Identify & Destroy or Eradicate (which ever is less offensive)

The game is for you to identify this creature and suggests how to get rid of it. Not just it, but all of it's buddies; about a hundred of them fromj the swimming pool deck. I know his name, but getting in touch with his parents to have him brought home before he meets his fate at the pool has been difficult.

Friday Night Baptism Live

This family could not have been happier as their wife and mother Nancy was Baptised.

The Karamboulas

This batism represents the first full Greek family from what the Elders were saying.

There Joy Could Not Be Contained. When were you this happy? How can you regain that sense of Joy?

Is it Halloween Yet?

Guess whose wearing this to the party?

The real question is which tooth is being worked on?

Answer in the next blog...maybe.

You might need to enlarge the whole thing; but beware and be careful whose watching.

A few important messages & a write in candidate

The new lane lines I worked so hard to shorten the other day.

Doesn't it look inviting?

Steam rolling of the waters.

It doesn't get much better

Can our "Boys of Autumn" pull it off?
Big Papi for President. He'd hit a hommer in every controversy, or at least do better than the Obama, by spreading his wealth of joy to all Red Sox Nation & the World (series) and he doesn't carry any of the Washington experience of McCain.

Owwwups!

A major from the golden throat? Spread the wealth...Stalin, Linin, HoChiMin. so I can spell. But I'll bet Joe the plumber doesn't care.

It's been a while

It is hard to keep up my own blog, with all the other exciting sites out there. Who would know that we are not the ------'s but the Blogger family. If we can now just get John into the mix. It late and I am still at the pool (Almost 14 hours after I arrived. I just finished shortening seven lane lines to fit the pool. Maybe I'll take a picture and post it some other time. But now I am going home eating a bowl of mush and turning in. Well maybe I will call your mother. But that depends on if you are my children are not. Hope the house was clean for the homecoming.

Home Furnishings Contest & FHE Greek Style

Bet none of you guessed this was hanging in a prominant place. Just like you might have thought their bid for post season was done. Look at 'em now! Go Sox, go! Or is it, "You go Sox"

You were told this was hanging in a previous blog. The medal was given to me by the first place ACG Deree soccer team when they won at the Thessalonikia Tournament.

How could the room be complete without the Grandchildren. Waiting to add one more soon. I guess I could use one of the ultra sound pic's.

The main display. You kids didn't know your Old Man had home makers skills did ya?

Monday nights are Family Home Evening at the Branch building.

My two normal and usually only companions for FHE at the branch building, brought along another helper to defend the gospel and all that is right. They also, wanted their pictures taken. Just like any missionary, aint it. We have good discussions about family, friends, and sometimes politics (just like a real family) before we settle down and Lilly, the one in the middle presents the lesson. Sister Monson is on Lilly's right and Sister Camble on the left. Enlarge the pictures if you want to read their name badges. The names on the badges are in Greek.

My questions became so difficult that they brought in reinforcements. One elder from Germany and the other from Denmark. I can't remember their names. But do you really blame me? Laurie the big Elder who came to dinner, finished his mission, his family came to fast & testemony , and they are now gone. Can you remember his name?

The sights on the way to Lauries bit of paradise

The Chapel on one of the hills over looking paradise

A great and spaceous field to the foot of paradise

And here's a bit of Laurie's heaven on earth. No wonder Old Man looks so tan.

Safety, Health, & Fitness (and games too)

This ones for Jane and some unidentified ex-instructor.

• How many compressions per minute?
• How deep are they?
• What is the ratio of breaths to compressions?
• How long does each breath last?
• How strong is each Breath?
• Did they mention Cardio-Cerebral-Resusciation?
• Did they talk about the new guidelines which allow AED to be used on everyone except new borns? Yes, they have now extended child AED to infants.
• Jane, sorry if this brings up bad memories; but, I thought it might be a good time to remind everyone about the virtues of keeping current in this lifesaving skill. And if you are or have been an instructor, no names mentioned, you might check with the Red Cross to see what would be nessary to be reinstated. You could then hold family training sessions. Fun.

This is Old Man and Costas Margaritis at last years Wellness Fair.

• Old Man's blood pressure was down and his chloesterol was excellent. but his blood sugar a little high, I wonder why?
• How is yours doing?
• What about your weight and aerobic capacity?
• Come to Greece and they amost all will get better.
  

Old Man handing out a trophy in Thessoliniki, Greece, last spring.

Our soccer team won first place and they gave me one of the medals. It hangs in my living room around the calendar that Thing-2 gave me for Christmas last year. Guess what else is prominently displayed my my front room? Watch for the answers in future blogs; maybe!

Kids, Several Memories, a Celebration, and a secret or warning

The pool gets use from the Pierce Students:

While the teachers work with a few the others exercise and train.

Water Polo is big even with the youth from the Pierce College. Deree College just started a college team and have had 15 participants show up at the start of the second week.

A walk down memory lane:

Ask Laurie to tell the tell.

Do I have to go up the remaining steps? Ask Laurie what this was all about.


Mother's Day celbration on the plaza several blocks from my appartment included all day traditional Greek dance competion and music. Yeah, I am a little late in posting it. But it does bring back some memories.

The kids love it as much as the adults. This is a very simple culture in many ways. It is very easy to fall in love with.

By the way I am listening to Laurie's tunes as I blog. Mellow, real mellow!

"Thing Two", it a Greek diet when you visit with no sweets and lots of walking. This goes for "Thing One" and her family also. I will just have to remember to hide all the good stuff before you arrive.