybq7RoGueoT0vt4qTX0U5w2wSXkNOkukmSDQMU8K4NFHP9l6G_dRBE-fu5uj0TfKaibQU6kWqQlhTmqE_aua0jrF0Y7B8On16lMunNzEdjlzygPUPw9kybze3bj3zeE/s1600-h/100_2131.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8KhxTFkbV8u-V8Ybq7RoGueoT0vt4qTX0U5w2wSXkNOkukmSDQMU8K4NFHP9l6G_dRBE-fu5uj0TfKaibQU6kWqQlhTmqE_aua0jrF0Y7B8On16lMunNzEdjlzygPUPw9kybze3bj3zeE/s320/100_2131.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310223069275226210" /></a><br /><p align="center">Phanuel and Lydia</P><br />Jean-Marc, Sammy Sosa look-alike, is Isabelle's older brother by five years, and he lives in the house in which he, Medgé, Isabelle and Denis grew up. Alongside the house in an apartment is Marie-Josée (when she's not with us, that is), and Denis and Hana are in a house that Denis built on top of the original house.<br /><br />Jean-Marc followed his father Joseph to work in Israel back in the 1990s. It was there where Jean-Marc became a Christian. He preached to and had a hand in converting the rest of the family, but sadly, Joseph also had a hand in converting the family when he died in a motorcycle accident in 1999.<br /><br />As a result, Jean-Marc, who married Ruby in 2002 (I was there), was there for us to fulfill his patriarchal role in the family and walk Isabelle down the aisle in our wedding. It was nice for us because he was able to bring his own tux. I guess it also didn't hurt my chances with the family that he was a newlywed while I was looking for approval from the family for Isabelle's and my engagement.<br /><br />About one year ago during an outing to the beach, Phanuel was brought by his cousin to his father, lifeless and feared drowned. We are so thankful that nearby tourists saw what had happened and were able to revive Phanuel.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-83549696174613406622009-03-04T20:42:00.008-06:002009-03-06T21:15:15.101-06:00Les Vigilantes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5Wqu-IFGnDqjgeyeciLRWhjUiMhP5uHnXKEC1TbSLEtppwn7HlqEidzi03Rkl-Y54c6cBzpMwVEBd7xXt6uomNBbfKVi1chbKdhLmPVZXiMMX1vRfMcTs2J_WzE6hQhByuS5tYpFibZW/s1600-h/100_2284.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5Wqu-IFGnDqjgeyeciLRWhjUiMhP5uHnXKEC1TbSLEtppwn7HlqEidzi03Rkl-Y54c6cBzpMwVEBd7xXt6uomNBbfKVi1chbKdhLmPVZXiMMX1vRfMcTs2J_WzE6hQhByuS5tYpFibZW/s320/100_2284.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309531116856405554" /></a><p align="center">Medgé and Jacques Lavigilante</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi875xBVNe2BGDd3OgPjXPNzM2tz1rdceRheotFLP1raUGt6ltK5iwlx2C-IyxmqM1Lz_-fYRmy1uwoQ6L7aLcbivWTIQ2EFjqblQzNg1kwCTh2nAU28lINzUH9P8CSy-HGYqIn2qFtuPKo/s1600-h/Jonathan+%26+Matthiew.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 195px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi875xBVNe2BGDd3OgPjXPNzM2tz1rdceRheotFLP1raUGt6ltK5iwlx2C-IyxmqM1Lz_-fYRmy1uwoQ6L7aLcbivWTIQ2EFjqblQzNg1kwCTh2nAU28lINzUH9P8CSy-HGYqIn2qFtuPKo/s320/Jonathan+%26+Matthiew.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309530501809522002" /></a><p align="center">Jonathan Leutéritz and Matthieu Lavigilante</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExm38DtqVN0BZzWluvjESyzLcuHGQx0lxtBQ3vb1epnLC7c6k6nzXsgvMKKaQvvA3t8UCgcq9ljX3E_qnvknNQs6rOU_in28-avFDPSD1dOP5TmgYM1e-WJpI6clrJbjypv-Ol8FfRRIJ/s1600-h/100_2333.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExm38DtqVN0BZzWluvjESyzLcuHGQx0lxtBQ3vb1epnLC7c6k6nzXsgvMKKaQvvA3t8UCgcq9ljX3E_qnvknNQs6rOU_in28-avFDPSD1dOP5TmgYM1e-WJpI6clrJbjypv-Ol8FfRRIJ/s320/100_2333.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309529791376874722" /></a><p align="center">Adeline Lavigilante and Julia</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLn8Iw-FyaNFPNY5TSaBpR1s4gI-_nXd8W_MnfHvofCE9RZrr1cvz_3M_NOTeBH38eQqutfta-I3dynrdaWVRGy6rRYuw7zVV2nKKiD2fgeC18GJk4DN20Nypz8ahDcwGsVTNWlcx58yeR/s1600-h/100_2193.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLn8Iw-FyaNFPNY5TSaBpR1s4gI-_nXd8W_MnfHvofCE9RZrr1cvz_3M_NOTeBH38eQqutfta-I3dynrdaWVRGy6rRYuw7zVV2nKKiD2fgeC18GJk4DN20Nypz8ahDcwGsVTNWlcx58yeR/s320/100_2193.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309528969628112642" /></a><p align="center">Chloe and Julie Lavigilante</p><br />Introducing...Matthieu, Adeline, and Julie Lavigilante, and re-introducing Medgé and Jacques, their parents, and my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Jacques and Medgé have been a great help to our Mauritius project, and so have their children. Adeline in particular spent many nights with Isabelle and helped take care of Julia and Chloe. Julie contributed much with her talent as a chef, and Matthieu also did his share to entertain and otherise care for our girls.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-86541087940372160712009-03-02T18:08:00.011-06:002009-03-05T06:22:53.586-06:00La Famille<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSrpUAxsWf_2A5QIqxEPTQNTNwOrYT1hBRKE7-5Prpm9no2o3IC0ClhiRo7_tb7lvjW0UQ8i2MkW19LuWhb0dh0G_NA5iVgyw4fdICXEkMuLhRwq0lax3H1CKfS3rEinoTGfwPmp8K-n8/s1600-h/000_0093.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZSrpUAxsWf_2A5QIqxEPTQNTNwOrYT1hBRKE7-5Prpm9no2o3IC0ClhiRo7_tb7lvjW0UQ8i2MkW19LuWhb0dh0G_NA5iVgyw4fdICXEkMuLhRwq0lax3H1CKfS3rEinoTGfwPmp8K-n8/s320/000_0093.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309520891981488866" /></a><br /><p align="center">Julia and Grand-mère</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh61wSSLcC1iPE-lNsCOF8evxY-oZjacDmPpuYajgi1b7VQC-Lp3kRNHHf8nHf4LLOv9scGGBGMBOYty4kX-_pkLuXRKJ2fq6Nfz1SdfB9KmmaHfBE4oUv6kzdtizvwbjd4sHlSE_OXjxS/s1600-h/100_2132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308756267260171970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh61wSSLcC1iPE-lNsCOF8evxY-oZjacDmPpuYajgi1b7VQC-Lp3kRNHHf8nHf4LLOv9scGGBGMBOYty4kX-_pkLuXRKJ2fq6Nfz1SdfB9KmmaHfBE4oUv6kzdtizvwbjd4sHlSE_OXjxS/s320/100_2132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center">Jacques with Chloe</p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NvsCzLwQ9uz46kkMUurA-_z_bViBQgf_XRoaqmkKXpT06XlKxBjVFnfoThY5a90X4ovONN97qrZHWadgNcNbPmI5Di3M6-_vqnZab68FwtTCOAQvgQX9tm4abCcFSUnOnoTaQ2Kh0dln/s1600-h/100_2117.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308755570225962434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NvsCzLwQ9uz46kkMUurA-_z_bViBQgf_XRoaqmkKXpT06XlKxBjVFnfoThY5a90X4ovONN97qrZHWadgNcNbPmI5Di3M6-_vqnZab68FwtTCOAQvgQX9tm4abCcFSUnOnoTaQ2Kh0dln/s320/100_2117.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center">Medgé and Denis, wiggin' out</p><br />Ok, so we needed a way to organize and present our photos and video of our clan in Mauritius. The ones who have come to visit us here in America are Isabelle's mother, Marie-Josée, and Isabelle's sister and brother-in-law, Medgé and Jacques. No one else in her family has yet come to visit us. Isabelle has two brothers as well, and each is married. Her younger brother, Denis, is married to Hana, and they have no children. Her older brother, Jean-Marc, is married to Ruby, and they have two young children, Lydia and Phanuel. Medgé and Jacques have three teenagers, Julie, Adeline, and Matthieu.<br /><br />Isabelle's mother has one sister, Maryse, and she and her husband and kids all live in Mauritius. Isabelle's father, who was killed in 1999 in a motorcycle accident, was one of five children. Two of his sisters and their families have lived in Victoria, Australia for many years. Isabelle's cousins Florine and Fabrice live there. Florine is married to Lance, and they have one daughter, Angelique. Florine's BROTHER, Fabrice, perhaps out of necessity with a name like that down under there by the outback, is an accomplished competitive bodybuilder.<br /><br />One of Isabelle's dad's sisters, Monique, moved to Quebec and married a French-Canadian, Pierre Roberge, and they have four children. The youngest, the only girl, is Kalyna Roberge, a reigning silver medalist from the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy, for the short track speed skating relay. She will be skating in Vancouver in the 2010 Olympics.<br /><br />Isabelle's dad's remaining sibling also lived and died in Mauritius. Two of Isabelle's cousins, Clive and Clara still live next door to the family home. Their sister, Sarah Jane, lives in Dubai, UAE, and Isabelle got to visit her there in January. I'm still so jealous.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-25571327196826561902009-02-16T16:12:00.004-06:002009-02-18T07:13:20.809-06:00New Year's HamHere's another of Chloe on a test drive...<BR><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-ca134c4b6e4cd1c9 height=266 width=320 contentId="ca134c4b6e4cd1c9"></OBJECT>Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-20188023713914316592009-02-06T09:26:00.002-06:002009-02-06T09:33:10.141-06:00Facebook PhotosWe posted some recent photos from our travels in Facebook. We used to upload everything to yahoo photos but then they closed up shop, and we were guided toward Flicker, but we never got into it, so it looks like Facebook will be our destination of choice for photos. We threw the videos in my last post out there as well, as well as the video we have of Chloe walking for the first time.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-91320294427624506342009-01-29T21:44:00.005-06:002009-01-29T22:38:42.314-06:00Sega!Here's Chloe, getting the hang of things:<BR><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-23b221629c93b30e height=266 width=320 contentId="23b221629c93b30e"></OBJECT><BR><br />And here's Julia, a bit more cautious, but also bustin' a move: <BR><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-f11da2573cf25d66 height=266 width=320 contentId="f11da2573cf25d66"></OBJECT><BR><br />Sega is the national cultural music and dance of Mauritius. Historically, it is the event for which slaves in Mauritius (ancestors of today's Creoles, such as Isabelle and her family) would gather during the night. Men were chained to a ball on their right ankle and so danced accordingly, while the women were unencumbered, and also danced accordingly. The men's steps have been carried forward until the present time. <BR><BR>It was hard to believe the changes that take place over nine weeks for a three-year-old and a one-year-old. Now I'm trying to find my rhythm and some discipline with my time again after languishing in my bachelor shoes those nine weeks. Too much play and work with the girls now that their jetlag doesn't knock them out by 7 pm.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-46913440445896357822009-01-24T21:46:00.007-06:002009-01-24T22:38:04.376-06:00Kiwis, Hong Kongers, & UsHere are our friends we met in Hong Kong last weekend. <BR><BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQwTbnL9T9wOFdm2kpro5i6rOH6-ZzDtSEelfTdBwEnBqwa1w0LUIndavRqYque5jsqj7Zgs7KUyyhwwXAHo6K1y8lh6-03FG_mEE3hv6CRjzXQZ0abpJ30a8L7exul0lRuQ4xcyEBq-_/s1600-h/100_2623.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQwTbnL9T9wOFdm2kpro5i6rOH6-ZzDtSEelfTdBwEnBqwa1w0LUIndavRqYque5jsqj7Zgs7KUyyhwwXAHo6K1y8lh6-03FG_mEE3hv6CRjzXQZ0abpJ30a8L7exul0lRuQ4xcyEBq-_/s320/100_2623.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295073692795043106" /></a><P align="center">Kiwis (Brenda, Amber, Richard & Jonathan)<BR><BR></P><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f8jYaC88a3e7jSlJqVSZfJfe7y2Au77juUhHnvM9mWJUJsf3te7Dd7fVDg0EdblxHZXjXHg4XxcmkwwvEd9j6tUmhsmnCJtCJTQ8QjU9pG4fCSTlJ4aPpXc6s0dYoWXlFekQkK17B4tj/s1600-h/100_2581.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f8jYaC88a3e7jSlJqVSZfJfe7y2Au77juUhHnvM9mWJUJsf3te7Dd7fVDg0EdblxHZXjXHg4XxcmkwwvEd9j6tUmhsmnCJtCJTQ8QjU9pG4fCSTlJ4aPpXc6s0dYoWXlFekQkK17B4tj/s320/100_2581.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295074185815222018" /></a><P align="center">Hong Kongers (Peter & Anita)<BR><BR></P><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm7t-uJOglUzTpA07rleTviysPbBJKuxHchBMDDLLQwM8x-Goloc1sVXdjYNePFOXmFoVjvo1Z_zd7ovIHrmoVHBw26KlX4eN4wSpy6RKpAFi7R3NVuLQkavio5KQ_d027ZKKgsjWunRV/s1600-h/100_2603.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJm7t-uJOglUzTpA07rleTviysPbBJKuxHchBMDDLLQwM8x-Goloc1sVXdjYNePFOXmFoVjvo1Z_zd7ovIHrmoVHBw26KlX4eN4wSpy6RKpAFi7R3NVuLQkavio5KQ_d027ZKKgsjWunRV/s320/100_2603.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295074397520600818" /></a><P align="center">Us<BR><BR></P><br />We really enjoyed our time in Hong Kong. Peter and Anita, upon hearing we would have one less day than we thought in Hong Kong, took us on a single day's grand tour of Hong Kong like no other. We ate wonderful home town food, with chopsticks of course, and took a ferry from Kowloon, the part of Hong Kong where we were staying, to Hong Kong Island in order to visit the Peak and truly see the town. We made it back to the Kowloon side just in time for the nightly 8 pm laser show which involves at least a dozen buildings in a coordinated masterpiece set to music on our side.<br /><br />On Sunday, we met up with my friends the Leotas, who just happened to be visiting parents/grandparents in Hong Kong for the first time in four years. They are from New Zealand in case the Kiwi reference got past you. We attended the Hong Kong Church of Christ, which was a very lively and uplifting experience. Then we went out for lunch and did a little shopping but no buying.<br /><br />So this week, I arrived back in the US late Monday night. Isa, the girls, and Zoz (Marie-Josee, Isa's mother) finally arrived last night (Friday night). My week spent waiting was rather eventful. Tuesday was the inauguration. What a party. Wednesday, I found out that my manager, and my manager's manager's manager were getting laid off in the first wave of Bank Of America's promised 30,000 over the next three years. My manager's manager used to be my manager and is again now. Thursday, news broke that the CEO of Merrill Lynch, John Thain, had been a bad boy. BOA just acquired/saved Merrill in Q4 of 2008. Mr. Thain spent $1.2 million to redecorate his office last year, and he authorized and paid $4 billion in bonuses in December, during a quarter in which Merrill lost $15 billion, so that BOA would not be able to put a stop to it which they would have had the bonuses been scheduled for January which is the customary timing for such disbursements. So Mr. Thain also got laid off.<br /><br />Friday, the weary travelers arrived, altogether, but their bags, thanks to some changes in the flights they took as opposed to the flights they were scheduled to take, came at all different times. One came on the flight before theirs. Two came on the flight after theirs (which was their originally scheduled flight). The last came on the flight after theirs but then got loaded back onto the next flight to Chicago. So we arranged first for it to be delivered when it arrived, at midnight or so, and then reconsidered and requested that it be delivered this morning after 8. Instead, we got a call at 2:30 am and it was delivered then. This was among Julia waking up to vomit earlier than that, and then to eat cereal later than that. Eleven hours of jetlag is no picnic. I managed to stay in bed until 10 am, though, somehow, and woke up to home made waffles, so I can't complain. Tonight, Julia and Josee fell asleep before dinner was ready at 7 pm or so.<br /><br />We finally got our pictures on the PC after these many months, so we'll try to post some more of the best of those in the near future.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-25632057405924282432009-01-18T08:29:00.002-06:002009-01-18T08:35:27.719-06:00Hong Kong AmigosHere we are in our hotel room with Peter and Anita Leung, our good friends who returned here after living in St. Louis. Yesterday they showed us the town, and today we met up with Brenda (Smith) and Richard Leotta, and their two beautiful kids, Amber and Jonathan. No pictures for now, but they are coming soon...Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-25806521050813814402009-01-13T16:06:00.005-06:002009-01-19T05:33:30.705-06:00In GuangzhouWell, here we are. Everything has gone pretty much as planned. I arrived, made it through customs, collected my bags, got some yuan at the Citibank ATM I spotted, and found the taxi stand outside the international terminal at the airport. I was able to communicate with the driver just enough to get him to take me to the Guangzhou Hotel in Haizhu Sqaure. It was at this point I discovered what seems to be really valuable in Guangzhou: change for a 100-yuan bill. I got 1000 yuan (~$145), and it came out all in 100 yuan bills. When the cab fare turned out to be 110 yuan and I gave him 200 yuan, we appeared to be at an impasse. The driver was carrying on and pulling small yuan bills out from anywhere he could find them, but it didn't look like he was going to come up with 90 yuan. So, I offered him $1 rather than the second 100-yuan bill. That is worth almost 10 yuan and he took it.<br /><br />I got my hotel room, had to change rooms because they gave me one with two single beds, started charging all my dead or dying portable devices, and laid down for a ninety minute nap until it was time to return to the airport and pick up Isabelle. I went back downstairs, caught a cab, and was back on my way to the airport. On the way, the driver had to pay a toll, and he got into a five minute argument when he tried to pay it with a 100-yuan bill. They were really going at it so I leaned over in the back seat and showed my perturned pale face to the toll both operator, a young lady, and that seemed to sway her and we were on the road again. We made it back to the airport. This time the cab fare was 99 yuan. Whew! I made sure to get my single yuan bill in change.<br /><br />I found my way to the exit area outside of baggage claim and customs where Isabelle should have been walking out. Her flight had disppeared off the arrival screen and I was getting nervous, but then she appeared. What a sight for sore eyes.<br /><br />We got back in line for a taxi. This time some rogue driver came up and asked us where we wanted to go, and offered to take us there for 200 yuan. It was a good thing I had already been around the block. So we waited for an authorized cab. This time, we could not get the driver to understand that we wanted to go to Guangzhou Hotel in Haizhu Square. We wound up calling our contact here, Kiki, and she was able to get the message across to the driver. If there was ever a time to pay for a little international roaming, that was it. <br /><br />I got caught up with my bride and gave her the grand tour from the back of that taxi, and managed to recognize some of what we passed, and we arrived at the hotel. This time, the meter read 86, and so I hoped with whatever tax had been getting added that 100-yuan would cover it. The driver started squabbling in Chinese and I could tell it wasn't enough, and then he held up one finger. Good answer! I passed him what change I had, which was the lone yuan from the ride back to the airport.<br /><br />So, by now we're getting what we came for. It is good to be back together!Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-56236239729030750882009-01-11T18:37:00.003-06:002009-01-11T18:51:44.703-06:00Seoul ManPlease forgive the redundant nature of my post titles, but this one actually sums it up pretty well. I am a man, and I'm in Seoul. There isn't much else to say, as my tank is about empty. It is a beautiful airport, and they told us the temperature outside was about 15 degrees Farenheit but in here there is no way to know. Glass everywhere, Gloria Jean's, Caribou Coffee, and a Smoothies R Us. There's even a food court that promises "western food." I already had a bagel and cream cheese with a coffee from Gloria Jean's as my second breakfast of the day, or maybe it's the breakfast for Sunday that I didn't have since Sunday got swallowed up by the International Date Line. No, I guess it's just a matter of swapping eating for sleeping, since I'll probably double up on at least two meals when I come back and get a 48-hour Monday.<br /><br />I called in my Discover Card as lost since I used it to get Burger King in St. Louis but then couldn't find it to pay for a chili-cheese hot dog in LA. Between those times, I was turning my backpack inside out looking for headphones which I did not find. However, I did find my blue-tooth headset which has been AWOL for most of the last year. Then while waiting for the Korea flight, I decided I wanted to take another peek at my passport and the China visa therein, and what do you know but it had swallowed the Discover Card at some point.<br /><br />So I guess it has been a relatively eventful trip so far, for just being in airports and on planes, and the wins and losses are about canceling each other out. We will see how things go once we're on the street in a Chinese city the size of Paris...Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-61747895450245793272009-01-10T10:04:00.004-06:002009-01-10T10:28:05.790-06:00Dubai Girl, China BoyI survived Christmas and New Year's apart from my girls. Dad came by from December 24-29 and we had a North Dakotan bachelor Christmas. It was fun. We watched movies Benjamin Button (bleah) and Crash (wow!) and played cribbage and darts.<br /><br />Today at 5, I will be leaving for the airport to fly to Guangzhou, China, via LA, and Seoul, Korea. Isabelle arrived yesterday in Dubai, UAE, and she will be leaving there and meeting me in Guangzhou on Monday. She is staying with her cousin Sarah Jane who has been living in Dubai for a couple of years. Tonight they are on a safari and they are apparently having a wonderful time. Isabelle told me she wishes I was there, as do I.<br /><br />After Guangzhou, we will make our way to Hong Kong. It's a second honeymoon for us. And it's a chance to visit friends who are living in or visiting Hong Kong. That's right, the kids are staying with tante Medge and ton-ton Jacque in Mauritius. In Hong Kong, our good friends Peter and Anita Leung will be there. Peter went to the University of Texas, lived in the US for 20 years, and became a US citizen, but soon after they got married they decided to move back to Hong Kong. Also, a friend I met in St. Louis whom I've visited in New Zealand will be visiting in Hong Kong while we're there. Richard and Brenda (Smith) Leota and their kids Amber and Jonathan will be visiting family.<br /><br />On January 19, I will be heading back to St. Louis, and Isabelle will be heading back to Dubai. Then she makes her way back to Mauritius to pick up the kids, and her mother. They will leave Mauritius on January 22 and arrive back in St. Louis on January 23. We hope.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-89326698285622529042008-12-18T21:58:00.016-06:002008-12-18T22:48:56.686-06:00Trip pixWell--here are some of Alec's pix, with minimal commentary where needed.<BR><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfm13EfuU1LU7bGGQJFwlairbIafifgpn_Bln1BloCWOIfQgRM_HnV6PTfvBLGh8HscUwVbckJsYEfmEdryLMxPJ12wvWSUkUJqPj0duYBW0BvOvyVDKQuJKLPvtWiMCu05gkoB3UKbrn/s1600-h/005_2A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfm13EfuU1LU7bGGQJFwlairbIafifgpn_Bln1BloCWOIfQgRM_HnV6PTfvBLGh8HscUwVbckJsYEfmEdryLMxPJ12wvWSUkUJqPj0duYBW0BvOvyVDKQuJKLPvtWiMCu05gkoB3UKbrn/s320/005_2A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281346306045959634" /></a><P align="center">Caro, Tony & Chris, before scuba diving</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU2bBXaO-e1ugQImnKzXNl6gbGC9StfF7Wa79YMuJoihJDwpShjddBkvl-ms7MtbGPVmerdjvTeQzP9t2_gHCVVbz40sl94Wp2mwb_cYiloKD94kZvJ7HSupbSeKZROVHHBfvljduxZcV/s1600-h/011_8A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU2bBXaO-e1ugQImnKzXNl6gbGC9StfF7Wa79YMuJoihJDwpShjddBkvl-ms7MtbGPVmerdjvTeQzP9t2_gHCVVbz40sl94Wp2mwb_cYiloKD94kZvJ7HSupbSeKZROVHHBfvljduxZcV/s320/011_8A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281346534764229858" /></a><P align="center">Canden, Elie, Stephanie & Samuel</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EiL1PpnLsAhJtBtXu3L_fZGnKIF_Ut0SVqPQJdSxvvQrlPS8L_DINlYLGdx6CXaePSGgzzJ_dJhnNBQRFSBFe4zDJKnk1HGjlG1imt1GvIO0-in3mcYX-R905x4Xv3wZcabNmbuIFRtY/s1600-h/026_23A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EiL1PpnLsAhJtBtXu3L_fZGnKIF_Ut0SVqPQJdSxvvQrlPS8L_DINlYLGdx6CXaePSGgzzJ_dJhnNBQRFSBFe4zDJKnk1HGjlG1imt1GvIO0-in3mcYX-R905x4Xv3wZcabNmbuIFRtY/s320/026_23A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281347342736213074" /></a><P align="center">Hana and Denis (Isa's younger brother)</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDheu-WSUfnpaYteoq_XU6pSSJXsKBA0ok_EesuoaWFPq8VbPeGBNlFrIepK3RKTHrBCTDhyvrf20kA7HOPfrRPCMbe1gKjlHVFb0JIWRiTPEbwi7P8EFFKPku9p-NaWPOgYrtYb9mUqNS/s1600-h/017_14A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDheu-WSUfnpaYteoq_XU6pSSJXsKBA0ok_EesuoaWFPq8VbPeGBNlFrIepK3RKTHrBCTDhyvrf20kA7HOPfrRPCMbe1gKjlHVFb0JIWRiTPEbwi7P8EFFKPku9p-NaWPOgYrtYb9mUqNS/s320/017_14A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281347690799239458" /></a><P align="center">With Sylvio, Marianne, & Alec</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwCG78pYN-7uaIvLeO-C-M9esXlLBAULUV1JiV_o6mzrEmhcXLrYrbeJXS1Xqbbr8wFExWd0eXMsAKkYPhNGDSppsEkHON6__4oIT_e2cysrohyP-oU8K9Oeje5gjJfnL1KgJo0r95tA2/s1600-h/019_16A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwCG78pYN-7uaIvLeO-C-M9esXlLBAULUV1JiV_o6mzrEmhcXLrYrbeJXS1Xqbbr8wFExWd0eXMsAKkYPhNGDSppsEkHON6__4oIT_e2cysrohyP-oU8K9Oeje5gjJfnL1KgJo0r95tA2/s320/019_16A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281347852272555794" /></a><P align="center">Singing at the Cascavelle Church</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fPyClQZ-7tgr54_nyaNVFriLPjL0YsNE3qboSKcsAh1iW9Jr1sEkQvYxr6xmV97rkISsZ5RjLHXktLxPvcJtQCnTqslYJ2jLxRcMINZ0CDcGJDXidQ3vvyMUBQ8UVhnxmxr_oXyOcjBs/s1600-h/005_2A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fPyClQZ-7tgr54_nyaNVFriLPjL0YsNE3qboSKcsAh1iW9Jr1sEkQvYxr6xmV97rkISsZ5RjLHXktLxPvcJtQCnTqslYJ2jLxRcMINZ0CDcGJDXidQ3vvyMUBQ8UVhnxmxr_oXyOcjBs/s320/005_2A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281348148378555346" /></a><P align="center">Jonathan, Caro, Coline, Tony, Noah & Joey</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1B4g4uo20b_YiY27XBJVrucW7SyEehMPMDKRc-ZzST34CN93aWJVHH721DWA1ahfjdC6HgqNxNqkab6ADIoE5FRhyphenhyphenFlTqomKImJAddtHZew5akj3VCt9Tkz89rZbdtekNLuAbpmatsUom/s1600-h/004_1A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1B4g4uo20b_YiY27XBJVrucW7SyEehMPMDKRc-ZzST34CN93aWJVHH721DWA1ahfjdC6HgqNxNqkab6ADIoE5FRhyphenhyphenFlTqomKImJAddtHZew5akj3VCt9Tkz89rZbdtekNLuAbpmatsUom/s320/004_1A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281348386666958002" /></a><P align="center">Isa & the luckiest guy in the world</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtj0LqAIzFfl25djIG-yrJePbnHzj5phO-R23wyB8D4ny186524HUJnIooj5eFexBOibez0ib5TW0RVzyb1I8kcaIqQ_p529EPs_5Z1NTnsQRmul6AQ1vUbjk6S6bDkbNmQ2V7JVwEA19U/s1600-h/023_20A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtj0LqAIzFfl25djIG-yrJePbnHzj5phO-R23wyB8D4ny186524HUJnIooj5eFexBOibez0ib5TW0RVzyb1I8kcaIqQ_p529EPs_5Z1NTnsQRmul6AQ1vUbjk6S6bDkbNmQ2V7JVwEA19U/s320/023_20A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281348585162043170" /></a><P align="center">The Chorale in Marseille</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z8UhS4dtb6imwNH45ydxnJ9PjMRyGEW_19PH6BAXUmLpSM1lMVK5skIfKsk-MVbQ8BzS-JLSisBJuPgHm_sEKCHll8VtqWsuYb7M6kl-I_ffw3DAHRZfTMnz8CzKCh2XBrjiOcBs8I5x/s1600-h/006_3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z8UhS4dtb6imwNH45ydxnJ9PjMRyGEW_19PH6BAXUmLpSM1lMVK5skIfKsk-MVbQ8BzS-JLSisBJuPgHm_sEKCHll8VtqWsuYb7M6kl-I_ffw3DAHRZfTMnz8CzKCh2XBrjiOcBs8I5x/s320/006_3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281348833951254322" /></a><P align="center">Philippe, Dolores, Nathan, Katie & Craig</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGplSxsYUwx0uY0e4lEyMxNjD5Sh-2j_Qp6his9huRmV0udbt34LGWsBirAjmMIw3L0xnk8WL1RHxtZuxJ2v6W9o14TYF8jgWf3QalBBcSk9e8Ox0I8aJSpgjhB4Ho2Acm0j9CvJC0CDA/s1600-h/010_7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGplSxsYUwx0uY0e4lEyMxNjD5Sh-2j_Qp6his9huRmV0udbt34LGWsBirAjmMIw3L0xnk8WL1RHxtZuxJ2v6W9o14TYF8jgWf3QalBBcSk9e8Ox0I8aJSpgjhB4Ho2Acm0j9CvJC0CDA/s320/010_7.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281349102094914626" /></a><P align="center">Craig, Chris & the Algerians</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9LUGPpuIO6wFKh-QAJJuhPz9RZd7QWEK5W-BflntFrsMJFLcHdwHq9uja67PTcDvXlzIZLgFeNpjOV2_2z2HprjaGqmZvXstmpmaQrxzNuz1pOSEsyC3Z3W6Wp7WeLGEkFpY5VN18bE4/s1600-h/011_8.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9LUGPpuIO6wFKh-QAJJuhPz9RZd7QWEK5W-BflntFrsMJFLcHdwHq9uja67PTcDvXlzIZLgFeNpjOV2_2z2HprjaGqmZvXstmpmaQrxzNuz1pOSEsyC3Z3W6Wp7WeLGEkFpY5VN18bE4/s320/011_8.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281349252683176994" /></a><P align="center">Emilie, Katie, Esther & Craig</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcQj2xm9-sOglqt6Lc6lbyqCLvV35OjP5bR85CEy2y63bpqdiwazFitC0Hd1mEtsrSB7-EJDC_Y6wzlg9k-zcfEmn1kaInh6bUmtu_M-54Jp6Ym8ab662bPIKqSts5K28dCVAb4ZHjSJs/s1600-h/009_6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcQj2xm9-sOglqt6Lc6lbyqCLvV35OjP5bR85CEy2y63bpqdiwazFitC0Hd1mEtsrSB7-EJDC_Y6wzlg9k-zcfEmn1kaInh6bUmtu_M-54Jp6Ym8ab662bPIKqSts5K28dCVAb4ZHjSJs/s320/009_6.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281349495822611298" /></a><P align="center">Chapelle Du Fuveau, Marseille, France</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7Zq_uAjxCYMwxXReGg-QK2qUTTH_OeFfbYIcXFaBV2apOSB6loP9YeeAD6pVAMMttpMoI8YHTakrSQID__L-zY2N_R4TonOVqiuHDuRnmUBL7tWIrSQyOCIrpkWh3enEU2i1p86t6_0B/s1600-h/021_18.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7Zq_uAjxCYMwxXReGg-QK2qUTTH_OeFfbYIcXFaBV2apOSB6loP9YeeAD6pVAMMttpMoI8YHTakrSQID__L-zY2N_R4TonOVqiuHDuRnmUBL7tWIrSQyOCIrpkWh3enEU2i1p86t6_0B/s320/021_18.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281349821447176770" /></a><P align="center">Chris & Justin Dauner, our host</P><BR><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju180i9tIzc0z6FD25sLCrhlE7ehicALlQj3krMeD15ZB57TNmrCWiPiQkosarqMmD59bsf8Ax4C7v1j0m7uHSz_wmfoIt8apHk6z3GPy3Z3IfIaRyj6aNb0tSfOSxEe9dBMoOs3sdMkiB/s1600-h/007_4A.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju180i9tIzc0z6FD25sLCrhlE7ehicALlQj3krMeD15ZB57TNmrCWiPiQkosarqMmD59bsf8Ax4C7v1j0m7uHSz_wmfoIt8apHk6z3GPy3Z3IfIaRyj6aNb0tSfOSxEe9dBMoOs3sdMkiB/s320/007_4A.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281350054763889730" /></a><br /><P align="center">Chris & Craig at the Continental Divide</P>Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-12517161837387916832008-11-30T18:27:00.003-06:002008-12-01T18:45:54.902-06:00Not Dead YetWhew! Where did November go? Oh yeah, let's see...let me summarize here. I almost went 0 for November on posts but I will sneak this one in and try to cover the highlights and lowlights.<br /><br />First let me explain that I was out of the country until November 15, and now I'm home alone. Yes, I left my family on some island somewhere. So life is a wholly different set of concerns for me than what I'm used to. No more brushing Julia's teeth, washing Julia's hands, encouraging Julia's toilet training efforts, reading Julia's books to her, etc. No more clowning around with Chloe, holding her hands while Chloe practices walking, etc. No more kissing and other activities with Isabelle. For the time being, that is. I am reduced to picking up after myself, cooking for or otherwise feeding myself, clothing and doing laundry for myself, and finding ways to spend my time all by myself. <br /><br />I was single for 35 years before getting married, but somehow I can't just slide back into my old habits. I am managing to watch football I care about on TV again, but otherwise, I can't imagine how I used to watch so much football I didn't care about or other crap on TV. Nor can I imagine spending entire evenings playing word games via the Internet (WordOx and Scrabble). I like having my family dominate my time and energy, it turns out.<br /><br />So, this Thanksgiving weekend, I had a pretty good one. An extended African American family at our church invited me to join them for their feast on Thursday itself. They told me to come hungry and I'm glad I did because it was delicious.<br /><br />Friday, I had to work, and I thought I would get out early enough to join a Hungarian gathering at the home of some others from church. But things didn't work out like I expected and I missed it, so I crunched leaves in the yard with my mower (leaf blowing and/or bagging is for saps, it turns out). Then I came back inside and decided to watch ABC News. Only it turned out that the Nebraska-Colorado game which I had forgotten about was just winding down. I hope you got to see the highlights. Nebraska's kicker, Henery, booted a 57 yard field goal to put Nebraska ahead 33-31 with about two minutes left, which is when I started watching. On the second or third play, Colorado's QB had his pass batted up in the air, and a great big defensive lineman grabbed it, and started rumbling for the end zone. For many of us, this caused flashbacks to a game against Texas Tech a couple of years ago that would have been won by Nebraska had a defensive lineman who got his hands on the ball in the last minute simply fallen to the ground to clinch the victory but who instead fumbled the ball and the game away. But this time, our big guy took off and had only the QB to beat. The QB caught him, but got stiff armed and bounced right off our guy's legs, and our guy took it on in to seal the victory. It was a great finish.<br /><br />So then on Saturday, I got out early and crunched some more leaves. Oh yeah--this is all in response to a letter I got from the city of Crestwood while I was out of the country stating that I was in violation of a statute requiring that I keep my yard in a "clean, safe and sanitary condition" by having "limbs and debris" in my back yard. Sanitary? Really? Anyway I got the log pile in pretty good shape and mowed behind it for the first time in a while, and I went out and mowed behind the back fence which had been cleared of much of its brush when Isabelle's sister was here. Then I remembered that oh, yeah, isn't the cable that supplies my house out here exposed by the sidewalk somewhere back here? Yes it is, and sure enough, I severed it. Panic set in. No Internet!? No cable TV (no big deal). No Vonage!!! I called my electrician to see if he could stop by on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, but when he didn't answer, I decided to try to fix it myself. The first couple of attempts were unsuccessful but then the third time I was out of slack and I left a bit more wire exposed and it worked! Whew. I hope it holds up. I'm almost ready to give up on the cable company, but not any second like that.<br /><br />Today, I managed to get some packages in the mail, and do a little Christmas shopping. How did I ever fall so far behind on blogging? I'm also behind on phone calls I need to make. I am on the phone with Isabelle daily. And Saturday morning we had a webcam session and got to see each other which was a treat.<br /><br />Last weekend, I attended a guys weekend in Harrisburg, home of Lance. Scott and Mike also came. Scott and Ann's blog has a link right over there and they have a cute new little guy named Nathaniel to keep them hopping. Mike works at GM so there may be hard times ahead there. Scott, Lance and I went to church there where Lance is a member at Harrisburg Christian Church and it was cool to take it all in since the Christian Churches are first cousins to the Churches of Christ where I am a member.<br /><br />Before that was the trip. As I mentioned in my last post, we (our family) had a few days in Northern France, and then we and Alec Hill had eight days in Mauritius, and then Alec and I had eight days in Marseille with a visit to the Ardeche reason in the middle of France.<br /><br />I will do justice to the trip in upcoming posts with photos from Alec's camera, since I could not do justice to it otherwise. Isabelle has our camera.<br /><br />I should be able to find time to do this again before Christmas....Dad visits then...there's a CFS (Christian Family Services) trivia contest on Dec. 7....I hope to visit Tom in Mt. Carmel the weekend of Dec. 14...Mom visits sometime...Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-57332404070166839332008-10-24T22:40:00.002-05:002008-10-24T22:59:39.527-05:00Heading OutWe are almost out the door. Tomorrow morning we will be on our way to the airport for a big, big trip. Yes, we Mauritian-Americans are about to live up to our moniker. But not without a few built-in detours.<br /><br />Tomorrow we start in St. Louis, and then via Chicago and London, we will find ourselves in Paris, hoping to make it the rest of the way to our dear friends' Alisa and Frederic's home an hour away. See their link to the left for a window into what's in store.<br /><br />Wednesday, we return to London and meet up with our good friend and dear brother Alec Hill, also from St. Louis. From there, we take the twelve hour flight to Mauritius. Over the last few months, numerous rendezvous's with us have uncovered Alec's gift for language and given him a reasonable foundation for being Christ's ambassador from Mid-County to its mission works in Mauritius and Marseille, France.<br /><br />On November 8, Alec and I will make our way to Marseille. We believe some tremendous time of mutual encouragement is in store for us, and we are especially looking forward to visiting Camp Harmonie in the French Alps and serving in whatever way we can.<br /><br />At the same time, a huge void in my person will begin to be felt as Isabelle, Julia and Chloe will be staying in Mauritius until January 23. Alec and I will return to St. Louis on November 15.<br /><br />Look for some posts along the way over the next three weeks. I wonder if our country will look the same after three weeks of additional financial havoc and a quite spirited presidential election. May God our rock enable us to weather the storm.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-14047185249840803602008-09-24T21:35:00.003-05:002008-09-24T21:47:20.942-05:00That's Our House!I don't know if everyone knows to do this, but click "That's Our House" above to see what I'm talking about. Clicking "Stanley" below takes you to a CNN story that was the basis for that post, but clicking "That's Our House" takes you to a public 360 view from the middle of our street that includes our house, courtesy of Google maps (you may have to click the A, and then "Street View"). I checked my friend's house in Detroit, and there's a view right in front of his house also (Dave, it's not paranoia if they really are out to get ya...) but I checked my Dad's house in Lincoln, Nebraska and the closest you could get was the nearest major thoroughfare.<br /><br />Isabelle is gone with the girls visiting Grandma. So lonely...so lonely...so lonely.......Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-82376326200103343522008-09-02T12:36:00.006-05:002008-09-02T12:58:25.623-05:00Alive and Thriving<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD2dfiN3dV-nKhvNraxb5Uv6ahfczi2pPpsi-3FPWMupu84hi2-ck4yLvZO5iuOTN-KN8ELIPQ83i5JOsVyp2wxbJBqnjaw7VXEXnSLCw-mmRdJVcfkpGmLZGl7Psj_NQg6LoYwXb1_XQ/s1600-h/100_1982.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD2dfiN3dV-nKhvNraxb5Uv6ahfczi2pPpsi-3FPWMupu84hi2-ck4yLvZO5iuOTN-KN8ELIPQ83i5JOsVyp2wxbJBqnjaw7VXEXnSLCw-mmRdJVcfkpGmLZGl7Psj_NQg6LoYwXb1_XQ/s320/100_1982.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241482391217978290" /></a><BR><BR><br />David Allen Harrison is not the kind of name you want to try to track down on the internet. When his AOL address, MTMDavid@aol.com (MTM = Marvin The Martian), went defunct about 9 years ago, I lost touch with him, a former college roommate. At the time I last saw him, in 1998, he was about to get married.<br /><br />I went to great lengths to try to connect with him again, even signing up at Classmates.com for his high school class with the name Marvin Martian. No luck.<br /><br />Well, this spring, after I had given up, another former college roommate of both Dave's and mine at different times managed to track Dave down via Linked In, the social network for career professionals. So we found out that he was living in Beaverton, OR. Isabelle and the kids and I were already planning to visit my sister Courtney in Cottage Grove, so we worked in a visit with Dave and his family. Yesterday he and his wife Cindy celebrated their tenth anniversary, and their five-year-old twins, Leah and Samantha, start kindergarten today.<br /><br />We just got back from the trip yesterday. Here are some photos.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKQxwruqdMrS1FGdEnJXH_xux32uOr70Mo5LgAH68vf9gO4QYNsc342qAuBPXymspNGRnzyndpHJvZ0o52YWj_94XW2q_9Ojb_KFUqkMriKpLQ5-8KYQ-vLKktRAQ8oKWn0M7HKkU73pt/s1600-h/100_1968.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKQxwruqdMrS1FGdEnJXH_xux32uOr70Mo5LgAH68vf9gO4QYNsc342qAuBPXymspNGRnzyndpHJvZ0o52YWj_94XW2q_9Ojb_KFUqkMriKpLQ5-8KYQ-vLKktRAQ8oKWn0M7HKkU73pt/s320/100_1968.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241482899771508786" /></a><br /><P align="center">Chloe and Julia on the beach</P><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZMtjb8c_XHkLRAGl9byzs6a9d0FVkTVnUmKcV-WNx6Jc5xtN6EoqjIkkjScB_xMf9ccQC69TAiEkKedAkklXx4FgQ8D7LU7HYCimOMvAfJUFQcGARH95DinYEONAFFMNZvNXLfaiICLl/s1600-h/100_1912.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZMtjb8c_XHkLRAGl9byzs6a9d0FVkTVnUmKcV-WNx6Jc5xtN6EoqjIkkjScB_xMf9ccQC69TAiEkKedAkklXx4FgQ8D7LU7HYCimOMvAfJUFQcGARH95DinYEONAFFMNZvNXLfaiICLl/s320/100_1912.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241483304345459074" /></a><br /><P align="center">Us at Crater Lake</P><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3AGnIbGMG6lDj0am7yQ9xLebBIBBU7c-hP8dqeUriqr1n25A3GtmM_te19jo0N9lY0WYrkrbPC76FpmhEVzlgZi-V0MnXv4jUj4bIv-ZUKUePMNMmOrOTnSzWPdRAMwJp1DTrIPhKsSp/s1600-h/100_1986.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3AGnIbGMG6lDj0am7yQ9xLebBIBBU7c-hP8dqeUriqr1n25A3GtmM_te19jo0N9lY0WYrkrbPC76FpmhEVzlgZi-V0MnXv4jUj4bIv-ZUKUePMNMmOrOTnSzWPdRAMwJp1DTrIPhKsSp/s320/100_1986.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241483935437935010" /></a><br /><P align="center">Aunt Courtney and Her Nieces</P>Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-41258257271603515082008-08-09T07:36:00.002-05:002008-08-09T07:48:11.802-05:00Stanley?Black gold. Oil, that is. North Dakota tee.<br /><br />What? We won't see any new Beverly Hillbillies, but I am forecasting a number of Phoenix Farmers.<br /><br />I actually did live in western North Dakota for a summer during the last supposed oil boom, which turned out to be a bust. In the summer of 1982 when I was 14, I lived with my grandparents, worked at my Aunt and Uncle's drive-in restaurant, The Twist, and played baseball in Watford City. Stanley was one of the teams we played, so I've been there. I couldn't tell you the first detail about it though.<br /><br />I'm just hoping that when it's all said and done, everybody remembers that you cannot serve God and money.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-11354529967811934962008-07-26T23:54:00.008-05:002008-07-27T16:57:42.789-05:00Three Babes and a DaddyWe finally got some recent photos off our camera and onto our PC. Am I a lucky guy or what?<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_e6sbx_A_j-AeZi1Hhyoe0tExlrfQ79EBmZN44w86QBMDRgtrLiMV5ECYbbGioD3eIXawPRcHCNGAqWUjEtMHOL67QE3bp1IIz_oswg9h1rb-gHVNI7QewuZT638L9t_oaGorQ2z4kIt/s1600-h/100_1900.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_e6sbx_A_j-AeZi1Hhyoe0tExlrfQ79EBmZN44w86QBMDRgtrLiMV5ECYbbGioD3eIXawPRcHCNGAqWUjEtMHOL67QE3bp1IIz_oswg9h1rb-gHVNI7QewuZT638L9t_oaGorQ2z4kIt/s320/100_1900.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227553544334520514" /></a><br />I've decided that I have no problem if Julia wants to play hard to get, even with me.<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJnXE5iO7-e0YMO_gzQxSyj8m-YcmincTS1ogfJmzUbAE3OoOftUOr2q3vMsIgoqfSgsju_Gh4r0SaZqGFydHSo-yrXDxzdLCwfMgw-wD4sJDKjM-epxE03JrdRmB80IguKWzhJQuCd1W/s1600-h/100_1844.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJnXE5iO7-e0YMO_gzQxSyj8m-YcmincTS1ogfJmzUbAE3OoOftUOr2q3vMsIgoqfSgsju_Gh4r0SaZqGFydHSo-yrXDxzdLCwfMgw-wD4sJDKjM-epxE03JrdRmB80IguKWzhJQuCd1W/s320/100_1844.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227554455095309122" /></a><br />Chloe, on the other hand, is still permitted to be a pushover for now.<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ID13WrTygWGeUBtl6bXv9p_xKi87siqdkJ8lRcVMwyD4uhDu5gf5WPewJ5azQfzgNj0WochWnBwcI_EXb5DSWzoyF2g3ZvxZwsrH_QdgiVpoO6xZg97uI8HfjjTyTtG1P2pxq8bPeDs3/s1600-h/100_1842.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ID13WrTygWGeUBtl6bXv9p_xKi87siqdkJ8lRcVMwyD4uhDu5gf5WPewJ5azQfzgNj0WochWnBwcI_EXb5DSWzoyF2g3ZvxZwsrH_QdgiVpoO6xZg97uI8HfjjTyTtG1P2pxq8bPeDs3/s320/100_1842.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227555247892858850" /></a><br />Mama has to watch her step, for obvious reasons...<BR><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYbY30lnF4MNOzY0Pji0fbQmEjoI6CpTg4B7gDF0KqCl_G5qn28rP_PEzeQZoV1cwC1h9NuUMXHZ0Bc_akvYvYSW-CoAsGwbZIWI6rF8QXcqPyk-klzq3OaT5PTCI-Urf5ZW5ld5i9Uzz/s1600-h/100_1851.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYbY30lnF4MNOzY0Pji0fbQmEjoI6CpTg4B7gDF0KqCl_G5qn28rP_PEzeQZoV1cwC1h9NuUMXHZ0Bc_akvYvYSW-CoAsGwbZIWI6rF8QXcqPyk-klzq3OaT5PTCI-Urf5ZW5ld5i9Uzz/s320/100_1851.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227556241840212274" /></a>Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-64196504261440088122008-07-03T07:55:00.002-05:002008-07-03T08:25:58.454-05:00Our Little FlyersWell, we made it to North Dakota and back, but not without a mishap or two or three.<br /><br />As usual, we were scrambling to get out of the house to catch our plane. I was collecting the packed bags and putting them in the car, the same bags we took to Florida in May for a trip one day shorter in duration. To my surprise, our carry on bag was empty. Isabelle claimed we didn't need it. It was getting too late to argue but I did express my concern over whatever was in that bag for our May trip that was not coming with us for this trip.<br /><br />We made it to the airport, and to our plane bound for the Twin Cities. Everything was going fine, Julia by the window, me holding Chloe in the middle, and Isabelle on the aisle with her tray down for the three drinks we had just been served. Then I noticed a two-tone effect in Julia's jeans that I hadn't noticed before. Remembering that she had guzzled down the contents of her travel cup which had been full of sugar-free lemonade rather than water, I quickly surmised what had happened.<br /><br />Isabelle reacted with greater surprise than I expected and even disbelief. Uh oh. You guessed it--no carry on bag, no change of clothes for Julia. So we made the best of it. I held Isabelle's tray with our drinks on it while Isabelle squeezed out of the seat and stood up in the aisle. Now I had to figure out how to get Julia over to Isabelle while holding Chloe. So I decided to put Chloe in Isabelle's seat. As I did that Chloe straightened up and managed to kick the full cup of Pepsi all over Isabelle's seat.<br /><br />Things were getting desperate. I had the only dry seat left. We cleaned up Isabelle's seat, and put down a couple of blankets, got Julia out of her wet jeans and sat back down and drank our remaining drinks. Gladly, we were in the second row from the back. But, the flight was almost over and Julia's jeans were still soaked. We decided we had to put them back on Julia while we went through the MSP airport looking for toddler clothes. As I was putting Julia's jeans back on her, she saw that they were wet and began repeating, rather loudly, "It's dirty...It's dirty...It's dirty..."<br /><br />We did find a nice Elmo outfit for $12 in the airport and got Julia all cleaned up and changed. Then, at the gate for our next plane, just as we heard the first boarding announcement, we discovered that both our girls needed their diapers changed, pronto. I changed Julia there on the floor, without any trouble. Then as Isabelle changed Chloe, Julia observed the obvious, and began repeating, again quite loudly, "It's yucky...It's yucky...It's yucky..."<br /><br />As might be expected, from then on our flight experiences only got better.Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-60026918396241278592008-06-25T13:44:00.003-05:002008-06-25T13:48:42.854-05:00Avis Rosella Rogness, 7/24/1916 - 6/21/2008<br>We are on our way to North Dakota to pay our respects to my dear grandmother.<br /><br />Goodbye, Grandma.<br /><BR>Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-38231521215791097432008-06-07T11:07:00.002-05:002008-06-07T11:22:32.109-05:00Whistler's Mother's SonDoesn't everyone have some superhero quality? I'm not that tall, or that strong, or that fast, but there is something at which I am unsurpassed as far as I know. So that makes it rather unofficial, I realize, but still...<br /><br />The other night I stopped by the cleaners' to pick up my shirts and pants. I wear stuff over and over in the winter time, but with Chloe around they get stinky for reasons that aren't directly my fault, but anyway...<br /><br />I stepped up to the counter, and the lady behind it, exclaimed, "Whose are these?" and pointed at a handful of freshly cleaned clothes on hangers sitting on the rack right there. "They must be hers!" she continued, as she gestured towards a car that was backing out of the parking space directly in front of the door, windows up (as far as I could tell).<br /><br />I sprung into action. I walked out the front door, and, as she had just shifted the car out of reverse and into drive, I whistled. Twice. Loud. She looked at me, and I pointed at her clothes, and she smiled, nodded and parked.<br /><br />"Thanks," she said sheepishly as she walked in and got her clothes. "No problem," I replied. Later the cleaning store lady thanked me again. "I sure can't whistle like that," she said. No she can't. :-)Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2720021139980950466.post-74689609201998565572008-06-05T17:23:00.003-05:002008-06-05T17:28:41.009-05:00Eating, Etc.Here are our little girls in action. I hope this makes you smile as much as they make us smile every day.<br /><br /><embed id="VideoPlayback" style="width:400px;height:326px" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="fs=true" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-9159358302007211718&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed>Chris Burkholderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13700795529089188459noreply@blogger.com1