Even the outfits are boring...

If this doesn't exemplify the cultural differences between Europe and North America, I don't know what does. Last week's Michael Jackson memorial was broadcast by only one network - CNN International. On the other hand, there is no mistaking the fact that the Tour de France is on in full swing. Every single day, the tour is broadcast on at least 8 different networks for a total of about 6 hours a day. Each network gets the exact same video feed from the tour organizers, so the only difference is the commentary, which you can watch in any of the following languages:

• French (from France)
• French (from Belgium)
• Dutch (from Netherlands)
  
• Flemish (from Belgium)
  
• German (from Belgium)
  
• English (from the UK)

Additionally, there are at least 3 options to watch in HD, if you aren't satisfied with the regular coverage. For some reason, Michael loves to watch the race, and insists on watching it every single day despite the fact that interesting events like crashes or breakaways are few and far between and are usually showcased in the primetime highlight shows. I've just downloaded The Business of Being Born, and I can't watch it until today's stage is done... lucky for him, Michael went and got me McDonalds for lunch, so I'm in a particularly patient mood.

Our Family is Growing!

After a long period of silence on the blog, it's only appropriate to resurrect it with some big news: Michael and I will become Dad and Mom on or about January 4th, 2010!

Here is the first picture of the baby with some key features identified (click to enlarge):


The picture in the upper left shows a nice profile of the face, and in the lower left picture the face is being partially obscured by a little arm.

I'm now 15 weeks into the pregnancy (25 more to go...) and am really happy to finally be in the second trimester. The first three months passed in a bit of a haze that seemed to last forever - I was feeling sick almost every day, no appetite, and so tired that simple activities such as taking a shower left me so exhausted that I needed a nap. Lately though, I've been getting my energy back (thanks, placenta!) and it feels great to be able to do a little exercise and play mario kart without feeling dizzy.

We're well into the baby names discusssion (currently on the table if it's a boy are Luca, Oscar, and Andreas and if it's a girl Hazel, Raphaella, and Zoe - but these are subject to almost daily change), and the pregnancy is starting to feel "real" enough that we've also started browsing the catalogues of the local baby stores - a truly intimidating experience (there are more models of strollers than cars!).

So now that I have something to talk about, I'll try to do more blogging. Up-and-coming topics to include: the joy of heartburn, the joy of elastic waistbands and of course, the joy of hotdogs.

If...

You had to eliminate a single type of insect permanently from the earth, what would you get rid of?

Anybody Need a Burger?

  The sun has finally revealed itself from behind the clouds here in Belgium! You know what that means! Barbeque time! Unfourntinely for us we had left your good old Canadian Tire grill back in Chapel Hill. We spent the last season using an old charcol hibachi, which was not going to cut it for us this year.

  

That is were our new friends at 

Standard - AHZ come in and save the day. I didn't want to get another grill that was just going to rust and needed to be replaced in a year or two. We had looked at our local Brico and didn't like anything we saw, still don't know what that side burner is for. So we headed east to Leuven, just about 20 minutes from our house, to Standard - AHZ. We were greeted with more choices then we could ever imagine, and a few beers! We quickly decided upon a good old Canadian made Broil King Signet, no side burner in sight.

Anybody Need a Burger?

If...

... You could occupy the world described in a novel, which would you choose?

Neef Matt Bezoeken België

...or he might say "Kusin Matt besök Belgien" since he now lives in Sweden.  For those of you in the Americas that would be "Cousin Matt visits Belgium."  Anywho we had our 1st visit of the year, we are off to a good start.

  We had grand plans of going to Ghent and enjoying some pintjes' and some traditional Flemish food at "Het Grote Vlees Huis" but after our night of heavy snow here in Vlaams we only made it to Tervuren.  

We had been decided to check out some of the trees at the Arboretum.   I often ride my bike or run on many of the trails but I had never been down there with snow on the ground.  Not being prepared for the snow we wrapped up as best we could and set out for a little trip to check out the Giant Sequoia Grove.  Nothing like what you would see in Northern California but still massive tress.

It was great visit but short.  Jane and I are planning a visit up to Sweden in the summer.  We hope the weather will be nicer then it was for Matt's trip here.

It has been how long?

  Wow we made it through our 1st year.  As we settle in here in Belgium and become accustom to the customs we have neglected our pour blog, sad.   However,  with the new year we are going to commit to posting more.  We may not always be posting about Belgium, the Beer(me) and the Chocolate(Jane) have a few adventures in the works.  As well, we have our up coming 20k of Brussels at the end of May, fun!  I have already started training and Jane will be starting soon too.  Where else to display our training progress but our lonely blog. 

We are looking forward to an interesting year full of adventure.  We extend our best wishes to everyone in this year of the OX.

Straks.