Happy New Year!!!

Hi Buddy,

Well, it's almost New Year.  And it got me wondering about when people started celebrating new year's and why it's in the middle of winter.  And guess what?  The first civilization to celebrate New Year's?  It was here in Iraq, in ancient Babylon over 4000 years ago.  They celebrated the first full moon after the beginning of Spring.

So how did New Year's get to be in winter?  Blame it on the Romans. 

Two thousand years ago, in order to set their calendar right, the Romans declared January 1st the beginning of the new year. 

Here's a picture of the Roman Senate.  Were they declaring it the New Year?  Who knows? 

Since the Romans were the most influential country at the time, it spread through most of Europe and on to America.

Love you more than a fresh start at the New Year,
Dad

Over the River and ...

Hi Christmas Buddy,

I'm glad that you are headed through the woods to Grandmother's house (Babbi's).  

I guess this is your third Christmas tree to find presents under.  Pretty awesome.

I love you and miss you more than Christmas morning.

Marc.

He said he's on his way!

Hi Buddy,

Look who stopped by the Embassy to say hello!  I told him you had been extra good this year!

Love you more than the guy in the red suit,
Dad

Winter Solstice

Hi Man,

Today is also the Winter Solstice.  This year it happens December 21, 2009 at 12:47.  That's when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator.

Today is the shortest daylight day of the year.  After today, the days will get longer and the nights will get shorter.

The ancient Irish built this whole building, so that they would know which day was the Winter Solstice.  Only on the day of the solstice does the sunlight go all the way inside the building.  Your mom and I went there once.  It was VERY cool.


Love you more than the days getting longer,
Dad

Snow Day!!!

Hi Bud!

No school today for you!  Did you stay at Bobbi's house with Kayleigh?  Or are you playing at home?

I'm sad I missed the storm.  This is the biggest storm since the one right after we moved to Washington, D.C.  Ask your mom if she has the picture of the Subaru when that one happened.  I'll look for it too.


Love you more than a winter storm!
Dad

One Third!!!

Hello My Calendar Watcher,
.
Today is December 18.  I got to Iraq on August 18.  That means that I am one third of the way through my tour in Iraq.  I've served four months out of a twelve month tour.
.
I'm that much closer to being back home near you!
.
Love you the whole way,
Dad

Christmas Economics

One definition of economics is that it is the study of choices under scarcity.  (Remember scarcity is what happens when you don't have enough of a good or service to satisfy all the the needs or wants of the consumers at the same time.)  When something is scarce, consumers and producers have to make choices.

At Christmas time, sometimes toys are scarce (like a new DS game), so people have to make choices about them. 





Consumers (shoppers and children and maybe even Santa!) have to decide what they will do.  Will they pay more for the toy?  Will they decide it is a want that they don't have to fufill.  Producers (like the toy company and maybe even Santa!) have to decide what they will do.  Will they raise the price?  Will they make more of the toy?  Will they let their consumers get frustrated because they still want the toy?

When you study the answers to questions like that, you're studying economics (and business too, but that's another story.

Love you with the scarcity of the time that I get to spend with you,
Dad

Some Christmas Decorating

Hello my friend,

I wanted to show you what the decorations looked like up in the apartment.  I especially like the nutcracker you gave me on the bookshelf.

And the picture you drew on my door.

I hope your advent calendar is still treating you well.

Love you more than the fight scene between the Nutcracker and the Rat King,

Dad

Whew! This was hard.

Hi Buddy,

I'm not sure I'm happy with it, but here is finally a countdown timer for the Cruise.  Look how soon it is!  I can't wait.  We are going to party like it's 1999.  Oh, wait, it already was.

Love you like the end of a millenium,

Dad

Christmas Boxes are Here!

Hi my Christmas Elf,
.
Thanks to the super fast United States Postal Service (who would have thought it?), the packages that you and I mailed to me while I was at your house are here!
.
I had fun with you there, even though we waited, and waited (and waited).  You were very patient and polite.  I was proud of you.
.

Anyway, next time you see this guy, tell him "Thanks" from your Dad in Iraq.

Love you more than a Christmas package,

Dad

Back at Work

Hi Buddy,
.
I was glad to see you on Skype last night.  Sorry I kept yawning, but I was really tired.  I got a good night sleep and now I am back at work.  Here's a picture of me:

Love you more than a barrel of monkeys,

Dad