A whole week!!! Really?

Hello my man,

Just realized that it has been a week since I posted here.  That stinks!

This week has been really busy.  I've been working hard to keep up with stuff at the Embassy.

Anyway, I've been thinking about you a lot and loving you all the time.

Love you more than the seconds in a week,
Dad.

It really isn't all THAT long ...

Hey Buddy,

It feels like it will be a long time before I see you again, but it really isn't that long.  We've already gotten through a whole month away from each other again, and we've got less than eight weeks to go now.

Still, it feels like we are waiting, and waiting, and waiting.  This is me at work.  Not really!!!

Love you more than my skeleton!
Dad.

Hello my man!

Hi Bud,

I don't have much witty or important to say, so I will just say what is on my heart.

You are my guy, my man.  The most important person in the world to me.  I miss you like crazy when I am away, and I can't wait to see you again.

I love you so much and I am very very very proud of you.

We are going to have so much fun together in March on the cruise, I can hardly wait.

Love you more than the oceans we will sail together,
Dad

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